Paradise of Infinity: 338 (Patreon)

Title: Before Train Time

“W-Wow!” Shenhua moans, topless and lying on her stomach, as she feels warmth permeate through her being. The long gash stretching from her shoulders to her back rapidly heals. As promised, Nik doesn’t relocate them elsewhere. Shenhua is already unnerved from the looks of it. Instead, Nik books the lowest available room and leads the girls inside. He tends to Shenhua’s wounds after putting Rosairta in a bed.

“Can you tell me what happened?” Nik questions, having his wits about him despite being in the presence of a half-naked lady.

“Where to begin?” Shenhua grunts. “Boss Chang gave me a mission. But someone broke the wall and attacked Boss! It happened so fast.”

Nik understands where this is going.

“So,” he prompts, “You didn’t see a thing?”

Shenhua grimaces before nodding. She adds, “Eda pulled me back. She was hurt and chasing the assaulter. I got injured because of my fall.”

Nik frowns.

“What about Eda? Is she alive?”

“Should be,” Shenhua mutters.

“What does that mean?”

“One moment, Eda attacks. Another moment, she stops and shakes the attacker’s hand before disappearing. Boss Chang was the same. The attacker disappeared because Boss’ men arrived. We didn’t find Boss Chang but found the maid. She was searching for the attacker, too.”

Nik grows silent.

‘So, it’s not a skill.’ Nik assumes. ‘The enemy would not have attacked through such lethal force if he could simply use the mind-altering skill. Why waste effort? They could have even gotten Rosarita and Shenhua. However, they didn’t do that.’

Nik understands several things.

‘If it’s an item, it must not have a long-range. Or there are strict limitations, including limited storage of said item. Hmm, it can also be that the Host does have a skill but cannot use it without the limit release ring. Be it an item to induce mind control or the limit release ring, the host will leave this world once they run out of the stock…’

‘No, they won’t—not with Accu-mulet around. The paradise sent a ‘merchant,’ too. There’s a high chance the said host will make the most of this world like I’m doing when it comes to earning more AP.’

‘It will be fine if it’s an item. However, I should be cautious. Most hosts this time have better raw stats compared to me. I never got more time to purchase other items to increase my stats. Training alone wouldn’t cut it. The pointed host may put me in their control if their raw stats are higher and they have a skill.’

’How troublesome,’ Nik exhales.

“How are you feeling now?” Nik questions as he wipes the traces of blood off Shenhua’s smooth back.

“Warm,” she mumbles, closing her eyes. “I feel sleepy. Will you be a good or bad boy when I’m asleep?”

Nik raises a brow before snickering. “However you dream of it,” he replies before pulling a sheet on Shenhua’s body as she snuggles into the pillow and falls asleep with a relieved smile.

The phone in his pocket vibrates after a while. Nik casually picks up the call.

“Yeah?” he answers. “Sorry, but I didn’t find Dutch or Benny. You should book the tickets for me and Ray, too. I’ll ask about it once Rosarita and Shenhua wake up.”

“I found Shenhua with Rosarita,” he answers the question.

“Who’s Rosarita? Roberta. Remember— stop calling her a mutt,” he rolls his eyes as Rosarita’s and Shenhua’s ears slightly twitch. Nik groans further before questioning, “Do you two want Revy to book your tickets now? I know you’re still bothering with the acting.”

Rosarita and Shenhua softly mutter while turning around and lying on their sides.

“Yes…”

“Tell Rundy I’m not a Mutt.”

“Two more tickets, thanks,” Nik speaks into the phone before adding, “I’ll be with you in a few hours. Keep me and Ray updated. Ray should be faster than me, so she won’t need more than a few seconds to reach you.”

‘Ray?’ Shenhua blinks, recalling the short white-haired girl who acts all cute in Yellow Flag. Meanwhile, Rosarita wonders about this hidden ‘master,’ too.

<<<>>>

“Kapitan,” Boris hands Balalaika a telephone as she calmly picks it up before nodding at Boris. Taking the hint, the towering man leaves the office.

“You’re making yourself quite comfortable in Tokyo,” a voice remarks from the other side of the phone.

Balalaika notes the exhaustion in the man’s voice, replying, “I thought if it would take me to initiate an all-out war between the Kosa Council and Washimine Group to get your attention.”

