Holding and Shaking (1)

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Having completed all assigned tasks, she showered clean and now lounged leisurely on the bed, browsing the message boards. Life was utterly satisfying.

Of course, having entered the tower, this leisure wouldn't last forever—but that very fact made it all the sweeter.

'Everyone's buzzing.'

The fan gallery, which had been swelling rapidly in size lately, was naturally buzzing with energy and high spirits. It was all because she'd shown such a strong performance in the previous battle and delivered results.

She'd satisfied not only those demanding achievements from her but also those craving other glimpses of her. And she couldn't help but feel good seeing it. It meant she'd rewarded their faith.

Some were even collecting footage and editing it. Videos like these, compiling challengers' highlight moments, were hugely popular on Fate Road.

They often climbed the integrated best lists, drawing in fresh constellations to the fan gallery.

"Hmm..."

Of course, watching her own edited footage felt utterly bizarre, so she couldn't bring herself to finish it.

You rarely remembered every word and action perfectly from those life-or-death frantic moments. Honestly, it was downright embarrassing.

Community sleuths were still digging for the constellations trying to sabotage her. But they only piled up circumstantial evidence and suspicions—no solid proof yet.

Fate Road was much like any internet community, despite a few key differences from what she'd observed. Unless the plotters were dumb enough to leak sloppily, those secret rooms' secrets stayed buried.

Thankfully, unlike the initial confusion, the mood had shifted dramatically. Thanks to the trust she'd earned.

And yes, it truly was an opportunity for her. They might see it as just her fame rising above the haters, but those other constellations' sabotage was stacking up into tangible rewards far beyond that.

One notable change in the gallery was the surge in mentions of those around her, compared to before. Not just close allies like Kim Ji-eun and guildmates, but even Shadis, Jeong Chan-su's faction—everyone linked to her got name-dropped more.

Inevitable since she kept crossing paths with them, but even accounting for that, the volume had spiked. Proof the board was growing.

That led to more earnest shippers pairing her off. The top contender by support? Kim Ji-eun, hands down.

Knowing her hidden desires already, they treated a steamy relationship as foregone conclusion. Even main admin Serpina slipped in such comments whenever she could.

She'd been pretty shocked learning that at first.

Not just Kim Ji-eun—Jeong Chan-su, other guildmates, even brief encounters like Lee Se-jin or Sylvia became fun 'shipping bait' on their tongues.

Serpina kept it in check just enough to allow it. Imagine all you want, but don't turn it into serious fights.

'Plenty fall to being playthings yanked by constellations. Date who they say, kill who they command.'

Rookies or the relatively weak, dependent on contract constellation sponsorship, often got swept up in gallery vibes. Assassins taking gallery hit jobs were prime examples.

Luckily, Serpina strictly separated the fan gallery from her, respecting boundaries—she'd never been trapped like that.

Jeong Chan-su would ignore his constellation if it didn't sit right, no matter what.

But the desperate and weak-hearted existed everywhere. Maybe even among those around her now, some were being puppeteered.

"Master, I have urgent news. About that dark elf Shadis whom the Guild Master met in the lower floors."

Guild member Marc brought the report just as she wrapped up rest and was prepping to loosen ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up with training.

"What's with the long face?"

Marc, handling intel from informants linked across the tower, rarely came straight to her instead of Kim Ji-eun. His stiff expression screamed serious trouble.

"If I'd told the Vice Master directly, she'd flip out with that temper. Besides, isn't that dark elf a personal connection of yours, Master?"

He answered without hesitation, as if it were obvious. She had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to nod.

"While you two cleared the 150th, Shadis was climbing too. Reaching the 40th, she finally contracted with a constellation."

"A constellation...?"

"I don't know this Shadis well. To someone who once lived by crime, it might seem trivial. I'll just report the facts as they ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠are."

As her brow twitched at 'constellation,' Marc continued calmly.

"Frequenting brothels?"

The news that followed hit harder than expected.

"Precisely, an underground fighting pit doubling as a brothel."

Marc quickly clarified at her shocked look. But the shock lingered.

No matter how this tower mixed cultures into a melting pot, the shadows weren't shadows for nothing.

"I'm just worried that dark elf—known to owe you a debt—might stir scandal and tarnish your reputation."

Marc said it coolly. She wasn't even official guild, just loosely tied to her. But that alone made her ripe for smears against Reina.

"I sowed the seed, so I'll reap it."

With a sigh, she sheathed the weapon she'd drawn for training. Looked like a quicker descent to the lower floors.

But first, tapping the collective hive mind that knew more. She logged into the boards. Just a hunch for now, but this smelled like Shadis wasn't acting on her own.

And her hunches rarely missed.

Users shrugged it off. Climbers could ignore constellations with no real repercussions. System hacks or assassin hires cost big—and rarely panned out profit-wise.

The catch? Constellations picked contracts they couldn't refuse.

'Gotta hear her side.'

Logging off, she headed straight for the 40th. No solving it without the full story.