Absolute Cheater-Chapter 398: Going To Planet Mirion

Asher dropped onto a nearby armchair with a relaxed sigh, finally letting his body settle. "Sounds like you all had fun."

Freya sat down beside him, elbow nudging his. "Don’t act like you weren’t fighting weaklings up there. You climbed past Floor 1600—what was it like?"

Asher gave a small smile. "Lonely. Bloody. But worth it."

Veyra’s eyes narrowed with concern, but she said nothing.

Catherine sipped her wine again. "Did Yulia give you trouble?"

"No, why would she give me trouble?," Asher replied, resting his head back, "but she ended up offering me a job."

Freya perked up. "A job? Wait, like... a serious one? Like paperwork and schedules?"

"No," he said, glancing at her. "Peak World Rank dungeon. Near-eruption. Wipe out level event."

"Oh," Freya blinked. "That’s... slightly worse than paperwork."

Valeris straightened. "Are you taking it?"

"I already did," Asher replied casually. "We leave soon. It’ll be disguised—under a false ID. No one outside Garcia Traders will know."

Veyra finally stood. "Then we’re going with you."

Catherine nodded. "Obviously."

"Hhm, but don’t worry. It’s not like I just took this job because of the dungeon," Asher said, casually sipping his tea.

Valeris narrowed her eyes. "Then why?"

"Well, the Peak World Rank dungeon is actually pretty weak compared to me," he admitted. "I’ll just send in my Reapers to handle most of it. Once they’re done, the overflow threat will be solved."

Veyra frowned slightly. "Then what’s the real reason you accepted?"

Asher reached into his coat and pulled out a tablet, placing it gently on the desk. With a few swipes, he brought up a series of high-resolution images.

"Look at this," he said.

They all leaned in closer.

"So beautiful..." Veyra whispered, her crimson eyes wide with wonder.

"Really..." Catherine murmured, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of the screen.

"So it’s on Mirion?" she asked, studying the images carefully.

"You’ve seen it before?" Freya asked, glancing at her.

Catherine nodded slowly, her gaze fixed on the soft, glowing waters and delicate coral towers in the pictures. The place looked like an underwater kingdom sculpted from light and music—impossibly graceful.

In the background, faint shadowy figures swam—vaguely humanoid, but not quite right.

"Not just seen it," Catherine said, her voice lower now. "I’ve been there. Mirion is a small world, but it’s famous for its beauty. A lot of nobles and travelers visit just for that. And the mermaids there..." she smiled faintly. "They really are beautiful."

Hearing this, Freya turned sharply toward Asher, eyes narrowing in mock suspicion.

Asher chuckled and leaned back, stretching his arms behind his head. "Yes, yes. I took this mission... so we could all go on a date."

The room went quiet.

He grinned. "What? I’ve been very late with my promises, haven’t I? So I decided to make it up to you. A real break. Together. On the most beautiful world I’ve seen in years."

Freya blinked, then burst out laughing. "You’re unbelievable."

Valeris shook her head, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "So you accepted a Peak World Rank dungeon mission... just to take us on a vacation?"

Asher shrugged. "It’s called multitasking."

Catherine raised an eyebrow. "And what if the mermaids there really are more beautiful than us?"

Asher leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table and smiling softly. "Then they’ll be lucky just to witness what real beauty looks like when you four walk in."

Veyra blushed slightly, hiding her expression behind a sip of tea.

Freya grinned and threw an arm around his shoulder. "Smooth."

"As always," he said.

****

The journey to Mirion took less than a day aboard one of Garcia Traders’ elite stealth cruisers. Asher’s special status ensured no port authority dared ask questions, and the false identities Yulia provided had been crafted to perfection.

When they descended into Mirion’s atmosphere, even the girls—despite everything they’d seen in the Infinity Tower—were struck silent.

The skies were pale lilac, streaked with drifting silver clouds that shimmered like silk. Mirion’s surface was a harmony of floating coral cliffs, translucent blue oceans, and glowing seagrass forests that pulsed with bioluminescence. Everything looked sculpted, not by nature—but by an artist with endless patience and a love for beauty.

"Okay," Freya said, pressing her face to the window, "this doesn’t look like a war zone."

"It won’t—until that dungeon cracks open," Asher reminded gently.

