CH-4 The Plan...[1]

[Oh, it's Zeno! One of our loyal subordinates who sanctioned your true identity. She was in my service when I recovered her from a hearts' virus type illness. Three years ago until that day.] Harriet informed me before any further developments occurred.

"Ah, so where were we?" It was a question that is itching hard to ask.

[We're in the office room of our main house. I cast a spell to obscure the light and constructed a domain using our soul's power.]

"I see. That described everything to me." I remarked, And snapped my fingers.

—Click!

Needless to say, the oppressive black space terminated, giving way to a tactile big room. Since it was a domain, technically I had originated, banishing it posed no challenge to me.

"You can come in, Zeno." I welcome that subordinate, settling myself into a plush sofa and casually pouring wine into two glasses.

In this world, when people turn 16, that means they have become adults.

Therefore, if someone were to observe me while drinking wine, it wouldn't be of concern to anyone. Not that I care much about their opinion…

"Okay, boss!" A female voice replied from the opposite side of the gate.

—Creak!

The door swung open, as a mature demon woman entered inside, At Fusion realms, Second stage, she had long red hair, brown eyes and brows, a nondescript face, a horn protruding from the side of her head, and an average female height.

"Good evening, boss!" Zeno greeted with a slight bow.

"Mmm!" I nodded in return and waved a small gesticulation for her to have a seat against me.

—Slurp!

Quaffing my wine, I paid no heed to her presence and casually reclined on the sofa, one glass in hand.

"Not bad at all but I will drink only one cup." I sipped again, briefly hinting that the other filled glass on the table of wine represented her, as I took another sip of my wine, And like a badass art I crossed my legs to look cool.

"... I'm sorry, Master, not today. I have two pieces of news — one is unfortunate, the other is positive." Zeno, her expression serious, declined the wine as she stared at me like I was a dead person.

"Let's start with the bad news first, Shall we?" Putting glass on the table, my eyelids climbed up, with a meaningful smile.

"As you wish, Boss." Zeno picked her mobile. It wasn't surprising, considering that in this advancing world, smartphones were a recent technology.

Ah, I, too, owned one. Afterall, You know, mobile phones are like a drug—once you're hooked, there's no escape.

It's like falling into a bottomless pit of endless scrolling and notifications!

In fact, all 47 members of our organization, In Eclipse Shadows, had phones, except not adding myself, as I was the boss because the leader doesn't count any limbs in secret society but through brain numbers.

"The bad news is that the Deadnova Protocol organization has abducted several women and is subjecting them to inhumane experiments."

Zeno reported, scrolling through her mobile screen. "They're trying to exploit 'Meridian Insensibility Syndrome (MIS)' in their quest to increase the supplement of pills for immortality."

"That's not all. From what we've gathered about this MIS, those pills could temporarily enhance every aspect of an individual's abilities for a few seconds, regardless of their cultivation level, race, or any other factor-"

"They're planning to use these girls as guinea pigs for their experiments." Interrupting Zeno in mid sentence, I speak up.

Haaa! This is going to be a real pain in the ass. Those despicable monkeys are criminals who couldn't care less about anyone else's well-being.

Still my expression darkened as I predicted their next move. "They'll force them to ingest the pills, analyze the effects, and then refine the formula based on the outcome and behavior. Regardless of subjects, these girls are nothing but innocent souls on the brink of death."

"That's correct, boss!" Zeno's expression was grim, but my mind was elsewhere.

I could sense her admiration, although what I elaborated was merely an assumption based on the information I stored from Harriet's memories.

As the name explains a bit, Meridian Insensibility Syndrome (MIS) is a mysterious illness that has affected a few bloodlines, particularly humans, demons, and vampires.

Being the grandmasters' underling of the alchemists'(Iris) lineage, Harriet cured Zeno from it using her own Se and superpowers.

However, I was not sure about the nature of this threat's spread throughout this world. I lack enlightenment of how it operates and claims its victims.

From the root of my understanding, MIS primarily targets the heart before progressing to disrupt the meridians, rendering cultivators unable to sense spirit essence.

The illness gradually weakens its victim until death follows, or the individual transforms into a creature devoid of reason.

Imagining this Deadnova Protocol, it appears to be a society or organization striving to achieve immortality through means other than traditional cultivation realms.

I'm not well-versed in the details, as Harriet didn't prioritize collecting information, focusing instead on cultivation and organizational matters.

In the previous chapter of my life, I was engaged in rescue missions just like this, but circumstances have changed direction substantially since then...

"And what about good updates?" My subconscious curiosity disturbed my train of thought. I was eager for more statistics to break the monotony.

"Luckily, we've managed to pinpoint the location of the girl. It appears she's been stowed away in a base, into a deep underground room, resting at the heart of this charming, petite kingdom's secret sanctuary."

Zeno clenches her fist tightly until nails prod in, blood seeping from the Injury, " The base is one of main branches of Deadnova organization, and we've also discovered that one of the main operatives arrives there today. He is a candidate to be the upcoming prospective king of this kingdom, Name is Ethan Hawthorne."

… Ah, I finally be wise about the entire scenario: so, that's the story then, As I sneered. "Heh, when the watchman is the thief, how can people feel safe?"

[Master, are you sure you're going to…] Harriet began for something but I cut her off before she could finish her sentence.

"In my previous life, I did my best to protect the innocent as much as I could and Ultimately, Retrieved several impacts with it. but… Now, I will be neither a hero nor a villain."