Soul system:Return Of The SSS-Ranked Troublemaker-Chapter 67: Through The Files.

"Hm... maybe it’s time to test out these new techniques," Zion muttered as he pulled open the curtains. Morning sunlight poured into the room, casting long rays across the floor. He opened the window next, the fresh breeze catching strands of his white hair now noticeably longer than before. A faint smirk played at his lips, a glint of excitement in his eyes.

Behind him, movement stirred in the dimly lit room.

Yin, Karina, Sera, K, and Edith stood silently each of them watching him with a mix of curiosity and unease. Calvin leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, his sharp gaze never leaving Zion.

"Hey, c’mon, Ken. Don’t be such an emo guy," K said with a cocky grin, stepping out from the shadows.

Suddenly, twin figures emerged from the darker corner of the room Nom and Mon. Their movements were silent and synchronized, like mirror images. The atmosphere shifted with their presence, the air now charged with a quiet, sharp intensity.

Zion didn’t even turn to face them.

He just smiled wider.

Back at the Base.

After spending a month outside, training and exploring the world beyond the base, the participants had finally returned. Each of them settled back into their quarters, granted a one-month break before the next stage of the competition began.

Zion sat on the edge of his bed, his system interface projected in front of him in a subtle glow. Beside him stood his master Zero, cloaked in silence and authority.

Zion scrolled through a list of names. Five suspects. Five threats.

"So... our first target will be Raizel Varek?" he asked without looking away from the display. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"Yes," Zero replied. "He was always meant to be the first. But for now, you should focus on forming alliances ones that won’t stab you in the back."

Zion frowned slightly. "I already have a team. I think my current friends can help"

Zero interrupted with a sharp scoff. "Don’t be naïve. Your current team sucks ass. They’re even worse than my first team back in the academy."

Zion raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? Come to think of it... I’ve never seen Yin win a single match."

Zero rolled his eyes. "Exactly. That guy’s a fucking loser. Even you were better after two years. You need allies with motives people who have something to gain, or something to lose. That’s how you build loyalty."

Zion leaned back, thoughtful. "So... you’re saying I should find someone with a reason to ally with me?"

"Exactly."

A pause.

"Then what about Raizel? Does he even have a reason to join the effort to kill you?" Zion asked, eyes narrowing at the name glowing on the screen.

Zero’s expression darkened.

"Now that’s the question you should start with."

"Hmmm... I don’t really remember," Zero said with a lazy shrug, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I don’t waste brain cells remembering the weak, especially if they’re fucking useless."

Zion scoffed, annoyed. "Bold talk for a guy who’s already dead. Just remember that."

Zero chuckled. "Heh. I do vaguely recall something... Maybe when I was in my mid-20s, I scolded some newbie or something? But honestly, I can’t remember shit."

"Not surprised. You were always a damn troublemaker," Zion muttered.

Suddenly, Zero made a ridiculous face his lips puckered like a kiss, eyes glancing sideways in a weird, almost comical expression.

Zion paused, stared at him, then deadpanned: "What the fuck is that face? An elf shouldn’t ever do that."

Zero ignored the comment as Zion continued scrolling through profiles on his screen. "What about this woman Mary Lance? Do you remember her? I mean... she’s a woman. Maybe it’d be easier to start with someone weaker?"

Zero instantly exploded through the system interface:

"WHAHAHAHA! You fucking bastard are you serious? What are you, a damn sexist now?"

He grabbed his virtual head and groaned.

"Sigh... Just because she’s a woman doesn’t mean she’s weak, dumbass. In fact, from the files your driver gave you, she’s probably the smartest of the bunch. These aren’t ordinary people. They’re all famous and dangerous in their own right. Do some actual research before talking crap."

Zion blinked. "Tch... Fine. I get it."

He paused, then smirked devilishly.

"Still... you’ve got no room to talk about relationships. Your own fiancée didn’t even bother visiting your grave."

For once, Zero didn’t reply.

A silence stretched.

Zion glanced at the system screen, his expression flickering with guilt.

"...Shit. Did I go too far?"

"Anyway, let’s get started with the research," Zion muttered, pulling out his phone with a flick of his wrist. He tapped the screen, frowned, and groaned. "Great. No signal out here."

He stared at the screen in frustration, then sighed. "Guess I’ll have to ask Wilfred to hook me up with the Interlink connection."

Zion opened his messaging app and typed quickly:

Hey Mr. Wilfred, can you connect me to an Interlinked network? Here’s my phone ID: #xxxZionSmartxxx.

With a tap, he hit send and leaned back, a smirk forming on his face.

"Interlinked? What’s that?" Zero asked curiously, watching from the system window.

"You don’t know?" Zion raised an eyebrow. "It’s only the biggest Wi-Fi provider in the world. My parents have shares in the company."

Zero whistled. "Damn... you’re rich."

Zion shrugged, a bit smug. "Perks of being born in the right house."

"Then why don’t you use that money to get yourself a proper ally? Someone with influence or power. Trustworthy ones aren’t easy to come by." Zero suggested, his tone shifting toward seriousness.

Zion gave a light chuckle. "Yeah, yeah. I’ll think about it."

Just then, Zion’s phone buzzed.

"There’s a reply!" he said, opening the message eagerly.

It’s already on the way, sir. - Wilfred

Moments later, the connection synced in. Zion’s phone lit up, full signal, Wi-Fi bars blazing.

"Finally... Alright, let’s do our research."

He cracked his knuckles and began tapping through files, searching the names of their potential enemies and allies starting with Mary Lance.