There was a reason why this birthmark caused Miko to froze in place.
Five years ago during his second meeting with Luka, Miko was brought to a special military arcade.
All of the games in this arcade had a six-pointed star logo with a “G” in middle on it. They all were Gamestar branded games.
When he asked Luka about it, this is what she said.
“The Gamestar corporation is the leading gaming company in the world. Hand consoles, Mobile games, Virtual reality games, RPG, MMORPG, etc. They dominate them all. Not only that, they also created Dimension Drive, a console that sends your body to another dimension to play the game; as well as Dream Scape, a console that allows you to play games in your dreams.”
She then continued.
“The Gamestar family are history's greatest gamers, they singlehandedly changed the definition of gaming. They're also heaven-shaking geniuses. It's too bad that they were almost wiped out a few years ago.”
When Miko asked her to explain what she meant, this was her answer.
“I don't know the details, but I heard that the main family, except for the family head, were brutally massacred by unknown assailants. They shut down for a while after that; but eventually came back on track after nearly 5 years, with a new leader.”
Miko found it hard to believe that Ace having a birthmark that matched the Gamestar’s logo was pure coincidence. Especially, considering his amnesia.
What made Miko more certain was the time that the Gamestar massacre occurred.
According to Ace, he met Klick when he was 8, that was 10 years.
The Gamestar massacre also happened ten years ago.
This was how Miko saw it.
Ace family encountered a disaster that wiped them out. All except, Ace who seemingly secretly survived, and the family head who wasn't at the murder scene.
Upon escaping from the killers, Ace encountered some kind of accident that caused him to lose his memory. Either that, or he suppressed his memory after his mind underwent severe stress.
After losing his memories, Ace encountered Klick who probably figured out his identity but chose to keep it hidden because he was attracted to Ace’s talent. As for why he left Ace and Sora here, Miko still didn't know.
He also thought of another theory, but he needed to test something first.
“Ace, that's a cool birthmark there.”
“Hm? Oh, this. Yeah, pretty cool don't you think?”
Ace answered with a smile.
“It reminds me of that big game company. You know, Gamestar.”
“Gamestar?”
Ace suddenly looked confused.
“What's that?”
This is what Miko wanted to test.
‘I can feel something interfering with his mind, when he mentioned Gamestar.’
Miko thought.
As a Qi Warrior he could detect aura far more easily than before.
He immediately recognized what was interfering with Ace’s mind.
It was Chaotic Qi.
Since Chaotic Qi can effect ones mind, it was perfect for mind control.
Miko deduced that Ace was being mind controlled into forever being oblivious to anything that involves the name Gamestar.
He believed this is so because as a huge lover of games, it would be impossible for Ace to never play games affiliated with the Gamestar company. Which means he played them, but was unable to perceive the brand’s name or logo.
Miko also believed that it was the same for Sora and Hina.
It would be impossible for someone as smart as those two to not come up with the same theory as Miko, after seeing Ace’s birthmark and the games he plays.
It was too unnatural.
‘Tia, I thought you said the aura controlling then disappeared?’
Miko spoke to Tiamat in his mind.
(It did. But it seems like there was small speck deeply rooted in their brains that I was unable to detect.)
Tiamat felt Miko’s anxiety the moment he saw Ace’s birthmark and immediately figured out what he was thinking.
‘Then can it be removed?’
(I would advise against it. Forcibly removing something that's so deeply rooted inside them could cause irreversible brain damage or even death.)
‘…..I see. Then there's nothing we can do….For now at least.’
This confirmed Miko's second theory.
The guy named Klick, was like involved in the massacre of Ace’s family.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Either that, or he knows who did it and made them overlook Ace.
Either way, he manipulated Ace and the others for years.
This reminded Miko that he couldn't trust the trio 100% as long as the ghost named Klick was still in the picture.
This includes Hina.
“Miko?”
Ace looked at Miko confusedly because he suddenly entered deep thought.
“It's nothing. Forget I've mentioned anything.”
“...Alright.”
Miko wore a smile on his face, but his blood was boiling.
The idea of his people being toyed with didn't sit right with him.
Miko wanted to hurry up and find out who Klick was, and destroy him!
After parting with Ace and Sora, Miko was in a too foul of a mood to cook for anyone. So he ordered the chef to cook for them.
He released Ishmavael from her glove form and sat and waited.
She originally wanted to argue, but when she saw that Miko wasn’t in a good mood, she just sat down with a frown.
Regis didn't approach him and sat on Tiamat's lap.
Miko naturally realized that his mood was creating an awkward atmosphere. So he decided to think about everything else at another time.
“Have you decided on what exactly you like to eat?”
He asked with a smile.
“I want some sweet!”
Ishmavael was the first to answer.
“Sweets? That's surprisingly childish. But I guess it's suits you.”
Regis said while giggling.
“How are you calling a child, brat?!”
Of course, Ishmavael stood up to fight.
“Sweets, huh? Then how about I have them make you some desserts?”
Said Miko.
“Really?!”
That caused Ishmavael’s eyes to sparkle.
Miko nodded.
“How about some chocolate cake?”
“Is it delicious?”
He nodded again.
“Cake! I want the cake!”
“Then cake it is then.”
Miko snapped his fingers and a servant brought a slice of a cake and put it in front of Ishmavael.
“Oh! It looks delicious!”
Her mouth literally started watering.
She didn't waste no time to dig in.
“Mhm!”
She seemed to like it because she was wiggling in her seat with a bright expression.
