Paradise of Infinity: 337

Title: Initiative Time

Infinity’s structure is simple.

There are three Paradises at the top, controlling every member inducted by Infinity—Transmigration, Reincarnation, and Monster. Below them, from Rank 6-9, are the Executives. Beneath the Executives are the ‘Labor’ from Rank 1-5. At the bottom are the Rank 0 recruits from the Executives or the Infinity.

Nik doesn’t know much about the Monster Paradise. He knows from Ray that the other two Paradises have several functions to form groups.

As expected, concepts like trade and competition transcend humanity and are observed in several sentient species. The Executives under the Reincarnation Paradise aren’t different.

Under the Reincarnation Paradise exist 10 Rank 9 members. Most of them are unknown. However, one among them is the most high-profile case—Auction. Since the Transmigration Paradise doesn’t support a trading platform, Rank 9 Executives like the Auction are hard to discover there.

Auction is not a site. That Rank 9 Executive got this moniker due to the most booming business in the Reincarnation Paradise—Infinite Auction. Nobody knows what Auction’s chat handle is or how he looks. Ray says the Infinity Auction sells everything, including Living Beings.

Nik… isn’t surprised.

Slaves?

Even though he doesn’t take to the idea, he understands how lucrative a Slave Business is. He’s experienced things capable of making Ray’s skin crawl up with disgust and horror. So, Nik is more level-headed about this situation.

Like other Executives, Auction has a deep network of low-ranked Executives and Members who collect things for the Business. Other hosts also like selling ‘fateful’ individuals depicted in media to the Infinity Auction for AP. Garcia is one such individual. From Ray, Nik knows that Dutch, Benny, Revy, Roberta, Shenhua, Eda, Chang, Sofia, Koro, and others around Nik are depicted in the media. Thus, they have a high AP value.

Actually, Nik is somewhat miffed. He would have visited the nearest branch of Infinite Auction on the topmost layer of the Trading Facility had he known about them. But he also empathizes with Ray’s disgust for the Organization.

Now, Nik has a good thing going on. Although he wants an unbiased first impression of the ‘characters,’ Nik isn’t naive enough to believe he could do without learning about the world he travels to. Visiting the Infinite Auction might allow him a fresh perspective.

Ray’s intel is adequate.

Nik merely desires more.

He ponders while sitting on the ledge of some building.

‘Ray is taking care of some things. Another popular character, she said,’ his gaze flickers. Nik didn’t ask about that person. He doesn’t want to know. His plate is already full—thinking of ways to find Garcia, Dutch, and Benny.

‘So, this Compass allows me to find what I seek the most. Ray can’t use it for some reason. Or rather, what she obsesses over isn’t in this world.’ Nik glances at the odd Compass in his hand. Its directional hand idly sways. ‘She used it to find me and Revy when we were separated.’

It’s a resourceful tool.

Nik wagers this is what Lava-Head used to find him back in Roanapur.

However, this compass isn’t without flaws.

‘Deeply obsessed individuals cannot change their desires. So Ray cannot use it. Second, the compass cannot locate people not in the same ‘world.’ Hosts have personal spaces. Hiding inside one allows them to avoid the compass’ detection. I already tried it. I cannot find Garcia, but…’

He tries again for confirmation’s sake.

‘Roberta…’

He thinks about the peculiar individual.

Nik isn’t someone with deep obsessions. He does have some issues. However, they rarely interrupt his thoughts. Besides, Nik did want Roberta as a capable partner and a maid. His stirred desires shift the compass’ hand southwest.

He nods, breathing deeply before thinking about someone else.

‘Shenhua…’

He recalls the slim, pale woman with a knack of knives no less fatal than Mai. Yet, Shenhua is surprisingly warm and friendly.

The compass whirs to life again, pointing southwest.

Nik’s gaze flickers as he continues.

Thinking about Dutch, Benny, Chang, Eda, and Garcia doesn’t do a thing.

Instead, only Shenhua and Roberta’s locations point in the same direction.

‘I also can’t find who may have taken these people. Ideally, it should be one host. Perhaps the one who tried besting Ray and snatched the twins.’

Nik hopes that’s the case.

It means the Host is in for the long haul and wishes to kidnap others before leaving. Nik also surprisingly finds himself discovering other clues from this clue.

Why is he surprised?

Because the brain works wonderfully. Nik never had to think so much in the previous world. However, he’s steadily realizing that he CAN think tactically more often than he ever cared. The first instance was when he tried escaping from his previous Bordello.

Now?

