Date: Unspecified 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Time: Unspecified

Location: Myriad Realms, Card World, Southern Region, Blossom District, Three Mischief Encampment

"Psst, Wyatt... I can’t lie to Librarian Jr. Even if I am your exclusive book guide."

Dredre leaned down from atop my head and whispered it into my ear, almost apologetically, as I began to descend toward the crater where Peyote was pushing himself back up, still trying to stabilize. He looked at me with a flicker of horror—clearly not expecting that kind of strength from me.

In truth, it hadn’t been raw power alone. While we were talking, I’d used my soul pupils to map his body—reading the flow of his soul pathways, identifying the structural weak points. When the moment came, I struck exactly where it would hurt the most, pouring everything into that single blow.

My strength already rivaled that of a standard semi–ruler-class. Combined with a precise hit to his weak point, it was enough to leave Peyote rattled. He needed a full minute just to steady himself and understand what had just happened.

Because of the sheer number of races in the Dark Realm, the concept of targeting physical weak points was almost nonexistent outside of formal martial arts. Even then, few among the dark races truly focused on such disciplines. Most relied on their soul energy, trusting their naturally powerful bodies to carry them through.

Thanks to my Soul Pupils, I could bridge that gap in knowledge—reading the structure beneath the surface, finding what others never bothered to look for.

And with that, I turned a single strike into something far more decisive, flooring Peyote in one clean blow.

"Well, you never know until you try—not as my assigned book guide, but as my friend."

I said it lightly, without bothering to explain that my command earlier was a bluff. The point was to make Peyote understand that nothing had really changed, even after I’d chosen to be honest with him. If I weren’t confident in that, I wouldn’t have revealed anything in the first place.

No—I wasn’t trying to corrupt Dredre. I was doing exactly what Zaltan Librarian Jr. had asked of me. He wanted them to become independent, and I was helping her take that step.

After all, independence wasn’t just being strong and knowledgeable to be responsible for oneself. Sometimes, it meant learning when to bend the truth—and when to stand by it.

I waited to see what decision Dredre would make. She was clearly struggling. Then again, I wasn’t expecting to undo millennia of conditioning in a single day. All I wanted was to plant a question in her mind—one that would linger, echoing in her mind, and burst out as a powerful reaction: If it ever came down to it, would she lie to her masters for the sake of a friend?

I still had no intention of putting Dredre in a position where she had to lie for me. That wasn’t the point. What I wanted was for her to know that the option existed—that she had the freedom to choose. More than anything, I wanted Dredre to think for herself—something the Infinity Library had long taken from her and her entire race.

"Relax, Dredre. No need to call for reinforcements—I was just bluffing to scare Peyote. Play along when I ask you." I sent the message to her mentally as I stepped forward and stood before Peyote.

"Lucky shot," he scoffed, convincing himself that striking his weak point had been nothing more than coincidence.

I raised my hand as if to punch him again. Peyote tensed, ready to counter—

—but before he could react, one of my many arms manifested behind him and drove into the weak point on his back with my full might.

I had over two thousand hands. I didn’t need to move to fight. With my ’If You See Me, I See You’ ability, distance and direction meant nothing. He should never have given me the time to map his entire network of soul pathways and arrangements pinpointing his body’s natural and acquired defenses structural flaws.

If he chose to use illusion materialization here, I’d be helpless again. Still, when I had the chance, it didn’t hurt to show off a little. It should be enough to deter him.

"I can do this all day," I said, turning to Peyote as he flew past me, crashed into a nearby boulder, and then slammed into the ground.

He dragged himself up, wiped the blood from his mouth, and gave a crooked smile. "You know what that tells me? You’re not actually ready to kill me. Those reinforcements aren’t coming, are they? You liked my earlier proposal... didn’t you?"

He exhaled, shrugging his shoulders, he proposed again, "Honestly, I don’t know how you ended up with a pixie from the Infinity Library—or whether you’ve even met Zaltan Librarian Jr.. I don’t care anymore. I’ve made my offer. You make your counteroffer. If it’s within my tolerance, I’ll accept it. Let’s end this charade."

"A millennium-long employment contract," I said. "In return, I won’t just introduce you to Zaltan Librarian Jr.—I’ll recommend you. If your performance satisfies me after a century, I’ll conclude the contract and honor my end of the deal."

"I knew it—you were holding back on me," Peyote shot back, excitement flashing across his face before he countered. "A millennium is too long. Make it a century. And if my performance is exemplary within the first decade, you conclude the contract then and there.

"Before you reject it," he added quickly, "I’m willing to sign the harshest terms you want. I’ll be your mule if I have to. I won’t complain. I’m telling you there won’t be anyone more hard working and loyal to you among your subordinates than me in those ten years."

Listening to Peyote, I let a small smile form and spoke aloud, "Dredre, draft the contract and share it with us. I’d like to invoke my VVIP privilege and use the Infinity Library as the guarantor."

With every word, Peyote’s beady eyes lit up brighter—like he was hearing his winning numbers being called out for all to hear.