Chapter 175

Chapter 175. Playing Catch-Up (7)

‘Of course, I have to.’

If an opportunity to gain Karlos’ authority were to arise, I could not afford to miss it.

It was the only means I had to ensure my family’s safety at that time.

If I could gain more of Karlos’ authority by taking risks, I would do so willingly.

‘Though I won’t rush in like an obedient dog just to shake hands.’

I confirmed with my own eyes that it was indeed Karlos’ authority.

“In that case…”

I twisted my lips, holding up the authority right I had clutched above the spear.

“I need to verify whether what you said is true.”

I had never used Agnotia’s authority before.

“They say it’s the power to discern lies, hypocrisy, betrayal, and deceit.”

Of course, that’s assuming this authority right is genuine.

Kang Hyunwoo made it clear that he intended to check their true intent, causing Gillenios to sigh.

“Ha, you wouldn’t use it when I told you to.”

“Honestly, I don’t really want to. Because I have no way to know if this is genuine authority or not.”

I was taking that much risk.

“So I should at least receive some hazard pay.”

“Hazard pay? What does that mean…?”

Gillenios questioned with a look that suggested he thought I was spouting nonsense, and then suddenly grasped the authority right.

“Wait, so you mean…?”

Additionally, he glared at me with fierce eyes.

“You want to take this as hazard pay? Regardless of whether you extend your hand?”

“You’re good at understanding.”

I nodded at his piercing gaze without backing down.

Then Gillenios started trembling.

Yet, contrary to a moment ago, he didn’t burst into anger.

He had almost exploded just before, but now he was holding back.

‘This seems like…’

It appeared that forming an alliance with me was more important to him than I initially thought.

Seeing him willing to risk a lot to seize an opportunity as soon as it arose suggested as much.

“Fine. If you’re going to do it, just hurry up.”

Unexpectedly, he accepted my unreasonable demand without much complaint.

‘In that case, maybe I should push a bit harder?’

If I could benefit well from this absurd situation, it might be worth a try.

Plus, it would be good to unsettle them.

‘If I’m lucky, I might even get them to reveal their true purpose in approaching me.’

Instead of using Agnotia’s authority right away, I shook my head.

Gillenios snapped in exasperation.

“What now?!”

I gestured with my hand, indicating my next demand.

“Advance payment.”

The veins on Gillenios’ temple bulged noticeably.

Still, instead of throwing a fit, he gritted his teeth and tossed Karlos’ authority right at me.

“That’s too easy.”

Snatching the rapidly flying paper out of the air, I stuffed it into my inventory.

“Use it quickly!”

Now that I had received the advance payment, there was no turning back.

I gazed reluctantly at Agnotia’s authority right.

“If things go awry, I’ll simply use Karlos’ freshly acquired authority.”

Even if this proved dangerous to me, I trusted I could manage it without suffering great losses.

I calmed my breathing and tore Agnotia’s authority right in half.

“Hoo.”

The doubts I had vanished, as the authority proved to be real.

Just like the previous two instances of wielding authority, I was filled with a rush of euphoria, gripping power that humans could never naturally possess.

By now, my eyes must have already turned golden.

That’s likely why Gillenios was extending a hand to me and speaking.

“You won’t lose anything by shaking my hand. And I’m not here to harm you.”

So stop stalling and just shake my hand.

“No foul stench, no black smoke.”

There was no hint of falsehood, hypocrisy, betrayal, or deceit in what Gillenios said.

Remarkably, Agnotia’s authority confirmed his words as truth.

However, instead of immediately shaking his hand, I lazily played with my ear, even blowing on my fingertip with a dismissive expression.

“Even if what you’re saying is true, there’s no reason for me to shake hands with you, is there?”

It meant that if he really wanted it, he should offer more compensation.

“If you tell me why you’re so fixated on my hand, I might even do it for free.”

As I provocatively swung my hand, Gilenios ground his teeth, muttering.

“Such a scoundrel…”

If he wanted to curse, he could. I didn’t care if he branded me nasty.

I just didn’t feel like cooperating with him.

Thus, I folded my arms defiantly.

Eventually, Gilenios sighed heavily and exercised his authority once again.

Not a particularly pleasing outcome.

‘He refuses to speak.’

Despite my provocation to get under his skin, he chose silence.

Why was he so fixated on my hand that he swallowed his pride and stepped back like that?

As my questions and suspicions intensified, Gilenios muttered incessantly to himself.

“You knew he was a lunatic for powers, so why did you tell Agnotia to send me? Do you have any idea what a rough time I had there? Just giving this would have sufficed. What? None of your concern? Going through all that hassle, and you don’t explain a thing?”

But listening closely, it sounded more like a conversation than mere mutterings to oneself.

“Karlos… that’s not possible, is it?”

As far as I knew, it was impossible.

Direct communication with gods was only achievable in a temple.

And that’s only when a god deigns to respond, following a rather inefficient process.

‘Even as an apostle, he can’t be exempt from that rule, right?’

