—So you're telling me that Lee Jihyo is setting up a base just north of here? Then why are you setting traps this far? Are you stupid? Do you want to be caught?
I held up a projection from my watch as I held it to a group of Djinns, kneeling with their heads so low they could be mistaken as ostriches.
I looked at them without pity as they got chewed out.
The woman on screen had tied up hair and dressed scantily, centipede tattoos wrapped her body like ribbons as her sclera was dyed black.
Noona, was a force to be reckoned with was the conclusion I came to as I watched the interaction.
The power of connections sure is handy… though the more I use them the more I feel myself sinking into a hole.
—And what was it that I heard? Did you really try to harm one of our best moles in Cube!? Are you all brain dead!? If you fuck up again I rearrange your insides through your mouths and then rip out your spine!
A visible shudder spread across the crowd.
—Minori, were you hurt anywhere? We'll have to give you some compensation because of these fools.
"No, I'm fine. Just lend me them when I need it. Sorry for calling you twice."
—Oh, it's fine. I'm just happy to hear more of your voice.
"Alright then. I think I've hunted enough today. I'll see you at Cube, Noona." I spoke while making eye contact with the leader of the Djinn group.
—Kay〜
The call ended and silence returned.
The Djinn's refused to raise their heads as they bowed down.
"... I suppose I'll be calling you if I need anything. I'll put in a good word if you do a good job." I spoke after a moment of contemplation.
The shoulders of the Djinn relaxed as they yelled out in sync.
""The Carrion Division is at your service, sir!""
I turned away.
It's suffocating…
…Kim Hajin POV…
"I brought it but…" Kim Hajin sat by his desk, staring at a seed and his laptop.
===
[Evandel's Seed]
—Seed containing the soul of Evandel the witch.
===
When this seed germinates, 'Evandel' the Witch of Despair would be born. Her title made her sound evil, but if utilized correctly she could become a valuable ally. The environment where one grew up was the most important thing in raising any living being. So, I just had to raise her well.
As he thought about Evandel and how to acquire blood he thought of an idea.
Minori Nii… currently he's just a pawn for Evil Society branch leader Lee Heonwon. Remembering how I wrote his character, he shouldn't have killed anyone just yet but he's definitely desperate to open a clear path…
…no matter how bloody or how evil.
At the beginning of next year is when he truly takes the path of no return. Should I try to keep him on our side or kill him…?
It'd be almost impossible to establish a connection if he can't see you as anything but a naive brat… but I've already established a connection and he seems to think I'm stronger than I am… A slightly shady and ruthless ally is incredibly important, especially since Kim Suho won't kill people in the early stages of the novel.
The only major problem would have to be… his hatred for heroes.
It's… possible. But if I fail, I doubt I can kill him.
Kim Hajins previous goal began wavering as he contemplated how difficult it would be.
Wrapping Evandel's Seed in a handkerchief and putting it in the drawer.
Next Kim Hajin accessed Chae Nayun's smartwatch to do some "not stalking".
…
After returning to Cube and taking a shower I sat down on my couch and took out my watch, the illegal one.
I then flicked onto Violet Banquet and scrolled through the auction house.
Artifacts, weapons, herbs, amulets and all sorts of services were posted.
[Violet Banquet Online Auction House]
[Items for sale]
[Herbs]
[7-year-old Ginseng dug from Gangwondo's mountain.]
[Gold Root Mandrake, dug from Mt Etna]
[Minerals]
[Gravel Stone scale fossil]
[Copper Silk]
Even though it's high quality… I have no money. Even if [The Prophet] highlights the good ones, I can't buy them.
I let out a sigh before turning to the request page.
[Looking for test subjects with high mana and strong vitality against poison. Pay is negotiable but starting at 10,000,000 won per session.]
[Inquiry on the golden batch of Cadets. Contact me for more.]
Although I would take the first one, I'm no longer a broke cashier like in japan. I'm a part of Cube and the Evil Society, meaning one misstep will have the world breathing down my neck.
As for the second… I'd rather not.
It was then that the surroundings darkened and a set of text glowed silver.
[Requesting the Eye of a troll in exchange I will gift an Omen Dagger. Contact me for more information]
[The Prophet] seems to really want me to take this request. If that's the case, I suppose I can give it a go when I have more time.
I tapped on the person Icon and messaged them.
[Please Create An Alias]
Ah, right, I never did that. What should I go with? I want to remain anonymous but also leave an impact… oh, this will do.
