Master Zen of the [Might Raven] syndicate has entered the battle!

…F***

I seriously miscalculated here. He wasn’t just any old con-artist, he is a Master con-artist. That’s a whole new level to worry about. It’s like the difference between Matsuda and K!ra, you know! Damn, will the MC be okay?

I tried to move from my position on the ground, yet all my efforts were fruitless.

“…You have been observing me since earlier.” the main character stated simply, ignoring the challenge issued by Master Zen.

S***, really? I didn’t notice at all…ok, maybe a little when he is wiping the cups. I mean, who looks at a cup like that? I haven’t even seen any dudes look at their girlfriends this way, and trust me, I have seen a lot of couples at the public park near the company! …Why was I watching them? No no no, I wasn’t acting like a creep, I was just…trying to see what kind of pickup lines the dudes came up with to get all the girls…Yeah, market research, market research okay?

Master Zen chuckled.

“So you have noticed.”

No offense, but why do main characters like that line so much. I mean, I’ve heard it at least five billion times in my mangaka career. To all the mangakas and novelists out there, it doesn’t actually make them seem smarter. A heck lot more annoying, I say. That reminds me, there was this other manga that was axed a month ago, where the plot is essentially this…

John Smith: You have been watching me, haven’t you.

John Snow: So you have noticed.

John Smith: Heh heh heh…

John Snow: Heh heh heh…

John White: You both have been watching me, haven’t you.

John Snow and John Smith: So you have noticed.

All: Heh heh heh…

*The end*

Well…the main reason that that manga was axed was because there were too many Johns in the end, and readers couldn’t tell who’s who. But, we all knew in our hearts that it was because of the “So you have noticed” line. Anyway…rest in peace, John…I hope that in your next life you will learn to stop saying that. Amen.

-Smash-

A plate crashed into the shelf beside the old man, as he dodged calmly while wiping a wine glass.

“My…young ones are sure violent these days.” he said, with closed eyes and a light smile on his face.

“Who sent you.” 007 asked, leaping onto the counter next to him, grabbing him by the collar.

The old man opened his eyes slowly, the light from above making them gleam eerily.

“I will tell you if you beat me”

Wait a second…didn’t the system already announce where the old man came from? Why did the MC ask who sent him, isn’t it obvious-

Characters apart from you will not see the system messages.

You are not allowed to inform other characters about the system messages in any way, shape or form.

To break this rule, or any of the other rules, you will be considered to have forfeited your task for this world.

You will be disqualified from participating any further, and be sent back to the real world.

Wait, so if I break this rule, or the one-line rule, I will be sent back!?

…

…

…

Rules are meant to be broken, time to get wild!

It was then that I remembered what my editor said to me just before I left.

“If you fail to complete your task, and end up coming back before the story ends…you will be fired immediately!”

…

God dammnittttttttt!!!

While I was contemplating whether or not it is worth it to break the rules, a fight had broken out between the two.

Snapping back to the present moment, I tried once more to lift myself up.

-Crash-

Dammnit! I can’t see s*** from this angle!!! What the hell is happening, oi!?

-Heavy breathing-

Move, body, move! Quickly, before the fight ends! Quickly!

-Rip-

Was that the sound of clothes ripping…

“Hnh…”

What the…

“Had enough?”

“Not yet…!!!”

…

For some reason, I kind of don’t want to know what is happening anymore.

I really, really, really don’t want to see Old Man x MC.

“Ah…”

NOT YOU TOO, OLD MAN! NOW IT’S MC x OLD MAN!? PLEASE SPARE ME, GO FIND ANOTHER LOCATION AT LEAST! Halp! Someone tell me what to do!

I remember what my grade school teacher had told me, a long time ago.

“Shin, everyone is only at 10% of their potential normally…so don’t give up, alright? You will do better on the test nex-”

Thank you, Sensei!

I calmed down, concentrating hard on summoning the secret power from within me.

Only 10%…only 10%…come on, Shin! You can do it! Imagine the 90% getting released from its cage…here it comes!!!

I waited.

Nothing happened.

