Chapter 193

Monica ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Bayliss, a Special Affairs Division investigator—or rather, a rebel who had now been placed on the wanted list—kicked the wall irritably.

“Damn ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it! How on earth did they know where we were hiding!”

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍wall could not withstand her kick and collapsed miserably.

This ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was because they were not in a superpowered city like Seoul, but in Suwon.

Specifically, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it was one of the government's underground facilities built for air defense, a second refuge where Baek Dojun, Kim Seyeon, and a few other key figures following him were hiding.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍reason it was the second was that they had lost their previous refuge due to a raid by the Bureau at dawn.

How could they have come all the way to Suwon to raid the facility?

“Getting angry won't change anything, Bayliss. At a time like this, we must be calm and cold-blooded.”

Monica glared at Maxi Fredo.

“What is that man even talking about!”

“As of this dawn, no suspicious activity was reported in the border regions. In other words, the intrusion did not start from the outside.”

“I already know that! It means there's an internal whistleblower! The problem is whether that person is among us!”

“That is……. Well.”

Maxi deferred his answer by looking at Baek Dojun.

Consequently, everyone in the room looked at Baek Dojun, who was fiddling with his chin.

He was looking down at a newspaper on the table, which, without needing to be checked, was about the news of Kim Shinwoo's execution.

“How much longer can we wait……”

Baek Dojun muttered something else to himself.

But no one could disturb his thoughts.

At least among those gathered here, no one could surpass Baek Dojun's intellect.

He opened his mouth only after enough time had passed for a child who had just learned to read to recite the front page of the newspaper aloud.

“We should consider it a betrayal by the Suwon administration. They were the ones who provided us with the hideout. Of course, not everyone betrayed us. There must have been officials who were in contact with the Bureau from the beginning. For example, those whose spouses are awakened or whose children are awakened……. Well, it would be ridiculous to try and root them out for revenge in the current situation. Therefore, they will even know the location of where we are now. However, the reason they are not raiding us is to pressure us.”

Maxi asked.

“Pressure, you say?”

“Yes, it's a move to make us move up the execution of our plan.”

The plan of these Bureau rebels was to reclaim Seoul.

However, it was impossible to face the Bureau, which had the support of the Hunter Association and the Production Guild, with numbers alone.

Therefore, their plan was to assassinate Bureau Chief Baek Dojin, a few other key figures, and the Demonic Beings behind them.

The existence of experts like Seo Junhyeop of Blackcastle was a thorn in their side, but in Baek Dojun's judgment, it was a worthwhile endeavor.

Understanding the logic, Kim Seyeon said.

“The problem is that they are deceiving the citizens. The fact that they were able to frame Kim Shinwoo, a hero and a blood relative of the Sword Saint, for treason means they have completely tainted the eyes and ears of the citizens.”

“You are right. The Bureau has reigned over the leaders of various countries for decades. No one could keep them in check. Even now, every nation is walking on eggshells around the Bureau. No matter how poor or nonsensical the evidence they used to frame the Sword Emperor is.”

Monica muttered.

“The fall of a hero who had unified the awakened for over half a century……. In the end, his execution will complete their revolution.”

Maxi said.

“Do we not still have one card left? The reason they captured the Sword Emperor is actually because of her.”

“…….”

Maxi's words were met with silence.

Do Minyeong.

They were not unaware of her existence, but Baek Dojun always showed a cynical reaction.

“Nothing would be more effective than using her in the operation. However, the moment it fails, we will be pushed to the edge of a cliff.”

Using Do Minyeong to draw the Bureau's attention and taking that opportunity to raid key personnel.

It was very ideal, but it was also an operation with a low probability of success.

“I believe the situation warrants the risk.”

“Hmm?”

Everyone's gaze turned to Kim Seyeon.

She continued with her usual businesslike face.

“Besides, she probably wants it as well.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“She is……”

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

“Excuse me.”

The owner of the following voice was Do Minyeong.

She had hidden in Suwon following Baek Dojun and had never appeared in the conference room until now.

This was because she was aware of her own value.

However, her face as she entered the room was resolute.

The same went for the words she spat out.

“I will be the bait.”

“…….”

“This is the only way, isn't it?”

Baek Dojun narrowed his eyes.

“Your great-uncle will be disappointed.”

“I don't care. If we're going to collapse like this anyway, I'll pull the trigger for the last time.”

“You say that knowing what it means, I assume?”

Do Minyeong nodded.

She wasn't just saying she would be bait.

The trigger she mentioned meant she would stop the magic tool by ending her own life.

A very simple and rational method.

Maxi nodded his head without realizing it.

Monica crossed her arms with a low groan, and Baek Dojun looked down at the newspaper without saying a word.

Kim Seyeon added.

“They will raid us again. But this time, they won't let us escape. In the end, it's one of two things: we move first, or they get their hands on her.”

“It has to be that way……”

“Perhaps now is a golden opportunity. If we rescue the Sword Emperor before he is executed, it will be a good card to reverse public opinion.”

“Did you not say that public opinion is completely tainted?”

“Yes, but if he is executed like this, it will become impossible to turn back at all. Even if the citizens of Seoul are all tainted, the perception of people around the world is a different story.”

She wasn't wrong.

Baek Dojun nodded his head before speaking.

