“Is this like some save point?” Jin wondered to himself as he saw the familiar blue clear sky and felt that chilly wind blowing through his clothes. The wood that creaked whenever he leaned back on the bench and that slightly rusted screw knob which he had secretly fiddled with whenever Grandpa Ming was talking to him.
The mountainous scene was still a sight to behold even though he knew that underneath awaited a challenge he had already postponed a number of times.
“I had a short glimpse of what happened before you passed out. You’ve really outdone yourself.” Ming’s voice appeared next to Jin who was admiring the scenery.
“I was holding on really hard, like REALLLLLY hard at that last moment. I can still feel my entire body clinching each and every muscle to get it done.” Jin recalled the last few minutes before he went unconscious. Although they were inside his subconscious, he still was able to feel the physical pain when he thought about it.
“I was actually referring to those Banned Emperor Assassins. When they tried to assassinate the Tiger Head in your shop, I honestly hoped that encounter with them would be a one-time thing. But now this? I am starting to think that even if you become a normal working person, your fate would still end up intertwined with theirs.” Ming sighed as he slowly sat down and the wood creaked just a little more under the weight of two men.
“Oh those. I don’t know. Maybe third time’s the charm?” Jin tried to lighten the mood since he felt that it would be a heavy topic.
“Heh, I had my share clashing against them when I was in the army,” Ming revealed as he breathed in the cold dry air and exhaled slowly. “As much as I’d like you to do some monster hunting, especially that turtle down below, given their reemergence, I think we should go up a notch.”
“You want me to go up a notch? Are you serious? I haven’t even managed to make a dent on that monstrous turtle, and you want me to go even higher? Hang on a moment, before I forget, there is something serious I need to ask you. Do you know who Ryuli is? Mr Know-It-All? Have you come into contact with them before?” Jin didn’t really want to fight.
The fight against King Baal not too long ago has already been above what he was comfortable with, not to mention the huge abomination before he passed out. It was just way too ridiculous even for his inner state of mind.
Whatever happened to those simple times when his opponents used to be something manageable like Goblins or Minotaurs…
“Can’t say that I know them. Although that nickname Mr Know-It-All does ring a bell.” Ming shook his head while trying to remember where he had heard that name before.
“Maybe you know them under their Codename? State Agent L and State Agent K from the Ministry of State Security? They were the ones in the last battle.” Jin questioned and suddenly Ming laughed out loudly.
“Hahahahah! Oh, you mean those two notorious agents of chaos?!” Ming could not stop laughing, and the mountains started to echo along with it.
“Notorious?” Jin suddenly felt it was a bad choice to mix with them.
“Well, erm… To the army that is. They are actually very loyal to the state. Loyal to a fault I’d even say.” Ming seemingly decided to entertain Jin a little seeing that his grandson was in an really exhausted state.
“While the Joint Military Intelligence department – meaning Air, Sea and Ground combined – is always held by the Royal Snakes, the Royal Dragons are actually the ones who should be feared the most. If you become intermingled with those proud sky lizards you should quickly learn about the fact that they are the ones who control the Ministry of State Security and rumours have it that Agent K’s grandfather is the head of that ministry.” Ming explained.
“Yet another layer of Zodiac politics that I would rather not have to know” Jin sighed and Ming beat his head, something that he doesn’t usually do unless it’s quite a severe mistake.
“Be grateful for the information. Not everyone knows about this and I am giving it to you for free. In any case, ‘incompetent’ Royal Dragons, by their standard that is, get transferred to the Royal Dragon Battalion. As for the best of the best… those will automatically serve in the State Security in a heartbeat.”
“So it’s worse than a nest of snakes. It’s a lair of dragons in there.” Jin commented.
“Technically, not all of them. The Royal Zodiac Dragon Clan tried to be diverse in their selection by recruiting the best of every other Royal Zodiac Clan and a few outsiders to be their so-called counter check. But we all know that’s bullshit. Oh, by outsiders I mean anyone inside the country without any direct relation to the Royal Zodiacs. There is even a special institution where those outsiders are groomed, and from a very young age, I hear.” Grandpa Ming said as if he had some grudges with that particular system.
“Meh, I can pretty much guess that type of exclusivity. You don’t have to tell me about it.” Jin had experienced it himself during his high school days. Some students from the Royal Zodiac clans had received preferential treatment from their teachers, despite being the so-called lowest scum in their own social circle. Sometimes, the other students felt it was just so unfair that they received all the privileges despite their school’s pledges for ‘equality’ to all.
“Haha yeah. Anyways, the bulk of them should still be the Dragons, and because it’s basically a family clan, they have continued to pass and maintain top classified secrets about China’s internal and external dealings. Honestly, I would not be too surprised if they had some sort of records about the System and decided to keep quiet about it.” Ming shrugged his shoulders when he discussed it openly.
“Why did you say that?” Jin started to have suspicions that Mr Know-It-All might have known a bit of the System after he purposely implied he knew about it. Whether it was only a bluff, it remained to be seen.
“Because I had a friend in there, and he said that there were State Agents that were looking around for some super metaphysical entity as if someone ‘requested’ for it. They were aware that there was something unexplainable backing me and wanted me to pass it on to them for you know, research purposes.” Ming laid his bitter history out.
“Entity, huh?” Jin nodded his head slowly.
“Yea, the System, what else? They were unaware that at the time the Original System entered a sort of hibernation to recuperate. If not for my awesome skills in erasing information, they could have gotten every detail about it, or worse, I would have most likely spilt out everything to them.” Ming recalled as he leaned forward with his head heavy.
“How did they even find out about it?” Jin started to think it might be a bad idea to have shown himself and his powers to Agent K, but at the same time, he felt there was a need to purposely rephrase his question a little to Ming.
“Apparently, there was a family member of theirs who remembered every single detail despite the time reversal because she was a unique cultivator with the power to control time. In my stint of being a General for the China Armed Forces, the people had nicknamed her as the Grand Dragon Archivist or the Royal Dragon Historian. She might not be active anymore, but I doubt she’s kicked the bucket like me.”
“So if you had not messed your brain up, you might have accidentally revealed the System to them and also allowed them to use it?”
“Possible. That is why I’d advise you to tread carefully with this Agent K. If the rumours that he is to be the next director for the Ministry of State Security are true, there is a good chance he might want to use you.” Ming said as he heaved a heavy sigh out of his mouth.
“On the other hand, if you were to use the System to control him before he controls you, it might be the reversal you need to actually change this country.”
“Because I will be holding onto one of the few powerful men under the mercy of the System?” Jin queried.
“No, because you get to control one of the upcoming most powerful heirs in this country and change the world for the better!” Ming answered with hopeful grandiose.
