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Chapter 74 - A “Team Abyss” member

Chapter 74 - A “Team Abyss” member

The atmosphere, already heavy with tension, quickly spiraled into chaos once again. Li and Kazue, barely restrained moments before, could no longer hold back their shouting. Adam’s earlier request for calm explanations had been entirely ignored, leaving him standing there, feeling like he was attempting to mediate a playground squabble rather than a discussion between adults.

Li’s voice cut through the air like a blade, his words seething with frustration as he insisted on the dangers Katya posed. Kazue immediately countered, her tone sharp and defensive, standing her ground equally. The two hurled arguments back and forth, their voices overlapping in a cacophony of accusations and rebuttals.

Adam tried to interject, raising his voice above the din.

“Hey! Both of you—just listen for a second—”

But it was futile. The shouting only grew louder, each of them intent on out-yelling the other. Adam clenched his jaw, feeling his patience fraying. It was ridiculous, were they seriously not capable of a rational conversation?

Li gestured wildly, pointing at Katya as he accused her of being a ticking time bomb. Kazue snapped back, claiming that Li was being paranoid and unfair after everything the blonde had done to help. The argument devolved further, their words colliding in a tangled mess of anger and defiance, and Adam’s attempts to mediate were drowned out entirely.

Just as it seemed like the argument would erupt into something even worse, a sharp, thunderous clap echoed through the room. The sound was deafening, amplified by the mostly empty space, and reverberated off the walls with a startling resonance.

Everyone froze. The sheer volume of the noise was enough to make most of them flinch. Chloe instinctively stepped closer to Adam, while Kazue and Li nearly jumped in place. Even Katya’s scowl softened into a brief look of surprise, and the younger Emir let out a startled yelp before Sebastian rested a calming hand on his shoulder.

All eyes turned toward Drake, who stood at the center of the room, his hands still poised from the clap. His expression was calm but firm, his presence commanding.

“That’s enough.”

Drake said, his voice steady yet infused with authority.

“Both of you agreed to hear Adam’s opinion. So if you’re going to argue, at least have the decency to listen to him first.”

The weight of his words hung in the air, silencing the chaos like a bucket of cold water thrown onto a fire. Adam, still processing how effortlessly Drake had taken control of the situation, blinked in mild amazement. How does he do that? He wondered, grateful but also slightly envious of the blond’s ability to impose order so naturally.

Clearing his throat, the boy finally stepped forward. His voice came out more hesitant at first, but he quickly steadied himself.

“Alright, let’s try this again. I think I get where both of you are coming from. But first—Li, you’re the one making the accusations, so let’s start there. How exactly do you know about this... what was it? A group that kills users?”

Li visibly tensed, his jaw tightening. It was clear he didn’t want to discuss the subject, but under Adam’s expectant gaze, he finally relented.

“I… I had the misfortune of encountering them once, it was… back when my old team was still together.”

He admitted, his voice stiff and clipped. Adam noticed the way the man’s gaze shifted, avoiding everyone else in the room. His words were forced, as though dredging up memories he’d rather leave buried. Sensing the discomfort but needing more details, Adam pressed further.

“What happened?”

Li began reluctantly, his tone bitter.

“They’re… a mystery. They show up unannounced in the middle of another team’s scenario. And then… They kill everyone. For no reason, as far as I can tell.”

He paused, swallowing hard.

“That’s... definitely disturbing.”

Adam said, frowning as he mulled over the information.

“But if that’s the case, accusing Katya of being part of them doesn't make sense. She arrived in the lobby with the rest of the rookies, not during the scenario. So how can you even—”

“She admitted it.”

Li interrupted flatly. Adam froze mid-sentence, his brain screeching to a halt as he processed Li’s words.

“Wait. What?”

“She said it herself.”

Li repeated, crossing his arms. Adam blinked, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. For a moment, all his logical reasoning came crashing down in the face of that absurd revelation. He stared at Li, then at Katya, who now looked thoroughly unimpressed. The sheer absurdity of the situation left him momentarily speechless, and the room’s tension took on an almost comical edge.

Chloe stifled a laugh behind him, and even Drake’s lips twitched as though suppressing a smile. Finally, Adam shook his head and sighed, rubbing his temples.

