February 15, 3108
Let's see what I have to do, I thought as I opened the app.
The interface displayed only a chat page, with a prompt recommending me to start by entering my name, surname, specialization, and rank. I complied.
Kail Vaylith, Scout/Archery, ManaArmis User (4 points)
Of course, I was lying. I still lacked 2 points to officially consider myself an Armored User. But these ranks were more like a loose classification of professionals. It wasn't uncommon for a high-ranked ManaUser to defeat someone who had just leveled up to ManaWarrior. However, this wasn't the case for Masters and GrandMasters—the gap between those ranks was just too vast.
The response to my data didn't arrive immediately. A few hours later, I finally received a message.
„Welcome to the Surrounding Darkness agency. Your identity has been confirmed. To proceed, please complete the entry mission.„
Surrounding Darkness? I muttered to myself. Then it's clear why I didn't know who Mr. Collins was.
The Surrounding Darkness agency—the largest independent organization specializing in intelligence, assassinations, disappearances, and identity creation. They facilitated work with no documentation required and allowed their clients to acquire what they needed discreetly. The true extent of their organization was unknown, as they kept everything under strict secrecy. Many sought their services or applied for work, though opportunities were rare and highly selective.
The mission details appeared on my screen:
„Mission: Follow Lorian Gulian. Male, 68 years old, 176 cm, long gray hair. Occupation: Businessman, currently holds a position in the Ministry of Finance.
Objective: Shadow the target without being detected for one week. Interactions with the target are strictly prohibited.
Requirements: Send daily reports detailing the target's locations and timestamps, as well as descriptions or photographs of any unknown individuals interacting with the target. All information must be submitted by 00:43 under the initial message titled "Invisible Steps."
Failure Clause: If you are observed, captured, or killed, the agency bears no responsibility, and all ties with you will be severed irreparably.
Note: This message will be deleted after accepting or declining the mission.
Accept/Decline„
The instructions were clear. However, tailing someone from the Ministry of Finance right on my first mission was undoubtedly risky. But at the moment, I needed experience more than anything else. Without overthinking it, I pressed Accept.
The message vanished instantly, and my first mission began.
I went online and started researching Mr. Gulian. The information I found was... intriguing. He had begun his career as a businessman in the pharmaceutical industry, rising from an ordinary family. Over the years, he had faced numerous accusations of financial manipulation—both in stock dealings and in the quality of his company's products. However, despite the sheer volume of accusations, not once had he been brought to trial.
"Let's see, Mr. Gulian, what are you hiding?"
I inspected Steelflag (3☆). It felt wonderful in my hand, but when I tried to stretch the bowstring, I only managed to draw it about 70%. The aether moves wonderfully through it, but it felt like it could handle more than I can offer at the moment.
When I returned the bow, I noticed that in the bow case, there was room for a small quiver.
"I'll need to stop by a specialty store to pick up a hip quiver. And binoculars with thermal vision will definitely come in handy."
I put on some casual clothes—a pair of jeans, a hoodie, and boots. Wearing specialized gear in public would only draw unnecessary attention. After grabbing a suitable quiver and a pair of thermal binoculars, I packed them into cases and made my way toward the Ministry of Finance building.
The ministry was an imposing structure in the heart of the capital, surrounded by other towering buildings that stood at a respectful distance.
First things first, I need to figure out which office belongs to him.
I stepped into the main hall, but before I could get far, a man in a suit stopped me.
"Sorry, entry is for authorized personnel only."
I decided to play innocent, pitching my voice higher in an attempt to sound younger than I was.
"Excuse me, do you know if the building organizes tours?"
The man frowned, unimpressed. "No."
"Don't discourage the child," interrupted a woman in a suit of the same design as the man's.
"Ms. Jane…" he began, hesitating.
"Why are you so tense, as if he's going to stab you the moment you let your guard down? Relax."
"Yes, ma'am."
Turning to me, she asked, "Did you say something about a tour?"
"Yes!" I replied enthusiastically, playing up the role.
"If I'm not mistaken, students from the University of Economics are scheduled to visit tomorrow. If you speak to their group, they might let you join."
"Thank you very much!" I said, trying to sound both excited and grateful.
I left the building, grinning.
That went better than expected.
The two who stopped me were likely Mana Masters, judging by their aether concentration.
Alright, now I need to wait for Mr. Gulian somehow…
Directly across from the ministry building was a small café, where I decided to sit and observe. I stayed there until evening, and finally, my target emerged from the building. Lorian Gulian was neither fat nor slim, but his movements and general demeanor confirmed he wasn't a fighter. The aether concentration around him was weak, almost youthful. His bodyguards, however, told a different story—they radiated strength, their aether concentration sharp and disciplined.
