Preparations
By the time we left the imperial palace, it was already 4 p.m. Banquets usually wrapped up around 2. But thanks to the investigation, we'd stuck around until now. On the way back to the dorms.
"Ugh, it's 4 o'clock alright. Yawn... I'm getting sleepy."
"We stayed too long. I'm sleepy too..."
Rana rubbed her eyes against the wave of drowsiness, while Evan let out a massive yawn. They looked so worn out. I'd deliberately turned down the offer of a carriage, but seeing them like this, I regretted not sending them off separately.
"Why not hop in a carriage now?"
"No way. I wanna walk with you, Kyle."
"I'm fine too. The streets at dawn have their charm, but this is even better."
They shot down my suggestion. Still, I warned them upfront since I couldn't go all the way to the dorms.
"I've got business, so I can only walk you to the gate."
"Huh? At this hour? What kind of errand keeps you out this late?"
"Personal matter."
I had preparations to make for the future. The timing sucked right after the festival, but things had wrapped up quicker than expected. That's when Evan piped up, looking at me.
"Hyungnim, you live way too busy sometimes. Even if you've got stuff to do, you could take it easy. It's vacation, after all."
Rana jumped in before I could respond.
"Evan junior. It's Kyle. He must have his reasons—we wouldn't get it."
"That's why it's a shame. Look at the streets. Everyone's out having fun, and you're heading off to work? That's sad."
The festival was over, but the streets were still packed. Even as more than half the shops and stalls packed up, people laughed, shouted, and drank noisily. But their circumstances weren't mine.
"Mind your own business and handle yours. A guy who hasn't even hit 4th Circle yet talks too much."
"Pulling the magic skills card is cheating..."
Evan wore a betrayed expression. I softened my tone to reassure him.
"I mean focus on your own path first. Not me."
"That applies more to you than me, hyungnim..."
"Talking back now?"
"Hyungnim, that's super boomer talk... Ow!"
I smacked the cheeky Evan on the head. He clutched it in pain. Of course, I wasn't disagreeing with him deep down. But this was an unavoidable investment. At minimum, I had to support him until after my graduation—and his.
We'd reached the academy gate by then. I told them,
"Head in."
"Yeah, see you tomorrow, Kyle..."
"We'll be off then. Don't stay out too late."
"Don't worry. Go on."
I sent Rana and Evan inside. Then I turned back toward the capital, slipping into an alley. Quietly, I murmured,
"Come out."
A man emerged from the shadows. He dropped to one knee before me.
"Cleanup done?"
"Yes. Force integration complete, as ordered."
"Loose ends?"
"Clean. No backlash."
"Good work."
I eyed the man before me. Pale face, reeking of the grave. I'd topped up his power before, but he'd burned through most carrying out orders.
"Last bit was a headache, huh?"
"Stiff resistance."
"Got it. Stand."
Bellum rose on command. Without hesitation, I plunged my hand into his chest. It sank into flesh effortlessly.
"Barely anything left."
The mana stone embedded in his heart was down to 10%. I refilled it. The magic circle I'd carved converted it to life force. Vitality surged through him, color returning to his face. The death stench vanished.
"Thank you."
"Keep it up. If you wanna live till you drop dead of old age."
"Yes."
Bellum answered instantly.
'Yeah, he won't wanna lose this second life.'
He'd died during the Cantia purge. I'd used a quest-reward mana stone fragment to raise him as an undead. Not a mindless zombie, but one with intellect and autonomy like a human. Easier to command that way. But with betrayal safeguards—he needed my mana refills to survive. Only mine.
"Lead on."
"Understood."
I nodded. Bellum guided me to the new hideout.
Bellum's base was a slum building. I scanned the surroundings.
'Criminal life—picks good spots.'
Deep in, low detection risk. Sewer access below for easy movement and escape. Even if raided, low capture odds.
Inside the building, I spotted crew tidying up. They drew weapons at the stranger, then stowed them seeing Bellum.
"Bellum-nim, who's that...?"
"The boss. Ignore and get back to work."
The rattled underlings dropped their gazes at Bellum's words. But curiosity lingered—sneaky glances, whispers drifting over.
Roughly that kind of talk reached my ears. For the record, disguised—no one knew I was Kyle Arden.
"Sloppy discipline."
"If it bothers you, I'll clean house."
"Nah, it's fine."
Organizations need some slack. Too rigid breeds its own issues. Though if it got sloppier, I'd cull it.
