《The Eminence In Shadow In Multiverse》 Chapter 1: Prologue! ¡°The casualties on the World Battlefield have been effectively contained. Forces from World No. 1 and World No. 2 have begun reallocating their resources. It¡¯s expected that the next Tri-Realm Joint Conference will convene soon. However, during these negotiations, some of the benefits we gained last time¡ªthanks to your intervention, Lord Shadow¡ªare likely to be sacrificed.¡± ¡°That said, Mistsugoshi Trading Company has already secured 30% of the military supply chains through the World Battlefield. On the civilian front, the company¡¯s reputation for unbeatable price-to-quality ratios has left its competitors in the dust. With Mistsugoshi dominating supply routes and other factions paying little attention to the civilian sector, achieving a global monopoly is only a matter of time.¡± ¡°Given these circumstances, I propose redirecting the inevitable losses during the conference onto the nations of our world. This approach would safeguard Shadow Garden¡¯s core interests, deal a decisive blow to the Church¡¯s economic network, and simultaneously reinforce Mistsugoshi Trading Company¡¯s image as a neutral entity.¡± ¡­. The young man stood by the window, gazing out at the tranquil schoolyard below. Though his posture suggested indifference, a subtle shift in his demeanor revealed otherwise¡ªsomething in the report had caught his attention. His eyes, deep and inscrutable, held an air of mystery that seemed to stretch across time itself, as if contemplating the past, present, and future in a single breath. A faint crimson light flickered within them as he turned his gaze toward the speaker¡ªa breathtaking elf with flowing azure hair. She stood beside him, her elegant frame accentuated by the black JK-style school uniform she wore. Her presence, like a masterfully sculpted statue, exuded both beauty and authority. Behind her, several other women¡ªelves, foxkin, and humans¡ªbusied themselves at their desks, their focus unbroken as they sorted through piles of documents and reports. The elf, who had moments ago been delivering her report with practiced confidence, visibly stiffened as the young man¡¯s piercing gaze fell upon her. The subtle tremor in her fingers betrayed the sudden tension that gripped her. ¡°L-Lord Shadow,¡± she stammered, her earlier poise crumbling. ¡°Did I miss something in the report? I¡¯ll have the intelligence team re-investigate immediately!¡± The young man raised his hand, cutting off the panic before it could spread to the others, who had already begun preparing for emergency orders. ¡°Gamma,¡± he said, his voice low yet steady, carrying an undeniable weight. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before¡ªyou don¡¯t need to report these matters to me anymore.¡±This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. The elf flinched but said nothing, her lips trembling as if resisting the urge to argue. ¡°We¡¯re not the same,¡± he continued, turning away from the window to face her fully. ¡°You need to seize this opportunity and lead the Garden into the light. Remember this¡ªflowers that bloom in the darkness can never truly thrive.¡± His words echoed through the room, their impact leaving everyone silent. Yet, despite the stillness, their tightly clenched fists and trembling shoulders betrayed their inner turmoil. ¡°I¡¯ll shoulder the shadows and sins of this world alone. That¡¯s not your role. It never was, and it never should be.¡± As his voice faded, the air grew heavier. No one dared to speak. Seeing their reactions, the young man let out a quiet sigh. Without another word, he turned and walked toward the door. Just before leaving, he paused and glanced over his shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll clear the darkness on the path to your future. And Gamma¡­¡± He hesitated for a moment before speaking again. ¡°Think carefully about the things I¡¯ve told you before.¡± Without waiting for a response, he stepped out of the room¡ªthe innermost chamber of the student council office¡ªand disappeared. The moment he crossed the threshold, the change was instantaneous. His straight back slumped, his commanding presence evaporated, and his broad shoulders sagged as though the weight of the world had finally been lifted. Within seconds, the awe-inspiring figure who could bring nations to their knees had transformed into a completely forgettable background character. The transformation was flawless. ¡°Hey, Cid! How¡¯s President Luna today? Was she in a good mood? Did she yell at you?