Three executive members of the pioneering faction visited the Fence Hotel without anyone knowing once night fell. They were the Tortoise Emperor, Lee Kang-San, the Maestro, Remy Martin, and the Doom Sniper, Evgeny Lazarev.

“Dad!” Jurie greeted excitedly.

“It’s been a while, Jurie.”

“Sit here!”

Jurie guided Remy to a chair in the drawing room that was closest to hers. Gerard stood behind Jurie as if he were her shadow, and Seong-Hwi immediately stood up to greet the guests.

“We met again so soon,” Seong-Hwi remarked.

“Haha, yeah. Although it’s a little awkward because it feels like we’ve barged in on a father-daughter reunion,” Kang-San said with a smile.

A middle-aged man with brown hair and green eyes stared at Seong-Hwi intently from beside Kang-San.

He asked, “Is this the RB junior whom you praised so highly?”

“Oh, let me introduce you. This is Evgeny Lazarev. You might know him as the Doom Sniper,” Kang-San said to Seong-Hwi.

“Yes, the one from the famous Spare Ranker sniping incident,” Seong-Hwi said as he greeted Evgeny.

Evgeny Lazarev, the Doom Sniper, was one of the pioneering faction’s key members, and eighteenth in the human ranking.

His primary position is a raumdeuter nuker. No one is more dependable than him when you need a sniper, Seong-Hwi said inwardly.

Evgeny’s strongest shot was powerful, proven by the Spare Ranker sniping incident. He had sniped and killed Millio, a birdfolk Spare Ranker, with one shot. Of course, he had not done it alone, but it did not change the fact that his bullet had been what had directly killed Millio.

“Man! I’m flattered to be praised by the most famous human lately!” Evgeny said with a smile.

Remy, who had been enjoying his reunion with his daughter, shook his head and remarked, “How do you take that as a compliment? Kang-San had to battle Remus because you killed Millio.”

“Hehe, but Kang-San won, so what’s the problem?”

“We needed to lay low without drawing attention at the time. Everything would have gone to shit if not for the appropriate measures from Kang-San.”

“Ahh, I can’t hear you. You’re as naggy as always, Remy,” Evgeny said as he blocked his ears and sat down, and Kang-San followed suit.

I sure have grown, Seong-Hwi thought as he stared at the three men.

They could be considered the pioneering faction itself. Not only that, but Kang-San was a World Ranker. He was speaking with those who could significantly influence the Union, showing his immense growth in status. Since he had also reached the level of a High Ranker in combat prowess, there was no need for him to be intimidated.

“So, why have you all gathered here of all places?” Jurie asked.

Jurie had been in touch with Kang-San and Evgeny from time to time after reconciling with Remy, which was why she could speak comfortably to them.

“Our little niece is getting more beautiful with each passing day. Uncle knows a pretty good man; do you want me to introduce you?” Evgeny asked playfully.

Just then, the plates, forks, knives, and other objects on the table floated and pointed at Evgeny.

“Whoa! Remy! Stop, stop! I was just joking!”

“If you tell another joke like that... prepare to become minced meat,” Remy remarked.

“Ahem! Right, you are,” Gerard agreed from behind Jurie.

Evgeny raised his hands as if surrendering.

Kang-San smiled at the sight, then looked back and forth at Jurie and Seong-Hwi to say, “We’re here because... we want to tell you the pioneering faction’s vision.”

“The pioneering faction’s vision? But why, to us?” Jurie asked.

Evgeny pointed at Seong-Hwi and said, “To be more exact, we’re talking to you. You have a prophecy specialization D Weapon, correct?”

Seong-Hwi nodded and thought, Do they want me to review their agenda or something? Was there such an important event around this time?

Of course, he did not have a prophecy D Weapon. He simply knew a little about the future. His lie had grown much larger than he had expected, but he did not correct it because the chance to hear about the pioneering faction’s internal matters had come.

“Ask away,” Seong-Hwi said as his eyes shone, prepared to listen.

***

“Now that the fourth zone has been successfully reclaimed, humanity has two assignments,” Kang-San said. “Preparing to reclaim the fifth zone, and stabilizing the rear.”

“It hasn’t even been that long since the fourth zone reclamation began. You’re already aiming for the fifth zone?” Seong-Hwi asked.