“So… let me get this straight. You’re accusing her of being part of this terrifying murder squad… because she just came out and said it?”

“Yes, we confirm that she has high-level skills, so she’s far from a newbie.”

Li replied bluntly, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. Adam then turned slowly, his eyes narrowing as he focused on Kazue and Katya. He needed answers, and the absurdity of the situation was beginning to wear on him. He took a deep breath and, with a tone laced with both frustration and curiosity.

"Is this true? Katya, are you really part of such a group?"

Kazue opened her mouth to speak first, her eyes wide in a mix of disbelief and urgency.

"No, that's not true!"

She said, her voice tinged with defensive energy.

"Katya isn’t part of any group like that. She’s—"

But before Kazue could finish her sentence, the blonde interjected with a smug smirk, her voice dripping with defiance.

"Actually, yes, I am part of ‘Team Abyss’."

She stated, each word hanging in the air like a challenge.

"It’s a group that usually specializes in hunting other users."

Her gaze flicked between the others, as if daring them to react. Kazue’s face twisted in frustration, and her hand instinctively shot up to slap her forehead in exasperation.

Adam blinked, momentarily stunned by Katya’s unapologetic admission. He was processing the situation when Kazue, now fuming, attempted to regain control of the conversation.

"Okay, maybe she was part of this strange team... but she’s different now! She’s good, I’m sure of it. She must have escaped that place!"

Katya’s expression shifted almost imperceptibly. Where her earlier tone had been challenging, it suddenly softened, becoming unnervingly sweet. She smiled at Kazue, her voice becoming almost syrupy.

"Oh, darling, no, I wasn’t escaping. I was sent here, specifically, by the leader of my team."

Kazue’s frustration reached new heights, and she slapped her forehead once more, a sharp exhale escaping her.

"I can’t believe this… why are you making this so hard?"

But even as she processed the shock of Katya’s words, Kazue lifted her head and straightened her shoulders.

"Alright, maybe you are part of that team. Maybe you were sent here on purpose, but that doesn’t mean you’re like them! You’re not like those killers, right? You wouldn’t kill anyone here!"

She said, attempting to hold onto the belief that Katya wasn’t as bad as she seemed. The blonde’s smile widened even further, a subtle yet chilling expression.

"Actually…"

She said sweetly, almost as if she were telling a secret.

"I’ve already killed five users while I was with ‘Team Abyss.’"

Kazue’s hands flew to her head, a dramatic gesture of frustration and disbelief.

"Five?! Are you seriously telling me this now?!"

Her voice cracked, the weight of the admission sinking in with a painful clarity. Li, ever the opportunist, pointed at the two of them with a triumphant look on his face, as if to say, ‘See? I was right all along!’ He smirked, pleased that his suspicions had been confirmed, and everyone else in the room seemed equally unsettled, glancing between the two girls with a mix of confusion and concern.

Kazue, struggling to maintain some semblance of hope, made one final attempt.

"No. Katya, you wouldn’t hurt any of us, not here, not now."

She insisted, shaking her head. But Katya, still wearing that unflappable smile, replied casually.

"That’s not true. I wouldn’t have any problem to..."

She started, her voice unbothered, but before she could continue, Kazue, panicking, moved quickly, pressing both hands over Katya’s mouth to cut her off.

"Shut up! Please, just stop!"

Adam stared at them, blinking in disbelief. This was spiraling quickly out of control, but it was clear that things had reached their limit. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"It’s pretty obvious what’s going on here. I think Li’s right—keeping Katya here is just too dangerous."

But just as Adam was about to move forward with his judgment, Drake, who had been quietly observing the chaos unfold, suddenly spoke up.

"Hold on. Just... wait a moment."

He exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples in frustration.

"Kazue, could you please stop making things more complicated and just tell us exactly what you told me earlier? Before everyone else knew what was going on?"

The room went silent at Drake’s words. Adam looked at him, perplexed, as did the others. What was he talking about? Kazue blinked, confused, but turned to Katya.

"Please, tell everyone what you told me when we first met. You know, before anyone else knew."

She said softly. But Katya hesitated, her eyes darting briefly before she spoke, her voice now much more subdued.

"I can’t... I can’t tell you that. My mission was to remain undercover. I’m not supposed to reveal anything."