You lied to me Sensei. How could you lie to a young child like that!?

“That’s why I said it was for the test next tim-”

Wahhhhh, my life is a lie. Where is Kami-sama when I need him!?

It was then that I remembered something else.

When in Sparta…do as the Spartans do…

The thought entered my mind as if by magic.

…

I turned to the image of a bald man with the sun shining behind him in my mind, kneeling before him in thanks.

Thank you, Kami-sama!

He gave me a thumbs up, a twinkle appearing as he smiled with his teeth.

I smiled back at him, and then took a deep breath in my mind.

Here it comes…all or nothing!

With all the energy I have left, I shifted closer to the leg of the table beside me.

Then, I paused.

Wait, what’s the Spartan catchphrase again?

…

F*** it.

I smashed my head against the table.

FOR ATHENS!!!

You have been killed by [ Table].

Total number of times you have been killed by [ Table]: 2.

The current rankings are:

1. Table (2 kill-streak)

2. Butter Knife (1 kill-streak)

3. Bread (1 kill-streak)

4. Hooligan (1 kill-streak)

5. ??? (???)

…What the heck!? And what’s with the censored part at the bottom!?

You have been reborn as Wine Glass A, the favorite wine glass of the old man bartender.

Your goal is to get wiped sparkly clean.

Finally, I could see what is going on…wait, hell no, don’t you dare bring that dirty cloth near me…Kyahhhh! Hentai!!! Why are you wiping me like that, I know I’m a wine glass, but still I don’t want to be touched by an old man! Staphhhhhh! Just drop me, let me die!!! No, wait, don’t actually drop me, I was joking-

The cloth disappeared for a moment, and I could see the main character half-kneeling on the floor in front of us.

He clutched his bleeding arm, his clothes half torn.

Since his hood fell off, probably during the fight, I could now see his face.

Pure, straight short white hair. Blood-red eyes that radiated with killing-intent. Handsome features that seemed to come right off of the cover of a shoujo manga.

…

Damn. If a wine glass could blush, this one would be blushing right now…Stop it, Shin, you are not a shoujo heroine or anything. Why are you blushing for a dude!? Don’t open that door, stay in the closet, I beg you!!!

Scarlet 007 has been defeated by [Master Zen].

Great. Good to know. Now, can someone hit that “replay” button, so I can actually see what the heck happened!? What was with the weird noises anyway!?

“I…have lost.” 007 said, his hair covering his eyes.

“It’s the first time you have ever lost, correct?” Master Zen said.

007 did not reply.

Master Zen smiled, walking over to him.

“Well, that’s to be expected. After getting holed up in that syndicate, you haven’t really seen the world, have you.”

007 looked up.

“The…world?”

Nooooooo! Don’t listen to that snake’s words, Adam! That’s how he gets all his prey! Don’t bite the apple, don’t!

“Do you want to become stronger…stronger than me and everyone else?”

Don’t ignore me, you fool! Damn, I have to speak up now or else the MC is going to get abducted by a shady old man.

…

I mentally slapped myself on the forehead.

God damn, I forgot I was a wine glass!!! I can’t even f***ing speak!

The main character was silent for a moment, then he nodded.

The old man smiled.

“Then, why don’t you join my syndicate? We will teach you all about the ways of the world.”

007 looked at him, his red eyes gleaming with a mixture of emotions. Doubt. Hostility. Curiosity…and finally, a spark of uncontainable excitement.

“Is there…a lot of strong people?”

The old man’s smile widened.

“Most definitely.”

There, Master Zen extended one hand out to 007, and then-

Noooooooooo! You dumba**, what the heck did you just do!? Don’t be a muscle-head, think rationally. Don’t-

Scarlet 007 has agreed to join [Master Zen]’s syndicate.

Scarlet 007 is now a member of the [Midnight Raven] syndicate, a revolutionary group aiming to overthrow the current Emperor.

Scarlet 007 is now at war with the Empire!

…

GOD SAVE THE KING!!!

To be continued…

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Note: I will be uploading more chapters today. Stay tuned!