So who was he conversing with?

While I pondered briefly, Gilenios successfully created a new authority right.

He flaunted it toward me provocatively.

‘That makes three Karlos’ authorities.’

Despite the complex situation, the satisfaction of possessing three of Karlos’ authorities was immense.

I gestured contentedly, indicating for him to hand over more authority.

However, Gilenios fixed me with a stern gaze and murmured.

“This time, I’ll need an advance.”

I no longer wished to delay proceedings.

Though displeased, I acquiesced to his demand.

The walk toward Gillenios, begrudgingly taking reluctant steps, wasn’t far.

Just about three meters with a spear between us.

Soon, I stood face-to-face with Gillenios, close enough for a person to fit between us.

Gillenios extended his hand abruptly.

“It’s unsettling, but…”

It’s time to pay the price for gaining another of Karlos’ authority.

With a sigh, I clasped Gillenios’ hand in mine.

Immediately, the interface filled with icons flickered with static interference.

I tried to jerk Gillenios’ hand away quickly.

“Is that it?”

But he was faster than I was.

With a swift hand, he brushed my grasp aside.

“Simple task, tsk.”

I alternated looks between my empty hand and Gillenios before asking.

“Are you going to explain?”

He promised no harm would come to me, yet offered no explanation.

I asked on the off chance I might get answers now, but his response was,

“The time hasn’t come.”

A phrase I had heard only a few days prior.

“That’s what I’m instructed to say.”

I scowled in understanding.

“Karlos.”

I didn’t know how it was possible, but Karlos could communicate with his apostle even outside the temple.

I wanted to probe more about it, but Gillenios turned away first.

I caught the authority right he tossed before it hit the ground, and then Gillenios vanished like smoke.

I stared blankly at where he had stood just moments ago, chuckling in disbelief as I stored the spear in my inventory.

“Arrived unexpectedly and left the same way.”

The encounter wasn’t pleasant, but I didn’t leave empty-handed.

“Gaining additional Karlos’ authority is quite a significant advantage.”

Moreover, it confirmed doubts I had since receiving Karlos’ favor.

“Something is happening involving me in places I’m unaware of.”

The orchestrators of these activities seemingly had no intention of explaining things to me.

“This is rather unsettling.”

I glared at the hand that had clasped Gillenios’.

“Hoo.”

At least, Gilenios’ actions weren’t harmful to me.

“The authority promised that much, so I should trust it.”

My personal feelings aside, the power of the 7 Great Gods was genuine.

Hence, today’s events weren’t likely to jeopardize my safety.

I stored the Karlos’ authorities, which had increased from one to three in a short span, into my inventory with a deep sigh.

And I traced around my eyes.

“There should still be traces of divinity.”

Returning to the banquet hall would inevitably draw attention.

But avoiding it would weigh on my mind due to Gretman.

“Should I reveal my Trait instead?”

I wasn’t thrilled at the prospect, but doing so could boost my presence and influence.

“It might make rooting out Jang Ryun’s gang and the Order’s corrupt roots easier.”

If it meant handling a bit more trouble, I was willing to endure it.

Since it seems like the Order’s high-ranking officials already knew, I might as well take the initiative for my gain.

Resolving to head back to the banquet hall, I turned around.

But I couldn’t bring myself to take a step.

“Argh!”

Black smoke billowed from the direction of the banquet hall.

A jolt of cold swept over me.

“Black Smoke!”

The black smoke, observable through divine borrowed sight, writhed ceaselessly like a living entity, as if desiring to devour everything in its vicinity.

It was disturbingly grotesque.

Recalling that I had been chatting amiably amidst that smoke, breathing and laughing, made me want to claw at my skin.

The realization that I might have been one of those emitting the smoke made a wave of self-loathing wash over me.

Along with contempt for others and disillusionment with reality, my insides churned.

Even just watching the smoke was exhausting.

I felt as if my existence was being consumed in real-time.

I unconsciously began to retreat, eventually turning and fleeing the scene.

I couldn’t recall how I ran or where I headed.

When I regained my senses, I found myself outside the banquet hall, doubled over, gagging.

When the only thing left to expel was bile due to emptiness—

Thud, thud.

Heavy footsteps approached my side.

Instinctively, I pulled a dagger from my inventory.

But before even wielding it, I heard an unfamiliar murmuring above me.

“You’ve grown indeed.”

It was Gretman. I looked up at him with bleary eyes.

“These people…”

What on earth was he doing regarding me?

Was it related to his reason for bringing me to the royal city?

I needed to review the events involving me and dig into Gretman’s intentions.

The impact from the black smoke earlier was more intense than expected.

Was it the consequence of glimpsing a domain beyond human perception?

Rational thoughts ceased to flow.

Ultimately, I slumped forward, crashing my head onto the floor.

Right into the vomit I’d expelled earlier.

Truly an experience I’d never want to relive.

Damned System

TL’s Corner:

Black Smoke = Traitors

And the banquet had a lot of black smoke.