Chapter 356
He understood that the attitude Aldraya was showing right now was not a purely strategic rejection, but something far more personal, even childish.
It was a desire to look good—especially in front of him—to not appear "lowly" by taking on the role of a female subordinate loyal to their enemy.
There was a lingering pride there, a trace of angelic arrogance, or perhaps simply the wish of a teenage girl to be seen as equal, or even superior, in every aspect.
Seeing this, Theo's response was neither an outright refusal nor a forceful demand.
Through telepathy, the voice of his thoughts sounded more like a reasonable warning than an order.
He replied with cold yet convincing logic.
He stated that if Aldraya insisted on taking on an identity other than that of the deputy chairwoman, the consequences could be far worse.
Her appearance or disguise might end up being the worst possible option, because it would not align with her actual physical condition and true capabilities.
He implied that the remaining available characters were most likely the male subordinates they had observed—men with rough, unkempt appearances.
Disguising herself as one of them would require far more extreme physical and behavioral changes, would be harder to maintain, and would carry a much higher risk of exposure.
The role of the deputy, though not ideal for Aldraya's ego, was the option best suited to her gender, body build, and her potential ability to imitate the measured demeanor of a mid-level leader.
"Ohhhh…."
'The rendezvous location remains as agreed. Bring all of their clothing and identification.
Make sure not a single witness sees the process. Do it safely and without a trace.'
Another silence fell between them, shorter than before but heavier in weight.
Then, only a single transmission reached Theo's mind—a short, flat word.
"Ohhhh…."
That was all the response Aldraya gave.
Yet within that simplicity, Theo could read something deeper.
He realized that Aldraya was sulking, a subtle form of disappointment and irritation because her request for an alternative had not been granted.
It was a very human reaction, far removed from her image as a former heavenly being.
Realizing this, Theo chose not to prolong a discussion that might drag on or offer further explanations.
Time was moving.
Instead of responding to her sulk, he immediately proceeded with the next operational instruction.
The voice of his thoughts was firm and focused.
He stated that after the primary targets—the original chairman and deputy—had been successfully "removed," they were to meet immediately.
The meeting point and timing might have already been agreed upon or would be determined later, but the core point was that they had to regroup as soon as the first risky step was completed.
Without waiting for confirmation or any further response from Aldraya, Theo severed their telepathic connection.
His focus now shifted entirely to action.
At the same time, his body—until now concealed and unseen—began to fade back into its tangible form.
The layer of illusion or camouflage enveloping him melted away like mist, revealing his true silhouette within the darkness.
With purposeful steps and measured speed, he began moving toward his first target, the deputy chairwoman who still stood alert among her subordinates, completely unaware that the shadow about to end her role was already within dangerously close range.
'This will be easy.'
Theo's gaze, now no longer hidden, radiated a cold confidence that was almost frightening.
Within his mind, a planning murmur rolled swiftly and without hesitation.
He assessed that the mission to neutralize this first target would be easy, simple, and clean.
The scenario he envisioned was direct and efficient.
A silent approach, a swift chokehold from behind to incapacitate her and render her helpless without drawing anyone's attention.
However, his plan also contained a brutal and final escalation path.
If the deputy chairwoman showed resistance, if there were any signs she might scream or fight back, Theo would not hesitate.
In his internal monologue, he had already decided to switch to a more drastic method.
With the speed and precision he possessed, severing the target's head would be an easy task, an instant conclusion that would ensure her silence.
And behind all of that lay a greater, more abstract objective.
Theo did not merely intend to remove her physically from this real world.
Through his silent muttering, he spoke of "fading the concept of that being's presence" from the script of the game Flo Viva Mythology.
It was a metaphysical ambition, an attempt not merely to kill a character within the game, but to erase her existential trace from the grand narrative governing the world in which he was trapped.
That meant his forthcoming action would not simply be a murder, but a correction to the code of reality itself, a deeper and more permanent deletion.
"Increase vigilance, especially those guarding the female dormitory of Star Academy.Prepare to move according to the second plan."
'Now!'
Buuuuk!
The moment arrived with perfect timing—or perhaps it was deliberately awaited by Theo.
Just as the deputy chairwoman's attention was fully focused on incoming reports and on the orders she was delivering to the ears of hundreds of subordinates, Theo moved.
As the girl's finger tapped her communication device for the second time, confirming that the target, Erietta, was awake, and as her firm voice commanded the entire force—especially those around the female dormitory—to remain on full alert, her vigilance was likely at its peak against threats from the outside, not from within.
And at that very second, after she temporarily switched off her communicator, a small gap opened in her defenses.
Theo, already positioned like a coiled serpent, lunged with lethal speed.
His strong hand reached from behind, not with a noisy motion, but with a swift, forceful pull full of control.
He seized the deputy chairwoman, yanking her body backward and dragging her away from the open area and possibly out of the direct line of sight of nearby subordinates who were focused on the orders they had just received.
"Mmpphh! Let—! Let go!"
'No time for negotiation or a clean capture.
Take position. Right cheek—target locked. And… strike!'
The deputy chairwoman did not surrender immediately.
Her trained survival instincts flared, triggering a desperate resistance.
Her trapped body thrashed with surprising strength.
Her hands flew rapidly, attempting to deliver a series of slaps aimed not at Theo's body, but precisely at the fingers clamped tightly against her face.
Each slap was meant to break the grip, to create even a sliver of space so she could scream for help or at least draw attention.
But Theo had already lost his patience.
A scream or noisy struggle was something he could not tolerate in the middle of a covert operation like this.
More than that, there was a deeper reluctance—a laziness, even—to drag things out and risk letting this girl live any longer.
Within his mind, a higher concept was invoked.
He gathered Resolve, Will, Intent, and Ambition—the four creative pillars formed by his consciousness, always abbreviated as RWIA.
These four aspects were not empty forces, but fundamental resources he could channel.
With a brief moment of concentration, a sliver of energy from all four creative aspects flowed through the channels of his body.
To be continued…