Ambush at Diamond Guild HQ

"Let's go! Hurry up... If our business is done, there's no reason for us to stay here!"

Shin Haneul shouted.

The words weren't aimed at me—they were for the other Awoken.

"But... our mana..."

"I can't leave until I get my mana back."

"Exactly. Without mana..."

Just moments ago they'd surrounded me like swaggering super-villains. Now they looked like nothing more than a pack of pitiful little puppies.

When none of the Awoken paid her any attention, Shin Haneul's face flushed crimson. She slammed the heel of her high-heeled shoe into the floor with a sharp bang!

Looks like she's properly pissed off.

That's the move she only pulls when she's truly furious.

Then, without another word, she stormed out.

"Mm... haah... That's enough now."

"Haah... haah... Okay..."

With the audience gone, I finally broke the kiss.

I picked up a tissue from the table and carefully wiped the corner of Hong Eunyoung's mouth.

Those cherry-red lips were far too precious to waste on just any woman.

They'd tasted like pure honey.

"Alright. Time to move to the next location."

"Huh? Where are we going? Do you have another appointment?"

"No. It just came up. What are the rest of you doing? Aren't you going to lead the way?"

"Excuse me?"

Hong Eunyoung and the Diamond Guild Awoken all stared at me with blank, dumbfounded faces.

They clearly had no idea what I was talking about.

So I spelled it out for them.

"We're going. To Diamond Guild headquarters. I need to get a good look at the faces of the people who supposedly invited me."

"You can't mean..."

"Come on. You think I'd wipe out every last executive's mana? I'll leave the obedient ones alone, so don't worry."

The four remaining Awoken swallowed hard.

Apparently they didn't believe their company's executives would be the obedient type.

Well, nothing I can do about that.

I'll just have to wipe them all out.

"Alright, let's move. And let me say this one more time—if you want your mana back, you'd better keep those mouths shut from now on."

"Yes..."

Their voices came out ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠completely deflated.

I had no intention of restoring their mana anytime soon.

You lot can experience firsthand just how miserable life is for ordinary people who have to live without mana.

Of course, if I erased it permanently the government would come looking for me in a hurry, so I'd have to play the line carefully.

Anyway, we left the café.

I settled into the passenger seat next to Hong Eunyoung and leaned back against the seat, relaxed.

She was a good driver and useful in all sorts of ways.

Dealing with Kim Jaeseok had drained my energy; I felt strangely weak... sleepy, like I just wanted to rest.

I'd overdone it last night.

"What exactly are you planning to do by chasing those people back to their company?"

"What else? Ask them for some money."

"Money? What do you need that much money for? First me, then the parents..."

"I'm going to start a company. I'm planning to hire you as an employee too, Hong Eunyoung, so prepare yourself."

"M-me? But I'm at the Academy..."

"I know the Academy doesn't pay much. I'll give you more than that, so don't worry."

And that wouldn't be all.

If she kept behaving, I'd raise her mana too.

She was already pretty obedient as it was.

It was just a shame her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠potential was so low.

We followed the Awoken for several dozen minutes until we arrived at Diamond Guild headquarters.

What kind of people would be waiting for me?

I was starting to feel a little excited—and expectant.

The tension was climbing to extreme levels as well.

I never imagined I'd set foot in a conglomerate building like this.

Alright then. Time to make one big score.

Fuck. I thought I'd walked into a hotel lobby.

The opulence was no joke.

An entire multi-story building right in the middle of Seoul, owned lock, stock, and barrel by the guild.

A true conglomerate, no doubt about it.

Especially compared to my old company—it was night and day.

Ah, the company I used to work for.

Would I ever be able to build a company like this someday?

Owning a massive building like this would look pretty damn cool.

With the abilities I had now, it didn't seem impossible. Just a matter of time.

I followed the mana-less Awoken into the elevator and rode up.

They were supposed to be top-tier powerhouses, and their ranks must have been high—everyone we passed bowed at the waist.

Even I, as their companion, got waved through security without a single check.

Compared to the way they'd been whining after I took their mana, they were actually pretty useful guys.

Apparently Kim Jaeseok and the others had been certain they'd bring me in today; even though it was the weekend, several executives were still inside the building waiting.

