Chapter 119: Trap

The defection of the Ember Guild was like placing a single piece on the map of the silent war between the Dark Abyss and the Dragon Sovereign Guild—an inconspicuous move, yet one with far-reaching implications.

It marked the beginning of Aiden’s expansion beyond mere force deterrence and isolated operations toward something far more sophisticated: a three-dimensional intelligence network capable of penetrating the Dragon Sovereign Guild from within.

However, the Ember Guild was ultimately only a peripheral force. It could provide grassroots intelligence, public information, and basic resource support, but it could not reveal the true inner workings of the Dragon Sovereign Guild.

To understand the behemoth’s internal operations and anticipate its core decisions and covert movements, Aiden needed to extend his reach deeper—toward that seemingly impenetrable interior.

This was far more difficult and dangerous than absorbing a suppressed mid-sized guild.

But Aiden had already planned for this.

Economic sniping, military suppression, and attacks on reputation—these measures did more than weaken the Dragon Sovereign Guild from the outside. Their deeper purpose was to create internal pressure, amplify existing contradictions, and, eventually... create cracks.

When an organization functioned smoothly and its members saw a bright future ahead, loyalty was often difficult to break.

But when an organization suffered repeated setbacks, complaints began to spread, resources became scarce, and personal prospects grew uncertain, things that had once been suppressed or ignored would slowly begin to surface.

Under Aiden’s orders, the Dark Abyss black market had already begun a long-term, highly covert screening operation.

The target was not the Dragon Sovereign Guild’s core leadership.

Those individuals were either die-hard loyalists of Damien or had interests so deeply intertwined with the guild that turning against it would be nearly impossible.

Instead, they targeted the middle management.

The heads of various resource points.

Deputies of elite groups.

Managers in logistics and supply dispatch.

Backbone members of intelligence analysis teams.

These people possessed detailed knowledge of the guild’s daily operations and had access to vast amounts of routine yet strategically valuable information.

However, for various reasons, they remained outside the true core of power.

Some were ambitious.

Some were dissatisfied.

And some were simply waiting for an opportunity.

Through the analysis of massive transaction records, private remarks made on the relatively concealed platforms of the Dark Abyss, and behavioral patterns, combined with the already pervasive intelligence network of Phantom Eyes, a name was gradually filtered out and placed before Aiden.

Marcus Thorne.

His Dark Abyss ID was "Calculated Strategy."

Level 14.

Profession: [Scrivener].

The Scrivener was a rare support-oriented profession specializing in information management, with weak prophecy and reconnaissance abilities.

Marcus was one of the deputy heads of the Dragon Sovereign Guild’s logistics and intelligence department. He was primarily responsible for routine supply statistics, resource dispatch records, and the preliminary organization and analysis of peripheral intelligence.

His position was neither particularly high nor particularly low.

Yet it gave him access to a considerable amount of useful information.

Personnel transfers.

Material movements.

Supply schedules.

The status of peripheral strongholds.

Routine patrol arrangements.

None of these were considered core secrets.

But when enough seemingly insignificant pieces were combined, they could reveal the structure of an entire organization.

There were several reasons Marcus had caught Aiden’s attention.

First, he was not one of Damien’s direct followers.

He had been promoted by Selene because of his excellent data analysis and organizational abilities, but he had never established a particularly deep foundation among the guild’s upper management.

Second, according to information obtained through secret channels, Marcus had privately complained several times about the guild’s unfair distribution of resources.

The situation had become particularly severe recently.

As resources grew tighter, several supply lines under his responsibility had been designated for sacrifice in favor of frontline combat teams. This had resulted in reduced supplies for his department and growing resentment among the members who worked under him.

Third—and most importantly—Phantom Eyes had uncovered something from Marcus’s past.

Before the game merged with reality, Marcus had worked at a small financial company and was suspected of using his position to conduct an insider-trading transaction.

The matter had never been thoroughly investigated, and the incident had eventually faded into obscurity.

