Previous Chapter Reminder = In the previous chapter, we saw Manu win the bet. He entered the Spy Round, learned its rules, and even encountered a God.
NOW NEXT...
NARRATOR VOICE = The scene shifted.
A heavy atmosphere filled the room.
Tension could be felt in the air.
An old man stood quietly beside a chair.
His hair and beard were completely white, yet his body was still muscular.
He wore a black-and-white butler uniform. The clothes fit him perfectly, as if they had been custom-made just for him.
In his hand was the same bracelet from the ruins.
Butler = Boss Kaizen, you've been staring at this bracelet for quite a while.
Is there something strange about it?
Kaizen Drath = Strange...
But why isn't it speaking?
NARRATOR VOICE = At that moment, the door opened.
A slim man entered the room while holding a letter.
After reading it, he spoke.
Letter Man = Boss, Sun Academy has entered the Spy Round.
Kaizen Drath = Interesting...
An insect has managed to find a place for itself.
Let's see how long that insect can fly.
---
Scene Shift — Manu
NARRATOR VOICE = The members of Sun Academy stepped through a portal.
Moments later, they were teleported to their assigned hideout.
The hideout was an old warehouse.
The entire structure was made of iron.
Rust and dust covered every corner.
A metallic smell filled the air.
The place looked as if nobody had cleaned it for over a hundred years.
Mice were running around everywhere.
Elira Windmark and Darius immediately became uncomfortable.
A mouse ran near Darius.
Darius instantly jumped onto the nearby unknown man as if he were hugging him out of fear.
Elira quickly moved behind Lyra.
Then another mouse ran across Manu's feet.
Without thinking, Manu pushed Nyra in front of himself.
A second later, he returned to normal.
Nyra = Manu...
Are you afraid of mice too?
Manu (uncomfortable) = No.
My body just reacts automatically whenever something suddenly appears.
It's like a default setting.
Something similar to survival instinct.
Wait a minute...
Darius, you too?
Darius (shy) = These mice are dirty.
I simply don't want them touching me.
I'm not scared.
I'm the shield of this team.
No real man is afraid of a mouse.
You're misunderstanding the situation.
NARRATOR VOICE = The mouse appeared again.
Darius immediately jumped back.
This time everyone laughed.
Manu secretly gave the unknown man a signal with one eye.
The man understood and quietly left.
The atmosphere slowly became calm again.
Everyone looked at Manu.
But Manu said nothing.
He simply sat down on a chair.
Lyra = Leader Manu, give us orders.
Manu (pointing at himself) = Me?
NARRATOR VOICE = Lyra, Elira, and Darius looked at him seriously.
For the first time, they were genuinely ready to follow his commands.
Manu shook his head.
The three of them nodded anyway.
Manu (thought) = These people...
Whenever I give orders, they ignore them.
But when I don't want to give orders, they ask for them.
Come on, Manu Boy.
Handle it.
NARRATOR VOICE = Manu finally stood up.
His first order was directed at Nyra.
Manu = Nyra, gather information about nearby monster bases.
Lyra = Shouldn't we collect information about enemy hideouts first?
Manu = No.
Don't worry about that.
I already have another plan.
Elira & Darius = What about us?
Manu = Clean this place.
Darius = We should be gathering information too.
Something important.
Manu = No.
I don't trust you two with that.
You always repeat the same strategy and couldn't even clear two rounds.
If you go with Nyra, she'll have to carry the entire mission herself.
I gave this task to Nyra because she has experience in this field.
A sharp mind needs a quiet environment to work properly.
NARRATOR VOICE = This time nobody argued.
Nyra left to gather information.
Elira, Darius, and Lyra began cleaning the warehouse.
Meanwhile, Manu sat alone.
---
Four Hours Later
NARRATOR VOICE = Nearly four hours later, Nyra returned.
She suddenly spoke from behind Manu.
Nyra = I've located five monster bases.
They're marked on the map.
NARRATOR VOICE = Manu nearly jumped out of his chair.
Manu = Who gives information like that?!
NARRATOR VOICE = Nyra looked around and froze.
The warehouse had become so clean that metal surfaces reflected like mirrors.
Just then, the warehouse door opened.
Everyone immediately became alert.
Weapons were drawn.
Only Manu remained calm.
The same unknown person entered through the door.
He walked directly toward Manu.
Manu = Nobody attack.
He's one of ours.
Unknown Person = I've found the location of an enemy team's hideout.
Manu = Wow.
Nice.
NARRATOR VOICE = Manu smiled.
Elira Windmark = Then show us his face.
Who exactly is he?
Manu = Okay.
NARRATOR VOICE = Manu looked at him.
The unknown person understood the signal.
He removed the disguise from his face.
The moment his face was revealed—
Lyra, Elira, and Darius were completely shocked.
Nyra, however, looked disgusted.
Unknown Person = There's a problem.
NARRATOR VOICE = The moment they heard those words, panic appeared on everyone's faces.
But...
Nyra smiled.
---
COMING SOON...
One important thing.
You guys should create an account and read through the app.
Honestly, it won't directly benefit me much.
But I feel like we're practically brothers at this point.
We've been together for around five or six months.
So don't be shy.
Share your thoughts.
If anything in the story confuses you, just leave a comment.
And tell me—
Which part was the most interesting?
Keep commenting because your comments give me motivation.
And if you're enjoying the story...
Throw a Power Stone at it.
Yeah...
The red one.
Today's chapter focused more on planning and preparation than action.
In the Spy Round, intelligence will be more important than raw strength.
The next chapter will reveal the identity of the unknown person and the problem he discovered.
Until then...
Take care of yourselves.