“You would like that, wouldn’t you,” the voice jest. “War is your passion.”

‘Was,’ Balalaika notes. Conflict without meaning has long bored her. She’s intrigued by other things nowadays. But the person on the other side doesn’t need to know that. However, she DID want his attention. Why else would Balalaika go out of her way to construct her bar on the land once owned by Kosa Council—forcibly ‘taken’ by the Washimine Group? It’s not to create a base of operation as she led Tsugio to believe. After all, Balalaika already has Hotel Moscow’s Tokyo Branch.

“What can I do for you?” She gets to the point. However, the voice speaks of something else.

“Did Hotel Moscow reply?” He muses. “I believe you still haven’t received your consignment of ammunition from the local authorities for your true target either.”

Balalaika squints. It’s the truth. Hotel Moscow wanted her to kill someone. The ‘management’ went as far as to cage her in Japan. However, she’s been left stranded ever since. The promised ammunition isn’t sent either. But for someone of ‘his’ caliber to know something can possibly mean—

“I wasn’t behind it,” the voice ensures. “However, Hotel Moscow ceased to exist a few days ago, shortly after the Triad’s collapse. It was the ‘Herd.’ Quite magical, wouldn’t you agree? A kid using insects to massacre our kind. Laughable, even. But we cannot laugh.”

Balalaika’s lips twitch. She expected things to turn out this way. But she still doesn’t understand the motive behind the Herd’s actions.

“You should be next,” Balalaika chuckles.

“You are right,” the voice admits. “But your condition isn’t any better. Someone else is targeting people like you and me.”

“People like me?” Balalaika cocks her head. “You mean criminals like us.”

“No. People like us.” The voice asserts. “People like ‘them’ are hunting for us. You must know it. After all, you’re with two of ‘them.’”

The woman frowns. She expected someone to notice it. After all, buildings don’t just disappear. Given their recent acts, Washimine Group and her band of men are most suspicious of being in cahoots with such individuals.

“And you are safe?” Balalaika sneers. “You’re aware of my mission, assets, and partners. You even know why people like ‘them’ are hunting people like ‘us.’ So, go on. Enlighten me. Why?”

“Money,” the voice chuckles. “It’s a universal problem. They all lust for resources.”

“Resources to support their power,” Balalaika muses. “What do you want? You’ve been as quiet as the Baba Yaga since he stormed into New York.”

“John Wick?” The voice chuckles. “He was one of the first to be caught by them. How can ‘they’ translate us into money? The answer is simple.”

“Slaves,” Balalaika lights her cigar. “They intend to trade us as slaves.”

The voice lets out a hum in agreement before offering.

“Believe your ‘partners’ if you wish to be enslaved by them. They will use you. Everything they do around you is for their currency. The more they have, the more resources they can purchase. However, you are in an opportunistic position. Cooperate with me—”

“Huff!” Balalaika exhales a puff of smoke before cutting his voice off. “Listen to me, White Death or whatever stupid title you’ve given yourself now. The last thing I will believe is a suka that bites his owner. What can you offer me instead of this bullshit lip service?”

“Do you realize who you are talking to?”

“Sure,” Balalaika glances at her phone’s screen before she smiles lightly. “I’m talking to one of the seatholders of the table that’s crumbling. Chances are, you’re in someone else’s control. The world changed in the months you were grieving for your wife. Heh. The last thing the High Table holds is power when the world is still reeling. It’s at times like these that I envy ordinary people. They will have their routines until the world ends. So? What can you offer me?”

The speaker, the White Death, grows silent. The call cuts off momentarily after.

Balalaika doesn’t care about him or the mysteries surrounding people like Nik and others. If she were to be enslaved or used, the best moment would have been when Nik had a gun to her head as his free hand roamed her body, and his mischievous tongue took hers on a wondrous trip.

She glances at her mobile phone. Unlocking it, she stares at the text message.

It was a text from Nik—the contact she saved for him, ‘Pup.’

Pup: So, I was streaming porn because I got bored. I’ve got a couple of questions. Why does porn in Tokyo have so much censoring? You can’t see anything. It’s like hentai. Second, I stumbled into a gangbang video where the guys had two dicks shoved into a girl. Wouldn’t this also be considered gay porn since the men have their dicks rubbing with each other?

