Days passed since he killed the fake Andrea and murdered the men who stopped him from taking revenge on Robert.

After burying the real Andrea’s body and finally calming down, Richard, sitting in front of a small hill overlooking the vast plains that had become his land, asked the Goddess.

"You tried to save Andrea, how about Robert? You’re not going to tell me that he is also a reincarnated God right?"

The Goddess manifested next to him, she did not sit on the ground like Richard but stood behind him, imposing while answering-

<He made a pact, the moment he died, his soul was immediately taken away>

"I killed the fake Andrea though"

<She didn’t have a soul- no, the fake Andrea was a mere puppet on a string, a body manipulated by someone else>

Richard let out a sigh as he asked.

"Is the enemy God?"

<Likely a God>

After everything that happened, the company he built was at the brink of ruin, at that time, he sent a message to his buddy.

A man named Edward Moore, he’s a financial mogul. He created an online cash app that was now being used all over the world.

He was a master at dealing with the financial side of things and Richard had him as an external adviser of sorts.

His company never went public but when the fake Andrea took his beloved’s place, Richard already started to act.

"Now that I think about it... she- no... whoever it was that controlled Andrea was surely controlling half the world at that time right?"

The quick action of the police, the movements made by the FBI-

All of it was just too fast, too coordinated and even when Richard acted unnaturally, they still were able to move and react without issue.

Even if one consider’s the mystical world’s influence- why would a branch of the FBI dealing with mystical beings act against a "normal person"?

<All they needed was to control a few of the top brass, many underlings in this day and age don’t think for themselves and simply follow their beliefs and those are controlled by higher ups. Control them and you basically have the world in the palm of your hands>

"Still, why me though?"

Even when you consider a logical way of creating the situation Richard went through, the biggest problem was still, "why Damien?"

It was one thing if they attacked him AFTER his awakening but the group moved before that.

<They may have done it all to force you to act, maybe it wasn’t your capture or death but your awkening that they were after>

The goddess gave her opinion but Richard still didn’t believe it.

"How could they be assured that I’d awaken and not turn myself in or just fight against their illogical bs? No... why didn’t they just manipulate me to awaken under their control? Why go through this long ass-"

Richard paused as he suddenly realized something.

<So you got it?>

"I want to say that it’s impossible but-"

Merlin’s heritage allowed him to have a "sixth sense", even without awakening, this "sixth sense" was so powerful that it allowed Richard to find faults in what was otherwise a "perfect disguise" by the fake Andrea.

Upon awakening, it stopped being a mere "feeling" and instead became a premonition.

Like how one would watch a basketball game and get an idea of who would win despite the match still being barely halfway through.

Now, Richard found himself being able to predict the weather and other small accidents.

Not based on any data, just a simple vision whenever he thought of something.

<It is said that your ancestor was capable of picturing a clear future. But he wasn’t the only clairvoyant, the people who had such blessings were all targeted by mystical beings. Like that famous priestess in the Iliad>

"Cassandra... wasn’t she cursed that no one would believe her?"

<More like a hypnosis that was cast over all that believed in her>

"You talk as if you personally saw it happen"

<No comment>

The Goddess who started to use modern slang did not bother Richard one bit, he was back to his calm state, already used to her eccentricities.

Not that he had none.

"I don’t like it... I feel like a puppet on a string"

<It seems your power has gotten even stronger>

"Couldn’t you just tell me that it was just my imagination?"

<I thought you hated it when I lie?>

"When did I say that?"

<You’re thoughts are an open book, still, it bothers me that you lack the thoughts a typical man should have>

"What kind? Want me to imagine you in a bikini or something?"

<...>

Richard turned his attention back to the plains, the world did not stop turning and the preparations he had set up should the fake Andrea attack him went off without issue.

Although Andrea simply vanished, people assumed that she found out that Damien had prepared a proper plan in case things went south.

While he lacked video evidence and all that, bankers, lawyers and the many allies Damien had finally stepped forward.

After the hypnosis was lifted, the lies were quickly exposed and with nobody to manipulate the higher ups, the truth was revealed.

Even the fake body double- even when the DNA test was real, became another lie and everyone believed it.

Damien Dixon’s name was cleared, Andrea and Robert vanished, Robert’s dad was arrested for bribery and extortion as it was proven that the FBI director acted to get a deal he made with Damien signed.

The people who Damien left the company too acted quickly.

Propaganda about government corruption, about how their data would be used by the government if the company makes the deal. The threat of a government powered by AI and greed-

With Damien’s name cleared, the talk suddenly shifted.

What started as a scandal involving a rich man doing rich man things became a case of political corruption, of lawmakers using their position for greed.

Quelling the flames was not easy but it won’t truly burn the government.

Though it did create a smokescreen that allowed Richard’s former company to reorganize and get back on its feet.

At the same time-

*ding*

Richard pulled out his phone, there was an anonymous message with strings of numbers listed down.

<So our money problem is solved?>

"Not entirely, we have a few hundred million left to spend but they are scattered across different banks. But with what we’re doing... I doubt that would be enough"

<Are you sure you want to pursue this?>

"Can’t help it, I want to just hide away on some tropical island paradise for the rest of my days but if I have to live through a constant feeling of constipation then I’d rather follow my guts"

"And take a shit?"

Cindy appeared out of nowhere, she dragged Hana along.

The tomboyish girl was dressed formally, something Richard never thought she’d wear.

"Damn... you look like an Salaryman"

"Isn’t office lady the proper term?"

"Nah, you don’t have the chest for it"

Fortunately for Richard, Hana did not have the guts to fight back. After a;;, whether it be wit magic or without, Richard already surpassed.

A shitty situation but one she can’t help but live in given her position.

"So what’s the getup for?"

Hana sighed, she took out a piece of paper, a letter that was addressed to Richard.

"An invitation, Richard Rex, a meeting regarding the recent events is going to be held. Normally, the participants are the leaders of the three factions but... well, it seems that word of Merlin’s awakening started to spread"

"Huh?"

"A rumor about Merlin reincarnating spread, apparently, an agent working under the FBI who had a connection with the FMC revealed the existence of a mystic who had abilities from the Age of Gods"

"Sounds like trouble"

Richard could already picture what’s going to happen.

"Maybe we should move out? Like, not to another state but to another country"

Richard pondered aloud and responding to him was Cindy who raised her hand like a child as she said-

"JAPAN! Let’s go to Japan! They have lots of depressed people who create monstrosities and it’s close to Southeast Asia! Their mystical community is really strong!"

"How about China?" 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Nope, that’s the headquarters of the major Asian mystical groups. Moreover, the government has strong ties with them like the US but waaay deeper and their history just makes it a homebase for centennial monsters!"

Cutting into their conversation, Hana said in a panic-

"Wait! No... this isn’t an interrogation! Merlin’s Reincarnation- at least, that’s what they believe you to be, the leaders think that you’re going to form your own group! This meeting- on the surface, they claim it’s to talk about the recent events but it’s basically just a way to get you on the negotiation table"

"For what?"

"The future of the mystical community"