Chapter 201 The Hero's Thoughts
"This… shouldn't be happening."
Adonis currently sat on his bed, his room surrounding him like one massive cage that tied him down.
His eyes appeared vacant as they fixatedly stared at the ground, and his head hung low atop his shoulder.
Despite his usual muscular figure, Adonis looked strangely small in the confines of his room.
"So much has changed. I can't keep up any longer." He sighed, punching his forehead with his hand.
Adonis could not properly describe what he was feeling at the moment.
He had tried his best to ensure his second chance at life wasn't wasted.
He made sure his classmates were a coherent team, and he ensured they started training early and took it very seriously.
He practiced hard—working his butt off even when everyone was resting.
All of it was so he could get even the tiniest bit stronger than he was in the past.
And yet…
'When it came down to it, I failed.'
The Hero exists for one sole reason; and that is to save people from danger.
Adonis felt like a failure for being unable to perform his sole responsibility.
He was a Regressor who knew the future, yet somehow everything that was happening seemed to catch him off-guard.
It was a mortifying thing for him.
'And now, look at everything.'
The classmates he tried so hard to hold together had fallen apart. The duo of Alicia and Billy that he implicitly encouraged due to how they were in his past life—especially after the kidnapping—turned out to be a hoax.
He was the only one among their classmates who knew what had happened thanks to practically being an integral part of the Royal Council at this point.
As such, Alicia and Billy had to tell him—alongside Vida and Conrad—what happened to them.
'Alicia seems to trust me a little now. She didn't hesitate to talk to me. I suppose she knows I won't tell anyone and cause more social dysfunction.'
The result of all that drama was Adonis finding out the truth about what happened—both in this life and likely in the past too.
'I never expected Billy to be the culprit behind everything. I… I just…'
It revealed Billy to be a twisted soul in the past, forever altering the perception Adonis had of him.
Despite all of that, though…
'We still need him!' free𝑤ebnovel.com
That was the major issue that prevented the boy from being properly punished or even expelled from the Royal Estate.
Other than the fact that he seemed to genuinely regret his deeds, he was also a vital member of their team.
'His punishment is still in deliberation, but it'll probably be stuff associated with limiting his freedom, not compensating him the way we are compensated, and even tougher training.'
That was all they could afford to do.
'It's all my fault. If I had been more attentive in my past life… and if I did more to investigate… then maybe all of this wouldn't have happened.'
Deep down, Adonis knew he was just beating himself up for no good reason.
He didn't know he was going to regress back then, so there was no way he could have been 'more attentive.'
Besides, he was just as lost and confused as everyone when they were first summoned.
How could he have been collected enough to take in all the fine details of the world around him and all the events that occurred in it?
It wasn't possible.
Also, even in this life, he couldn't have investigated every single person in great detail.
He had to focus on training so he could get stronger.
Sure, he tried to be friends with as many people as possible in order to understand them better, but he was mostly working with the information he had in his past life.
There was just so much on his plate.
Adonis knew within himself that he had done his best, but he couldn't help but feel more inadequate.
… Especially when he looked at Ralyks.
"Who… is that man?"
There was no person called Ralyks in his past life.
If there was, perhaps the Dragons wouldn't have completely laid waste to the United Human Alliance and destroyed everything.
—And everyone.
'His strength is so absurd and unreal. I've never seen anyone possess such a variation of abilities and specialties.'
The only way this was possible was Enchanted Items.
'But even those can only go so far. We currently have a scarcity of Monster Cores and Mana Crystals that can replicate such amazing effects.'
Even the Black Market wouldn't have Items that would give someone such power.
If they did, he would have already tried to obtain the items for him and his friends.
'If I assume they're all his abilities, then how is he so strong? And how come I never saw him in my past life?'
The only conclusion Adonis could arrive at was that Ralyks was like him—an Otherworlder.
'Did another Nation summon an Otherworlder? But that isn't possible.'
They didn't have access to the Magic Formula for the Summoning Circle, as well as the Spell required for Interdimensional Magic.
'And such Magic can only be done once every decade or so, to allow the space-time fabric of this world to stabilize after being punctured by otherworldly energy.'
In essence, no other Otherworlder could exist in this world except him and his classmates.
