Rogue Villain-Chapter 255: Crossroads

Fortunately, Ackster found Wilma at the other Gate where he had entered the ruins. She sat at a desk inside a tent, working on some papers. She didn’t even seem to have noticed Ackster’s arrival. Deciding to play a little prank on her, Ackster tensed his throat.

"Ahem. Boss, the portal’s lighting up."

"Who the fuck—ster?!"

Wilma spoke before looking up to see who was talking to her when she should have been alone in the nearby area. Halfway through speaking, she realized it was Ackster.

Wilma tilted her head while looking at Ackster with a frown.

"Fucking hell. As soon as I take my eyes off you. Every time. Don’t you know what taking it easy means?"

"Sure I do, that’s why I’m doing this. It’s so I can take it easy. Anyways, how’ve you been?"

Wilma sighed. She knew Ackster was working himself to death for some grand reason. She just couldn’t understand why he was willing to go so far when he was already so strong. Now, he was even starting to go beyond the point she could catch his presence.

"Personally, I’m in good physical health. I’m also a lot more mentally stable than a certain someone."

Wilma gave Ackster a pointed look, which he just shrugged off.

"But I have to admit, I’m a little stressed."

"That’s no good. You should learn how to take it easy sometimes."

Wilma glared at Ackster.

"It’s your fault, by the way."

"What is?"

"Since you brought me the news of the Land of Dragons deciding to do something about Kargas, I checked it out. And since I confirmed that the Land of Dragons is up to something, it’s my responsibility to do something about it. Those fucking higher-ups want me to stop a war between Kargas and the Land of Dragons."

"Ah, sorry about that, I guess."

Ackster couldn’t tell her he was also sorry for maybe inciting the war. Inwardly, he was astonished at how his words affected Tararat and his people. He had just spotted some bullshit, hoping for the best, but he might really get what he was looking for. It was wondrous what strength could give him.

"It’s not like it’s your fault. But yeah, you should be sorry."

Wilma sighed again and leaned her elbows on the table before resting her head in her hands.

"Worst of all, it seems like the Dragon of Life is on the move."

"Huh? Really?"

Wilma nodded with her forehead pressed against her palms 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"It seems he alerted the Land of Dragons. My source at the Land said a seemingly immortal monster filled with life force told them Kargas was planning something and to stay alert."

Wilma looked up at Ackster with suspicious eyes.

"Speaking of immortal monsters filled with life force...You don’t happen to know anything about this, do you?"

Ackster hesitated. He could feel himself standing at a crossroads. He could either decide to tell Wilma he intentionally wanted to create a fight between Kargas and the Land of Dragons or feign ignorance. He wasn’t confident he could fool Wilma, but he wasn’t sure what she would think of him doing something like that.

Ackster’s mind raced. He realized Wilma would sooner or later find out that he was the one who spread the information. She was already suspicious, and on top of that, she knew he was the one who had told her about the Land of Dragons first. It was a matter of him telling her or Wilma finding out on her own and discovering he lied.

"I do."

Wilma’s eyes narrowed as she squinted while looking at Ackster.

"...Go on."

"I need Kargas to be stronger."

Wilma sighed. It had something to do with his grand goal. That meant he wouldn’t necessarily give her any more details.

"For fuck’s sake, Ackster."

She rested her head in her hands again.

Ackster didn’t think there was anything more to say unless Wilma asked something, so he stayed silent.

"What if your plan fails? What if Kargas dies?"

"It won’t. Kargas won’t die in a fight against the Land of Dragons."

"What if a dragon appears? How can you be so sure? Even if your ’plan’ succeeds? Will it be enough? Or will you need to start another war, sacrificing countless innocents?"

"I’m sure because I trust myself. I will be there to correct things if they veer off the path. And if it succeeds, it succeeds. I will continue making preparations to ensure I can take it easy in the future."

Ackster intentionally didn’t answer Wilma’s last question. He was afraid of the answer himself.

"Damn right, you’ll be there. Don’t forget you’re still working for the Guild. I don’t care about your plan. I’m sending you there as damage control. Since the Land of Dragons has already started preparing, it’s almost too late. Almost. You’re going to act as a mediator between Kargas and the Land of Dragons."

Wilma looked at Ackster with a stern gaze.

"And you listen to me closely right now, if there’s war, I won’t interfere when you end up on the Guild’s blacklist. I won’t stop them from sending people to kill you, and I won’t tell you when they do. You will be constantly checking over your back for the Guild’s strongest assassins coming to kill you."

Wilma’s threat didn’t faze Ackster. He was already paranoid and checked his back eight times every minute. Besides, the Guild’s assassin would only be training and nourishment for Ackster.

What did faze Ackster, however, was Wilma’s attitude. It wasn’t surprising, but seeing her look at him with such...Such strong negative feelings left a deeper pit in his stomach than he had expected. It was totally different from when she chastised him after he did something stupid or almost got himself killed.

Ackster considered burning the bridge completely with Wilma and the Guild, but his guilt and the recent experience with the Sword God decapitating him made him hold off on that idea.

"Let’s begin with how you convinced the Land of Dragons to take action."