Chapter 33: Deal with the Queen.

“Wow~! Tonight’s dinner is a lobster buffet!!”

“Chief, look at this! Their heads are all flying off!!”

The members of the Vengeance organization unleashed all their abilities on the battle-crazed monsters.

At the frontlines, Dark Matter joyously danced around, bursting them with ease. She levitated her body using dark matter, skillfully flying and manipulating the monsters, tearing them apart and drawing them in.

Elena observed their celebration with her arms crossed. Civilians had all been evacuated, the area sealed off, and heroes were entering from the outskirts. Inside, it was just her and Vengeance.

Although Shin Seong-su’s subordinates were waiting, she hadn’t called them. She wanted to explore Vengeance fully.

“Vengeance’s level is rising. Dark Matter, your power’s increased. You’ve reached level 7.”

“Really? It feels lighter.”

Dark Matter delicately controlled the dark matter with the tips of her fingers. Her movements had become much quicker. Seemingly satisfied, Zeorjious stopped the battle and walked toward Elena.

“We’ve achieved our goal. There’s time left, so we can continue talking.”

Elena glared at Zeorjious with cold eyes.

“I’m sure I told you to show respect, didn’t I? How dare you make me wait on the street.”

“It’s only natural for the one with business to wait, isn’t it? Well, it’s not that I don’t respect you, Elena.”

Saying this, Zeorjious slowly knelt before her. His sharp golden eyes locked directly with Elena’s face.

“Surely, I can’t refuse your orders. You are stronger than any villain I’ve seen so far.”

Elena didn’t flinch, but her heart fluttered slightly.

Her ability, ‘Imperial Command.’

It was an absolute rule, a law.

Until now, no one had ever defied her words.

No matter how powerful the villain or how strong the ruler of the world, a single word from her turned them into meat for the slaughter.

It should be the same now.

Yet, the man in front of her, Zeorjious, withstood her order to kneel and fought the monsters, returning to her proudly. The truth of the situation was clear.

Even if she fought Zeorjious with all her strength, she couldn’t be certain she could kill him.

“This is interesting.”

Elena folded her fan and lightly tapped Zeorjious’s forehead with its tip.

“You may rise, Zeor. All you need to do is prove it to me. Show me that your respect is more than just words.”

Zeorjious stood up, and Elena circled around him. Her fluttering hair brushed against his body as she slowly surveyed him.

“I see now, you and Vengeance didn’t just want to be in the spotlight. You were trying to make a statement. I’ll give you credit. You caught my attention.”

Elena’s sweet voice pricked Zeorjious’s eardrums like a needle.

“Time to answer my question?”

Zeorjious smirked.

“A deal.”

“What?”

“You know, Vengeance is a new organization. Its foundation is weak. It needs a strong backer.”

After kneeling and using the word ‘respect,’ now he shows this attitude? What a bold man.

“Well, I thought the information was worth paying for. That’s why you’re so interested, isn’t it, Elena?”

Elena sneered. It was a reaction born from wanting to dismiss his words, knowing they weren’t genuine.

“Let’s see if your luck holds.”

“The date of the Galactic Empire’s invasion. Where do you think I got that information?”

“Do you want to play 20 questions with me?”

“It’s not a difficult question. There was a very enjoyable event that day.”

It certainly was an extraordinary event.

On that day, out of the six bosses who gathered at Dock 7, only Kang Wan and Elena reacted to Zeorjious’s information.

At first, Elena had planned to ignore it, but when he mentioned the Sky Lens, she changed her mind.

Everyone knew about it, but once the invasion actually happened, things would change.

Society’s movements would accelerate.

She ruled the business world. With just the flick of her finger, she could make thousands of workers and entire organizations disappear or become more efficient.

Elena had made some minimal preparations for the so-called “Bloody Christmas” day, and as a result, she had gained significant, no, immense profits.

How did Zeorjeus find out about it? A piece of information that never even reached her, who ruled this country as if it were her own?

It was an event.

Elena quickly recalled a variable from that day.

“The Warrior of the Red Dragon, huh?”

“Yes.”

Zeorjeus nodded, confirming. A smile appeared on Elena’s face.

“So Celtic Bio was yours, huh, Zeo?”

“You’re quite astute.”

Elena quickly pieced everything together.

The Galactic Empire of Laniakein was an organization of evil. There was another such organization, the Dark Kingdom of Apokamelot.

And the person most closely connected to both was none other than the Red Dragon. He had appeared on the scene that fateful day, Bloody Christmas.

If the appearance of the Red Dragon was part of the plan, then it made perfect sense that Doctor Hyun, who revived him, and Celtic Bio knew about the Galactic Empire’s planned attack.