The group fell silent. The logic of what Katya had said was so flawed that it hung in the air like a bad joke. Kazue stared at her, incredulous.

"Then why the hell did you tell me in the first place?"

Katya, suddenly flustered, looked down at her hands and began to fidget with her fingers nervously.

"I... I only told you because... well, because it was you."

She mumbled, her face reddening slightly. The group collectively blinked. Kazue let out a frustrated groan, running a hand through her hair as she turned to Katya, who stood there with an expression that shifted between timid hesitation and quiet defiance.

“Katya… you have to help me out here. Do you have any idea how insane this all sounds right now?”

Kazue began, her voice strained with exasperation. The blonde glanced at her, then quickly averted her eyes, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.

“I’m not trying to make it sound insane.”

She mumbled, her tone soft, as if she didn’t quite grasp the chaos her words had caused.

“Well, congratulations!”

Kazue shot back, throwing her hands up.

“You’ve managed it anyway! Now can you please just—just say something that helps instead of making things worse?”

Katya shuffled her feet, then looked up at her friend with wide, almost childlike eyes.

“I don’t know what you want me to say.”

She said quietly, much to the girl’s annoyance. Meanwhile, the rest of the group exchanged bewildered looks, clearly at a loss for how to process the nonsensical conversation playing out before them. Li, his arms crossed, let out a loud scoff.

“This is ridiculous.”

He muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear. Adam, who had been silent for the last few moments, watching the exchange with growing concern, finally decided to step in. He rubbed his temples before letting out a long sigh and turning to Kazue.

“Kazue… Do you really trust her? Whatever it is she told you, do you believe her enough to defend her like this?”

Kazue turned to Adam, her eyes wide with a mixture of determination and emotion.

“Yes!”

She said firmly. Then, her voice softened as she added.

“I might not have known her for long—just a few weeks—but she’s my friend. I know she’s rough around the edges, but she’s never done anything to harm us. If she wanted to, she’s had plenty of chances.”

Her words grew more impassioned as she continued.

“She was the first to jump into action when I was hurt back in the prison. She didn’t hesitate, Adam. If it weren’t for her, we wouldn’t have even escaped from that place.”

The boy studied her, his expression unreadable, but the sincerity in Kazue’s voice clearly gave him pause. After a long moment, he exhaled deeply.

“Alright, if you trust her, Kazue, then I’ll trust her too.”

He said, his voice hesitant at first. Kazue’s face lit up with relief and joy, her posture relaxing as a smile broke across her face.

“Thank you, Adam!”

She exclaimed. Katya, who had been quietly observing the exchange, suddenly stepped closer to Kazue. She grabbed the girl’s shoulder tightly, her fingers digging in just slightly. Then, with a glare that could have frozen fire, she locked eyes with Adam. Her expression was dark, almost murderous, as if the very idea of the boy trusting Kazue’s judgment offended her deeply.

Li, however, was less than pleased with the sudden turn of events and he snapped, his voice rising

“Are you kidding me? This makes no sense! Are you deciding to trust her based on this? This isn’t logic, it’s madness!”

Adam raised a hand to silence him and turned back to the group.

“This doesn’t mean we’re ignoring the situation or leaving things as they are. Trusting Kazue means I’m acknowledging there might be more to this than what it seems.”

He paused, glancing at Katya, whose hostile expression hadn’t wavered.

“So, we’ll use my skill, [Sinful Covenant], to form an agreement. Katya will have to tell the truth and promise not to harm or sabotage the team. If she’s sincere, she has nothing to worry about.”

Adam explained while Kazue’s eyes widened, and a bright smile spread across her face.

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“That’s perfect! See? This is great! It’s such a simple way to clear everything up!”

She exclaimed, turning to Katya with renewed enthusiasm. Katya, however, immediately shook her head.

“No.”

She said flatly. Kazue blinked, her smile faltering.

“What? Why not?”

Katya hesitated, her cheeks flushing a light pink as she glanced away. In a voice barely above a whisper, she muttered.

“I don’t want to make a pact like that... unless it’s with you.”

Kazue tilted her head, confused.

“What did you say?”

Before Katya could repeat herself, Adam, who had been momentarily distracted, opened his status window. He remembered his skill had recently leveled up and decided now was as good a time as any to see what had changed. However, as he scanned the list of skills, he frowned. [Sinful Covenant] was no longer there.