Nik realizes that the person responsible must have a way to demand his victims’ obedience. After all, one must allow themselves to enter the Host’s personal space. Why would someone like Dutch and Benny agree to it? Especially Dutch. He is a seasoned veteran. He must have known agreeing to something like this only meant his death or something worse. He also shouldn’t have broken through ordinary torture. Chang should be the same despite Nik’s fickle impression of the man. Chang is someone of Balalaika’s level of authority and mentality.

Either the Host has a mind-altering skill like Nik’s [Twilight Thief] or some drug of the same effect. If the said Host is skilled in such kidnappings, he must have developed discipline around it involving items from Paradise and similar skills.

If it’s not these…

‘They can also be dead,’ Nik doesn’t rule out the grim possibility. ‘Or the Host left. There’s also the possibility of multiple Hosts behind this, making it more troublesome. But… There are only a few of us left. To be precise, 9.’

Nik confirms the direction before moving like a specter. His figure hops from roof to roof. Sure, Roberta wanted to meet him tomorrow, but what if the enemy struck now? Nik won’t take such chances.

Things are only favorable when one holds the initiative. Didn’t Ray manage to save the Twins because she was in a favorable position?

Why was that?

Because she held the initiative.

<<<>>>

Unlike Nik, Ray holds another fort while counting her lucky stars.

‘Thankfully,’ the white-haired femme fatale feels lucky as she spies on an unassuming house. She is still in Tokyo, but it’s a more homely section of the prefecture. Her soulful pink pupils glimmer as she finds a girl curtain her room’s windows. Surprisingly, it’s Saki Yoshida. Nik and the others bumped into her a few days ago!

Ray has been following Saki since.

‘The mighty 177013!’ Ray gushes internally.

In a way, Saki is a legend. So, her value to the auction must be greater despite her ordinary origins. Ray hadn’t assumed to use Saki as bait. The succubus wanted to save Saki moments before…

—someone assaulted her.

‘There was that delinquent scumbag following Saki before. However, she didn’t care about him. That’s different from the lore. Is it because she goes to Kunugigaoka in this verse and has crippling mental pressure for her studies? But if that were the case, she would have never turned to makeup.’

Ray frowns, trying to uncover the mystery.

Saki Yoshida’s circumstances are ordinary yet disheartening. First, she seeks friends. To do so, she begins using makeup after entering high school. She does make a few friends by straightening her hair, a little foundation, and using contact lenses. However, she also becomes a target of the depraved kind.

Unsuspecting of her ‘admirer’s’ intentions, she gets assaulted in a Karaoke room, and her life goes downhill. She tries following one of her classmate’s tricks of dating adult men. However, that endeavor turns into prostitution. Then Saki’s father also decides to try the younger model of his wife. Not to mention Saki’s classmates. Soon, Saki’s mother finds the truth because her father couldn’t handle the ‘guilt.’ Unexpectedly, Saki is at fault again since she ‘seduced’ her drunk father.

Next, Saki’s homeless before a life of drugs greets her. Eventually? The story ends in two ways. First, she dies pregnant, beaten by her former female classmates. Second, a more bittersweet one is the JoJo ending.

Honestly?

Ray prefers the second. She’s a sucker for sweet things.

The world is cruel. But does that mean Ray has to follow the norms? Can’t she try and be better?

But Ray’s plenty selfish. There are no two ways about it. Ray wants something good for Saki. It’s not every day you meet the Holy Grail of Hentai!

‘And Saki wanted a piece of Nik~!’

‘I’ve never been a proper wingman before,’ Ray hums to herself. ‘How cute would it be to see another Hentai character around Nik…’

Ray’s thoughts are still before she sighs.

‘She isn’t a character. I need to stop doing that.’ Ray exhales. ‘Still, there are many differences. First, most of her Classmates are virgins since the pressure from their studies is off the charts given that the high school students don’t have a backup plan—Class 3-E. Second, Saki should have been attracted to a male presence. That delinquent bastard tried to get in a room with her. But she didn’t give him a time of the day. Sigh…’

Ray wanted to bust into the Karaoke Room and save Saki. But she never got a chance.

‘It must have been Nik. Saki’s got a full blast of an Incubus’ presence even when Nik never used any pheromones explicitly. She’s also getting cold treatment from her classmates, so Saki has no female friends to learn paid dating. And what’s wrong with her father?’ Ray frowns. Saki’s father should have made a move. When focusing, Ray can sense his desires for Saki!

‘Perhaps too busy?’ Ray raises an eyebrow. ‘It’s a good thing I didn’t involve myself before. Saving her is fine. But I also want another shot at the Host. I want to try capturing or killing the Host collecting ‘Items’ for the Infinite Auction.’

