Seoul’s Shadow (2)
“Here you go.”
A masked man handed over an envelope and a tablet.
I first flipped the envelope and pulled out its contents.
Three Lotto tickets popped out.
“Check the drawing and winning numbers. Make sure you remember them. Don’t say anything later.”
Hmm…
The tablet had a Lotto information site open.
I guess that means he wanted me to compare and verify them myself.
I casually pushed the tablet aside and pulled out the previous drawing’s Lotto ticket I had prepared.
Then I scanned the QR code of the three first-place tickets with my burner phone.
“…No unnecessary tricks, okay? This is all about trust.”
The QR code seemed fine… Next up was the amounts.
2.8 billion, 2.2 billion, 1.5 billion.
According to the site’s comparison, there was a slight amount difference, but nothing alarming was found.
This time, I examined each winning ticket closely.
“You’re not playing any other tricks, are you?”
“Such things are done based on the opponent. I don’t intend to gamble my life here.”
‘At least he’s not saying he’s completely out of it.’
As I scrutinized the tickets, I left the envelope behind and slipped the winning tickets into my spatial dimension bracelet.
For now, my Heinz’s Blood Magic couldn’t detect anything unusual.
Even my vampire’s sharp sense of smell didn’t pick up any suspicious substances.
‘I should have Hans use his Black Magic to check again later, far from home.’
After all, it would be more reliable for a magic specialist like Hans to inspect things directly.
Better safe than sorry, right?
“Oh, and I want to find a new identity. Could you give me a recommendation?”
I returned the empty envelope and tablet to him as I spoke.
Seong-hyun Han couldn’t collect all three first-place prizes himself.
Even if he took the largest amount of 2.8 billion, he would need someone to collect the other two.
Regardless, having them would help in some way.
“…Wasn’t that your line of work?”
“That’s how it was. Until our organization went belly up.”
Human trafficking and organ trade.
Naturally, it was closely related to ‘missing persons,’ and laundering their identities was also one of that organization’s main tasks.
“I’ve got plenty of materials, but all my technicians have been weeded out. The few remaining seem too scared to contact me.”
Reading memories isn’t infallible.
The more I forcibly rummage through heads, the more stress it puts on the brain, leading to inevitable information loss.
So, it was necessary to prioritize and read information, but back then, I hadn’t been interested in the petty criminals making fake identities…
“Then, as a service, I’ll share this much.”
He then handed me a paper with a few names and contact numbers written on it.
I took it and stood up.
“Well then, I’ll be off.”
“I hope we can meet again.”
“Same here.”
We exchanged simple farewells.
A little encouragement not to die by a knife in this business.
Clack—
As I opened the door, a young man with an ordinary appearance was waiting outside to guide me out.
It was quite a satisfactory outing.
‘Now, if I could just have an organization of my own, that’d make things easier. I wonder where’s good? These guys look somewhat useful…’
Following the guide, I leisurely surveyed the surroundings, savoring the moment.
*
Hoo—.
The man took off his mask and wiped his face.
He then drummed his fingers on the table, deep in thought.
“Uh, branch chief. About that gentleman from earlier…”
One of the subordinates who was assisting during the transaction carefully opened his mouth.
“Yeah. No matter how I look at it, he doesn’t seem to belong to the guild, does he?”
“Yes, that’s right. Shouldn’t we investigate him just in case?”
‘The guild’ was a derisive term for the now-collapsed human trafficking organization.
Who on earth would go so far as to lie and associate with that organization?
“No, drop it.”
“Yes? Is that alright?”
“What’s wrong with that? You were there too, so you know. Let’s not gamble our lives unnecessarily.”
The reason they carefully selected their opponents for transactions had always been that.
To avoid traps and riff-raffs, ensuring safer and more sustainable dealings.
“But no matter how I see it, he doesn’t seem like someone who belongs in the light.”
“Sure, I felt choked when I tried to threaten him. I couldn’t even see him.”
“Right? That’s because he’s likely a demon. Probably a vampire.”
“Ugh… So that’s what it was?”
The branch chief recalled that moment.
Pale skin, sharp crimson eyes, the overwhelming scent of blood that almost choked him.
‘He probably revealed his identity on purpose. As a warning. If he’s a vampire, does that mean he’s part of the Buncheon Society? Maybe he’s connected to them…’
“Well, now it doesn’t really matter what his real identity is. We have a new customer and a successful transaction. That’s what counts. We made a good profit this time, right? I hope he becomes a regular.”
There’s no benefit in touching dangerous humans for no good reason.
That was the wisdom of someone who had survived in the underbelly until now.
*
Past midnight, on the outskirts of Seoul where no one was around.
Boom—!
[Kheek kheek…]
Clatter— Clack!
A horde of undead rushed into an abandoned factory, flooding inside.
“Where’s the support request? What happened?!”
“There’s no contact! The phone and internet are down! We’re completely isolated!”
“What the hell—! Everyone, prepare for battle!”
The factory manager, commonly called the factory chief, ground his teeth and shouted.
They were hiding now, but these were people who had survived all kinds of hardships.