[Black Hound Uso]
It's an homage to a fantasy novel I used to read. The knights would use a colour, an animal and then their name. And since I'm remaining anonymous, I used the japanese word for 'lie' as my name.
Hardly anyone uses Japanese in this world after all.
[Me: Hello, I'd like to know more about this request. Is there a time limit on getting the Troll's eye?]
After only a moment of waiting I got a ping back.
That was fast.
[Monument: No time limit. As soon as possible would be nice though. We do have to meet in person for the transaction though. I need to get the Troll's eyes the moment it dies.]
What an unusual name, what could it mean?
[Me: That's fine by me, as long as you cover travel costs.]
[Monument: Alright, you can message me when you get to Norway. Here's the travel funds. Find a suitable hotel.]
[Monument has deposited 5,000,000 won into your Violet Banquet Wallet.]
That much? Are they a mage or something?
Mages are generally very rich considering they require all sorts of materials which cost all numbers of won.
[I'll notify you three days in advance.]
"I think that's professional enough… my first deal."
Now… When should I go?
…
Flames form in the sky, branching in manic patterns. They painted the once blue sky into a smokey orange.
Red ichor, rusty and cold. It coated the ground in its sticky tendrils, an ocean of red beneath my feet.
Towers of crumbling stone split a fell, smashing into debris. The wind forced me to cover my eyes yet they made no dent in the smoky orange sky.
"Flames, Blood and Towers. Isn't there anything new?" I grit my teeth at the boiling sensation in my throat, it felt as though I was breathing through a cloth.
Though… There is something new.
Atop a particularly tall tower was a shimmering glint, it caught my eye and made me squint but I recognised it.
A sniper scope.
Sitting behind that shimmering lens was an ordinary looking man, he had nothing particular about him apart from the fact he vaguely reminds me of a wolf.
"...Kim Hajin."
And just like that, I felt steel rip through flesh and bone, piercing my skull and killing me on the spot.
—The Prophet
The ability to feel, defile and defy the future. All Dreams have meaning, especially yours.
…
Ding Dong–
"..."
Minori Nii creaked his eyes open to the sound of his doorbell, his body draped over the couch unceremoniously.
Ding Dong—
It rang once again, getting Minori to prop himself up on his side, wincing at his sore muscles.
"Hey〜 Minori! Open the door before an instructor finds I came to a boys dorm before the start of the school day!"
Di-Di-Di-Di-Di-Ding Dong—
"I'm coming, quit spamming the doorbell." Minori spoke in his tired, morning voice, stumbling to the door and opening it slowly.
A woman with dark brown hair dressed in Cube's senior uniform was standing serenely as if she hadn't been mashing the doorbell mere seconds ago. Her eyes were squinted shut and her face was full of smiles. Despite this, there was a slight shift in demeanor from before, as if she was on edge.
Minori immediately picked it up and let her in, closing the door behind her.
"So? Why so early?" Minori asked once 'Yoo Ah-Ra' settled down.
"Minori, do you remember how we turned Sven into a Djinn? The purpose was to let him go on a rampage and if he escaped successfully we'd use him as a dog before tossing him." She explained gently, still in her disguised personality.
Minori felt a strange sense of familiarity with what she explained.
"..." He opted to remain silent.
"And just yesterday, Sven did indeed go on a rampage. He died because he went after Chae Nayun. We aren't exactly sure how he died but… it means the other Djinns will take actions. Which means we have to move as well."
Minori tilted his head.
The main goal is to cause as much chaos as possible to shut Cube away from outside influences right? The other Djinn will basically do that for us.
"Essentially we need to plant the seeds of fear into as many of the influential students as we can. Start with people who have good families but low scores. Although it would put us in danger of being caught we shou-"
I don't like that… I should try to minimize casualties or I might catch the eye of someone dangerous… Perhaps I'll be at the end of a sniper scope before I even know it.
"No. We shouldn't bring attention to ourselves. If the other Djinn find out the Evil Society is plotting something, wouldn't they slow their advancements to keep an eye on the situation? No need to put our necks on the line if the others are just going to do it themselves."
'Yoo Ah-Ra' paused and opened her eyes, her mouth opening like a gash as she gave a wicked smile.
"Yes. Let's do exactly that then. But if you interrupt me again… there'll be consequences."
Minori remained expressionless as he put all his will into remaining calm.
She…was she testing me just now to see if I'd give my real opinion? She was definitely comparing something I previously said.
'Isn't that obvious? I value my own life before anything else.'
Was it that? That was close to two months ago… she's trying to see if I'm being entirely truthful with her.
I'll have to be more cautious of my words if she's being so meticulous.