It wasnât difficult to get to Sao Paolo from Japan. There were still flights flying out of Tokyoâs Narita Airport for Sao Paolo. Golden rings were useless on Earth now and I didnât have any paper currency on me anymore, but none of that mattered. I was basically a god compared to everyone else. I didnât even need to use both Blinks to jump over the airportâs outer walls and stand atop a hangar overlooking the tarmac. When I found the plane with a flight plan for Sao Paolo, I jumped the sixty-meter distance between us in a single bound. I landed as softly as a butterfly behind the flight attendants before they closed the planeâs door and slipped past unnoticed.
âDid you feel that gust of wind?â
âYeah. I didnât hear any wind warnings for todayâs takeoff, thoughâŚâ
There were other ways to get to Brazil instead of flying. I could have sprinted over the Pacific Ocean or just swam the entire distance. But why would I, when flying was so much more comfortable?
A few minutes later, the plane finally took off. I quickly realized that I didnât need to stay hidden throughout the flight. From what I could tell, the plane was filled with passengers of Rank 3 and higher. In other words, the flight attendants could not do much to the passengers. They were more careful to not get singled out by the passengers.
I found an empty seat in the first-class cabin and ordered a glass of whiskey and a packet of peanuts. Soon, a flight attendant politely brought over the drink and peanuts.
âPlease let us know if you need anything else.â
âI will.â After seeing how the passengers were treating the flight attendants, I also acted arrogantly. It also looked like the flight attendants did not suspect me at all. As luxurious as my clothes were, I exuded confidence from the way I walked and carried myself. And I wasnât worried about getting caught; I could blow this plane up anytime I wanted.
{TN: Uhh, NSA? Interpol? Somebody stop this man!}
âHello.â Just as I was settled in my seat and enjoying my whiskey and peanuts, a man walked up next to me and greeted me. I knew that this stranger had his eyes on me the moment I sat down, but I just didnât care about him.
âUh, hi,â I replied with a small nod. I made it clear that I didnât care who he was, but he must not have picked up on it.
âI donât think weâve met before. Iâm Frederic Jansen, a Rank 2 human. I was recently tasked with an important mission by the Saviors, which is why Iâm heading to Brazil.â
There was a good chance I was about to have my cover blown, but I wasnât afraid. What the hell was he going to do about it? I leaned farther back in my chair and glared at him. âRank 2? You want me to shake hands with a Rank 2 human? I hope you brought hand sanitizer.â
ââŚâ As soon as Frederic Jansen approached me, the entire first-class cabin was focused on us. A heavy silence filled the cabin after what I just said.
But Frederic reacted faster than the silence. âIâŚIâm very sorry! I must have taken leave of my senses. I just noticed that your clothes were similar to the ones sold only by Stores and wanted to acquaint myself with you. I apologize for insulting you with my presence!â Frederic practically threw himself to the floor, and shouted his words for everyone in the cabin to hear. My cover was safe for now, thanks to the clothes my mother had bought me.
âThatâs enough. Get back up.â
After things calmed down, even the captain came over to greet me. From that, I had a vague idea of how this Rank system had taken root in less than two years. I could only scoff at how unbelievable it was.
âSo, youâve been accepted into the Saviors?â I asked Frederic out of boredom.
âYes sir. I was recommended to become the captain of the Fourth Security Office.â
âYouâre moving up.â
âThank you, sir! This is allâŚâ Frederic trailed off and looked at me.
I knew what he meant and answered. âThe nameâs Lee Jiwon.â
âOh! Yes sir. This is all thanks to Rank 1 humans like Master Lee for making Earth a better place to live. I am always grateful to you all.â
The amount of brown-nosing he was doing almost made the plane stink and so I wanted to ask him about the Liberator. The elderly man back at Japan couldnât tell me much about him, but I held my tongue. I was going to find out for myself soon enough and didnât want to needlessly put Frederic in an awkward position.
âBut your name sounds very similar⌠you share the same name as someone closely related to the Liberator.â
âWell, I do hear that a lot. But itâs not like I can just change my name because of it.â
âYes, I see your point.â
I spent the flight talking to Frederic about Earthâs current affairs and before I knew it, we had reached Sao Paolo.
{TN: Really? No connecting flight from Japan to South America? Must be nice.}
âAllow me to escort you, Master Lee.â
âSure. After you.â I followed Frederic to the Saviorâs base. I wanted to take care of this here and now. Besides, there was a luxury brand car waiting for Frederic at the airport. He was, after all, now the Captain of the Saviorâs Fourth Security Office. During the car ride, I half-listened to Frederic talking about this and that and I could only think of one thing as I watched him.
-Letâs see how perfect of a trap you have waiting for me.-
I knew what Frederic Jansen was playing at. I knew from the moment he laid eyes on me. I had to give it to him; his acting was perfect. But I was a superhuman, remember? A mere mortal couldnât hope to fool me. That was the real reason I didnât ask him about the Liberator. I didnât want to spring the trap prematurely.
âThere it is,â Frederic said as he pointed out the window to an imposing building, decorated by amazing and detailed sculptures and statues on its outer walls. âThatâs the home of the Liberator, who freed us humans from the evil grasps of the demonic devas and deities.â
âYes, sir. If it werenât for the Liberator, us humans would have continued to live under the tyranny of devas and deities. They were worse than actual monsters. It only took the Liberator two years to heal our wounds and restore humanity to its former glory. It was all thanks to the Liberator.â
âIs that right? Then I donât see why humans had to be divided into Ranks like animals.â
âHahaha. There are crazies all over the world, arenât there? There used to be deva and deity loyalists, and the Liberator tried to accept them all, but there were just so many of them that it just couldnât be helped. That was why the Liberator created the Rank system, to punish the loyalists. The Liberator always welcomed them with open arms, as long as they abandoned their ways.â Frederic spoke of the Liberator as if he was worshipping a god.