“It might be that if we don't do it now, there won't even be a trigger to pull. We shall do as you say. I will draw up a detailed plan starting now. Please call everyone here except for the minimum security force.”

***

The Hyeonseong Express factory, reeking of monster hide and blood.

This site, located on the outskirts of Seoul, spent a busy time following the news that an outpost would be built, but it was temporarily closed recently with the Bureau's martial law.

The reason was that several forces, including Special Affairs Division Chief Baek Dojun, had protested against the punishment of Kim Shinwoo and organized a rebel force.

Therefore, most superpowered industries, not just this place, were suspended.

Academies in the 4th Scholastic District suspended their semesters, and most transportation routes connecting the outskirts of Seoul and Gyeonggi-do were controlled.

As laborers disappeared from the already gloomy outskirts, the streets lost their vitality, and the Psychic Mafia began to gain power.

The situation inside the walls was not much different from the outskirts.

Because they had much to lose, everyone stayed quiet, keeping an eye on the Bureau.

It was a time when the clouds of war were gathering.

In such an atmosphere, the Hyeonseong Express factory, filled with unrefined monster corpses, created an atmosphere worse than most haunted houses.

Even the Psychic Mafia wouldn't set foot there.

In a world where mana exists, visiting a place where monster corpses are rotting was not a common-sense thing to do for several reasons.

Of course, it wasn't that there were no visitors at all.

Thanks to that, it was a very suitable place to plot while avoiding the eyes of the Bureau.

“The time has come to make a decision.”

The monster dissection facility, which was a very dismal place even within the factory site.

There, Cha Yeri, holding a torch alone, continued speaking with a solemn expression.

“A contact came from Suwon. They asked me to let them know how many people would participate in the plan that will be executed soon.”

Whenever a crisis hit Seoul, some awakened individuals gathered around Hyeonseong.

Hyeonseong was involved in many industries, and most of its businesses were targeted at non-awakened people, so even the Bureau could not easily touch it.

“I didn't call you all here to force you. It's okay if you say you can't join us now. However, this opportunity might be the last chance to protect our freedom. Framing a hero with nonsensical evidence and silencing even the slightest dissent with power—the current situation is not strange to be called the worst stain since the Great Rift. What do you all think? Should we just submit to the Bureau's coercion like this?”

Dozens of people shook their heads at her question at the same time.

Among them, one person raised their hand.

“I want to ask one thing.”

If Cha Yeri's memory was correct, it was the representative of the only force not related to Hyeonseong.

“What is the news of the Special Affairs probationary investigator, Ji Seokhyeon?”

It was Gong Seungryong, the head of the Gong Clan representing Seoul's District 10.

In other words, Gong Minwu's father.

“I heard he went abroad for Hyeonseong's business. Is that true?”

“Yes, on the surface. I don't know the details either.”

“I see……”

This time, a blacksmith involved in the production industry cut in.

“What's the point of arguing this and that! Right now, those Bureau bastards are slandering our spiritual pillar! Even those Production Guild fellows are on their side, so we only have one choice!”

The spiritual pillar they were referring to was Jang Incheol.

Cha Yeri also knew well what kind of influence he had on the production industry.

Furthermore, she knew that it was nonsense that he, who knew nothing but work, was involved with Demonic Beings.

Gong Seungryong looked at the blacksmith and said.

“I wasn't arguing. I just asked because there was nowhere else to ask. And this matter involves the honor of our District 10. There's no way our warriors would sit idly by while those people defile the names of the Sword Saint and the Sword Emperor.”

“Hmph, that's welcome news!”

Next, Dispel's 3rd Branch Chief Kwon Seongjun stood up.

“We will cooperate too. It's a small number compared to other places, but it can be of great strategic help.”

“Yes! If even a part of Dispel helps, we'll be able to check the Bureau's movements immediately!”

“Good! Let's show those bastards that this land was built with blood!”

“Right! If it weren't for the sacrifices of heroes, humans wouldn't even have been able to set foot on this land!”

The dismal place became hot in an instant.

Anger to right what was wrong.

Amidst a noise that made her worry that the sound might leak out of the site, Cha Yeri shouted.

“Hyeonseong will repay you! Definitely!”

***

An underground prison where time was unknown.

A deep abyss so terrible that even the guards protecting the prison would flee in fear.

Phantom Thief Lee Eunho, whom no one had visited for days, snuck in without a sound.

He soon stopped in front of a set of iron bars and took off his hood without hesitation upon facing the person he was looking for.

Then, a low voice was heard.

“Lee Eun……ho.”

“Principal.”

It was Kim Shinwoo, the Sword Emperor.

He was exhaling labored breaths, trying to pull his weakened body together.

“Why have you come here? Has the time finally come?”

“Time, you say……. Have you already faced death?”

“Death is not something to be faced. It has simply been with me from the start.”

“Then it means you can no longer bear the weight of that fate.”

“……How pathetic.”

“If not, then try to prove it.”

“What?”

Lee Eunho took a sword out from under his cloak.

Specifically, it was the sword that Kim Shinwoo had used for decades.

It was clearly the sword that had been taken from him when he was arrested by Dispel.

“How did you get that……?”

Lee Eunho thrust the sword through the iron bars.

“Lend me your strength. I am going to kill Gen…… to end this tragedy.”

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