Shadows of the Overlord Club
Thud.
Zakai collapsed in place, losing consciousness after a strike to the nape of his neck.
Swoosh.
At the same time, I emerged from behind him.
"Phew."
I wiped the sweat from my brow, feeling a slight dizziness from the intense ether drain of Stealth. If things had gone even slightly off, I wouldn't have pulled off a scene like this.
Good thing there was a spot to hide right here. Otherwise, this approach would've been impossible.
I glanced back at the spot where I'd concealed myself moments ago. It was a small room, like a kitchen for handling utensils, partitioned off by a screen. The moment Kind and Bishier had entered the house ahead of me, I'd activated Stealth and slipped in with them. Then I'd released it behind the partition I'd scouted earlier, suppressing my presence as I observed the situation.
"Anyway, success."
I smirked down at the neuro sword egg in my hand. It had been a tense moment, but I'd witnessed Zakai's scheme firsthand—and secured the egg to boot.
So he really planned to use Kind as the host for the neuro sword parasite.
I tucked the egg away, shaking my head. If I'd been even a little less attentive to Kind, he would've become the host without even knowing it today.
And that could've come back as a dagger aimed at me later.
It felt good preempting a major future disaster.
"Now then..."
I turned to Zakai sprawled on the floor. Time to extract the answers I wanted from him. I dragged him over and propped him against the wall, binding his arms and legs just in case. By the time I finished, the ether depleted from repeated Stealth use had recovered substantially.
My current vessel for ether was still small, limiting how much I could wield at once. But the recovery rate was impressively fast—no need to puzzle out why.
The ocean of ether slumbering inside me.
For some reason, after my regression, a fragment of the inner core from my previous life had formed within me. The sea of ether that had boosted my stats to S-rank from the start! It was still faint, but ether flowed ceaselessly from it.
On top of natural recovery from the environment, the ether emanating from my inner core made my regen rate extraordinary. I hadn't noticed much in the Infant Stage, but now in Juvenile, the difference was stark.
Nice.
After checking my internal ether, I first used Transformation Art to alter my face.
Shimmer.
My features shifted to look much older and rougher, completely unlike my usual self. My bare face was unrecognizable now. But with low proficiency, I still couldn't change the clan mark under my ear, so I pulled out my prepared mask to cover from my eyes down, including my ears.
With this much prep, Zakai wouldn't have a clue who I was.
"Hey."
I deepened my voice and tapped his cheek.
"Mmm..."
Zakai showed no sign of waking. I added more force to my prodding hand.
Slap.
"Ugh... Wh-what?"
Finally coming to, Zakai looked around wildly before spotting me. His eyes bulged like a grasshopper's.
"Y-you, who...?"
"None of your business."
A low, gravelly timbre flowed from my mouth. Hearing it, Zakai flinched hard.
Bound arms and legs. Suspicious mask. And a voice laced with subtle menace. Even someone oblivious could tell he was in deep trouble.
"Wh-why are you doing this to me...?"
"Shh."
I raised a gloved finger to my lips. I couldn't morph my hands yet with my current Transformation Art proficiency, hence the gloves.
"Answer only what I ask. Do that, and you live. Nod if you understand."
He bobbed his head frantically.
"I know exactly what you tried to pull today. You're not working alone. Who gave the orders?"
"...!"
His pupils shook violently at my question. Caught him off guard, huh?
"What are you talking about...? I was just treating my juniors to a meal..."
Tsking at his evasion, I pulled out the neuro sword egg from my pocket.
"This your idea of a meal? Wonder if you'd still say that with it shoved down your throat."
His face drained of color at the sight.
"Not talking, huh?"
"It-it was all me. I don't even know what it is. Honest."
Lies poured smoothly from his mouth. No wonder he could hang with those guys—with skin that thick.
"Tch. Thought you had some brains."
I pocketed the egg again and pulled out a gag, stuffing it into his mouth.
"Mmph! Mmph!"
His eyes widened even more, head thrashing side to side. Anyone would've thought I was about to devour him alive.
