Inessa took out her phone and held it out in front of her.
“Just lure this woman out for two hours. Don’t forget to get rid of the five bugs around her.”
“Huh? Who are you talking about… and what bugs?”
The photo on the phone screen that Inessa handed over showed a middle-aged woman covered in blood, unleashing light madness. Sure enough, there were five people wearing cat masks spaced out around her.
‘She looks middle-aged, but is she really…? Is it the Infimum Pavilion?’
Anyone with a keen eye would notice that the face of the middle-aged woman in the photo was fake.
“…… Who is this?”
“Her name is ‘Liu Xiao-Wo.’ She’s an Awakened One who has reached the position of ‘Dragon Gate’ in China. You could say she’s the strongest among transcendents.”
… What does that even mean, Inessa?
“…… You want me to lure someone like that out? Even to trick her five bodyguards?”
“Exactly.”
“…… Are you crazy?”
I was speechless in disbelief. Normally, I would at least pretend to accept something absurd, but what on earth was this nonsense?
“Ugh… please don’t use such harsh words on me. I’m adjusting my power for something important, so it’s dangerous if I get too excited.”
“Sorry about that. But this is absolutely outrageous. Do you have some hidden plan or something?”
I needed some variables, like a meticulously prepared operation that had been in the works for years. Or maybe a large-scale civil war breaking out in China. Or perhaps a Great Beast like the Devouring Creeper suddenly dropping from the sky might be enough to look away for a moment?
Of course such absurd things were practically impossible.
‘Definitely not happening.’
I thought it over for a moment, but shook my head in resignation.
“How would you even deal with the strongest in China?”
Inessa, noticeably calmer than usual, nodded as if she agreed with my words.
“But we have to do it. And you can do it, if what I’ve seen is correct. It might even be easier than expected?”
“……”
I tried to say something, but my lips wouldn’t move. Inessa’s words carried an invisible, powerful force. It was as if I had been hit with something that rendered me completely invincible, and nothing I said would have any effect.
‘What would I even say to a verified seer who saw the future?’
On the other hand, it could also be an opportunity.
Didn’t they say to meet people and judge them?
‘Liu Xiao-Wo… I really do want to meet her. She wasn’t even an Awakened One who overcame the First Wave, and yet she’s reached the transcendent stage—that’s impressive.’
What was even more astonishing was that, unlike other transcendents, she roamed freely, almost without constraints.
‘What could be the relation with the five cat-masked people around her? I’m curious.’
Hyun Joong-gil, the witch, the Transcendent of Reflux. All reputedly couldn’t move for a long period after making their moves due to great restrictions, but Liu Xiao-Wo was different.
If I could uncover her secrets, I might discover how to break the constraints of transcendents. That could be a significant help for Joong-gil and Yeon-su, who were peering over the edge of transcendent levels.
Aside from that, it was a chance to meet the top dog in this huge territory.
‘A life—just one—would be a fair price to pay.’
“When should I try this? Where do I go?”
Changing my thoughts, the suggestion didn’t sound bad at all. But I needed to know where she was holed up to even have a chance to talk.
“Hmm-hmm—”
Someone behind Inessa cleared their throat and asserted their presence.
‘What is everyone doing standing around?’
Inessa’s subordinates stood in a long line, among them was the Man in Goblin Mask and Sniper Patrick.
‘Monsters, indeed…’
They were beings that had barely stepped into the transcendent realm or had donned the appearance of human beings who had reached that level.
“Hey—long time no see.”
Even if they greeted me while shaking their guns, it was hardly endearing.
“You’re still so weak. The power of ‘Balindor’ would be a waste on someone like you. Grow stronger and come back, kid. I might even toss you a hand then.”
“I could test it right now.”
“Hahaha—kid, I know you’re holding back. But you’re still far from being in my league. Just because you’ve reached S-rank doesn’t mean we’re on the same level.”
“……”
Honestly, he was right. There was still a huge gap between me and that monster.
Even considering the strengths of long-range snipers and assassins, that much was evident.
‘One day, I’ll get back at you, Sniper Patrick.’
At that moment, Inessa pointed out one of the guys who had been glaring at me. The one who kept clearing his throat earlier.
“The rest of the explanation is yours. If you just got here, you should earn your keep, you idiot!”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”
Inessa, who had been having a tough time keeping up with the ‘tempting adult woman’ concept she had caught today, pressed her forehead and eventually let out her pent-up frustration.
Thinking back to when we last met, I remembered she had been somewhat nice to me, so clearly, she had something important to take care of at the moment.
As I scratched my head while being harassed by Inessa’s subordinates, a middle-aged man hurriedly approached me.
‘……’
There was no sound of movement at all.
Needless to say, he was a monster who had stepped into the S-tier late stages.
‘…… Inessa sure has a knack for gathering monsters. What’s her secret? She can easily suppress someone like Yeon-su without the Divine Transformation.’
He was strong enough for me to think that. A well-balanced hunter with a physique that was perfectly honed—much more powerful than I had seen during my last encounter, a brand new S-rank.
“I don’t need to introduce myself, but since it’s the first time, here goes. Ahem—I am ‘Zhou Jun.’”
This worm guy and this dude both had some kind of confidence I didn’t understand.
“Thanks for the introduction, ‘Zhou Jun.’ I won’t bother giving you my name because you won’t recognize it anyway.”
After exchanging glances for a moment, we hastily began our conversation due to Inessa collapsing onto the ground with a groan.
“The National People’s Congress will be held soon. I suppose I don’t need to explain what that is, right?”
“Just say it. I’m not particularly interested in other countries, but I did study some key points. Of course, your name wasn’t even mentioned in those points.”
