Chapter 180: Schemes Around Schemes Within Schemes

'Dammit, what do I do here?' Compass Carburettor was worried when he thought of something, activating Info Scanner once again, sensing Neena.

[Directional Misalignment (Level 1): 28 Mental Energy]

'Her Mental Energy has dropped by a lot.' He then understood the reason. Since they were constantly on the move, it meant the ability was being used a lot. And, for some reason, Krager had begun to run towards the peak of the mountain, hence evading the effect.

After all, the target was only Rhizen. As for Compass Carburettor, since he was trying to rush towards Rhizen all along, he was still under the ability's effect. Moreover, upon understanding her ability, he didn't move too much, but still traversed enough distance by jutting to and fro.

He was careful to not stumble through the side of the mountain and result in his death. And, since he was just considered an extra, the effect of the ability was only minor on him. As for Rhizen, the one fully targeted by the ability, the poor guy wasn't even aware and had gotten more and more lost in the woods.

'But, I thought the two of them communicated with each other to target Rhizen?' Upon noticing the peculiarity of the issue, Compass Carburettor frowned, soon thinking of the reason, 'I see. The treasure that Rhizen would obtain should have been at the peak of Mount Craire. While he's roaming around here and risking his life thanks to Neena, Krager would obtain the treasure.'

It was a simple misunderstanding due to their actions. But in reality, the Quests of both Neena and Krager were different, hence this result.

And, the Systems of both were ordered to do so by the Systems that were targeting the Coincidental Luck System, its actual enemies. They were aware that to not suffer a major loss, the Coincidental Luck System wouldn't have detailed anything to the System Slayer it had brought in, if it had done so in the first place.

So, this action was also targeting Compass Carburettor. Unfortunately, he fell for it. Because, the likelihood of it being a possibility was almost definite—in his perspective.

'What the heck?' Just when he planned to take action when Neena's Mental Energy fell to rock bottom, he was alarmed, noticing something right before the effect of Info Scanner vanished.

[Directional Misalignment (Level 1): 9 Mental Energy]

[Directional Misalignment (Level 1): 351 Mental Energy]

'How the heck is this possible?' He was alarmed when he recalled the words of the Slave Harem System, recognising the reason Systems were known as a cheat in the first place.

The Astral Network!

It allowed them to buy and sell anything and everything through it. It was a mystical place that had a connection to every world.

And, to obtain the necessary Mental Energy, the Directional Misalignment System should have sold something.

Having faced the effect of its Core Skill first-hand, he understood just how powerful it was. It was a versatile ability useful against any creature that moved. Unlike abilities that consisted of brute force, such abilities allowed one to unleash effect largely superior to the energy consumed.

All of it depended on one's planning. But with that, an ability like Directional Misalignment was of stellar value.

Now that Neena had enough Mental Energy to keep her ability ongoing, Compass Carburettor became more worried.

Suddenly, he looked around, noticing a cobra coiled under a bush, aligning itself parallel to a tree root to remain discrete.

'I see, there is a chance this cobra had arrived here thanks to luck. It may or may not be the case, but anyway, it'll allow me to do something.' He thought, immediately making a decision.

In his Anthozoa, one of the bullets was replaced by the Core Skill of Slave Harem. Since he was able to shoot System Fragments, he had wondered if he could do the same using his Core Skills too.

And, it was possible. But, the only difference was the fact that when he used Slave Harem normally, he could sustain its effect using Darlac. But, when used through Anthozoa, he could only supply it with Mental Energy.

After all, he was launching a projectile. And, the consumed Mental Energy was dependent on the target's willpower. Also, only Mental Energy can form a stream that would instantly supply the bullet with the energy accordingly to the consumption.

After all, thoughts were said to travel around the speed of light, give or take. So, the Mental Energy stream would be accompanying the bullet towards his target.

As he was aware of Neena's position, he faced his back towards her, summoning his Anthozoa before shooting at the cobra.

The bullet landed on the cobra, causing it to flinch as something within it changed. As the bullet was condensed with the ability of Slave Harem, the cobra didn't even notice anything touching it. Rather, it was alarmed when its mind suddenly whirred into action.

A couple of seconds later, he shot another bullet at it. And this time, the bullet contained the ability of Secret Society, instantly making the cobra a member.

"Attack her!" Compass Carburettor relayed the instruction after bestowing the Skill of Intelligence to it. Moreover, he made it constantly pray to him, thereby preventing Neena's System from sensing it.

To reduce the Mental Energy consumption, it seemed Neena had only been focusing the effect on him and Rhizen.

He was unsure if Neena actually knew about her energy reserves or if the Directional Misalignment System had fed her some bullshit that made her privy to the Mental Energy reserves without actually knowing about it.

He didn't care about it, for the time being, nodding in appreciation when the cobra sneaked behind her, immediately biting onto her hips where the fabric covering her was the thinnest.

"Kyak!" Neena flinched in response, turning around to see a cobra landing on the ground before slithering away.

Immediately, she was alarmed, frantically looking through her bag to pull out a syringe that she used to suck out the poison from her hips.

As someone that frequented the place, she was aware of the existence of cobras on Mount Craire, even though they were really rare. Hence, she prepared a syringe to immediately suck out the poison, immediately swallowing an herbal paste that would help her condition long enough to reach a hospital for the antidote.

But right at this time, the cobra bit onto her hip from the other side, causing her to shriek in response, now afraid.

Author's Notes: January Month's Mass Release Quota

Target: Top 75 GT Ranking

Reward 1: 10 regular chapters

Reward 2: 18 Privilege chapters

Magic Castle: 2

Spacecraft: 5

Golden Gachapon: 10

[Tier 3 Privilege has 15 chaps with a 50% Discount]