A Deal with the Queen

"Woo-hoo! Lobster buffet for dinner tonight!!"

"Boss, look at this! We're cracking their skulls wide open!"

Vengeance’s operatives were unleashing a barrage of abilities upon the combatant monsters. At the very forefront, DarkMatter was gleefully weaving through the fray, turning them into confetti. She used her dark matter to hover, moving with effortless grace as she pulled, tore, and dismantled the monsters with practiced ease.

El·Lena watched their little festival with her arms crossed. The civilians had all been evacuated. The area was sealed off, and heroes were currently infiltrating from the outskirts. Inside, there was only her and Vengeance. While the subordinates of HolyTree were on standby, she hadn't called for them. She wanted to explore the depths of Vengeance for herself.

"Really? You're right. I feel so much lighter."

DarkMatter toyed with the dark matter at her fingertips. Her movements had become significantly faster. Thinking this was enough, Georgius ceased his combat and walked toward El·Lena.

"Objective achieved. Since there's time left, I suppose we can continue our conversation."

El·Lena glared at Georgius with icy eyes.

"I’m certain I told you to show some respect? You dared to make me wait on the street corner."

"It is only logical for the one with the request to wait. Well, that doesn't mean I don't respect you, El·Lena."

With those words, Georgius slowly knelt on one knee before her. His sharp, golden eyes stared directly into El·Lena’s face.

"I certainly cannot refuse your commands. You are stronger than any villain I have ever seen."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

El·Lena didn't twitch an eyebrow, but her heart wavered slightly. Her ability, Word of Command. It was an absolute rule, a law. She had never seen a single person defy her words until now. No matter how strong the villain or how powerful the ruler holding the world in their hands, one word from her turned them into a pile of meat. It should have been that way.

Yet, the man before her, Georgius, had endured her command to kneel, fought monsters, and returned to her with his head held high. This situation revealed one truth: even if she fought Georgius with everything she had, she could not be certain she could kill him.

"How interesting."

El·Lena folded her fan and tapped Georgius on the forehead with the tip. "You may rise, Geo. You only need to prove yourself to me. Show me that your respect isn't just empty words."

Georgius stood up. El·Lena circled around him. Her wispy hair fluttered, brushing against his body like a caress.

"You and Vengeance. I know you didn't just appear out of nowhere without a plan, desperate for the world's attention. I’ll give you credit. You’ve caught my interest."

El·Lena’s honeyed voice pierced Georgius’s eardrums like a needle. "It’s your turn to answer my question."

Georgius chuckled. "Let’s make a deal."

"What was that?"

"As you know, Vengeance is a nascent organization. Our foundation is weak. We need a solid backer."

He kneels while using the word 'respect,' and then shows this attitude? Look at this brazen fellow.

"What? I believe it's information worth paying for. That’s why you’re showing such interest, isn't it, El·Lena?"

El·Lena scoffed. It was a reaction born from a desire to deny his words, which she knew were not entirely sincere.

"Go on, give me a hint."

"Information regarding the Galactic Empire’s invasion date. Where do you think that came from?"

"Are you planning to play twenty questions with me?"

"It’s not a difficult problem. There was a very enjoyable event that day."

It certainly was a monumental incident. Of the bosses gathered at Pier 7 that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠day, only KangWan and El·Lena had reacted to Georgius's information. El·Lena had intended to ignore it at first, but she changed her mind when he mentioned the SkyLens. Everyone knew about it, but once an invasion actually happens, the story changes. The movement of society accelerates. She ruled the financial world. With a single flick of her finger, trillions in manpower and scale could evaporate, or become highly efficient. El·Lena had made very slight preparations for the 30th, the day now called 'Bloody Christmas.' As a result, she had reaped significant—no, astronomical—profits. How on earth did Georgius know that information? Information that hadn't even reached her, a woman who could be said to rule this country, by even a fingernail's width.

An event. El·Lena quickly recalled one variable from that day.

"You mean the Red Dragon Warrior."

"Yes."

Georgius affirmed. A smile bloomed on El·Lena’s lips.

"So CelticBio was yours, Geo?"

"As expected, you are wise."

El·Lena deduced it in an instant. The Galactic Empire Laniakea was an evil organization. There was one more evil organization. The Dark Kingdom ApoCamelot. The person most closely associated with them was, needless to say, the Red Dragon, and he had appeared on the scene on the day of Bloody Christmas. If the Red Dragon’s appearance was a scheduled sequence, it was only natural that Dr. Hyun, who saved him, and CelticBio would know about the Galactic Empire’s ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠attack date. So that was what the mysterious lab, CelticBio—which didn't even have a business registration—was.

