Beyond the Eternity

I left Lee Suhye and Soo Jinyoung alone on the University rooftop and made my way towards the warehouse. I needed to meet you with the others to begin my next step.

Lee Suhye was unreliable and Soo Jinyoung was sleeping like a sleeping beauty. Naturally, I was annoyed. The protagonist was having a nice dream while I was suffering because of the trial.

Maybe I was being too insensitive here. If that person is really dreaming then it's not going to be a good dream. In the novel, it was stated that Soo Jinyoung couldn't sleep properly because of the trauma of her past lives.

If it was possible for her to overcome the accumulated trauma from her previous lives, even if it was just a little, then it would be good for me as well.

When I arrived at the warehouse, I noticed the place was noisy. What was going on? Did something happen?

At first, I thought Jung Donghyun was making trouble but I discarded that thought. The tax collectors were no longer here so it would be dumb of him if he caused any problem.

When I reached the scene, I came across an unexpected sight.

A few people were tied up and placed in the middle while the group members surrounded them. I moved closer to know what was happening.

I spotted Lee Jongho and approached, "Hey, who are these people?"

"I don't know. But they say they came from Sindaebang."

"I see. Did they attack?"

Lee Jongho wore a strange expression. "Um, no. They didn't. They said they wanted to see you."

"They want to meet me?"

I raised my brows at Lee Jongho's wotds. Currently, I had the appearance of Soo Jinyoung because of the white mask. Meaning, these people came here to meet Soo Jinyoung.

I see. I understand what was happening. If these guys came here for Soo Jinyoung then it was probably because of the apostles.

I studied the expressions of the foreign people one by one and opened my mouth.

"Who is the leader of this group?"

"Ah, that will be me."

A man spoke out from the small group. Once I narrowed my eyes, I noticed it was a lean man with a gentle expression.

"What is your name?"

"My name is Kim Ilho and we are from the Sindaebang group."

Kim IIho. Was there a character like this in the Song of the Fall? More importantly, he said he was the vice representative. Meaning, he was not the main representative. They came here without their group representative. It was suspicious.

[Exclusive skill 'Omniscient Wall' has activated.]

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[Private Information]

Name: Kim Ilho

Age: 35 years old

Constellation Sponsor: Master of Escape.

Exclusive Attribute: Con Artist (Common)

Unique Skills: Poker Face Lv. 3, Distraction Lv. 2, Disarming Traps and Binds Lv. 3, Pick Pocket Lv. 5, Riding Lv. 3

Authority: Escape

Overall Stats: Physique Lv. 12, Strength Lv. 10, Agility Lv. 15, Magic Power Lv. 12.

Description: A character with no talent in fighting. However, he has talent in information gathering and can escape from any situation. He used to be a great pickpocket before the tragedy.

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So he was a character as well but I couldn't remember him. Maybe he was an unimportant character that got killed off during the boarding games.

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"You said you were a messenger, correct?"

"Yes. Are you perhaps the representative of this group, Soo Jinyoung?"

"Yes. I'm Soo Jinyoung."

The man was stunned for a bit then regained his composure shortly. Anyone that met Soo Jinyoung for the first time would have such a reaction but this guy was more calm than I expected.

I opened my mouth impatiently, "Why did you come here? What message do you have for me?"

"Just like I told that man over there, we did not come here to fight. We came here with a good offer."

"You want to form an alliance?"

"Seems like you already know. The Sindaebang group wants to form an alliance with the Soo Jinyoung's Company."

The people of the Soo Jinyoung's Company heard these words and murmured among themselves. Kim IIho looked into my eyes, waiting for an answer.

"It's a strange offer. We already have enough pieces."

"Is that what you think? Maybe you don't know this but the situation is not good."

"What do you mean?"

Kim IIho began to explain, "The fourth trial has already been in progress for a few days so alliances have already been formed. The groups are currently in a position where they're at risk of complete annihilation if they attack the wrong party."

"I see. So you're trying to secure your allies."

"That's correct. We started the trial late so we were automatically put at a disadvantage..."

"You don't need to explain anymore. I understand what you are trying to say."

I stopped Kim IIho from speaking any further.