We reached the top floor. I opened the door to what looked like an office. Sank into the plush chair, grabbed desk docs. Organization intel summary. Ex-boss knew his stuff. Skimming gave the picture.
"Lots of bodies, short on funds? No solid revenue streams."
"Cantia's fall spawned tons of groups. Infighting drained cash—no fat cats left."
Made sense. Capital's prime turf. Top dog gone, vultures swarm. Mushroom factions spark endless scraps. Guards meddle, hard to bulk up.
I pulled a gold pouch from sub-space. Leftovers from looting Cantia—still over half.
"Use this for funds. And memorize what I tell you now—put it to work."
In Akacheonma, game devs tossed players money-makers: slow safe grinds or quick high-risk hustles. And vice versa. I mapped optimal combos for max profit. Needed billions minimum—tons of uses.
Handed off intel, then ops advice. Disposable pawns, but structure helps it run smooth.
"Run it like that, roughly."
"Got it."
"And finally..."
I explained becoming this group's head.
"Free City auction invites. Get both."
"Which side?"
"Both."
Bellum broke sweat. Hesitant,
"Backdoor's tough. Even at our peak, no invite."
"I know. But follow my lead—you'll snag at least a foot in."
Bellum missed invites lacking cash or clout. Either gets you in—their game.
"That's it..."
I stood. Business done. Bellum's problem now.
'Leave it—he'll grow it fine.'
Return when ripe.
"Don't see me off. You'll be swamped awhile."
"Appreciated."
Just tackling my homework would bury him. No time for bows—my loss if wasted.
I slipped out quietly.
Sunrise as I exited. Academy dawns bored me, but capital's was novel—stared blankly awhile.
Then moved for dorms. Alley exit—
"Senpai~!"
Cloi, vanished post-palace, tackled me. Caught off-guard, I toppled. Pinned under her.
"...What're you doing here."
"Waiting for senpai!"
"How'd you find... Sigh, never mind."
Asking just headaches me. I shoved her off, stood. She clung again.
"So what were you up to? Don't tell me..."
She grinned slyly, continued,
"Up to no good?"
"...Not that."
"Aww~ But you totally were, you naughty old man?"
"I said no."
I strode out, hitting streets. She scurried after my pace.
"Don't leave a girl alone! What if a creepy guy's lurking~?"
"You'd outlast them."
Three-year-old wouldn't buy her fibs.
"Just sayin', y'know."
Whatever, she deflected innocently as always.
"But aren't I thoughtful? Waited till now for senpai."
"You were probably causing trouble. Promised no palace antics—why stir shit?"
"Eh? How'd you know?"
"Obvious what you'd do."
Novel glossed over her. Whatever poked her, she'd blown it big.
"Just roughed up the guy who messed with senpai. He'll have nightmares for months?"
"What?"
"Gave him what-for. Happy?"
"...Rayan?"
"Yep!"
Cloi beamed. Rayan Tianis—top of my hate list. Especially after grinding Rana today; rock bottom. But Cloi socked him? Well...
"Good job."
"Huh?"
"Said good job."
Had to praise that. Deserved it.
"Waitwaitwaitwait...!"
Cloi yelped, backing off. Muttered to herself, approached.
"Senpai, you do drugs?"
"Nonsense."
"But...? No drug smell, tone's normal..."
She sniffed. Pressed hand to my forehead.
"No fever, no mind control traces..."
"Explain yourself."
Ignoring, she asked,
"Senpai, you like me now?"
"...No, I'm fine—cut it out."
Beats me why she's like this. Cloi said,
"No, it's weird. Senpai praising me?"
"No law against it. I praise sometimes."
"Not from the guy who never says nice shit. Always snarky~"
"......"
Couldn't deny. Never saw her positive—words turned harsh.
Sudden realization—she gasped.
"So that was sincere?"
"...Yeah."
"Whoa!"
Beaming ear-to-ear at whatever thrilled her. Cooed sweetly, glued to my side.
"Senpai~"
"What."
"Say it again? Pretty please?"
"......"
"Senpai praise feels amazing. Guess 'cause you're my obsession."
That soured my mood.
"No."
"One more? Pleeease?"
"No."
I picked up pace. She clung—I bolted. Useless.
"Senpai, just once!"
Tch, shouldn't have opened my mouth. Chaos.
And Cloi's begging lasted till evening.