Episode 169 Kyushu Crisis (1)
A modern city, desolate and covered in concrete and cement.
Whoosh— Rumble!
Heavy rain poured from the dark night sky, accompanied by thunder and lightning.
The already sparsely populated streets on the outskirts were now eerily deserted due to the severe weather.
Inside a shabby building, located in such a deserted area, untouched by prosperity,
A figure, blending into the darkness of the unlit interior, quietly looked out the window as the heavy rain relentlessly pounded against it.
Flash! Rumble—!
A flash of lightning momentarily cast a grotesque shadow on his face.
A strange smile, as if he was angry, frowning, or even grinning.
It was a Hahoe Mask.
'It's raining heavily.'
Hans stared out the window.
Unlike the interior where he was, the streetlights illuminated the street despite the wind and rain, and a refreshing downpour continued outside.
As if to cleanse the world.
'Of course, that method is useless for purifying the world.'
He scoffed inwardly, a random thought crossing his mind.
A gentle approach like water was useless for removing the pollution that stained the world.
It required a lot of effort, it didn't even wash away properly, and even if it succeeded, it would leave stains and eventually contaminate the water that was trying to cleanse it.
'It's not water, but fire, that purifies this world.'
That was the answer he had reached.
A harsh measure like fire that burned away all impurities… in other words, overwhelming violence!
Fire, which burned everything without tolerating any contamination, was a much more efficient purification method than water.
Of course, he knew that there were side effects to that method, but he had no intention of bending his beliefs.
Even if he was harmed by the flames.
That was the path he had chosen.
[Hehehe— What a useless thought.]
Hans shook his head, snapping out of his momentary sentimentality, and took out a burner phone from his subspace magic tool.
Wooong— Wooong—
The device, receiving all the missed signals at once, vibrated repeatedly, and messenger windows popped up on its screen.
-Hans Slave No. 1: I'm reporting some preliminary results.
-Hans Slave No. 1: Regarding Heaven's Turn Society, the Management Bureau has also been tracking them. It seems like they're having a hard time investigating because they've completely stopped their domestic activities.
-Hans Slave No. 1: So they're focusing on investigating their past connections. They're a thorough bunch, so it's not going smoothly, but it's not like there are no results.
-Hans Slave No. 1: <Criminal Investigation Division - Investigation into Heaven's Turn Society's Domestic Activities (Pending)>
-Hans Slave No. 1: I think this is all the useful data for now. I'll contact you again when I have more information.
'Hans Slave No. 1'… no, the dark mage Ahn Sung-jin, who was his informant planted in the Supernatural Ability Management Bureau, was diligently gathering information as instructed.
He was surprisingly competent.
'This much information already. He's more useful than I thought.'
It didn't really feel like it because he had shown a helpless and submissive attitude in front of him, but he was one of the best talents in the country when it came to dark magic.
Of course, there were many who were more skilled than him just in terms of ability, but those who were able to maintain their rationality and reach a high level like Ahn Sung-jin were rare.
He had a track record of assisting with investigations as an advisor on various dark magic crimes, and it was the same for the recent Hahoe Mask-related issues.
In that sense, it was only natural for him to be interested in Heaven's Turn Society, which had clashed with Hahoe Mask…
'I thought he was just better than nothing, but it turns out he was the perfect choice.'
It seemed like he would have to give him a gift when he returned from Japan.
That way, he would work even harder in the future.
What other boss would be so considerate of his employees' welfare?
[Hmph— Well, now that I'm here, I don't really need information from Korea. But it's always good to have more information.]
Hans casually glanced through the data sent to his smartphone and then put it back in his subspace.
Flash— Rumble!
Another bolt of lightning struck.
The intense light momentarily illuminated the dark interior.
It was as if a fierce battle had taken place, as broken furniture was scattered everywhere.
The interior walls and ceiling, cracked and collapsed, looked like they needed to be rebuilt,
And blood and flesh were splattered everywhere, not yet dry.
And in the center—.
[Ugh…]
[Groan— Ugh!]
Crack, crack—!
Like a scene from a horror movie, dozens of corpses were writhing grotesquely, lined up in formation.
They were the people who had been living in this building, members of an organization that had been using this place as their base and controlling the surrounding area.
…Not anymore.
[Definitely a gold mine, unlike Korea. To think I'd find a clue so quickly after taking down a few big shots. I should have done this sooner.]
Of course, these guys weren't real members of Heaven's Turn Society.
Strictly speaking, they were a branch of an organization that was cooperating with them, like the Blood Alliance hardliners in Korea.
But he learned that there were many such organizations in Japan while examining the memories of the highest-ranking one here.
'Actually, I didn't expect to catch their tail so quickly. This means that Heaven's Turn Society's influence is even more widespread here than in Korea.'
And that meant that if he continued to destroy those organizations, Heaven's Turn Society would eventually appear.
They weren't peaceful enough to just stand by and watch while their collaborators were being wiped out.
[Hehehe— It's simple. Yes, death and destruction are my essence! I'm looking forward to seeing who will be left standing at the end of this path. Hahaha!]
Hans laughed, tilting his head back as another bolt of lightning struck, and a dark shadow fell on his mask.
A madness-filled smile, grotesquely exaggerated by the wrinkles and curves of the Hahoe mask.
But that chilling laughter suddenly stopped as the space was engulfed in darkness—.
And when light returned to the room, which had been silent for a while, there was no one left inside.
Only the mess, with broken furniture and bloodstains everywhere, showed that something big had happened…
____________________
A man tilted his head in a luxurious office filled with all sorts of decorations, having received unexpected information.
"…What's this?"
