The opposition executives rose up in response to Osian's sudden action.
"What the hell are you doing right now!"
"Have you gone mad or something!"
The enforcers stationed throughout the area also began to move one by one. Click. They were ready to attack the moment Osian made any foolish move.
Regardless, Osian casually looked around, then fixed his gaze on a middle-aged man.
When the blue light from within the helmet turned toward him, the middle-aged man's body flinched. He broke out in cold sweat under Osian's intense stare, but didn't abandon the arrogance that came from his position.
"You insolent bastard! Where do you get off glaring with those piercing eyes!"
Hmm. They were indeed piercing blue eyes. But that wasn't the important part. Osian simply stared at him silently, watching intently. One side was unilaterally angry while the other quietly observed. But it was the angry side that was gradually being overwhelmed.
"Haaaaam."
She was a woman with impressive disheveled purple hair. After stretching, she fumbled around in her clothes and took out something to put on. They were high-prescription round glasses.
She looked around, then immediately gazed at the executive Osian had been watching.
Her series of actions was so natural that no one could point out her attitude.
"Mm. Ah, Inspector Howard. How long have you been working here?"
The Broker Union executive, Inspector Howard, answered with confusion at the woman's question.
"It's been 15 years. Branch Manager Linia."
"You've worked here for quite a long time."
"That's right. I'm prepared to bury my bones here, aren't I?"
"You must have eaten well during all that time, so what more do you want to eat now?"
“Pardon?"
Howard was noticeably flustered by Branch Manager Linia's pointed remark. Not because she was suddenly pressing him. The fundamental reason was 'How?'
"I don't know what you mean by that..."
"Well, everyone here knows about taking bribes. We can overlook it generously. As long as it doesn't go against the Broker Union's will."
Haaaam. Branch Manager Linia stretched her arms out, perhaps still drowsy. Though she hadn't groomed herself properly, it was estimated that she would be quite a beauty if she tidied up her appearance.
"You know. We don't question things if you keep it moderate. But Inspector Howard, you've properly crossed the line this time."
"That, that's...!"
Inspector Howard raised his voice in panic. His reaction showed he hadn't expected Branch Manager Linia to point out his corruption here.
'That woman.'
Osian glanced at Branch Manager Linia. That arrogant executive named Howard was completely helpless and floundering.
Howard's desperate gaze turned to his colleagues. However, the other executives blatantly avoided his gaze.
"Why are you pretending you're not involved? Deputy Director Kylac, Planning Director Tarfe. Did you think I wouldn't know you were all in on it together?"
The faces of those who were pointed out turned pale.
"You received massive amounts of money from external organizations. Tracing the funds wasn't difficult. Though it seems you received payments divided into real estate and various goods, you underestimated the Broker Union too much."
With those words, Branch Manager Linia looked at Ishaq.
"Well, that's about it. For now. I was going to mention it once the situation settled down moderately, but seeing how things were flowing, I had no choice but to step in."
"Good work. Branch Manager Linia."
Having finished her business, Branch Manager Linia leaned back against her chair and stared blankly into space. It seemed drowsiness was washing over her again.
The important thing wasn't that. It was the fact that Ishaq had known about this situation from the beginning and had been watching closely.
"B-Branch Manager Bartolomeo!"
Howard stared at Bartolomeo with a pleading gaze. Since they were both opposition members, he hoped he might help him at least a little.
"I'm innocent! Don't you know! How hard I've worked! Please help me! How long have we known each other!"
"Why should I?"
Perhaps not expecting Bartolomeo to say this, Howard's lips trembled.
"Howard. Rather, it's laughable that you commit such acts and then shamelessly make demands of me. How long have we known each other? Then are you saying you didn't know what kind of person I am all this time?"
"That, that is...!"
"Did you think I'd just let it slide when you dared to use the Broker Union as the 'sword' you desired?"
Bartolomeo cut him off so quickly it felt cold.
"Pay the price for the wrongs you've committed."
Howard fell silent. Bartolomeo was someone who adhered to principles. He never backed down from his opinions. But what was that scene of him opposing Ishaq just moments ago?
Bartolomeo spoke in a somewhat tired voice.
