Chapter 102 Prelude To A Certain Incident

The difference between the Nether Realm Store Ticket and Nether Store Ticket was that the former was exclusive to be accessed by a Death Executioner, and any items sold there could only be of any use to a Death Executioner while the latter was a gathering of sorts accessible with Death Executioner's companions.

As Russell skimmed through the information that his older sister had shared with them via Star Quest Party, Freya grumbled with random items she received.

"Oppa, I feel like being an owner of a construction company with these woods of some sort. How do I use them, by the way?"

Freya asked, pursing her lips, and continuing to browse the information about the items she acquired from the treasure box.

"Well, you're in control of a specific region, you should know by now the state of outside the City of Forgetfulness, or even within the city, which somewhat isn't properly taken care of.

"I don't know myself, just study the guidebooks you received, my smarty sister."

Russell heard a 'tsk' coming out of Freya's mouth, prompting him to chuckle a little as Amelie arrived from the kitchen, holding three slightly big plates of meals in her hands as if she were a skilled waitress, serving her guests.

...

"Hup-!"

Bam-!

Inside his Personal Training Ground, Han Jiho cleaved down one of the sturdy training dummies with one of the sturdy training swords weighing at least 3 kilograms. It's been at least two weeks since the Emergence Anniversary ended and at least a week since some supposedly missing students returned, bearing some discoveries, but during those times, all he thought about was the way he lost to Samantha during the exhibition battle on the last day of the Emergence Remembrance Event.

"As if my trait has been nullified..."

He muttered in thin air as he took a short distance between himself holding the sturdy training sword and the sturdy training dummy.

It's been some time since his trait, Will of the Sword (SSS) has regained its effectiveness, allowing him to adapt in any battle, the longer it is being fought.

Han Jiho even asked about such power, but even Alexander didn't know such a thing.

'Or maybe he lied to me again.'

For some reason, recently, Han Jiho felt that there was something about Alexander. Learning about the way of life outside of Sanctus Solaris, the secluded village he came from that was almost destroyed by Monster Stampede, and through making connections with people with high status that didn't matter to someone like him, but still respects it, he became curious about the case of Monster Stampede that struck his village 11 years ago as he brought the topic with Elizabeth and Rumia just recently in which he received a reply of unawareness.

'They're Princesses, yet they didn't know such an incident took place...'

Bam-!

He thought inwardly as he swung the sturdy training sword he was holding.

But at some point, Han Jiho realized that maybe not everything could be made known to the Princesses... that maybe it was their parents who knew something about the tragedy that took his parents out of this world.

Ding-!

A notification sounded in his ears as a message, not from the System, but the smartwatch that Alexander provided cut off his inner thoughts.

Han Jiho looked at the content of the message, and its sender and then saw Anya Amasawa's name.

...

"I feel like there's so much happening this week.

"Although most students are not aware of it, we've got accessed to that information even though we don't even want to hear it."

Rumia said as she lay down on the couch, not of her own, but rather of Elizabeth. She just visited her bestfriend since her childhood. Elizabeth didn't find Rumia's visit unusual, but rather it was her tone of exhaustion and the direction of conversation Rumia was discussing out of nowhere.

A few days ago, the missing students returned safely, and the information about what had transpired was kept confidential for some reason. It was the subjects of the case that only knew the details, but due to each of their connections, Rumia and Elizabeth were told about what happened to Russell, Freya, Amelie, and Amery, their classmates with whom they shared a bond only because of Samantha who inadvertently acts as a mediator.

"Mom says it's called Micro-Strayed Dungeon and it can be moved because it's so small just like a normal-looking gray rock."

Elizabeth said casually, but her mind was somewhat adrift, it's because she knows her mother, Eliana von Etherion's Constellation which was purely related to the micro of things, unseen by naked eyes.

"But it's strange how Russell, his sister, and the other two women left the academy just because they got curious about such news, right?"

Rumia said while looking at the ceiling of Elizabeth's dorm.

"Why do you think of that? Do you think they know beforehand about its existence, it's unlikely.

"Although we are being dense to their existence, I'm sure you are aware that we have shadows tailing us anytime that investigate people of unknown origin that interacted with us, you know.

"And I'm sure we will be informed in some way if people like Russell are found suspicious."

Elizabeth replied, still casually, but somewhat firm as she stood from her bed to reach out a comb under one of her desks. Rumia nodded at the other Princess' words before she said in a solemn voice.

"We are Princesses, after all."

Then she glanced at one of the windows and saw the illumination of the bluish moon in the starry night sky.

"Anyway, Elizabeth..."

"Stop calling me that when we're alone."

Elizabeth interjected, cutting the words that Rumia attempted to say.

"Right... you don't like how your first name has four syllables...

"Anyway, Liz, by any chance, have you received a message about some death row prisoners that we are asked to kill after the midterm exams?"

Rumia said seriously as she retracted her gaze outside the window and straightly looked at Elizabeth's light green eyes that seemed to reflect the abundance of nature itself.