Seeing her like this, Miko could only see her as a child despite her constantly denying it.
For the rest of the day Miko turned his attention to pleasing these three girls he'll forever be connected to.
At first it was a distraction, but later on he actually enjoyed himself.
It was already late in the night, when Miko decided to have a bath by himself.
He walked towards the bathroom, and stopped at the door.
“…….”
He paused for a while before opening the door.
There he saw someone in the bathroom with a towel wrapped around them.
“Hello, Your Majesty. King Miko.”
It was a beautiful woman who looked like she was in her early twenties.
She had dark blue hair and green eyes. She had a perfect figure which extremely seductive with the wet towel wrapped around her.
“…….”
Miko looked at this woman, and-
He walked past her like she didn't exist.
“Huh?”
This caught the woman off guard.
While she was in a state of shock, Miko proceeded strip like it was the natural thing to do.
He then entered the giant bath with a sigh.
The woman stood there unable to comprehend her next action.
“What are you doing? Aren't you going to enter?”
Miko asked with a straight face.
“A-Ah, yes.”
With a confused expression, the woman dropped her towel and revealed her naked body.
Her breasts were plump and mouthwatering. Her stomach was flat with any signs of flab. Her hip were broad and enticing.
Her overall naked appearance was simply magnificent.
Miko observed her naked form without a single ripple of emotions in his eyes.
This made the woman instinctively afraid.
Just so you know, Miko didn't know this woman. It's the first he's seen her. Even so, he was calm in front of her naked appearance, and even gestured her to enter the bath with him.
Because of this, every scenario the woman planned for when he entered the bathroom was shattered.
If he was surprised or frightened she would’ve smoothly calmed him down.
If he was the playboy type who would foolishly believe that she was sent to service him, then she would play along up to a certain point and then complete her task.
Even if he had attacked her on sight, she had ways to subdue him and propose to talk it out.
But none those situation happened.
He simply showed indifference from the start. It was as if he wasn't the one who walked into a trap. He was instead, a Higher being observing a foolish insect struggle against him.
The woman silent entered the bath, but sat at least 10m away from him, even though she was suppose to sit directly beside him or even on top of him if necessary.
This showed her caution.
This showed her fear.
Miko didn't seem to mind her sitting away from him. He simply observed her body for a while, before closing his enjoying and relaxing in the warm bath.
Silence formed between the two for a while.
The woman couldn't take it anymore.
“What the hell?!”
“Shh! You're being noisy.”
Miko said without opening his eyes.
“No, no, no, no! Don't you find any of this weird?! A strange woman appeared in your bathroom naked, and you don't even bet an eye!”
“Why would I freak out? The heavens clearly sent you as a gift, in an attempt to make up with me.”
“What the hell is that?!”
“If….”
Miko slowly opened his eyes and looked at her.
“If that isnt the case, then I'll destroy you right here.”
“?!”
The woman suddenly felt a cold chill down her spine, even though she was in a warm bath.
Her instincts were telling that if she say the wrong thing now, this bath will become her grave.
“I'm a gift! I'm the best gift you could ever ask for!”
She chose to do whatever it took to preserve her life.
“Is that so?”
Miko looked neither amused or displeased. It was hard to determine what he was thinking.
“So, Ms.Gift. How did you sneaked in here undetected? The Royal Palace is covered with masters of stealth and detection. I can't believe that you're a Qi God who can surpass their observation net.”
The woman wanted to make up a lie, but when her eyes met with Miko's, she decided that it wasn't a good idea to lie in this situation.
“I used MYTH’s Hades Helmet.”
In the myth of Perseus, Hades gave him his helmet that had the ability to grant the user invisibility, in his quest to kill medusa.
“What are its abilities?”
Miko asked.
“It makes the user invisible. Not only to the naked eye, but every kind of power. You can not detect with magic, or machinery. It's true invisibility.”
“Any weaknesses?”
“It can only stay active for 30 minutes.”
Miko put on a pondering expression before saying-
“As I thought, it wasn't Sora who led you here.”
“?!”
Miko's words shocked the woman.
“What? You thought I didn't know that you're the foreigner who Sora has a date with?”
“….How did you know?”
“It wasn't hard actually.”
He pointed at her.
“What gave it away was your beauty.”
“Huh?”
She put on a confused expression. Miko continued.
“I'm the king. Noblemen and other high ranking officials have all brought their daughters to me in hope of s marital union with me. I would've recognized you, unless you were apart of the Triad which I deemed was very unlikely. It was even more unlikely for you to be from a normal family in the kingdom. I would've definitely heard rumors of such a beautiful woman living among the commoners on the country's network. Which means that you're a foreigner. Sora said that the woman he was dating was the gold digger type. The only way he would knowingly date a gold digger was unless she was at least your level of beauty. After all, Sora is surrounded by beautiful woman. Well, mostly from my family though.”
“……..”
The woman was left speechless by Miko's deduction skills. Just seeing her, and he was able to deduce her relationship with Sora.
This was too scary for her to handle.
She realized that she greatly underestimate her target because of his age.
“So what did you came here for?”
Miko asked with a cold tone.
Naturally he didn't believe that she was a gift from the heavens. If she risked her life to come here, then there must be a good reason. Plus she didn't seem hostile, so Miko was really curious.
The woman took a deep breath before saying-
“Your Majesty, King Gamiko the third. I was sent here by the four pillars to invite you to the futuristic city of the Silver Continent, Grim City.”