Sofia stares at the text message for a while before replying.

—Never send me a text message again.—

Pup: Was it because even you cannot answer them?

She narrows her stony blue eyes.

—It’s because your naive ass should have been here making porn with me instead of watching others do it.—

Pup: … could you come over instead?

Sofia rolls her eyes. The nerve of this man…

—Sure.—

<<<>>>

The midterms for Class 3-E can be considered disastrous for everyone except Karma. Others should have expected this. Although Gakuho warned Koro and others, how can a man like him not take preventive measures to cordially fuck over Class 3-E? For instance, changing most of the subject matter of the exams in the last two days and personally teaching the entire Class 3 except Class 3-E. Koro and Tadaomi hadn’t expected such a thing.

So, despite their efforts, Class 3-E was rightfully bummed out.

As for Karma?

He scored straight As (90+/100).

However, there is one thing to look forward to this week—the trip to Kyoto!

But things are out of the ordinary for several individuals.

“An Assassination Trip?” Class 3-E voices out as Tadaomi nods. “We have employed a sniper who will cooperate with you in assassinating Korosensei during the trip.” As Tadaomi begins, he can’t shake off the feeling of uneasiness. His superior booked a train different from other students of Class 3. That makes sense on the surface, given the Government's need to isolate Koro from other school students as a deal with Gakuho Asano. However, Tadaomi doesn’t understand the need to openly admit about a sniper assassin.

Don’t his superiors already know about Koro’s superb senses. He might be listening to them as Tadaomi lays out the plan.

It makes this attempt during the Kyoto trip futile.

A trap, that much Tadaomi senses. But for his superiors to keep a tight lid on it even with the agent makes him believe he’s being used for this trap.

Tadaomi doesn’t mind these circumstances. An agent, strictly, is a pawn. What makes Tadaomi uneasy is something else.

‘Only Ray appears in the school these days,’ Tadaomi locks his brows. Class 3-E’s nurse is with the twins as we speak.

“I’m sorry,” Ray apologizes to Hansel and Gretel in the infirmary. “I—”

“You won’t do anything to hurt us,” Hansel toothily grins. “So, we won’t raise a fuss and be good kids if you don’t want us attending this trip. Isn’t that right, my sister?”

“Yes~!” Gretel trills, hugging Ray’s arm. “Big Sis shouldn’t apologize.”

Ray lowers her head. She wanted the twins to have fun with other kids. If only it wasn’t for the strange circumstances. After all, Ray wouldn’t be in Tokyo and could not leave the twins unattended lest a Host snatch them away.

Ray stares at Gretel a moment longer before hugging the twins.

“You still have to focus on your studies.” While the twins failed the exams, Ray talked about the exam Koro designed for them. The duo did modestly.

“Aw!”

“How long is he planning to hide from me?” Irina mocks as she drags the door open. The twins pout at the busty seductress as Irina crosses her arms before looking around. “Is he planning to join the class on the trip?”

“The Trip…” Ray hesitates. All of it seems too coincidental to be true. Nik and Ray haven’t been idle these days. Also, Ray knows a good portion of the plot. So, Ray knows about Class 3-E’s trip to Kyoto. However… their train was the Nippon Speed Line NP435 on the same day as Accu-mulet’s invitation. Ray had Tadaomi check things and realized only Class 3-E was going into the train.

Even a fool knows it’s a trap—for Koro. But what Ray and Nik don’t understand is how Accu-mulet plans to handle Koro…

And why are other Hosts needed for it?

“Hello?!” Irina snaps at the dazed Ray, who shrugs, “Sorry about that. Besides, Nik isn’t hiding from you. I’ll bet three months of my salary that he isn’t even interested in you.”

Irina’s lips gape, stunned.

“What?!” she narrows her eyes. The woman takes pride in her seduction of targets. While Nik isn’t a target in the traditional sense, he certainly made himself ‘known’ to her by almost attacking her that day.

And…

He’s a good kisser, something Irina cannot accept.

Ray rubs her nose, giggling wryly, “Hey, don’t look at me like that. Nik IS a horndog. But he doesn’t seem all that interested in you. Nik also doesn’t have the luxury to think about others.”

“What does that mean?” Irina demands.

“Well…”

“Nik is with a hotter woman!”

“Much hotter! Hotter than child molestor!”

