The Transmigrated Author

Sitting in a coffee shop after coming close to death has never felt better. After today's events, I definitely needed a break. Jan could have killed me, but here I am, relaxing in a random Seoul coffee shop.

It was only 6 PM, after dark, but there was plenty to enjoy during the Korean nightlife.

My stay over the past few months has been great, but I knew there was a lot I needed to do moving forward.

I could enjoy this peace for now, but it wouldn't last. The next arc in the story was about to begin:

The First Year Examination Arc.

An event I needed to prepare for.

This first-year practical exam would take place on an island occupied with actual monsters and an artificially tampered boss monster.

Assessors would evaluate students based on survival skills, combat adaptability, and teamwork over an entire week.

The scenario sounded cool - being away from the academy instead of studying.

But experiencing it firsthand meant I could actually die from lack of proper food.

However, that was the least of my worries.

The most important part was the appearance of a high-graded monster as the final boss.

It's a massive creature that will awaken on the seventh day at the island's centre.

The exciting part is that Jan and Louise will work together to defeat it.

It's ironic and a change of pace for two polar opposite characters, but I consider it a unique development.

"Here's your coffee, sir."

The waiter handed me my coffee, placing it on the leather coaster.

She had an obnoxious expression, almost like she pitied me. I wouldn't tolerate that, but I decided to let it slide.

I grabbed the cup and raised it to my nose.

Sniff... sniff...

"...!"

"What?" My eyes widened.

The steam rose to my nostrils, and as I inhaled the coffee's aroma, my head started to feel dizzy.

It was like I was about to black out.

"There's something wrong..."

Hey system analyze the coffee for me.

FWANG!

[Sure Mr. Axel!]

[Analyzing Coffee... 45%...85%...100%]

[Analysis complete! - - - Displaying Contents...]

________________

[Poisoned Coffee Contents]

Espresso Shot (30ml)

Steamed Milk (90ml)

Milk Foam (15ml)

Benzodiazepines (75ml)

________________

As I saw the system screen zoom in on the Benzodiazepines, I realized the trouble I was in.

Not only was my drink poisoned, but that dosage was potentially lethal.

The aroma was already enough to make my head sway.

But who would do this?

I don't remember anyone wanting me dead?

"Oh shit..."

My hands trembled for a second.

Haah...

— "One day... I'll be coming for you."

Damn it... I face palmed reflexively and cursed my actions for being chased by someone like him.

What could do?

It's not like their aim really was to kill me.

But what kind of idiot puts 70 millilitres of Benzodiazepines in a drink?

No matter, I hope they're not looking for a fight.

Because fighting in a public area only means trouble for the opposing side.

I don't mind if people get hurt here. I just need to confirm who's behind the drugging.

***

Aconite.

An agent that specialises in alchemy she's a genius at creating any poison and sleeping drugs.

Aconite, an expert alchemist and executive in Quadra, played a crucial role in Vladimir's demonic operations while also fulfilling her duties as one of Cyran's Executive Executioners.

Currently, she is staying in South Korea, visiting an old friend.

Though they now belonged to different organizations and had assumed different duties, Aconite owed her friend a debt of gratitude for the opportunities she had received.

Her friend wanted to capture a student named Rel Laurence.

For this mission, codenamed "Debt Repayment," Aconite had received information about Rel heading to a cafe past 5:45 PM.

With her advanced intel and technology, she could track and reach any location quickly.

Coincidentally, she was only a few minutes away once she pinged his watch signal.

She located him in a nearby cafe, just 100 meters away.

Leaping from rooftop to rooftop, Aconite made her way towards the cafe unseen.

Finally, she arrived and spotted a boy who matched the description from her intel: black messy hair, blue eyes, and an expressionless face.

It was clearly Rel, sitting by the window.

KACHAK!

Pulling out her sniper scope she carefully observed his every action.

『He's been sitting in the same spot for a few minutes... everything around him looks like an opening, and there's no sign of him getting up. Perhaps I could approach from the front, but... 』

"The reports on him advise caution."

Exiting out of her scope she placed the sniper on her back.

She knew his abilities had been verified. If she hadn't known beforehand of someone like him, she would've misjudged Rel for a normal student who attends Pinnacle Academy.

"I'll have to do an inside operation,"

Aconite pulled a potion from her pocket and poured it onto the ground, creating a physical body.

It was a faceless, slim figure with black skin.

Peering from the balcony, she saw a female worker heading outside to take out the trash.

Aconite kept her eyes on the worker, and as soon as she left, she turned her attention to the empty body.

"Spell cast formation: Physical application clone."

Extending her hand, she imbued the body with her mana, shaping it perfectly into one of her memorized targets.

Then, with precise control, she used a thread of mana to conceal the empty core and remotely controlled its movements, commanding it to follow the worker.

Within minutes, Aconite infiltrated the coffee shop by putting the worker to sleep.

"Now, I just need to hand this over..."

She summoned another clone, identical to herself but wearing an all-black suit and mask. Carefully, she instructed it to deliver the special pill to the worker clone.

As she coordinated the two clones, they met in the hallway. The worker clone took the pill and headed back inside.

DOOSH!

The clone of herself disappeared into the ground and rose back from her shadow.