Chapter 22: Transmigrator Hunters
The association called Gris by the code name Number Zero. It was where he learned to become an assassin and entered the professional world.
He had plenty of wild experiences at the association. One memory that stuck with him was when he was unexpectedly placed into a VR capsule.
The VR capsule could not be released to the public because it had the potential to harm the brain. However, the association purchased it secretly.
Gris did not suspect he was inside the VR Capsule because the association replicated his world precisely. In the virtual scenario, he and his colleagues were captured by a group of cannibals and had to escape from them.
"Ugh, seriously? Is the association trying to mess with me by making some new virtual reality thing? Well, at least they spared me from watching a bunch of cannibals chow down on human flesh."
His face was visibly marked with anger as he cursed the association. When it came to the VR capsule incident, he successfully battled against the group of cannibals and made his escape.
Upon noticing certain glitches, Gris soon came to the realization that he was not in the real world. As soon as he identified the glitch, he directly exited the virtual world.
"Okay, cool. So all I got to do is find a glitch to bounce out of this place?" Gris muttered, trying to recall if there were any oddities he had encountered.
Solnisca shook her head. "This isn't some VR fantasy. This is the real deal!"
Gris stopped thinking. He frowned in surprise. "Hold up. I thought you were one of my crew, and the association trapped us here."
"Nah, we're just strangers in this crazy situation."
"Then how come you know my code name?"
"I entered your thoughts through the dreamscape."
If this were the normal world Gris knew, he would think Solnisca was joking. But after going through extraordinary events, he could not take it as a joke.
"Tell me more about that," he requested.
"I transmigrated to this world before you," Solnisca began her story, frustration evident in her gaze. "Back in my past life, I was a lucid dreamer. Brought that ability here to tap into the memories of the real Solnisca using dreams. But then, an entity called Somnium Sovereign dug into what I was doing and granted me the Dreamweaver class."
Gris furrowed his brow. The Dreamweaver class granted the ability to enter the dream world and manipulate the dreams of others.
It was a mythical class. The actual Solnisca received the Priest class, which was quite common due to her deep connection with the church.
"You sneak into my dreams to dig up on my past life?" Gris began to understand why Solnisca could get his secret information.
"Exactly. Dream world's like a mash-up of human memories. I've peeped some memories that don't quite sync up with this reality. Something funky's going on."
"Some memories...?"
Solnisca bit her thumb.
"Hell yeah! We aren't alone in this transmigration. You were out cold when they dragged you to the Forest of Death, right? That's when I slipped into your dreams."
"So, it was you who sent the poisonous snake. But I see no cause for you to aid me."
"Because I'm the one who needs a hand," Solnisca's eyes shifted uneasily. "There are other transmigrators out there. They banded together and removed others who opposed the main character."
"Oh, dang. Are those the ones who transmigrated as the righteous characters?"
Gris cursed again as Solnisca gave a nod. He had expected other transmigrators. But it still made him anxious because he was a new player among the experienced ones.
"I am not playing it like the real Griswalden," Gris said. "Think the group going to catch on to me?"
"They will notice if you're in the arc after the time skip. I mean, the novel skips over Griswalden's youth with the Silverth family cause he isn't the main character."
Solnisca's hands were covered in cold sweat as she fiddled with them restlessly.
"I'm in a tight spot 'cause I'm all wrapped up with the main character," she spoke in a tone full of frustration. "Solnisca's painted as this cunning but kind-hearted type. I'm sick of putting on an act, but if I step out of line from the original character, I could end up hunted down."
Her shoulders trembled, and tears started to fall. It had been a tough day for her as a princess in the empire. If she reacted this way, the memories she witnessed of the group must have been horrifying.
Even though she had revealed her vulnerable side, Gris showed no sympathy. Instead, he remarked:
"I can't lend a hand on this one. If some group's on my tail, I must put myself first, right?"
Solnisca wiped her tears away roughly with the back of her hand. Her gaze suddenly brightened.
"I'm a girl!"
"...And I'm not some gamer thrilled just because there's a chick in my party."
"But you need a girl for the entrance exam of the Doomsday Committee. They got this test on sneaking into enemy turf, and having a girl makes it smoother.
Folks tend to sympathize with girls, especially pregnant ones. I could play the part of a girl caught up in the villains' mess, and we can make our getaway together, like siblings or whatever."
Gris only knew that one had to pass various tests to join the Doomsday Committee. Hearing Solnisca's explanation, he was sure the girl had stolen the information through a dream.
No wonder Dreamweaver was classified as a mythical rank. The special abilities were no joke.
"This is our first encounter. Can't just hand over my trust like that," Gris clarified.
Solnisca smiled. "Fair enough. Even if we team up one day, a bit of suspicion between us isn't bad. In this messed-up world, the only person you can truly trust is yourself, am I right?"
"Glad you see where I'm coming from. So, you got a crew already? You mentioned other transmigrators. Some must be playing for the dark side like us."
A long sigh escaped Solnisca's mouth. The look in her eyes showed she was tired of repeatedly explaining the same thing.
But since this was the first meeting with Gris, she could not help but explain.
"Most of them beyond my reach. And not all wanna play the villains like you. Familiar with those clickbait stories where the main transmigrated character is the villain but turns out to be good?"
Gris raised one eyebrow. "Yeah, I get it. But why not just cozy up to Lux and live a peaceful life by his side?"
"Are you out of your mind?" Solnisca's face twisted up like she had just tasted something really sour. "I wouldn't last a minute in Lux's harem. I mean, I might accidentally end up cutting his manhood. What kind of chaos would erupt if I pulled that stunt on the future Emperor of Peace?"
"Chances are, they'd toss you to the crocs for a live snack."
Solnisca gave a thumbs up, her gaze blank. "I went down in flames in a plane crash, and bam! Suddenly, I blinked and found myself in a whole new situation. Well, at least I got cremated..."
For the next while, she grumbled about how tough it was to be a princess, take care of imperial duties, and serve the church.
Gris stayed quiet. He'd encountered plenty of women during his previous missions, so he was accustomed to their noisy chatter.
If he were impatient, he'd probably end up carelessly taking out his female targets the moment they started getting on his nerves.
"I forgot to mention something crucial," Solnisca finally ended her story of having to pray in the temple for hours. "I reckoned you'd be raiding, so I purposefully journeyed this path to cross paths with you."
"So, what's the important thing?"
"The academy will be taking in new students soon. I stole the information from a committee member. He mentioned it's kicking off in a week."
Gris felt a bit shocked. He had been informed earlier that the academy's acceptance of new students was kept secret and came out of the blue.
But a week was too soon. Blayz had already prepared top-tier guards and items to help Gris in danger while training on his land.
If what Solnisca said turned out to be true, Gris would need to scrap his training plan to get stronger before joining the academy.
"There isn't safer haven for us except Pandemonium Academy. It's brimming with top-notch outlaws, so the transmigrator hunters can't lay a finger on us," Solnisca said, knowing Gris' training plan.
She spoke again, "I know my attitude may be strange and annoying. But I could be useful to you. I'm walking this unfamiliar path all by my lonesome, and it's mighty fine to cross paths with someone sharing the same direction."
Gris glanced at Solnisca, who reached out her hand, thinking about whether he should team up with this girl.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone