Saturday, July 17th, 1740
20:59, just one minute away from exactly 9 PM.
Lyxander was lying on his bed, waiting for the group chat to start. He had learned from previous experiences not to take the leave offered if he didn't want to write more reports. So now, he had finished his report and only needed to enjoy his break.
Time always moved consistently, yet for some reason, it felt painfully slow when waiting. Lyxander lay there, staring at his raven ID badge. Like an identity card, the raven badge was rectangular and jade green in color.
He counted the contribution points he had earned. The number 2,000 was clearly displayed.
One thousand points came from uncovering Oscar's intentions, while the rest were earned from completing missions.
Each Entity was valued based on its star level, not its threat level.
One-star Entities were worth 100 contribution points.
Two-star Entities were worth 1,000 points.
Three-star Entities were worth 5,000 points.
And what about four stars and above?
If someone could defeat a four-star Entity—which was of course insane—they would earn a reward far beyond mere contribution points.
"Hah," Lyxander sighed.
"Who would have thought that plant Entity was only a two-star?"
Disappointment was evident on his face. He had thought he needed only four thousand more points to reach two stars, but the target was still far away.
"Damn it," Lyxander muttered,
"Why does one-star power only enhance physical ability? I want to use magic or cool techniques too."
He buried his face in his pillow.
'Isn't the reason obvious? One-star enhances your body, two-star gives you supernatural power, and at three-star, that supernatural power becomes overwhelming. It's a process of evolution and adaptation for the body.'
He contradicted his own complaints.
Tick!
Finally, the clock struck 9 PM. Lyxander immediately got up from his bed and drew the Sigma logo on his PC screen. An error message appeared briefly before switching to the group chat.
Pup dog logged in.
Lyxander waited for someone to start the conversation. Strangely, no one typed anything.
Several minutes passed before a message finally appeared.
No scope
"Are you really Pup dog?"
Lyxander frowned. "If it's not me, then who else?"
Pup dog
"What do you mean by that question?"
Fraud
"Admin?"
Admin
"Hehe, yes, he really is Pup dog."
No scope
"I'm truly glad you're back, my friend."
Lyxander felt confused. He clearly sensed something was off but ignored it. Or maybe it wasn't him ignoring it.
Pup dog
"Stop it, I really don't understand."
Pup dog
"By the way, does anyone know how to deal with a yandere?"
No scope
"Yandere? What have you done, man?"
Fraud
"How did you even get involved with a yandere?"
Pup dog
"It's just… I accidentally made my senior at work fall in love with me."
Villain
"Hehe, this sounds interesting. Tell us everything?"
Pup dog
"So—"
Lyxander recounted everything that had happened in the car, how Amethyst had proposed marriage to him.
He also shared what happened after the mission: Amethyst kept asking for his phone number and checked in every five minutes, calling nonstop if he didn't answer.
Finally, Lyxander had thrown his phone into the street out of frustration.
Pup dog
"I really wonder why such a beautiful woman hasn't married yet, but now I understand the feelings of every man trying to approach her."
Villain
"Hehe, what an entertaining story."
No scope
"So what happened after you destroyed your phone?"
Pup dog
"She came to my office and gave me a new phone."
Villain
"You accepted it?"
Pup dog
"My senior destroyed it on the spot. She told me the phone contained a tracker, a bug, and a camera."
Villain
"Hehe, you were really saved."
Pup dog
"So, do you guys have a solution?"
Villain
"Hehe, my advice is… just marry her."
Pup dog
"Damn bastard."
Sword
"Why not just refuse?"
"Sword?"
Lyxander had never seen that nickname before.
King
"Ckckck, maybe because you're a man, you don't understand the threat of a yandere."
Fraud
"Our love expert has spoken!"
No scope
"Why is this guy our love expert?"
Fraud
"Who else but King is so experienced with women? You? Impossible."
No scope
"Just so you know, I'm quite famous among female assassins."
Assassins!
Lyxander was suddenly reminded of Amethyst's former organization.
Pup dog
"You're from Double A?"
No scope
"Hehe, I'm not just from there. I'm an o'clock."
Pup dog
"o'clock?"
