On a wide, clean street.

CLIPPITY-CLOP... CLIPPITY-CLOP...

The rhythmic, staggered sound of hooves wove together like a magnificent symphony.

Inside the spacious and comfortable carriage, Zorn, who had been resting with his eyes closed, silently opened his attribute panel.

...

[Star Trace Fighter]

Level: Level 4 (12%)

[Talent]

Gangyi Iron Bone (SS-Level)

[Skill]

Shattering Spirit·Skull-Splitting Fist: LV2 (28%)

Vigorous Qi Mastery (Passive): LV1 (8%)

Thousand Streams·Gale Step: LV1 (32%)

Star Trace·Holy Armor: LV0 (16%)

...

[Evil Spirit Wizard] (World-level BOSS)

Level: Level 4 (12%)

Evil Witch Spirituality: Feeds on spirits.

Immortal Divinity: Reviving.

[Talent]

Mortality and Rebirth (SSS-level): Resurrection (5/5).

Evil Spirit Authority (SSS-level): Controls spirituality.

...

[Skill]

Life Absorption: LV1 (2%)

Forbidden Weaving: LV0 (62%)

Double-Ringed · Destruction Magic Ball: LV1 (20%)

Scythe of the End (Forbidden Technique): LV0 (22%)

Eternal Calamity Whip (Forbidden Technique): LV0 (8%)

Upper Rank: Ringed Snake’s Eye (Exclusive Forbidden Technique): LV0 (12%)

...

His Fighting Master’s "Vigorous Qi Mastery" had broken through naturally after he completed a high-intensity sparring match with the Undead Assassin Tutor.

His other Fighting Master skills had also progressed during the session.

For Transcendents who constantly sought to improve their strength, getting stuck on skill or level progression was the most troublesome issue.

But Zorn, who had already carved numerous Sacred Marks across Ogrande City, wasn’t worried about that.

After reaching Level 4, Zorn clearly felt his leveling speed slow down considerably.

He had absorbed a portion of the Sun King’s Staff’s power a while back, in addition to the Fighting Essence he had been continuously digesting.

In half a month, he had only progressed by about 8%.

As a powerful World-level BOSS,

Zorn enjoyed a powerful "template" with high stats and various formidable "skill mechanics."

Naturally, this also came with a higher cost for growth.

Fortunately, Zorn possessed a Dual Sequence, allowing him to exploit the "Fighting Essence" bug from his Fighting Master class to grow slowly.

Otherwise, Zorn figured he would have already had to commit several crimes by now and would be on the run from pursuers.

’Who would want to live a life of feast or famine, constantly hiding and living in fear, when you can just develop in peace and stability!’

He was a Level 4 World-level BOSS with a Dual Sequence.

This was the source of Zorn’s confidence in meeting that mysterious figure of authority.

Soon, the carriage stopped at a lakeside manor’s castle in the South Suburbs.

"Mr. Zorn, we’ve arrived at our destination!"

Lady Gaido’s gentle voice sounded from across Zorn.

Zorn stepped out of the carriage and gazed into the distance.

His eyes, filled with thought, drifted to a spot around the third floor of the lakeside castle.

His gaze met briefly with that of a figure behind the window.

Zorn smiled faintly.

’It really is her. Isabelle Isaiah!’

’Also, her backer should be here this time, too.’

Zorn’s gaze swept over the Lakeside Castle, but he didn’t detect the slightest unusual aura.

’Hidden perfectly. After all, she’s a Middle Rank Transcendent with a very special Sequence. It’s normal that I can’t see her.’

The future Empress, Isabelle Isaiah.

Her supporter was the [Daughter of the Sun], who possessed the bloodline of the Sun Goddess.

This Lady [Sun] should be currently at Level 7 or Level 8.

In the original timeline,

the masterminds who pushed Isabelle Isaiah to fawn and grovel beneath Zorn Corick...

were, in part, that damn [Conspiracy Theorist] behind the Sun Church,

and, in other part, this "Daughter of God" from the Sun Goddess’s line.

As time went on,

some powerful and hidden existences would slowly begin to take the world stage.

This time, that fearsome [Daughter of the Sun] was the mastermind Zorn had to guard against.

Now, the [Evil Spirit Wizard] was not afraid of being controlled, and he feared death even less.

This was the source of Zorn’s courage to come here and his confidence in cooperating with them.

Moreover, using the [Fighting Master] as a disguise was even more effective.

If they decided to drop the pretenses,

his Dual Sequence could teach them a harsh lesson.

He entered the manor’s living room.

A maid brought over a steaming pot of freshly brewed tea.

Just then, Isabelle Isaiah, dressed in a long court gown of interwoven purple and blue, slowly descended the spiral staircase.

A fashionable bun coiled at the back of her head was paired with a violet-gold hairnet, accentuating her delicate, fair face.

Isabelle, a royal noble from Saint Grellele, was like a proud tulip with sharp thorns—impossibly beautiful.

She walked over with elegance and composure, sitting down across from Zorn.

Her clear, bright eyes rested on Zorn.

"Good morning, Mr. Zorn Corick!"

Her voice carried a noble’s languor and a hint of aloofness.

"When I first arrived in Ogrande City, I heard the stories of the [Fighting Master] and the [Rat King Knight]."

"I’ve even seen them in storybooks sold on the streets."

"I just didn’t expect you to be so young."

"And your Sequence Level is also astonishingly high."

"At your age, many people have likely not even touched the threshold of an Extraordinary Sequence."

In response to her praise, Zorn offered a modest smile.