'So what could he be? Maybe he belongs to a naturally powerful race?'
Elves were loved by Mana, and Fairies were Children of the World.
However, he didn't really fit those description; as true Elves would not interact with Humans, and he was too tall to be a Fairy.
Ralyks also didn't have pointy ears or an Elven Accent.
Sure, it was possible that the Dark Adventurer was in disguise, but Adonis found that to be highly unlikely.
'The Elves should currently be facing the Dragons in their own Continent. I doubt they would have a champion like Ralyks, and he wouldn't help them out first.'
None of what was happening made any sense to Adonis.
He was currently running blind, and for a Regressor like him, it was humiliating.
'I don't care what happens to me, though. As long as this world can be saved… how I feel doesn't matter.'
Adonis had already purposed within himself that he would put the safety of this world before any of his own needs.
Even his decision to integrate himself with the Royal Council, despite disliking politics, was for the very reason of helping his classmates and after the United Human Alliance in the right direction.
'I already suspected Knox and those two bastards, and I was actively investigating them.'
It was a shame that they had to die so prematurely, depriving the Alliance of any information that they had.
'Conrad and Vida will handle the situation of the Criminal Underworld, though. It's best I focus on what I can do for now…'
Adonis slowly raised his head and rose to his feet.
There was only one place that called for him now, and he prepared his body to go.
'I have to get stronger!'
He despised how inadequate he felt—how powerless he was when it counted the most.
Plus, with his Stats now lower than before thanks to using [Limit Transcension], he had to work extra hard.
But, Adonis was ready to do all of that.
'If it means saving this world… I will do anything!'
That was why he was the Hero.
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Chapter 202 Strategy Against The Undertaking
"So… tell me your plan."
In the exclusive lounge that only Ralyks and the appropriate authority from KariBlanc to enter, the man of darkness sat comfortably as he spokeX
He had a teacup in his hand, sipping its contents through the tiny spatial rupture he created on his mask's surface.
It led directly into his mouth, so despite having a Mask, Ralyks had no issues with enjoying the fine beverage that was placed before him.
Before him were Rebal Blanc and a Asher—both taking on the same position they had the last time.
Rebal was seated, and Asher stood beside him, silently watching over the conversation with his hands firmly placed behind him.
Ralyks had just told them to explain their plan, so Rebal was already placing a large parchment on the center table.
It didn't take long before he began to speak.
"Things have escalated since the last time we spoke." The man began by saying.
He went on to explain what he meant by how the Black Market had been influenced greatly, and how the value of certain items had gone up while others plummeted to the ground.
The KariBlanc Group was barely above water at this point.
It was strange to think that such a monolith in the Black Market could experience a crisis as dire as this one.
"They've taken over more territory, and at the rate they're going, it won't be long until they swallow up our region."
The parchment that Rebal showed Ralyks was a map of the entire United Human Alliance—though this was a bit special from the ones that existed in mainstream libraries.
This map showed all the shady spots; including Black Markets, Warehouses, and Hideouts that all tied into the Criminal Underworld.
It was an Item exclusive to the higher-ups of the Criminal Underworld.
This was to ensure there was 'Check and Balance' within the Triumvirate. After all, if everyone had dirt on one another, either side would be too wary to make a move.
So far, it seemed to work out well.
Until now…
"The marked spots are the places they've taken over already, and as you can see, they've encircled the parts where we occupy, advancing as we speak."
If they did nothing, in a few weeks, their entire undertaking was going to be complete.
"I see. And even though you have the maps that also display their spots, you can't afford to attack them to slow them down or as retaliation?"
As Ralyks asked this—practically rhetorically—Rebal nodded as his face became even graver.
"If we attack them or make any careless moves, they'll have more of an incentive to rush and pull us down."
Rather than their slow and steady assault, they would see any kind of action on the part of the KariBlanc Group and any other kind of resistance as an official declaration of war.
"We do not currently have the manpower to handle their forces. We'll have to enlist more forces from the Mercenary Gang."
"And you're sure they've not sidesd with Scylla and your other colleagues?" The moment Ralyks asked this, the face of Rebal darkened even more.
He had a conflicted expression on his face.
"I'm no fool. I know that is certainly a possibility, but this isn't the first time we've had skirmishes as a whole, and every single time they've stayed out of the politics and refused to take a stand."
