Moonlight Farming Area Community

  Masters Branch Office

  David Karkovsky’s Office

  I open the door and walk in.

  David Karkovsky is already seated behind his desk.

  “I’ve been expecting you, Lord Kaijuu Ryu-sama.”

  He very clearly hasn’t. His posture is stiff, his composure barely holding.

  “To what do I owe this pleasure?” he continues. “Did you reconsider my proposal regarding hospitals in your territory? Or is this merely a social visit?”

  He’d come to the mansion a few days ago with contracts and carefully worded smiles. Everything unfolded exactly as the Script predicted. I followed it to the letter—and told Roka and Felmina what was happening.

  The Script instructed me to ignore the Masters Corporation for two weeks after his visit.

  That gave me time to adapt to my new weight.

  My body looks the same.

  It isn’t.

  We told him we’d consider his offer.

  Today, I came unannounced.

  The Script also included the identity of their spy in town, the ministers on their payroll, and a list of potential victims of the drug epidemic.

  Within those two weeks, we formed a task force.

  Right now, they’re apprehending Masters Corporation personnel across the district.

  “None of the above,” I say.

  “Then why are you here?”

  “To arrest you.”

  He laughs, sharp and forced.

  “Arrest me? On what grounds?”

  “Take a look.”

  I slide the charges across the desk.

  As he reads, the color drains from his face until it’s nearly bloodless.

  “Can you prove any of this!?”

  He slams the papers down. The desk cracks under his palm.

  “I can,” I reply calmly. “In time. But I don’t need to.”

  His hand drops to his sword.

  “I wouldn’t do that.”

  “And why not?” His voice shakes with anger. “You’re Level 27. You can’t possibly think you can stop me.”

  The blade clears its sheath.

  “Use Appraise on me.”

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  “What?”

  “Use Appraise. See if your information is still accurate.”

  His eyes flicker as the skill activates.

  Sweat beads on his forehead.

  “…Are you manipulating something?” he whispers.

  His grip tightens. His hands tremble.

  “YOU WANT TO TRY ME?”

  I smile.

  I followed instructions.

  I am Level 205.

  My mass: 205 kilograms.

  More on that later.

  For now—

  He drops the sword.

  Hands rise.

  “Good choice.”

  I bind him with wooden restraints and escort him out without resistance.

  By nightfall, David Karkovsky is in custody. So is Cindy—the spy—and thirteen employees.

  Management instructed us to leave the second spy alone.

  For now.

  Later That Night

  My Office

  Roka and Felmina sit across from me. The Script folder rests on the desk between us.

  Four documents lie inside.

  A map of the Southlands, marked with a red X.

  The plan used to neutralize David.

  A list of victims, spies, employees, and corrupted ministers.

  And finally—

  A file labeled Nelson Masters, complete with a printed photograph.

  My fingers interlock beneath my chin.

  “I’m not following the rest of this,” I say.

  “I’m doing it my way.”

  I stand.

  Four items materialize:

  A yellow folder marked Destroy After Reading.

  A gas grenade.

  A gas mask.

  A case containing two injections—labeled Roka and Felmina.

  I open the folder and read the first page. Then I hand it to them.

  [Document 1]

  Roka and Felmina will be poisoned through their food in three weeks.

  Individuals involved:

  ? David Karkovsky — Branch Head

  ? Cindy Campbell — Spy

  ? James Macleroy — Spy

  ? Chef Ramsey — poisons Roka

  ? Chef Michelin — poisons Felmina

  Administer antidotes 2 weeks and 5 days from today. Both will survive.

  This will generate prosecutable evidence. On the night of illness, test the plates. Interrogate the chefs to reveal their methods and accomplices.

  Failure to follow these steps precisely will result in either suspect escape or unnecessary civilian deaths.

  We regret causing these events. Explanation is not possible without altering outcomes.

  —Management

  “Is this real?” Roka asks, pale.

  “Yes.”

  “There’s nothing else we can do?” Felmina asks quietly.

  I think.

  “If there were,” I say, “they would have told us.”

  I open the second page.

  [Document 2 — For Kaijuu Ryu Only]

  Have them leave.

  I comply.

  [Document 2 — Continued]

  Your deviation caused a butterfly effect involving the chefs. Their families were threatened. Cindy and David prepared this contingency.

  In the original timeline, your agents captured the chefs before the poisoning. Because you deviated, the schedule changed.

  You now depart in one week.

  We provided the gas and mask. In the original timeline, you ordered them; delivery took 3 weeks and 5 days.

  Management approves your plan. Your approach has a higher success probability.

  Departure time: Thursday, 14:50 (eight days from now).

  Beware Nelson Masters’ poison blade concealed beneath his desk. If drawn, the gas becomes ineffective.

  Destroy this document.

  —Management

  I write the time down.

  Then burn the page with fire magic.

  I whisper to myself—

  “I’ll see you in eight days, Nelson Masters.”