Instead, his eyes landed on a new skill: [Blood Covenant]. Without hesitation, he selected it to read the description.

[Skill: Blood Covenant Lv2] [A vampiric skill that forges a binding pact through the exchange of blood. Once both parties verbally accept the outlined rules—whether willingly or begrudgingly—the covenant takes effect. Breaking the agreed terms results in severe penalties: [Sealed], [Weakening], and [Crippling Wound]. The user can also employ this skill on others by having them accept the terms, even without providing their own blood.]

His eyes widened as he realized the significance of the upgrade. The new skill allowed him to create covenants between third parties, not just himself. A plan began forming in his mind as he glanced back at the ongoing conversation between Kazue and Katya.

Adam hadn’t heard Katya’s soft confession nor did he have any inkling of her feelings for her friend, but he could see clearly that Kazue was the only one the blonde felt comfortable talking to. And now, with his skill’s new functionality, he realized he had the perfect way to move forward, his voice cutting through the mounting tension between the two girls.

“Enough, I think I’ve found a way to settle this. Katya, if you’re more comfortable, I can arrange for the covenant to be between you and Kazue instead of with me.”

He said firmly, though his tone softened as both girls turned to look at him. Kazue’s brow furrowed at the suggestion.

“Between us? How does that even work?”

“It’s simple.”

Adam explained, trying to keep his tone even.

“The skill requires an exchange of blood, and I’ll set the conditions for both of you to accept verbally. Once you agree, the covenant will bind you to those terms. Breaking them will result in severe consequences... though I won’t go into detail about the penalties for safety reasons.”

Katya’s eyes lit up immediately, a flicker of excitement breaking through her normally reserved demeanor.

“I’m fine with that.”

She said without hesitation, her voice tinged with an eagerness that caught Kazue off guard. Kazue, on the other hand, still seemed uncertain. She hesitated, glancing between Adam and Katya.

“I don’t know...”

She murmured, her voice trailing off. But when she saw the determined look in her friend’s eyes, she sighed and gave in.

“Fine. If this is the only way to move forward, then let’s do it.”

Adam nodded and quickly retrieved a small box containing Chloe’s needles.

“Alright, prick your fingers, and then touch the finger with the blood drop together. That will initiate the bond.”

He instructed, handing one to each girl. Katya, however, had other ideas.

“No, we’ll hold hands. Both hands.”

She said firmly, reaching out to grab the other girl’s other hand. Adam blinked, surprised by the insistence, but didn’t argue. Kazue, though clearly perplexed, allowed Katya to take both of her hands.

“Okay, okay. Let’s just get this over with.”

She grumbled. Then, with their fingers pricked and their hands clasped tightly, Adam stepped back and raised his hands as if conducting a ritual.

“I’m going to list the conditions now, you’ll need to respond with ‘yes’ to each one for the covenant to take effect.”

Both girls nodded. Kazue’s voice tinged with reluctant determination while Adam began.

“First condition: you must answer all questions truthfully, without exception.”

“Yes.”

Kazue and Katya said in unison.

“Second condition: you cannot harm any other member of the team unless you are attacked first.”

“Yes.”

They repeated.

“Third condition: you will not betray or maliciously interfere with the goals of the team.”

“Yes.”

They echoed again.

“Fourth condition: you will not withhold relevant information on the topic being discussed, even if no direct question is asked.”

“Yes.”

As Adam listed the final condition, a black pentagram began to glow faintly beneath the two girls, signaling that the covenant was nearing completion. The air around them seemed to hum with energy, growing heavier with each passing second.

But just as Adam was about to announce the end of the ritual, Katya’s voice rang out, clear and resolute.

“And that we stay together for the rest of our lives!”

Kazue, still caught in the rhythm of automatically agreeing, answered instinctively.

“Yes!”

The instant the word left her lips, her eyes widened in shock.

“Wait, what? No! I didn’t mean that!”

She exclaimed, her voice rising with panic. But it was too late. The pentagram flared brightly, sealing the covenant. A pair of glowing red spectral cuffs materialized on their wrists, chaining them together for a brief moment before fading into nothingness.

There was a stunned silence as everyone processed what had just happened.