From a logical and business perspective, it was the best move to make.
If the Mercenary Gang chose a side and the skirmish finally died down, they wouldn't be trusted by the people they sided against.
This would make them lose customers, and since the winning team was already on top, they wouldn't have much use for the Mercenary Gang's services.
To balance things out, they had to stay neutral and simply offer their services to those who desired it.
That way, anyone could be their customer.
"So you say, but… none of your skirmishes have reached this scale before. Am I wrong?" Ralyks said with a grim tone.
Rebal had to swallow hard as he responded.
"No. You're right. But, we currently have no evidence that suggests the Mercenary Gang has taken a side. Plus…"
At this point, Rebal Blanc's face turned into a mask of sheer anxiety and fear.
"… If the Mercenary Gang has taken their side, then all of this would be pointless. It might be wishful thinking, but we can only make plans like this and have hope for victory if they stay out of this."
Ralyks finished sipping his tea and dropped it on the table, causing it to make a clacking sound.
A small sound of amusement echoed from behind his mask as he folded his arms.
"Are they that strong?" He asked.
Rebal didn't hesitate to nod his head.
"The Nine Heads Of Destruction—Executive Leaders of the Mercenary Gang—are all extremely strong."
"How strong?"
"W-well… it is said that they've all killed Dragons multiple times, and that if they work together, not even a Dragon Commander is a problem for them." As Rebal said this, his tone trembled a little.
He didn't have any doubts about his strength, but the Nine Heads were simply on another level.
"I don't know how much of it is true, but I hear that they're all individually on par with the Head Warrior and the Grand Mage of the United Human Alliance."
Ralyks crossed his legs and rested his back as soon as this was mentioned.
"Oho…?" His voice contained hints of amusement.
"And their leader… he is said to be thrice as strong as an individual member."
"So that means he can easily take on both the Grand Mage and Head Warrior? Interesting…"
Rebal didn't know what else to say. The words he was uttering would make any man tremble, yet Ralyks only found them amusing.
Grand Mage Lucielle and Head Warrior Brutus were considered invincible by human standards.
If there existed other humans who could defeat them, then those would be considered invincible too—especially if there were nine of them.
'I know he dwells in the realm of the [Absolute], but I'm not sure even Sir Ralyks could come out of a fight with them unscathed.'
There was a reason why the Mercenary Gang was so well renowned despite having hardly any political influence or business power.
They simply did whatever they liked, making violence their sole occupation.
Those were the most dangerous kind of men.
"Don't worry. I understand the situation now. I'll adhere to your discretion." Ralyks shrugged, though his tone still had hints of amusement.
"Thank you, Sir Ralyks."
"What is your plan, then? You've identified the problem, so I believe you've worked around a viable solution."
The moment he was asked this, Rebal nodded and began to explain.
"The plan is quite simple. We are currently outnumbered, but so are others. If we can get the two other members of the Obsidian Council to ally with us, and you assist us with your strength, we should be able to stop the advance."
"Will it be that simple?" Ralyks asked, his tone containing skepticism.
"No. Not really. We will have to reach out to the Mercenary Gang and also buy some of their strength so that we can spread our forces far and wide. If they see us working together, and you display your power by defending us from their current undertaking, we can halt their progress."
"And then… you'll launch your counterattack. Correct?"
As Ralyks said this, Rebal nodded and smiled.
"That's the plan in a nutshell."
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*Chapter 203 The Escort Duty
The rest of the discourse with Rebal went smoothly; as he essentially gave details regarding the strategy he wanted to employ.
It was well thought out, and Rey ended up agreeing to all of it.
He was still skeptical about trusting the Mercenary Gang, and he found a lot of the information on them to be dubious, but he trusted the words of the more experienced man in the room.
At the final parts of the meeting, Rebal Blanc made one final request of him.
"Since we desperately need cash for our plans—especially with the Mercenary Gang—we'll need to engage in a few trades. We would like you to guard our caravans as they pass through our trade route."
According to Rebal, a lot had been happening to interfere with the transportation of their merchandise.
It was becoming a bother at this point—and the company was securing heavy losses as a result.