Ray isn’t doing this for a just cause. She cannot save everyone.

The succubus simply desires the Host’s wealth. After all, she cannot get the Host’s AP. But what about their Personal World and the items stored within?

What if this Host has an AP storage chip?

She could strike rich!

Ray admits she isn’t a warrior of justice.

She is lazy and sloppy. Greedy, too. Foremost, she quivers for wholesome moments and hentai! The succubus is against many things to an irrational degree.

So, she doesn’t feel bad when using Saki to bait the host while plotting a wholesome end for the Holy Grail beside Nik.

What’s there to feel bad about?

She’ll be possibly several times richer, allowing her to employ Nik’s essence for her Familiar Egg. Also, Ray might have some good snaps of Saki enjoying a wholesome mating ritual!

Ray will pay Nik extra for that!

Although…

Nik still refuses to sell her such shots despite admitting to possessing solid storage of such moments.

Ray stops letting her mind wander. She already checked her device.

‘Including our team, there are 9 hosts left. We only had the notification of one Host dying. Accu-mulet is the third, Lava- Head ‘Dracule’—and his partner, the Herd—must be fourth and fifth. Who are the remaining four hosts? Is one of them the Blue-Skinned host from before?’

She recalls the ‘Devil.’

‘He was a quick one,’ Ray grimaces. ‘His bloodline was a rank below mine. But the rarity of his bloodline is similar to mine and Nik’s. So… these are the high-rated missions, eh?’ The succubus sighs. ‘Oh, Nik! I tried so hard to maintain my rating as ordinary.’

Even though the Hosts cannot see ‘ratings,’ they can employ tricks and tactics like purposely losing a mission or neglecting their Ranks in the Organization. But Nik wasn’t having any of that.

Their rating…

It might increase with every world!

<<<>>>

“Ugh!” A sharp sting jolting from her head to the spine pulls a grunt as the figure’s vision grows dizzy. Her weary figure almost collapses against the sink. A powerful grip keeps her up. Cold hatred brews in those stony blue eyes as she looks into the mirror.

Failure.

What a failure!

The reflection smirks at her, mouthing the word ‘failure.’

‘I’m not!’ She grits her teeth, stuffing a handful of questionable pills into her mouth. Being a failure to her individual goals doesn’t scare her. But the lack of ability to protect her caretakers is galling. It hurts like no bullet or blade does.

Failure.

Rosarita mocks. What a weak failure Roberta has become. A feeble cage still holding onto the weakest embers of kind memories and a benevolent stream of chances bestowed by the Lovelace Family.

She wants to be the kind Roberta who can smile with the young master and others.

But Rosarita is always there.

She’s in every mirror and reflection.

How many opportunities has she already lost?

“Ugh!” she grips her head. Painful memories sway in her vision. It’s blood everywhere. She’d almost killed innocents on the matter in Roanapur. Why?

Things were going well!

Moon got fucked up? Who cares. She would be dead before it even mattered to Earth on a cosmic scale.

All she wants is a peaceful life. If she didn’t…

If Rosarita didn’t desire that, how could Roberta even be?

The Lovelace Family also had an expansion into the mineral business. Things were looking up. They even contracted Nik to cover the clean-up as compensation for him protecting Garcia’s life.

Nik…

She didn’t want his help.

Roberta…

Rosarita didn’t want Nik to see her like this. She sighs, feeling the cold, refreshing wind slightly soothing her mind. If possible, Rosarita wanted to do things herself, but the benefit of being a veteran, even if manic, is to know when you’re out of your depths. There are things she cannot deal with.

‘Things’ that can vanish structures with a thought.

‘Magical’ Things.

Rosarita’s gaze slightly softens as she recollects her night with Nik and the background noise of moans. What was her name again? Rundy? Sounds like it. Whatever. Rundy was a half-assed fuck anyway. But Nik…

She sees him at the window, smiling at her. His gaze is warm and gentle despite her haggard expression. How can a man be so accommodating, Rosarita wonders. She doesn’t feel good about it. There must have been things that made Nik this way. The way he tilts his head.

The way he appraises her with an appreciating yet invasive gaze.

Nik… To think she would hallucinate about him.

*Tuc*

A woman enters the bathroom in a skimpy clothing. She’s got a wounded right arm.

Rosarita bets Nik could heal it, the way he healed her and Rundy’s nose that night.

The woman with sharp features stops and gapes at the window!

“Nik?!” The woman gasps. She doesn’t bother hiding herself.

