CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 747: Live Stream

~6 minute read · 1,498 words
Previously on CLEAVER OF SIN...
Asher and the other students arrive at the Gentle Hotel in the Thalvorn Empire. After settling into their luxurious rooms, FatelessPen informs them they have free rein to explore. Asher, however, becomes engrossed in the modern entertainment systems in his room, spending the night binge-watching movies and playing video games.

Toward the living room, which was situated adjacent to the suite, he made his way. Upon entry, a second television and gaming console were immediately apparent, yet Asher paid them no mind. The living room boasted the typical fittings and opulent layout one would anticipate; there was truly nothing novel he hadn’t already encountered back on Earth.

’So, no AIs here, or perhaps they exist but haven't reached such an advanced stage yet,’ Asher mused as he strolled leisurely through the living room, his gaze sweeping over his surroundings.

’I had anticipated a virtual reality gaming pod or something similar, but it appears my expectations were somewhat inflated,’ he reflected internally. ’It seems their technology isn't significantly more advanced than Earth's after all,’ he concluded, departing the living room and proceeding towards the walk-in closet area.

The closets were designed with sophisticated glass doors that slid open gracefully. Asher simply extended a hand, and his garments materialized instantly from his spatial ring. He then commenced the unhurried task of meticulously arranging his attire within each individual compartment of the closet.

Having completed this, he directed his attention to the adjoining bathroom. The bathroom itself formed a single, expansive section, yet was segmented into four distinct zones. The first zone featured a substantial Jacuzzi, perfect for soaking and relaxation. Asher found this unsurprising, as even the Zarethorne Empire offered Jacuzzis of comparable quality.

The second zone housed the Water Closet, its door artfully constructed entirely from transparent glass. The third zone constituted the shower area. Asher paused here briefly, his eyes thoughtfully fixed on the shower.

While the Zarethorne Empire possessed both Jacuzzis and Water Closets, they bafflingly lacked showers, a fact that genuinely perplexed Asher. In his view, showers should have been a more logical and simpler innovation than Jacuzzis themselves.

The final zone consisted of nothing more than a large table affixed to the wall, surmounted by a perfectly fitted, enormous mirror. An array of skincare products and cosmetic items were neatly arrayed across the tabletop in an orderly fashion.

Asher regarded the products for a fleeting moment before dismissively shaking his head. As a man, he held little interest in skincare or cosmetic treatments; to him, such items belonged squarely in the realm of women.

With that thought, he proceeded to the final section of the suite.

It was a more confined space, serving almost as a compact kitchenette or beverage station. A sizable refrigerator stood prominently, stocked with an assortment of drinks, ranging from the sugary concoctions that parents on Earth constantly cautioned their children against due to diabetes concerns, to robust alcoholic beverages and high-end refreshment options.

A coffee mixer was also neatly positioned nearby, though Asher wasn't particularly fond of coffee.

The more Asher explored the suite, the more a desire to weep welled up within him. He couldn't help but ponder why he hadn't transmigrated directly into the Thalvorn Empire. With such technology and luxury pervading every aspect, he might have enjoyed a life as comfortable and relaxed as the one he once knew on Earth.

He let out a soft sigh, then promptly dismissed the notion. What was done was done, and furthermore, he was genuinely content to have been reincarnated within the Zarethorne Empire, specifically into the Wargrave family.

’I wonder if other Empires harbor families as eccentric as the Wargraves,’ Asher contemplated silently for a moment.

’Should I perhaps visit their Library?’ he inquired internally. After all, that would undoubtedly be one of the most expeditious methods to gain a better understanding of the Thalvorn Empire.

But the instant the thought surfaced, he immediately suppressed it. When he had first transmigrated into the Zarethorne Empire, the Library had been his very first destination. Now, finding himself within an entirely different Empire, he was already contemplating visiting another Library first.

No, that could wait.

Asher retraced his steps back to his room, and the moment he entered, the soft chime of his room's bell echoed, drawing his gaze instantly toward the door. His senses already detected several familiar presences waiting outside: William, Finch, Ryaen, and Vaelric.

Despite the hour being close to four in the morning, not a single student had retired for the night.