Why would a simple worker in the Ministry of Finance need three bodyguards?
I left the café and began tailing him. While I couldn't keep him in direct sight at all times in the crowded streets, his wind current was easy to follow. In the bustling city, many currents overlapped and mingled, but his was surrounded by three much stronger ones, likely belonging to his guards.
After about 100 meters, Gulian entered a car, and their currents faded as the vehicle sped away.
Great. That's a Problem.
Running after them in the middle of the city wasn't an option, and leaping from one building to another wasn't feasible either—the structures were too far apart.
Let's ask the agency.
I opened the application on my smartwatch and sent a message:
„I need a method to follow my target from the city center.„
This time, the response came almost instantly:
„We can provide a tracking device. It will function for 24 hours before self-destructing. The target's route will be transmitted directly to your smartwatch.„
„When would it be available?„
„Within three hours after payment.„
„How much does it cost?„
„2000 VA per unit.„
„I'll take two.„
„Transfer the amount to this account: …„
I quickly transferred the funds.
„Payment confirmed. Please wait.„
February 16, 3108
When the tracking devices arrived, I immediately attached one to a target vehicle, making sure to stay unnoticed. From that point, tracking Gulian became significantly easier.
The next part of my plan involved gaining access to the ministry building itself. I managed to approach the guide for the university group visiting that day, armed with a wad of money and a heartfelt request. The guide, perhaps charmed or simply indifferent, allowed me to join the group.
Once inside, I stayed with the students as they toured the ministry. When we reached the upper floors, I discreetly broke away from the group. Navigating carefully, I made my way to the 17th floor, where I located Gulian's office. Its windows faced south, giving me a useful reference point for future observations.
After noting the layout and potential access points, I rejoined the group and exited the building with them, blending back into the crowd as if nothing had happened.
I found a suitable building with a clear view of the windows I needed to monitor. Climbing to its roof, I began my surveillance of our dear corrupter.
Exactly 20 minutes after I started observing him, various individuals began entering his office. They engaged in brief conversations, leaving behind envelopes—their contents painfully obvious.
At 17:00, Gulian gathered his belongings and left the office, signaling it was time for me to move.
I returned to the location where I had halted the tracking the previous day. His white luxury car was still there, the tracking gadget safely hidden inside its casing. Keeping my distance, I waited until the car began moving again.
Once it started, I followed from a safe distance, walking at a brisk but inconspicuous pace. As the journey stretched into the outskirts of the city, the distance between us grew. When the city skyline disappeared behind me, I paused to prepare myself.
I inhaled and activated my technique:
Breathing Technique: Tempest Flow (4☆), Stage 2: Wind Acceleration
Mana Armis: Left Foot + Hand – 2nd Form Condensation
With this preparation, I quickly closed the gap and arrived at the location where the car had stopped.
I got up on a hill, and before me stood an enormous two-story house with an extravagant terrace adorned with all kinds of decorations and jewelry.
It's comfortable to live like a corrupter, I thought grimly.
Using the thermal binoculars, I began a closer inspection. What I saw sent a chill down my spine.
There were many people in the basement, crammed into tight spaces as if they were trapped behind the walls. Their body temperatures were noticeably lower than normal—clear signs of suffering.
I noticed another figure, seemingly free, entering the basement. With disturbing ease, this person grabbed one of the captives and dragged her upstairs. From my vantage point, I could see through the large glass wall behind the house.
I watched as a girl, possibly my age or even younger, was subjected to torture on the second floor. Two excruciating hours of screams and cruelty which I followed without intervening,
I retreated into the forest near the house, staying hidden as I processed everything I had witnessed.
I am not a man of justice or a hero. I have a mission to carry out. If I receive an order to eliminate this pig in human skin, I will do so. But until then, I cannot get involved.
At exactly 00:43, I transmitted a detailed report of the day's events, including the times each incident occurred.
The response came swiftly:
"The information has been received. Continue tracking."
This is how my schedule was established for the week:
7:30 - The target leaves for work.
8:00–12:00 - He spends the morning in his office working on documents.
12:00–13:00 - Lunch break. He either visits a nearby café or receives food delivery.
13:00–17:00 - A variety of visitors arrive, all dressed in suits. Most of them leave envelopes, presumably filled with money.
17:00–17:30 - He returns home.
17:30–21:00 - rapes and tortures minor girls
21:00–6:00 - sleeps