¡± The small group of students loitering outside the room failed to notice the drastic shift. To them, Cid had always been nothing more than¡­ well, Cid. ¡°Totally fine! President Luna was in a great mood today,¡± Cid replied with a grin that practically screamed ¡®generic mob character.¡¯ ¡°I even cracked a joke, and she didn¡¯t scold me for it.¡± The group visibly relaxed at his words. ¡°Whew, that¡¯s a relief,¡± said one of the students¡ªShiro Mizuhara, if Cid remembered correctly. Probably one of Vice President Souna¡¯s lackeys. ¡°She¡¯s been on edge lately. Even minor mistakes would set her off. It¡¯s lucky we have you to test the waters, Cid. Honestly, you¡¯re the only one here who can handle being around her without getting vaporized.¡± Cid resisted the urge to smirk. Instead, he maintained his harmless smile and nodded along. ¡°Well, that¡¯s the gist of it. You¡¯re safe to go in and report now. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll head out first.¡± ¡°Sure, sure. Thanks again, Cid.¡± ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t mention it.¡± Hearing Shiro Mizuhara¡¯s response, Cid wasted no time slipping away from the crowded hallway. As for the rumors that later spread about the student council president¡¯s hours-long rage or the fact that the school¡¯s training grounds were flattened by elemental magic¡­ well, those had nothing to do with him. After all, trivial campus gossip wasn¡¯t something he cared about. No¡ªwait. As a proper background character, Cid Kagenou should absolutely care about trivial gossip. So naturally, he¡¯d pick up on those rumors. As for why Gamma was upset in the first place? That remained a mystery. Cid Kagenou. That was his name. A student who played the role of an unremarkable mob character at school. But in truth, Cid was someone who, even in his previous life, had harbored one grand ambition¡ª To become The Eminence In Shadow. Chapter 2: The Eminence In Shadow! What exactly is The Eminence In Shadow? Before answering that, let me ask¡ªhaven¡¯t most people, at some point in their childhood, dreamed of being heroes? Whether it was knights in shining armor, valiant warriors, or masked heroes saving the day, we¡¯ve all felt the desire to stand in the light and fight for justice. Cid wasn¡¯t any different. Except¡­ he never wanted to be a hero. He aspired to be something far more extraordinary¡ªan Eminence In Shadow. What is an Eminence In Shadow? Neither the protagonist nor the final boss, but a figure who lurks in the shadows¡ªmanipulating events, revealing overwhelming strength at critical moments, and then vanishing as mysteriously as they appeared. That¡¯s what Cid yearned to become. And why, you might ask? Because it was cool. Imagine it¡ªstepping out of the shadows to effortlessly defeat enemies that even the protagonist couldn¡¯t touch. Disposing of threats with calm precision. Speaking cryptic, thought-provoking lines that leave everyone guessing your motives. And then, without looking back, fading into obscurity. Or even better¡ªshowing up at the final confrontation to put both the protagonist and the villain in their place. Something like: ¡°Is this really the extent of your strength? How disappointing.¡± Now that was cool. And if the Eminence In Shadow turned out to be a sleeper villain in disguise? Even cooler. Dramatic betrayals, sharp monologues, and an air of absolute dominance¡ªthose were the scenes Cid lived for. While other kids outgrew their childhood fantasies, Cid didn¡¯t. Maybe it was fate. Or maybe it was a chronic case of chuunibyou¡ªthe so-called ¡°eighth-grader syndrome.¡± But unlike others, Cid didn¡¯t just daydream about his fantasies. He acted on them. In his past life, he devoted every spare moment to training. Swordsmanship, karate, mixed martial arts¡ªanything that might bring him closer to his dream of power, he pursued relentlessly. Yet reality was harsh.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. No matter how skilled he became, a single bullet was enough to end it all. That truth weighed heavily on him. He refused to accept it. If he couldn¡¯t become an Eminence In Shadow with ordinary strength, then he¡¯d seek out extraordinary power. Magic, spiritual energy, qi, mana, divine blessings¡ªwhatever it took. As long as it allowed him to transcend human limits and become the ultimate being in the shadows, he would stop at nothing to claim it. ¡­. Cid Kagenou knew perfectly well how absurd it was to search for supernatural powers in the real world. But then again, wasn¡¯t the very idea of becoming an Eminence in Shadow already absurd? So why not take it one step further? No one could prove the