'Haaa…'
As Rey lay on his bed, he heaved a heavy sigh and went through everything that had just happened.
It was hard to believe that after everything, it was still morning.
'Things got a lot more complicated than I expected.'
The whole thing with Esme was one thing, and now the KariBlanc Group was another.
'I also have to handle the Raid.'
With all of these factors culminating in his mind, Rey began to wonder if he wasn't doing too much at once.
However, he quickly tried to defend his actions.
'The KariBlanc situation and the Esme matter aren't totally unrelated. There are overlaps.'
In the process of taking down the cancer that was the Criminal Underworld, he could look for her friends and help them,
Besides, the main enemy was a Slave Trader who had killed and consumed the territories of her competitor.
'There's the possibility that she already took over Redarts' domain.'
If that happened, then the chances of the slaves being sold already was an option.
'Or maybe… their sale has been postponed.'
With the way the market was a bit unstable, it was probably better to wait things out and not take too many financial risks.
Since that was the crux of the matter, he didn't think doing both was going to be an issue.
'The problem is how to balance Raiding with them.'
The Raid was his initial commitment, and since he needed the Otherworlders to grow very strong, it had the most priority.
There was no way he could put that on the back burner.
'I just have to find a way to make it work.'
Rey looked around his room and realized it was a bit messy.
He sighed a little as he took his eyes away and continued his line of thought.
'I can do the Raid stuff in the morning, and do the KariBlanc stuff at night.'
It was at times like this that Rey wished he had a Cloning Skill.
Unfortunately, life wasn't as simple as that.
'I can use [Phantom Projection] to fool everyone that Ralyks and Rey are present at the same time, but that only works if I'm close to my targets.'
[Phantom Projection] was a new Skill he got after combining [Projection], [False Pain], and a few other neurological Skills.
If allowed him to manifest anything that would look and even feel real.
However, it would all be a mere illusion he made.
'It'll be very useful in the Raid since I have to make sure I'm present as two people.'
As for his engagement with KariBlanc, he would just have to alternate between responsibilities. Thankfully, he had Spatial Magic now.
"It sucks that I can't sell all those 99th Floor Monster Cores yet…"
Rey grumbled within himself before grunting a little.
Sales had to be put on hold for now.
"I'll have to go and investigate the Royal Dungeon in my spare time to make sure there's nothing too crazy down there."
He could also prepare a proper schedule and navigate the most optimal path for them to take so that the whole thing could be smooth sailing.
For him, not them.
'They'll have to work very hard, I'm sure. Grinding for Levels could be fun, but it was also a chore.
In the end, though, they would see the rewards.
"I should probably get ready to head to the library."
There was a bunch of stuff he had to catch up on—both concerning business and monsters.
As Ralyks, the mysterious and incredible Adventurer, he couldn't be caught lacking.
'Let's do this!'
********
[A Few Days Later]
The days passed in the blink of an eye, and the two members of the Royal Council were currently seated in a massive lounge.
Even Adonis was present.
Even though he initially wanted to stand, he was convinced to sit with the members of the Royal Council.
All three of them were faced by a single man who watched them in silence.
He was Ralyks, the Dark Adventurer.
Just as agreed, they were to meet and discuss the future of the United Human Alliance, particularly regarding the Raid that was to take place soon.
He had no entourage with him—as expected—but even the Royal Council and Adonis had no guards.
Lucielle and Brutus had returned to the battlefield, and all the competent soldiers had been drafted with them, or were busy with other responsibilities.
Frankly speaking, they were pretty understaffed.
However, they hoped Ralyks wouldn't see it that way. Instead, this was meant to look like a kind gesture to show how comfortable they were with him.
Since he didn't comment on that at all, they could only hope that he got the message.
"Before we start this meeting, I just want to say a big thank you to you, Sir Ralyks." Adonis swiftly spoke up—just a second before Conrad was about to part his lips.
"Hm?"
"I never got to thank you back then… when you saved me and my friends."
Adonis was referring to the Royal Dungeon Incident. Back then, he was too stunned and injured to mutter proper words of thanks.
Everything happened too fast, and before he knew it… the man called Ralyks had vanished.
No, that wasn't quite right.
He and his friends had vanished away from him—away from the Dungeon and into the Royal Estate.
The next he saw of him was from a distance where he saw how he easily handled the Dragon in its true form and dealt with it with relative ease.
And now, here he was—Ralyks himself—right in front of Adonis.
He had to air out his thoughts.
"It was no problem. I was only doing what I had to do. You did well holding out for that long, though."
As Adonis heard this, something about his previously bright expression changed.
It darkened a little as he whispered.
"No… I really didn't… do anything…"
His voice was barely audible, so it was difficult to even get a grasp of what he said.
Eventually, Adonis' gratitude was shoved into the background, and the pertinent issue rose to the surface.
"About the Royal Dungeon Raid…" Conrad said with a smile on his face.
His face was oozing with resolve—same as Vida's.
"… Please take charge of it. We will accept all your conditions."