In fact, what he was telling me was information that I already knew. In the novel, the Sindaebang group started the trial late and fell behind the other groups. It was not stated what happened to them but they probably failed the trial or was absorbed by another group.

"I understand. But it's difficult to accept your offer when I don't know your true intentions."

"Well, your thought process is truly reasonable. But if the Soo Jinyoung's Company was our 'target' group, we would have bought our full forces here."

"I see. How would you react if I say the Sindaebang group was our target group? Wouldn't it be foolish if you just surrounded yourself to us?"

"Haha, we already know that the Soo Jinyoung's Company is not targeting us. In fact, it would be beneficial for you if you come to the Sindaebang station."

"How would it be beneficial for me?"

"The 'King' of the Sindaebang group wants to meet you. He says he has information that would be useful to someone like yourself."

"Really now?" My eyes narrowed into a glare, "Do you think I'm stupid? How do I know this is not a trap you set up for me? You said this and that but I have no solid reason to believe what you're saying?"

"My king also knew you would say that. That's why he said I should tell you that he is a prophet."

"What?"

My eyes widened at the word 'Prophet'. So a prophet was the representative of the Sindaebang group. That would explain alot of things including why these people were here.

A faint smile formed on my face. It seems of 'them' finally took the bait.

"I see. I'll come with you to the station. However, I want to ask you a few things."

Fortunately, there was an a easy way to go about things aside from 'torture'. If Soo Jinyoung was here, she would have definitely used 'torture' by flames.

[Exclusive skill 'Zero One' has activated.]

[The command sequence '0' of Zero One will take effect.]

The skill activated and some sort of unexplainable power flowed into my body. This time, my tongue was set as the 'wand' and the medium was the 'air'.

"From this moment onwards, you'll answer any question I ask truthfully."

The target of those words was the man infront of me, Kim IIho.

This man was weaker than me and the karma required for the change was small, almost insignificant. Simply, all the conditions for the skill activation were fulfilled.

"...!"

The change was quick. Once the words were directed towards Kim IIho, his body shook and his head twitched as if a switch was flipped inside his head. No, his entire existence was changed in that moment. It was similar to forcefully hacking the defence mechanism of a system program and adding your own codes to rewrite its fundamental behaviour.

A second passed and Kim IIho looked at me. His words were now dull, resembling the cold and emotionless eyes of a machine. Those eyes truly did not look like the eyes of a 'human'.

"I understand. Tell me what you want to know."

In any case, I asked him a few things that I wanted to know.

* * *

After a while, we left the warehouse along with the members of the Sindaebang group. I had decided to go to the Sindaebang station to meet the group representative.

Angelica and Jung Yunhee were walking behind me. Angelica spoke with a complicated expression.

"Jak... I mean, Jinyoung-ssi, Are you sure about this? It could be a trap."

"I also believe it is a trap. I feel unease around these people especially around that guy."

Jung Yunhee narrowed her eyes at the back of a certain someone. It was back of the sindaebang's vice representative, Kim IIho. What did that guy do to catch the attention of Jung Yunhee?

"I understand. At first, I was also suspicious but that is not the case anymore."

"How are you sure?"

"I asked that guy a few things and confirmed he is not lying so be rest assured. Also, it would be great to get information about the trial."

Finally, we reached the Sindaebang group members who were mounting their motorbikes. I approached Kim IIho and he looked at me with a faint smile.

"Jinyoung-ssi, do you know how to drive a motorbike?" He asked.

"No. I can get by with just walking."

"The boss said you would say something like that."

Kim IIho continued speaking, "In any case, sit at the back. We'll get to the station faster if we use a bike."

I nodded before sitting on the back seat of the bike and the rest did the same.

The people I took with me were just Angelica and Jung Yunhee. Lee Jongho and Han Yoosung were left behind since they were needed at the warehouse. I instructed Han Yoosung to install turrets around the warehouse in case of an enemy attack and told Lee Jongho to take charge while I was away. Lee Jongho was an ex-soldier so he would be able to organise everything.

"Alright, we'll be leaving now."

The seven bikes made a sound as they were turned on. Soon, the bikes moved and we entered the road.