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thought of meeting them made the tension climb higher and higher.

The reason I'd been able to take down Kim Jaeseok so easily—despite him being an executive—was because I'd struck first.

Sure, they'd surrounded me first, but landing that opening blow had made all the difference.

In combat, the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠first strike is everything.

Especially in a one-on-one.

I'd been surrounded by multiple opponents, yet by launching a preemptive attack I'd forced a one-on-one with Kim Jaeseok.

Having Thought Acceleration had helped too.

But the reverse was also true: if they'd ambushed me outright instead of surrounding me first, I would have been the one who got wrecked.

That's why I was tense.

This was their den.

Even if I'd temporarily turned the guys in front of me into allies, there was no guarantee they wouldn't betray me the second it suited them.

Just promising to restore their mana wasn't enough to guarantee a hundred percent loyalty.

"Is it really okay for me to be in a place like this?"

"Of course."

"But I don't even have mana..."

I immediately restored Hong Eunyoung's mana.

As a healer, she might prove useful if something went wrong.

And there was one more reason.

"Th-thank you... sob... Thank you so much for giving my mana back."

"I only restored it temporarily. If you stop listening, I'll take it away again immediately."

"Yeees... sniffle."

I only put it back the way it was. Why are you so moved?

This woman is weird.

There was another reason I'd restored her mana right now.

So the four mana-less Awoken in front of us could see it.

To show them that I had the power to restore mana whenever I felt like it.

And it worked pretty well.

"W-we also..."

"Not you lot. Not yet."

"Kh..."

"What's that? You talking back?"

"N-no, not at all... We'll listen carefully. If you'll just give us our mana back..."

Ding.

Before I knew it the elevator had climbed high enough to make my ears pop, then stopped.

The doors opened.

A glittering interior filled my vision.

They'd literally smeared money all over the walls, floor, and ceiling.

"This is...?"

"Everyone will be here. I contacted them while we were driving over. Oh, and of course I didn't tell them a single thing about what happened at the café."

"Good. Lead the way."

This was the reception room used for buyers and VIP-level guests, apparently.

The antique frames on the walls and every piece of furniture looked like they cost tens of thousands of dollars each—pure luxury.

I felt myself shrinking a little.

Getting intimidated by this much? I've still got a long way to go.

Hm?

One of the figures sitting on a luxury sofa stood up.

A bandit-like appearance that clashed completely with the surroundings.

A rough, intimidating face.

Bulging, uneven muscles.

And someone I already knew.

"Lee Daeman?"

"Huh? Who are you?"

"Ah... you don't remember? The Supporter who went into the Suwon Hwaseong Gate with you..."

"Ah! Haha. I remember, I remember. But what are you doing here?"

I gave a signal to one of the mana-less Diamond Guild Awoken.

"This is the man we were supposed to bring in today... the one who put Min Hyeokju in the hospital."

"What? Back then he was clearly a non-Awoken..."

"Ah, well, somehow I ended up Awakening."

"......"

His reaction was strange.

He brought one of those big, rough hands up to his forehead and shook his head like he had a headache.

"Is it true you did that to Min Hyeokju?"

"Yes. I had a little debt to settle. The bastard ran off with my ex-girlfriend—I couldn't forgive him."

Saying things like that didn't even faze me anymore.

But this was a problem.

I'd planned to erase their mana and threaten them, but of all people it had to be Lee Daeman.

He'd saved my life once, and I actually wanted to stay on good terms with him.

Of course, he was also the one who'd dragged me into that dangerous place in the first place.

"Haa..."

He let out a long sigh.

What does that mean?

Then he suddenly bellowed—not at me.

"Everyone come out! This guy's someone you can talk to!"

In that instant I understood.

These fucking bastards had been lying in ambush.

What the hell? Why pull something like that?

Obvious, really...

Word of what happened at the café had clearly reached them.

Which bastard leaked it... fuck, it better not be Shin Haneul again.

I immediately started scanning my surroundings.

I didn't know which son of a bitch had leaked the information, but that bastard was dead now.

If it was one of the Awoken, they'd never get their mana back from me again.

"Lee Daeman, what the hell are you doing?! Why would you say that?!"

