Players Join Up, the Stigmata Totem Takes Notice

At seven in the morning, Su Yi dragged himself out of bed, his eyes bloodshot.

After his usual Self-Reward, his attack speed had improved.

Then he washed his face, grabbed a handful of Nutrient Beans, and headed out.

The moment he stepped outside, Su Yi sensed someone following him.

He glanced sideways and spotted two thugs staring at him with open provocation.

Su Yi gave a cold laugh and hurried to the office.

By then, everyone at the office had arrived.

Sefni and Emma were full of energy, a stark contrast to Su Yi.

After a brief morning meeting, everyone got to work.

Su Yi took Sefni, Emma, and Rijia to the Kalbanyan Orphanage on the border.

Sefni soon noticed someone following them. She turned to Su Yi. "Kill them?"

Su Yi shook his head slightly. "Follow me."

Su Yi knew the area well. After a few twists and turns, he shook the thugs on their tail.

When the four reached the orphanage, they saw more than seventy children gathered beneath the morning sun.

Most were gaunt and sallow, dressed in rags. Many were barefoot.

They were mostly between fourteen and eighteen years old.

With Kilman leading them, the children's eyes shone with anticipation and excitement.

When they saw Su Yi and the others arrive, the weight hanging over them finally lifted.

What they had feared most was that Su Yi wouldn't come—that he had forgotten them.

Four players stood beside the children.

Mountain Dog was stunned when he saw the string of question marks above Sefni's and Emma's heads.

"Holy shit, I can't see their stats. What level are they?"

Evil God rubbed his chin. "We're level eight. The system says we can't inspect anyone more than ten levels above us."

108 laughed. "That's my godfather for you! He even managed to recruit powerhouses like these!"

After exchanging a few words with the children, Su Yi left them in Sefni's and Emma's care.

"Good morning, Mr. Gheros!" Winter said with a smile.

Su Yi smiled back. "Call me Horus. Mr. Gheros sounds too formal."

Mountain Dog immediately saluted. "Yes, Marshal!"

Su Yi blinked, pretending not to understand. "What marshal?"

108 gave Mountain Dog a knock and laughed. "He means you look as handsome as a warrior!"

"Oh," Su Yi said. He pulled Rijia forward. "This is my trusted aide, Reijah Malik."

Rijia knew these were the boss's ace killers.

They were the ones who had taken out Mad Dog, Scissors, and the others.

He smiled. "May the Hand of the White Frost Goddess protect the road ahead of you."

The corners of Winter's and 108's eyes twitched. They had both seen the masturbation note at the bottom of Rijia's profile.

But Evil God's eyes lit up. He stepped forward and seized Rijia's hand. "Brother! My name's Tentacles Aren't Evil God."

"Just call me Tentacles!"

Perhaps religious fanatics really did have a natural affinity for each other. After only a few words, the two hit it off.

Su Yi said to Evil God, "From now on, Rijia will work with you on church matters."

"He has connections in the White Frost Church. He can help you."

Evil God looked grateful. "Thank you for your support, Mar—Mr. Horus."

Rijia leaned closer and said quietly, "Brother Tentacles, I'll teach you the most satisfying way to pray in a bit..."

While the two discussed their strange religious techniques, Su Yi turned to 108.

"I'm planning to use this orphanage as the school's base. That'll give the Kalbanyan Couple a way to make a living, too."

"But this area isn't safe. Sefni and Emma are both above level twenty, but their abilities are unusual, so it's inconvenient for them to step in."

That casual remark stunned all four players.

"Above level twenty!?"

Mountain Dog's little eyes widened. In the private channel, he exclaimed, "Holy shit, level twenty! Both of them!?"

"That's my godfather! Now that's some serious backing!"

108 was just as excited. "Holy shit, holy shit! Level twenty! Iron Root's noble knight captain is only level seventeen, and he's already absurdly strong!"

"These two are over level twenty! There are two of them!"

Winter felt her heart racing too. She realized she had underestimated the full extent of Su Yi's resources.

Su Yi noticed the players' reactions, but pretended he hadn't and continued.

"So I'd like to invite 108 to serve as security here for a while."

108 immediately thumped his steel chest. "No problem! You don't even have to ask!"

He paused, then grinned. "As for the pay..."

Su Yi smiled. "Fifteen Void Abyss Coins a day."

At that number, 108 nearly dropped to his knees before Su Yi. He roared inwardly.

Long live my godfather!

Under Winter's and Mountain Dog's envious gazes, 108 happily accepted the job.

Su Yi went on. "Our operation is getting bigger, so I've set up a gang to distinguish our own people."

"Would you be interested in joining?"

"That way, when you use my channels in the future, you'll have an official reason to do so."

Mountain Dog was about to agree at once, but when he saw Winter still thinking it over, he held his tongue.

The four discussed it in their private channel.

Once they were reasonably sure joining had benefits and no drawbacks, they voted unanimously in favor.

Mountain Dog asked excitedly, "Boss, what's our gang called?"

Su Yi smiled. "Moon-Drinking Azure Wolf. What do you think? Pretty imposing, right?"

Mountain Dog went wild with delight and started raving in the private channel.

"Haha! I knew my godfather and I had a special connection! See?"

"As it happens, I'm a dog of the Moon-Drinking Lord too!"

108 sighed. "Godfather's collecting every possible buff now. Moon-Drinking Azure Wolf—another traitor and another legion that switched sides."

Evil God said, "Moon-Drinking Azure Wolf? Hahaha! That name! Godfather's a genius!"

Winter was much more composed. She said to Su Yi, "It's a good name. It suits you."

Su Yi laughed. "Thanks for the compliment."

Just then, excited cheers rose in the distance. The Kalbanyan Couple embraced, thanking everyone over and over.

It seemed Sefni had announced Su Yi's plan to build a school there.

When Kilman heard that Su Yi was even willing to look after his adoptive parents and give them respectable work, he was so moved that he burst into tears.

Molly touched the cheek that had been healed yesterday and looked at Su Yi, who stood smiling beside a Hero of the Human Alliance.

A warmth and happiness seemed to radiate from where her wound had been. Her eyes filled with gratitude and admiration.

Then Molly clasped her hands and silently offered a blessing.

Thank you, great and merciful Mr. Gheros. May your path always be smooth and your life forever bright!

May that bright totem always light the road ahead of you.

And when you lose your way, may that Bright Totem become the guiding star that shows you the path.

BZZT!

As she recited the blessing in her heart, Molly suddenly felt an indescribable comfort spread through her entire body.

Then the Bright Totem that had always existed in her dreams lit up somewhere within her mind.

In a pitch-black world, she saw herself transformed into a headless angel, her whole body traced with lines of light.

She felt an indescribable power surging through her body!

Meanwhile, Su Yi suddenly felt a chill.

It was as though some obsessive woman had set her sights on him.

Then light flashed before his eyes. Something covered in countless intricate patterns, like a massive pillar with twelve pairs of wings, turned its attention to him.

Fuck! What's going on? Why is the Stigmata Totem suddenly watching me!?

Su Yi went numb.

To anyone else, drawing a god's gaze would have been an immense honor.

For Su Yi, it was different.

When the Stigmata Totem looked at a believer, it was a blessing.

When it looked at him, it was marking its property!

In his last life, the Stigmata Totem had made Su Yi bear four children for it!!!!!!

Please send some votes, everyone! Recommendations and monthly tickets would help—I'm starving here!