supernatural existed¡ªbut no one could prove it didn¡¯t, either. To Cid, even dying in the pursuit of such powers was still dying in pursuit of his dream. And then, as if fate itself was entertained by his determination¡ªhe really did die. By some strange twist of luck (or misfortune), Cid was reborn in another world¡ªone roughly equivalent to the era of the First Industrial Revolution. There, he found it. Magic. Yet, despite the discovery, the world he found himself in wasn¡¯t exactly what he had hoped for. Sure, it wasn¡¯t peaceful per se, but it wasn¡¯t chaotic enough to warrant the rise of an Eminence in Shadow either. Most enemies were trivial¡ªbandits, petty kidnappers, or the occasional rebellious noble trying to usurp the throne. But there were no shadowy cults plotting world domination. No immortal villains pulling strings from the darkness. Nothing worthy of an Eminence in Shadow. ¡­. That¡¯s not to say the world was completely devoid of intrigue. There were rumors¡ªwhispers about something called ¡®Demon Possession.¡¯ According to the Church, it was a curse that transformed humans into monsters. Victims¡¯ bodies would rot as if decaying from within. Most died shortly after the symptoms appeared, but the Church still went out of its way to capture the afflicted. They called it ¡®purification.¡¯ To Cid, the entire thing reeked of medieval superstition. Still, he held out hope that it might lead to something real¡ªsomething worthy of investigation. Then, at the age of ten, that hope was shattered. He encountered a so-called Demon Possessed and, after a month of research, reached a conclusion. It was just a blood disease. Disappointed, he treated one of the afflicted¡ªan elf girl who had been left for dead. Cid had intended to send her on her way after curing her. But instead of leaving, the elf insisted on repaying her debt. And that¡¯s when it hit him. An Eminence in Shadow needed an organization¡ªa secret group operating from the darkness. Because, let¡¯s be honest, any proper Eminence in Shadow worth their name should have one. So, he made something up on the spot. He wove a tale about an evil cult¡ªthe Diabolos Order¡ªthat lurked in the shadows, spreading corruption and orchestrating the rise of the Demon Possessed. He told her the world was teetering on the edge of ruin and that he, as the mysterious force opposing them, was the only one who could stand in their way. To her, it was the truth. To Cid? It was just roleplay. But that didn¡¯t stop him from naming her Alpha and founding an organization called Shadow Garden. It was the ultimate setup for his fantasies¡ªan elite group dedicated to rooting out evil and protecting the world from darkness. And the best part? They believed every word. ¡­ Three years passed. By then, the organization had grown to seven members. They called themselves the Seven Shadows. And for Cid, those years were some of the best of his life. Until the day it all came crashing down. ¡­ His lie was exposed. Or so he thought. Back then, the seven of them had stood before him, saying they were leaving to expand their operations and fight against the Diabolos Order elsewhere. Cid knew what they really meant. They¡¯d figured out the Diabolos Order was fake. Still, maybe because he had saved them, or maybe because of the bond they¡¯d built over the years, they decided to keep playing along with his Eminence in Shadow act. I mean, there was no way the Diabolos Order actually existed, right? (laughs) Chapter 3: Invasion! Two years ago, things had been much simpler. Back then, Cid had to rely on them to set up scenarios for his Eminence in Shadow play. Sometimes, he¡¯d step out of the shadows to deal with terrorists, spout cryptic lines that even he didn¡¯t fully understand, and then eliminate them in dramatic fashion. It was cool. But in the end, it was just self-indulgence. And whenever the Seven Shadows ran into trouble, they¡¯d call him in using the Diabolos Order as an excuse. If they couldn¡¯t think of a reason that fit the setup, they¡¯d just change the setup. Thanks to that, the Diabolos Order had gone through so many revisions that he¡¯d lost count. What started as a shadowy group obsessed with claiming the power of Diabolos had morphed into an ancient organization that had supposedly created the Three Heroes who defeated Diabolos, experimented on Diabolos itself, and controlled terrorist networks across the world. Honestly, if such an organization actually existed, Cid wouldn¡¯t have minded. It would¡¯ve given him the perfect stage for an Eminence in Shadow. But unfortunately, it was all made up. (Regretful sigh.) Of course, that didn¡¯t stop him from becoming a wanted criminal under his alter ego¡ªShadow. After all¡­ ¡°Being wanted is pretty cool, isn¡¯t it?