Yulryeongja, the head of Heaven's Turn Society's East Asia branch, re-examined the newly arrived report with a frown, sitting in his wheelchair.
Buzz— Ching—
His left prosthetic eye, which looked like something out of science fiction, scanned the document busily, organizing the information and projecting it directly into his brain, but he didn't relax and just stared at the report, organizing his thoughts.
"Hahoe Mask… went to Japan?"
A low murmur finally escaped his lips after a long time.
It was information about the recent whereabouts of Hahoe Mask, the biggest cause of his headaches lately.
He stroked his chin, re-examining the information.
'I was just about to do something in Korea at Doctor's request.'
Of course, it was difficult to do anything right now, even if he did something.
He was planning to at least prepare the groundwork by mobilizing the remaining Heaven's Turn Society members who were still hiding and the high-ranking officials whose weaknesses he had grasped…
'But now he's suddenly gone to Japan?'
The situation there was different from Korea, where most of their foundation had been destroyed.
Not only had they been working there longer, as it was the second region they targeted in Asia after China, but it was also much more advantageous for them to build their power by parasitizing the underworld organizations, which were strong there, including the Yakuza.
Naturally, Heaven's Turn Society's power in Japan was incomparable to that in Korea.
'Then there's no need to target him in Korea anymore.'
Tap, tap, tap—
Yulryeongja tapped his fingers on the table, lost in thought.
He was worried that the forces they had established in Japan might also be destroyed like in Korea, although it was unlikely.
"I thought he would just stay in Korea. He's quite active, this Hahoe Mask…"
He had stopped their activities in Korea, but he was still gathering information about Hahoe Mask through his subordinates.
His unique skill "Thought Projection" was an ability he prided himself on being the best among mental abilities.
It wasn't just at the level of placing restrictions on his subordinates, he could even transmit thoughts and, if he wanted to, allow them to indirectly experience everything they saw and heard.
It was practically an all-purpose skill!
'…Of course, that's why I'm in this state.'
Throb—
Yulryeongja gritted his teeth and slowly stroked his left eye, feeling a sudden surge of pain.
He had regained his vision with the prosthetic eye, but the shock of his spirit being torn apart was a separate issue.
The pain, which started from his eye, slowly spread throughout his body and finally reached his thigh, where he had lost sensation, before disappearing.
"Whew… Whew…"
He wiped off his cold sweat, gasping for breath.
Because of that, he couldn't use his unique skill at full power these days, and he even had an obsessive-compulsive disorder of always creating an escape route by disconnecting.
It wasn't a good habit for an awakened one, whose abilities were everything, but if he encountered someone like Hahoe Mask again in his current state, his soul would truly be torn apart.
'I can't miss this opportunity. But I should prepare more thoroughly, just in case.'
He finally made up his mind and slowly nodded.
He hadn't properly confirmed Hahoe Mask's strength yet, but he was probably at a level worthy of being called a Demon King of a world.
But Earth's ability users… especially Heaven's Turn Society, weren't weak enough to be defeated by a single Demon King.
'After all, returnees are superhumans, each a weapon of war, who survived in another world for a long time, receiving growth bonuses and possessing special abilities.'
Of course, there were also many incompetent ones because of their large numbers, but there were also those who had achieved unbelievable feats and returned, among the true top ranks.
Those who defeated and sealed a descended Demon King, those who saved a country by beheading an evil dragon, and even villains who inflicted fatal damage on their side.
'You'll regret underestimating us.'
And Yulryeongja himself was a mastermind who had played a big part in throwing a world into chaos with his abilities and schemes.
____________________
Bang—! Bang!
Boom—!
"Fire! Keep firing!"
"Crazy! What is that monster?!"
Gunshots, like roaring thunder, echoed continuously, and rough curses filled with fear erupted from everywhere.
And not only modern firearms, but also various supernatural abilities, such as fire, lightning, and gravity, were unleashed relentlessly, trying to restrain the enemy.
Towards a single point.
Goooo—
A thick darkness, as if a clump of the abyss, was rapidly approaching them.
But naturally, they couldn't stop something like that with such a lukewarm method.
The black fog, having broken through all obstacles, finally reached them.
"Damn it! Everyone, drop your guns! Now it's just interference!"
"Squad Leader Nakagawa! But if we touch it carelessly, we'll end up like the others…!"
"Then just support us from behind! You idiot!"
Clang! Clang!
They couldn't help but draw their weapons and raise their energy, swallowing nervously as they prepared to fight.
"Damn it, I thought it was just a rumor…!"
There was a rumor spreading through the streets of Fukuoka at night.
A mysterious grim reaper who silently approached under the cover of darkness, annihilated organizations, and took their corpses.
Many had already been attacked by 'it', but the only thing left at the scene was evidence of a desperate struggle, and the only clues were uncertain testimonies.
And even those were only available because there were survivors who had been captured and then released within the attacked organizations.
Swoosh—
At that moment, the black fog that had approached them slowly dissipated, and something in the shape of a human emerged from within.
A pitch-black robe that seemed to blend into the surrounding darkness, a hood covering its head, and…
A strange mask that stood out even more because of the two blue ghost fires burning like will-o'-the-wisps amidst the dark figure.
"Is it… an Oni?"
[It's Hahoe Mask, you foolish human.]
The being, as if the embodiment of fear, kindly answered the trembling voice.
[Well, it's meaningless to tell you now anyway.]
What was the difference between talking to a corpse?
And so, Hahoe Mask, Hans, turned Fukuoka City in Kyushu upside down in no time.
Of course, the real cleansing was just beginning.
It was just one city.