"With you protecting our Items, we are guaranteed that they'll arrive at their destination."
It was a sensible plan, and Rey agreed readily to it.
He was curious about one thing, though.
"What about the goods you wanted to sell to the Elves? Didn't you have it in some kind of warehouse in the East?"
"Ahhh…" Rebal's troubled face said enough to show that all was no well.
"Still no contact?"
"None." Rebal shook his head and sighed. "But we have confirmation that those goods have practically fallen into the hands of the enemy."
Unless they could turn the fight around and gain more ground, they couldn't hope to access them anytime soon.
"Isn't there a likelihood that they'll try to contact the Elves and sell the goods for themselves?"
Rebal nodded, more wrinkles appearing on his face.
"No one outside the KariBlanc Executives directly involved in the trade knows about our business with them, except you. We also have a secret place where we conduct business with the Elves—one they don't know of."
If that was all Rebal had to say, though, he wouldn't have made such a bitter face.
"However, if the Elves get desperate, they can just reach out to the enemy side and they'll be able to sell the goods."
In essence, it was a loss waiting to happen.
"We can't monitor the items anymore due to some kind of interference, probably caused by a barrier placed around the warehouse."
That was what alerted them that the place had fallen into the hands of their enemy.
If they didn't act fast, they would lose so much money. If they acted too fast, they could lose everything.
Rebal fought very hard to maintain a balance.
"After I'm done guarding your merchandise to its destination, would it be alright to check out the warehouse? I won't engage if it gets too dangerous, don't worry."
Even though Rey assured Rebal about the safety of his intentions, the man still had a doubtful expression on his face.
'Does he not trust me?' Rey wondered.
"I do not doubt your capabilities, Sir Ralyks. In fact, I am certain you can handle yourself perfectly well. But, the problem is… if you attack them in our old warehouse, then it could trigger their side and lead to the war we're trying so hard to avoid."
Rey could understand Rebal's perspective. The man was being very careful with his actions, considering how delicate things currently were.
'But… I'm not sure this is the best way to go about things.' Rey nearly sighed under his mask.
He had expected the KariBlanc Group to be a bit more daring, especially since he was on their side, but it seemed they were still intent on being cautious.
'Nothing I can do about that.'
"I understand. Don't worry, I won't take any significant action, and I'll ensure to remain hidden. Plus, even if I act, I'll ensure it isn't tied at all to the KariBlanc Group."
Rey knew that even if he was a total stranger, the enemy side would attribute the blame to the KaroBlanc Group, or any other member of the opposing Obsidian Council.
"I'll be careful." He added words of assurance, causing the man before him to heave a sigh of relief.
"I under, Sir Ralyks. Thank you."
"It's fine."
The two people before him seemed pleased by how the entire discussion had turned out.
With the meeting finally over, it was time for the most immediate action to be taken.
"When will I be leaving to protect your goods?" Rey asked in his deep 'Ralyks' voice.
"We plan on departing under the canopy of darkness, so in a few hours, you should be good to go."
Rey nodded as he heard more details about the caravan.
'We'll be going to a nearby city—a night's journey, really.'
The route that would be taken was unconventional in order to avoid the compulsory tolls and inspection conducted at major travel paths.
That meant the journey would be a tad more dangerous than usual transportation of goods.
Rey didn't mind, though.
"Will I be protecting the caravan alone?"
"No, Sir Ralyks. While we intend to have as little people as possible in the caravan, to improve speed and to reduce the chances of being detected, we would like to have one of our own accompany you."
Rey already expected that. It was only natural for the KariBlanc Group to send an insider with him.
He also knew the person would be very competent.
"Is it Asher?" He asked, voicing his thoughts out loud.
"No, Sir Ralyks. He is needed here to initiate some facets of the plan. I plan on sending someone equally competent—at least, with regards to combat."
Rey was curious as he heard those words. For a man like Rebal to praise this person, even comparing them to his son, he wanted to know who they were.
"You've met her before…"
The moment Rey heard this, his eyes began to widen.
'No… no way! Please let it not be who I think it is!'
Unfortunately for him… it was.
"Our strongest Warrior, Yuri. She'll be the one accompanying you."
At that point, Rey could only say one thing, hiding it under his breath.
"Fuck…"
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[A/N]