Only I Am A Reader-Chapter 602: Similar Unyielding Spirits, Differing Purposes

Chapter 602: Similar Unyielding Spirits, Differing Purposes

"Alright, now that things have been finalized. Let’s disperse."

While Aurora was busy cooking up her next step for the future, the suited man added a few points before rising from his chair.

Since the plan had gone as smoothly as possible, there was no reason for him to spend more time with these idiotic freaks.

"See you again in two days for the next strategy meeting. Also, if anyone else has been injured, don’t forget to visit our dedicated ambulance before you leave."

Of course, even the act of waving them goodbye still had to be done in character.

By showing that he ’cared’ about them, the almost null chance of Aurora suspecting anything would be denied.

’Idiot.’

In reality, all that Aurora expressed towards this sincerity of his was absolute ridicule.

With everything revealed to her, the innocent hero’s world had lost a lot of color. Still, to her, a dark truth was still a hundred times better than a fake world full of rainbows.

Thankfully...

’At least I’m not alone.’

Looking at Kara’s face, which went back to cheerful as soon as the man left, Aurora genuinely mirrored her smile. The world hadn’t become a completely dark place just yet.

Obviously, she had to have been suspicious of Kara after she laid everything bare as if she were an insider. However...

’The director really went out of his way for this.’

As soon as Kara explained that she was her helper assigned by none other than the Hero Association Director himself, Aurora immediately lowered her guard.

Although she didn’t know where he had found a capable Hero like Star Pupil, if anyone could do it, then it would be him. He wasn’t the director of the Hero Association for no reason.

’Still, Star is still the real cornerstone.’

The fact that she had accepted such a dangerous assignment that risked retaliation from the higher-ups proved that Kara wasn’t just another mercenary.

At the very least, Aurora believed that she had to have some moral direction behind her decision, which kind of reminded Aurora of her old self.

’For once, there is someone who actually has my back.’

Although Aurora’s new self refused to completely trust anyone at the moment, Kara was chosen to be the only remaining person with whom she was going to be completely truthful.

If even that turned out to be a double-layered trap...

’I don’t want to think about it.’

The dark abyss that such a possibility could drop her into wasn’t something that Aurora wanted to stare into.

For now, enough masks had been uncovered... Almost.

"You three."

Turning her head to the side, the smile on Aurora’s face instantly disappeared as she looked at the faces of the Thorn Trio.

If she were to have her way, Aurora would have beaten them senseless to vent her frustrations. Unfortunately, it wasn’t time for that just yet.

"I don’t care why you joined this team anymore. Your tasks, your intentions... You don’t have to reveal them to me."

Word by word, the color in Aurora’s pupils gradually faded away.

"However, if you were to report anything aside from the ’true’ fact that you had successfully accomplished your tasks..."

By the time Aurora took a pause, her eyes looked lifeless, bringing about a different type of instinctual intimidation.

"I will leave it up to your imaginations to consider what I would do in retaliation."

Being stared at by those dead fish eyes, even the most rebellious Vera almost peed her pants.

This was far from the easy meal that their big sister had promised! It was more like a death trap!

"Don’t ruin this for me. Got it?"

This time, Aurora wasn’t acting or making up things on the go.

The only reason that she was suppressing her anger was her stronger desire to reach a satisfying climax to this project that started with unprecedented malice.

If these sabotaging triplets were to even ruin this one thing for her, Aurora herself wasn’t sure how far she would go to deliver retribution.

"Got it."

As the only one who still managed to keep a straight face among the trio, the Thorn Queen nodded with approval. However...

’Just you wait.’

Just like Aurora, Yvonne wasn’t devastated by the reality of the situation that she found herself in.

She was the Thorn Queen! She was the Chosen One! She wasn’t one to take a beating and smile!

Although she chose to bow down this once due to the unfavorable circumstances, that didn’t dictate her future actions.

’Believe that you are now fully in control.’

The course of action she chose was simple. Yvonne was going to pretend to submit all the way until Aurora completely lowered her guard.

The longer she had to wait, the longer she was going to grind her axe in preparation.

’...And get stabbed in the back when you least expect it.’

This was no longer going to be a slow cooking process that followed the higher-ups’ instructions.

This was an old-fashioned hunt!

As the person who directly managed hunting trips that targeted over a hundred Heroes, this was the skill that Yvonne was most confident in.

’It’s only natural that a big prey like this requires more effort.’

Not all the Heroes in the past had been naive and easy prey. Some were as ferocious as animals.

However, they all fell prey to the Thorn Queen’s machinations all the same, only the hunting process had gotten harder.

’Marination can’t be skipped.’

Naturally, Yvonne had no intention of ruining her feast and reporting to the higher-ups.

Regardless of Aurora’s wrath, doing so would most likely end with them being hunted on both ends.

After all, in the event of failure, the only clean conclusion to such a dirty plan was erasing everyone involved.

’My idiot sisters can help, but...’

Stalking the prey was the very first step to a successful hunt, and if that meant that she had to follow around like an obedient puppy, Yvonne was more than willing.

’The Hero of Light is mine.’

Unfortunately for Aurora, by the time she revealed her true nature as a wolf, it would be too late for her.

’Wow, everyone is so intense.’

Faintly reading the intentions in everyone’s eyes, Kara was also very excited, though what she had in mind was vastly different.

’Can’t wait~~’

Unlike everyone else, she had a very important meeting to attend.