Li raised an eyebrow, his face a mask of disbelief. Drake chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his neck.

“Well, that’s... something.”

Adam stared, his eyes wide in sheer astonishment.

“What the—”

Chloe, ever the composed one, smirked slightly and said.

“Oh my...”

Kazue turned to Katya, her face a mix of horror and exasperation.

“What did you just do?!”

Katya, still holding Kazue’s hands, looked up at her with an expression that was equal parts smug and bashful.

“I just made sure we’ll never be apart.”.

Meanwhile, Adam’s system window popped up in front of him, displaying the results of the skill he had just used.

⌠Skill [Blood Covenant Lv2] between user ‘Kazue Rima’ and user ‘Katya Nakamura’ has been completed.⌡ ⌠The unique conditions of the covenant have generated two special skills for both users.⌡

[Skill: Soulbond Lv2] [A binding skill that links the fates of two individuals. If one of the bonded dies, the other will also perish instantly, regardless of distance or circumstances. This unbreakable connection makes their lives intertwined until the end.]

[Skill: Synchrony Lv?] [A unique skill that introduces the "Affinity" stat, measuring user's compatibility. The stat increases or decreases based on shared traits, emotions, or goals, reflecting a percentage of mutual harmony. Higher Affinity boosts cooperative effectiveness and opens new options exclusive to the "Affinity" stat, while lower Affinity may hinder interactions.]

The boy studied the notifications in front of him, his eyes narrowing as he parsed through the descriptions carefully. The skill, labeled [Soulbond], detailed its unique characteristics, binding the two girls’ lives together in a way that seemed more like a curse than a blessing. As he read, Adam’s brow furrowed deeper.

“Katya, Kazue, listen up. This skill does more than just link you two together. Your lives are literally tied to each other now. It’s not just symbolic—it’s physical, mental, and even spiritual in nature. If one of you gets hurt, the other will feel it to some extent. And if one of you dies... well, let’s not test that, okay?”

Katya’s face lit up with unrestrained excitement.

“That’s amazing! It’s like something straight out of a fantasy! We’re connected on a level no one else could ever understand.”

She exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. Kazue, on the other hand, looked horrified.

“Are you kidding me? This sounds like a nightmare!”

She snapped, yanking her hands in an attempt to free them from Katya’s grip. But the blonde held on tightly, her smile unwavering.

“You’re missing the bigger picture. This is destiny! We’re bonded for life!”

Katya said, squeezing her friend’s hands even more tightly. Kazue groaned, exasperated.

“Let go already! My hands are going numb!”

But it was no use, the blonde didn’t release her at all. Desperately, Kazue came up with a plan. She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a low, conspiratorial tone.

“Katya… Please let go, it hurts”

The blonde froze, her grip loosening completely as she looked at Kazue with wide, worried eyes.

“Oh no! I’m so sorry, are you okay?”

Kazue immediately pulled her hands back, rubbing them and muttering under her breath.

“Yes… I’m fine.”

She said, more to herself than anyone else. As she flexed her fingers, a strange chill ran down her spine, making her shiver involuntarily. Her mind raced with conflicting emotions. Was that what it’s like to have a friend? She wondered, her expression briefly softening. It’s... not like the friendships she’d read about in novels or manga.

Adam cleared his throat, regaining their attention.

“Alright, let’s focus. Kazue, please take a seat and start asking Katya the questions we need answers for. Let’s sort this out now.”

Kazue sat down reluctantly, still shooting occasional glares at her friend, who looked entirely unbothered. In fact, the blonde seemed more cheerful than ever, her demeanor a stark contrast to the aggressive and stubborn girl from earlier.

“Okay, Katya, why don’t you start by explaining who you are and why you’re here?”

Kazue began, her voice tinged with irritation. The blonde clasped her hands together, her smile widening.

“Gladly! I’m a member of ‘Team Abyss’, we’re... well, let’s just say we’re not your typical team.”

She said proudly. Katya’s tone remained cheerful, but as she was about to continue a thought passed through her head, leaving her wondering momentarily.

"Oh, right, I should explain something about how this all works. You know, about the points system."

Katya leaned back slightly, her arms crossed as if settling into a story she had never talked before. Adam raised an eyebrow, intrigued and leaning forward.

