Unless my ears were broken, that scream just now belonged to Meiling.

When I stepped out of my room, Seo Yui, Lumina, and Jodie were already standing in front of Meiling’s door. It was wide open.

“What’s going on?”

I turned my head. Kim Sang-sik was hurrying toward us with a shocked face.

“You—who are you, and why are you sleeping here! Why am I on the floor!?”

His face stiffened as he shoved past the others and barged into the room.

From the hallway, I peered over the kids’ shoulders to see inside.

There was Meiling, in pajamas, sitting on the floor and pointing at the bed.

And on the bed, stretching leisurely with a yawn, was Choi Yuri.

“Haaaahm. Relax, everyone. Just do as I say. Hoy.”

She drew a line through the air with her finger, and the same sight I’d witnessed last night in the living room replayed itself.

All five of them went blank-eyed and turned toward her.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

I stepped in front of the frozen kids and Kim Sang-sik.

“Hm? Doing what?” Choi Yuri, still looking sleepy, tilted her head.

“Why are Meiling and the others shocked to see you?”

“Oh, that.” She casually rubbed sleep from her eyes.

“A prank.”

“…What?”

“I was curious how they’d react if they woke up and found someone in their room. It was such a textbook response—it was actually funny.”

Why in the world would you be curious about that?

Weariness pressed down on me.

No. I need to get rid of her, fast. At this rate, I’ll hit her before I can even use her.

I stepped closer to the doorway.

“Undo it. Put everyone back the way they were, and fix their perception properly.”

“What am I, your subordinate? Why are you ordering me around?”

“If you want to go home, you’ll cooperate. Or would you rather spend the rest of your life here as a Horima?”

“…Tch. Honestly. What’s your problem.”

Choi Yuri clicked her tongue irritably and swept her hand through the air again.

“Hey! What are you all doing in my room!? Get out!!”

Meiling’s shriek rang out.

I, already out in the hallway, watched as the others scrambled out in a panic.

“…Weird. Why were we in Meiling’s room?” Seo Yui frowned.

“I-I don’t know…” Lumina murmured, exchanging a confused look with her.

Meanwhile, Jodie was glaring daggers at Kim Sang-sik.

“Sang-sik. Why were you here?”

“…I don’t know. Why were you in Chen Meiling’s room?”

“…Huh?”

Jodie’s eyes rounded in surprise.

I glanced toward the living room.

Choi Yuri was sitting on the sofa, sulking, her head turned stubbornly away.

What, she got annoyed and didn’t even bother cleaning up properly?

Her appearance was that of a woman in her late twenties. Which meant in reality she had to be mid- to late-thirties.

And yet she acted like a child.

“Yein. Do you know why we were in Meiling’s room?”

“…Beats me. I don’t know either.”

Better to play along as if I were just as clueless.

“Could it be there’s a hunter nearby who can use hypnosis?” Seo Yui suggested.

Her words made my chest tighten, though I kept my face still.

“But there’s no other scent around,” Jodie said.

At that, Seo Yui and Lumina’s faces grew tense.

“Just to be safe, let’s check our rooms. Everyone, go over your spaces carefully,” Kim Sang-sik said.

We split up and combed through the safehouse, but of course, no intruder turned up.

In the living room, I shot a glare at the culprit, who was smirking to herself.

After the commotion settled and we’d eaten breakfast, I picked up the landline near the entrance.

A few short tones, then a voice answered.

[This is the Peacekeeping Force. What is the matter?]

“This is Nam Yein. Could you connect me to the Mayor?”

[Please hold.]

I kept the receiver pressed to my ear. A click, then—

[Yein. A good morning to you.]

“Hello, Mayor.”

[So, what brings you to me today?]

“You’re meeting with Chairman Porter tomorrow, correct?”

[Yes. The Chairman is coming to Seoul to inspect the demonstration plant site and finalize plans.]

“Forward will attack.”

[…Explain.]

“After your announcement the other day, Forward must know we really do possess the technology for magic-stone power generation. For them, it’s like a blade against their throat. To survive, they’ll do anything. Of course, they know they can’t lay a hand on you directly. So they’ll target others.”

[You mean those involved in the project.]

“Yes. Chairman Porter and his group, certainly. But also the construction firms, the workers, the parts suppliers, even auxiliary facilities. Eventually, anyone using electricity generated by Spirit Stones could become a target.”

[Very well. If your prediction is accurate, how should we respond?]

“We have to act first. The top priority is avoiding today’s attack.”

[What do you mean by that?]

“Forward will almost certainly go after Chairman Porter on his way to Seoul.”

[What?]

“Killing him would send a clear message to every corporation involved. Of course, they’d deny responsibility—but no one would believe them. The real problem is that the Peacekeeping Force and the police can’t guarantee his safety against Forward. And you, Mayor, can’t be with him every moment. The highest chance of success would be assassinating him on the plane.”

[Hmm…]

“There is one way to prevent Forward’s strike.”

[What is it?]

“Borrow All Around’s strength.”

[All Around?]

“Yes. They have branches in every major city. Even Forward fears their power. Especially now that Yang Len and their key members are in our custody.”

[Yein. If we hire All Around as escorts, it might indeed deter Forward. But it’s not possible.]

“Because of the cost.”

