Mass release In honour to the support {3/10}
The announcent echoed through the grand hall, and the crowd erupted in praise for their so-called savior. Unbeknownst to them, the man they cheered for would soon be their undoing. How tragically ironic. Naless, seated among them, couldn't help but smirk beneath his mask.
"What a pathetic display."
Even the S-rankers at the table—those supposedly powerful figures—were falling for the politician's lie. Layer upon layer of deception wrapped up like a finely presented sandwich, and they were eating it up. Naless scoffed internally at how gullible they all were.
'This reminds of that burrito I never had,' he mused with a touch of dark humor, letting the bitter thought roll around in his mind.
Sitting beside him, Naful shifted uneasily, throwing a quick glance at Naless, though it was clear his patience was wearing thin. "Ax— I an, Naless, I hope you know what you're doing. Because if you don't, this will end very badly."
There was no need for Naful to finish his sentence. Naless had already played out every possible outco. He had a plan. He always had a plan.
At the center of the room, Hendricks stepped forward, his voice oozing with false sincerity as he addressed the crowd, his eyes darting towards the broken figure of Seo Jihnyuk, who was bound and hunched in the center of the platform, his head hanging low, his face hidden beneath a mop of tattered hair.
"I would like to say a few words about my forr best friend," Hendricks began, casting a sorrowful gaze at Seo. "Although I am too hurt by his betrayal to recount his cris, I—Hendricks—have only a few words of condolence for when he dies."
The entire hall fell silent, hanging onto Hendricks' every word. He paused for dramatic effect, his eyes brimming with feigned emotion. "It's been a long run, buddy," he said, his voice trembling. "From the binding test, to becoming A-rank, to fighting side by side. We were rivals... and yet, I can't help but..."
He let out a choking sob, tears sliding down his face. "I can't help but cry for you, Seo."
To any untrained observer, it was a moving performance. But to Naless, it was nothing more than cheap theatrics. 'What a sickening sight. It's like a K-drama made for retirees,' he thought, holding back a wave of nausea.
Trisha, sitting stiffly across the table, was visibly seething, her fists clenched tightly beneath the table. The blatant lies and theatrics had pushed her righteous heart to the brink of exploding. If they weren't careful, her outburst would jeopardize everything.
Naless sensed the tension brewing within her and realized he needed to act before she blew their entire cover.
"Uhm? May I also offer a few words for this oh-so-sad occasion?" Naless suddenly cut in, his voice amplified by the mic attached to his collar. It was a rude interruption, but it was precisely what he intended.
Every head in the room snapped toward him in shock. The mbers seated at the round table were ant to remain silent unless prompted to speak. Naless had just broken the unspoken rule. His audacity instantly raised eyebrows, especially from Hendricks, who blinked in surprise before his lips curled into an indulgent smile.
"Please do," Hendricks said with a condescending tone. "Naless, isn't it?"
Naless nodded slowly. "First of all," he began, his voice dripping with mockery, "the food was absolutely delightful. Almost makes wonder if we're celebrating a funeral or a festival."
His sarcastic delivery earned a few confused glances from the crowd. It was clear his words didn't match the gravity of the situation. But Naless wasn't finished.
"Second," he continued, "as much as I'd love to honor Seo Jihnyuk, the man once swindled out of one billion Kyota. You see, I was in a tight spot, trying to care for my family. And this bastard—who had a trillion in his account, mind you—decided to get cheap and steal from ."
Naless' voice remained eerily calm, but the weight of his accusation sent a ripple through the room. Even the most composed mbers of the audience exchanged uneasy glances. Seo's head jerked up ever so slightly, a twitch that was barely noticeable.
**"That's enough, Naless,"** Hendricks interjected, his voice strained. **"There's no need to disrupt Seo's final monts. He's had enough."**
But Naless ignored him. **"Before you die, Seo,"** he continued, rising to his feet, his eyes gleaming with manic energy. **"I need your bank account details. If no one else is going to ask, then I will!"**
A stunned silence fell over the hall. All eyes were on him now, and Naless could feel the weight of their collective stares. They weren't sure if he was insane or sothing far worse.
Finally, an S-rank seated at the far end of the table spoke up, his voice filled with anger. **"Who gave you the right to speak, you idiot?"** He deliberately avoided using the microphone to keep the conversation private.
More S-ranks joined in, scolding him for his behavior. anwhile, Naful and Trisha were both burying their heads in their hands, humiliated. They hadn't expected this level of chaos from Naless, especially not without warning.
**'What are you cooking up, Axel?'** Naful wondered, his mind racing.
**"If you don't shut up,"** another S-rank hissed, **"you'll be executed alongside Seo—"**
**"Hahahahahaha!"**
Naless' laughter cut through the threat like a knife, drawing every eye in the room back to him. Hendricks' face twisted with fury, his hands clenching into fists.
**"What kind of circus is this?"** Vicky Shaw muttered from her seat, her face twisted with disgust.
Naless, however, continued to cackle, unfazed by the warnings. Finally, he caught his breath, and with a malicious grin, he spoke again. "You want to know why I'm laughing?"
The room grew deathly quiet. Every figure, from the S-ranks to the lowliest attendees, watched him with a mixture of suspicion and dread.
**"The food and water you all just consud..."** Naless reached up and slowly pulled off his mask, revealing a wild grin. **"...was poisoned."**
A collective gasp rippled through the hall, followed by frantic whispers.
**"We're all going to die in eight minutes."**
The room erupted into chaos. S-ranks leaped from their chairs, shouting orders, while others clutched their throats in panic. Hendricks, for the first ti, looked genuinely terrified as he stumbled back from the table.
Naless rely smiled wider, watching the chaos unfold, his heart racing with exhilaration.
But he wasn't done.
**"And for the grand finale..."** His eyes glead with malicious delight. **"I haven't even started yet."**
Suddenly, the floor beneath them rumbled. From beneath the hall, an ominous chanical whirring began to grow louder.
The countdown had only just begun.
***Author's note***
Gift before the end of this arc! I am asking for a gift to assist in mass releasing.
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