Chapter 130: Cursed Meme - Desire
[You have selected C. Extracting…]
[Your Agility attribute +1. Current: 18]
[Your Spirit attribute +1. Current: 18]
Kaito had assumed that since Bad Kid hadn't broken the attribute limit, he would just get a point in Agility. He hadn't expected a surprise. The kid had been a dual-stat specialist, with both Agility and Spirit as his main attributes. Kaito noted that his own stats, aside from the debuffed Constitution, were also now at 17 and 18. He was steadily progressing toward a balanced build across all four attributes.
[You have selected E. Extracting…]
[You have obtained the special ability: Cursed Meme - Desire (Sealed) (B-)]
(Note: This ability has no level. It is highly dangerous and may cause negative effects to the Reincarnator. It is currently sealed by the Goddess. The Reincarnator may attempt to unseal or remove it at the Goddess's Sanctum.)
[Cursed Meme - Desire: After releasing this meme, the host will be influenced by their deepest desire, causing them to mutate and gain an ability related to that desire. They will also gain low-level immortality. However, their mind will also be eroded by a negative consciousness. If their spirit collapses, they will transform completely into a monster. All other humans within the same "space" will be affected by this meme.] (Sealed)
Kaito had chosen to draw an ability, naturally hoping to get Bad Kid's special ranged-attack-evasion skill. But, whether it was by good luck or bad, he had drawn something extremely unique instead.
A Cursed Meme…
The original meaning of a "meme" was a basic unit of cultural transmission. It could be a ritual, a language, a simple action, or a single thought. It was through the imitation and spread of memes that culture was passed down.
[Cursed Meme - Desire]. Just from the name and description, he could tell this thing possessed terrifying destructive potential. And if he wasn't mistaken, this was almost certainly from the manga or TV adaptation of a series called Sweet Home. In that world, this very curse had destroyed society, transforming a huge number of humans into monsters, with a tiny few managing to retain their sanity as "special infected," while the uninfected were hunted to near extinction.
"Tsk. Bad Kid wasn't so bad after all. He actually kept this thing sealed…" Kaito guessed that perhaps that boy hadn't been as purely evil as he had seemed. At the very least, he had maintained his own consciousness and had not been completely consumed. This meant that his berserk state had likely been the result of a constant, ongoing battle against the curse's erosion.
This thing, if unleashed in the real world, could cause a catastrophic disaster. Kaito guessed that although the ability was only rated B-, its destructive potential was far greater than something like the Dodon Ray. Even if its current description said it could only affect humans in the "same space," the humans of the real world were incredibly fragile. A simple mutated flu virus could kill millions. What would a curse that could literally cause monstrous mutations do?
Kaito looked at the grayed-out [Cursed Meme - Desire] in his ability list and felt a strange urge to try it. If it were him, perhaps one day he wouldn't be able to contain his curiosity and would unseal the curse in the real world… just to see what would happen.
[Heartless] didn't know what kind of item Kaito had just gotten; he seemed to be lost in thought.
By the time their vehicle arrived at Vought Tower, a new man was already waiting for them.
"Hello, Mr. Tao. I am the newly appointed head of the Operations Department, Auro White. Homelander assigned me."
The man was nearly 180cm tall, a bald white man with glasses, his eyes full of a shrewd, calculating light. He had been the first to realize the winds of change were blowing at Vought. The moment President Madelyn Stillwell had fled the company in a panic, he had been the first to lead the Operations Department in pledging allegiance to Homelander, handing over their entire list of clients and investors.
This had earned him Homelander's favor. Of course, from what Kaito knew of Homelander, he had likely just appointed the first person who had kissed his ring. He didn't think about things like that. He just used whoever he liked.
Auro was a sharp operator. He knew that this Asian man was the one Homelander truly valued. He had Black Noir escorted away to rest and receive a medical check-up, while focusing all of his attention on Kaito.
Kaito raised an eyebrow. Homelander's reckless nature really did make him the perfect partner for a Reincarnator. He had no patience for slow, methodical plans. The moment he decided he wanted power, he had used brute force to drive away Madelyn, the very woman he had once been infatuated with. He had always had a strange fetish for her breast milk, but clearly, in his mind, that couldn't compare to receiving the adoration of the entire world.
Kaito got in the elevator. He saw the man's fawning expression and smiled. "So, how many of The Seven are still in the company?"
Auro froze for a second, then scratched his balding head. "Only Black Noir and this new Translucent are still here. Queen Maeve moved A-Train earlier today and then left herself. And Starlight… is missing."
This was a piece of news that surprised Kaito. Starlight's ability wasn't top-tier, but her body was durable enough to be immune to sniper fire. For a person like that to "go missing"… it was clearly not the work of a plot character.
So, Kalpa hasn't given up… he knows I've partnered with Homelander, and he's still willing to fight me. Ha.
Kaito just nodded, his smile giving nothing away.
Auro opened the door to Homelander's office and then carefully stepped aside. He had already felt Homelander's rage earlier and didn't dare to get in the line of fire now.
Kaito saw Homelander pacing back and forth. His plan had clearly not gone smoothly.
"Let me guess," Kaito said. "Neuman is missing, too?"
Homelander turned, his face still etched with anger. But seeing the one man who truly understood him, he forced himself to calm down. "It seems Neuman knew I was coming for her. She's vanished. And the government is putting pressure on us. They're saying if I continue to use my influence to incite the public, they'll do everything in their power to strangle Vought."
Homelander was clearly anxious. He felt he had all this power, but no way to use it. This entity called "the government"… it was an enemy he couldn't just punch.
Kaito, however, was completely relaxed. His smile seemed to infuriate Homelander, but before he could get angry, Kaito spoke.
"The more the enemy tries to stop you from doing something, the more it proves that they are afraid of it."
"Homelander, they are afraid of your reputation among the people. Because if you call, hundreds of thousands, even millions, will rise up against this decrepit federal government. What can they do to you? Assassinate you? Arrest you?"
"They can do nothing. On the contrary, as long as you remain the most powerful individual on this planet, all of them will live in fear of your judgment!"
Kaito's words were like those of a demon, tempting and seducing. Like a wise sage, enlightening a king. Bit by bit, he was opening up Homelander's mind.
Homelander had never lacked power. He had only ever lacked a direction.
He looked at Kaito, still hesitant. "Are you saying I should call on them now?"
Kaito smiled and nodded. "That's right, Homelander. It's time to let that impotent old man in the White House know who the most powerful person in this country really is!"
The hard, rigid expression on Homelander's face began to thaw. He began to smile.