The Sinners' Queen

On the Layer containing Mao's Xia Empire, the expansion of a newly birthed religion worshipping a Goddess called Sofia discreetly began, with the news yet to reach the capital. 

Things seemed to be proceeding nicely for Sofony there as nobody capable of threatening her life had appeared. 

However, that could not be said for the one left behind on the Surface Layer, at the Alina City of Country F.

Actually, on the surface, it looked like everything was fine. Even in the other cities and countries, events similar to the one staged by Sofony at C Empire rarely happened, as rare as a tropical country not experiencing a rainfall for a whole year. 

There was only one reason for this... not everyone in the ranks of the immoral hosts and system users was an irredeemable bastard or b*tch. 

Gio already said it before. There were some who chose to devote their lives in researching the 'System', its powers, and its origin. They had their own ways of completing quests while dealing the most minimal damage to themselves, to others, or the environment.

In some sense, they had the same style as Chris and Sofony, willing to crack their heads and lose many brain cells to look for loopholes. The majority of those chosen by AIs might be desperate people, but their desperation was for that moment when they got chosen. After the crises were tided over, they learned to control their fates and actions to the best of their abilities. 

Apart from this group of people, there were also some who, upon reaching a very high level, made an agreement to rule over a country or a region, and regulate the accidents there. They might be damnable in their road to the peak of power but had at least sobered up to take responsibility for the abilities they earned. Their goal was to minimize damage as to at least not destroy the world, and to also make sure the normal mortals would not know about the existence of the system and its users.

The former were collectively known as researchers.

Surprisingly, despite her unreasonable acts in C Empire upon visiting Mao's headquarters, Bathory was actually a female King. She was governing B Empire for over five hundred years, a place that could be said to be with a history as rich and old as C Empire. 

Another example was Fred. Although like what had been said by Conrad, there were other high rankers in the convalescent center of Alina City, Fred was designated as the King since he was already the most reasonable among the bunch. Of course, that was, if the 'god' was excluded from the list. 

In short, Country F, with a King amidst them, remained fairly peaceful. The normal people were living their lives worrying about tomorrow or enjoying today. People like Amelia could devote their time to preparing for a wedding with a peace of mind, while guys like Marc Boldwin could party every night and have fun with some beautiful ladies. 

Unfortunately, not everyone could have that luxury. 

One and a half weeks passed and Alessa began to think that Chris was merely joking around when he told her about the danger in his life and of those related to him. 

Her reactions were a matter of course, as there had been no terrible news or anything of that sort happening to them. As this went on, doubts began to arise in her heart. Doubt that Chris was simply worrying too much and making a fuss out of nothing. 

He was an actor, and thus, nobody else saw the abnormality in him. Not even knew that he was once injured, as no traces of it remained because of the system. The taping of several commercials and the preparation for the Global Sports Events went on just as usual. There were photo shoots for magazines inserted in between. His work was not affected.

But was Chris really just being paranoid? 

Were the nights he barely got some sleep to rake in more points and buy stuff as a preparation just him being gripped by unfounded fear?

Time passed.

Each day that flew by ever since Sofony and Sofia's disappearance had been taxing for him. 

He didn't become relief that nothing happened apart from appearing unreasonably suspicious to Alessa and his parents for giving them several protective items. 

He also didn't become relieved that he was given more time to complete quests and earn points through the usual 'clearing' operations. 

Then the Global Sports Meet arrived, and he, as the master of the ceremony, stood before an enormous crowd in an open stadium where the opening event took place.

This was coincidentally also the day when all traces of Gio Albarez and some other key figures like Leo vanished completely, where he finally knew that all his preparations were still lacking. 

A feeling of hopelessness engulfed him as he widened his eyes upon being smiled at by a beautiful red-head woman on the B Empire's side. 

Somebody who matched Sofony's description of the woman responsible for delaying them and causing the escape of Mao, leader of C Empire's Catastrophe. 

"Damn."

"You are Bathory." In such a world, Chris blankly muttered a name even though the mic was already placed under his lips. He found it more dreadful how the words did not seem to reach the more than a hundred thousand people beneath the stage. 

Red-haired and with a noble-like disposition. She was indeed Bathory Erzebeth, the Blood Countess.

She was somebody who had reigned over a county and then a country in the 1500s. Even now, the B Empire was still under her. Her feats were truly worthy of admiration.

Yet right now, Chris could feel no whatsoever awe in his heart. His brown eyes darkened as he met her gaze, knowing her appearance here was nothing short of a disaster for him.