Transcendence Due To A System Error-Chapter 117: Turning Point

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< Chapter 117: Turning Point (2) >

The hide-out of the Unknown, Saviors of Truth.

Unknown was receiving a report from Maestro.

โ€œVagabondโ€™s empty spot is being covered by other executives. There may be a slight delay compared to the plan, but we think it wonโ€™t be a hindrance to the grand scheme.โ€

Unknown nodded his head impassively. Itโ€™s a very satisfactory outcome, given that no major variables have occurred.

โ€œUm, boss. May I ask a question?โ€

โ€œAsk away.โ€

Maestro, who had been sitting on one knee, only lifted his head to meet Unknownโ€™s gaze.

โ€œโ€ฆDo you really intend to leave Lust as is?โ€

Lust, who was acting alone during this busy period, continued to weigh on his mind. No, it was unsettling.

โ€˜If only Lust had joined the operation, there would have been no delay in the plan.โ€™

Lust, who had inserted a discordant note into his perfect score, could not be to his liking.

โ€œItโ€™s regrettable, but itโ€™s unavoidable. Thatโ€™s the โ€˜contract,โ€™ after all.โ€

Rules of the Unknown.

Stick to the words you utter.

He has never broken a promise in his life so far.

The same goes for contracts.

If the Unknown nods his head, the contract must be followed unconditionally.

โ€œI apologize. I misspoke.โ€

Maestro lowered his head.

โ€œNo matter. I can fully understand why you would say that from your perspective.โ€

You must be disappointed.

The versatility of Lust is limitless. Of course, disappointment is not the only reason.

โ€œDavid, do you find the child suspicious?โ€

โ€œโ€ฆTo be honest, yes.โ€

Maestro doesnโ€™t trust Lust. No, he canโ€™t.

And why would he? Lust has too many secrets.

Maestro is not naive enough to trust someone with many secrets.

The suspicion is not just that.

โ€˜Right to refuse missions. Right to refuse murder. Right to refuse participation in terrorist activitiesโ€ฆโ€™

And so on.

Lust has never committed what could be considered an evil deed. At most, things like identity manipulation, infiltration, and seduction.

Still, the reason she holds a high-ranking position is that her information-gathering ability is unparalleled.

โ€˜โ€ฆHer information-gathering ability is better than Hermitโ€™s, provided the subject is male.โ€™

As long as the gender is male, there is no way to escape from her clutches.

At some point during continued contact, one becomes utterly enamored with Lust, becoming a slave who gives his body and soul.

What follows is needless to say.

The birth of an information dispenser that spills all the information.

โ€˜Here, in addition to the enhancement skill that shares absorbed energy with others, she has decent combat abilities as well. Itโ€™s clear sheโ€™s fit for an executive position. Howeverโ€ฆโ€™

I canโ€™t trust her.

If it wasnโ€™t Unknown who had brought Lust in, then I wouldโ€™ve never given her an executive position

โ€œAt least we should put her under surveillance, I think.โ€

โ€œDavid, thereโ€™s no need to worry about that.โ€

The Unknown asserted.

โ€œThe child cannot betray me.โ€

Unknown raised one corner of his mouth as he rested his chin on his hand.

โ€œAbsolutely.โ€

He had invested 10 years in this. Remembering those times, he found himself smiling involuntarily.

โ€˜It was quite enjoyable, to say the least.โ€™

Ravaging everything around a person named Shirakawa Ai and making her rely on him had been a rather sweet experience.

โ€œAnyway, David, how do you think the stealing of Americaโ€™s relic will go this time?โ€

โ€œIt seems like itโ€™ll be easier than expected. Thanks to the Gray Out, security has been reduced quite a bit. We should be able to proceed with the operation by tomorrow.โ€

* * *

โ€œโ€ฆSo, you believed you were with a high-ranking official of the โ€˜Saviors of Truth,โ€™ only to find out you werenโ€™t? Is this what you gathered all these busy people for?โ€

Maiden looked at me with a menacing smile.

โ€œYesโ€ฆโ€

โ€œDo you want to die?โ€

โ€œโ€ฆPlease spare me.โ€

I failed to lure Lust. To be more precise, I didnโ€™t even attempt to lure her.

The reason doesnโ€™t need to be stated, but itโ€™s because Lustโ€™s soul was emitting a pure light.

โ€œโ€ฆSigh. Fine, it could happen.โ€

Maiden let out a sigh.

โ€œYes, itโ€™s rather fortunate. At least you didnโ€™t try to handle it alone.โ€

Yu Hwa was smiling contentedly.