¡± He had assumed his life would continue like this¡ªspinning elaborate tales, striking cool poses, and pretending to fight enemies that didn¡¯t exist. He thought he¡¯d never get the chance to truly play the role of an Eminence in Shadow. Until a year and a half ago. That day¡ª The ground shook. Magic erupted across the skies. Beasts fled the forests in terror, and waves hundreds of meters high swallowed the shores. That day, every living being in all three worlds witnessed what could only be called a miracle. The worlds¡­ fused. Despite the chaos, there were surprisingly few casualties.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. The three worlds merged seamlessly, as though they had always been one. But the factions that came along with them? They almost tore the new world apart. The tension was unbearable. With armies clashing at borders and a three-world war about to erupt, it seemed like civilization was doomed to collapse. Until they appeared. Invaders from beyond the worlds. And strangely enough¡ª That invasion was a blessing. Funny, isn¡¯t it? An external invasion, far from being a disaster, actually saved the world. Because without it, the factions of the three worlds would have destroyed each other long before the first shot was ever fired. The invaders forced them to unite¡ªgiving the fractured worlds a common enemy. It was the perfect storm. And for Cid Kagenou, it was also the perfect opportunity. The World Battlefield. That was what they called the frontline where the new world clashed against the invaders from beyond. Ordinary people across the three worlds might look at the invasion and feel grateful¡ªgrateful that the external threat had shifted the pressure caused by the world¡¯s fusion outward, preventing the collapse of civilization. But make no mistake¡ªthis was no blessing. Since the war began, countless soldiers had died. Even more had been wounded. Nations crumbled. Factions rose and fell. And in the wake of this chaos, the balance of power shifted irreversibly. After more than a year of uneasy ceasefires and political maneuvering, the three worlds finally agreed on a plan¡ªa fragile attempt at unity. On an artificial island called Itogami Island¡ªa relic from World No. 2¡ªthey constructed an international academy. It was a school with no teaching experience, yet the moment it opened, nobles, leaders, and influential figures from all three worlds sent their children there. They pinned their hopes on fostering relationships between their heirs, believing it might lead to the true integration of their worlds. As for Cid Kagenou? In World No. 3, where noble blood still mattered, he slid into the academy effortlessly. A minor noble¡¯s son with a few loose connections here and there was all it took to secure a position as a second-year student. The academy was prestigious, sure, but that didn¡¯t matter to him. What mattered was that it provided cover. Itogami Island also supposedly held some research labs related to demons back in the day, but ever since the academy was established, nobody dared bring that up anymore. Beastkin, vampires, and demons existed openly now¡ªespecially in World No. 1 and World No. 2. Questioning their origins wasn¡¯t exactly diplomatic. Not that Cid cared. What he cared about¡ªwhat he thanked the world fusion for¡ªwas the stage it had provided him. A perfect stage for the birth of an Eminence in Shadow. Demons, angels, vampires, gods¡­ With beings like these running around, true peace was never an option. And that was perfect. Just take the Fourth Progenitor, for example¡ªa vampire of legend said to be more monster than man. Rumors painted him as a mass murderer who drank a virgin¡¯s blood every night and commanded twelve incarnations of calamity¡ªbeasts so powerful that he could single-handedly destroy the world. Now that was cool. If someone could just point him toward this Fourth Progenitor, he¡¯d be more than happy to take them down¡ªpersonally. What better way to mark his second grand entrance as the Eminence in Shadow? Villains of every stripe, apocalyptic crises lurking in the shadows¡ªit was enough to send shivers down his spine. The best part? Even with all his strength, he could already name three individuals in this world whose power was an unknown variable. Three people. And in a world like this¡ªwhere chaos was practically guaranteed¡ªhe could finally become what he had always dreamed of. A few months ago, when the realization fully hit him, he summoned Alpha and the others to gather the Shadow Garden. In total, over seven hundred members. Standing on stage before them, he surveyed the crowd. The sight sent a thrill through his veins, but he didn¡¯t let it show. Instead, he opened his mouth and, in the most dramatic tone possible, declared¡ª ¡°I¡¯m done playing games.