CHAPTER 85: PLAN IN MOTION

Min-ho’s deal was simple: become a Subject, get a bonus of 50% from their Coin earnings. All they had to do was join him in battle and watch each other’s backs.

The minimum number of Third Tier Z-Streamers needed to take down one Third Tier Spector was three Z-Streamers.

Which meant that the higher the number taking on one Spector, the greater their chances of succeeding without sustaining many injuries.

Min-ho just needed four fighters.

Surprisingly, he acquired these members relatively easily. It should have been obvious—with such a deal on the table, no one in their right mind would pass it up.

Besides, the risks were minimal thanks to their numbers.

Yet, they still informed Min-ho that they would travel with him until they found Gun-hee, which he had no problems with.

Now having been done with all the formalities, Min-ho got to the top of the shelves once more.

This time, Dok-su and Jang-book didn’t follow. Instead, it was Ji-su.

Dok-su and Jang-book just stood beside the door leading to their library observatory room while watching Min-ho and Ji-su.

Min-ho looked the people over once before speaking.

"From now on, everyone will stick close to one another. Keep a watchful eye out for your neighbors, and always keep in mind wherever they are going just in case."

Everyone listened with rapt attention.

"Whatever happens, don’t let fear and paranoia take hold of you. We need to remain level-headed, else we all die."

The crowd went silent, Min-ho’s words resonating in them.

Min-ho placed a hand on Ji-su’s shoulder, who more than anything did not want to be standing in front of a crowd.

"This is my friend Ji-su. You will all report to him wherever you go, and whenever you return."

Min-ho stole a glance at the trio, who all—besides Seo-bi—donned a reserved frown.

"These measures are put in place to keep everyone safe." He exhaled. "So please bear with it until the culprit is found. If you have any more questions, you can ask him."

"Huh?" Ji-su pondered aloud.

"Just... figure it out. I need to speak with the trio," Min-ho whispered.

Ji-su froze when Min-ho’s words sank in. Then he gave a shaken nod.

As Min-ho was about to leave, he called out, "I’ll run the decisions by you when you’re done."

Min-ho waved a hand in confirmation, then he walked away.

He walked down the side of the crowd until he reached Dok-su and Jang-book.

"You sure this is a good plan?" Jang-book asked, arms folded.

Min-ho came to a halt, then he stared at Jang-book and Dok-su before lowering his gaze.

"It’s the only one I’ve got," Min-ho said, then pinned his sights to the trio.

Jang-book sighed, while Dok-su kept a watchful eye on his brother.

"Watch over Sae-wee and Im-hee. I’ll be back," he added, then walked away.

As he got closer to the trio, whatever conversation they were having ceased. Seo-bi smiled gently and walked over to Min-ho, meeting him halfway through.

"I see you’re all better," she said, cocking her head.

"I am," Min-ho said, uncomfortable by her presence. Uncomfortable by the fact that she was indifferent to the news of murder.

’I wonder why,’ he thought.

"What about your friends? I hope they weren’t part of the... Z-Streamers that were..." she asked, her tongue dancing around the question.

"No, they weren’t," Min-ho responded immediately, surprising her.

He looked up at her Z-Eye and paused for a moment when he saw she now had 324 viewers.

"Oh," Seo-bi said, shocked by his outburst.

The sounds of footsteps rang in his ears, pulling his thoughts away from Seo-bi’s Z-Eye.

He instinctively turned to Shin-ji and Hang-wa, each of whom were sporting 300-plus views above their heads.

He found his gaze shifting to his own Z-Eye, and discovered his numbers were coming down from 200-plus to 187.

It was as though his viewers were being absorbed by the trio somehow.

"Min-ho," Shin-ji called out as they got closer. "This is very terrible news. First we have to fear Spectors—now our own? This Tower couldn’t be any less sinister."

Min-ho paused, an astonished gaze in his eyes as he stared at Shin-ji. Genuinely confused how they could just lie through their teeth.

"Right... sinister," he responded.

A second later, he realized he was giving them strange looks, so he lowered his head.

"The culprits will be found, I can assure you," Min-ho said, his words somewhat ominous. "But right now, I need to talk to you three about something else."

They paused, anxious of what he was about to say.

"Even though we hardly know one another, I still feel it’s my obligation to inform you three that a Z-Streamer with a... particularly interesting Affinity has joined our ranks."

The trio listened with rapt attention.

"What kind of Affinity?" Hang-wa asked.

Min-ho hesitated, then he spoke.

"His Affinity can protect up to ten people from any and all danger—three times in a row," he said, the words coming out of his mouth like sandpaper.

Shin-ji’s eyes widened.

"Is that so?" he asked.

Seo-bi found herself grinning, excited at the news, while Shin-ji and Hang-wa were not pleased.

"But there’s a problem," Hang-wa said, raising a brow.

"Unfortunately, yes. Which is why I’m here in the first place." Min-ho looked up at Shin-ji, suddenly realizing he was much taller than him. "You see, the Affinity wouldn’t be able to go around."

"So you’re saying we won’t get this magical protection then?" Shin-ji asked, very unamused.

"Unfortunately, that is the case," Min-ho said.

They remained silent.

"I get that you don’t really know us, but it hardly seems fair," Hang-wa said.

"Listen, it’s not that, it’s just... there were six of us before you three came along. Almost half my team can’t fight. The rest can barely hold their own against a single Spector even when working together."

"What about your Second Tier friend, Jang-book?" Hang-wa asked.

"Just because he’s a Second Tier doesn’t absolve him of mistakes. Especially since he fights without anyone to watch his back," Min-ho replied, his heart pulsating as he continued to converse.

While Shin-ji and Hang-wa remained unhappy, Seo-bi did her best to hide the smile on her face.

’They won’t be able to kill him anytime soon,’ she said, licking her lower lip.