Level 1 to Infinity: My Bloodline Is the Ultimate Cheat!-Chapter 286: The Gathering Storm

Emery let out a long breath after receiving Ethan's reply.

"Good," he said, visibly relaxing. "Otherwise, I wouldn't know how to explain things to Celeste."

Ethan understood now—Celeste had probably tasked Emery with bringing him into Silverwood family's hidden territory.

The realization warmed Ethan's chest. His senior, his captain…

She really did look out for him.

"That old bastard from the Silverwoods isn't someone to underestimate. Be careful," Emery suddenly warned, his tone grim.

"Hm? What do you know?" Ethan caught the implication in his words.

"Not much," Emery admitted, shaking his head with a frown. "But the higher-ups are investigating. Lately, he's been meeting with various powerful families and societies more frequently. Probably scheming something."

Ethan's expression darkened at that. The lack of concrete information was frustrating.

But Emery's next words gave Ethan a lead.

"Recently, Liam Silverwood had someone sell a batch of materials on the black market," Emery said. "Based on our intel, those materials were meant for setting up a formation."

"He went through multiple intermediaries, but everything ended up being transported into Silverwood's hidden territory. Thought he was being discreet, but he underestimated our intelligence network."

Ethan frowned. "What kind of materials? And what formation?"

"No idea. Hold on—" Emery abruptly logged off.

A short while later, he reappeared and listed off a series of obscure names:

Venomsteel, Holyfire Gems, Pale Moonsoil, Blazeheart Crystals, Blackfrost Vines, Soulwither Ore…

And more—all materials Ethan had never heard of before.

Still, he committed each one to memory.

At the same time, he tried reaching out to Morzan in his mind, hoping the old man could analyze what kind of formation these materials were meant for.

But as usual, there was no response.

Morzan not answering him was nothing new. Either asleep, drinking, or passed out drunk.

That was the impression Ethan had of him.

Little did he know, Morzan had actually been sober for days. Instead, he'd been using Ethan's avatar to pass the time.

More importantly, since Ethan couldn't log into the game, Morzan had been quietly leveling up for him.

It was the safest way he could help without overstepping.

After their last argument, Morzan had nearly let his old temper flare up. But in the end, the old man was still an old man—he cooled down and chose the safer path.

Ethan just didn't know it yet.

Once Emery finished listing all the materials the Silverwoods had acquired, he added, "If possible, you should stay hidden inside the territory and avoid coming out."

Ethan stiffened. "Are the Dissenters making a move against me?"

Emery nodded. "Once Celeste's investigation wraps up, the first order she'll likely receive is to eliminate everyone in Ember City's M Squad."

"If you can get them out, do it. If not… just save yourself.

The current Celeste… she's terrifying. That pet of hers is downright monstrous."

Emery's expression darkened as he spoke, as if recalling a close encounter with the Abyssal Dragon.

Ethan lowered his head, his eyes flashing with defiance and murderous intent.

So they were targeting the people around him now? Leo, Victor, Williams, Celia—even their families could be in danger.

The Ninth Division, the Dissenters… they were his biggest threats. If he could wipe them out completely… would that finally bring safety?

Ethan turned the thoughts over in his mind, his jaw tightening.

'So that's why.'

All this time, he hadn't faced any direct harassment. Because the higher-ups among the Dissenters had been planning this all along.

Eliminating M Squad was probably meant to be Celeste's final test—a brutal initiation into their ranks.

Now, he had two options.

First, find a safe place to hide and take Leo and the others with him. Get them out before the axe fell.

Second, annihilate the Dissenters within the Ninth Division entirely.

There was, technically, a third option—but Ethan held no illusions about its feasibility.

Seeking help from the Originalists within the Ninth Division.

But he knew better.

Right now, he couldn't even get close to anyone from the Originalist faction. The only two connections he had were Celeste and Emery—both deep in enemy territory.

"Can you—" Ethan started to ask Emery if he could arrange a meeting with the so-called "Director Vaughn," the elusive leader of the Originalists.

A man who existed only in Celeste's stories, never in person.

Not that Ethan expected otherwise.

The highest-ranking figure in the Ninth Division wasn't someone you could just casually meet.

Though, for a supreme leader, Vaughn seemed remarkably ineffective. Under his so-called leadership, the Ninth Division had fractured into chaos.

Originalists. Dissenters. Unaligned.

What kind of joke was this?

The realization that his friends were in imminent danger soured Ethan's mood entirely.

In his mind, he cursed Vaughn viciously.

Just as he had begun to voice his question, barely a few words in—

Emery cut him off, his voice firm and final.

"No."

"What the—I didn't even finish!" Ethan blinked.

"I know what you were going to ask," Emery said, his expression unreadable. "Celeste and I can't contact any of the Ninth Division's elder figures unless it's absolutely critical."

"As for why… you should understand."

Ethan's brows shot up. "Understand? My friends are about to be hunted down, and I'm supposed to understand?"

Emery barked a laugh, shaking his head. "Celeste was right. Your biggest weakness is how much you care."

He looked almost amused, as if he'd stumbled upon some grand irony.

Ethan's glare could have cut steel.

Emery wiped imaginary tears from his eyes, still grinning. "Anyway, I've given you the warning. What you do with it is up to you."

They spoke for a while longer, but as they prepared to part ways, Emery paused at the door.

His tone shifted, turning uncharacteristically solemn.

"The Originalists cannot fall. The future of humanity depends on it."

His eyes locked onto Ethan's. "No matter what happens, Celeste and I will always prioritize the Ninth Division's survival above all else."

A beat of silence.

Then, quieter: "But you… your weakness makes you vulnerable. Someone will exploit it."

He hesitated, as if debating whether to say more. Finally, he added, "Don't assume the Originalists are all righteous, either. There are players in this game you don't see yet."

With that, he turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him.

Ethan stared after him, the weight of the warning settling in his chest. For all his careless demeanor, Emery wasn't just a messenger.

He was an ally—one bound by duty, but an ally nonetheless. And his words carried a truth Ethan couldn't ignore.