CHAPTER 186: CHAPTER 186: WHO?

Chapter 186 – Who?

"I told her to kill me, but was it necessary to sever my head so mercilessly?" Kaden mumbled under his breath, finding Alea quite... beastly.

He was, once again, inside the boundless darkness space of death. He lay there on his back with his two hands behind his head, looking quite stress-free.

It had been quite a long time since he came here, and he had missed this feeling honestly.

This feeling of not being in a hurry, this feeling that you could be here thinking and doing anything you want without feeling like time was slipping away.

It was as if a being outside the very concept of time had pressed the pause button on everything... but let only Kaden move.

And this helped him greatly, because now, he could think without being in a rush about what had just happened. And honestly, it was quite obvious...

"The Cerveau are still after us..." Kaden whispered, his face bearing a tight, exasperated frown.

They were, honestly, annoyingly persistent. Normally they shouldn’t even have this much peace of mind to concern themselves with barbaric Warborns, but it looked like he had greatly underestimated them.

But what did he expect, knowing the power these bastards held?

They didn’t need to act themselves, they could just manipulate many beings — just like that woman — and send them to do their bidding while they solved their own pressing issues elsewhere.

That’s what made them a difficult enemy. Because anyone could be their pawn and you wouldn’t even know.

But Kaden was no pushover. If they wanted to play this game that way, then he simply would do the same.

And for that, he also needed someone inside the Cerveau. Someone high enough in authority that his or her mind wasn’t altered by them. And unfortunately — or fortunately — the only ones in that position were the Six Lobes of Power.

It was a wild idea. A daring one, even.

"But I have to try it. I just need to choose my target correctly. I don’t believe they all love each other warmly like damn siblings, and that none of them have hidden desires. Smart people like them never trust each other fully... there’s always a crack between them..."

And if there’s a crack... then I’ll be the worm that slithers through, widening it with every inch I crawl.

"I just need one that I can exploit."

But the problem was... who?

For that, Kaden based his analysis on what he had seen through Selene’s memories. Through them, he had an idea — even if it was biased by Selene’s perception — about all of them.

And for his goal, the first person he thought would be perfect was The Strategist, that glove-wearing bastard. But Kaden dismissed that idea almost immediately.

People like The Strategist were not the type he could entice. He was called a strategist for a reason, and Kaden feared that if he tried to use him... he’d be the one used instead.

Kaden wasn’t arrogant enough to think he could outsmart him. That wouldn’t even be arrogance, it would be stupidity.

That guy’s power specifically enhanced his intellect after all. And let’s face the truth, Kaden’s smartness only shone because he was born among barbarians.

"Yes, that guy is a no." He concluded, and then continued to examine each of them before finally stopping on the one person he — weirdly — believed he might have a chance with.

The Seer.

A silent woman who barely talked, and every time she did, it was some cryptic nonsense. She only appeared when Brain convened a meeting otherwise, she was either in her own room doing who-knows-what or wandering in the wilderness.

She was an odd one.

And Kaden loved the oddities.

But the question was how to get her? The response came — as expected — fast.

Benefits.

As said earlier, it’s the only thing that can tie enemies together. In fact, the very concept of an enemy is usually born when, between two entities, one — or both — threatens the interest of the other.

Simple as that.

Sometimes it’s a problem that could be solved with a simple conversation. Sometimes, even talk won’t help because they’re too greedy.

And that’s why, to know if he could work with her, Kaden first needed to understand what she was after.

But for that... he needed to talk with her.

Kaden smiled wryly at this point in his thoughts.

’I’m getting really bold these days. I’m even planning to meet an enemy. One way stronger than me.’ He couldn’t help but muse in his mind.

But the saving grace of all this was that The Seer didn’t have the power to control his mind, and as for imprisonment, Kaden didn’t believe at this point he couldn’t provoke anyone into killing him.

If he wanted, he could utter words so profane, so sacrilegious that even the greatest Saint would forsake his oath and strike him down.

And if he died by her hand...

’Well, I wouldn’t mind some prophecy-type traits.’ He added nonchalantly.

Deciding all this, he now had to think of how to approach her. Kaden knew The Seer loved to go out into the wilderness alone, among the flora and fauna, to meditate. As if linking herself back to nature, listening to the world itself, in order to better interpret the visions that came to her... or the ones she sought.

And that was just perfect. Kaden could, on his way back, go see her.

She usually went there every Friday morning as part of her routine.

And if he recalled correctly, when he came back to life, it would be Thursday. And knowing it took around two weeks to reach Waverith, he would be right on time.

But meeting her with his true identity would be the height of foolishness. Instead, he would do so with the identity a being like her would be interested in...

He would go as the Death Envoy...as The Harvester.

’Perfect...for now this is the plan.’

Concluding his thoughts, Kaden could now think of reviving back.

But first...

"Death, show me my current stat attributes," he ordered calmly as he finally stood up, sitting weightlessly on the groundless darkness.

[Stats Attributes.]

STR: 370

AGL: 400

CONS: 390

MANA: 400

INT: 400

WILL: 420

PER: 390

Stat points: 500

Kaden examined his stats with focused eyes. Back in the dungeon, through his many synthesis actions, he had succeeded in increasing his stats greatly. And now, he just needed a little push and many of them would reach the limit of Intermediate rank.

And that’s what he did.

"Death, put to the limit Agility, Perception, Mana, Intelligence, and Will."

The process started immediately. Being inside this place, Kaden was not able to feel any pain or discomfort. But at the end of the process, he did feel a shift inside of him.

The same feeling he had when he reached those limits back at the Awakened rank.

[At what point of time do you wish to be revived back?]

"Just before I told Alea to go find a beautiful creature." He said without any hesitation.

He couldn’t do anything about the man inside that woman’s head. He didn’t have any power to get back at him. So instead, he would avoid him altogether.

"This time, Alea better listen to me and kill her like I told her." He added, his voice filled with slight irritation.

And if she killed her, supposing that man could detect who killed his puppet, then he would just chalk it up to bad luck...hopefully.

But Kaden had to consider that maybe there were more of them, so he would tell Alea to search all around for any humans... just to be sure.

He clicked his tongue in irritation.

"I won’t forget this. First, it’s the Steelbeasts. Now this mind-manipulating bastard. Fine, it’s not gonna be long... just wait." Kaden muttered, his eyes cold like frozen steel. These strong people liked to bully him a little too much.

But it’s fine... he would show them that he never forgets... and when that time comes, they will beg for mercy, but Kaden... was no merciful soul.

Sighing again, "I choose neutral stat points." Kaden spoke.

That’s what he needed the most from Alea. Anything else would be useless. His power over death was far better, and far more unique, than her own.

[You have been killed by Alea, a Grandmaster-rank beast. You have received neutral stat points: 200.]

"Put Constitution to the limit as well and put the rest into Strength."

Soon after, the process was already done. Now, Kaden had pushed all of his stats to the limit except Strength. And for that, he just needed another 120 stat points.

It was not hard to acquire, honestly.

After all that was done, Kaden exhaled softly, then—

"Death, revive me."

Tick—!

The world moved again.

—End of Chapter 186—