Hansel and Gretel scoff at once.

Irina’s lips twitch.

‘As if Revy’s hotter than me,’ she scoffs internally but knows better than to tick off these two manic assassins. She glances at Ray, continuing, “Is he coming to the trip?”

“He… We,” Ray clears her throat, “Will join you guys. You heard Tadaomi, right? We have to assist the students with their assassination.”

—Meanwhile, in the main building.

“A trip to Kyoto?” Saki collects her answer sheets, muttering as she recalls her homeroom teacher’s announcement. It’s a surprise. Their teacher stressed for everyone to join in this trip.

Saki tries speaking with others before getting ignored. Though distressed and faintly regretting her choice of getting into makeup, Saki walks out of the school building. A voice calls out before she can reach her desired location.

“A moment, Yoshida-san.”

The one to call her is a fit middle-aged man. His trimmed brown hair is styled neatly, and his stature is pleasing to many. Among the recently employed teachers is the high school’s Class 3-D Homeroom teacher, Joseph—Saki’s Homeroom Teacher. As his name suggests, he is a foreigner. A slightly pale man. However, Saki heard a few girls in the class tittering about Joseph’s veiny arms, something they accidentally chanced upon when the man rolled up his sleeves.

It’s little things like this that also flutter Saki’s heart. However, her desires stem from another teacher…

Still, her Homeroom Teacher is one of the rare and kind few.

“Yes, Joseph-Sensei?” Saki questions. It is unusual for their homeroom teacher to seek students outside the classroom.

Joseph smiles. It’s kind and warm, his smile. Saki instantly feels better despite her slightly low grades. “Your grades are steadily improving, Yoshida-San. But I feel your grades can get better.” Joseph offers as his brown eyes seem to glitter. “I’ve noticed your potential, Yoshida-San. Although we would be leaving for the class trip in three days in seven days, I’d like to help you go through your mistakes and help resolve some of the concepts.”

Potential…

She has potential…

Saki would accept such an offer if it wasn’t for her earlier commitments.

Joseph smiles as he notices her hesitation, kindly offering, “It’s not urgent, Yoshida-San. We can discuss this matter later.”

“Ah!” Saki bows slightly and dips her head. “Thank you, Sensei!”

As Saki leaves, she fails to notice Joseph’s gaze trace her slim form. The glint in his gaze betrays his stoic look as he quietly leaves.

‘Tch,’ Ray clicks her tongue, hidden from view but keeping a close eye on the Host. Nik located this host the first day he stepped on the school premises. However, Nik and Ray refrained from contacting this host. First, it would reveal them to this host if the man didn’t notice them. Second, he is one of the nine remaining hosts. Either he is strong, foolish, or confident—the combination of this concoction is even deadlier to Nik and Ray since a strong and confident fool is often a massive threat! They didn’t wish to deal with this mess.

But the recent revelations from Accu-mulet changed things. Ray and Nik also know how this host—Joseph—plans to enter the discussion. Ray might have used her skill on Chairman Gakuho to collect intel. Not that she’s averse to it. Training her communication skills on men immune to her base charms differs from using her bloodline skills to carry out meaningful tasks.

‘This Joseph knows about Saki. Does he cater to Infinite Auction, too? No… I sensed his desires. He… hehe, that’s a good skin. But this person doesn’t want to ‘sell’ Saki. No, our dear Joseph is like Nik is in this case but more… direct.’

Refraining from alerting Joseph by getting too close, Ray quietly moves away. Instead, Ray follows Saki, locating the girl meeting with a blue-haired junior—Nagisa.

Everyone in Class 3-E knows how quick Nagisa is to practice covert skills when it comes to assassination. He’s also the quickest in applying what ‘little’ Nik could teach about censored seduction. Ray is slightly surprised about Nagisa’s ‘target’ being Saki Yoshida.

Ray isn’t surprised due to some kink. If anything, Nagisa’s and Saki’s conversations are wholesome! What intrigues Ray is how two ‘fated’ individuals can have such chemistry. Fate might have been a funny topic until Nik revealed how the very primordial spirit of Fate guided Nik and Aang in some steps during his previous adventure.

No… fate is not funny.

