Chapter 10: The Deceptive Banquet

1. The Ornate Shell of Lanzhou

The night in Lanzhou was far more extravagant than the desert. The entire headquarters of the Man-Ri Merchant Company was illuminated by thousands of red lanterns, and the melodies of musicians welcoming the heroes who crossed the dunes echoed far beyond the high walls.

But to my eyes, the crimson light of those lanterns looked like fresh blood dripping from the eaves. Behind the luxury hid a metallic scent of slaughter. That was the true essence of this banquet.

I sat in a corner of the hall, wearing a black silk martial robe that Wei So-yeon had practically forced upon me. The sensation of the silk against my skin was foreign.

[Minerva: Friction coefficient optimization complete. Rest assured, Administrator, your armpits will not tear even during violent movements in this attire.]

“……Be quiet.”

[Caution: 120 individuals in the hall. 14 are sending gazes beyond mere 'observation' toward you. 3 show killing intent, 5 show greed, and the rest are mere spectators. Oh, one more added. Someone is scanning your backside—should I delete this from the data?]

“Exhausting.”

In front of me sat a feast of delicacies. But my eyes scanned the backs of hands and the hidden auras beneath robes before the food. The way they held their chopsticks, the angle at which they lifted their cups.

That alone told me exactly what kind of blades they would swing tonight.

2. Wei Tae-kang’s Elaborate Performance

At the head table sat Wei Myung-hwan alongside the influential figures of Lanzhou. In the center, Wei Tae-kang raised his cup high.

“Let us drink a toast to Young Hero Mu Jin, who saved our company and rewrote the legends of the desert!”

Cheers erupted. The sound of artificial laughter pierced my ears. Wei Tae-kang approached my table with a bottle in hand. His smile was more finely polished than during the day. Like a well-honed blade.

“Young Hero, you suffered much in the sands. Here, drink. This is 'Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng Liquor,' the most precious in Lanzhou. Superior for fortifying the blood and increasing internal energy.”

As he poured the clear liquid into my cup, Minerva’s red warning light flashed across my retinas.

[Warning: Analyzing components... Ethanol 25%, Ginseng extract 2%... and? 0.03% unidentified neurotoxin detected.]

[Minerva’s Note: I detect vibrational frequencies similar to Void contaminants. To summarize, he mixed in 'trash.' Master, you are dealing with a man of very cheap character.]

My hand stopped. Through the transparent liquid, Wei Tae-kang’s gracious face was reflected.

“What is the matter? Is the liquor not to your taste?”

I held the cup and stared directly into his eyes. Minerva’s analysis showed his heart rate had already surpassed normal limits. The contraction of his pupils, the micro-tremor in his fingers. He was desperately praying for me to drink this poison and collapse.

‘Minerva, you mentioned Void traces?’

[92% probability. This is not mere poison. It is a precision contaminant meant to 'dominate' or 'erode' the host’s nervous system. In the Archeon system, we called these 'Slave Collars.']

A cold smirk played on my lips.

“If I drink this, will I see God?”

The bizarre question made Tae-kang’s eyelids flicker. He was startled but recovered skillfully. “Haha, what a joke... does it mean the taste is that heavenly?”

3. The Refactorer Swallows the Poison

I tilted the cup slowly. But just before the rim touched my lips, I spotted the 'true uninvited guests' entering over Tae-kang’s shoulder.

Blue uniforms embroidered with the Imperial crest. These were the men with the chilling auras I had sensed during the day.

‘The rats have finally shown their tails.’

I erased the smirk and lifted the cup with an indifferent face. A flash of greedy expectation appeared in Tae-kang’s eyes.

[Minerva: Administrator, halt your calculation for a moment. Immediate rejection will raise the suspicion of Tae-kang and his backers. The toxin can be neutralized within 0.8 seconds by the Archeon Core’s filter. Sometimes, pretending to fall for it is a strategy. You need to learn to act, Master. Your expression is too wooden.]

‘You’re telling me to endure this?’

[Correct. A target’s darkest vulnerabilities are revealed only when they feel secure. The Void traces in this liquor are the 'linking cord' to the Imperial warriors. Until they reveal their hand, play along. Now, drink up. Cheers!]

I drained the cup without hesitation. As the cold liquid slid down my throat, Minerva’s precision control began.

‘Disgusting taste.’

The Core vibrated slightly, deconstructing the toxin and converting it into exhaust energy. However, under Minerva’s manipulation, my pupils began to lose focus. I deliberately stumbled, leaning against the table for support.

“Hahaha! As expected, the Young Hero is a true man!”

The moment Tae-kang saw my eyes grow hazy, a viscous smile spread across his face. He turned and signaled the men in blue at the entrance.

4. Revealed Conspiracy and Imperial Arrogance

A man wearing the insignia of the Imperial Golden Guard stepped forward with absolute authority. The banquet hall, filled with Lanzhou's elite, fell silent as if drenched in cold water.

“Vice-Chief Wei Tae-kang, have you secured the 'specimen'?”

The Imperial warrior’s voice was arrogant. Tae-kang, the kind elder from earlier, was gone. He bowed deeply, pointing at me.