"For most of you, your teams operate with something called points. Pretty standard, right? You complete missions, you gain rewards, and you rack up points. But for us in ‘Team Abyss’, it’s a little different."

Kazue tilted her head, curiosity flickering across her face.

"Different how?"

"We don’t use points."

Katya said, her voice taking on a sharper edge.

"Our stat is called P.O.I.N.T.S. instead. And trust me, it’s not just a name change. The way we earn them is completely different. While you might get a flat reward for completing missions, we earn ours by eliminating other users."

Li scowled, his arms crossing tighter against his chest.

"You mean killing people."

The blonde shot the man a disdainful look but still replied.

"Exactly, we earn between one to five P.O.I.N.T.S. per kill, depending on the target. It’s not pretty, but it’s how things work for us."

Katya said unapologetically. She then glanced around at the group, her gaze lingering on Adam.

"Oh, and we have a supposed 100-point rule that you don’t—get 100 points and you’re out of here. It seems to be true. Sort of."

Adam’s expression was a shocking mix of disbelief and surpirse.

"You can actually exit this realm with points?... Wait, sort of? What do you mean?"

Katya shrugged.

"It’s true that reaching 100 P.O.I.N.T.S. is supposed to let us leave this reality. That’s the goal. But guess what? No one’s ever made it. Not a single person… Well, someone supposedly did it in the past, but it was long before I even got in. And before you say it—yes, I know what you’re thinking. ‘100 points isn’t that hard to get.’ That’s because your system is different."

Li frowned, clearly containing his discomfort and annoyance.

"Different how"

Katya glanced at him again like she was looking at a kid who didn’t understand the most basic topic.

"Because, genius, as I said before, the scoring system isn’t the same. What you get in one mission, we have to earn bit by bit, through kills. And since we only get one to five P.O.I.N.T.S. per kill, you can imagine how long that takes—and how dangerous it is."

Li’s jaw tightened, his frustration clearly mounting.

"That’s insane. So your team is stuck in an endless cycle of killing, just for a hollow promise of freedom… That just proves my point, you are a danger to everyone here."

Katya met his glare evenly.

"That’s how it used to be, but things are different now. Since our team got a new leader, we don’t kill indiscriminately anymore. We focus on those who are a genuine threat. People who can’t be redeemed or who put others in danger."

“And how did you decide that?”

Li asked sharply, his voice tinged with skepticism. Katya glanced at him with a hint of disdain again but answered regardless.

“One of our teammates has a skill that allows them to see a person’s ‘karma’. That’s how we judge, and another of our members was working on installing said skill to an object for everyone to have. Besides, it’s usually obvious. Most of the ones we’ve targeted have treated their own teams—especially the newbies—like slaves.”

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of Katya’s words hanging in the air.

“And you’re here because...?”

Kazue pressed while Katya’s smile returned.

“Experiments, our team has been trying out some new strategies. They used two Plot Devices to send me here—one to ‘invade’ your team and another to hide my stats and abilities. I didn’t expect it to work within the scenario itself, though. That was a pleasant surprise.”

“Wait, you’re saying that was why you were mistaken for an NPC?”

Kazue interjected, narrowing her eyes.

“Exactly! It worked better than I thought.”

Katya said, nodding enthusiastically. Without hesitation, Adam activated his ‘Cursed Eyes’, focusing on Katya. A system window materialized in front of him, revealing a flood of new information about the blonde. He skimmed through it carefully, his expression growing more serious with every detail he read.

⌠Cursed Vision Knowledge⌡ ⌠Name: Katya Nakamura⌡ ⌠Age: 19⌡ ⌠Species: Human - Rank E⌡ ⌠Potential: C⌡ ⌠Points: 0⌡ ⌠P.O.I.N.T.S: 1̶̬̒̍͗͐7̷̡̛̛̩̹̓̎̿̆̌̇̓͛͊̓̕⌡ ⌠Titles:⌡ ⌠“The one touched by misfortune”⌡, ⌠“PKK User”⌡, ⌠“Interdimensional Traveller”⌡ ⌠Treasures:⌡ ⌠“Tulpa Weaver's Band - Rank C”⌡, ⌠“Phantom Orb Amulet - Rank C”⌡, ⌠“Writ of Formless Bonds - Rank D”⌡ ⌠Skills:⌡ ⌠“Tulpa Manifestation Lv5”⌡, ⌠“Summoning Augmentation Lv5”⌡, ⌠“Shared Essence Lv3”⌡, ⌠“Tulpa Shroud Lv5”⌡, ⌠“Echo Projection Lv5”⌡, ⌠“Souldbond Lv2”⌡, ⌠“Synchrony Lv2”⌡