The road was empty and the eerie silence added to my unease. There was nothing in sight except from the damaged cars and ruined streets. However, there was a thin layer of mist lingering in the alleyways and dark corners. It was almost unnoticeable but persistently present.

It reminded me of the nagging feeling you get when something lurks at the back of your mind, you try to ignore because it seems irrelevant. People tend to ignore minor things like this. But unlike most people, I couldn't afford to be nonchalant, not with that 'thing' moving around.

Only a few minutes had passed. A sudden thought emerged and I opened my mouth.

"Your group representative, what kind of man is he?"

"Oh, that..."

There was a change in his expression. He went from wearing a calm expression to a complicated expression.

"To be honest, the boss is a person that says strange things all the time like 'the story should have flowed llike this' or 'why is it different from the chapters'. It's as if he thinks the world is a novel. It's ridiculous."

"That kind of person would be insane, wouldn't he?"

In response, Kim IIho only laughed. "At first, I thought the same. But after spending time with him, he's not that bad. He's a person that cares for his companions. He even accepted a good for nothing like me. He's truly a great guy."

"You seem to like him alot."

"That's natural." A walm smile formed on Kim IIho's face. "If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be alive today. For that matter, none of the Sindaebang group members would have been alive."

"How did you survive the first trial?"

"Ah, that. It's a funny story. We all survived by killing grasshoppers."

"Grasshoppers?"

I raised an eyebrow.

"That's right. We were in the train going to next station at the time when the trial begun. Everyone was panicking and one guy even wanted to start killing. That was when..."

The man paused then continued his story. "That was when the boss addressed the people and explained that situation. 'The trial is to kill a living being, not a human'. He really looked like a hero. You should have seen him."

"What happened next?"

"T-That..."

Kim IIho wore a dark expression. Even if they could survive by killing grasshoppers, not everyone can be saved. Someone must have brought a grasshopper box on the train but there will not enough grasshoppers to go around. Only a few people can be saved.

Kim IIho finally opened his mouth.

"Obviously, the grasshoppers were not enough so only a few could survive by killing grasshoppers. You can already guess what happened afterwards."

"I see."

"Anyways, we'll soon reach the station if we continue moving in a straight line."

Kim IIho closed his mouth and focused on the road. Perhaps it was a difficult story for Kim IIho.

A character from a novel could also feel such emotions, huh?

Soo Jinyoung would never ask such questions. She only focused on her goal alone. In fact, I only asked those questions because I was curious about the 'general' of the Sindaebang station.

From what I could gather from Kim IIho's story, I realised that person was also a 'reader' like me. Thinking about it, the way the prophet survived the first trial seemed similar to how the protagonist of ORV survived the first scenario.

"...!"

My eyes suddenly noticed something in the distance and I shouted.

"Everyone, stop!"

"Wha.."

"Stop right now!"

At my words, the riders abruptly hit the brakes, causing the bikes to screech on the pavement. It was sudden, but we ultimately came to a halt.

I came down from the back seat and everyone looked at me. Kim IIho spoken.

"Jinyoung-ssi, why did you..."

"Look forward."

"Where?"

"Over there. There's something on the floor."

"...!"

Kim IIho looked where I was pointing and his eyes widened. Everyone looked as well and someone gulped.

The road was littered with sharp objects. These were spikes designed to puncture the tires of moving vehicles. If we hadn't noticed them in time and stopped, our bikes would have been damaged.

Yes, someone had intentionally placed those spikes on the road to ruin our vehicles. But where are those people now?

Well, that question was answered in the next moment.

Thud, thud—

Several people dressed like street thugs jumped out from their hiding spots and approached the group. Rather, these people were actually 'thugs' both in their rough appearance and the weapons they were carrying.

My face contorted into a frown. It looked like things were about to become even more troublesome.

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N/B: This time, my tongue was set as the wand' is a reference to sorcery. A wand is a tool wielded by wizards, witches, or other magical beings to cast spells, perform enchantments, or channel magical power. It's rather strange since a ward cannot be a tongue. However, it's possible to channel magic power or cast spells through incantations which makes use of the tongue.

There is something called 'Idol Theory' which refers to the phenomenon wherein an imitation of a whole or parts of a subject, the source, gains properties and attributes that are inherent to that source.