Lyxander reflected on his thoughts once more.
Was he truly right—when standing before someone bound by nothing at all?
"Wait a moment?"
He narrowed his eyes and began scrolling through his PC screen, rereading Admin's messages one by one.
Pup dog
"If that's the case, then why did you create the group chat?"
Admin
"Come on, I was weak once too. No weak person can survive on their own."
Lyxander was stunned. He frowned and quickly tapped at the keyboard.
Pup dog
"And yet you call yourself someone who stands alone?"
Admin
"Kekeke, let me tell you something. In this world, there is no oath or promise I cannot break. Not even my own words can bind me."
"This man…" Lyxander clenched his teeth.
"I can't tell if he's consistent or not at all."
'But this is a chance. Admin rarely joins discussions like this. I need information on how to reach seven stars.'
Pup dog
"If you don't belong to any organization, then how did you reach the peak?"
Admin
"Oh? Seems you're interested in my life story. Very well, I'll tell you a little."
Lyxander leaned back in his chair, sitting calmly as he waited for the next message.
Admin
"Organizations are important if you want a safe life. Even if they don't protect you completely, it's still better than fighting alone."
Admin
"But if you're chasing the pinnacle of strength, organizations are nothing but obstacles. They only slow you down."
Alice
"Slow you down? Don't they provide facilities to help you grow stronger?"
Lyxander nodded slightly.
"I thought the same. Entity Corporation has helped me a lot."
Admin
"Facilities to grow stronger? Oh, you mean: be useful to the organization, and they'll make you stronger so you can be even more useful."
"Tch." Lyxander's expression hardened.
"But isn't that mutualism?"
Admin
"You truly believe that's mutualism?"
"Tch." Lyxander felt a sharp pain in his chest, as if an arrow had pierced it.
Admin
"Wake up. The benefit you provide is insignificant compared to what you receive."
Pup dog
"What do you mean?"
Admin
"You probably already know that when an Identity user dies, their Identity power transfers to the nearest object. You can sell that object for a high price."
Admin
"But when you kill an Identity user, the organization takes the loot and only pays you contribution points."
Admin
"Do you really think risking your life for contribution points is mutualism?"
"Damn it… he's absolutely right." Lyxander couldn't refute it.
No scope
"So what happened next?"
Villain
"I'm curious too."
Admin
"After realizing the power of my Identity, I started beating up thugs I encountered and stealing their money."
Lamp
"Why thugs? Wouldn't it be safer to rob ordinary people?"
Admin
"Miss, I'm sure you've never lived a street life."
Lyxander nodded.
"I haven't either, but targeting thugs really is the right choice."
Admin
"If you steal from ordinary people, law enforcement will hunt you down. But if you steal from criminals, law enforcement won't care."
Admin
"That's social reality. Their evil comes back to them as karma."
Admin
"In two weeks, I gathered enough money to buy the requirements for a two-star Identity and rank up."
"Damn it!" Lyxander slammed the table, frustrated at his own foolishness.
Pup dog
"Then how did you buy the two-star Identity requirements?"
Admin
"I went to a gathering of rogue Identity users and made them an offer. In the end, I bought it at half the original price."
"Whoa!" Lyxander shouted, running his hands through his hair.
"Hah…" He exhaled deeply, trying to calm himself.
"Wait…" He suddenly realized something.
Pup dog
"Wait—can I buy two-star Identity requirements here?"
No scope
"You can."
Pup dog
"How much?"
No scope
"Ten thousand volar. I can sell it to you."
Villain
"Eight thousand volar. Two thousand cheaper."
"Huh… really?" Lyxander stared at the screen with a smile.
No scope
"Damn it, aren't you a mafia boss? Stop stealing my customers like some poor bastard."
Villain
"Come on, you're an o'clock. Your salary is obviously higher than mine."
Admin
"Five thousand!"
"A…" Lyxander was stunned.
"I just need to wait for my paycheck, and I can reach two stars."
No scope
"Wait, isn't that way too cheap?!"
Villain
"What does a seven-star need five thousand volar for?"
Admin
"I need to pay my debts."
…
The group chat fell silent for a moment.
Pup dog
"Sorry to disappoint you all, but I was just asking. I haven't been paid yet."
…
The group chat fell silent again.
The screen finally went dark, and the group chat ended.
•••
Sunday, July 18th, 1740
Ring-ring! Ring-ring!
