Chapter 140

Unconditional surrender.

If they weren’t on my side, then they were all enemies.

The conference hall stirred greatly at my declaration of war, which could even be called radical. Not a bad start.

But it wouldn’t be enough to convince them completely. Looking around the hall with satisfaction, I slowly continued my words.

“Let me explain in detail. If you promise to submit under me, then in the name of Aaron Stingray, I can protect you.”

If they needed money, I could give it.

If they needed strength, I could lend it.

As long as they faithfully fulfilled their roles according to my command, I would grant them whatever they wanted.

“But there is one condition.”

“Condition…?”

Zyle Stormwalker asked back.

I replied to him.

“You will obey my orders unconditionally.”

They were to carry out the instructions I gave. To fulfill their roles. Not to attempt betraying me with some cheap scheme, not to deceive me, nor to try to run away.

“If you only keep this condition, then I will not lay a hand on you. I will guarantee you ample rewards and freedom. Surely, that’s not such a bad deal?”

When I asked that—

Someone opened their mouth.

“W-what happens if we refuse?”

“As I said earlier, that person would become my enemy. And surely, you understand what that means.”

“……”

When I glared at him, he shrank back in fear.

According to Serena’s report, that man’s name was Shien. He was just an extra male character who became the reason the original protagonist established ties with the Asian crime syndicate, the Black Dragon Gang.

Just seeing that character made me realize my previous worries had been needless. The characters chosen for transmigration weren’t completely random. They were limited only to those mentioned, even briefly, in the original work.

While I was analyzing that, another question came from a different direction.

“What exactly does it mean to fulfill one’s role?”

“Just as I said. Though the protagonist Shade Wells died and the original storyline has twisted in many ways, I still want to follow the development as closely to the original as possible. But it’s hard to do that alone.”

“You’re saying you need our help?”

“That’s right. Among you, some might have cooperated with the protagonist in the original, while others may have opposed him and been defeated. As long as you faithfully perform your roles as those ‘characters’, I will make sure you’re properly compensated.”

Of course, that might mean I would have to distribute some Contribution Points to them, but since I was the one taking the protagonist’s role, that was enough. Besides, it would be difficult to persuade them without at least that level of reward.

“B-but then what about the people who d-d-die in the original?”

A gloomy-looking man asked.

He was a mad scientist who researched chimeras and mutants, only to lose his life to the protagonist’s group. For him, “as in the original” would mean nothing but death.

“A-are you saying we must become sacrifices?”

“No. I don’t intend to reproduce everything that thoroughly. Acting alone will be enough. After becoming stepping stones for the growth of the main characters, you can simply leave for some faraway place to do what you want.”

Well, in the case of that crazy scientist, there was a high probability that he’d either lose his life after the episode ended or abandon his research—but there was no need to explain that now.

At my words, the transmigrators from villain backgrounds seemed somewhat relieved, their expressions looking noticeably more at ease. It already seemed like they were halfway over to my side.

‘What a loosely bound organization.’

Well, it made sense. A group cobbled together regardless of whether they were villains or extras wouldn’t have much unity. Indeed, it didn’t seem like there was anyone truly threatening among them—

“How are we supposed to trust your words?”

The one who interrupted my train of thought was none other than Zyle Stormwalker.

At first, he seemed rather tense, but now that nervousness was completely gone.

What stood before me now was a true elite bureaucrat turned politician. As expected, when it came to real situations, he could easily show the spirit befitting someone even considered as the next mayoral candidate.

Most politicians in this city were corrupt, unable to resist the murky benefits offered by corporations or mafia bosses, but this man was different.

His principle of action was solely justice and duty.

Without allying with anyone, working only for the prosperity of the city and the well-being of its citizens—he was a true hero of this era.

‘This man won’t be intimidated by the name Stingray.’

In the original, even when he encountered mafia assassins colluding with corporations, he defeated them all alone, and used that as a springboard to grow even more as a politician.

‘Simple threats won’t work.’

He was the type to live for conviction rather than personal gain.

Instead of threatening that refusal meant death, it would be better to convince him that siding with me aligned with his philosophy and beliefs.

“Then let me ask the opposite. Why did you form an alliance? From the beginning, what did you trust in each other to start cooperating?”

“We knew each other from before the ‘synchronization.’ We knew what kind of people we were before we transmigrated, and what pasts we had.”

“I’m not talking about the past, but the present. You should know memories before synchronization are useless.”

“I am talking about the present as well. The reason I decided to stay with them was because I judged that the people they were ‘then’ were trustworthy. And the reason I am wary of you now is because I judge that the person you are ‘now’ is not trustworthy.”

“You speak as though you know me well.”

“I both know you well, and not at all. Until I confirm for myself, I cannot say for certain.”

