After Beating the Game, I Became the Villain BOSS-Chapter 109 - 104: The Mercenary’s Path

A chaotic yet ordinary night had passed, and dawn was approaching with the first ray of light rising in the sky.

The people of New Moon City awoke from their slumber.

Early-rising workers walked busily with briefcases, buying artificial meat hot dogs and instant lattes at coffee shops.

Buses and taxis crisscrossed the roads, while hovercars shuttled through the air.

At this time, Su Mo was sitting on the street, gnawing at a piece of bread for breakfast.

His clothes were tattered from a high-speed chase, and he looked filthy, resembling a homeless beggar, often receiving pitiful looks from passersby.

"Ding." A moon coin with a face value of 5 dropped in front of him.

A middle-aged lady shook her head as she walked away, muttering: "So young and already begging, these young guys nowadays are getting lazier by the minute."

Su Mo stared at the moon coin for a moment, picked it up, and put it in his pocket: "Why pass up free money… Thank you, rich lady, good luck to you!"

He finished his bread and glanced at the time.

It was past six o'clock; surely Audiana was already up.

He took out his phone and dialed a number: "Lady Countess, yesterday's task is completed."

Audiana: "Alright, I'll have someone inspect and then transfer the payment once confirmed."

She paused and asked: "Is there any other reason you called to report?"

Su Mo smiled slightly: "Just curious, who is the employer this time? How did they get involved in a game studio conflict?"

Audiana: "Young man, this isn't your first day being a mercenary. You should know that unless the employer volunteers their identity, it's strictly confidential."

Su Mo shrugged: "Just curious, it's fine if it can't be disclosed."

Audiana paused for a moment and said: "I can only tell you that this city is harsh, but not just harsh."

"Have you heard this old saying from ancient times? 'Those with a cause get more support, those without lose support.' Treating others sincerely and bringing them warmth and emotion might someday lead to unexpected surprises."

"This task is no different; the game doesn't belong to the producer alone but to all the players. Anyone attempting to destroy it will face opposition from everyone."

Su Mo nodded and smiled: "That makes sense."

Audiana's tone became playful: "Let me ask you, if the roles were reversed and you were hired by Longtao to shatter Lu Ren's dreams, would you still go through with it unwaveringly?"

Su Mo said slowly: "Firstly, that hypothetical doesn't hold. I wouldn't accept a task that doesn't align with my principles."

"On the other hand, if I did foolishly take a bad task, I'd exhaust all efforts to complete it."

"Because an excellent mercenary must possess professional integrity—to take the money and do the job, without questioning right or wrong."

"If a task doesn't fit one's personal principles, then don't accept it in the first place; let the employer or a middleman find another mercenary."

"Once the task is accepted, disregard the morality, and be unconditionally on the employer's side until the job is done."

The laughter was clearly audible from the other end; Audiana's tone became cheerful: "Keep striving, young man; perhaps one day, you'll reach the top of the Mercenary Realm."

Su Mo's lips curled into a smile.

Reach the top of the Mercenary Realm?

His ambitions extended far beyond that.

...

Su Mo sent his damaged motorcycle for repairs, went home for a shower, and collapsed into bed.

He had gone several days without rest—first staying up all night setting points, then battling Gao Hai, and after returning, working through the night to complete the task—even a body of iron couldn't withstand this.

He lay in bed and slept deeply, only waking up groggily the next morning.

The long sleep following sleepless nights couldn't entirely relieve his exhaustion; Su Mo felt dizzy, as if he could still sleep, but he forced himself to get up to eat something and regain energy.

KK was in the kitchen making breakfast; he saw the sleepy-faced Su Mo and said with concern: "Big brother, you're finally awake. Sit down; I'll make you something to eat."

After a while, Future also came out of the room, her dark circles as pronounced as ever, yawning: "Boss, KK, morning."

KK arranged toast, beans, bacon, and fried eggs on plates and placed them in front of the two, worriedly saying: "You two ought to watch your health; big brother, you're starting to get dark circles like Future."

Su Mo raised his head and sighed like a salted fish: "Ah, it can't be helped; we're short on staff right now, so I have to handle many things myself. If I slack, the entire team's progress will stall."

Of course, he knew this couldn't be a long-term model.

In game terms, Audiana's tasks and various odd jobs were considered "side quests."

Dealing with Ou Chenyu, acquiring the seven necessary items, becoming stronger, meeting companions, expanding influence, and gradually reaching the Peak of Dawn—those were the "main quests."

Despite his understanding of Dawn Realm and efficiency, time and energy remain finite.

For now, the game has just "started," and many prerequisite conditions have yet to mature, so there's no rush to act.

But later, as the world continues to change, he'll have more and more to do, making it impossible to manage alone.

The Mercenary Corps needs expansion.

By enlisting companions to share the workload, he'll have more time to advance what truly matters.

Regarding who to recruit, Su Mo prioritized NPCs familiar from the "Dawn" game.

Such as KK and Future.

Their personalities are verified by the plot, known thoroughly, and can be trusted beyond any unknown individuals.

As Su Mo pondered, KK turned on the TV, eating and watching New Moon Morning's early news.

The camera focused on the Rust Wall District's Public Security Bureau, with a suited male reporter standing before the lens, behind him were escort vehicles flashing red and blue lights.

The reporter maintained composure, emotionally saying: "Recently, violent groups from the outskirts have been increasingly active, severely affecting inner city's law and order."

"In last night's raid, the security forces in Rust Wall District thwarted 54 illegal actions including theft, robbery, assault, and shootings, capturing 76 criminals."

"As you can see, the criminals are being transported to the bureau for questioning and will face legal punishment."

From the escort vehicles, suspects wearing electronic shackles were led out.

Some appeared panicked, at a loss before the reporter's camera—clear first-timers.

Others seemed utterly composed, indifferent to public gaze, yawning—those were surely seasoned offenders, frequent visitors to the clink.

Su Mo absentmindedly watched the TV, sipping water.

Suddenly, from the escort vehicles emerged a delicately-featured little girl, petite, under 1.5 meters tall, with long, pink twin-tails, her large eyes filled with fear and helplessness like a startled fawn.

"Pfft!" Su Mo sprayed a mouthful of water, shocked as he looked at the pink-haired girl in the TV.

"Dongdong?!"