After recognizing his true identity through the toad pendant on his chest that flickered brightly and then dimmed, middle-aged Joshua's mind felt like it had been struck with a broken gong. His eardrums hummed loudly. He even heard the sound of his angry blood rushing into the blood vessels in his ears with a swoosh.
*What the hell is going on with this little Baskin? The guy who completely destroyed my years of hard work is a Cleaner from the Purification Bureau pretending to be someone else! And he's that Ryan Laine, who has repeatedly opposed me and in the future even personally ended the Kingdom!*
*I won't let him go! I absolutely won't let him go!!!*
"Aaaah! I'll kill you!!!"
*Huh? The hatred was actually held back!*
Watching the middle-aged man, whose eyes instantly turned completely red, climbing onto the long table with both hands and feet and pouncing towards him in fury, Ryan, who unexpectedly "retained" him successfully, couldn't help but feel a bit of joy in his eyes.
Considering the many aspects of the instructions for "Beyond the Gate" that seemed impossible to capture, he had originally given up hope of capturing the middle-aged version of Joshua.
However, seeing that Joshua was about to run, and unable to wait for Senior Emma's support, he decided to gamble on the chance, using the Black Goat's intersections to intensify Joshua's anger to the maximum.
Somehow, because Ryan didn't plan to kill him, or maybe Joshua, whose mind was filled with anger, couldn't perceive danger, the crisis-shifting ability of "Beyond the Gate" didn't activate. Instead, Joshua was allowed to rush at him barehanded.
*Perfect! I just learned some fighting techniques a couple of days ago!*
Watching Joshua, full of openings after his reckless charge, Ryan, delighted by the opportunity, quickly released his grip on the Yang Jiao, stepped on the long table, focused his breathing, pulled back his stance, wound up his arm...
And delivered a swift and clean big slap!
With a resounding slap that echoed throughout the conference room, middle-aged Joshua's left cheek and Ryan's right hand made an incredibly close-up intimate contact. Joshua's body, which had rushed forward like an arrow, spun horizontally with the same speed, crashing into a chair on Ryan's left with a loud bang.
Even before his body hit the ground, Joshua, with his jaw suffering a heavy blow and his brain shaken, rolled his eyes in midair. His consciousness and half a mouthful of teeth nearly left his body simultaneously, and he fainted on the spot without even managing to make a sound.
*Serves you right for secretly attacking me!*
Feeling the familiar touch on his uncle-in-law's face, Ryan, finally delivering the slap, felt as if he was placing the last piece in a puzzle. A tingly itch traveled from his spine straight to the top of his head, filling him with an inexplicable sense of relief.
*Hmm... I just forgot to use the newly learned fighting techniques.*
After diligently studying combat with the female police officer for two days, Ryan was eager to try it in practice. But as Joshua's face came within range, somehow, his right hand seemed to have a mind of its own, instinctively swinging over with a smack.
*Perhaps the previous few slaps created some kind of strange muscle memory, causing my hand to move faster than my brain... what a pity.*
Though he didn't get to showcase his hard-earned new skills, a slight flaw in what would have otherwise been perfect, Ryan still managed a satisfied smile as he watched Joshua's face swelling rapidly amidst the pile of broken wood.
*You know, with the handprint I left on his face, the two Joshuas finally look the same... Hmm... That face seems most pleasant to look at when it's swollen from a slap.*
"What... what the hell is going on here?"
Watching Joshua, who had been preparing to escape one moment and then rushed furiously the next, only to be slapped and sprawled out the next, the rebels in the room had been bewildered by the startling turn of events.
"It's nothing, just that the conditions for the ability to activate weren't met."
Covering the Holy Spirit pendant on his neck, Ryan subtly shifted his footing, kicking the broken nail gun in Joshua's hand under the table. Maintaining a calm exterior, he explained,
"Nathan just... hmm... let's call him that! He just explained that if any danger approaches, he'll be relocated immediately.
But I didn't intend to harm him, just gave him a light slap, so his life-saving Anomalous Object may not have considered him to be in real danger, and thus didn't relocate him."
Briefly explaining why Joshua didn't escape, and after putting the Yang Jiao that incited Joshua's anger back into the mirror, Ryan, still waiting for Senior Emma to appear, tried to avoid the attention on the flaws he just exposed. He tapped lightly on the small mirror and continued to urge, shifting the topic,
"Everyone, although Nathan's identity has issues and his previous directives had personal motives, I still believe that the intelligence he just provided on the Crolock Kingdom's scent agent is worth our serious consideration. What do you all think?"
