In the late afternoon, as the sun dips closer to the horizon, the air fills with the distinct rumble of trucks and the air thickens with dust.The mercenaries, having completed their perimeter checks, are returning for rest.Igor and his friend haul an assortment of beast carcasses they've discovered in the area for me to inspect on the kitchen—whether they're edible or not is my call.From the rabbit-like creatures to the majestic deer and even the formidable lion-type beasts ranked B, their collection is diverse.They are visibly stunned to discover that both electricity and water supply have been restored to the hotel base.The air is ripe with their surprise.“How did you manage to get the electric and hot water back online?” Anton, the B-rank team leader, inquires. His rugged face, usually stern and unreadable, lights up with a rare spark of relief.He and the others had braced themselves for another night of roughing it without basic amenities.“It was Alex, the chef,” the butle
Day by day, time creeps by at the Kirov hotel. It's mainly me, the butler, and Natasha holding down the main base, while the other mercenaries methodically clear the perimeter, steadily gaining ground.My tasks include cooking and doing system quests on top of the building.Recently, I've discovered a new ability of the system. When I practice the mana cultivation technique, a new skill status appears:[Military Mana Cultivation Rank F]It starts at Rank F, and the more I practice, the better the results; my rank gradually increases. For instance, after I swing my sword about 1000 times, a new skill pops up:[Sword swing Rank F]Any skill I practice, whether it's a fist jab, sword movement, footwork, shooting an arrow, or even a Charming skill, appears as I try to make my face more appealing in front of the mirror after 100 attempts.I learn that the system tries to upgrade my skills to improve them. With my military mana cultivation, the speed of cultivation was normal at Rank F, 1 t
The plan to assassinate Natasha and the Butler is set for tomorrow.Even now, I am observed by Igor. He along with other mercenaries are stationed at my side 24 hours to keep me in check.Their constant presence complicates things. Because they're always around, Natasha has been uneasy talking to me, and I've been unable to disclose the secret to her.“Natasha, I don’t feel too well,” I lie to her, providing an excuse. “So I think we won't have training today.”Natasha gazes at me with concern, her brow furrowed slightly. “Alright, please take care of yourself.”The next day, just before lunchtime, one of Anton’s men from the city discreetly administers the poison to Natasha and the Butler’s food.“It’s a rare poison, undetectable by taste or smell. Hard to find,” he whispers, a sinister glint in his eyes. “When Natasha and the Butler consume it, they will lose all their powers for half a day.”He turns to look at Natasha, his scarred face grim. “We agreed Natasha, the most beautiful
Inside the grand dining hall of the hotel, among 50 people fighting for their dream and survival, I am the only one standing as the final winning.Turning to sleeping Anton, I deliver a stark warning, "This is why you should always be wary of the chef. You never know what you're eating until it reaches your stomach."I put the sleeping poison I bought from universal shop into all the food.Natasha and the butler gaze at me, their eyes wide with shock, uncertain of what might happen to them next.I stride confidently towards Anton and begin to frisk him. Experience tells me that anyone who carries poison usually has the antidote on hand.After a brief search, I find a small antidote bottle concealed within his jacket.It's a tiny tube. I swiftly pour its contents into a spoon and carefully feed it to both Butler and Natasha. They, meanwhile, are already fully paralyzed and unable to speak.Within the next five minutes, I witness Natasha and the butler slowly regain their ability to mov
The three of us—The butler, Natasha, and I—are on a truck on our way to Greentown. Our supplies are meant to last for a month, and if we don't return within that time, people will start getting suspicious.We're headed to the town to report to the mercenaries about Kirov City’s situation.Each city only allows a limited time for every team to raid before it's handed over to another team or group.The longer one takes over the city, the higher the cost becomes.I find myself with Natasha and The butler at the mercenary guild.The mercenary guild is bustling with activity. The air smells of oiled leather and the metallic tang of weaponry. The walls, lined with maps and weapons, reflect the seriousness of the business conducted here.Joana's sinister eyes are fixed on me, her gaze piercing."How can you still be alive, low rank?" Joana sneers at me. I'm left wondering if I ever wronged her—not in this lifetime, perhaps in a past one.Natasha looks furious and rebukes her, "You're not sup
In the crowded airport, as I stand with Natasha just out of the door and military personnel pointing their guns at us, my mind races to find a way out of this tense situation.Activating my overthinking ability.Looking into the military's eyes, I sense their stern intent; they seem ready to shoot if we attempt to escape, or perhaps they're baiting us into making a move only to justify killing me.Without wasting another moment, I discreetly pull a small knife from my jacket and press it against Natasha's neck, grabbing her from behind. "Don't you dare come closer, or I will kill her," I threaten, my voice steady but filled with urgency.The military personnel and Natasha are visibly shocked by my actions. I whisper to Natasha, "I think they are Yulia people, and Yulia is in cahoots with your butler and these military folks. They plan to take us to jail, where we'll never be released, or they might just kill us here.""So what do we do?" Natasha asks, her voice quivering slightly with
Inside the luxury Volkov family mansion, old Maxim gazes at Natasha with surprise.Natasha, his granddaughter, ranks among the top four beauties of Saint Petersburg, often called the "Frozen Beauty" due to her usually silent and cold demeanor. Many believe she will never marry."Are you sure?" old Maxim asks again, his voice tinged with disbelief.Natasha's cheeks flush a deep red. "You know I met him in Blackwood and Kirov cities. We have a connection and…" She touches her stomach with a loving smile. "I think I'm already expecting a baby."Old Maxim's face turns stern, and he commands into the phone, "The man is Natasha's husband. Do whatever you can to bring him to my mansion. Now. No question asked!"He then snaps the phone shut."He will be safe and sent here. Anything you want to say?" he inquires, his gaze piercing.Natasha's face mirrors a sly smile and she snaps her fingers, a gesture she picked up from Alex, chilling the air around her. "I have perfected my ice ability."The
At the luxury mansion of the Volkov family, laughter suddenly fills the grand hall."What a funny joke," I exclaim, unable to hold back. "Just a village with Eden? Hasn't Natasha already conquered the whole town of Kirov for the Volkovs?"Yulia chuckles heartily beside me. "It is my Kirov town, if you don’t know" she boasts confidently. "The butler is one of my people, and he's the one who truly took over the town.""Yulia is right," Denis Volkov, her father, affirms with a nod. "The town of Kirov was conquered by the butler on our side. So it is our Kirov Town now."Peter Volkov, Natasha’s father and often seen as the weaker link, turns to old Maxim, and speaks in a low voice, tinged with concern. "Father, the butler has been with us for ten years. He merely accompanied Natasha to Kirov. Then Natasha returned here because someone had sent a report to the Mercenaries. The Kirov Town is Natasha achievement.""What are you talking about, Peter!" Denis interrupts, his voice raising in ir