Chapter 142: Demonic Syndicate

Apollo straightened in his chair, his expression gradually returning to something more serious.

"Now, there’s another matter I’d like to discuss with you."

Eden leaned back.

"Hm?"

"I would like to extend an official invitation for you to join the Awakened Association."

"No."

Apollo blinked.

"...I haven’t even explained the benefits yet."

"I wouldn’t change my mind for any kind of benefit."

Apollo stared at him for a moment before shaking his head with a resigned smile.

"I had a feeling you’d say that."

The chairman had considered the possibility long before calling Eden into his office. After observing the young man’s behavior throughout the tournament, he had come to understand that Eden wasn’t particularly interested in following the conventional path of an Awakened.

He wanted strength.

And he wanted the freedom to pursue it without someone standing over his shoulder telling him what to do.

The Association could provide resources, protection, and access to information. But it also came with responsibilities, expectations, and rules that Eden would inevitably find inconvenient.

Still, Apollo wasn’t willing to abandon the idea entirely.

"Joining the Association doesn’t necessarily mean giving up your independence," he explained. "There are several ways to cooperate with us without becoming a full-time member. You could receive support for certain raids, access restricted information, or work with our teams when our objectives align."

Eden considered that for a moment.

"That sounds more reasonable."

"So you’re willing to reconsider?"

"I said it sounds reasonable. I didn’t say I’d accept."

Apollo sighed.

"Right."

Eden rose from his chair, adjusting his clothes.

"I’m not against cooperating with the Association in the future. If our interests align, I’ll hear you out. But I have no intention of becoming someone’s subordinate."

"Then perhaps we’ll have to settle for being allies."

"Sounds good to me." Eden replied bluntly.

Apollo felt strangely amused.

For all his troublesome qualities, Eden was difficult to dislike. He was blunt, calculating, and entirely too comfortable saying things most people would keep to themselves. Yet there was a certain honesty to him that Apollo appreciated.

At the very least, Eden never pretended to be someone he wasn’t.

"Before you leave," Apollo said, "there’s one more thing I’m curious about."

Eden paused near the door.

"What is it?"

"Your next destination. Do you intend to remain here for a while, or are you planning to travel somewhere?"

For the first time since the meeting began, Eden didn’t answer immediately.

His expression grew thoughtful.

’Japan.’

He had already decided that it would be his next destination, though there were several matters he needed to settle before departing. The country’s Awakened community was among the strongest in the world, and its underworld was considerably more complicated than most people realized.

It was also home to a particular individual whose abilities could prove exceptionally valuable.

"Japan," Eden finally answered.

Apollo raised an eyebrow.

"Japan? That’s rather specific. Do you have business there?"

"Something like that."

"What kind of business?"

"The kind I’d rather not discuss."

Apollo leaned back in his chair.

"You really do make it difficult to help you."

"You don’t have to worry about that."

"I can pull my own weight."

"You’re remarkably confident."

Apollo watched him for a moment before deciding not to press further.

"Very well. If you require assistance while you’re there, contact the Association. Japan has its own political complications, and I would advise you against assuming that everything can be handled through brute force."

Eden’s lips curved slightly.

"Don’t worry. I rarely rely on brute force alone."

That, Apollo suspected, was precisely what he should be worried about.

"Take care of yourself, Eden."

"I’ll do my best."

With that, Eden left the office.

The door closed behind him, leaving Apollo alone with the empty chair and the faint sound of footsteps disappearing down the corridor.

The chairman glanced at the documents on his desk, then toward the door once more.

"...Something tells me Japan is about to have a very unpleasant few weeks."

He wasn’t entirely certain why he felt that way.

But experience had taught him that whenever Eden became involved in something, the situation rarely remained simple for long.

---

[Japan, huh?]

Sylvia’s voice echoed inside Eden’s mind as he walked through the Association headquarters.

[Why Japan?]

Eden continued walking without changing his expression.

’There are two major reasons.’

[Two?]

’The first is the Demonic Syndicate.’

Sylvia went quiet for a moment.

[I’ve heard that name before. Are they an organization of Rogues?]

’Not quite.’

Eden turned a corner and descended a flight of stairs, passing several Association employees who greeted him politely.

’Demonic humans are people who have consumed the blood of Beelzebub, the Archduke who rules over the Abyss’s demonic creatures. The blood grants them power, but it also changes them. Their bodies become partially demonic, and their abilities begin to reflect the nature of the creature whose blood they’ve consumed.’

[So they’re humans who willingly transform themselves into demons for greater strength?]

’More or less.’

[How disgusting.]

’You say that as though humans haven’t done worse for considerably less.’

Sylvia fell silent.

Eden couldn’t blame her. Compared to some of the things he’d encountered since his regression, the idea of humans willingly consuming the blood of an Archduke was hardly the most shocking development.

Nevertheless, it was dangerous.

The blood of an Archduke wasn’t an ordinary source of power. Even a small amount could have consequences far beyond what the recipient anticipated. The fact that an entire organization was distributing it suggested that someone with considerable influence was supporting their activities.

And that was precisely why Eden intended to investigate.

’The Demonic Syndicate has established several branches throughout Japan,’ he continued.

’They’re responsible for recruiting people who are desperate enough to accept demonic blood in exchange for power. Some want revenge. Others want wealth, influence, or simply the ability to stand above everyone else.’

[And you intend to hunt them down?]

’Eventually.’

Eden smiled faintly.

There was, after all, still another reason.

One that was considerably more important to him.