After Brandon's 'victory' by a small margin, the man lifted the reality domain.
The once black void that covered the sky gradually dissolved.
The marbled floor of the rooftop—that should've had cracks and holes—had started to disappear.
As the voice continued to dissolve, it seemed like the sun was about to rise.
Brandon was flabbergasted, but did not show it in his expression.
'Space affinity… I need it.'
The man turned around to face him. Brandon stared deep within his ink black eyes.
The man's voice then reached his ears.
"So? Will you accept my offer?"
The man then flashed him a grin.
But that grin sent a chill down Brandon's spine. The reason was because the man's total personality could be described as monotonous.
The man would smile, but his eyes wouldn't move. The tone in his voice had no color to it as well.
Brandon pondered for a while.
He couldn't see any benefits in joining the Primordials.
After all, the Primordials was a mercenary group that would take any job, from contracted killing, to thievery.
At least, that's what he should have thought.
'But the First Seat… I know nothing about him.'
Brandon opened his mouth and locked gaze with the man.
"You."
"...?"
"Do I call you boss?"
"..."
The man didn't respond, his expressions stayed blank.
Brandon tilted his head as well.
Then for the first time, the man's expression changed, though it was only his mouth, his eyes stayed the same.
"Pfff… Hahaha."
"..."
Branon tilted his head once again, unsure about what the man found so amusing.
The man then returned his previous blank expression.
"So will you accept the offer?
"...I'll think about it."
He was definitely not gonna think about it.
But it was all he could do to buy him some time. Enough time until he was strong enough to defeat the entire organization.
But as soon as those ideas flooded his mind, another plan sparked in his head.
'Infiltration.'
If he were to defeat the Primordials some day, then it was better to keep them close and gain their trust.
It seemed like the man had expectations for him. This dictated Brandon's next course of action.
He had to ask.
"...Will you train me?"
"No."
"I see.
It was worth a try.
Ever since transmigrating in this world, the First Seat was the strongest mage Brandon had ever encountered.
Even stronger than Evelyn.
And as if the man had read his mind, his voice reached Brandon's ears.
"Evelyn is sufficient enough."
"...How did you know that?"
"Just a hunch."
"..."
"Boss?"
"Hm? No need for such formalities. Let's see…"
The man pinched his chin as his eyes darted above.
"...Call me Jin from now on."
"Jin…"
Most likely an alias.
But it didn't matter.
Brandon had done the same when the man pretended to be Alpha and started calling him Moriarty.
The man then locked his gaze with him, once again his face was blank.
"Like I said, I'll give you three years. Defeat the 11th Seat and steadily rise the ranks."
"What do I have to do that for?"
"To take the First Seat."
"So in other words…"
"Become my proxy."
"..."
It made sense.
The other seats did not know anything about the First Seat as well, as far as Brandon knew from the novel.
All except one.
"What about the 2nd Seat?"
"She won't harm you, I guarantee that."
"I see."
The two continued to converse, Brandon was puzzled why Jin had chosen him.
But as much as he had asked, Jin had never given him a straight answer.
In the end, Jin opened up a portal that led to somewhere Brandon didn't know.
Before Jin entered the portal he turned to look at Brandon who was heavily exhausted.
Jin's voice reached Brandon's ears.
"Whenever you're ready, call me."
"The burner phone, right?"
"What do you think?"
At that, the man entered the portal as the portal dispersed at the same time.
Then, Brandon slumped down by the railings.
"Haa… Haa…"
Taking deep heavy breaths, he opted for the [System Shop], and bought a bundle of potions.
He lifted the cask and chugged down a potion.
Instantly, all of Brandon's wounds started to disappear.
But he was paranoid. He had lost a lot of blood from fighting the mages in the hotel, then fighting Jin.
He chugged down another potion again.
And again…
And again…
Standing up, he turned to look at the sky. The sun was already up.
Retrieving his phone, he turned it on.
After he ended the call with Evelyn a while back, he turned his phone off.
The phone turned on and he could see a bunch of notifications.
No, not a bunch.
There were ten… Twenty… Fifty… Sixty miss calls.
There were some from the group chat, but it was mostly from Belle.
"Haa…"
He let out a heavy sigh. The last time he had spoken to Belle was when they were arguing.
He then checked the time.
[6:37 AM]
Thankfully, lectures were suspended for the week, as the next batch of students would have their Battle Royale session.
"Huaam..."
He let out a yawn.
Due to the exhaustion, his eyes started to grow heavy.
It didn't register to him earlier because of the adrenaline.
But now?
He slumped down, slowly closing his eyes.
'Guess I'll go home later.'
***
A portal materialized inside a seemingly abandoned warehouse.
And a man emerged from the portal.
His jet-black hair fluttered from the portal's pressure, as his ink black eyes scanned the entire surroundings.
It was none other than Jin, the First Seat.
What met his sight was a man with blue disheveled hair, prostrating himself before him.
"My Lord, it's good to see you again."
"Mhm, good job, Darwin."
Darwin lifted his head and their eyes met.
Darwin's mouth parted, his tone, anxious.
"I've done everything you've asked of me, my Lord. Am I now eligible to join the Primordials?"
"Sure."
Since Darwin was an Osborn, Francis would immediately be involved in the crime.
All Jin had to do next was to set the stage for Brandon, to see whatever methods Brandon would use to save Amy.
Jin's entire plan was to expose Francis Osborn, a Wraithbound.
Which is why when Francis gave Darwin the task to finally kidnap Amy, Jin appeared before Darwin.
Unbeknownst to Francis, Darwin was instructed by Jin to kidnap Amy under broad daylight, and reveal his face to the world.
Since Darwin was an Osborn, Francis would immediately be involved in the crime.
All Jin had to do next was to set the stage for Brandon, to see whatever methods Brandon would use to save Amy.
And Brandon exceeded his expectations.
Amy was saved, and Francis was killed without Brandon directly involving himself in the fight.
Jin then redirected his attention to Darwin, who continued to kneel before him.
"Ah, right. Your reward."
Darwin lifted his head.
"Thank you, my Lor–Ukhhh!"
A portal materialized behind Darwin, and a myriad of black crystals rained down on him.
Darwin spontaneously twitched as a result, blood splattering all over the area.
This persisted until Jin was sure that Darwin was absolutely dead.
At that, Jin peered down at Darwin, narrowing his eyes.
"Disgusting cultist."
After those words left his mouth, Jin turned to look at the ceiling. The sunlight illuminated the warehouse from a small hole on the roof.
He then muttered to himself,
"System."
—---------------------------
[Name: ****]
[Level: 203]
[EXP: 2,100/2,030,000]
[Class: ****]
∟ *****
[Passive]
∟ *****
∟ *****
∟ *****
∟ *****
Total Skills: 203/203
[Skill Tab]
[Stats]
[Stat Points Available: 0]
∟ STR: SSS- [●○○○○]
∟ MP: SSS+ [●●●●●]
∟ DEF: SS+ [●●●●○]
∟ AGI: SSS+ [●●●●●]
∟ INT: SSS+ [●●●●●]
∟ CHARM: SSS+ [●●●●●]
[System Shop]
[System Coins: 2,300]
[Quests Available: 84]
—---------------------------
"Two bird with one stone, eh?"
He clicked his tongue.
[Quests Available: 84 —> 82]