Three hours ago…

[Mission Acceptance – Xtra has accepted Rocalist’s request.]

I went to the basement before setting off on my mission. Only I could access the basement’s lowest level filled with rows of ammunition boxes larger than refrigerators.

The warm, blue luster of mana escaped as I opened one of the boxes.

I called this bullet the 308-X. I modeled it after the 308 Winchester to be more destructive and easier to carry. I acquired a factory just to manufacture these. They contained a much higher concentration of mana than the ones on the market.

I closed the ammunition box and pressed a button. The gigantic box creaked like a machine before compressing into the size of a briefcase.

This function, which defied the laws of physics, could only be possible thanks to

[Settings Intervention]

.

I carried the ammunition briefcase to the basement’s middle floor with rows of SUVs and motorbikes lined up in a wide hall.

“

Hmm…

”

I briefly pondered which vehicle to choose.

A motorbike, SUV, helicopter, or horse?

I ended up choosing an SUV sturdier than an armored vehicle. Its wheels had been enchanted with numerous magic like silent magic and it could be considered a mobile weapon more than a vehicle. I infused mana into the SUV and it creaked before compressing just like the ammunition box.

I finished preparing with the two briefcases in hand and suddenly received a message.

— Hajin-chan.

It came from Kim Hoseop.

“What?”

— You asked me to check for any potential threats against the English Royal Court, right?

“Yeah, especially the ones targeting Rachel.”

—

Ah

, then I’m all done.

He always finished his work quite quickly. I designed his character without much thought, but he turned out to be a key figure in information gathering and helped me a ton.

“Okay, thanks. Send me the file and get some rest.”

— Okay,

nyang

.

Kim Hoseop sent the files to my server. I couldn’t help but exclaim in awe when I glanced over them. Its accuracy was one thing, but he organized it perfectly and made it easy for readers to find what they needed.

“Lancaster?”

As expected, that name caught my eye first. Rumors had it that Lancaster sent a warning to the English Royal Court. He seemed to be the only visible threat. So many others lurked under the surface and couldn’t be counted. Other factors that threatened the English Royal Court included their dire financial situation, dwindling coffers, mountains of debts, hostile relations with Korean guilds, pressure from Germany and France, etc.

“

Hmm…

Tsk…

”

I couldn’t help but click my tongue after going through the files.

Rachel should’ve awakened after receiving help from Kim Suho. Then she should’ve revived the English Royal Court to its former glory and progressed it even further. However, everything became a mess now.

Did I cause this or did this damn world change things by itself? Regardless, I had to set things right.

I focused on everything related to Lancaster and quickly finished thanks to Kim Hoseop’s wonderful highlights.

“The English Royal Court’s selection exam?”

— Yes! I feel like something will happen there,

nyang

.

I closely examined every piece of information related to the selection exam: its location, attendees, judges, and even the number of spectators. Only one name stuck out in the end.

[James Finley]

This person seemed like the biggest threat at the moment.

James Finley made contact with a person presumed to be Lancaster. He also purchased a mana bomb last week from the black market. These bastards weaved a complicated web that would’ve been impossible to spot if not for Kim Hoseop’s gift.

“When will the second selection take place?”

— It’s today,

nyang

. It’ll start in 2 hours.

“What? Why are you only telling me this now?”

I immediately got up and prepared to leave.

— I only found out after finally hacking their system! It was quite difficult to hack,

nyang

!

“Really? Alright then, I’ll get moving now.”

I accepted the request from Rocalist last night, but didn’t expect to work so soon.

— What’s the plan?

“Kill.”

I would’ve came up with various plans if I had the time. However, the best method now would simply be an assassination.

“Can you put me at the front of the portal queue?”

— Alright, leave it to me. Have a safe trip,

nyang

.

***

James Finley had been killed.

They immediately halted the selection exam and searched for the perpetrator. However, the English Royal Court and the other investigators couldn’t find the assassin. It seemed as if the assassin disappeared into thin air. Not even a trace could be found.

Rachel returned to where the selection took place and analyzed the situation from the beginning. A flash of light appeared before silently piercing Finley’s forehead. That single attack had been extremely accurate and fatal.

“It couldn’t have come from far. There’s a high chance it came from inside since the alarms would’ve gone off if someone’s mana entered from outside. I think there’s a high chance the assassin disguised themselves as security.”

Rachel seriously muttered as she analyzed the situation.

“They could’ve easily hidden among the panicked crowd and escaped. Also…

Haaa…

”

She had a hard time breathing and her body felt hot. It burned from the rage boiling inside her.

Someone had been assassinated right in front of her under her watch. She felt certain Lancaster had done this to send another warning. To think he would sacrifice an innocent young man just to threaten her.

Rachel found it difficult to calm her beating heart. She tried, but couldn’t suppress her rage.

Dake berated the heroes as Rachel deeply contemplated.

“Hey, you bastards! What happened? Did you even do your jobs?”

“I checked everything to the point that I thought I was being paranoid. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.”

“I swear on my life to the Queen that I sustained the barrier. I’m certain I would’ve felt something if anybody used their mana within a 1 km radius, but I didn’t feel an ounce of mana anywhere.”

“Ye… Yes… that’s correct. There’s no way we slacked off when all of us are aware of Lancaster’s warning.”

“

Ugh…

You useless morons!”

Dake scratched his head in frustration.

He felt like his head would split open right now. Did it make sense that one of the participant’s brains splattered all over the ground in the presence of 30 high rank guild members and Vice Leader Rachel?

— Can you hear me?

A voice spoke directly into his ears.

Dake flinched and immediately checked his smartwatch. The voice belonged to the mercenary he recently hired, Xtra.

“What the?