One of their training, in psychological aspect when they were just kids, started when they received the System at the age of 7, was killing guilty prisoners that received capital punishment or in other words, being sentenced to death.

Elizabeth pondered for some time before she nodded her head.

"Yes, and we are asked to prepare for that, you know, the stronger we become, the stronger the death row prisoners we would eventually fight."

Elizabeth said firmly while combing her blonde hair as she sat on her bed in a lotus position.

"Hmm... I wonder if our parents really love us."

Rumia randomly said in a soft voice, prompting Elizabeth to stop combing her hair upon hearing those words.

"They do. It's just we are the kind of Princesses that are raised in a way that's not found in a fairytale."

Elizabeth said with a faint smile on her lips.

...

"Sir Arthur, I'm sorry for being out of reach these past few days since I just got back from my little reconnaissance."

Amelie said while genuflecting in front of Arthur Wolfson, the Student Council President.

"Hahaha! You're an adventurous kid, aren't you?

"So, what does your so-called 'little reconnaissance' accomplish then?"

This time, he's with other members of the Weaver Faction with Amelie, but Reinhardt and Ruina weren't with him due to their own businesses.

"I've discovered some artifacts in his possession which he happily shared the information with us that time. Although I couldn't tell the specifics of our journey as per the Obelisk authorities' order, we used something called Junain's Blanket that helped us conceal our way out of the academy, and the man, Russell, who I presumed to have killed one of your prospects, have another artifact that looked like a needle but without a pointed tip..."

Amelie paused for three seconds before her words caused Arthur to silently clenched his fists while sitting on a high-back chair.

"It's called Ela's Needle."

Arthur composed himself before he asked firmly.

"Do you have any idea how'd he get ahold of such artifacts?"

Amelie didn't hesitate to answer while still bowing her head to the trash individual in front of her.

"I heard it's from the Disciplinary Committee President, Azalea Vermillion."

'That f*cking bitch!'

Arthur Wolfson inwardly cursed as he thought of the possibility that maybe Azalea has also something to do with Kevin Springer's death.

After some time of being silent, Amelie's words continued.

"Sir Arthur, I've observed his acts and demeanor, although he's quite a distant person most of the time, he's a naive one who only wanted profits."

'Profits?'

He pondered over Amelie's words before he asked in mild confusion.

"What do you mean by that?"

Amelie, not breaking her persona in front of Arthur Wolfson replied seriously.

"He bought the artifacts, Junain's Blanket, and Ela's Needle to Azalea for a specific price, and wanted to sell it at a higher price. He asked me if I have someone I know whom he could sell it to, so I took pictures of artifacts for preliminary discussion in case one asked for it."

Amelie didn't go further like saying she knows a Black Market because she knew that Arthur Wolfson probably traced her origins, discovering her life as a source of a certain drug called Dark Tears.

And without waiting for his response, Amelie tapped on her smartwatch, projecting photos of the artifacts along with its basic information and price which was affordable in Arthur's book considering his wealth.

"I see..."

He was feeling elated and filled with anticipation because he needed badly the artifact, Ela's Needle so he'd be able to topple Azalea's position as a Rank 1 student in the third-years.

"Good work, Amelie.

"You see, I'm interested in both artifacts, so I'm going to give you your next mission.

"Continue to observe him and inform me of any potential buyers of the artifacts.

"But also tell him that someone already takes an interest in it.

"Then, if the artifacts aren't sold on this date, have him meet me after the midterm exam.

​

"Bring him with you."

Arthur couldn't care less about the artifact called Junain's Blanket, but he deliberately told Amelie that he was interested in both artifacts which were something that Amelie noticed.

'He doesn't fully trust me...'

She inwardly thought as her lips curled up slightly, unnoticeably, in this dim room filled with members of Weaver Faction.

'But it doesn't matter, anyway.'

She didn't care in the slightest about whether or not Arthur Wolfson trusted her.

'All I care about is how these theatrics will be played.'

An increasing feeling of ecstasy started to consume her as her ruby eyes seemed to contain a luster that depicts, not the natural evilness, but strangely of an 'actress.'

...

"I'm tired of being an observer or spectator that seems like everything is considered as a play and there's a wall that shouldn't break."

Anya Amasawa said in a serious manner, but this time she was not alone because the countless red eyes in her vision weren't to be seen.

"I don't know what you are on about, but you said you heard my conversation with Elizabeth and Rumia recently, that's why I came here."

Han Jiho — who was messaged by Anya — visited her dorm room at this late at night.

"I meant what I said in the message I sent you, but I need your help with something, maybe I'm just bored that I wanted to have more interaction with other people.

Do you know why? It's because I feel like I'm seeing myself in you that doesn't interact with many or seems lost in society, and I started to realize that I act like you do which I considered somehow weird in my eyes..."

Anya said in a casual tone as she sat on a couch, cross-legged while Han Jiho was standing idly.

"Before I help you with whatever favor you would ask of me, give me first the information or any idea you have about what you heard during my conversation with Elizabeth and Rumia."

Han Jiho firmly said. Then Anya's next two words caused his eyes to slightly dilate.

"Dungeon Terrorism."