So, Ray wonders…

‘Did Carla disappear because it was fate? Similarly, is it fate for Accu-mulet to go through such measures? Just what is he thinking? It would stink like an obvious trap until he sent that.’

<<<>>>

Ray got a few things about Nik right, including his thoughts nowhere near Irina and their shared ‘lectures.’

The most obvious thing to do would be to warn Koro. However, what would that achieve? Koro is…

Unkillable?

Nik isn’t sure if that’s the right word. But he’s already ascertained how Koro and Kaede have similarities. There’s also the fact that alerting Koro might blow up in his face. For all intents and purposes, Koro is the target.

Even Korosensei wants it like that.

So, why would Nik go against such a wish?

Even if Nik ignores all his moral obligations, there is a genuine assurance from Accu-mulet’s side.

Nik glances at the public chat, thinking about it.

[Accu-mulet: This message is sponsored by Infinity as a neutral third party. Focusing on this text will allow the hosts to receive notification about the validity of my intentions. While the circumstances seem suspicious, I do have a plan to exterminate the Rank 6 target. Some risks can be minimalized with the addition of other hosts. The distribution of the rewards shall be fair, too.]

Nik also received a familiar notification after focusing on it.

[Host—Accu-mulet—used a Rank 1 Sponsor Intention Ticket. The Infinity housing the three Paradises ascertain the literal validity of these words and the matching intentions.]

Such a notification reveals how Accu-mulet’s intentions and words have no deviations. But it doesn’t lower the risk of it being a trap. It only improves the Hosts’ belief in Accu-mulet possessing a plan to deal with Korosensei.

‘He must know metaknowledge, or he has been keeping tabs on Korosensei. But Ray is the same. We would have made progress if it was a matter of metaknowledge since Ray already has that.’

Nik stretches his arms and grunts. His head feels like it might explode with all the thoughts swirling inside his head.

In some way, his previous adventure was more easygoing whenever other primordials weren’t involved. The threat of other hosts is simply imaginable! Due to their ways, trusting anyone outside one’s partner would be a grave error. Even Nik and Ray have such trust due to their slightly more easygoing nature, allowing them to bond over simple things.

But other hosts?

Lava-Head extorted Nik.

The blue-skinned host attacked Ray, too.

The cases of peaceful coexistence like Nik and Ray with Jospeh are largely due to the former finding about the latter and keeping their distance. Confident in his Spirit Senses, Nik understands that now even Joseph could have noticed Nik’s skill.

After all, Avatar’s world isn’t simple. His skill developed in that world—Spirit Senses—directly targets the metaphysical existence within and beyond the body. Nik also used this skill to locate and ‘eat’ two ghosts.

There is also something else brewing in Nik’s mind.

‘There must be a way to save Koro from whatever he needs saving if there is a way to kill him. Both are rewarding, so why limit to one portion of it?’

Nik shuffles out of the bed. His act makes the figure in the bed grunt.

“Leaving already?” Sofia yawns and blearily opens her eyes.

“Nope,” Nik mutters. He glances at Sofia, questioning, “You have something to say, right?”

“What makes you think that?” she responds as he turns her body to grab a cigar and a lighter.

Nik smiles wryly, “Think of it as my instinct. I can sense a troubled woman from a distance.”

“And you take it on yourself to help these women?” She chuckles.

“Not any women,” Nik shrugs. It may not seem like it, but Nik does have preferences. Although, they aren’t bound to physical appearance.

Sofia grows silent before questioning, “Someone extraordinary in this world called me,” she exhales. “He says I’m to be your slave in due time for some currency.”

Nik frowns as Sofia continues. “It would have fooled a foolish woman. What attracted my attention was something else. That day… when Dracule attacked you…”

She glances at him.

“He demanded 30-something. Was it the currency?”

Nik nods.

“Is this currency precious?” She continues.

“Yes,” Nik sighs. “Very.”

“How much would I sell for?” the woman remains unfazed. Honestly, Nik expected more of a reaction if she found out about slave trading financed by other hosts.

“I wouldn’t know,” he tilts his head. “I’ve never dealt in slave trading. I could ask if you’d like. But why the sudden interest?”

“How much do I need to pay to be like you? Millions? Billions?” Sofia smiles.

“To be in a position like mine or something like this?” He makes her metallic ashtray float.

