’I’ll keep grinding Levels and Skills in Split Mist Town. Tonight, or tomorrow night at the latest... I should be ready to act.’

After breakfast, Zorn took a carriage and headed straight for Split Mist Town.

A few days ago, after reaching Level 4, Zorn also completed the ultimate hidden quest of the fourth layer’s Lich King World.

Besides completing quests on the fifth layer, Zorn also set aside some time each day to spar and exchange pointers with the Undead Assassin Tutor.

Exploring every World layer and completing secret quests, as Zorn was doing, was perfectly normal within these hidden Ancient Ruins.

It wasn’t just Zorn; even Reflected Lady Mable was busy within the third layer’s Mirror World. She was likely on a quest to resurrect the Mirror Witch.

By resurrecting the Mirror Witch and then killing her, she could follow the same procedure as before to obtain a large portion of the Mirror World’s Origin Power.

To speed up the process, she even had many people help her collect "Mirror Spirit Fragments."

While Zorn was wandering the third World layer completing his own quests, he helped her collect quite a few "Mirror Spirit Fragments" along the way.

During this time, having absorbed the Mirror World’s Origin Power, Madam Mable’s strength had clearly increased significantly.

Zorn’s own progress, of course, was even more significant.

After quickly stabilizing his Sequence, his daily life-and-death battles with the Undead Assassin Tutor allowed him to grow a great deal.

After Zorn’s Magical Castle had absorbed enough Gray Mist Origin from the first World layer, Zorn brought it to the third World layer.

Absorbing some Mirror World Origin would allow it to better confuse and resist enemies.

Furthermore, his progress in exploring the sixth layer was also nearly complete.

The most difficult seventh layer, the "Magic Ring Tree World Layer," was fast approaching.

While many people worked together to develop this treasure trove, Zorn was quietly and constantly absorbing its nourishment, allowing his Sequence to gradually grow stronger.

.........

「Nightfall.」

The Red River Valley Tavern was bustling with noise.

Beneath a gas streetlamp.

A man with a burly build and broad shoulders, wearing a black woven hat and a black robe, stood there quietly.

This was Zorn, in his "Mr. Giant" disguise.

’Transcendent... there are more and more of them!’

Glancing at the tavern behind him from the corner of his eye, Zorn thought to himself.

While in the tavern, he ate a serving of bread and mushroom soup meant for three people and downed five large mugs of Kum Quat Liqueur. During that time, Zorn noticed five Transcendent enter and leave the Red River Valley Tavern one after another.

As Mafia territory, this place was anything but peaceful.

Before long, a carriage stopped in front of Zorn.

The door opened, and Zorn slipped inside.

Inside the less-than-spacious carriage sat two people.

Doomsday Shadow Stab, Alvin, and Evil Spirit Divine Mage, Francis.

And driving the carriage was the Lantern-carrying Elder.

Alvin and the Lantern-carrying Elder were in disguise to some extent.

It was difficult to recognize their true identities.

Francis, however, looked as he always did.

One World-level big boss, plus three powerful bosses.

This lineup was quite formidable.

The four bosses gathered, joining forces to initiate an attack. One could only imagine how shocking the impact would be.

CLOP-CLOP-CLOP...

To the sound of hooves and carriage wheels, the carriage disappeared, heading toward Bo’Er Town, west of Ogrande City.

Soon, the carriage turned onto a rougher path and began to jolt and sway.

"Couldn’t you have found a better carriage?"

Francis, squashed against Alvin as they were jostled from side to side, couldn’t help but mutter.

"This was the best I could find that was also sufficiently discreet and unknown."

Alvin spread his hands.

"The Silver Horse Mafia has a monopoly on all the expensive, high-quality carriages."

"If the master were to enslave and control the Silver Horse Mafia... we wouldn’t be short on carriages."

"We could even travel freely through all the streets and alleys of Ogrande City."

Hearing this, Francis grew thoughtful.

"I’ve seen the Silver Horse Mafia Boss recently."

"A Level 4 Holy Healing Warrior. That’s a class with extremely powerful melee capabilities."

"No matter how strong he is in close combat, can he be stronger than the master? The master has already promoted to Level Four. I feel like the master could tear that Holy Healing Warrior apart with his bare hands."

Francis didn’t refute Alvin’s statement.

They knew better than anyone just how powerful their master was.

"What about the Red Horse Mafia Boss? Have you seen her?"

Zorn asked with great interest.

"I’ve made a few trips and seen her. She’s a Level 4 Golem Witch."

"We haven’t fought, but I’ve heard her Defense is incredible, and her Witchcraft is even stronger. She’s the most powerful of the Sanma."

Francis replied quickly.

"How about a one-on-one? Could you win?"

"Before, it wouldn’t have been a problem. Now, it would be a little difficult. But even if I could win, I wouldn’t be able to kill her."

Zorn nodded at his words.

"Then get ready. Before the Red Horse Mafia’s boss, the Golem Witch, promotes to Level 5, we’ll find a time to enslave her."

"When the time comes, I’ll pull her into the Mirror World. You and Alvin will team up to deal with her."

"No problem!"

Francis nodded quickly. A one-on-one fight would be tough to win.

But two against one, with the master at their side? That was a guaranteed victory.

"I’ve had it with that Golem Witch for a while now. When the time comes, I’ll definitely teach her a harsh lesson."

Alvin, the Doomsday Shadow Stab, said, cracking his knuckles.

As his powerful subordinates gradually increased in number...

...there were many things Zorn no longer needed to handle personally.

For example, the upcoming Catastrophe Ceremony.

They would serve as a crucial part of his combat force.

The Level 3 Lantern-carrying Elder.

The Level 4 Evil Spirit Divine Mage.

The Level 3 Doomsday Shadow Stab.

Each of them possessed immense strength.

Merciful Witch Vanessa was a bit weaker, only Level 2, so Zorn didn’t have her participate this time.

"Alvin, how has the reconnaissance been going over there?"

Zorn looked at Alvin.

"Reporting to the master, I’ve just about finished scouting the area."

Alvin’s expression grew serious as he responded.

"There is one Level 5 Vice Bishop, whose Sequence is Sun Priest."

"One Level 5 Divine Mage, who is likely in charge of researching how to open the Sealing Gate."

"There is also a Grand Knight Commander of the Sun Knight Sequence, also Level 5!"

"Besides them, there are five Level 4 Priests and six Level 4 Knight Commanders."

"The number of Level Two and Level Three Transcendent exceeds fifty."

"Plus all the other miscellaneous staff. In total, there are over one hundred members of the Holy Fierce Sun Church there."

"The enemies who pose a significant threat to us are the three Level 5 Transcendent and the eleven Level 4 Transcendent."

"And that’s just what I was able to uncover. I suspect there are hidden forces as well."

After hearing Alvin’s report.

Not only did Francis the Divine Mage fall silent, but even the Lantern-carrying Elder outside went quiet.

The disparity in strength between the two sides was undoubtedly huge.

This was bound to be a bitter fight!

After swaying on the rough path for a long time...

...the carriage stopped behind a small hill bathed in the quiet moonlight.

"Master, we’ve arrived at our destination!"

The Lantern-carrying Elder’s old but steady voice came from outside.