No scope
"It's the title for the twelve highest-ranking assassins in the organization. Only twelve seats exist, and each member holds one of the twelve 'hours'."
Lyxander's pupils widened. He knew No scope was strong, but he had never expected him to be a top officer in the Assassin Association.
"Villain is a the head, while No scope is an o'clock. I wonder where the other members come from?"
Pup dog
"How many Identity-user organizations are there in the world anyway?"
No scope
"Hehe, if you want to know, tell us which organization you're from."
Lyxander paused. He had to consider whether it was safe to reveal his organization.
The advantage of revealing it was clear—he could learn about other organizations.
But the risk was high—his identity would become more transparent.
After consideration, he finally typed:
Pup dog
"Entity Corporation."
No scope
"Hahaha, looks like you have a junior here, Sword."
Sword
"So we're in the same organization. I'm a raven, what about you?"
Pup dog
"I'm also a raven."
Lyxander frowned. "Why did I just reveal it like that?"
"But if he's a raven, I'm curious about his rank."
No scope
"Alright, let me explain where all the members of this group chat come from."
Lyxander was stunned, unable to suppress a smile. "He's telling me everything! Damn, I'm so lucky."
No scope
"As you know, Villain is the head of the mafia, I'm from Double A."
No scope
"Sword is a raven from Entity Corporation, Fraud is a member of the criminal group The Path, King and Alice are nobles."
"The Path."
Lyxander had heard of them in the news—they were the most wanted criminal group. The fact that King and Alice were nobles didn't particularly interest him.
Fraud
"Wait! You just revealed everything?"
Reading the chat, Lyxander cursed internally.
"Damn it, some people just can't stand seeing others succeed."
No scope
"Fox is from a military organization like yours, though mine is called Legion. And Lamp is from a wizard organization called Tower."
"A wizard organization?!" Lyxander immediately typed.
Wizard organizations were far more interesting than military ones.
Pup dog
"Wizards really exist?"
Lamp
"A wizard Identity allows you to use magic. Tower is a collective of wizard families with high-class circles."
Lyxander was about to type, but Lamp seemed to read his mind and had already written:
Lamp
"Before you ask what a circle is, I'll explain."
Lamp
"When an Identity user dies, their identity transfers to the nearest object. We wizards use this property to pass down the magic we've cultivated to the next generation."
Lamp
"This concept is called a circle."
Lamp
"The older the wizard family, the stronger and more respected they become."
Lyxander held his chin. "I see… The ways Identity is used in this world are truly diverse."
Pup dog
"Thanks for the explanation, now I understand."
Lyxander now realized that everyone had and needed an organization. No one could survive alone.
Pup dog
"So what about the remaining members?"
No scope
"I'm a bit confused about these two. Doctor has joined seven different organizations, while Admin's origin is unclear."
"What kind of person can join seven organizations?"
Lyxander could only shake his head, though his curiosity was focused on another name—the group chat leader.
Admin
"Hehe, my only organization is this group chat. I stand alone."
Pup dog
"Alone? You weren't invited to join any organization?"
Admin
"Come on, why do you always make me look pitiful?"
Admin
"I wasn't left out. I didn't want to join."
Admin
"Groups only restrain you. They bind you with rules and values they create."
Admin
"I stand alone, unbound by rules, morality, or worldly values."
Admin
"Family, friends, lovers—are they truly important?"
Admin
"You make choices yet remain bound to those mortal values."
Admin
"I don't need a reason to be free. I kill all I hate, and seize all I desire."
Admin
"Worldly desire is nothing but lies. Ambition blinds you. Ideology is empty thought."
Admin
"You live chasing something—searching for meaning."
Admin
"But I do not.
Admin
"I stand alone above all. A seven-star who has transcended mortality."
Admin
"Only I exist, and there is none besides me."
Lyxander fell silent.
From the start, he had always believed that a home or organization was something humans needed.
"What use is happiness if you live in eternal loneliness?"
A quote from the novel Paradise surfaced in his mind.
There it was!
In this world, someone truly exists who enjoys eternal solitude.
Lyxander pondered again.
Was he truly standing beforal—Him, who was bound by nothing at all?