“That,” she points at the ashtray. “I… I don’t mind admitting that my work has lost its luster ever since I met you. Had I been a shameless cunt, I’d ask you to take responsibility. Fortunately for you, I’m not. Do you think I would like to play with guns when I could be doing more?”

Nik turns silent.

“I tried gifting this to others,” Nik mutters after a while. “Her name is June. But it doesn’t work. Such gifts aren’t limited to the control of elements.”

“What do you mean?” Sofia blinks.

“I mean that there might be other gifts tailored for you. But such things are expensive for the current me.”

“I can pay,” her stony eyes gleam.

Nik glances at her, smirking, “What makes you think I want your money?”

“Even better,” she grins crookedly. “Although, you will be making a loss. I’m a doomed investment.”

“Eh, who cares about you?” Nik snickers. “I’m doing this for Boris. He seems like a cool guy. Melting your heart with my moves was merely the icing on the cake.”

“Melt my heart?” She scoffs a chuckle. “Are you drunk?”

Nik suddenly twists and sits atop Sofia. His index finger drags across her neck as he wags his brows, “Now, now. Don’t be coy. Besides, your tip was correct. I did enslave you when I didn’t pull that trigger.”

“I’m going to vomit, and it’s not because of the early afternoon cigar.”

“Even Revy acts like this when she has nothing better to say,” Nik smirks as he leans down.

“Move your cocky ass off me,” Sofia icily commands.

Nik instead pries her cigar away before whispering, “Make me.” He pecks her lips.

“Your breath feels like shit,” he mutters after pulling back, making her laugh, “Punishment fits the crime, eh?”

“You know…” Nik stares at her. Sofia’s eyes widen when a lick of furious flame consumes her cigar and his fist. “You might be suited for administrative work. Did you ever consider working in an economic sector?”

“Are you offering a job to your employer?” Sofia smirks. “And that cigar was expensive.”

“It’s not a job offer. It’s more like entrepreneurship. You could have all the gold you want.”

“I don’t want gold,” she leans into him while straightening her back.

“And what would you like?”

“For you to get off me,” she whispers. “I really need to pee, and you sitting on me doesn’t make it any better.”

Nik rolls his eyes before moving, “I’m going downstairs to check on Rosarita and Shenhua.”

Sofia leans back on the bed before opening her mouth, “That offer of yours… how long is it valid for?”

Nik smirks as he looks back at her, “For you? Take as much time as you need. But you already knew my answer.”

He exits as Sofia remains silent. The blonde woman frowns before lighting another cigar. Rare hesitation betrays her expression as she removes the cigar from her mouth before sniffing.

‘Hmm… my breath does smell shitty. Actually, how the hell does Nik smell sweet all the time?’

But her hesitation didn’t stem from her dilemma to move from the comfy spot of the bed to freshen up.

“Fuck…” she mutters before taking a long drag off her cigar. It’s at times like these she wishes for a caner to punish her for her smoking habits. Death would be such a sweet release.

‘Cocky little shit…’

She grunts before moving from the bed. However, what she said was true. Her interest in the war between Washimine and Kosa Council faded, and the assassination of the target faded long ago. The recollection of Nik controlling fire left a deep mark on her.

And the worst part was…

‘It’s not just some sick obsession for conquering other women, is it?’ She recalls his teasing yet sincere expression. Nik meant it. It only felt weirder. For all intents and purposes, an ‘upstanding’ guy like Nik should stay away from Sofia.

‘But he isn’t upstanding,’ she sighs. It’s a shame. She could have felt truly repulsed by a hypocritical and upstanding guy.

A ‘shame’ indeed…

***

Alternate Title: The Attack on Roanapur; Shenhua Gets a Treatment; The Phone Call; White Death; A Grieving Man?; Based Sofia; Hosts Do Make Things Complicated; Why Isn’t DP Considered Gay?—Nik Faran; Sofia: The Nerve of This Man to Ask Me to Drive To Him! *Also Sofia: Aight, Bet*; The Midterm Results; Failing Twins; Bothered Irina; Following Saki; Sus Joseph; Saki Attracting All The Scumbags In Her Vicinity; Nagisa Getting It Done; Fated Encounter?; An Offer; Unfazed Sofia; Faded Interest; Enslaved?; Sofia’s Tailored For a Personal World; Shitty Breath For a Shitty Guy