But it had left a stain.

A stain Phantom Eyes had managed to dig up through special channels.

Capable.

Ambitious.

Dissatisfied with the status quo.

And carrying a secret that could destroy him.

Perfect.

"Contact him."

Aiden gave the order to Phantom Eyes.

"The approach must appear accidental. Choose a safe location and give him a little sweetness first. Then show him the blade."

His voice remained calm.

"Make him understand that cooperating with us offers benefits far beyond what he can obtain now. If he refuses, make it clear that everything he has built, both in reality and in the game, could collapse overnight."

A few days later, evening arrived.

Marcus had just finished a lengthy material coordination meeting inside the guild headquarters.

He rubbed his throbbing temples as he walked out of the building alone.

The meeting had been exhausting.

Arguments.

Blame-shifting.

Endless excuses.

And, once again, his proposals for optimizing several supply lines had been shelved because the guild had decided to prioritize the protection of frontline combat teams.

The feeling of having his abilities wasted while his contributions went unrecognized had grown increasingly frustrating.

Even worse, the brothers under him—people who worked alongside him day and night to organize data and analyze intelligence—had recently seen their basic potion quotas reduced.

Marcus’s mood was terrible.

As usual, he headed toward a relatively quiet street near the headquarters.

There was a teahouse there that he frequented.

It was expensive, but the atmosphere was elegant and peaceful. It provided him with a place to escape the noise of the guild and organize his thoughts.

However, just as he reached a small alley near the teahouse, something unexpected happened.

A young player carrying a large stack of paper scrolls suddenly stumbled.

"Ah!"

The scrolls scattered across the ground.

Several rolled directly toward Marcus’s feet.

Marcus frowned before instinctively bending down to help.

His fingers brushed against one of the seemingly ordinary cargo lists.

Then his expression changed slightly.

A tiny mark along the edge of the paper flashed beneath his weak [Information Perception] ability.

His eyes narrowed.

That mark...

He could never mistake it.

It was a secret code used within the Dragon Sovereign Guild to denote an urgent encrypted message.

But the document itself listed a niche material called Shadow Dust—a material the guild had not purchased in significant quantities recently.

Marcus’s heart jolted.

His professional instincts immediately sounded an alarm.

Yet his expression remained unchanged.

He calmly gathered the remaining scrolls and handed them back.

"Thank you."

The young player accepted them.

As their fingers touched, the man’s fingertips tapped three times against the back of Marcus’s hand.

Then, without another word, he hugged the scrolls to his chest and disappeared into the depths of the alley.

Marcus remained standing there.

His pupils contracted.

Three taps.

An ancient secret code used by a particular circle of information brokers.

Its meaning was simple.

Tonight. Same place. I have something you want to know.

Marcus’s heart began pounding.

Who were these people?

How did they know a secret code used only by a handful of information brokers?

And that document...

Was it a warning?

Or bait?

He hesitated for a long time.

In the end, his professional curiosity—and the doubts he had accumulated regarding several abnormal material transfers within the guild—overcame his caution.

Late that night, Marcus changed his clothes and deliberately took several detours.

Using the weak anti-reconnaissance abilities provided by his profession, he circled around the area several times before finally arriving at an abandoned newsstand.

It was the meeting point.

In his previous life, this had been the location where Aiden had discovered a hidden shop.

Although the place had long since been abandoned, it had become a well-known secret meeting point within the information black market.

A figure wearing a cloak stood silently in the shadows.

His face was obscured.

This was not Aiden himself.

Instead, it was an alchemical puppet clone created through [Ancient Alchemy].

It could perfectly imitate Aiden’s voice and reproduce part of his aura.

The real Aiden was in a secure location far away, observing and controlling the puppet through a special crystal ball.

"Deputy Manager Thorne."

The cloaked figure spoke.

"Long time no see."

Marcus’s heart tightened.

He forced himself to remain calm.