‘Great,’ Rosarita sighs. So Shenhua is seeing Nik, too? Did they have a fling, too? Well, better Shenhua than Rundy or that fry face.

‘Wait…’

Rosarita’s eyes slowly widen as she observes his lips move.

“Sorry for arriving without notice,” Nik beams at the duo. “I tried calling you but couldn’t reach you. I’m glad you’re fine, Shenhua.”

“You call this fine?” Shenhua frowns, pushing her right bandaged shoulder forward.

“As long as you’re alive, you’re fine,” Nik touches the edges of the wide window. “May I?” He steps inside as Shenhua realizes something.

“How did you reach up here? We’re on the 15th floor, and there isn’t any support.”

Nik doesn’t answer her and looks around.

“You should have found a safe place. The windows to the bathroom should be in a better position. Hmm,” Nik frowns. “You two were trying to bait the person who kidnapped Garcia. If you’re in on it, Shenhua, does this mean the same person took Mister Chang?”

“You’re real?” Rosarita blinks. “Mister… Nik?”

Nik closes his eyes for a moment before glancing at Rosarita. His violet gaze turns steely as he notes, “You’re sick.”

“Mentally?” Shenhua leans against the door, still looking cautious. “We know.”

“Not mentally,” Nik rolls his eyes and shakes his head. “You two cannot stay here. There’s still time for that train, and I cannot find the person responsible. It’s not safe here. Let’s start with the basics.”

“Basics?” Rosarita frowns, still standing in shock. She cannot believe it’s Nik. Perhaps the drug’s side effects kicked in, and this entire scenario is a hallucination!

“Yep. You cannot live on high floors since people like me can make it disappear. You two will fall to your death or get captured. Second, you two need rest. I mean a proper one that gets your mind freshened up. When was the last time you slept?”

Shenhua and Rosarita glance at each other.

Sleep?

They haven’t slept in days.

“See?” Nik chuckles. “Book a lower room if you don’t want to move from the building.”

“And…”

He looks at Rosarita, sighing.

“I’m sorry about Garcia. I will try and help you find him. As I said before, I cannot locate them yet. But things might change in a few days if we’re lucky.”

Rosarita observes the man. He’s real, isn’t he?

She feels her vision turn dark. Her body instinctively turns to grab the sink for support when she finds it clamping a firm hand instead.

“I got you,” a warm voice reassures her. Instead of cooing her into rest, Nik helps her stand straight. “I can’t force you to rest,” he wryly smiles. “You’re poisoning yourself to move on without sleeping. Please,” Nik’s other hand supports her from the waist. “Let me help you.”

Rosarita, and by extension Roberta, would mockingly bark at such ‘feeble’ intentions. But didn’t she know better?

His soft touch hides an interior harder than steel.

Rosarita KNOWS Nik is ‘requesting’ because he’s considering her feelings. Else, he’s fast and powerful enough to knock her out…

Or make the building disappear.

“You won’t be able to rescue Garcia even if we find the person responsible unless you’re well-rested,” Nik whispers as Rosarita closes her eyes. Her head rests on his broad shoulders while Nik turns to look and smile at Shenhua.

“Come on,” he ensures. “Let’s heal you and leave this place.”

“You can heal this?” Shenhua blinks, speaking slowly in a broken accent. “It’s bad.”

“Leave it all to me.”

***

Alternate Title: Levels of Infinity; Rank 9 Auction; Infinite Auction; Slaves? Who Would’ve Thunk; A Mature Outlook; Surprisingly Calm; Overgeared Mind; Nik Needs a Personal ‘Watson’ For Hentai Mysteries; The Compass; Jack Sparrow Where?; Surprise Investigation; Not Keeping Things to Chance; Taking Charge; Ray Being a Potential Wingman; Selfishly Wholesome Goals; Saki Yoshida Likes a Full Blast of Incubus *Pause*; To Protect the Grail; Whitebeard: 177013 Is Real! *Can We Get Much Higher~*; Ray: I Hate NTR Bastards! *Also Ray: Damn, When Will The NTR Bastards Attack For My Dynamic Entry?*; 9 Hosts; Locating The Wounded; Rosarita Having a Good Mental Breakdown; Rosarita: You Failure! *Roberta: I’m… You* *Where You Go I Go~ What You See I See~*; Rosarita About Hallucinating Herself Licking More Drugs Off Nik’s Body; Shenhua Safe?; A Soft Touch and a Firm Hand; Help Is Here; Nik: You’re All Going to Cum! Why? Because I’m Here! *Ray: That’s The Wrong Dialogue… Someone In The Multiverse Wrote This Shit, Didn’t They?*