Only one person emerged from hiding.

But I didn't let my guard down.

It definitely wasn't just one.

There had to be more.

I pretended I knew nothing and first shook hands with Lee Daeman.

"Lee Daeman, good to see you again. I've been wanting to repay you. I still haven't forgotten how you saved my life inside that sand garden. Thank you."

"R-right. That happened, didn't it? I was so focused on my little sister Heesu back then I barely remember anything. Well, if you're thanking me, I'll take it."

Then, as naturally as if it were the obvious next step, I extended my hand to the female Awoken who'd appeared late.

"Pleasure to meet you. I'm Kang Junghyeok, a newly registered Awoken at the Awoken Academy as of yesterday."

"Ah... yes."

She took my hand almost by reflex.

An executive of Diamond Guild, same as Lee Daeman.

Impressive.

Her potential was on the same level as Kim Isol's—7.

But her current mana was a full A-8.

High enough to make Lee Daeman's B-2 look pathetic.

Though in the end she was still only about the same level as Kim Jaeseok, whom I'd crushed earlier today.

Once I'd confirmed everything I needed to confirm, I released her hand—and erased her mana.

An ear-splitting scream tore through the room.

"Kyaa—! M-my mana..."

Just as I'd expected.

She hadn't been the only one hiding.

Two men burst out late and shoved themselves between the woman and me.

One held a spear; the other gripped a sharp sword.

"You bastard! What did you do to Ajin?!"

The tips of the sword and spear locked onto the underside of my chin.

I swallowed dryly.

Their level was probably about the same as Kim Jaeseok or that woman.

If I used Thought Acceleration I might be able to handle them, but the energy cost was huge, so I hesitated.

If there were still more enemies hiding, it would be a complete disaster.

"You fucking dog!"

At that moment Lee Daeman suddenly swung a fist at me.

Yep—his personality hadn't changed one bit since last time.

A reckless hothead.

Did he really think I'd just stand there and take that punch just because he once saved my life?

I had no choice. I activated the ability immediately.

The two armed men, startled by Lee Daeman's sudden intrusion, had their eyes locked on him.

I instantly stretched both hands toward their heads.

They were wearing gloves, so the only exposed skin was their faces and heads.

Then Lee Daeman's fist smashed into my face.

I didn't dodge.

His mana was only B-2, after all.

I judged I could tank a punch like that without even using Auto Shield.

I poured 10 percent of my mana into raising my full-body defense another notch.

Thud!

Despite the dull impact, I took zero damage.

At the same instant my hand clamped onto the head of the man with the spear.

I twisted my waist to avoid the spear thrust he desperately launched and erased his mana.

One left—the guy with the sword.

Whether he'd activated a skill or not, his blade was wrapped in blue light.

Taking that hit would be dangerous.

Even if I blocked with a shield, I had no idea how much energy it would drain—or whether I'd even have enough left.

"Escape!"

I had no choice. I activated the skill.

My body shot backward in an instant.

A new skill that had been added when An Sora's mana broke through her potential limit into A-class.

Crash!

My body only stopped after slamming into the wall.

The expensive leather sofa I'd been sitting on shattered, and the framed painting hanging on the wall crashed down with a racket.

Fortunately, my body—wrapped in mana—didn't even have a scratch.

"Haah... haah... huff... huff..."

The moment Thought Acceleration cut off, my breath surged all the way up to my throat.

No nosebleed this time.

But the energy consumption had been enormous.

Especially the skill activation—it had plummeted the moment I used it.

Is activating a skill while under Thought Acceleration just inefficient?

I quickly shook my head and cleared the stray thoughts.

This wasn't the time to be thinking about that.

There might still be more enemies hiding, and the guy with the sword was still perfectly fine.

Lee Daeman still had his mana too, of course.

"What the hell... My mana's gone."

"Who are you? A Transcendent? What did you do to my mana?"

"That movement just now... I could barely track it with my eyes. Where the hell did a monster like this come from..."

I kept catching my breath and finally managed to answer the men staring at me with puzzled faces.

"Me? I'm just a special-class freshman who enrolled at the Academy this time."

And also the thief who's about to clean out all of your pockets.

Now then—who wants their mana back?