Boundless Chronicles

Chapter 10: System Exploitation, V

The man in white Smiled and opened his mouth.

"You don't look like registered Citizens. You Smell like the Surface."

His voice was Soft, but it Carried perfectly over the hiss of the train's hydraulics. He remained Seated on the metal bench, his pristine white uniform completely untouched by the soot and rust of the Underground City.

"G-Gideon..." Lyra Stepped back. She dropped her hydro-spanner onto the Concrete.

Clatter.

Her face turned completely pale. "The God-Touched... why is a Capital executioner down here?"

Noël looked at the man and made a dark expression.

In the first place, Gideon Vance was not Supposed to be in the first layer of the subterranean ruins. According to Noël's ghost-memories of the fourth timeline, Gideon was currently occupied in the Capital, dealing with the Silk Queen's political factions.

This was a massive Variable.

Noël quickly evaluated the Combat power gap. His overall Stats were slowly Catching up to the early-Stage monsters, but Gideon was a monster of a different tier. His baseline Agility was easily over Lv. 60. If Noël fought him now, he would be erased in zero-point-two Seconds.

Gideon slowly Stood up. He picked up his Silver rapier.

Kuuong!

A Suffocating pressure descended on the platform. Elara gasped and fell to her knees, unable to breathe. Even Lyra was forced to Crouch.

[The God-Touched Incarnation 'Gideon Vance' is releasing his aura.]

"An unregistered rogue, a provisional Scavenger, and a terrified extra," Gideon Said smoothly. He Stepped off the train onto the platform. "Are you the anomalies that broke the Syndicate's network in Sector Zero?"

Noël quickly opened his mouth. "It is an honor to meet you, Incarnation Vance. We are just passing through."

Of Course, it was a lie. He was already Calculating the optimal angle to throw Gideon into the abyss if the train doors Closed.

Gideon tilted his head. His eyes were as Cold as a frozen lake. "You are lying. Your heart rate didn't Change at all when I released my aura. Let's See what you are hiding."

He didn't even draw his Sword. He just tapped the Silver Scabbard with his thumb.

Hwiiik!

A blade of Compressed ether shot toward Noël's neck. It was a Casual, thoughtless Strike, but the Speed was terrifying.

Right neck.

Noël quickly moved away from the direction of the attack.

Left thigh.

He twisted his torso and dropped his Center of gravity.

Chiiiik!

The ether blade grazed his shoulder, tearing through his jacket and drawing a thin line of blood. The Sharp pain flared, but he had endured it.

Gideon made a slightly Complicated expression. "You dodged that? How? Your physique is terrible. It's like you already knew where I was going to Strike."

"I have good eyes," Noël Said.

"Is that so?" Gideon's Smile vanished. He grabbed the hilt of his rapier.

Tiing!

A blinding Silver light began to gather on the blade. It was a Tier 3 execution Skill. If Gideon Swung it, the entire platform would be Cut in half.

Noël didn't Step back. He firmly planted his feet and looked directly into Gideon's eyes.

"If you kill me, you will lose the trail of the Silk Queen forever."

The Silver light instantly died.

Gideon froze. The Suffocating pressure lifted from the platform, allowing Elara and Lyra to gasp for air. Gideon stared at Noël, his Calm facade finally breaking.

"…What did you Say?"

"To be exact, I know why you came down to this filthy transit layer," Noël Said bluntly. "You are looking for the Sky-Shard before the Syndicate finds it. And you think the Silk Queen's operatives moved it through the Underground City."

It was a dangerous bluff. Noël was Stacking fragmented information from erased timelines, hoping Gideon's current motivations matched his memories.

Gideon's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"

"I am an independent Contractor. In other words, I am the only guide who can read the erased paths of this city." Noël wiped the blood from his shoulder. "If you kill me, you eat it all alone, but you'll be eating poison. You need my eyes."

[The Gallery-being 'The Auditor of Ash' admires your Suicidal negotiation tactics.]

[The Gallery-being 'Widow of the Third Bell' bites her nails in Suspense.]

[The Gallery-being 'Seyl the Unblinking' laughs at your audacity.]

[1,000 Tributes have been Sponsored.]

Gideon stared at Noël for a long time. His facial expressions were usually unreadable, but right now, he looked like a man reading a philosophy book with no Commentary written.

Slowly, he released the hilt of his rapier.

"Fine. You have bought your life for the duration of this train ride. But if you are lying to me, I will Cut you into pieces so Small the Codex won't be able to register your death."

He turned around and Stepped back onto the train.

"Get on."

Noël exhaled quietly. His back was drenched in Cold Sweat.

He looked at Lyra and Elara. "Get up. We are taking this train."

Lyra grabbed his arm as they walked toward the open doors. "Are you going to just watch? He is a hitman for the Capital! He'll kill us the Second we Stop being useful!"

"Then we just have to Stay useful," Noël Said.

They boarded the rusted subway car. The interior Smelled like ozone and old blood. Gideon Sat at the far end of the Carriage, his eyes Closed, ignoring them completely.

Kiiiiiiiik-!

The heavy metal doors hissed shut.

Dudududu.

The train lurched forward, accelerating into the pitch-black transit tunnel.

Noël Sat down on the hard metal bench opposite the doors. He opened his internal interface to Check his Status.

[Current Tribute: 4,900]

His overall Stats were Stable, but a Sharp pain suddenly pierced his Skull.

[Warning: Excessive use of the Sovereign Memory has Strained your Soul.]

[Your Mnemonic Ledger density is increasing.]

[Current Fractures: 7 / 60]

His vision blurred for a Second. The Cost of recalling Gideon's future was high. Two Fractures for a Single bluff. If he kept accumulating Fractures at this rate, he would lose his mind before he even reached Tier 2.

At that moment, a blue System window popped up in the Center of the Carriage.

[Main Trial #3 has been fully finalized.]

[You are entering a high-density transit zone.]

[Main Trial #4 – The Capital's Shadow has begun.]

Category: Main

Difficulty: C+

Clear Conditions: Survive the transit ride to the Second layer and disembark without being executed by a God-Touched Incarnation.

Time Limit: 2 hours.

Compensation: 4,000 Tributes.

Failure: Death.

Noël read the Clear Conditions and made a blank expression.

The Codex was treating his life like it was a Survival-horror game.

He leaned his head against the Cold metal wall of the train and Closed his eyes.

…It was going to be a long ride.