"Ishaq. You were right. To think such a close place was rotten."
"Didn't I say it? That cleanup would be necessary at some point."
Listening to the conversation, Osian realized how this was unfolding.
'Their real target wasn't me from the beginning.'
The branch managers were people who moved for the Broker Union. In other words, they were not easily swayed by external pressure.
'Of course, they would bow to an irresistible strong enemy, but they weren't at the level of doing something like this just to target me.'
Yet the Broker Union had arranged such a meeting. Though it was Ronan's idea, the branch managers had deliberately accepted that challenge. It was to weed out the traitors eating away at the organization.
"Hehe. So we were actually just extras?"
Ishaq said, looking back at Ronan.
"That's not it. Depending on the situation, sanctions could have been imposed on your side too."
Meaning if they had done nothing and just stayed still, they would have been bundled together and sent away.
'That's what they would have thought initially. But they quickly changed their minds after seeing how the situation unfolded. Rather than getting rid of us, they decided to just cut out the rotten parts of the organization.'
They probably judged that Violet Fox was too dangerous to mess with. If they hadn't shown such an overwhelming presence today as they did Violet Fox would have met the same fate as those executives.
'Well now. Since they're heads of an organization, they're all cunning foxes.'
They weren't branch managers for nothing. They had all climbed to those positions through various experiences in the underworld. That experience and talent was never to be taken lightly.
The urgent fire was settled this way. What was important was what came next. Osian glared at Inspector Howard. It was a more intense gaze than before.
"Inspector Howard will be dealt with through appropriate procedures. I'd prefer it if you didn't stare so intimidatingly."
Perhaps misunderstanding Osian's gaze, Branch Manager Ishaq warned in a tone telling him not to do anything rash. He judged that Osian might draw his sword and swing it here.
Osian didn't respond.
Perhaps feeling burdened by the flowing situation and the stare. Inspector Howard cried out as if having a seizure.
"Cut the crap! How hard have I worked for the Broker Union! You're going to kick me out suddenly without any procedure? I! How much have I done!"
"Inspector Howard. How unseemly. Don't babble anymore and sit down."
Though Bartolomeo pointed this out, Howard didn't listen. Rather, his eyes became bloodshot and his face turned bright red.
"Fuck! These damn bastards! Every single one of you looks down on me! Am I that laughable! I'm Howard! Inspector Howard! You vermin bastards!"
"......"
Ishaq's expression hardened coldly. The same was true for the other branch managers.
"N-now, Howard!"
Even those whose corruption had been exposed by Branch Manager Linia sensed something was wrong and tried to stop Howard. Just as they were about to tell him not to make things worse.
Crack crack crack!
Howard's head snapped to the side. The flexibility was unbelievable for such a thick neck. It wasn't actually flexible. There was the sound of breaking.
"You bastards are all the same! Vermin-like bastards! All of you smile on the outside but laugh at me inside! I should have killed you all first! All of you! Die. Grrrrglllk!"
"H-Howard!"
Inspector Howard's words and actions became more extreme. Later, normal language didn't even come out. Only sounds like grinding and creaking, as if from a rusted and broken machine, came from his vocal cords.
Drip.
Red blood flowed from Inspector Howard's eyes, nose, and mouth. At the same time, his reddened head swelled up like a balloon.
No, it wasn't a metaphor. His head had actually turned into a balloon.
A bright red balloon with his angry, distorted expression imprinted on it floated up. His body shrank and became like a string hanging below the balloon. As if all elements of his flesh had concentrated into his head.
"Everyone stand back!"
The enforcers who realized the situation was going strangely reacted.
Some quickly evacuated the branch managers and executives, while others drew their personal firearms and aimed at Howard.
"Crazy! What is that thing!"
Loraine cried out in horror. Among them, the most impressive was Gulnar.
Clank!
The moment he touched the coffin beside him, there was the sound of metal interlocking from inside. Soon blue current flowed along the coffin, and puzzle piece-like lines appeared on the surface of the black coffin.
Clank! Clank! Crackle!
The black coffin disassembled into countless cube pieces. They were metal parts each with their own role. The metal parts moved following magnetism and reassembled in midair.
