KING DAN

Anon is lost inside the Grandeul Jail.

But this jail is not a prison—it's a massive, circular structure filled with intricately detailed rooms and walls carved with countless unknown symbols. These symbols seem to be connected to the control system of the entire kingdom.

"Here... ah, there!"

Anon muttered, confused as he wandered the halls, trying to find the room where he had last slept—relying only on vague guesses.

---

Meanwhile, outside the jail, the King and his loyal official were deep in discussion.

"If what I experienced was my other self... then System Zero must be stronger than Anon," the King speculated.

"No, sire," the official replied respectfully. "When unsealed, the system isn't stronger than Anon—at least not overall. She may surpass him in terms of raw destruction and immortality. She is a god-human classified as a destroyer. But Anon… he is different. He is a balance—a rare kind. That's why he hasn't lost his ability to feel or understand human emotions. That's what makes him stronger. He has full control of those feelings. And remember, creators aren't just meant to create—they can also restore."

The King lowered his gaze.

"Yes… you're right. There's no hope in defeating him if my answer isn't enough for him to forgive us."

"My King!"

The old man suddenly knelt down and raised his voice.

"What is it?" the King asked.

"May I know your true goal—your real plan?"

His voice was formal, but filled with curiosity.

The King did not answer immediately.

He turned away, walking a few steps with his hands behind his back. Then, at last, he spoke.

"My goals... my plans... were selfish decisions. The moment I tasted death, I realized that the path I chose in that other world was wrong."

The old man carefully added,

"Then… does this mean you intend to keep Anon here?"

"No. Never!" the King snapped.

"What I mean is... my methods were flawed—born from despair. But I've discovered more about his power. I've seen his weaknesses. I now have assurance about the future. He doesn't know what I saw or experienced in that parallel version of myself. But I know. And everything that happened there was real. Which means… I may have a real chance of defeating him."

He turned again and faced the old man, who kept his head bowed, listening intently.

"You're right—he is more powerful than the system. But he's a different kind of immortal. Our system feels no pain and can regenerate instantly. Anon, on the other hand, cannot die of natural causes… but he can be killed—by force."

As the King spoke, the seriousness of his expression revealed that he was not joking.

"So... you've been planning to kill him all along? Even after knowing he could do that to you again?"

The old man asked, voice low.

The King leaned in close and whispered into his ear:

"Old man..."

---

And after that, the two of them descended to the lower right side of the kingdom—

where the Meeting Hall of the High Officials awaited,

those responsible for managing the entire kingdom.