โ€œโ€ฆโ€

โ€œโ€ฆโ€

And both Jia and Si-yeon are still just observing the situation. I understand Si-yeon doing so, but why is Jia behaving like that?

โ€œAh, Jia, is this your first time meeting with Maiden?โ€

โ€œYes, yep. No, uh-huh!โ€

Seeing that she used formal language, it seems sheโ€™s quite nervous.

Well, even for the Shinwa Group, the name Maiden Critinus must carry some weight.

Maiden smiled slyly as she looked at Jiaโ€™s stern expression.

โ€œWhat, did you forget? Miss Heiress of the Shinwa Group. This is our second meeting.โ€

โ€œYe, yes?โ€

โ€œQuite disappointing. I didnโ€™t expect you to forget.โ€

โ€œUh, wellโ€ฆโ€

Jiaโ€™s pupils wavered.

โ€œIโ€™m, soโ€ฆ sorry.โ€

She promptly bowed her head. It seemed as though she was worried that her mistake might disrupt her relationship with VIP Maiden Critinus.

However, it would be unlikely that Jia could forget having met someone as important as Maiden.

At that moment, Maiden chuckled.

โ€œItโ€™s a joke, a joke! Why so serious?โ€

Everyone was stunned.

โ€œWas that a lie?โ€

I asked on behalf of everyone.

โ€œItโ€™s not a lie. I attended her doljanchi (first birthday celebration) and even shook her hand.โ€

โ€œAhโ€ฆโ€

Jia let out a long sigh.

โ€œSo, is your Chairman doing well?โ€

โ€œYes, heโ€™s still very robust.โ€

โ€œStill overprotective as ever?โ€

โ€œโ€ฆYes, a little.โ€

โ€œHehe.โ€

Maiden and Jia started to catch up with old stories.

โ€œBy the way, howโ€™s the brother of Cadet Ha Si-yeon?โ€

โ€œMy brother?โ€

โ€œYes, I saw him occasionally when I was on business trips in the U.S. He seemed like a notable figure.โ€

โ€œโ€ฆHehe, yes, isnโ€™t he?โ€

She quickly became friends with Si-yeon as well.

Indeed, Maiden Critinus.

An incredible social skill.

โ€œIs there anyone you donโ€™t know, Unni? Seems like anyone you meet, you either know them or know someone who knows them.โ€

Soon enough, Yu Hwa joined the conversation.

โ€œExactly. Itโ€™s all about connections, isnโ€™t it?โ€

The atmosphere quickly warmed up, which was a relief. Gathering these four people in one room had been a concern.

Jia and Yu Hwa seemed to be avoiding any display of hostility, mindful of Maidenโ€™s cues.

As for Si-yeonโ€ฆ well, she was her usual self.

Thanks to Maiden, this was going smoothly. freewe bnovel.com

โ€œSo, kiddo. These two are also part of the task force for dealing with the Gateโ€™s rampage this time?โ€

Maiden asked directly.

โ€œYes, thatโ€™s correct. The four of us here are the only people I can trust.โ€

โ€œI see.โ€

Maiden stroked her chin with an enigmatic expression, seemingly speculating on what sort of relationship I had with Jia and Si-yeon. Well, she must have heard a lot from Yu Hwa, so sheโ€™ll probably draw her own conclusions.

โ€œUnderstood.โ€

A quick glance revealed that Jia seemed to be pondering the same thingโ€”what the relationship between me and Maiden could be. Jia would probably reach a conclusion on her own as well.

Given the current situation, thereโ€™s little chance of my lies being exposed.

To Yu Hwa and Maiden, Iโ€™ve said, โ€˜Jia and Si-yeon donโ€™t know that Iโ€™m a survivor of biological experiments.โ€™

To Jia and Si-yeon, Iโ€™ve said, โ€˜Maiden and Yu Hwa donโ€™t know that Iโ€™m a half Angel and half-elf.โ€™

Each should keep their mouths shut about the respective matters.

As long as these two facts arenโ€™t shared, the probability of my secret being exposed is very low.

Still, if this awkward silence continues, who knows what could be said?

โ€œShould we go ahead and brief the operation now that weโ€™re all gathered?โ€

I quickly shifted the topic.

* * *

That night.

I sat alone at my desk, stretching.

Looking over the notes in front of me, I smiled in satisfaction.

โ€œThe operation is perfect.โ€

The first large-scale Gate.

Thanks to minimal casualties in the Emission Gate that opened in Gangnam, the number of superhumans able to respond to the Gateโ€™s rampage has increased compared to the original work.

With the help of Maiden, Yu Hwa, and Jia, weโ€™ve even received more international superhuman support than in the original.

