Only I Am A Reader-Chapter 589: Leo’s Meaningful Point Farm

[ Plot Change Confirmed. Rare event occurrence has been detected. ]

[ The Protagonist's Major Event Companions have changed through the Reader Character's intervention. ]

[ You have received 299 Reading Points. ]

'Was it today?'

While out and about running another errand, Leo suddenly received the fruit of his recent trip to the Hero Association Headquarters.

'...Only a Rare?'

He could understand that the Event Occurrence Notification had been delayed until the new team had set off. After all, any act was subject to change until it actually took place; Leo was the living proof of that.

However, to only receive a Rare rating even after intervening in the project defined by the Book as a Major Event, it didn't seem to make sense.

'Even the Event's description seems to be quite lackluster.'

Rather than defining the nature of the change, the Book only seemed to take note of it, giving out the bare minimum amount of points.

'It's definitely a new experience.'

So far, Leo was more accustomed to the surprise of receiving higher ratings beyond his expectations. This was the first time that he experienced the disappointment of a deflated estimation.

"Hmmm…"

Practically overflowing with Reading Points, however, Leo didn't really fixate on the meager number he received.

Instead, he was more torn up about the diminished significance of his intervention as represented by that lacking reward.

'Should I have taken a more direct approach?'

Having added Kara to the team to prevent Aurora's weakening in preparation for the finale, Leo expected a Unique, maybe even an Epic rating.

A Rare rating only meant that he managed to change the elements of the story, but not the ending. Unless Kara was a great liar who could even fool someone like him, this didn't make any sense.

'Is it a butterfly effect or yet another Hidden Setting? Are the real Thorn Trio actually stronger than the ones in the novel?'

The gears in Leo's head turned to deduce all the possibilities he could think of, but none of them seemed unlikely.

If the Thorn Trio had actually become too strong, there was no way they would have stayed silent until now. Those troublesome Triplets would have already turned up a storm long ago.

'The only thing that seemed plausible would be that the outcome was already meant to change under the influence of another event, but…'

Leo was still skeptical. He might have attempted to influence her toward mental rehabilitation, but was it even possible to rehabilitate someone like Aurora?

As much strength her 'Light' gave her, it had also become her shackle, one that not even Leo was confident in breaking.

"No."

However, before he let him get whisked away by overthinking, Leo simply decided to stow the topic away.

'This is exactly that one instance when I should learn when to stop.'

He had already laid down the best possible groundwork on Aurora's side; no matter how many times he thought it over, that fact wouldn't change.

Direct intervention might sound like the most reassuring choice, but in this case, it was no different from a mental trap.

Doing so would not only waste the little time he had left before the finale, but given how convoluted the situation had become, it was also likely to cause a premature explosion.

'It wouldn't be too late to hear Kara's report first before doing anything drastic.'

For this one time, it was better to trust the process and focus on the things he could directly control…

"Please! I won't do it again! Please don't do this."

…Such as the little screamer crawling in front of him.

"Come on, there is no need to make such a scene. You know what you did. It's not a crime you can commit by mistake and then get to beg for forgiveness later on."

"Please! I really know now, I was simply an animal. Right, an animal! Just treat me like one and just let me go this one time, if I do it again- Crugh!"

The tattooed man's wailing was starting to hurt Leo's eardrums, so he just gave him a moderate kick to the stomach.

Naturally, knowing the tattooed man's dirty dealings, Leo didn't even feel the slightest bit of remorse, even when he saw him emptying the contents of his stomach while clutching his belly.

"Since when do animals get to talk to humans? Just silently accept your punishment so we can get this over with."

Although he currently looked pitiful, the tattooed man was very recently the head of a successful crime syndicate centered around all kinds of Stealth Ability Users.

Using their various abilities to hide 'things', they conducted a continuous cycle of kidnapping and human trafficking right in the middle of the City that was supposed to be full of Heroes.

They didn't have a specific client base. Whether you wanted to set up an Ability User farm with children, or wanted a slave on the down-low, as long as one had the money, they were ready to cater to their every need.

As for why he stopped being the head all of a sudden? The answer was very straightforward, said crime syndicate had just been disbanded today.

"Mercy!"

As the sunlight crept in through the windows at the very top of the dark building, it silently illuminated the tattooed man's surroundings, revealing a dozen other fierce-looking men, already knocked out and crumpled like useless pieces of paper.

"Gah!"

Feeling the chill in Leo's eyes, the former boss gave up on appealing to his kindness, swiftly activating his Silver Curtain of Stealth to make a run for it.

However…

"See, you should have just done this right from the start. Finding yourself a pit and hiding inside, I mean. Alas, it's already too late for you to make that decision."

Even when completely invisible, the tattooed man simply couldn't escape Leo's grasp. After all, his entire shadow had temporarily become Leo's property.

"This time, it will just end with a little surgical intervention. If you still keep on doing bad things, things will become a lot more painful."

Although Leo was vague with his words, the tattooed man knew exactly what he intended to do. After all, the notorious Ability Vanisher had long made a name for themselves in Enigma City's underworld.

"Nooooo!"

It was his Ability that allowed him to look down on people, he was simply worth nothing without his it! he would rather die than become the same as the normies he looked down upon!

"Well then, bad dreams!"

No matter how much the guy screamed, Leo had no intention of changing his plan.

Not even giving him the chance to dread the impact of it, Leo instantly operated his Ability Removal Procedure.

[ Minor Plot Change Confirmed. Rare event occurrence has been detected. ]

[ You have hunted down an Influential Villain. You have received 110 Reading Points. ]

[ Repeatable Quest Bonus applied, you have received an additional 110 Reading Points. ]

Clap! Clap!

Dusting his hands clean, Leo faintly smiled at a job well done. This was one more pest taken off the streets! Or rather pests!

'That should be everyone, right?'

Although he had already caught onto this syndicate's tail a little while ago, Leo had specifically waited until all the Ability Users had a business gathering. All so he could catch them all in one big sweep.

Of course, such a big job was naturally well-documented in his Personal Book.

[ You have hunted down a Minor Villain. You have received 87 Reading Points. ]

[ Repeatable Quest Bonus applied… ]

[ You have Hunted a Minor Villain. You have received 68 Reading Points. ]

[ You have Hunted a Minor Villain… ]

[ You have Hunted… ]

[ You have… ]

Sandwiching the pitiful one-time payment that he received from Aurora's side, a barrage of double payments had already filled two whole pages.

'This is more like it. It took quite a bit of time to wrap up this case nicely, but it was totally worth it.'

When it came to point farming, Villain Hunting was still the way to go!