¡± Chapter 4: Cryptic Message! Cid¡¯s words often sounded cryptic to the average listener¡ªlayered with depth and mystery. But the Seven Shadows? They¡¯d grown up alongside him. They knew him. They understood his quirks, his habits¡ªand most importantly, how his mind worked. Take Gamma, for instance. To most people, his earlier speech probably sounded like a somber declaration of burdens he had chosen to bear¡ªan admission of guilt and responsibility. But to Gamma? She was smart enough to translate it instantly. ¡°You don¡¯t need to report to me anymore.¡± (I already told you¡ªI¡¯m done playing chuunibyou games.) ¡°We¡¯re not the same anymore. Seize this chance to lead Shadow Garden into the light. Flowers can¡¯t bloom in darkness.¡± (It must¡¯ve been exhausting babysitting me all this time. Thanks for sticking with it¡ªbut you won¡¯t have to anymore.) ¡°I¡¯ll carry the world¡¯s shadows and sins alone. You don¡¯t need to, and you shouldn¡¯t have to.¡± (I¡¯m heading off to become a real Eminence in Shadow now, so let¡¯s face it¡ªyou¡¯re not going to be much help.) Yes. It was time to graduate. Cid was cutting ties with the Shadow of the past and stepping into the Shadow of the future. Pretending to be a mysterious savior and spouting riddles had been fun¡ªno doubt about it. But fake was fake. There was never a Diabolos Order. The kingdom wasn¡¯t hunting down some shadowy cult¡ªthey were hunting him. Which meant the kingdom had never fallen for his lies. Looking back¡­ It was all just a giant black mark on his record. (Cringe.) But this new world? It might look peaceful on the surface, but Cid could feel the undercurrents¡ªdanger and chaos brewing just beneath. It was perfect. If he missed the chance to debut as a real Eminence in Shadow on this stage, he¡¯d regret it for the rest of his life. He could finally step into the shadows for real.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. No more games. And while part of him had considered bringing Alpha and the others along, he ultimately decided against it. After all, they¡¯d paid out of pocket to help him set up those chuunibyou scenarios. Dragging them into actual danger just to live out his dream? Even he had standards. It was one thing to fail strangers he¡¯d never met. But failing friends who had supported his dream from the very beginning? Unthinkable. Still¡­ Maybe he¡¯d gone a little too far earlier. Judging by the way Gamma had nearly burst out laughing, it was clear his performance had been a bit over-the-top. Thankfully, he¡¯d managed to recover before it got worse¡ªmaking a hasty exit while throwing in a few final lines to soften the blow. ¡°I¡¯ll clear the darkness from your path to the light.¡± (Call me if you need backup.) ¡°And Gamma¡ªthink carefully about the things I¡¯ve told you before.¡± (Please, for the love of God, don¡¯t start laughing until I¡¯m out of earshot.) With that, he¡¯d left. Now, on his way to class, Cid mulled over his plans. Shadow Garden¡¯s era had come to an end. But for the Eminence in Shadow? His story was just beginning. ¡­. Gamma stared at the door as it closed behind Cid. A sudden warmth traced down her cheeks. Tears. She reached up to wipe them away, startled by her own reaction. When was the last time she cried? Probably back in the countryside¡ªwhen Delta defeated her without breaking a sweat. Gamma had always known her shortcomings. She wasn¡¯t athletic. She lacked combat talent. Among the Seven Shadows, she was the weakest. The Weakest Shadow. She had heard the whispers before. ¡°Gamma, the weakest.¡± And her repeated defeats only reinforced that truth. She had been the third person saved by Cid. Yet those who came after her quickly surpassed her in both strength and skill. She had offered her life to repay her savior¡ªdedicating herself entirely to his cause¡ªonly to discover that her strength amounted to nothing. It was pathetic, wasn¡¯t it? So pathetic that, for a time, she even thought about ending it all. But then he called for her. ¡°Gamma, I¡¯ll teach you a different kind of strength.