And honestly, how could they?

How could they possibly remain asleep with all this advanced technology surrounding them? It was highly probable that most of them were engrossed in exploring the televisions, gaming consoles, applications, and every other unfamiliar gadget they could discover.

Asher made no move to answer the persistent knocking. He chose to completely disregard their presence.

Had this been any other typical Empire, he might have gladly welcomed them into his quarters. However, with the sheer abundance of entertainment and technology available, Asher had already decided to sequester himself in his room for the entire morning.

Certainly, he would attend to them later, perhaps even guiding them through the intricacies of gaming or explaining the concept of movies. But for the present moment, this was his personal time, a selfish indulgence he planned to savor alone.

Just as Asher was about to collapse onto the bed in a display of laziness, a new thought struck him. If this world boasted technology comparable to Earth's, then espionage and information gathering might not necessitate the traditional method of physically concealing spies. Miniature listening devices and hidden cameras could achieve the same objective with far greater efficiency.

The instant this realization dawned, Asher immediately activated his Omni Perception, extending its reach to encompass the entirety of his room.

Every nook and cranny of the suite underwent scrutiny: the walls, the furniture, the lamps, the mirrors, the electronic devices, the ventilation shafts, and even the air conditioning unit itself were meticulously examined by his perception. Yet, after a thorough search lasting several moments, Asher unearthed absolutely nothing out of the ordinary.

'I wonder why FatelessPen did not consider this possibility,' Asher mused internally. However, after a moment of deeper reflection, he arrived at a conclusion.

FatelessPen likely deemed such precautions unnecessary, as the Gentle Hotel had little to gain from spying on mere students like themselves. While one could argue that observation might reveal their unique abilities or individual strengths, Asher found such a viewpoint utterly nonsensical.

Strength was inherent; weakness was apparent.

Everyone was already aware of Azaron’s Nebula Affinity, but what tangible action could anyone realistically take to thwart him based solely on that information? Absolutely nothing.

"I shall commence my exploration at sunrise," Asher declared aloud, leaping onto the plush mattress with the unbridled enthusiasm of a child. Once more grasping the television remote, he continued his digital journey through the myriad of available applications, eventually stumbling upon a live-streaming platform.

Naturally, Asher was familiar with live streaming from his experiences on Earth. Now, however, he was curious to ascertain if such a phenomenon held genuine popularity within the Thalvorn Empire.

Without a second thought, he clicked on the application. The moment he accessed it, the app promptly suggested the most popular live streamer currently broadcasting. With no other pressing engagements, Asher casually joined the stream.

But the instant the livestream materialized, his vision was met with an intense confrontation between a man and a colossal tiger-like beast. The two combatants were locked in a ferocious exchange, violently clashing against each other.

Asher's eyebrows arched slightly. He genuinely hadn't anticipated that someone would actually broadcast their own battle. Despite Asher's physical absence from the scene, he quickly deduced the nature of the fight based on the attack patterns and the sheer force behind each blow.

The combatants were both non-awakeners. This indicated that the tiger, devoid of any Astra Energy, could still effortlessly overpower any beast found on Earth. Simultaneously, the man engaged in the fight was exhibiting physical capabilities far beyond the reach of any human from his home world.

Asher's gaze drifted to the viewer count, which already exceeded one hundred million individuals. Comments, donations, gifts, and an endless stream of emojis cascaded across the screen as viewers spammed reactions with palpable excitement.

Intrigued, Asher simply continued to observe in silence.

After several minutes of grueling combat, the streamer ultimately emerged victorious. His body was marred by numerous injuries, blood trickling from several wounds as he panted heavily, utterly exhausted. It was important to note that the man had been fighting in complete darkness, despite it being around five o'clock in the morning. Fortunately, he seemed to be equipped with some form of night-vision apparatus.

Casually retrieving bandages, the man wrapped them around his injuries while expressing his gratitude to his viewers and supporters for tuning in and offering their encouragement. After delivering a few closing remarks, he concluded the livestream.

"That was unexpectedly entertaining to watch," Asher murmured softly before immediately delving into another application on the television, fully resolved to savor every aspect this Empire had to offer.