Minion #15201 and #14444 are nameless mobs— they are insignificant, small, and weak.

But even these small guys have their pride.

"Let's investigate since we are here, to begin with."

"Hmmm... I know this smell. It's wine. Looks like a cellar."

15201 and 14444 took their jobs seriously since they are being paid by the organization very well.

This world is filled with war and strife. Especially now that such sorcery plagues the lands.

Before, it was just kings and peasants. Now, they have all kinds of maniacs playing gods on the higher ladder of power.

15201's wound in his shoulder aches. He found two dead bodies hidden in the dark corner. They were splattered wetly with wine. He reckoned that it's the assailant's ruse to fool their noses, but they have Palnes. There is a mace and a sickle chain. 15201 is not used to unorthodox weapons, so he opted for the mace.

"Fuck! You brat! Get away from me!"

15201 heard his partner cursing, he rushed his way to help as he wield his heavy mace.

...

Executives in the organization are not nameless— it is not figurative, it's meant literally as every executive is burdened with a greater purpose.

They are more than mobs as they enact the will of Zentury, to return the world to its rightful place where people live as equals.

This is why executives use their real names and not their codes. This is how they show their devotion to the cause.

"I will kill you!"

But Palnes is different. He is a pure mercenary at heart that seeks wealth more than the cause. Despite this, his loyalty to Zentury is true. In fact, with his mercenary mindset, the sole thing he despises the most is betrayal. Palnes can smell it, the familiar smell of a betrayer, and he'll do everything in his power to smite this foe.

Alfir's stack of arrows is no more. It is time he ends this. Alfir drew his steel sword. He will confront Palnes with all he got. His mutation is not strong enough to guarantee a victory, but who needs strength when you have~ evil.

It rang alarm bells to Palnes's ears, but it was too late even for him. Alfir dropped the torch.

It should have occurred to Palnes a long time ago that the smell of liquor is too strong. He smelled it just before entering the tunnel to the basement.

It is painful. It burns. Your skin slowly chars black whilst your meat cooks, and the water content within your flesh boil from the searing flames. That bastard! Alfir added a unique flaming agent to the blazing spectacle as Palnes bath in flames.

"It's a good investment."

Palnes saw the culprit of his suffering. With a hoarse voice, he screamed.

"It's you! 12193! Traitor, die!"

"As expected of an executive, you still have fire in you~ no pun intended~ kekekeke~"

Alfir derisively smiled as he angles his steel to defend. Palnes made it out from the fiery tunnel. He pursued Alfir like a madman swinging his curve sword with unbridled fury.

Alfir just kept on dodging and defending. Palnes is flabbergasted by Alfir's display.

'This is impossible, he is just a lowly grunt. I have my sorcery. Even in this state, I am above him!'

Palnes's swordsmanship, mutation, and battle experience stood no chance to Alfir's cunning.

The flames further proliferated as Alfir danced with death.

"I guess it's about time."

Alfir's mutation needs more research, but it can be simplified for now— it's the power of the mind over the body. It's a very vague concept Alfir hardly understood through his limited vocabulary. It allows Alfir to influence his body through his will.

—ZWWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNGG!

Alfir released all of his stacked adrenaline. His sword reverberated as his muscles and tendons tear from the unexpected pressure.

It was the sound of steel slashing through the charred meat of Palnes. It was crisp and sharp. Palnes's innards spilled as white and black matter scatter on the ground.

Alfir stood there for a while to catch his breath, but he needs to escape sooner. The orphanage is a generous noble's property. It has an emergency button to ask for heroes in emergencies like this.

The action of walking is strenuous for Alfir, but he forced himself to— the life of many orphans, the MC included is at stake here.

Alfir saw the dead headmaster, a lowly baron who cherished life so much he gave up his military rights for this orphanage.

"It's somewhere here."

A red button is hidden just under the table. He pushed the button. The headmaster was killed by Palnes without any commotion. This speaks of Palnes's prowess.

The fire is growing fiercer. Alfir increased his distance from the house desperately. The red button serves as an emergency resort in cases like this. The baron's eldest son has a pull in the Hero Society.

It would be Deron who would've pushed that red button if not for Alfir's interference. The wine cellar being a flammable pit of alcohol is deadly fatal to the orphans. Alfir doesn't care, what only matters to him is himself, then the protagonist, then his ambition.

"Let's just hope for the best."

...

Eron Vilman Zest. Also known as Furious Flames, Flamecore's no. 1 disciple is a pyrokinetic hero with a temper hotter than the boiling lava. The longer it gets, the hotter it grows.

"I am sorry, teacher. I can't stay idle like this anymore, my father needs me. I believe that Zentury's attack is just a ruse. Demerits? I don't care about that. I only care for the safety of people I can reach, and staying here like frightened chicks isn't really my style."

"..."

Flamecore only gave the silent treatment. He is not disagreeing with Eron's words. But he can't show his agreeing side either. He is gravely aware of the growing politics in the Hero Society. Something so pure once has now become vulnerable to corruption. The recent attack by Zentury hides something more sinister in the dark.

Zentury didn't only send Gavin to the Hero Society headquarters but also attacked top heroes simultaneously around the world.

This sowed fear among heroes as their loved ones are also not safe from the attack. Important personnel and some famous heroes gathered in the academy to calm the worried evacuees— more likely, rich asses that want protection from heroes— this is the objective truth. But the noblemen and merchants are glorifying their banal weakness with such a lame excuse that this is a gathering to foster good relations with the Hero Society.

Flamecore watched his disciple fly away as his fellow heroes gossip of Eron's departure. Flamecore also doesn't like the atmosphere here, but he knows better— that the money of this bane people is needed to further help the weak and the common folk.