¡± He called it wisdom. And for Gamma, it was as if she¡¯d been tossed a lifeline. Desperate to prove herself, she clung to that knowledge like a drowning person clings to driftwood. Using what he taught her, she established the Mitsugoshi Trading Company¡ªa lifeline for Shadow Garden. Even after the world fusion, she rode the wave of chaos, expanding Mitsugoshi¡¯s influence by exploiting the World Battlefield economy. Their products dominated markets with unbeatable quality and pricing, and Mitsugoshi soon became the backbone of the civilian economy. She thought her accomplishments would finally prove her worth. She thought she could finally stand before him and say¡ª ¡°Look, my lord. I am useful. I belong here.¡± But then¡ª Two months ago. Shadow had summoned the entire Shadow Garden. He declared that the organization¡ªonce shrouded in secrecy¡ªwould step into the light. And he? He would remain alone in the darkness. In that moment, Gamma understood. They had been discarded. Not out of malice. Not out of disappointment. But because their master was too kind. If Shadow Garden was to step into the public eye, this chaotic world was the perfect time. The post-fusion period left every faction scrambling, resorting to dirty tricks behind the scenes. No one would bother investigating the sudden rise of a second-rate organization amidst the turmoil. ¡°Spectators should act like spectators.¡± Those had been their words¡ªthe words they used to mock the people who lived peacefully in the light. Now, in this new world, their master had thrown those same words back at them. Not a single member objected. No one begged him to reconsider. Because they all knew¡ªthey were too weak. Too weak to help him. Too weak to even stand beside him. They had learned that the hard way. In their old world, Shadow Garden had once dared to challenge their master. The result? He shattered them. Not just physically, but completely. He had broken them so utterly that even now, the memory still burned. Chapter 5: Gamma! Once, Shadow Garden had stood as equals against the cult¡ªtheir enemies in the shadows. But in this new world, they weren¡¯t even a second-rate power. And their master? A god. Even here, in a world teeming with monsters, only four people could be said to rival him. But the rest of them? Dead weight. To the world, Lord Shadow was one of its strongest. An untouchable force standing atop all others. But with them at his side? Even the strongest could fall to weakness. If no one could defeat him, enemies would never dare to reveal their claws in the open. Instead, they¡¯d lurk in the shadows, striking at his weaknesses. And that¡¯s exactly what they were¡ªhis weakness. Enemies wouldn¡¯t face him directly. They¡¯d target them. It had happened before. World No. 1 had witnessed a war where demons, fallen angels, and celestial beings clashed. On paper, the god of the angels was supposed to be on par with Lord Shadow. And yet¡­ That god had fallen¡ªdragged down by the Four Demon Lords in a mutual annihilation. Theories varied about why it happened. But the truth was undeniable¡ª The angels had held their god back. If not for them, no matter how weakened that god had been, the Four Demon Lords wouldn¡¯t have been enough to bring him down. Lord Shadow might seem cold on the surface, but to Gamma and the others, his kindness was crystal clear. He wasn¡¯t the kind of man who would abandon them just because they were weak. He had saved them¡ªgiven them a second chance¡ªwhen their own families and nations had discarded them. He had taught them how to fight. He had healed their wounds¡ªnot just their bodies, but their hearts.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. He had done all that not because he owed them anything, but simply because he was kind. To repay that kindness¡ªand to seek revenge¡ªthey had formed Shadow Garden. Most of its members had stories just like theirs¡ªgirls cast aside after becoming Demon Possessed. But did any of that matter to him? No. Even if they had turned their backs on him, walking away and choosing not to fight the Diabolos Order, he would¡¯ve kept fighting. He would¡¯ve kept saving more girls like them. Could the Diabolos Order actually defeat him? Impossible. His power was absolute. The world itself would bow before him, and Demon Possessed girls would be saved¡ªwhether Shadow Garden existed or not. To him, the war against the Diabolos Order was probably just a game. But even if it was, back in their old world, they could at least keep up. They could hold their ground and even fight back when needed. Now? They couldn¡¯t even protect themselves. So being cast aside was only natural, wasn¡¯t it? If Lord Shadow were a cruel man, he could¡¯ve just used them as cannon fodder¡ªpawns to distract enemies while he dealt the finishing blow. But unfortunately for them, he wasn¡¯t. He was too kind. And so, he wanted them to step into the light¡ªto leave the darkness behind while he faced the world¡¯s threats alone. ¡°Nu. Did you catch what our lord just said?