"Who are you? Why did you contact me like this? And what do you want?"

"Who I am isn’t important."

The puppet’s voice was low and emotionless.

"What matters is whether Deputy Manager Thorne wants to know the real reason your Seventh Supply Squad disappeared in Gray Valley last week."

Marcus’s expression stiffened.

The puppet continued.

"Do you want to know why your proposal for optimizing the Western Front supply route was personally vetoed by Garrett?"

Marcus’s breathing became heavier.

"And..."

The puppet paused.

"What do you think would happen if that old account of yours at Windchase Finance suddenly became known to the guild’s Discipline Department?"

Marcus’s face paled.

"Or the media?"

Each word was like an icy needle piercing directly through his psychological defenses.

The disappearance of the Seventh Supply Squad.

The hidden reason behind his rejected proposal.

And the financial scandal he had believed was buried forever.

The other party knew everything.

Not rumors.

Not vague suspicions.

Everything.

Cold sweat instantly soaked Marcus’s back.

He forced a smile.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about. If that’s all, I’ll be leaving."

"Don’t rush."

The puppet tossed a small metal box toward him.

"Look at this before deciding."

Marcus hesitated before catching it.

He opened the box.

Several pale-gold gemstones lay inside, emitting a soft glow.

Marcus’s pupils contracted.

[Pure Experience Crystals]!

Each one was worth a fortune on the market and could provide a significant amount of experience without any side effects.

Beside them was a note listing several materials.

Marcus’s breathing stopped for a moment.

They were precisely the intermediate potion materials his department was currently lacking.

And the quantities listed were enough to solve their immediate shortage.

"This is..."

"A meeting gift."

The puppet’s voice remained calm.

"And proof of our sincerity."

Its gaze seemed to pierce through Marcus.

"These materials are enough to solve your department’s immediate supply problem and restore the confidence of the people under you."

Marcus remained silent.

"By cooperating with us, you’ll receive far more than this."

The puppet continued.

"You can continue serving as deputy manager without anyone interfering with you. Or perhaps..."

A faint smile appeared beneath the hood.

"You can eventually move into a much higher position."

Marcus’s fingers tightened around the box.

"We will provide the information and resources you need to perform exceptionally within the guild."

"And what do you want from me?"

"Only some insignificant information at the appropriate time."

The puppet calmly listed them.

"Routine material transfer schedules."

"Patrol shift rosters for peripheral areas."

"Minutes from unimportant meetings."

"Mobilization information concerning non-core elite groups."

"And your personal assessment of certain abnormal situations."

The terms were simple.

Coercion and temptation had been placed on the table simultaneously.

Marcus stared at the experience crystals.

His hands trembled slightly.

Refuse?

The other party possessed enough information to destroy him.

Agree?

This was betrayal.

If he were discovered, his fate would likely be worse than having his financial scandal exposed.

Yet the benefits were impossible to ignore.

The experience crystals could rapidly increase his level and stabilize his position.

The scarce materials could resolve his department’s immediate problems and restore his reputation among his subordinates.

And the promised information could potentially give him an advantage in the guild’s internal struggles.

More importantly...

The other party’s knowledge of the Dragon Sovereign Guild was terrifying.

It made Marcus realize something he had never dared to consider.

Perhaps the Dragon Sovereign Guild was not as unshakable as it appeared.

Perhaps this mysterious Dark Abyss was already watching them from the shadows.

Marcus struggled in silence for a long time.

Finally, he raised his head.

"What specific information do you want?"

The puppet remained motionless.

But in the distant safe house, Aiden’s eyes gleamed.

The fish had taken the bait.

"Very simple."

His voice traveled through the puppet.

"Starting tomorrow, we want you to regularly provide all public and semi-public material transportation routes, schedules, and estimated guard strength."

"Routine patrol schedules for peripheral resource points and leveling areas."

"Mobilization information regarding non-core elite groups."

"And..."

Aiden paused.

