Chapter 1201
"Uh..."
Raon, currently wearing the face of Zilfen, blinked in surprise at the middle-aged woman who had stepped toward him with a warm, familiar smile.
"I’m sorry, but... who are you?"
He pulled his shoulders inward, looking small and confused, tilting his head to emphasize that he had no idea who stood before him.
—You total moron! What on earth are you doing!
Wrath’s jaw dropped in sheer exasperation.
—She clearly knows you! You should have played along and pretended to recognize her!
The demon king screamed inside his mind, baffled as to why Raon was acting like a stranger to someone who had greeted him so affectionately.
—It’s over! The mission is blown before you even got through the front door!
Wrath thrashed about, convinced that the entire infiltration was a lost cause.
"Do... do we know each other?"
Ignoring Wrath's frantic outbursts entirely, Raon maintained his bewildered facade, staring blankly at the woman.
"You don’t recognize me? Look at me closely! We’ve crossed paths for years, even if it was only every so often!"
The woman’s expression crumbled into hurt, her tone implying he was being heartless for forgetting her, yet she notably refrained from saying her name.
"I... I truly don’t recall."
Raon shook his head once more, even taking a small step back to show his genuine discomfort and lack of recognition.
A tactic to bait the imagination.
Watching her avoid any specific details while claiming to know Zilfen since he was young only solidified Raon's suspicion: she was a plant.
—We’re finished...
Wrath pressed a hand to his face, mourning the mission.
—We aren't here to win a war; we’re here to give this King a heart attack from stress!
He thumped his chest, overwhelmed by the perceived stupidity of the situation.
No, this is exactly what I should be doing.
Raon’s gaze remained steady, fueled by cold certainty.
This is a classic Derus Robert move.
When an infiltrator is confronted by a supposed friend of the person they are impersonating, most panic and try to fake a connection. That split-second lie is how Derus had always plucked spies out of his ranks.
But he’s met his match this time.
The identity of Zilfen was a meticulous fabrication by the Black Market. According to his background, he was a lonely orphan who grew up in a minor mercenary band with no long-term ties. Therefore, the only correct answer was to not know her.
"Hmm!"
Kuanyu watched the exchange and gave a small, satisfied nod.
"Zilfen! Think! I am—"
"That will be enough."
Kuanyu held up a hand, stopping the woman as she tried to press Raon further.
"Believer Varian. I appreciate your assistance."
Kuanyu offered the woman a polite bow and a thin smile.
"It was nothing! I would do anything to help the Branch Manager!"
The woman, addressing Kuanyu by his title, returned the bow with deep respect.
Branch Manager...
Raon shifted his focus to Kuanyu, his fingers twitching slightly.
Is it standard for a Branch Manager to personally vet every new arrival?
He had assumed Kuanyu was just a mid-level recruiter who happened to know the real Zilfen, but he turned out to be the head of this location. It seemed Raon had landed a big fish right away.
"I apologize for that. But it was at the Branch Manager's request, so I had to play my part."
The woman spoke to Raon kindly, promising to buy him a meal later to make up for the trickery.
"Until next time."
With her role finished, she turned and disappeared toward the high-end district.
"What... what just happened?"
Raon kept his mouth hanging open, looking like a man who was still struggling to catch up.
"My sincere apologies!"
Kuanyu turned to Raon and performed a formal, ninety-degree bow.
"As I alluded to before, there are many who harbor malice toward heaven. I had to perform one final check."
He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, apologizing for the layers of tests. When a high-ranking official like a Branch Manager humbles himself like that, it leaves a commoner with very little room to stay angry.
"Oh, it's... it's alright."
Raon flailed his hands dismissively, looking flustered.
"If there are villains trying to hurt this place, then you had to be sure. I understand."
He forced an awkward, self-conscious laugh.
"I am grateful for your understanding."
Kuanyu bowed again, seemingly touched by Raon's graciousness.
"Please, don't mention it. It’s really fine."
Raon acted as though the formal treatment was making him uncomfortable, hurrying to return the gesture.
"Then, let us proceed."
Kuanyu gestured toward a vast expanse of vibrant green grass. The blades of grass leading into the heart of the community seemed to pulse with life, shimmering under a soft, ethereal light.
"Ah, yes."
Raon darted his eyes around like a wide-eyed tourist and hurried to catch up to Kuanyu’s side.
—Wow...
Wrath let out a long, hollow breath.
—What the hell just happened?
He tilted his head, still trying to piece together the sudden shift.
He explained it himself.
Raon smirked inwardly.
It was a loyalty test. They use a fake acquaintance to see if you’ll lie to fit in. I knew Derus would have fail-safes like this in place.
Because he had anticipated the move, he hadn't flinched. He had just played the part of the confused mercenary.
—You absolute lunatic...
Wrath sighed, claiming his nerves were shot.
—Looking back, you’ve been like this since we met. Just what kind of creature are you?
He gnashed his teeth, genuinely disturbed by Raon's calculated nature.
Don't get shocked yet.
Raon followed Kuanyu onto the grass, the corners of his mouth twitching upward.
This is only the warm-up.
—The warm-up?
Wrath didn't understand. Suddenly, a faint, rhythmic energy drifted through the air and began to seep into Raon’s skin. It was so quiet and subtle that even someone who had reached the heights of transcendence would have missed it—unless they were actively using the Ring of Fire.
I knew it.
Raon bit his lip.
There was a hidden layer to the test.
He knew a man like Derus Robert wouldn't rely on a simple social trick. He would use the obvious bait to mask a far more lethal trap.
This is the real danger.
This wasn't like the golden light at the entrance. This aura was far more invasive. It didn't just check for physical intruders; it was an absolute magic designed to peer into the human heart and sniff out any hint of deceit or ill intent.
