In the past, even though players knew a lot of plot details—including the Kakin Empire's secrets—given the situation then, even if they leaked anything, no one would take it seriously.
Worse, it would draw Kakin's attention and get them killed… So Xiang Nan essentially cashed in on an unlocked story trigger, relying on his status as a senior officer in the Republic of Padokea's military.
But now, because Xiang Nan has changed the board, the powers of the human world have begun to care about players. Most countries are actively recruiting them; under those circumstances, when players speak, national leadership pays attention.
Kakin has been recruiting players too. Once they realized it wasn't only Xiang Nan who knew their secrets, it meant V5 could target Kakin at any moment—before any of their plans even got underway.
According to Hui Guo Rou's timetable, the Chimera Ant disaster is set to erupt soon. If V5 strikes at that juncture, it would be disastrous.
With Netero still alive, Beyond absolutely cannot show his face.
Bluntly put, Xiang Nan seized the initiative and, taking advantage of their ignorance, played the entire Kakin Empire—Hui Guo Rou the king included—like a fiddle.
Xiang Nan assumed Hui Guo Rou invited him because, by next year, the NGL Chimera Ant incident would be impossible to hide, so they wanted to discuss the next steps with him… He didn't expect it to be about the players. Still, he wasn't surprised.
"Getting something for nothing… Now that people from your 'Nameless' are being courted by every nation, even if we Kakin wanted to wipe them out, we couldn't! V5 has the most Nameless members working under them—they might already know Kakin's situation and schemes…" Hui Guo Rou looked displeased, as if all of this were Xiang Nan's fault.
"In that case, why hold such a grand banquet to welcome me? Kakin and the Republic of Padokea still enjoy perfectly fine relations… hmm?" Xiang Nan asked with a smile.
"…"
Hui Guo Rou fell silent.
Then Xiang Nan suddenly looked past Hui Guo Rou's throne at a red curtain hanging in the palace and said lightly, "Come out… everyone else is gone."
At that, a large hand shot out from behind the curtain and yanked it aside. The person hiding there strode out in big, unhurried steps.
He wore a long robe styled like traditional martial attire, with long black hair and a beard, and a cross-shaped scar on his face. He radiated authority without a word; his frame was powerful and his eyes razor sharp. His features looked very much like Netero's. It was—Beyond.
"Heh heh… No wonder you were able to take Pariston down. Impressive…" Beyond walked forward in long strides, eyeing Xiang Nan—still seated and unruffled—grinning wide as he boomed his praise.
Beyond. Xiang Nan narrowed his eyes. Finally met this bastard…
"He's strong… maybe the most potentially dangerous person I've ever encountered—above Ging Freecss and Netero," Xiang Nan thought as he quietly sized him up.
Beyond clearly knew he was being scrutinized; he didn't shy away at all. He met Xiang Nan's gaze head-on, utterly at ease, letting him "take his measure."
"It's not that his raw strength surpasses the old man or Ging… it's his temperament. An extreme sense of purpose and will, bound by nothing. That kind of person is the most dangerous because, to reach his goal, he'll use any means—even eliminating his own father," Xiang Nan thought.
From the man's aura and the nature of his energy, Xiang Nan picked up the telltale hints.
"Well? Now that you've finally seen me… is it what you imagined?" After letting Xiang Nan finish looking him over, Beyond dropped into an empty seat like a warrior swinging into the saddle, grabbed a cup someone had left behind and drained it, then wiped his mouth and fixed Xiang Nan with a burning stare.
"More or less," Xiang Nan said noncommittally.
"Hahahahaha! Ha!" Beyond suddenly burst out laughing, then slammed his palm on the table with a bang. "I think you're far more formidable—and far smarter—than I'd imagined. Pariston dying by your hand was no injustice!"
From his reaction and his words, it was obvious he understood the game between Xiang Nan and Pariston all too well. After all, he still had a piece among the Zodiacs—the Monkey, Saiyu.
"I know what you want… you want me to make it up to the Kakin Empire, help you push your plan to head to the Dark Continent, and… kill Netero!" Xiang Nan's gaze slid between Hui Guo Rou and Beyond. "You both recognize my value regarding the 'Multiverse.' That's exactly why—even if V5 knows Kakin's secrets—they won't act rashly. On the surface, Kakin and the Republic of Padokea are still in the same camp. As long as our two countries join hands, even V5 won't suppress us at will—unless they want to start a world war."
"My existence is pivotal. Right now it's not that I need you—it's that you need me." Two simple sentences, straight to the point. Hui Guo Rou's face remained dark.
"I can give you both a very clear answer. It'll take time to prove, but whether you believe it is up to you," Xiang Nan went on. "I can't guarantee there won't one day be someone from the Nameless who surpasses me… but at least for now, I'm the only one who can help the human world obtain power and resources from the 'Multiverse'—and the one best positioned to help this world avoid their threats."
"What you want can only be had through me—including access to the Dark Continent."
"…"
Hui Guo Rou and Beyond exchanged a glance.
"If you want to use the Kakin Empire to threaten me, you could. With Kakin's national strength, destroying the Republic of Padokea wouldn't be hard. But even if you wiped us out, Kakin would be swallowed by V5. And the moment our two camps split, V5 would never just sit and watch. Compared with Kakin, they don't fear the Republic of Padokea nearly as much," Xiang Nan said, looking at Hui Guo Rou.
"As for Kakin's secrets… as you said, they're no longer secrets. Aside from that Seed Urn, if you want to keep those three national treasures used in the succession rite safe, the only way is to ask me. With the 'Multiverse' as a trump card, only by binding yourselves closely to the Republic of Padokea will V5 hold back. Besides, what I know about your secrets goes far beyond what you imagine. For instance, every so often the Kakin royal house selects some remote region and village for a debauched, utterly inhuman 'event'… As for the children born of it—kept out of sight, branded on the face, and then sent to—"
Xiang Nan glanced at Hui Guo Rou first, but the more he spoke, the more his amused gaze drifted to Beyond. Sure enough, by the end, Beyond's smile had vanished.
With a boom, a terrifying pressure blasted through the hall, flipping tables and chairs end over end. A surging wave of nen erupted in an instant.
Xiang Nan rose slowly. He knew exactly why Beyond reacted so violently. The reason was simple… among Kakin's princes, one of them carried Beyond's seed. And Hui Guo Rou didn't know.
"You're smart enough… which is exactly why you're going to give us an answer today," Beyond snarled, cutting Xiang Nan off—the line carried a double meaning. Then he shifted topics outright and revealed the real reason he and Hui Guo Rou had called him here.
"I knew it… the two of you, cornered as you are, didn't invite me to Kakin for anything good." Xiang Nan showed no tension at all and smiled faintly. He then ignored Hui Guo Rou and fixed a cold stare on Beyond.
"You sure you want to do this here? What I'm carrying may be more terrifying than anything you've seen on the Dark Continent. If I dared to come, I'm not afraid of you making a move—because the price is something you absolutely can't afford."
Beyond's eyelids twitched at that, but the killing intent and battle lust in him didn't diminish in the slightest.