Still, even he couldn’t help admiring the world as they landed near the capital reef-city of Lunsylin, which floated partially submerged in a crystal-clear bay. Dozens of towering, spiral structures emerged from the sea, linked by iridescent bridges, with marine creatures swimming freely below. The lower levels of the city were underwater entirely—housing the aquatic races that called Mirion home.

They docked quietly on one of the elevated platforms and were greeted by a reception official—a blue-skinned humanoid with gill markings and webbed fingers.

"Welcome, honored guests," she said, bowing slightly. "You’re registered under the name... Alaric Thorn?"

Asher nodded. "That’s me. And these are my companions."

The woman glanced at the others with a curious flicker in her eyes—recognizing their beauty, but saying nothing. "We’ve arranged accommodations in the Celestial Bloom District. You will be left alone."

Asher gave a polite nod. "Perfect."

They were escorted through the floating city, and everywhere they went, people stared—not in fear, but admiration. Their disguises were elegant but not flashy, and yet the group drew attention simply by existing. Four stunning women, each carrying power and presence that couldn’t be hidden—and Asher, whose relaxed confidence radiated something far beyond any normal Awakener.

Once inside the private residence—a floating villa with open air balconies, moonstone floors, and a personal submersible—they took a moment to settle in.

Freya dove straight onto the soft lounge couch. "Okay. I vote we delay the dungeon for one day."

Veyra wandered to the balcony, looking over the glowing reef beneath. "Even if we didn’t have a mission... this place feels unreal."

"It’s a good cover," Valeris said, glancing over the documents. "As tourists, no one will question us poking around the sea floor."

Catherine emerged from one of the side rooms with a glowing orb in hand. "I checked the dungeon’s location. It’s submerged just outside the city’s controlled zone. We can reach it with the submersible—but no one’s mapped the inside."

Before anyone could dive into planning, Asher raised a hand casually, voice relaxed.

"Why are you all so agitated over this?" he said, half-chuckling. "I already told you—I’m not diving in personally. I’m sending my Reaper."

He waved a single finger through the air, and with a quiet hum, the blue orb Catherine held flared in response. A faint pulse ran through the room—spatial, not just energy-based. In the middle of the polished floor, two figures slowly took shape.

First came a tall, elegant woman cloaked in layered veils of pale flame and ice—a beauty that transcended the mortal realm. Her eyes shimmered with starlight, and her presence alone seemed to silence the villa. She was the Elemental Empress, Asher’s newest and most balanced Reaper.

Next came a very different being.

Dark wind swirled. Shadows recoiled. From the emptiness stepped a towering knight clad in ancient, cracked armor, his face hidden beneath a helm of silence and ruin. Empty sockets stared outward like pits of eternity. His greatsword dragged behind him with a metallic hiss that sounded like the scraping of time itself.

The Hollow King, a Evolution of Hollow Knight.

Asher glanced at the two, then turned back to the others.

"The idea will be taken care of. The Siren Dungeon’s interior? That’s what they’re for. I didn’t bring you all the way here so we could stress and dive into unknown corrupted depths."

Valeris blinked. "You’re seriously sending them to scout it?"

He nodded. "That’s why I brought you all to Mirion in the first place. Not just for the mission... but to relax a little. You’ve earned it."

Freya stretched with a sigh. "Hells, I won’t argue with that logic."

"Then go and clear the dungeon," Asher said, his voice calm but commanding as he handed the glowing dungeon coordinates to his Reapers. "Return once the interior is fully mapped."

The Elemental Empress bowed without a word, while the Hollow King turned silently and strode forward. Both vanished into swirling motes of light, disappearing toward the submersible at the edge of the villa’s docks.

Asher let out a long breath and turned to the others with a casual smile. "Now then... Catherine, tell me—where can we get some good food around here? Since we’re officially on a little ’tour,’ just call me Alaric for now."

Catherine smirked at the idea but nodded, playing along. "I know a place or two. Nothing too uptight. Let’s skip the noble courtyards and velvet seating."

"Perfect," Asher said. "No need to leave a trail, but no need to skulk either—not anymore. We’re not rushing into that dungeon anytime soon."

The others agreed. There was no longer any pressure. Asher had already set the coordinates for the Reapers, and with them handling the dungeon, the group had the luxury of time. Still, since they’d entered the city under assumed names, they kept the disguises for fun, not necessity.