¡± Gamma¡¯s voice was steady as she wiped the last traces of tears from her face. ¡°Yes, Gamma-sama,¡± Nu replied without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯ve already contacted Zeta-sama. The intelligence unit is moving to infiltrate major nations and monitor their control over supply chains.¡± Gamma nodded, her tone sharp and composed¡ªlike nothing had happened moments ago. But deep down, she knew what he¡¯d meant. ¡°Gamma, think carefully about the things I¡¯ve told you before.¡± That had been his final message before leaving. A hint. He had already seen the flaws in her report, and the answers were hidden in the knowledge he had taught her. This was how he operated¡ªnever spoon-feeding them solutions, but guiding them toward the answers. They could ignore the hint if they wanted. And if disaster struck because of it, Lord Shadow would swoop in as Shadow and save them. But that would only mean one thing. They had disappointed him. Gamma closed her eyes for a moment, replaying Lord Shadow¡¯s words in her mind. ¡°If things are going too smoothly, stop and look behind you. Otherwise, how can you be sure that what you call ¡®smooth¡¯ isn¡¯t part of someone else¡¯s plan?¡± She opened her eyes, her thoughts sharpening like a blade. Had she been too complacent? Gamma had assumed Mitsugoshi Trading Company¡¯s neutrality was a given¡ªsomething that would carry over into this new world just as it had in the old one. In their original world, Mitsugoshi¡¯s economic dominance, its role in currency circulation, and its ability to stimulate growth had forced nations to tolerate its neutrality. It wasn¡¯t just preferred¡ªit was necessary. Mitsugoshi could only function as a neutral force because the countries needed it to stabilize their economies. But the world fusion had changed the playing field. Mitsugoshi had already begun solidifying its position as the economic giant of the new world. The only step left was formally declaring neutrality and securing trust from the factions of the other two worlds. Or so she had thought. Now that she looked back, she realized the nations of her old world probably didn¡¯t see things the same way. Would they settle for Mitsugoshi being neutral among the three worlds? Of course not. They wanted Mitsugoshi¡¯s neutrality to be exclusive¡ªto their world. The implications hit her like a slap. She had assumed peaceful coexistence, but they were likely laying traps. They didn¡¯t want Mitsugoshi to float freely as a neutral power. They wanted to bind it to their side. Destroying Mitsugoshi outright was unlikely. Its collapse would throw the delicate post-fusion economy into chaos. Nations depended on Mitsugoshi to counter economic threats from the other two worlds. But if the nations managed to anchor Mitsugoshi to their side before it declared neutrality, it wouldn¡¯t matter how angry Mitsugoshi got¡ªit would be trapped. Bound to the same sinking ship as the others. Chapter 6: Mob Training! Bound to the same sinking ship as the others. But now that Gamma was aware of their schemes, everything changed. All she had to do was uncover the traps they¡¯d planted, disarm them, and then¡ªif the opportunity arose¡ªturn the tables. Lord Shadow¡¯s words echoed in her mind again. ¡°I¡¯ll clear the darkness from your path to the light. And Gamma, think carefully about the things I¡¯ve told you before.¡± No, they hadn¡¯t been abandoned. He wasn¡¯t discarding them. He was still giving. Giving without asking for anything in return. Because to him, they were still children¡ªpeople to be protected, not relied upon. They were the ones who had misread the situation. Gamma clenched her fists and stood up. ¡­. ¡°Asagi, wake up. Class is over.¡± ¡°¡­Huh? Oh, Cid? School¡¯s done already?¡± Asagi sat up groggily, brushing her black hair out of her face. Her crimson eyes blinked behind an outdated pair of glasses, giving her the look of someone who was eternally stuck in the past. She was wearing a plain, unfashionable outfit¡ªsomething that practically screamed ¡°background character.¡± Cid couldn¡¯t have been happier when he met her. Because Asagi Aoi was one of the rare few in this school who fit the role of a mob character perfectly. Asagi was a local resident of World No. 2¡¯s Itogami Island. Before the world fusion, she had been just another top student with decent grades and no magic whatsoever. But after the fusion, her latent magical talent had surfaced, and she had been transferred to the academy. A sudden leap from ordinary to extraordinary. Cid thought it sounded like the plot of a bad light novel. Not that he¡¯d ever say that out loud. ¡°School¡¯s over, huh? I better get going¡ªmy shift¡¯s starting soon,¡± Asagi said, already packing her bag.