The main Erosion Gate that the protagonist of the original had to handle was the only problem, but thatโ€™s no issue now.

โ€œWho cares, when Master is around?โ€

Ranked 1st among superhumans worldwide.

The guild leader of โ€œThe One,โ€ โ€˜Master.โ€™

Maiden succeeded in bringing him to Korea.

โ€œDamn. I had saved that favor for a good skinning later on. Now I have to use it here.โ€

Maidenโ€™s grumbling voice still rings in my ears.

I do feel a little sorry.

I originally planned to personally handle the main Gate, but that became impossible.

โ€œWhat can you do when you canโ€™t enter the Gate?โ€

The day I realized I couldnโ€™t physically enter a real Erosion Gate, I was truly flustered.

Anyway, โ€˜Masterโ€™ will personally go into the main Gate and handle it.

Thereโ€™s no way he, who is a fanatic for justice, would just sit back and watch a countryโ€™s crisis unfold.

โ€œSigh.โ€

Of course, variables still remain.

โ€œโ€ฆLust.โ€

An executive of the Saviors of Truth.

Lust.

Her very existence is a significant variable.

I tried to deal with that variable today, but I failed.

To be precise, I stopped myself.

โ€œWhy is it white?โ€

Lustโ€™s soul was strikingly pure, quite incongruent with the codename representing the โ€œsin of lust.โ€

Itโ€™s the soul of someone who has hardly committed any sins.

โ€œThis doesnโ€™t make sense.โ€

The worldโ€™s worst villain organization, the Saviors of Truth. Among them, one of the seven executives under Unknown. That one hadnโ€™t committed a single murder. Can this be real?

โ€œTrue, the original work never explicitly mentioned Lust killing someone or participating in terrorist-like villainy.โ€

At least, not at this point.

Eventually, Lust does participate in a nationwide terrorism operation.

I kept mulling over scenes involving Lust.

โ€œOn rethinking it, the scenes either involve conversations with other executives or depict infiltrating somewhere to gather intelligence.โ€

Sheโ€™s a woman who embodies โ€˜lust,โ€™ seductive in words and action. But thatโ€™s it.

โ€œHer appearances are minimal too.โ€

So, she is the only one of the seven executives whose power is not well-known.

There should be something.

Even how she died wasnโ€™t detailed in the novel.

Suddenly, during the final battle with Unknown, Unknown himself mentioned that Lust had already died. That was the end of Lust.

It was very anticlimactic.

โ€œItโ€™s driving me crazy.โ€

What is she, exactly?

Frankly, I couldโ€™ve dealt with her earlier if I had tried.

Whether her soul was white or whatever, it was clear that she was Lust.

Although it would have been a little uncomfortable, it wouldโ€™ve been completely possible.

But for some reason, it felt like I shouldnโ€™t.

It was just an instinct.

A strange but strong sense of unease, that if I dealt with Lust now, I would deeply regret it later.

Even though there was no evidence or anything, it was just an ambiguous anxiety, but I trusted my instinct.

โ€œI can ignore it.โ€

As long as โ€˜Masterโ€™ is entering Korea today, the chances of the Saviors of Truth taking any action are less than 1%.

Even Unknown wouldnโ€™t want to fight against โ€˜Master.โ€™

โ€œItโ€™s fine. No problem.โ€

I completely closed the notebook where I had been organizing the plan.

* * *

The next day at lunch.

I was training at the Golden Sanctuary for the first time in a while.

To be more precise, it would be more accurate to call it flight practice rather than training.

The goal is the complete assimilation of the Angelic Trait โ€˜Heavenly Wingsโ€™.

There are two main reasons.

The first reason is that it feels like Iโ€™m getting closer to assimilating Heavenly Wings.

The second reason is that the angelic tattoo is red.

One of the ancient relics Iโ€™m currently holding is an angel-exclusive relic, and to use it, I have no choice but to completely assimilate either Heavenly Wings or โ€˜Thunderboltโ€™.

Iโ€™ve already been flying for about two hours; I wonder when Iโ€™ll assimilate it.

Just when I was starting to get bored.

โ€œOh?โ€

I felt a strange sense of incongruity in my chest. I immediately descended to the ground and lifted my shirt.

โ€œOkay!โ€

The angelic tattoo had turned green.

In other words, I had succeeded in completely assimilating Heavenly Wings.

โ€œFinally, this flight grind is over.โ€

By the way, what could be the full assimilation effect of the angel race? Since divine power is already one of the traits, it wouldnโ€™t be that.

If itโ€™s not divine power, then nothing comes to mind.

โ€œHmm.โ€

There seems to be no discomfort in my body. And my magical power is also the same.

