In the midst of a quiet neighborhood in Adermordna, three individuals were engaged in unusual activity on the dimly lit street, with a lifeless body sprawled on the road. The trio, consisting of Gaige, Axel, and Ishya, was silent. Yet an inanimate object was generating a high-pitched noise that pierced the silence. "How long do we have to wait? Fix me now!" Gun demanded impatiently, his voice as loud as ever. He grew increasingly restless while the couple continued to torture the purger in the middle of the street. Fortunately, most people in the vicinity were asleep, allowing them to conduct their activities without attracting attention. They only needed to disable a few CCTV cameras to maintain their anonymity. "I'll have you fixed tomorrow," Gaige replied bluntly. His ears and head ached from the constant error warnings and Gun's ear-splitting voice, which seemed to be engaged in a relentless duet. Gaige had been using his divine powers to calm Gun's frustration, but it wasn't s
Gun not only observed his Purger partner but also the people around Gaige. He could see how easily Gaige could make others fall for him, fostering loyalty and obedience. Gun remarked on this, noting how people seemed to behave that way around Gaige. Gaige, on the other hand, simply ignored Gun's comments. He believed that Gun made that remark because of how the couple had thanked him and looked at him with admiration. It was a bit embarrassing for Gaige to admit it, but he wanted to keep the couple around because he thought that being a good person would make them easier to control. However, he knew he wasn't truly that good. Gaige then led the couple back to his building, where they were welcomed by Lisa at the front door. "Lambert, Miss Ainspenser is here," she reported. "Okay. Is there a room for her and this couple?" Gaige asked, and Gun translated his question for Lisa. "Yes, we have enough room for everyone. Miss Ainspenser is in her room with Patal," Lisa replied. She then
Ainspenser sat on the couch by the window in Gaige's room. The gentle drizzle outside provided a soothing backdrop. The cool wind whispered through the slightly opened window, occasionally brushing against her skin and sending shivers down her spine. She felt a sense of comfort in the room, despite the presence of the enigmatic and formidable Gaige. Through the window, she observed the beauty of the weather outside. The raindrops trickling down the plastic ads hanging in the street created intricate patterns on the glass. The gentle sway of the colorful wind chimes near the window produced a soft, melancholic melody that blended with the rain's rhythm. The colorful ornaments above the room's drawers cast a warm, inviting light across the room. Ainspenser couldn't help but wonder how such a cozy and aesthetically pleasing room could belong to someone with Gaige's reputation. It was a stark contrast to her initial impression of him, and it added to the mystique surrounding him. She to
Gaige's room felt smaller as more people crowded into it. He casually waved his hand and asked everyone to take a seat. "Should I start introducing myself?" he asked. He then began his introduction to the couple, aided by Gun’s translation. "I am Lambert Thom, the son of Gaige Feryuson and Ellise Thom. I am a purger, and I think I’m currently ranked 314, since we killed the purger who purged your daughter." Ainspenser lightly grinned at Gaige’s introduction. She was aware of the part where Gaige purged the one who supposedly killed Axel and Ishya’s daughter, even though she was the real culprit. Meanwhile, the couple didn't suspect any deception in Gaige's words and remained focused on other matters. "Y-you’re a purger too? How come? Gaige is a returnee!" Axel exclaimed. This caused Gun to give Gaige an odd stare, but he continued translating Gaige’s statements. Unfazed by everyone's reactions, Gaige continued, "Things happen. Anyway, once again, this is Ainspenser. She’s also a p
Gaige deeply regretted his inability to protect the group he had believed he could safeguard. This realization marked the stark contrast between his current reality and the fictional world he once inhabited, where he could effortlessly perform the feats of a main character. "I'm sorry for being weak," Gaige muttered, his voice quivering unexpectedly. While his words conveyed vulnerability, an enigmatic undertone permeated the room, leaving everyone in silence, wondering whether he was jesting or mocking Axel. In the midst of this suffocating silence, Gaige rose to his feet, preparing to depart. Speaking, he said, which Gun promptly translated, "He said, 'Relax and recover. You'll be safe in this building.'" Gaige then turned to Ainspenser and directed her to protect Axel and Ishya during his absence. "Why are you ordering me around?" she protested, causing Gaige to respond coldly, "Do you want to die instead?" Ainspenser was taken aback by his words and inquired, "Tell me where yo
"The strong survive; the weak perish" was the lesson Ellise instilled in Eric from a young age. Throughout his childhood, Ellise displayed no compassion, not even towards her own son. She maintained a demeanor of coldness and ruthlessness toward everyone. As Eric grew older, he became accustomed to his mother's unfeeling personality and admired her formidable leadership skills. Ellise raised him alongside other members, all of whom underwent rigorous training to become masters of assassination and experts in the underworld. Eric had no complaints about his upbringing and was content with how Ellise treated him coldly. However, when Lambert Thom entered the picture, he experienced jealousy for the first time. Seeing his mother treat his step-brother differently stirred feelings of envy within him. His mind drifted back to the memory of his first meeting with Lambert Thom, three years prior, at the former Thom's Corporation headquarters in Ieffam City. Three years ago… Ellise and Eri
Ellise had initially mentioned that she would be multitasking by listening to the meeting while working on fixing her son's toy, but as the meeting proceeded, it was evident that her attention was undivided. Despite the distraction of her son's toy, she engaged fully in the meeting, as if her energy increased the longer she worked on it. Throughout the meeting, Ellise adhered to her usual practice of critiquing and roasting incompetent members and poor performers. She scrutinized all ideas and proposals meticulously, evaluating them more thoroughly than usual. It seemed as though the more Ellise worked on her son's toy, the more enthusiastic and energetic she became in her critiques. The meeting eventually concluded, leaving all board members and team members drained of their energy. They departed from the conference room with exhausted expressions, while Ellise remained engrossed in fixing Gaige's gun. "Mother, you have to meet with the elders soon," Eric reminded Ellise. However,
Upgrading his weapon hadn't been a part of Gaige's plan, nor had he requested it, yet he was suffering the consequences. Gaige couldn't decide whether to feel indebted to Ellise for the upgrade or to be angered by the excruciating pain it caused him. For the past thirty minutes, Gaige had been coughing up blood, and the ordeal wasn't over yet. It had forced him to grow accustomed to the pain. Meanwhile, the people around him had varying reactions to the sudden and seemingly fatal coughing fit he was experiencing. Eric had left the room, anticipating Gaige's demise due to the massive loss of blood. He lingered for a moment, feeling pity, before rejoining the meeting with Ellise. He also contemplated a dignified burial for his step-brother. Gaige's servants, Patal and Lisa, had given up trying to wipe away the blood. They could only watch as Gaige's entire bed became soaked with it. They knew Gaige would eventually recover due to his healing powers, but they still empathized with the