Elena now understood why the unregistered, shadowy lab called Celtic Bio existed.

“I see why you need backup. Now I understand why you targeted the Dragon King Corps. Did you share a drink with the Red Dragon, perhaps?”

“We became close friends.”

“Heh. But I’m a little disappointed.”

Clap. Elena turned her back to Zeorjeus and stepped away. Her interest in him had vanished in an instant.

The reason was simple: she had realized that Zeorjeus’ intelligence wasn’t his own, but rather came from the Red Dragon. The world’s strongest hero, a man who could, if he so desired, easily uncover her identity and everything about the Heavenly Lens.

Zeorjeus was merely a lucky fighter riding on his coattails.

However, as long as the Red Dragon was in his hands, he still had value. Elena judged this and spoke up.

“Alright then, Zeo. Let’s draw up the contract.”

“That’s unnecessary.”

“What?”

“Isn’t the contract always one where the Holy Water is the superior and Vengeance is the subordinate? We’re not dealing with any subsidiary organizations.”

There was only so much bravado one could show before it reached its limit. Zeorjeus was beginning to overestimate himself.

A cold anger began to rise from within Elena.

Zeorjeus stepped forward, closing the distance between them.

“Forget about organizations. Let’s proceed with this matter based only on your and my personal trust.”

“Don’t I get anything from this?”

“You do. We can immediately shatter the failing Heavenly Lens and secure a surefire way to strengthen your command. Then your wish will be granted. The wish to challenge the power of the gods.”

“Zeo.”

Elena’s expression faded.

To any ordinary person who couldn’t withstand her overwhelming pressure, her face would have looked like that of a ghost.

“It’s unfortunate, but this is your grave.”

Elena couldn’t forgive him.

Her goal, something she had never once spoken aloud, even to herself, had been revealed. How he knew, where he heard it, didn’t matter anymore.

He had pierced through her heart.

The moment she realized that, Elena had no thought other than killing the man before her.

“Explode.”

Zeorjeus remained motionless.

“Twist.”

“Tear.”

“Break.”

“Shatter.”

“Collapse.”

“Split.”

“Crush.”

“Shatter.”

“Break.”

“Die.”

“Die?”

“Die, die, die, die!!”

Elena’s eyes widened as she glared at Zeorjeus. Yet, the Red Dragon remained unmoved, unfazed.

He slowly opened his mouth.

“Dark Matter wasn’t even an Awakened being until two months ago. I see. After two weeks of training, you attacked Silvermirald.”

“…What did you say?”

“What made her grow was my ability. I promise you. SSS isn’t a rank that marks the peak or a limit.”

Zeorjeus grinned.

“It’s just the beginning.”

He extended his right hand to Elena.

“I like you, Elena. I’m not interested in anything else. I only want that noble queen’s attitude, and the ultimate power. Let’s cooperate slowly from now on.”

Elena glared at Zeorjeus.

A strange curiosity, mixed with anger, began to envelop her.

Should she use all her strength to kill him right here?

Or should she entertain the mysterious poison inside?

“Are you confident?”

“If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have spoken.”

Elena stared down at Zeorjeus’s hand, which was covered by a firm exterior.

After a moment, she handed him her fan.

“Don’t even think about touching my body. I’ve killed without leaving a trace so far.”

With that sharp retort, Elena turned her back on Zeorjeus.

“Zeor, what’s happening?”

“It seems like the floodgate has been opened. Everyone, pay attention. We are now preparing to move the hideout. We’re heading to the best place provided by the Holy Water.”

As she announced to the subordinates who had finished the battle, cheers erupted. Irua also relaxed. We returned to the airship.

“Rua, prepare the recovery capsule. Set it to maximum strength.”

“Why? Were you injured?”

“Yes. It’s serious.”

I entered the recovery capsule and relaxed. Just then, the sudden pain hit.

Crack!

My whole body shattered, and blood spurted out.

“Zeor!! What’s happening?!”

Irua screamed, but the ringing in my ears made it hard to hear. I could feel the injections and medications being rushed into my body.

Hmm.

Luckily, I won’t die.

Thank goodness the death command was invalid.

To think she would be this angry.

Did I provoke her too much?

Well, the remaining command I received earlier would have killed a normal person ten times over with just a single word.

With my stats, it was barely possible to resist.

I checked her status left in the system window.

[CEO Elena/Yu Cha-mi]

[Job: Villain]

[Rank: SSS]

[Ability: Command (Physical Power) Lv. 9]

[Affiliation: Villain Organization (Leader)]

[Alignment: Order-Evil]

[If this country has a queen, it is undoubtedly her.]

[Ironically, the driving force behind her world domination is an intensely personal wish.]

Elena.

Yu Cha-mi.

A terrifying woman.