Remy nodded and replied, “A simultaneous reclamation like what we had done in the fourth zone is likely a stretch, but we’re thinking of something close to preparing outposts for future attempts.”

Seong-Hwi immediately understood what Remy meant.

There were a few such cities in my past life. Frontline cities that supported reclamations by Rankers.

“By stabilizing the rear... You must mean the lambs,” Seong-Hwi remarked.

“Let’s say that’s also part of it. Humanity’s forces are rapidly expanding,” Kang-San said.

The era of the Great Reclamation emerged with the reclamation of the fourth zone and the emergence of the lambs, leading to the formation of several metropolises on par with the Capital.

“And others don’t see the expansion kindly,” Kang-San continued.

“The other races,” Seong-Hwi said.

Humanity used to be so low on the ladder of races that they were disrespected even by fellow inferior races because they were the only race without a secondary force. Hence, they disapproved of their sudden growth and rise to the intermediate zones.

“Exactly. All sorts of bastards are picking fights with us,” Evgeny said as he snorted.

Remy added, “The issue is that we can’t split ourselves. We can’t stabilize the rear and resume the reclamation at the same time.”

“But the Union has other factions aside from the pioneering faction,” Seong-Hwi said.

Evgeny shook his head and replied, “Those bitches who call themselves the conservative, dependence, freedom, and neutral factions? They’re too busy filling their own pockets.”

“The conservative faction is the most decent among them, since Sir Bong-Seong is keeping them at bay. As for the rest...” Kang-San trailed off as he shrugged. He continued, “That’s why I came up with two options. First is to become enlisted under the banner of a faction with powerful influence throughout the Mirror World.”

“Meaning, we would be basking in borrowed glory,” Seong-Hwi said.

“Yeah, it’s practically a survival strategy. I’ve been making preparations for it. I developed an amicable relationship with Gula of Cadaver, thanks to you.”

“Cadaver, huh? Then your ultimate goal must be Necrophilia.”

Kang-San nodded. Necrophilia was the faction led by the Sixth Fiend. Being affiliated with Necrophilia would prevent anyone from recklessly attacking the Union.

“As easy as the solution is, it also has a clear issue,” Seong-Hwi remarked.

Jurie added, “Being affiliated with such a massive faction means our freedom will be restricted.”

The Sixth Fiend wasn’t some philanthropist who let others borrow their name at no cost. They would surely try to take advantage of humanity to get as much profit from them as possible.

“It’s nice to have smart listeners. That comes to my second option: for the intermediate and inferior races to come together.”

“Come together?”

“Let’s call it an alliance. The alliance between the dwarves’ Faber and the humans’ Union has already been established, right? I saw hope in that.” Kang-San stared at Seong-Hwi with a smile and continued, “I’m suggesting we make alliances with even more races and protect one another against common foes.”

“So... that’s why you defeated Hadafu to raise your rank despite lying low all this time. An alliance between equals requires a corresponding reputation.”

Kang-San nodded.

Seong-Hwi wondered, Was something like this in progress in my past life? I knew nothing about this world in my first year here. It might have been underway, but it likely failed.

“What do you think? Are you getting some kind of epiphany?!” Evgeny asked as he stared anticipatively at Seongf-Hwi. “How does your D Weapon work? Does it spell the answer like the Black Saintess’s D Weapon?”

“Have you asked the Black Saintess?” Seong-Hwi asked.

Remy grabbed a piece of paper from his pocket.

W—E—L—L—?

Negrita

“This is what she gave me,” he remarked.

“Hah! What a vague answer...” Jurie snorted exasperatedly.

Seong-Hwi said, “It must mean there are too many variables to give a definitive answer. The smallest of choices could change the future.”

Prophecy D Weapons were not omniscient. Not only was the price of each prophecy unreal, but it sometimes did not give a clear answer, as in this instance.

“So, that’s why you came to me,” Seong-Hwi said.

“Exactly. Whether we choose to fall under Necrophilia’s banner or form an alliance, the choice will be nearly impossible to reverse. That’s why we want to be as cautious as possible,” Remy said.

Seong-Hwi fell into thought, saying inwardly, If I make the wrong choice... It will become an irreversible mess.

Although he had already made significant changes to the future, none would significantly dictate the future of humanity like the choice he was about to make. If he chose incorrectly, not only would it greatly change the future of the human race, but it would also significantly distort the future events Seong-Hwi knew about.