...Well, not eating him, but I planned to deliver pain just as bad.
Poke.
"...!"
I jabbed his nape with my index finger, silencing him completely. Probably freaking out from the unfamiliar sensation.
This was a technique only I could use in this world right now.
Like hitting pressure points in wuxia novels.
This world had ether, a mysterious energy akin to inner force. And Abian natives had ether circuits in their bodies, much like meridians.
Through endless analysis of those circuits, I'd researched various applications—techniques mimicking pressure points.
Maybe that's why I'd reached the pinnacle here. Not just Limit Break, but years of studying ether circuits fueled by Earth's imagination.
"This'll hurt."
I prodded a circuit near his dan field.
"...!"
His eyes rolled back, body convulsing violently.
This jammed ether into pain-sensitive circuits, blocking them. One slip, and circuits could burst like eggshells, killing instantly. Required vast knowledge and precise control—no one else could replicate it.
How long can you last?
Finger Needle—or Hand Acupuncture for short. I'd never seen anyone endure it over ten minutes. Most foamed at the mouth and passed out in minutes.
It'd been handy prying info from the Four Great Clans' executives too.
Thud. Rumble.
Already? Not even a minute in, and Zakai drooled on the floor, writhing. His agonized expression said it all—foam bubbling, on the verge of death.
Less grit than I thought.
Poke.
I released the blocked circuits and his voice.
"How's that? Ready to talk properly?"
"Mmphmmph!"
I raised my finger in front of his face. Terror in his eyes, he shook his head wildly.
Satisfied, I removed the gag.
"I-I'll tell you everything! Everything!"
Gasping desperately, he spilled. Soon, I had detailed intel on the Overlord Club from him.
* * *
Vice president faction, huh...
I stroked my chin after hearing him out. Zakai claimed he was in the vice president's line, reciting every order he'd followed.
One thing became crystal clear.
The vice president is the Four Great Clans' plant.
Specifically Amar King Centipede Clan. Had to be.
Things are taking shape.
I knew Amar spies infested the Overlord Club. But I'd only learned that after Mantis Hall fell, when I wiped them out. Not the specifics of who did what.
The unexpected haul was nice, so I glanced at Kind briefly—without alerting Zakai—then turned away.
Luckily, not the whole club. Just the vice president's crew.
A relief. Not every king or shield mantis in Mantis Hall joined Overlord Club, but many did. If the clan's future pillars were all Amar plants, it'd cripple us.
Just cull the vice president and key club alumni in high posts.
Clubs disbanded upon Maturity Stage 2, when you became a full Mantis Hall warrior. Among those graduates, surely some Amar spies lurked.
They operated openly in a big club like that without detection? Proof of backers.
How far up did it go?
Can't rule out elders.
My eyes narrowed. Elders held the highest status after the lord. An infiltrator among them explained the boldness.
"I-I told you everything! Swear!"
Lost in thought, Zakai whimpered, trembling.
My Hand Acupuncture must've terrified him.
"Hmm. Might need one more round."
"H-heek! P-please, no..."
I raised my finger; convulsions hit his cheeks as he groveled.
Yeah... Even Complete Bodies couldn't endure it. No wonder.
Anyway, he'd spilled all he knew. Kind had played his part perfectly again.
Now for the finale.
With key names extracted, time to wipe Zakai's memory. I'd prepped meticulously to leave no traces en route, but better safe.
The real enabler for this plan.
Illusory Eye. It'll fog his memories.
Illusory Eye. Implants illusions in the target. At mastery, it induces hypnosis for suggestions, controlling actions—an ultimate technique. One of many useful spells from the Shinseon Butterfly Clan.
Full hypnosis is beyond my current ether and proficiency, but...
I just needed to erase the last few minutes. Easy enough.
After this, he'd recall nothing but fog.
Ether's recovered enough for Illusory Eye.
"Zakai."
I called his name softly. He stared up, eyes quaking.
"Look straight into my eyes."
With those words, my eyes began to glow purple.