"An unofficial summary of the attitudes and emotional tendencies within the logistics and intelligence department regarding the recent incidents involving the Dark Abyss."

Marcus’s expression became increasingly solemn.

"In exchange, you will receive a fixed monthly quota of experience crystals, gold coins, and scarce materials."

"If the information you provide has exceptional value, there will be additional rewards."

Aiden’s tone remained indifferent.

"And your old matter will remain buried."

The requirements were specific.

Yet they did not directly involve the Dragon Sovereign Guild’s most sensitive information.

No core battle plans.

No high-level strategic meetings.

No confidential technologies.

Mostly routine operational data.

But Marcus understood the danger.

It was precisely these seemingly insignificant pieces of information that could become deadly when placed in the hands of a capable strategist.

A supply convoy could be intercepted.

A patrol could be ambushed during a shift change.

A resource point could be attacked at its weakest moment.

Even morale could be manipulated if the enemy knew exactly when and where pressure should be applied.

Marcus closed his eyes.

A few seconds later, he opened them again.

A mixture of determination and uncertainty flickered within them.

"...I agree."

His voice was dry.

"But I need absolute security guarantees and a reliable communication channel."

"Communication will be handled through a single-line encrypted channel on the Dark Abyss black market."

The puppet extended a hand.

"Security is our responsibility, provided you have no ulterior motives."

It handed him an encrypted communication rune stone.

"Your first intelligence report will be due in three days."

The puppet turned.

"Same place."

Then it melted into the darkness and disappeared.

Marcus remained alone behind the abandoned newsstand.

He stared at the cold rune stone in his hand and the heavy metal box in the other.

For a long time, he did not move.

He knew that from this moment onward, there was no turning back.

Yet beneath the fear, another emotion quietly surfaced.

Excitement.

Perhaps this was where the name Calculated Strategy would finally prove its worth.

---

In the distant safe house, the image within the crystal ball slowly faded.

Aiden disconnected the connection and lightly tapped his fingers against the desk.

The first nail had been driven into the Dragon Sovereign Guild.

Marcus’s position was sufficient to provide Aiden with something approaching one-way transparency into the guild’s daily operations.

On their own, those routine pieces of information were insignificant.

But when combined with the peripheral intelligence supplied by the Ember Guild and the vast network of the Dark Abyss, they would gradually form an enormous web covering most of the Dragon Sovereign Guild’s non-core activities.

Of course, this did not mean Aiden could afford to relax.

The true decision-making core—Damien, Selene, and the others—remained heavily protected.

But now Aiden had another advantage.

Information.

With it, he could deploy his forces more efficiently, choose the perfect time and location to strike, and maximize the pressure placed on the Dragon Sovereign Guild’s resources, patience, and morale.

An intelligence war was far more difficult to detect than a frontal assault.

And often...

Far more deadly.

Every routine action taken by the Dragon Sovereign Guild would gradually become visible to the Dark Abyss.

Aiden only needed to wait.

Wait for the information.

Wait for the right opportunity.

And then turn that information into a precise and devastating strike.

His gaze shifted toward another encrypted report lying beside the crystal ball.

It had been sent by Phantom Eyes and contained an analysis of the recent emotional state of the Dragon Sovereign Guild’s upper management, along with a summary of Selene’s movements.

Near the end of the report, however, one detail caught Aiden’s attention.

Selene appeared to be quietly adjusting the internal review process within the intelligence department.

And more importantly...

She seemed to be displaying a faint but unmistakable sense of alienation toward her direct superior—the veteran currently overseeing logistics and intelligence.

Aiden’s eyes narrowed.

Perhaps Marcus’s position could prove more valuable than expected.

Perhaps this seemingly insignificant nail could eventually reach somewhere much deeper.

He withdrew his gaze.

There was no need to think about it yet.

For now, he would simply digest the first gift Marcus was about to bring him.

The penetration had only just begun.

A true hunter was often at his most patient after setting the trap.