For a moment, Zhou Jun twitched his eyebrow as he glanced at Inessa before continuing.
“Roughly recap what you know.”
“Non-Awakened Ones are excluded from the people’s categories, and they unilaterally proclaim laws for an unreasonable event. It’s being held in Beijing, right?”
“Hmph, that’s common sense. Non-Awakened Ones in this country are practically slaves. They’re essentially obsolete humanity, aren’t they?”
What a quaint line of thought to come up with. I almost choked on the words that wanted to escape my throat—what a pain.
“Anyway, several important laws will be proclaimed at this meeting. Considering the nature of the laws, Liu Xiao-Wo will definitely show up. She’s been less active lately, but she used to enjoy public exposure.”
“When’s the operation time?”
“After the meeting.”
“…… After the meeting, there’s going to be a banquet with the people’s representatives… something like that?”
“…… Exactly. About three thousand participants. They represent people from various sectors in China, but in reality, most of them will be members of various Awakened organizations closely tied to influential corporate figures. There will be plenty of 1st to 2nd tier superpower types, as well as numerous transcendents who have laid out their dominions everywhere.”
‘…… Crazy guys.’
You’re telling me to go to a place like that? I mean, putting me in a death trap would be an understatement.
Ignoring my emotions, Zhou Jun kept rambling away.
“…… Everyone’s eager to get a whiff of Liu Xiao-Wo’s shadow. You just need to jump in then. I’ve already arranged for your forged identity.”
“Hmm…”
I stroked my chin, trying to organize my thoughts.
“So… at the biggest annual event in the country with the most Awakened Ones in the world…”
“……”
“Get into the banquet with a forged identity, and lure the top-tier Liu Xiao-Wo out for two hours?”
“……”
“And that’s with the guards right next to her being transcendents too?”
“…… It wasn’t my plan. Even if you glare at me, I can’t change the schedule.”
Zhou Jun, who had conceded after his own words seemed awkward, had stepped back.
I wanted to rip his mouth off if that’s what he was calling a plan.
Of course, if I could.
“…… Screw it, let’s give it a shot.”
Despite the insanity of the mission, I didn’t dwell on it for long.
Trusting that lunatic Inessa was itself a tragic joke, but she was the only one besides Jo Gi-man who knew about the disturbances in this world, so I figured I might as well believe her for once.
‘I’m not afraid of dying. In fact, if things go south, dying quickly might be preferable.’
With that thought, I called over Jung Tae-hyung, who was feeling down around Inessa’s subordinates.
“Master… what are those people about?”
Jung Tae-hyung, looking pale as he ran over to me, had the face of a poor soul who had fallen into an unbelievable hell, surrounded by dozens of people stronger than him.
‘That woman is the leader of the “Do.” Do whatever you can to keep your head down.’
“…… The ‘Do’? She’s a big deal.”
‘We should run a simulation ourselves. Honestly, I feel like something unpredictable will happen, but I need to do something to calm down.’
“Yes, Master.”
* * *
The day after Il-wol arrived in China.
Contrary to the desperate wishes of the Non-Awakened Ones, the People’s Congress wrapped up smoothly.
With the passing of this bill, the lives of Non-Awakened Ones in China were certainly going to become even more miserable.
Then, just as the banquet event was about to begin.
A man appeared in a sparsely populated corner of the venue, having successfully breached the rigorously arranged security.
“Whew~ even if there were so many changes this time, I didn’t expect the entire security system to be completely replaced. I was late by three minutes!”
Disguised as Yoon Han-gyeol, Jo Gi-man shook off his suit with an irritated expression.
[……]
“I get it, I get it. Something’s going to happen here, right?”
The presence calmly speaking to Jo Gi-man was the Evil God Seven-headed Dragon.
“Since you’re doing something you’re not accustomed to, you should be compensated properly. Got it?”
[……]
As Seven-headed Dragon responded, the corners of Jo Gi-man’s mouth lifted in delight.
If he kept piling up points like this, he’d eventually get another chance to reset his time. Jo Gi-man didn’t doubt that.
‘Getting Liu Xiao-Wo to fall for me is no big deal.’
To lure her in. Such a cheap way of phrasing the act of winning someone’s affection.
Surprisingly, Jo Gi-man already had experience tempting Liu Xiao-Wo twice.
Of course, he hadn’t seen her real form or touched her at all, but confidence in success overflowed.
Their first encounter had been a total coincidence, and the second was a deliberate attempt to charm her on a whim.
For some reason, that woman completely lost her focus when she saw Yoon Han-gyeol.
‘The strongest in China is so easily bewitched. Who would imagine that? Hehe.’
Knowing this little secret alone was another point of amusement.
In any case, all that the Evil God Seven-headed Dragon had requested from Jo Gi-man was one thing.
To return Liu Xiao-Wo to her nest as quickly as possible.
An easy task.
Caught up in the persona of Yoon Han-gyeol, he just needed to disappear south, leaving her bodyguards scrambling in his wake.
Then, he’d whisk her away to the center of China, to the city of Xi’an where she originally resided.
‘But wait. Why would someone who usually wouldn’t show up after the meeting decide to sway her mind this time?’
[……]
Could it be because the Non-Awakened Ones in China had been more active than ever before? There were claims of a new figure acting as a focal point for the Non-Awakened Ones seemingly emerging.
‘Those bugs making noise? That’s not it… I don’t know. Damn, why are there so many things I don’t understand suddenly? It’s exhilarating. Would you want to go through a reset again or not? Huh?’
[……]
Either way, it looked like Seven-headed Dragon wanted to eliminate any variables, so I’d better go along with it.
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