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. She was working part-time to make ends meet, balancing school and her newfound magical studies. Cid watched her go, a hint of admiration flashing through his eyes. A proper mob character, through and through. And like any good mob character, she¡¯d unknowingly earned her place in his world of Mobs. The fusion of worlds had brought more than just political turmoil and cultural clashes¡ªit had also forced the creation of a new power-ranking system to standardize strength across the merged realms. From lowest to highest, the ranks were as follows: D, C, B, A, S, SS, SSS, and at the very top¡ªDragon God. Unfortunately, even with her natural talent, Asagi¡¯s rank sat at C+. Not bad for someone who¡¯d only had a little over a year to train. But in this academy, where practical combat ability mattered more than grades, her ranking left her stuck firmly in the lower-middle tier. Even her strong performance in written tests couldn¡¯t change that. ¡°Busy lately? You slept through the entire day and still look exhausted. Good thing Natsuki-sensei didn¡¯t have class today. The other teachers probably just gave up on you. Otherwise, you¡¯d be drowning in written apologies right now.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ It¡¯s been hectic. Something came up at work¡ªa minor issue, but it¡¯s taking longer than expected to fix. I¡¯ve been pulling late nights trying to sort it out.¡± ¡°A minor issue?¡± Cid raised an eyebrow. ¡°You don¡¯t usually let small problems drag out for days. And sleeping through class isn¡¯t exactly helping either.¡± ¡°Relax. It¡¯ll be resolved over the weekend.¡± Her voice lowered to a murmur¡ªsoft enough that most people wouldn¡¯t have caught it. ¡°Not like telling you would help, anyway.¡± Packing up her things, Asagi rushed out of the classroom before Cid could respond. Watching her hurried retreat, Cid let out a small sigh. He¡¯d heard her. Every single word. She probably thought she¡¯d muttered too quietly for him to pick up, but Cid Kagenou wasn¡¯t most people. He had always had an acute sense for details. Not that it made him feel any better. It wasn¡¯t like he wanted to pry into her problems. But having his rare display of genuine concern brushed off so easily still stung. Not that it was entirely selfless concern. Asagi was, after all, his source of campus gossip. And her constant napping over the past few days had left him out of the loop. Cid slung his bag over his shoulder and grabbed a wooden practice sword before heading toward the school¡¯s training grounds. Passing by the magical practice field¡ªwhich now resembled a disaster zone¡ªhe walked straight into the empty swordsmanship training room. He didn¡¯t start training immediately. Instead, he moved toward a blind spot in the surveillance system. From seemingly thin air, he produced a white crystal block. Only after stowing it away did he turn to the training dummy and begin swinging his wooden sword. ¡°Swish¡­ swish¡­¡± Cid Kagenou. In his carefully crafted backstory, he was nothing more than a minor noble¡¯s son¡ªa mediocre student stuck in the lower-middle ranks both in grades and combat ability. A nobody. A mob character. Someone destined to fade into the background. But the new world had thrown his plan off track. The standards at this academy were much higher than his previous school. Suddenly, his once passable results were at the bottom of the barrel. And that just wouldn¡¯t do. A proper mob character couldn¡¯t be too weak. So what was the solution? Training. If he worked hard enough, he could climb his way back to lower-middle tier¡ªright where a mob character belonged. But then came another problem. Spending hours every day on pointless training just to maintain appearances? Unacceptable. For Cid, the solution was simple. If he needed to increase his training intensity without anyone noticing, he just had to do it in a way that was invisible to others. (Obviously.) Take his current routine, for example. To any outside observer, it looked like he was swinging a plain wooden sword. But in reality? That wooden sword was secretly packed with magic. Its weight fluctuated wildly¡ªoscillating between the lightness of a sheet of paper and the crushing heaviness of a mountain.