“You have quite the gift of words.”

“Because I live in a world where I must fight with eloquence and vision.”

Wow, not losing a single word.

If it had been an ordinary person, they would have already been intimidated by the name Stingray and wouldn’t have been able to speak properly. Truly, he was a politician—never losing an argument.

But verbal sparring wasn’t simply about how well one could wag their tongue.

What mattered was information.

Depending on how much one knew, even the smallest gap could be overturned.

“It seems you’re mistaken, so let me correct you.”

“Mistaken… you say?”

“Shade Wells wasn’t killed by me.”

“……!”

Once again, the conference hall stirred.

Not missing the chance, I continued.

“Shade Wells was a transmigrator. Right after possession, he tried to arbitrarily change the original scenario, only to be brutally killed by the Blood Wolves.”

And Evangeline, Araya.

Myself, Aaron Stingray as well.

I calmly went on with the explanation.

Serena had already heard this story, so her expression remained unchanged, but the others were different.

The reason they feared my existence.

It wasn’t simply because I was “Aaron Stingray,” but because they thought I had brutally slaughtered the protagonist and other transmigrators.

That I was a villain who, to twist this world at my own whim, used knowledge of the original to kill anyone, regardless of who they were.

But if the premise of “Aaron Stingray is a murderer” collapsed? Then I would become, to them, the most reliable candidate for an ally.

The power to twist the city however I pleased. Overwhelming might that no one could touch. And bonds I had already forged in advance with the main characters.

Anyone with even a bit of sense would quickly realize it.

Remaining tied to their organization that was no better than a club, or, though their pride may suffer, bowing their heads to me—which side carried more weight in benefits?

And then—

“I’ll side with Mr. Aaron.”

Serena was the first to declare.

Her status was among the highest even within the Transmigrator Alliance. For someone like her to announce without hesitation that she would stand on my side was enough to shake the others. Without even consulting me, she was playing the role of instigator perfectly.

“I’ll give you two minutes.”

If I gave too much time, it would only give them room to start overthinking.

Following Serena, the others began raising their hands one by one. Like her, it meant they would obey my command.

Some raised their hands right away, others did so quietly after glancing around.

About a minute passed, and the group split evenly. Six declared they would cooperate with me, six did not raise their hands. That number included Serena.

‘Huh… fewer than I thought.’

[More people followed than I expected.]

Serena’s voice came through the wireless comms she had opened beforehand. I felt puzzled at her opposite evaluation and asked.

[It’s only half.]

[The leader’s influence is stronger in this group than you think, Mr. Aaron. Some here even owe their lives to ‘him.’]

[I see.]

So it wasn’t about good bonds between members, but about being bound by the charisma of a single leader.

Well, even if I suddenly appeared and declared, “Submit to me,” it wouldn’t be easy to accept on the spot.

[Still, this is surprising.]

[What do you mean?]

[Kara raised her hand.]

Kara the Red Fixer.

She stared at me cautiously, then deliberately wiggled her right hand for me to see.

[Is that such a strange thing?]

[I thought at the very least, she’d wait and see how things unfolded before deciding.]

Serena said that, then openly muttered, [Another woman…!] It didn’t seem to slip out unintentionally—it was as if she wanted me to hear it.

Lately, I was beginning to realize more and more that this was just how Serena was.

In the end, even after two minutes passed, the numbers didn’t change. As expected—or perhaps unfortunately—Grigori Silvereyes and Zyle Stormwalker did not raise their hands.

‘If at least two of the three key figures had sided with me, I’d feel more reassured, but that’s disappointing.’

Still, their opposition wouldn’t change anything. I just had to design the scenario going forward without including the characters they had transmigrated into.

The same went for the other members absent from today’s meeting.

If they knew I was coming today but didn’t show their faces, it only meant they either lacked the courage, or never intended to be my allies in the first place.

For those kinds of people, it was better to simply cast them off.

“…I take it there will be no more hands raised.”

I rose from my seat.

Serena, quick to notice, stood first, and the others who had declared their allegiance also began standing up one by one.

I turned toward the exit, straightening my coat. Since “he” wasn’t here, I had no intention of staying long, so I hadn’t even taken it off.

“I’ll give you one week. If any of you change your mind later, you’ll be welcome. You’d better convey the same message to your leader.”

I delivered the notice dispassionately and turned my back. My footsteps toward the exit felt far lighter than when I had entered. Behind me, I heard the footsteps of those who followed.

And at that moment—

[Request. Halt there, Aaron Stingray.]

A voice I had never heard before.

Mixed with a faint mechanical tone, it made me turn around. From the hologram projector at the center of the round table, a new image was being transmitted.

Looking at it, I muttered—

“…At last.”

The one I had only heard about, “him,” finally appeared.

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