Haulust City, Serenity Apartments, 4th floor, Room 355.
Ring-ring! Ring-ring!
A man with dark blue hair reaching his neck lay sound asleep in a dark room. He wore a full set of pajamas with a nightcap. The room contained nothing but a wardrobe, a folding bed, a pillow, a blanket, and an alarm clock.
Ring-ring! Ring-ring!
The number of furniture items in the entire apartment could be counted on one hand.
Ring-ring! Ring-ring!
Click!
The man turned off the alarm.
"Hah," he sighed.
"I overslept again."
He was Sigma, a seven-star of Sigma, the founder and Admin of the group chat. A being who had transcended mortality and reached the pinnacle of Identity power.
Sigma rose from the bed, folded the blanket and bed, then stored them back in the wardrobe. He opened the curtains, letting the morning light pour in through the window.
"Ugh." Sigma stretched, bending every joint in his body.
"Hah, looks like I'll make some coffee."
He left the room and headed for the kitchen. After passing stairs and many unused empty rooms, he finally reached the first floor where the kitchen was.
His apartment was quite spacious, as was the kitchen, though it contained only a sink, a gas stove, and a few neatly stored cooking tools.
He took an iron kettle, turned on the faucet, and filled it with water. While waiting for it to fill, he prepared a cup and coffee grounds.
Once the kettle was full, Sigma lit the stove and heated the water. Looking for something to do, he picked up the newspaper that was always left under his door.
"Hm." He read carefully, flipping through the pages in search of something interesting.
"It seems Prince Claudius will visit Faulust City in August. This will surely be troublesome for Pup dog."
After finishing the article, he returned to the kitchen and brewed the coffee. Instead of drinking it immediately, he covered it and went to take a shower.
After changing clothes, Sigma returned to the kitchen wearing a dark blue hoodie with the hood hanging in front of his head. It wasn't carelessness—the pocket of his hoodie was simply positioned the same as the hood.
Sigma left the apartment and walked toward the city center.
"Huwaaah!"
A child's crying reached his ears.
He approached a little girl who had fallen.
"Hehe, looks like your leg needs to be amputated."
"Huwaaah!" The girl cried even louder.
Plak!
Sigma struck the girl's wound.
"Huwa…?" She was about to cry again, but stopped. The pain vanished along with the injury.
Sigma helped her stand and gently patted her head.
"Alright, you may go now."
The girl ran off quickly, waving back at Sigma.
"Why did you help that girl?" A gentle voice came from behind him.
"Kekeke, didn't I say I don't need a reason to kill someone? Then why would I need a reason to help someone?"
Sigma smiled at the woman behind him.
A beautiful woman, about 175 cm tall, with short white hair reaching her shoulders, stood there. She wore a lab coat over a white sweater, paired with a short black skirt and black stockings.
Her eyes were as blue as a summer sky, yet her beautiful face looked weary. She resembled an ice fairy—completely opposite to the short man before her, who stood only 165 cm tall, far below the average male height of 175–180 cm in the Hellish Empire.
"It's been a while, Andromeda. Or should I call you Doctor?"
The woman was the group chat member known as Doctor.
"Call me whatever you want," she replied coldly.
"Come on, I found a nice café."
They entered the café and took seats near the window.
Andromeda ordered only black coffee, while Sigma ordered ten different menu items.
"So?" Sigma asked.
"I've found the location of the fourth fragment of the Black Apple. It's inside Lyxander, the younger brother of Pigeon Xander," Andromeda replied.
"So he really is a transmigrator like me…" Sigma muttered.
"You've spent an entire month in this city. Aren't you bored?" Andromeda glanced at Sigma, who was staring out the window.
"You know, most people hate boredom. They always seek pleasure and happiness. But I like it. I like boredom—even if it isn't pleasant."
Sigma looked at Andromeda.
His deep blue eyes seemed to drown anyone who met his gaze into the depths of the sea.
'Why… why do your eyes always look down on everything, as if nothing can oppose your freedom?'
Her thoughts were interrupted by Sigma's exclamation.
"Woah! The food's here."
Andromeda sipped her coffee calmly while Sigma devoured all his orders.
"What will you do? Fight Abingel?" Andromeda asked.
In an instant, Sigma finished all his food.
"For now, I'll leave it be."
"Oh, by the way, do you have money? I forgot my wallet."
Andromeda stared at him coldly.
"You haven't paid your last debt yet."