Thereโ€™s also no other noticeable change.

I pondered for a long time, but I couldnโ€™t find an answer.

โ€œOh well.โ€

Letโ€™s just go home for now.

I can think about it later, itโ€™s not too late.

โ€œGoldie, letโ€™s go.โ€

โ€œMeow!โ€

I held the mini-sized Goldie in my arms and quietly headed home.

โ€ฆIn the end, I never found out the effect of the complete assimilation of the angelic trait.

* * *

Time quickly passed, and it became the 4th day of the Gray Out.

On the 2nd day of the Gray Out, gates opened every 10 hours. By the 3rd day, they started to open every 5 hours.

Gates with magical power levels of around 10,000 to 20,000 were easily closed, so there was no significant damage.

Just like in the original work, we successfully created a magical formula that allows for smooth communication even when magic is distorted, so concerns about communication disruption have disappeared.

The issue of not being able to detect the appearance of gates in advance was solved by sheer numbers. We covered it by deploying all the superhumans in Korea and international superhumans who came to help at key points.

Thanks to this, the total number of casualties so far is less than 1,000.

Considering that at this point in the original work, nearly a million people had already died, this is significant progress.

And today is the 4th day.

โ€œAncestor, they say today there are fewer casualties than yesterday.โ€

โ€œThatโ€™s fortunate. Whatโ€™s the interval between the gate openings?โ€

โ€œThis time, itโ€™s about 1 hour and 5 minutes.โ€

โ€œNot much time left, then.โ€

The gates started to open at intervals of one hour instead of two hours.

In exactly 8 hours, the time lag between gate openings will become zero, and gates will begin to open simultaneously.

โ€œGate outbreaks will start at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning.โ€

That will be the prologue to the massive gate explosion.

โ€œโ€ฆYes.โ€

Jiaโ€™s expression turned serious.

โ€œAre you nervous?โ€

โ€œYes. A little.โ€

As she said this and smiled faintly, Jiaโ€™s face looked considerably anxious.

โ€œDonโ€™t worry. Nothing will happen.โ€

I patted Jiaโ€™s head.

โ€œDonโ€™t worry too much. If things go south, Iโ€™ll figure it out.โ€

โ€œโ€ฆYes.โ€

With that, she returned a somewhat relieved, somewhat bright smile.

Woo wooongโ€”

It was then that my phone vibrated.

[Maiden Critines]

It was a call from Maiden.

โ€œExcuse me, I need to take this call.โ€

โ€œSure.โ€

I answered the call.

โ€”Kiddo!

Maidenโ€™s voice resounded loudly as soon as I picked up. It was a strangely flustered voice.

โ€”Thereโ€™s been a terrorist attack near the dragon ruins in Washington, U.S.!

โ€œA dragonโ€™sโ€ฆ ruins?โ€

Could it be?

โ€œBy any chance, did a relic stored at the ruins disappear?โ€

โ€”Correct! Itโ€™s a relic called โ€˜Dragonโ€™s Visageโ€™โ€ฆ

At that moment, my heart sank.

โ€˜Dragonโ€™s Visageโ€™ is one of the ancient relics that the Saviors of Truth need for their plan.

In the original work, it was stolen by โ€˜Vagabond.โ€™

And right now, Vagabond is gone.

โ€˜โ€ฆMaestro mustโ€™ve acted hastily.โ€™

In an effort to quickly fill the void left by Vagabond, it seems Maestro decided to preemptively handle Vagabondโ€™s tasks.

Also, since I used my connections to bring in more superhumans from other countries, the security in the U.S. might have been somewhat lax, giving Maestro another reason to act.

โ€˜โ€ฆIโ€™ve been had.โ€™

I didnโ€™t see this coming.

However, this is not necessarily a bad outcome. The fact that Maestro just pulled a stunt in the U.S. means heโ€™s not interested in Korea, which suggests that the Saviors of Truth wonโ€™t interfere with the massive gate explosion.

โ€”Ah, damn it! How did things get this complicated?!

However, Maidenโ€™s reaction was not normal. Somethingโ€™s up.

โ€”Sigh. Kiddo, listen carefully.

Her voice lowered.

โ€”Master. That gentleman. He turned around at the airport.

โ€œโ€ฆExcuse me?โ€

โ€”Says he needs to catch that damn relic thief first.

The butterfly effect from prematurely eliminating Vagabond and bringing in more superhumans from other countries.

โ€œWhat isโ€ฆ thisโ€ฆโ€

A massive typhoon started with the flap of a butterflyโ€™s wings,

shattering my well-laid plans like a fortress.

< Chapter 117: Turning Point (2) > End

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