"..."
Kuanyu’s eyes subtly tracked Raon’s every movement. It was clear the Branch Manager was well aware of this third, invisible barrier.
Stay in character.
Raon didn't change his expression. He scratched his cheek and continued his act of a bewildered simpleton, marveling at the sights like a peasant in the capital for the first time.
I have to keep the Rings rotating.
The Ring of Fire was more than just a physical tool; it was a stabilizer for the soul and the mind. He synchronized nine of his rings, using their resonance to shield his true thoughts and intentions from the divine probe trying to map his spirit.
Is my focus sharper because of the stakes?
Raon felt a surge of adrenaline. He wondered if he could push further. Right there, in the middle of a high-stakes interrogation field, he began to spark a new flame between his nine existing rings. He was attempting to forge the tenth ring in the heart of the enemy's den.
—You've lost it! You're actually insane!
Wrath’s mouth hung open in pure shock.
—Do you possess no fear at all?
The demon king fumed, claiming even he wouldn't be so reckless. Raon ignored the panicked spirit and stayed locked on the tenth ring. However, as they stepped off the grass field, the probing energy vanished as quickly as it had appeared. With the pressure gone, Raon's heightened focus began to fade.
Tch. Why was that field so small?
Raon clicked his tongue, genuinely annoyed that his training session had been cut short.
—Ha! It’s not that you have courage—it’s that you’re missing the part of the brain that feels danger!
Wrath shook his head, declaring Raon an impossible person to deal with.
"You’ve handled the transition well. It seems Sir Zilfen truly belongs among us in heaven."
Kuanyu’s words carried a hidden weight, and his smile grew wider. It was the confirmation Raon needed: he had cleared the final, secret hurdle.
Good.
His intuition had been right. If he had sent anyone else—from the Shadow Agents or the Black Market—they would have been flagged by that soul-searching barrier instantly.
"Is... is this really heaven?"
Raon squinted his eyes, looking at the sprawling mansions, the manicured forests, and the crowds of people who seemed to be in a state of constant celebration.
"Not quite,"
Kuanyu shook his head.
"This is the Land of Clouds. It is the proving ground where one purifies their essence before being granted entry to the true heaven."
He beamed, explaining that this realm sat high above the world.
"Above the clouds..."
Raon looked down at the solid ground beneath his boots.
It should be the middle of the night out there.
He had entered through the darkness, but the moment he descended the stairs, he had been met with midday sun. Whether they were in the sky or not, the spatial magic at work was formidable.
"But..."
Raon looked around, his chin tilting in confusion.
"It’s not what I thought it would be."
Everywhere he looked, people were draped in silk and jewels, gorging themselves on rich foods. Couples were entangled in public displays of affection, while others lay in the shade, lost in a deep, unproductive lethargy. It looked less like a holy site and more like a playground for every human vice.
"You find it strange? You expected a place of abstinence rather than indulgence?"
Kuanyu nodded, having seen this reaction before.
"It is a common misconception. Heaven isn't a place where you kill your desires. In fact, we believe the more honest you are with your cravings, the better."
He pointed toward the crowd, where people were giving in to their impulses without shame.
"Only those who can strip away the mask of civilization and embrace their true inner desires are worthy of the higher realms."
Kuanyu smiled warmly, encouraging Raon to let go of his inhibitions—to embrace greed, gluttony, sloth, envy, and lust.
"Greed, gluttony, sloth, envy, and lust."
Raon echoed the words, his eyes scanning the hedonistic display.
Those are exactly the domains of the demon kings.
A cold chill ran down his spine as the realization hit him.
Just what are these people...?
"Hahaha! More wine!"
A few days had passed, and Raon, in the guise of Zilfen, appeared to have fully surrendered to the Land of Clouds. He was covered in shiny trinkets, stuffing his face with delicacies, and living a life dedicated to every passing whim.
—Wow...
Wrath could only watch in stunned silence. Raon wasn't just acting like Zilfen anymore; he had seemingly erased his old self to become this new person entirely.
—He’s actually gone off the deep end.
Less than a week ago, Raon hadn't even known Zilfen existed. He’d spent a few hours reading a file and talking to a contact, yet now, the name Zilfen felt more natural on him than Raon Zieghart ever had.
—How is he doing this?
Raon had absorbed every detail of Zilfen’s life, asked the right questions, and then simply discarded his own formidable presence. He had shrunk himself down into the role of a mediocre, timid Expert-level swordsman with such precision that even the real Zilfen had been unnerved by the transformation.
It was one thing to be brave or disciplined, but Wrath couldn't understand how a man who usually seemed so detached from emotion could mimic them so perfectly.
—What kind of freak is he?
Wrath watched as Raon indulged in the local decadence.
—He’s a specimen that defies all logic...
Raon usually possessed the most terrifying self-control Wrath had ever encountered. Hunger, lust, and laziness never touched him, yet here he was, seemingly diving headfirst into all of them.
—Wait a second!
Wrath’s eyes widened as he sensed something deeper.
—Are you... are you actually channeling the sins right now?
Raon wasn't just pretending. He was actually tapping into the essences of greed, gluttony, and sloth. It was a mad gamble to perform in a place so saturated with divine energy.
Exactly.
Raon responded with a calm, internal nod.
—You’re insane! Divine light and demonic sins are total opposites! They'll tear you apart!
Wrath yelled at him to stop before he caused an explosion of energy.
In any other place, you'd be right. But here...
Raon gestured vaguely at the people around him, who were living like cattle in a golden pen. He let his lips curl into a sharp, hidden grin.
This is the quickest path to the top.
