Around 6:40 P.M in Clancy Hall, Boss sat next to me and snacked on chocolate. Her eyes lit up as she happily ate. I looked at her from the corner of my eyes and thought about how to respond.

They would soon reveal the white crystal. It definitely couldn’t fall into the djinns’ hands. However, I couldn’t prevent them with my strength and didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention. Roton Corporation was one of the most corrupt corporations. Although none of their executives were djinns, many were so vile djinns might’ve been better. The Chameleon Troupe should take the crystal like in the original story.

“Waiter.”

Boss called the waiter. What did she want now? I focused on her actions as the waiter politely spoke.

“Yes, madam.”

“Do you have any more of that chocolate from before?”

Boss smacked her lips.

“Yes, here you go.”

“No, not one. I’ll be satisfied with about three.”

“Yes?”

Chae Nayun and Kim Suho returned as Boss ate her chocolates. They tilted their heads at me.

“Hajin, who’s that next to you?”

“Who?”

Kim Suho and Chae Nayun didn’t know the Chameleon Troupe’s Boss yet.

“Ah, she’s someone I know. Her name is Li Xiaopeng. She’s a high-intermediate rank hero I met coincidentally.”

I pretended to be friends and placed my hand on Boss’ shoulder.

“Nyam. Ah, mm. I’m Li Xiaopeng.”

“Ah, yes, it’s nice to meet you.”

Chae Nayun awkwardly greeted her as Kim Suho respectfully bowed.

“This is Chae Nayun, and this is Kim Suho.”

“I already know. They’re famous cadets.”

It would be strange for anyone in this business not to know them. Kim Suho and Chae Nayun sat next to us.

“You’re all here too?”

Kim Junwoo walked up to us. He smiled as his gaze fell on Boss. Boss also looked at him as they seemed to gauge each other’s strength.

“This is?”

Kim Junwoo pointed at Boss, but she didn’t answer. Chae Nayun spoke up instead.

“This is senior Li Xiaopeng, a high-intermediate rank hero acquainted with Kim Hajin. By the way, Li Xiaopeng, how do you know Kim Hajin? You’re really pretty, so how did Kim Hajin…”

“You’re right, she’s a beauty. Um, may I ask how old you are?”

Kim Junwoo interrupted Chae Nayun. Boss was surprisingly only 24, seven years older than Kim Suho and younger than my actual age. However, Boss had a complex about her young age.

“No.”

“Mm, yes, well, I’ll take my leave. Bye kids. Call me if anything happens.”

“Okay, see you later oppa. Let’s grab some food after.”

Kim Junwoo quickly withdrew.

“I have to go on guard duty, so…”

Boss also stood up and left. Yoo Yeonha and Oh Hanhyun came over and replaced her.

“By the way, are the other club members not coming anymore?”

“Probably not. They’ll be third years soon. The second semester is the busiest time for them. I’m sure they’re busy preparing.”

I thought about the major djinns that would participate today. First was Neide, who would carry the crystal. Second was Silasen, who also participated in the Paris masquerade party. And finally, the leader of Evil Society’s artifact retrieval team, Kim Hakpyo.

The lights in the hall went out as complete silence descended. The curtain over the stage lifted. Tap, tap. The sound of boots rang out. Roton’s CEO, Zelen, appeared in the middle of the stage.

***

“It’s an honor to have you here tonight.”

A hero respectfully bowed as Rachel arrived at Clancy Hall’s VIP balcony. Rachel faintly smiled and sat in her seat. Multiple heroes then circled her.

Rachel looked down at the first floor’s VIP seats to see if she knew anyone. She couldn’t clearly see from the top, but noticed one particular face.

Kim Hajin?

He looked entirely different than when he was at Cube. He wore a full, brand-name luxury suit with the partial artifact jacket she gifted him. Kim Suho, Chae Nayun, and Yoo Yeonha also sat next to him.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I am Zelen, the CEO of Roton Corporation, a leader in innovative technology.”

Rachel’s classmates caught her off guard as Zelen appeared on stage.

Zelen recited his opening remarks and pointed to the second floor balcony.

“Before we begin, let me introduce everyone to the English Royal Court’s jewel—”

A spotlight fell on Rachel. She couldn’t even open her eyes at the brightness, but still stood up and gently smiled at the audience. Applause rang out from the VIP seats. Soon, the spotlight turned off, and Rachel sat back down.