"The reason my level has risen so quickly is mainly due to the recent boom of Extraordinary Sequences in Ogrande City and the rich rewards from treasure excavation."

"I’ve merely benefited by standing on the shoulders of Ogrande City’s officials."

The fact that Ogrande City was excavating treasure was already public knowledge.

Ogrande City had already begun recruiting university students with outstanding talent to be trained as Transcendents.

Even the young nobles of Ogrande City were eager to participate in the tests.

Nowadays, the first thing on the minds of Ogrande City’s university students wasn’t taking civil service exams or finding a job, but taking the Transcendent test.

If they were identified as having sufficiently high Extraordinary Talent, it would completely rewrite their destiny.

Lately, word had already spread of several geniuses with excellent Extraordinary Talent.

Compared to the Church, which did its utmost to keep Extraordinary Power in its own hands,

Ogrande City’s approach of using the foundation provided by the treasure to openly recruit a large number of talented individuals with Extraordinary potential was clearly more reasonable.

After some pleasantries,

Zorn cut to the day’s main topic.

"Miss Isabelle, while I agree with what Lady Gaido previously described regarding the Steam Realm,"

"if you want me to support you and the faction behind you,"

"you must, at the very least, display some of your foundational strength and sincerity."

Isabelle nodded slightly.

"Of course. However, what kind of price do you have in mind, Mr. Zorn?"

’She wants me to name my own price?’

’In that case, I’m going to ask for the moon.’

Hearing this, Zorn leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing as he said coolly,

"Let’s say... eight or ten pieces of the Sun King’s bones, plus five or six portions of Egunus’s flesh. That should be barely enough!"

The hand Isabelle was using to hold her teacup stiffened, and for a moment, the smile on her face froze.

Then, she spoke in a soft voice.

"You must be joking, Mr. Zorn!"

"I’m not joking."

Zorn’s expression suddenly darkened, and his voice became deep and coarse.

"The Mr. [Reflected Man] scrutinizing me from the window."

"The Mr. [Dark Wizard] lying in wait underground."

"And of course, the most formidable one of all is the Middle Rank Lady [Sun] on the second-floor staircase."

Zorn cracked his neck slightly, his eyes like dark abysses as he stared at Isabelle before him.

His Gang Qi threatened to erupt like starlight!

"Is this..."

"the part where you plan to kill me and take the Egunus flesh from my body?"

Zorn’s words made the atmosphere in the spacious hall nearly freeze in an instant.

Even Isabelle Isaiah, across from Zorn, froze in place.

This time, the [Fighting Master]’s absorption of Egunus’s flesh had attracted a lot of attention.

The main reason Isabelle Isaiah had tried to win Zorn over and invited him for a meeting was because the [Fighting Master] Sequence was powerful enough.

Naturally, Zorn had to be on guard against the possibility of them trying to seize the Egunus flesh.

"Even though you’re a [Gray Mist Walker] with a powerful bloodline and extremely high mobility,"

"believe me, Miss Isabelle, if I wanted to, you wouldn’t live for more than three seconds!"

"You all can give it a try. Let’s see if you kill me first, or if I twist Lady Isabelle’s head off first."

Since Zorn had dared to come, he was already fully prepared.

The [Fighting Master] of today feared nothing!

This Reconstruction Faction was cooperating with the [Sun Church], and when they eventually built their Steam Empire, heads would roll.

Zorn didn’t believe that his status as a mere Baron of the Autanston Republic gave him much room to be won over.

Strength!

That was what gave him the right to sit here.

If his strength was insufficient, yet he still dared to attend this meeting while holding the flesh of Egunus,

his only fate would be to be devoured, leaving nothing behind.

This was a "cooperation," but it was also a "test."

If the young noble "Zorn Corick" lacked sufficient strength,

then the "test" would naturally become a bloody feast with the [Fighting Master] as the main course.

A moment later, Isabelle seemed to receive some kind of instruction, and her tense nerves relaxed slightly.

She looked at Zorn, the prideful air she had maintained moments ago finally dissipating a little.

"You’ve misunderstood, Mr. Zorn Corick. We hold no ill will toward you."

"It’s just that as potential partners, we must demonstrate a certain degree of strength, shouldn’t we?"

"Your absorption of Egunus’s flesh is truly extraordinary. That Perception is admirable."

As Isabelle spoke, the presences in the three locations all withdrew.

"Heh... That alone is not enough."

Zorn sat up a little straighter.

"Then..."

Isabelle thought seriously for a moment before speaking.

"What about the [Sun Church]?"

"The Sun Church?"

Zorn feigned a slight frown.

He knew, of course, that the Sun Church was still powerful.

It was just that he had recently put them in a huge bind, causing the Sun Church’s reputation to take a major hit.

"The Sun Church has major internal problems. Cooperating with them carries an unusually high risk!"

Zorn said slowly.

Seeing that this Mr. Fighting Master wasn’t too opposed to the Sun Church, the worry hanging in Isabelle’s heart eased slightly.

"The [Sun Church]’s internal problems have been resolved. They were just minor issues!"

"As for the Sun Church’s strength, you should be well aware that they are not weak."

Zorn nodded.

The power of the Sun Church was, at least, trustworthy.

If it weren’t for a certain damned Evil Spirit, the Sun Church would have probably started the ritual process for the [Crying Blood Sun] long ago.

"Then... what about the resources I require?"

Zorn asked again.

Zorn had come today intending to fleece a wealthy household.

And Zorn was fully entitled to ask for the moon.

If they wanted to win over the powerful Mr. [Fighting Master], they would have to pay a sufficiently high price.