System S.E.X. (Seduction, Expansion, eXecution)

Chapter 325: Chapter 325: The Weight of the Ring

The Auditor sighed, his expression softening into something more paternal. He looked at the smoking crater and then back at Ethan, raising his hands in a gesture of peace.

”I see you have a deep-seated prejudice against us, Mr. Blake. Perhaps we should both lower our voices and talk like civilized men. I am certain that once we discuss the reality of the situation, the tension between us will dissipate,” the Auditor said.

His tone was conciliatory and calm, sounding very much like a grandfather offering sage advice to a rebellious grandson.

Ethan kept his guard up, the purple static still dancing faintly across his knuckles, but he allowed the aggressive tension in his posture to fade slightly. In truth, he didn’t want to declare an all-out war on the Union unless it was absolutely necessary. However, every representative he had met so far—from the arrogant fools at Celestial to this latest recruit—had acted as if they were gods walking among insects. It made Ethan want to force them to eat every condescending word they uttered.

”Fine. I’ll listen... if only out of respect for my elders,” Ethan said.

The Auditor chuckled, a thin, dry sound. ”Very well, little one. Take a seat,” the Auditor said.

With a casual flick of his wrist, the Auditor performed a feat of spatial manipulation. A pair of ornate, velvet-lined luxury armchairs materialized out of thin air, placed perfectly on the cracked, dusty earth. He sat down in one, leaning back with a smug, self-assured smile, clearly waiting for Ethan to be awestruck by the display of a high-level Dimensional Ring.

Ethan looked at the chair, then at the Auditor’s shimmering ring, and let out a short, unimpressed breath.

”Don’t worry about me. I brought my own. I prefer a bit more lumbar support,” Ethan said.

Ethan reached into his own system inventory. In a flash of light that was far smoother and faster than the Auditor’s ring, a sleek, modern ergonomic recliner appeared—one he kept specifically for moments of travel convenience.

The Auditor’s smug smile faltered, his eyes widening as he stared at the chair and then at Ethan’s hand. He swallowed hard, re-evaluating everything he thought he knew about the man in front of him. In the Union’s world, Dimensional Rings weren’t just rare; they were legendary artifacts, extremely expensive and notoriously difficult to manufacture. Most leaders would be incredibly flattered just to see one, or tempted to kill for it.

The Auditor had planned to use the ring to display the Union’s overwhelming wealth and technological superiority to entice Ethan into joining. Now, seeing Ethan treat the same technology like a common household appliance, he realized his tactics were hollow.

”You... you possess a high-capacity spatial anchor? Without a visible catalyst? That is... unexpected,” the Auditor said.

”Like I said, let’s skip the parlor tricks and get to the point. Why is the Union so desperate for a ’Silver’ member like me?” Ethan said.

The Auditor leaned back in his velvet chair, his gaze becoming distant as he began to speak. ”Allow me to tell you a story, Mr. Ethan... Once, there was a new power that appeared out of nowhere. It attacked every surrounding organization, tearing through defenses that were supposedly protected by a grand Union. This power moved like a shadow, striking without mercy and leaving the status quo in ruins.”

Ethan remained silent, his eyes cold as he realized the old man was describing him without saying his name.

”This sudden uprising has caused many to whisper. They ask if the Union is still the master of this world, or if we have become nothing more than a puppet that cannot even keep one person in check,” the Auditor said.

”So, what you’re really saying is that you need to use me as an example. You want to parade me around to show everyone what happens if they mess with the Union, right?” Ethan said.

”The world has held its shape for hundreds of years, perhaps thousands. The Union maintains peace and harmony. We cannot allow disorganized chaos in our territory. I hope you are kind enough to understand that it is our duty to maintain that order,” the Auditor said.

Ethan let out a sharp, jagged laugh that contained no humor. He stood up slowly, the air around his fists beginning to ripple and distort as purple energy overflowed once more.

”You say you maintain order, but your puppies spend all their time barking and biting everyone they see. I don’t know where you get the idea that you maintain ’harmony’ with a group of idiots like Celestial, Olympus, and Parthenon. Even that Scavenger trash traffics people openly,” Ethan said.

The Auditor’s expression tightened, but Ethan wasn’t finished. During his weeks of meditation, he hadn’t just been training his spirit; Crul had finally breached the core defenses of Parthenon and Celestial. They had found the direct link to the Union’s official network. While Crul hadn’t fully decrypted the central hub, they had found more than enough evidence of the filth hidden beneath the Union’s ”peace.”

”I found the records. I know both sides pay you enough commissions to keep your mouths shut. You control the prison systems just to kidnap women, and you’ve taken enough bribes to run over ten thousand ’orphanages’ across the continent. You call that maintaining peace? To me, you’re just a bunch of bastard sons of bitches...!!!” Ethan said.

The ground beneath Ethan’s feet cracked. The data Crul had uncovered was sickening, but the most revolting part was the Union’s obsession with children—a massive, organized network of predators hiding behind the veil of a global government. He wanted nothing to do with this scum, yet here they were, knocking on his door with a silver card and a smile.

”Tell me, ’Grandfather’... does the Union have a special rank for child traffickers, or do they just get the Gold-tier benefits automatically?” Ethan said.

Ethan’s sarcastic laugh caused the old man’s face to contort involuntarily.