Adam’s gaze remained locked on the information displayed in front of him, his fascination growing with every passing second. The details about Katya’s stats, titles, and unique skills painted a far more complex picture than he had anticipated. Without hesitation, he began reading aloud, his voice steady as he recited each piece of data for everyone to hear.

Li’s expression darkened with every word Adam spoke. It was clear he was uncomfortable with the situation, and his agitation only grew as the boy delved deeper into Katya’s profile.

“Li, I know you don’t trust this, but there’s no need to worry. Katya is bound by a covenant now. She can’t act against us, even if she wanted to.”

Li let out an irritated grunt, his arms tightening against his chest.

“I still don’t like it. But fine… If she tries anything, she’ll regret it.”

He muttered. Adam gave him a reassuring nod before finishing his reading. Once he was done, he turned his attention back to Katya, his curiosity getting the better of him.

“Why this team? Why us? Was it random, or did your group have a reason for targeting us specifically?”

He asked. Katya’s lips curled into a sly smile while she replied, her tone laced with amusement.

“Oh, it wasn’t random, our leader chose your team on purpose. There’s a reason we—”

She suddenly stopped mid-sentence, her eyes lighting up with realization.

“Oh!”

She exclaimed, snapping her fingers.

“I almost forgot! My leader told me to pass along a message if I ever got discovered. She said to give her regards if you’re all still alive. And, uh, sorry for not remembering most of your names.”

Her gaze shifted to Drake, and she gave him an appreciative nod.

“Except yours, Drake. And I quote “You helped me a lot at the beginning. Thanks for that”, is what she said.”

The room fell silent for a moment as the weight of her words sank in. Then, Katya added, almost casually.

“Oh, and her name’s Leila Almeida, by the way.”

The mention of the name hit like a thunderclap. Adam, Li, Kazue, and Drake all froze, their eyes widening in unison.

“Leila…”

Adam repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. Pieces of the puzzle began clicking into place in his mind, the name triggering memories he hadn’t connected before.

“That explains it… I knew I had read the word “Abyss” somewhere, we were wrong about the exit option in the shop. We were right about not being an actual exit, but it doesn’t kill people either. It... transports them. To your team.”

Katya shrugged, unbothered by the revelation.

“Pretty much, I got there using it, yes.”

She said with a grin. But before anyone could respond, the sound of the door opening broke the tense silence. The creak of the hinges echoed through the room, drawing everyone’s attention to the entrance.

Standing in the doorway was none other than Don Park Zhen. His appearance was immaculate—pale skin contrasted sharply with his slicked-back black hair, and his sharp features were framed perfectly by an elegant black suit. A crimson tie stood out against the pristine white of his shirt, and his every movement exuded an air of controlled authority.

He stepped inside with measured grace, his polished black shoes clicking softly against the floor. His calm, deep voice cut through the room’s tension like a knife.

“I’m glad to see you’re all comfortable and catching up.”

He said, his tone polite yet commanding.

“But time is of the essence, and we have two matters to address.”

Everyone remained silent as Park Zhen approached, his presence commanding their full attention. He stopped in the center of the room, his gaze sweeping over the group.

“The first is for you to understand why I brought you to this place.”

He continued, his voice as smooth as silk. His dark eyes narrowed slightly, his words carrying an air of urgency.

“And the second is that I need the boy.”

He pointed directly at Emir, who flinched under the weight of his stare.

“For what?”

Adam finally managed to ask, his voice cracking slightly under the pressure of the moment.

“To remove a skill that’s affecting the body of Abbess Xinhui.”

Park Zhen replied, his tone calm but resolute.

Adam’s mouth went dry, his mind reeling. There was too much to process at once. The mention that Abbess seemed to be there, a mysterious skill, and Emir’s involvement left him struggling to form a coherent thought. Around him, the rest of the group seemed equally stunned, their expressions a mix of confusion, fear, and disbelief.