"I see why you need a backer. And why you specifically targeted the Dragon King Squad. Did you share a drink with the Red Dragon?"

"We became best friends."

"Fufu. But I am a little disappointed."

Tap. El·Lena turned her back on Georgius and increased the distance. It was the moment her interest in him instantly cooled. The reason was simple: she realized that Georgius’s intelligence hadn't come from him, but from the Red Dragon. He was the strongest hero in the world. If he wanted to, he could have figured out her identity and the SkyLens. Georgius was just a lucky brawler riding on his coattails. However, as long as the Red Dragon was in his pocket, he had enough utility. That was El·Lena’s judgment.

"Very well, Geo. Let’s draft a contract."

"I don't need anything like that."

"What did you say?"

"It would just be a contract where HolyTree is the master and Vengeance is the servant, wouldn't it? I decline being a subordinate organization."

There’s a limit to bluffing; he’s starting to overstep his bounds without knowing his place. Cold fury began to rise from El·Lena. Georgius walked forward, approaching her.

"Keep the organization in the background. Let’s proceed with this based solely on the personal trust between you and me."

"And what do I gain?"

"You gain everything. You can shatter the SkyLens—which will fail anyway—and grasp the definitive method to strengthen your Word of Command. Then your wish will come true. That wish to challenge the authority of God."

"Geo."

All expression vanished from El·Lena’s face. To an ordinary person without ambition, unable to withstand her pressure, her face would have looked like a blank, featureless mask.

"I’m afraid this is your grave."

El·Lena could not forgive him. Her goal, which she had never once spoken aloud to anyone, not even to herself in a whisper. Where did he hear it? How did he know? The process no longer mattered. He had pierced her heart. The moment she faced that fact, El·Lena had no other choice in mind but to kill the man before her.

"'Explode'."

Georgius didn't budge.

"'Twist'."

"'Tear'."

"'Shatter'."

"'Break'."

"'Collapse'."

"'Split'."

"'Crush'."

"'Fragment'."

"'Break'."

"'Die'."

"'Die'."

"'Die', 'Die', 'Die', 'Die'!!"

El·Lena stared at Georgius with wide eyes. Yet, the Red Dragon remained motionless. He slowly opened his mouth.

"Until two months ago, DarkMatter wasn't even an Awakened. I see. You attacked SilverMirrored after two weeks of training."

"...What did you say?"

"It was my ability that helped her grow. I promise you. SSS is not a grade that represents the pinnacle or a limit."

Georgius grinned. "It’s actually just the beginning."

He held out his right hand to El·Lena. "I like you, El·Lena. I’m not interested in anything else. I only want your high-and-mighty attitude as a Queen and your ultimate ability. Shall we cooperate slowly from now on?"

El·Lena glared at Georgius. A strange curiosity, masking her anger, began to envelop her. Should she kill him right here with all her might? Or should she harbor this unknown poison?

"Are you confident?"

"If I weren't, I wouldn't have brought it up."

El·Lena looked down at Georgius’s hand, covered in a hard outer shell. After a moment, she handed him her fan.

"Don't you dare think of touching my body. Everyone who has tried until now has died without exception."

With that parting shot, El·Lena turned her back on Georgius.

"Geo, how did it go?"

"I think I’ve broken the ice. Attention, everyone. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠From now on, we prepare to move our hideout. We’re going to the best place HolyTree can provide."

As I announced it to the subordinates who had finished the battle, cheers erupted. Irua also relaxed her tension. We returned to the airship.

"Lua. Prepare the recovery capsule. Set it to maximum intensity."

"Why? Are you injured?"

"Yes. It’s severe."

I entered the recovery capsule and let my tension go. That moment—

CRACK-THUD!!

My entire body shattered, and blood sprayed out.

"Geo!! What’s happening!!"

Irua screamed, but my mind was so hazy I couldn't hear her well. I felt injections and drugs being pumped into my body in a hurry. Hmm. Thankfully, I won't die. Good grief. I’m glad the 'Die' command was nullified. I didn't think she’d be that angry. Did I provoke her too much? Well, if it were any ordinary person, the rest of the commands I took earlier would have killed them ten times over. It was only because of my stats that I could barely resist.

I checked her status remaining in the system window.

El·Lena. Yoo Chae-mi. A terrifying woman indeed.