Ah…

”

Dake briefly muttered before thinking of a brilliant idea.

The protection request immediately activated when they both signed the request. This mercenary could’ve seen the entire thing. No, even if he didn’t, Dake thought this could be an excuse to haggle the price.

“Are you around here somewhere?”

— Yes, I can see you right now.

“

Ah

, that’s a relief. Then you must’ve seen what just happened…”

— I killed him.

“What?”

Dake couldn’t even doubt his ears as his mind went blank. He could only tilt his head like a confused child.

Was it because they spoke in Korean? He found it difficult to understand the mercenary’s words just now.

Dake tried to remain calm and translated,

I killed him

, into English word for word.

— James Finley. I killed him.

“…”

A chill went down Dake’s spine before his entire body shivered. He gulped and glanced sideways at Rachel, who busily investigated with the other officials.

Dake whispered to Xtra.

“You… What did you just say? What do you mean you killed him?”

— James Finley had been brainwashed by Lancaster. I discovered that Lancaster planted him into your selection exam. I’ll send you the files, so please have a look.

“What? Hey!”

Dake shouted a bit too loud and Rachel turned towards him.

“Now that I think about it, Vice Leader’s theory is quite convincing.”

One of the investigators spoke, “

Ah

, is that so? Then…”

Rachel shifted her attention back to the investigator.

— I sent you the file.

“What?”

A bunch of files had been sent to Dake’s smartwatch while he still felt dumbfounded about everything.

Dake glanced at Rachel before opening the files.

[Secret discussion between James Finley and Lancaster – Hacked Version (Confidential)]

[James Finley’s Whereabouts.]

[James Finley’s Activities.]

[Mysterious man and James Finley caught on surveillance camera…]

These files contained all of James Finley’s activities for the past 6 months.

Dake stared at the files before clicking on the surveillance camera footage. James Finley appeared at a secluded place in London. The video seemed to have been taken 3 weeks ago. He spoke with someone and the other person passed him something before leaving. The next clip showed a hooded figure walking past the surveillance camera.

— James Finley is suspected to have received a mana bomb.

“…”

Dake tapped on the file titled,

[Secret discussion between James Finley and Lancaster – Hacked Version (Confidential)]

.

It could only be viewed and not downloaded.

[I’m ready to follow that person’s will…]

[I’ll offer up my life and turn that entire place into a sea of fire.]

[Yes, it’s a great honor to be selected for this mission.]

[Thank you, my lord. I shall punish the corrupt royal family.]

The other party’s messages seemed to have been erased or omitted, but Finley’s messages alone served as enough proof.

“What the…”

Dake couldn’t help but wonder how this mercenary collected so much information in less than a day. Also, how did he hack into Lancaster’s secret communication channel? Was that even possible?

“Hey, listen… Couldn’t all this just be fabricated?”

Obviously, Dake would ask this.

— You’re free to believe what you want.

“What did you just say?”

— I don’t care whether you believe me or not. I’ll continue my duties with my own methods.

Dake couldn’t utter a word, but felt strangely convinced.

Xtra overpowered every hero and mercenary here and assassinated James Finley in the most unimaginable way. He could’ve assassinated Rachel if he worked for Lancaster.

— It’s up to you how you make use of this information.

Dake looked around before relocating to the corner of the hall and whispering.

“This is all too sudden. You should’ve given us a heads up before firing…”

— The portal to England had a slight problem. I was in a rush since I arrived late.

“No, I mean a heads up. You know, like a hint? Like what you’re doing right now. You could’ve called while waiting for the portal…”

— Then would you have allowed me to assassinate Finley? This entire place would’ve been blown up if I was 3 seconds late.

Dake looked at the ceiling before nodding. He knew Xtra would be correct if James Finley indeed possessed a mana bomb.

— Anyways, take a look at the file I labeled as confidential.

[Secret discussion between James Finley and Lancaster – Hacked Version (Confidential)]

“Yes, I’m looking at it.”

— Don’t show that to anyone else for the time being.

“

Huh?

This file is the only way we can prove Finley worked for Lancaster…”

— The communication channel we’re using right now can’t be hacked, but everything will be leaked to Lancaster once you send that file to anyone else. They’ll find out that someone hacked their communication lines. Then they’ll abandon this one and set up a new channel, which will make my effort of hacking them meaningless.

“

Ah

, yes… I understand.”

It seemed like Xtra didn’t want to show his cards until he could end everything once and for all.

— Please keep my identity a secret as well. I don’t like drawing attention.

“Of course, I’ll do my best to keep your identity hidden.”

Dake glanced sideways at James Finley’s corpse. The investigator and Rachel spoke far away to avoid tampering with the crime scene.

— First, go and check Finley’s body. There should be a mana bomb somewhere on him.

“

Ehem

… ehem…

Where is it?”

Dake loitered around as if trying to find something on the ground while gradually approaching the corpse.

— Be careful. The other minions that helped him will certainly be around.

Dake’s heart began to beat faster.

“…!”

As Xtra said, an unidentified object had been attached to James Finley’s plate armor.

Dake tried to take off the plate armor.

“Excuse me! We’re here to collect the corpse!”

Dake looked at the M16 agents that suddenly appeared.

“Give me a minute. There’s something I want to check…?”

The object attached to Finley’s plate armor suddenly disappeared when Dake looked back.

“What the hell?”

“Please move.”

One of the MI6 agents said as he pushed Dake.

Rachel, still speaking to the investigator, looked towards Dake.

“Is there something wrong over there?”

“

Huh?

Ah

, Vice Leader… No… that’s…”

“

Huh?

”

“…”

Dake looked at the heroes around him, the MI6 agents collecting the corpse, and Rachel slowly approaching them.