From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Kern gave a humorless chuckle, his gaze lowering to the table. "The kingdom and their beloved control tactics... No matter what our alignment is or how much we support them, they always make sure they have the upper hand."

Yun-Jin met their eyes, her tone shifting, softening just a little. "Listen, no matter what happens, regardless of what our beliefs might be about the kingdom's stability and the structure they've upheld for generations—if things go south, I need you both to make sure Ty is taken care of. He doesn't deserve to be left behind if this entire plan falls apart."

Kern opened his mouth to speak, but Gisorn beat him to it. "You have yourself a deal," he said, his tone more certain than before. "I don't bother with the why's or the reasons people give, but if this keeps me in the game, gets me past the second stage, that's enough for me. And besides, if the Black Bulls or anyone else decides to interfere, sticking around the Demon might just be our safest bet."

Yun-Jin gave them a nod, then offered a slight bow as a gesture of appreciation. "Thank you," she murmured, her voice softer now, almost genuine. She turned, her coat swishing as she walked to the door, her steps deliberate and composed as she left the room.

The door clicked shut, and silence fell over the room for a moment. Kern watched the door, his brow furrowed, before he turned to Gisorn. "I'm shocked you agreed so quickly. You could have bargained for more. Maybe get her to promise us some supplies or something to use later." He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed.

Gisorn just shrugged, staring at the half-empty glass on the table. "Maybe. But love makes people do stupid things, doesn't it? Besides, we got enough info out of that conversation." He looked up at Kern, a knowing look in his eyes. "And honestly, we can't even say what we'll need until we know what the second stage will look like."

Kern seemed to mull over the words, a grin slowly forming on his lips. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Nothing's ever simple, is it? Not with demons, Black Bulls, and who knows what else in the mix."

Gisorn chuckled, the sound dark and humorless. "Simple? Not in this life." He lifted his glass, swirling the remaining wine. "Here's to surviving one more day, Kern. Let's see if we can make it to the next chapter without losing our heads."

Kern lifted his own glass, clinking it against Gisorn's. "To not losing our heads," he echoed, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "And maybe to making a fool out of the kingdom while we're at it." He glanced down at his wrist, the small marks there a reminder of how tenuous their freedom really was.

Yun-Jin walked back the way she had come, her eyes drifting across the scene in front of her as life went on. The contestants continued feasting, enjoying their meals, oblivious to the storm that could hit them at any moment. She passed the guards, now joined by two more, on their patrols. The sight of them made her think of the urgency behind her orders—they were quick, she had to give them that.

The guards gave her a nod as she approached, allowing her through. "Good day, Ms. Yun-Jin," one of them greeted. She acknowledged them with a curt nod before moving through.

Walking into Compound One, Yun-Jin was taken aback for a moment by the drastic difference in atmosphere. The lavishness, the almost festive feeling from earlier—it was all gone. Instead, the floor was now gravel, aged and dusty, each step crunching underfoot, and the occupants were dressed uniformly in black shirts and pants. Each of them wore cuffs around their wrists, their movements restricted and wary. More guards than before were spread throughout the area, delivering trays of food, games, whatever diversions they could provide.

One of the guards, a young man with close-cropped hair and a rigid posture, came up to her, his expression serious. "What can we do for you, ma'am? We've received orders for heightened security, and we're trying to follow protocol. Apologies if I seem a bit forward."

Yun-Jin eyed him briefly, then took a step back, a smile almost forming at the corner of her lips. "It's all right. I put that order in myself. I need to check on Ty, the demon. As his sponsor, it's my responsibility to make sure everything is in order."

The guard visibly relaxed, his shoulders dropping slightly. "Understood. My apologies, again. I must say, it's still surprising to hear you're relaying orders directly from General Omina." Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire

Yun-Jin folded her arms, her gaze leveling with his. "The chain of command changes quickly in times like these. There will be a lot of opportunities for promotions soon."

The guard tilted his head, curious. "Oh? And why's that, if I may ask?"

Yun-Jin's expression hardened. "The Black Bulls are close. They could make a move at any moment. The only reason they haven't yet is that they don't want to. But it's coming. And when it does, we'll be ready. So, stay sharp. And if you find the chance to avenge Lt. Daemon—or Realdo—take it."@@novelbin@@

The guard hesitated for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly. "I… I don't think Realdo's death was ever confirmed to be their doing…" He trailed off, looking her in the eyes, seeing something there that made him pause. He straightened again, nodding. "Understood, Yun-Jin. Ty's in the back corner—he's eating some brisket noodles and complaining about not having enough tea."

"Thank you," she said, her voice cool, before stepping away.

She moved past the other prisoners, each absorbed in their own distractions. She could hear murmurs of conversation, laughter that sounded forced, the metallic clink of the cuffs whenever they shifted. Her gaze scanned each face she passed, seeing the uncertainty written in their eyes, the anxiety that none of them could completely hide. There was a tension in the air—a sense that they were all holding their breath, waiting.