It was a large firearm reminiscent of a cannon. Gulnar gripped it and immediately pulled the trigger.
Whiiiiing.
Blue light gathered at the barrel's opening. A massive beam was fired almost simultaneously. The blue beam penetrated the forehead of Howard, who had become a red balloon floating in the meeting hall.
Whoosh!
Red blood poured out from the pierced hole.
"Aaaahhh!"
One of the executives who had approached to stop Howard couldn't dodge in time and was drenched in red blood. An enforcer quickly grabbed his collar and dragged him out.
"Damn!"
The enforcer immediately released the executive and stepped back. The blood-soaked executive began trembling like an epileptic patient, then grinned so wide his mouth seemed to tear.
The smile gradually deepened, then his mouth split open, reaching below his ears.
"Heh, hehe. Hehehehehehe!!!"
Even in the pain of having his living flesh torn, the executive only laughed.
That wasn't all. His nose turned red, and his face began to be painted stark white.
"This...!"
"Stand back!"
Gulnar stepped forward. His weapon disassembled again and reassembled. This time, instead of a barrel, it was massive medium-sized firearms gripped in both hands. When Gulnar pulled the trigger, blue flashes shot out like buckshot and swept over the executive.
The shattered corpse painted one side of the meeting hall like spilled paint. Meanwhile, Howard's face, which had been gushing blood, turned toward Ishaq.
"Kehehehe!"
He was no longer angry. Instead, the face attached to the balloon giggled as it rapidly approached Ishaq. Even the experienced Ishaq had no choice but to freeze before that sight.
Then a jet-black shadow moved and bit his collar.
And with spring-like movement, it quickly withdrew while carrying Ishaq.
The shadow that had returned to its position transformed into Diolan while putting on boots. In Diolan's hands was Ishaq.
The poor balloon had only swallowed the chair. The enforcers around shot at it and red blood gushed out from the shot balloon like a turned-on faucet.
"Don't shoot! It only makes the damage worse!"
The balloon didn't burst. Rather, it defiantly poured out its contents, trying to spray it around. At that moment, starlight flashed.
Slice.
Osian, who had leaped high, vertically cut the balloon. The balloon split in half like split firewood and collapsed helplessly. No blood spurted out. The power of starlight had burned away all the evil energy.
Thus the deflated balloon's remains returned to what had been Howard's skin. It fell to the red-stained floor with a wet thud. It was so miserable and horrible it was hard to believe it was the end a human had met.
Everyone watched the scene while holding their breath.
'What the hell is this now?'
Osian frowned. He stared at the bizarrely transformed Howard. From the first time he saw him, he had felt a strange energy. And from the moment he had his seizure, a disgusting smell had wafted thick and strong.
Saying there was a disgusting rat bastard was aimed at Howard, but it also had another meaning.
That something was mixed in this meeting hall that couldn't be seen as simply a matter between humans.
That suspicion became certainty the moment he saw the transformed Howard. Inspector Howard had become a balloon and died after being cut in half by Osian's sword.
Though Osian had killed him, Howard was no longer human. Right. This was the result of being 'corrupted.'
'Since when exactly?'
That corruption had occurred meant something had flowed in from outside. The problem was not knowing whose handiwork this was.
'Could it be an Outer God?'
If it were just an outer being, it wouldn't have acted this way. They have no reason and indiscriminately destroy their surroundings. Hiding so secretly like this and then suddenly revealing itself was something only an outer god could do.
'But I've never heard of one that turns people into ridiculous balloons.'
Osian didn't know all the outer gods. He had only heard about the settings of those directly related in the game.
In other words, this one could be considered a completely new entity.
Osian turned his eyes to trace those remnants but he could not feel traces of the culprit anywhere.
'Did it escape?'
This was also surprising. To think that right here, something had caused corruption in Howard and then escaped. This wasn't the behavioral pattern a typical outer god would show. Most outer gods have arrogance built in due to their presence.
'They absolutely never retreat because they are absolute powerhouses but this one escaped without hesitation.'
Just because Red Eternity was driven away didn't mean the world had become safe. Rather, that had become a signal flare, allowing another dangerous entity to sneak in.