*We... we wouldn't know that?*
Hearing the inquiry from "Little Baskin" and recalling the formidable Crolock Kingdom, the rebels looked at each other, momentarily unsure whether to speak.
*To say the least, compared to the former leader "Nathan," the new leader Little Baskin is clearly more... hmm... he seems to be Little Baskin, but just from what he's said, whether he's Little Baskin isn't important anymore.*
*All these years of effort, though many things have been done, upon careful thought, nothing seems to have been accomplished. Everything has been muddled, and in recent years, we've even lost track of whether what we've been doing is right or wrong.*
*And today, just sitting here listening to Little Baskin speak for ten minutes felt like a streetlight suddenly lighting the way on a dark path, or like someone forcefully opening the door to a dark room, making our minds suddenly clear, finally knowing which direction to step in. This feeling should be called...*
*Yes! Following him feels reliable!*
Seeing the nearly identical meaning in each other's eyes, the rebels finally relaxed their expressions.
*Though we don't know much else, this new leader is evidently much more reliable than the last one, also clearly a lot smarter.*
*While we might not be as smart as Nathan, compared to Little Baskin, we're probably miles behind. Knowing nothing about the Crolock agents, there's no need to voice opinions on such crucial issues, just follow the smart guy and call it a day!*
"I'll listen to you!"
The short man, whose ability temporarily took over physical control, spoke up first,
"Little Ba... Leader! I don't know much about the Crolock Kingdom, but I trust what you say is right! I'll follow you!"
After the short man spoke, apparently motivated by some force, more voices of agreement followed.
A small-framed man stood up and said,
"I think so too! Although attacking the Boarding Tower is risky and may provoke the Crolock Kingdom, I believe in you! Leader, I'm sure you have a plan!"
The elderly woman, holding a sleeping little girl, nodded slightly.
"I follow the Leader's decision!"
The man's burned nose expanded slightly.
"Doesn't matter, I could smell that you're reliable!"
Seeing the "favorable situation" of having passed four votes in front of him, and hearing the continuous chorus of "Leader," Ryan's smile froze...
*Don't mess this up! I wanted you to discuss whether to attack the Boarding Tower to delay time for Senior Emma to arrive and capture everyone. When did I say I was going to be the leader of the rebels?*
*Also, setting aside my intention to arrest you all, if we talk about true identity, I'm currently the Duke of Lionheart within the Old Nobility! A Prince of the Royal Family of Traveling Thrush! I hold positions in both nobility and royalty!*
*Even if you count my position in the Ryan Family, I have hundreds of large and small factories and the largest arms company in the entire Kingdom under my name! If you elect me as the leader of the rebels, how is that any different from electing a Jewish person as the German leader?*
"Um... why don't we first discuss the Boarding Tower issue."
Unable to explain his true identity and afraid of overachieving the Red-haired Director's "expectations," Ryan awkwardly added,
"Everyone, I'm still young and haven't dealt with much actual business. If you expect me to lead, it's impossible.
So let's discuss the Boarding Tower plan first. I haven't done much of this before, and if I were to take charge of attacking the Boarding Tower, I wouldn't even know where to start... hmm... do you have any suggestions?"
"Leader, you're being modest."
Observing a "Little Baskin" who didn't come across as overbearing this time, not presumptuously accepting a leadership position but rather relinquishing part of his speaking rights, the plump middle-aged man's eyes showed satisfaction as he stood up with a cheerful grin,
"Age is not an issue, lack of experience can be slowly compensated for, but long-term vision is innate!
Leader! Please don't decline any further, you're the only suitable one for this position. Additionally, should you need experience in the future, I, Oliver, would be more than willing to offer any support needed!"
"I... I have no objection..."
Discussing the Boarding Tower plan wasn't on anyone's mind anymore. Among the remaining seven rebels, the bald woman, the sole "former leader supporter," touched her head and sighed,
"Though Nathan saved me, but... but his true identity was actually the Prince, and he's been using us as tools. I can no longer believe in him.
Little Baskin... no! Leader! As long as you continue to lead us forward, I will always recognize you as the leader!"
As if to match the mood, little Phoebe, who was fast asleep, shivered slightly, showing a sweet and adorable smile in her sleep.
"Wow... it's so sweet!"
[Through cunningly devised plans, you completely shattered the trust that the rebel members had in their original leader and gained unanimous recognition from the seven current core members. You have earned the Silver Level Hidden Badge, "Usurper."]