I should pretend to be doing something and just say I don’t know. Considering they got the same answer from the Black Saintess, they will understand.

Seong-Hwi summoned the Tarot Deck of Destiny. Golden cards shone mystically as they filled the drawing room.

“Whoa! This must be RB’s prophecy D Weapon!”

“They’re tarot cards, from what I’ve heard.”

“It’s completely different from the Black Saintess’s D Weapon.”

All eyes were on Seong-Hwi, who commenced his performance with a serious expression.

Just then, Remy sighed and said, “I hope we get a positive card reading. I’m already on edge because of the fall of Manaus yesterday.”

Seong-Hwi froze, then turned to stare at Remy like a broken doll.

“What did you... just say?” he asked.

“Hm? Oh... I suppose this hasn’t been released to the public yet. Manaus, one of the reclaimed cities in the fourth zone, collapsed last night. Thirty thousand people in the city were found dead.”

“Thirty thousand?” Jurie asked in shock as she searched the Network.

“There were no survivors, so there shouldn’t be anything about it on the Network yet.”

“How... did it collapse?” Seong-Hwi asked with a disturbed expression.

He said inwardly, Manaus? It can’t be... It couldn’t have already begun...

Remy answered, “Giant tree roots engulfed the city. It might be something like a carnivorous tree. The corpses remaining in Manaus were completely dry as if all the liquid had been sucked out of them.”

Seong-Hwi’s eyes widened. He sprang up from his chair and shouted, “THERE’S NO WAY!”

***

A massive incident that shook the Mirror World to its core occurred during Seong-Hwi’s fifth year in the Mirror World. It was named the World Tree War, and forced every race in the Mirror World to be caught up in it.

The incident began in Forestis, a giant, thick forest that spanned the third, fourth, and fifth zones. However, the center of the incident had been in Elvenheim, the territory of the elves.

Sefirot, the tree that the elves considered to be divine, had rampaged. No one knew why, but Sefirot, also known as the World Tree, was powerful. It managed the birth and death of elves and was also the power source of Keter, the Fifth Lord. Such a powerful tree had rampaged, spreading its roots throughout the Mirror World and devouring anything alive.

Countless died, and the land became arid, but the World Tree did not stop and continued to spread its roots. The other races, unable to let this continue, tried to destroy the World Tree and clashed against the elves, who considered the tree to be more important than their lives. It took two years for the war to end by driving the elves to the point of extinction.

“This can’t be! It was pushed this far forward? How?” Seong-Hwi mumbled like a crazy person, worrying those around him.

“Seong-Hwi? What’s wrong? Is the card reading bad?” Jurie asked worryingly, forgetting she had been mad at him.

It happened four years earlier than the original history. Why? Which variable was the trigger?

Since Seong-Hwi knew how the World Tree War ended, he was about to begin his preparations for it.

The World Tree’s roots will spread to the first zone. In the past, it completely collapsed the Capital’s West Earth.

Unfortunately, Forestis was in the eastern region of the Mirror World, and so was the Capital. Humans were centered in the east because they tended to reclaim cities around the Capital. Hence, humanity was one of the races that were most affected by the World Tree’s rampage.

Golden tarot cards fell to the ground, and the No.16 The Tower card entered his field of vision.

I can’t let that tragedy replay. The World Tree War severely reduced humanity’s forces!

If the World Tree War began four years earlier than in his past life, the casualties would be far worse.

I must push my plans forward! Seong-Hwi shouted inwardly as his goal-driven eyes shone.

Thankfully, the people who could mobilize the Union were gathered before him.

“Lee Kang-San. You asked me at the pub in Ferrum how humanity’s future fares,” Seong-Hwi said.

“I did, and you said that we would face extinction at this rate,” Kang-San replied.

“What?” the others said in surprise and looked at Seong-Hwi.

Seong-Hwi responded, “It’s been moved up.”

“What has?”

“Our extinction.”

Kang-San remained silent. Remy, Evgeny, Gerard, and Jurie couldn’t find the words either.

“How can we stop it?” Kang-San asked.

“First... Please open a Union Ranker meeting in your name. Also...”

Plans and calculations were repeatedly built and destroyed in Seong-Hwi’s head.