I didnât believe him for a second, not after how I saw the Rank 10 humans were treated. They werenât loyalists of devas and deities. But I held my tongue. I was about to meet this Liberator soon anyway.
Soon, the car entered through an iron gate that opened up for us and we entered the Saviorâs base.
âI must go now to greet the Liberator and officers. What will youâŚ?â
âLetâs go together. I need to see them as well.â
âWell, Iâm sure a Rank 1 human is allowed to meet the Liberator anytime they wish. Allow me to escort you. I know the way quite well after meeting with several Savior officers.â
âVery well.â I walked out with Frederic and six Savior guards. I knew the building was huge, but I realized as we walked that we were heading deep inside the building. It was almost laughable. The building was surrounded by walls that were several meters thick, but I knew that I could easily break through them.
After several minutes of walking, we came up to a set of giant arched doors that seemed to have been built in the Middle Ages. âWeâre here.â
âGood. Letâs head inside.â
Soon, the arched doors opened and Frederic and I walked in. I saw that there were six men and one woman seated around a large table in front of us. I knew who the woman was. Hell, I had even introduced myself and shook hands with her. There was no way she was a mortal.
The woman smiled when she noticed me. âSo it was true. I wasnât sure, to be honest. No, I outright didnât believe it. It just wasnât possible.â
âHonestly, Iâm just as surprised. Then again, I thought it was weird that I never heard from Luana, the ruler of South America, on the Judgeâs Continent.â
The woman sitting in front of me was none other than Luana, the queen of South America. She had ruled all of the nations south of Costa Rica. Her guild was so powerful that the NCR Guild could never cross the border into Panama. I had first met her at Tohâs and Wanhuâs Auction House in Macao. The last time we spoke, she had wanted me to come visit her if I ever came to Brazil.
âHahaha. So, you actually kept your promise and came to see me now that youâve come to Brazil. Hmph. Now that I think about it, I regret even bringing it up to you. I doubt this is a visit of good intentions.â
âIs that right? Iâm grateful I got to see you again. After all, you did help me out back in Macao when you decided to help me instead of Toh and Wanhu.â
âOh, it wasnât much.â
âNo, no. Iâm very thankful. Iâm just sorry I accepted your invitation so late. I should have come earlier.â I could see now why I never heard about her back on the Judgeâs Continent. She wasnât there in the first place.
âAnyway, you must have some luck. How did you remain on Earth? As far as I know, anyone who used their token of knowledge was forcibly taken to the Continent. You donât have more than one, do you?â
âWell, thatâs a secret only for me to know. I will tell you that Iâm the only one who managed to remain on Earth. But now there are two of us. How did that happen?â
âThatâs my secret. You canât expect me to reveal everything when you wonât.â I had a little more than two days left before I would be forcibly taken back to the Continent, but Luana didnât need to know that yet.
âWell, thatâs fine. Now, I doubt you came all this way for lunchâŚwhy donât we get to the point?â
âSounds great to me. Iâve got places to be,â I said as I slowly walked forward. I pulled out the chair opposite Luana and sat down, making myself comfortable. âAre you the Liberator?â I asked her.
In response, one of the six men slammed the table in front of him and shouted, âWatch your tongue! Who do you think you are to address Mistress LuanaâŚâ
âShut up. Now.â Luana interrupted the man in a cold, low voice.
ââŚâ The man who had made the outburst closed his mouth immediately and sat back down.
The room was filled with a heavy silence, but I didnât care and just leaned back in my chair with my feet propped up on the table, staring at Luana. They were all mortals; I could kill them with my pinky, so I didnât care what they did.
Finally, Luana broke the silence, speaking as informally as I had. {TN: Just a side note, Lee Jiwon was speaking down to Luana this whole time while Luana was speaking in a formal tone. Now, sheâs doing the same.} âYouâre right. Iâm the Liberator.â
I wasnât surprised by her answer. It was pretty obvious at this point. âWere you that bored? What made you do all this? You should have just come to the Judgeâs Continent instead. Itâs so dynamic up there. There was even a battle of four million people not too long ago. I even faced off against people with abilities I have never heard about. Youâve never been, have you?â
âHah⌠youâre right. I should have gone. Iâm beginning to regret it now.â
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âItâs not too late. Come with me.â
âNo, I still like it here very much. I made the Earth you see now with my own two hands.â
âWell, if youâre that adamant about it, I wonât force you. But you should knowâŚâ I took my feet off the table and sat up with my arms crossed. âI donât like what Earth has become. I never expected Earth to become a utopia, but this Rank businessâŚthat really doesnât sit well with me.â
I clearly remembered my experience with Muskan and the people of the lower castes in India. I hated how the higher castes treated them like cattle where they had no say about their lives and fate. I grew up during the 21st century. I couldnât stand seeing people being treated as slaves or livestock.
âItâs not your place to decide, Lee Jiwon. Earth became mine the moment all of the other devas and deities disappeared, and left me alone on this godforsaken planet,â Luana said as she stood up and pointed a finger at me. She then muttered quietly, âI, Luana, declare Lee Jiwon banished from Earth!â