“Now, everyone, what is the power that forms the origin of all things?”

It slightly bothered Rachel that Zelen presented in Korean instead of English. However, they also provided a real-time English translation.

“That’s right, it’s mana! Somewhere in this world, mana naturally coalesces into treasures. Even among these treasures, white crystals are especially precious and fully deserving of the phrase, humanity’s blessing.”

A beautiful crystal appeared on the big screen behind the stage. The white crystal had formed from the natural accumulation and condensation of mana. It was a priceless treasure full of nature’s life energy. Just by existing, a white crystal increased the atmospheric mana density.

“Currently, 480 crystals have been discovered. However, we have not found a way to properly utilize it yet.”

Zelen paused and smiled.

“Roton Corporation will now present the method of using the white crystal.”

A staff pushed a cart onto the stage. Without delay, Zelen lifted the cloth covering the object.

A white crystal floated inside a cubic glass tube. The audience gasped at the crystal’s beauty. However, Zelen focused on the cubic glass tube.

“This vacuum cube… ah, don’t mistake it for Korea’s Cube.”

The audience laughed at his dry joke.

“This cube’s origin dates back to the Persian Empire. It was originally an earthenware, but as a leader in the partial artifact industry that dismantles and reforges artifacts, we decomposed this earthenware into sand and reformed it into a glass tube.”

The audience immediately stirred. However, Zelen’s announcement wasn’t the only reason why. From above, Rachel could sense irregular movements. Black figures appeared from the pathways on both sides of the VIP seats. Rachel thought they were guards, but their movements looked strange. She spoke to the heroes guarding her.

“I’m fine, so keep your eyes on them.”

The heroes left minimum personnel behind as they went downstairs. Suddenly, Rachel noticed that Kim Hajin also stood up. She recalled the past when he always showed up during trouble. Even now…

“Wait just a moment.”

She left Clancy Hall without her guards as they tried to follow her, but she activated her necklace’s magical effect called shade. Her presence disappeared, and any noise she made became silent. Rachel headed downstairs like a shadow. However, Kim Hajin came up.

“Hiik!”

She quickly hid behind a wall. He wore a pair of sunglasses and climbed up the central staircase. His steps looked calm and unhurried. Rachel waited before chasing after him.

Eventually, she reached the rooftop.

However, guests couldn’t just enter Clancy Hall’s rooftop. Only engineers accessed it 3 to 4 times a year for repair and maintenance. As such, the door was firmly locked and wouldn’t open without a key.

Click, click —

Kim Hajin tried to open the door, but it didn’t budge. He tilted his head and took out a hammer. It looked like an ordinary shabby hammer. Weapons couldn’t be brought onto Clancy Islet, so he probably had no choice but to sneak in an old hammer.

“...?”

Kim Hajin prepared to break down the door with the hammer. However, that would be impossible since the iron door was made from mana alloy. A mere hammer couldn’t possibly… Kim Hajin smashed the door with the hammer. KWANG! A thunderous sound erupted.

“…”

Rachel became speechless. The old hammer completely obliterated the iron door as though a truck crashed through. She stared at the opened entrance.

Did he cover the hammer in magic power? No, he hadn’t, but if it wasn’t magic power, what was it? Only brute strength to break an iron door made from mana alloy?

Rachel crouched and tried to comprehend what just happened.

—Kyaaaak!

However, a scream rang out from below and she snapped out of her daze.

***

— I have confirmed Roton’s internal document. The item in Clancy Hall is the real one.

Kim Hakpyo grinned as he received the report.

“It doesn’t matter what these insects do, the result will always be the same.”

Kim Hakpyo wasn’t sure whether Roton Corporation would bring out the real crystal. However, Zelen had done it with his craze for money.

Of course, it wasn’t a bad idea. Clancy Islet was a floating island and they had strictly vetted all the entrants. In addition, artificial portals couldn’t be created because the island was made with magic power. However, they couldn’t have imagined that Evil Society would use an aerial carrier.

“Begin.”

Kim Hakpyo ordered his men. Immediately, a dense black fog welled up beneath his feet. The VIPs thought an event was occurring, but the screams proved otherwise.

Kuak! Uk! Aaak!

The VIPs lost their composure as they heard the screams.

Kyaaak—

The entire hall broke out into pandemonium. Kim Hakpyo smiled as he sat in his seat. He always welcomed confusion and chaos. Now, everything would be taken care of in pitch-black darkness.