“Indeed, My Lord. This monster from the desert is the 'Vessel.' He has just consumed the liquor mixed with the Soul-Dreaming drug you provided. He is ready to become a loyal dog of the Empire, as commanded.”

‘A loyal dog... I’m honored you think so highly of me.’

Wei So-yeon stood up in shock. “Uncle! What have you done to him? And why the Empire?!”

“So-yeon, be silent. This is an inevitable choice for our company to rule the world beyond Beijing. This boy is no longer a person; he is merely a tool to accept the authority of the Great Demon God.”

Even Wei Myung-hwan grew pale with shock. But I remained still, head lowered, hand resting on the table.

[Minerva: Secret alliance confirmed. Wei Tae-kang agreed to hand the Administrator over as a 'Biological Specimen' in exchange for exclusive trade rights. Master, I am offended that your price was only a single merchant company. We should at least demand a planet. The Void warriors are approaching. Energy output on standby… 3, 2, 1. Showtime.]

“So this is the brat who crushed a Cultist mutant with his bare fists in the desert?”

The Imperial warrior grabbed my chin and forced my head up.

5. Awakening and Waste Disposal

“Hmph. A decent enough body for a primitive warrior who lacks the blessing of God. Now, let me teach you to recognize your master.”

A grotesque purple smoke began to rise from the warrior’s palm. Just as it was about to penetrate the space between my eyebrows, my hazy eyes erupted with a blinding silver-white flash.

“Master?”

My voice echoed low through the banquet hall.

“Is the filtering done?”

[Minerva: Neutralization complete. Current output 15%, preparing discharge. Their frequencies are incredibly crude. Perfect weather for a cleanup.]

“Good. Then let’s... clean up the trash.”

I snatched the Imperial warrior’s wrist.

CRACK—!

A scream erupted, freezing the entire hall in terror. Jin Tae-kyung, the warrior whose wrist I held, was drenched in shock.

‘Void Essence? Blessing of a God? I’ll show you that the "God" you speak of is nothing more than a battery to charge my core.’

“This—this is impossible! How can a body refuse the blessing of the Demon God?!”

“Demon God? If it’s a Demon God, is it the Cult?”

“How dare a mere heretic cult claim the title of the Great Demon God!” Jin Tae-kyung shrieked in denial.

[Minerva: Target frequency analysis complete. He is mistaking Void contaminants for religious energy. A pathetic level of brainwashing. He is mere 'residue' that wouldn't even qualify as impurity in Archeon’s scrap yard. Master, how hungry must he have been to see God in such filth?]

“To think you mistook this for a God. How pitiful.”

“He dares blaspheme! Kill him! Tear this heretic apart!”

At Jin Tae-kyung’s command, the four Golden Guards behind him drew their blades simultaneously. A grotesque purple mist burned along the steel.

BOOM—!

I kicked off the ground. The Archeon engine roared, instantly reaching 20% output. Before the first blade could touch me, my fist punched through the warrior's chest.

“Extraction.”

The silver-white energy surging from my fingertips mercilessly sucked the purple 'divine power' from the man’s body.

“AAAAAAGH! My power... The grace is vanishing!”

Primal terror. The agony of having the power they believed to be divine erased from existence. The warrior collapsed, thrashing in madness.

The second, the third— the result was the same. My movements were concise; the results were horrific.

6. To Those Who Pretend to be Gods

Jin Tae-kyung, the last one remaining, backed away, trembling violently. Before him stood a being who crushed the 'God' he served like a common insect.

“You... what on earth are you? Are you a devil greater than the Demon God?”

I released his broken arm and spoke calmly.

“No. I am just a person who fixes things that are broken.”

[Minerva: I must correct you. The Administrator does not just fix things; you are a ‘Refactorer’ who creates anew. The energy you just absorbed was low-grade and tasted terrible, but the battery is up by 2%.]

I turned my gaze to Wei Tae-kang, who was shivering under a table. Only the ugliness of an old man consumed by greed remained there.

“Uncle... no, Wei Tae-kang.”

“Y-Young Hero! I must have lost my mind for a moment! The Empire... the Empire forced me!”

I didn't answer. Instead, I picked up the bottle Tae-kang had used. I slowly poured the remaining poisoned liquor over his head.

“This is the God you love so much. Drink your fill.”

“AAAAAGH! No! Stop! Save me!”

As the Void Essence within the liquor seeped into his skin, Tae-kang began to twist grotesquely, screaming in agony. The most cruel punishment for one who desired a God.

I walked out of the ruined banquet hall, leaving the shambles behind.

“Beijing, then.”

[Minerva: Indeed. The edge of the signal points deep within the Imperial Palace. Master, shall the next course be cleaning the ‘Garden of the Gods’? I shall add a 'Beijing Gourmet Map' to my calculation functions.]

“Do that.”

The moonlight shone coldly over Lanzhou. Wei So-yeon ran out late and grabbed my sleeve. Her hands were trembling, but her gaze was steady.

I did not pull away. The time to clean up those who pretended to be true Gods was drawing near.