The White Brahma About to Advance! Secret Realm Floor 42, the Sword Saint of the Warring States Era!

The first place on the Top 100 rankings—the champion—had changed.

The news had spread through the circles connected to the Warring States secret realm in Hamamatsu City within less than a minute. It immediately reached the top of the trending searches, setting the entire Special Affairs Division forum ablaze.

It was not merely a matter of reaching the top by clearing the fortieth floor faster.

Even though neither Minamoto Shizuka nor Kyūkōin Jin could clear or defeat the forty-first floor—

That "Anonymous Person No. 666" had done it.

Hamamatsu City, in an empty house owned by the Minamoto Clan.

After returning here following her second failed challenge, Minamoto Shizuka listened without missing a word to the servant's report, having just bathed and changed.

In a room sealed with special soundproofing foam and laid with orange-yellow wooden flooring, the girl, whose face had long been as cold as frost, tugged a smile onto her lips.

She lowered her eyes and met her own gaze reflected on Hotarumaru's blade.

The battle intent of someone delighted to find a worthy hunt trickled from her eyes.

"Anonymous, huh... How intriguing."

Minamoto Shizuka gently stroked the tachi across her lap, dispelled her emotions, and thought calmly yet eagerly, I wonder when I'll be able to cross swords with such a hero.

Hamamatsu City, in a cheap guesthouse that cost five thousand yen a night.

Still wearing that same haori, Saito Ryuichi sat on the tatami, eating instant noodles while staring intently at the top of the Top 100 rankings.

After drinking the last drop of noodle broth, he murmured softly,

"That anonymous person who's been above my head from the very beginning is a Special Affairs Division agent without a powerful backer.

"I'd better befriend them before anyone else... Five thousand contribution points should be