[Exactly. The city can’t afford their fees. Escorting on a normal job, perhaps. But with Forward involved, the price would skyrocket. Even if All Around clashed with Black Hound because of you, that doesn’t mean they want to make Forward their enemy outright.]

“Then we need to force them into it. Until Spirit Stone power replaces Forward’s stranglehold, every company and guild will hesitate. Do they back the Mayor, or side with Forward? Even Crystal, Forward’s sworn rival, will hold back on power generation—for now.”

In truth, Crystal had to be seething.

The Mayor had chosen to share this revolutionary technology not with them, but with London’s Porter Group.

If Crystal accused him of unfairly favoring a foreign partner in a public project, it wouldn’t be strange at all.

[But there truly isn’t enough money to bring All Around in.]

“There is.”

[There is? What do you mean there is?]

“I have a friend.”

On the other end of the line, I heard a sharp intake of breath.

“Tell All Around this: just bring the materials. Then the Mysterious Craftsman will create weapons and armor of the appropriate grade for free, no payment required.”

[…Are you certain you want to make such a promise?]

Whether I could make that promise?

Of course I could.

This wasn’t just about breaking Forward.

If word spread that all they had to do was bring materials and the Mysterious Craftsman would forge equipment without charging a coin, how would All Around react?

Naturally, they would rush over with rare-grade materials.

High-level rare equipment from the Mysterious Craftsman—gear that didn’t exist yet on the market—was something even money couldn’t buy.

And in this world, the quality of equipment defined the quality of a hunter.

With my items, All Around would gain military power far beyond any rival guild.

And the result? I would secure piles of high-grade materials at no cost or effort.

By crafting with them, my Craftsman ability would level up even further.

A perfect win-win.

Ah, of course, I’d need to have a word with Eleanor. But given the circumstances, she would let this slide.

“This is what my friend wants.”

[…Very well. I’ll speak with All Around today under those terms. Do we need to set a time limit?]

“As long as it’s clear they can’t meet my friend directly, and our connection stays a secret, there’s no strict deadline.”

[Understood. I’ll make sure that’s part of the arrangement.]

“Thank you.”

When the call ended, I set the receiver back down.

“Mysterious Craftsman, huh.”

I turned. Choi Yuri was standing behind me.

“That was you?”

“You heard the call and still ask? I said it was my friend.”

“No craftsman alive can mass-produce rare gear every week like that.”

“That’s true.”

“…You admit it that easily?”

“Why not? You never told me your real ability either, did you?”

Choi Yuri fell silent.

“Anyway, stop messing with the kids.”

I looked past her, toward the others.

My squad, plus Jodie and Kim Sang-sik, were all standing blankly in the living room.

“But it’s easier to talk with you this way. Changing their perception takes more effort.”

“So using Latessai powers comes with fatigue?”

“Yeah. The easiest is to just freeze them. But altering perception? That drains me.”

“That difference in strain must be why Valro are on another level.”

“Tch.” She clicked her tongue.

“So when you altered Nam Yein’s memories for nearly ten years, the backlash must have been huge.”

“Yeah. That’s when I realized my limits. It isn’t all-powerful.”

“But if you’ve experimented this much, have you ever tried performing a ritual?”

“No.” She shook her head firmly.

“The moment I do, Nerom would notice. What then?”

“True.”

I asked, knowing the answer.

If she had tried, I would’ve killed her here and now before bolting. Because it would mean Nerom had eyes on us.

Just then, the bell rang.

I immediately picked up the phone.

“Hello?”

[Yein. All Around accepted the terms without hesitation. They’ve already promised their London branch members will handle Chairman Porter’s escort.]

“That’s excellent news.”

[Yes. Thanks to you. With All Around on board, the weight on my shoulders feels lighter. By the way, do you need anything? A trip somewhere? Supplies for the safehouse?]

I glanced sidelong at Choi Yuri.

“In fact, there is something.”

[Go ahead.]

“Could you arrange a meeting with Im Seongyeon, the principal of Gwangcheon Academy?”

[The principal? Why her?]

“She’s on our side.”

[…What!?]

The voice on the line burst with shock.

“The principal has been gathering evidence of Gwangcheon’s corruption. I want to hear how far it’s gone, and I need to update her on our situation. We can’t use phones inside the safehouse.”

[Hmm. In that case, I’ll send Peacekeepers to escort you. You can use one of our secure phones while in transit. That way, Forward won’t detect you.]

“Yes, understood.”

[Any other requests?]

“While I’m out, could I also contact Eleanor and President An Hyuonggi?”

[That’s fine, as long as you don’t use your own phone.]

“Then I’ll do that.”

[Good. Expect Peacekeepers within the hour.]

“Thank you.”

I set the receiver down.

“How the hell is the principal of Gwangcheon on your side!?” Choi Yuri demanded, eyes wide.

“You’ll see when we get there.”

“Huh? I’m going too?”

“Yes.”

When I answered, her face broke into a smile.

“Then undo them, would you? There’s no point leaving them like statues. They’ll get leg cramps.”

“Oh, sure.”

She traced her finger through the air.

The five of them blinked, snapping out of their daze and moving as if nothing had happened.

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong, Lumina?” Seo Yui asked.

“Um… senior Yui, my watch must be broken.”

“…Really?”

My stomach churned.

(End of Chapter)