Chapter 293: A Long Way


    ?


    Ss woke up from his stupor, having cleared the ninth door in just a few seconds. The final three doors had been far too easy, but they had also taken the most time toplete. He spent more time on the seventh door than he had the previous six, and that pattern only continued. However, it was still invaluable for refining his memory and sharpening his Rune deployment.


    ''I''ll have to find a chance to use a Nexus again so that I can trade for the next—''


    [You have pleased the system, System Breaker]


    [The system is watching you]


    [System Reward Received]


    Ss'' eyes became sharp. Thest time he had read a simr message was when he awakened System Breaker, his Title. Back then, he had also gotten a System Reward, and that should be part of the reason why he was able to have three Legendary Paths instead of just one like most people for his Profession.


    Now, he had received another System Reward, but to what end? He wasn''t awakening anything any time soon, as far as he knew. And, even when he tried to click on the reward, nothing came up. It was like it waspletely dormant.


    However, when Ss looked at his Slot Machine, his eyes couldn''t help but narrow.


    [Tickets: 212]


    He wasn''t sure if he should be happy or disappointed by that.


    On the one hand, he hadn''t even done much yet, but he had already gained so many tickets. But on the other, it felt like an acknowledgment of the system should probably be worth


    more.


    ''Regardless, the System Reward is still there. So, I''ve benefited twice over. That said... there''s something fishy about this. Why did the system suddenly reward me for doing something that I would have done anyway?''


    Ss could only specte, but if he had to guess...


    His mind shed to the images of Earth''s broken Runes.


    The system had its own rules, but those rules were certainly capable of being broken. The Slithering Madness Dungeon had certainly broken one or several of those rules. Then there was the event of the Basilisk King that was another such event. Then there was Azrael''s existence, and even the weird Archibald.


    There was a lot of rule-breaking going on everywhere... so the question was: what was the system''s opinion about all of this?


    It was hard to say. But, on the one hand, Ss was rewarded for breaking the rules with his System Breaker Title. But on the other, the Madness Key was a reminder that the system wasn''t willing to allow just anything to slide.


    Then there was Azrael who was clearly suppressed in every way, even to the point where Ss couldn''t even benefit from his Genes. There was definitely something odd about that as well.


    The system was hard to read. But it was clear that it wasn''t entirely happy with everything going on under its nose, and sometimes it would take action. Whether that action was to reward or punish, it was hard to say.


    But right now, the system seemed to be rewarding Ss for studying Runes, and if Ss was correct, that might very well be rted to the current state of Earth''sws.


    If the system was like an unbiased arbitrator, it would want new worlds to have the time to grow into their own instead of being messed with by their "big brothers," so to speak. It might very well want to help give Ss the tools to fight back against this.


    Ss cleared his mind and began to focus on the world around him. The Dire Wolf was currently sprinting adjacent to a long highway, diving through thick trees.


    Ss was familiar enough with the roads here to follow them to his destination, but not enough that he could find a path without them. So following them like this was the next best option although it was risky.


    These were the exact sort of paths that the government and Legacy would be paying close attention to. But he had mitigated that risk to some extent by taking a longer, meandering route.


    If the City Lord who imed an ind of York City was, indeed, Cassarae, then it would certainly be quite difficult to get to her. Setting aside the fact the waters around it had be turbulent due to the appearance of yet another Portal on the ocean''s floor, the ind in question would definitely be easily monitored. And unless Ss followed the river he had just left behind all the way up and through the raging waters, there was no way to cut around all the inevitable security.


    Of course, Ss would be willing to do this. But not without first confirming that it was actually Cassarae. As for the underwater Portal, he already had a method of dealing with it. It was just a matter of actuallyying eyes on it, which would certainly be easier said than done.


    Ss put the Basilisk King away and urged the Dire Wolf forward. For this final stretch, he needed to be on top of his game.


    His senses focused on every little detail within a 30-meter range. He found that with his Wisdom being higher, it was much easier to do this, though it was still quite a strain on the mind.


    By this point, they had already left a dead zone of Aether and the concentration was picking up again, letting him know that they were rapidly approaching York City.


    Soon, Ss began to see familiar roads and he was sure that the first barricade was up ahead. He slowed the Dire Wolf down to about half its top speed. But even that was over 100. When he was just about 300 meters away, Ss came to a full stop and put the Dire Wolf away. ''I''ll have to capture someone high enough up on the chain ofmand that they''ll have the information I need.''


    Having thought of this, Ss patiently sat and watched.


    He couldn''t help but recall the very first Title he had awakened, Patient Stalker. He had certainlye a long way since then...