The Degree
Same Mindset

“Killing his own family? Arthur??” Terumi muttered in surprise, she slightly looked at Ray as there were some similar parts of the story.

Ray himself did not expect this. He does not know how his story but most likely Arthur has a Degree that is not much different from him.

“What's in it just by knowing the background?” Leo tilted his head in confusion and felt strange. “It's useless in any case. You should think of better things than that.”

Leo will not accept that. He does not know what things can be obtained from knowing the background of a person. Especially Arthur, Ray hopes to find something from his past.

“You may think so, but what about the others? Not everyone believes there is a story without value.” Eric gently answered Leo.

Eric looked at Terumi and then Ray. He stared at Ray for a little longer. There is a certain meaning to that look.

‘This person is smart and may be useful. I don't know what the Degree is but it's possible...’.

Ray had certain thoughts. This person would probably be much more useful than he expected in any aspect.

“Even I am willing to pay in the form of DP.”

Eric added to his offer, perhaps he also realized about how valuable DP will be in the future.

“Not a bad offer. This killer may also bring problems in the future,” said Ray.

There was no disadvantage to looking for this cold-blooded killer. In addition, this will also benefit Ray in some ways.

“You will receive it, Ray?” ask Leo.

“Ya,” Ray nodded, “I need extra DP. Lately I've been very wasteful.”

Terumi and Leo then looked at each other. They don't understand why Ray chose to accept it properly. This person is not the type of human who will work just because of DP alone.

In addition, Terumi is convinced that Ray cannot be moved just because Arthur's past is similar to his.

No one knows the mind of this man. He was interested in something about Arthur. He really needs a D point. He was worried about the existence of this killer.

Things can be possible but no one really answers.

“I won't ask you two to come along. However, I will be happy if you do,” said Ray with an apathetic face.

Terumi smiled gently, “You need not be ashamed to ask for my help, Ray!” Terumi gently hit Ray's shoulder.

‘Even after knowing how I feel about you. You are still as you used to be, nothing has changed.’

It might have been a little disappointing but on the other hand Terumi was happy that Ray had not undergone any meaningful change in his attitude towards him.

“Yeah, what can be done. I'll come with you too. It's been a long time since I haven't felt the adrenaline.” Leo smiled as if to say 'What can be done'.

Ray doesn't expect Leo to come with him. His help will help, but Ray no longer needs a reason to get them both out.

“Thank you for helping. Let's discuss the plan.” Eric begins a serious discussion for the plan to be executed soon.

...****************...

The plan to keep watch is three in the morning. Ray and the others parted ways to rest and prepare for some of the things needed. Before going to his room, Ray goes to the library to search for books at random.

Usually if he went to a quiet place like this there would be a cliche moment where people came to him. The reason Ray knew it was going to happen was because Ray knew he was being followed.

Ray picked up a book that caught his interest. He never read fantasy novels because in his life Ray only read books like an encyclopedia. While there was a chance to read it, Ray had a considerable interest in reading the book.

“Seven Keys Pleiades .. I remember this name of one of the constellations. It seems that the title itself holds an important point in this story,” murmured Ray.

“The main character is Arcadia Orionels. Orion, huh? Naming of the stars. Pretty interesting.”

This may be a common story with the theme of revenge. But what makes it different is how the story is executed and also how different stories are applied.

“I don't think you like fantasy stories.”

The female voice came from the other side of the wall shelf. Different from the voices he was familiar with, this voice sounded strange. Not because of the voice changer through the tool, but more like a made-up original sound.

Ray doesn't know who this guy is just from his voice. He can certainly go to the other side to find out who it is but Ray chooses not to do it.

“You are no different either. This special rack for fantasy.” Ray replied to him indifferently.

“Ya,” he replied nonchalantly. “What about your plan? You delivered it half-and-half so I had to be vigilant when it would be done.”

Half-plan? Only one group Ray knew that well. Who else if not Rebellion?

Ray doesn't know who this guy is. Is he Alexis or maybe the leader straight? If you have to guess then the last possibility is the most likely.

This may be a good opportunity to know the face of Virgo considering that his voice is not changed using a tool. In a sense Virgo does not use his mask. Still, Ray had no intention of doing so.

“That's because I knew you'd do the same. Although hate to admit it but we have similar thoughts.”

Ray has seen some patterns in Virgo's movements during his grand plans. Some can be thought of by Ray easily but there are also things that are hidden so that Ray can not understand it.

“For this time I agree,” Even Virgo no longer has the opposite sentence about this. “So when will the situation you say will happen?”

Ray doesn't really want to say it at this stage, but his gut feeling tells him that Mona and Arthur are more urgent to be eliminated than Virgo himself.

Moreover, even if Virgo fails Ray will still get a meaningful profit. At a time like this, Erina will be very useful. The cards he keeps during this time will be played correctly.

“Morning of the day when the sun begins to rise. I hope you make careful preparations because my plan is not simple.”

Virgo won't be able to guess at this stage because he doesn't know if Ray is connected to Indri. The plan was arguably a hundred percent unknown to this person.

“I don't know what you're going to do. But can you lead those two to a certain place? I don't want to waste my energy looking for him.”

“Even if I can't do it, I'm sure you already know the whereabouts of those two people, or at least one of them.”

Virgo won't talk about it. Because both have the same mindset, it is not impossible to do the same actions as Ray thought.

“You don't have to worry about their whereabouts later. I've prepared the stage for you to act. Performers, stage to audience. Besides, you're not stupid enough not to know the location of the stage.”

It will be the theater of murder in order of last entertainment before the opening of a new assignment from Secret.

“I don't know what your plan is but try not to block me later.”

Virgo's voice grew increasingly distant as he delivered it. Obviously he walks away and of course Ray has no intention of chasing him to find out who he is.

For Ray who Virgo is and what his face looks like doesn't matter. It's not important to him at all.

“No matter who will fail and survive. I'll make sure at least one of the cast members of this theater will be killed.”

Ray silently smiled as he read the book that had been in his hand since then. There is an interesting sentence said by the antagonist of the story in the book.

Hanzo looked down at the weakly sprawled Arcadia. That gaze, has repeatedly destroyed the pride of the fighters, “The real winner is the one who plays from backstage.”

That was pretty good for Ray. No matter how hard they fight, if the situation is set by the mastermind, in the end the mastermind himself is a winner.

Ray closed the book in his hand, his body shaking violently. I don't know how long, I don't know when the last time he felt this way.

“This place is not boring. I can't wait to see what will happen!”