Superior beings with powers far beyond those of inferior humans.
Grr—
The factory chief’s body began to swell and grow larger.
He tore apart the tight shirt that constrained his bulk and ripped the cuffs of his pants.
He threw away his burst shoes and gasped for breath.
Standing over two meters tall with a muscular physique and a wolfish face adorned with sharp teeth.
He was a returnee who had come back to this world as a werewolf, ‘Demon.’
Huuuh…
“Kikikik! I-I’ll kill them all… Kieheh!”
His subordinates were not in normal shapes either.
Some had transformed into werewolves like the chief, while others were vampires with blood-red eyes and long fangs. Some even had snake scales growing on their skin…
There were still those who retained their human forms, but their eyes were filled with madness indistinguishable from non-human entities.
Boom!
Finally, the undead in the outer perimeter slaughtered everyone guarding the area and surged into the inner space.
With blood dripping from their teeth and claws.
Amidst them were figures that the factory chief was familiar with.
“Krrhh… What the hell, we’ve really hit the jackpot.”
[Kihihihih—]
There, a pale-skinned outer perimeter guard captain was laughing, bleeding from every orifice.
He was a powerful being who could match him…
‘Did they really turn everyone into undead in such a short time?’
Even though it hadn’t been long since he had asked for reinforcements while stalling the threat outside.
As the factory chief clenched his teeth and braced for the final battle, an individual split from the horde of undead and stepped inside.
Draped in dark robes and a hood, a peculiar smile appeared on a mask.
Blue ghostly flames flowed from its eye sockets, emitting a chilly mist.
It was a being that seemed like the embodiment of ominousness in human form.
‘No, is this really a human?’
The factory chief trembled slightly in terror.
The instincts he’d gained as a werewolf screamed in fear.
This being before him was undoubtedly a monster he could never hope to face.
[Indeed, there’s nothing more to see. You all will be exterminated.]
The being that ambushed the factory, Hans, scanned the surroundings.
Surrounded by undead were numerous demons, this space was…
[There’s a ceaseless wailing of the dead all around. It’s been a while since I’ve been in a space filled with death…]
It was an ordinary meat processing factory.
Except that humans, not livestock, were the targets.
From the equipment for draining blood to machines for crushing bones.
It had all the necessary setups.
“Kiheh! You, also a demon, why act so clean? What we’re doing is absolutely necessary to survive!”
“Humans slaughter livestock for food, so why is it wrong for us to do the same? Survival of the fittest is the law of nature, isn’t it?!”
Among the demons who felt overwhelmed, some shouted desperately to shake off their fears…
Hans didn’t see the need to respond to their desperate complaints.
There was no point in talking to madmen who were about to die.
‘Still, there are some survivors. They must have thought it was to keep things fresh.’
The undead dispatched to the storage area reported having found humans who were trapped.
They didn’t look unhealthy, so he directed them to guard that area as is.
Then Hans turned his attention to the demons, who were earnestly claiming to uphold their innocence.
[Yes, survival of the fittest indeed.]
A chilling voice whispered like a demon.
The moment he uttered those words, those who had been arguing unintentionally fell silent.
A sudden silence enveloped the room.
[Your bodies look very satisfying. You’ll make excellent undead.]
In addition, let’s rummage through their heads a bit.
Since it’s survival of the fittest and such a necessary task, there’s no way they’d have any complaints.
The undead charged at them on Hans’s command.
Clack! Clatter!
“Aagh! You lowly corpses!”
[Kiheh! Kiyahha!]
“Grr— I’ll tear you apart!”
Bang—! Bang—!
The demons, having survived through countless battles, didn’t fall easily even against the undead.
Some even pulled out guns and started shooting.
With no intention of dragging this out, Hans made his move.
[Kihyaaaaa—]
“Ugh, they suddenly feel so strong…!”
A black crown settled on Hans’s head, and shadowy aura spread to engulf the undead.
Swoosh—
“Aaaah! It hurts! My body!”
“I can’t see! I can’t hear anything! Am I even speaking? Is everyone hearing me?!”
With just a flick of his hand, a multitude of curse energy surged towards the demons, incapacitating them one by one.
Demons were falling one by one.
Until the last captured factory chief remained, there was no one left to resist.
“Grruh… So this is what the Hahoe Mask is like…”
The factory chief was dragged before Hans, held down by the undead while mumbling.
Though he had heard rumors about the Hahoe Mask, he never imagined it would be this overwhelming.
Considering this factory was quite far from the area where the Hahoe Mask operated, and it had been thoroughly concealed, he had not anticipated an ambush.
He couldn’t comprehend that Hans hunted demons and read their memories to track related parties.
[Now, don’t feel too unjust. I am the ruler of death, and you shall find peace and become my power forever.]
Hans spoke tenderly as he stroked the factory chief’s head.
If anything, that just made him tremble even more.
[Of course, first we must settle the score. It’ll sting a bit. But you don’t have to worry; it won’t hurt that much.]
His gloved hand, that had been stroking the head, suddenly gripped it tightly.
Immediately, black magic surged into his mind.
[Of course, I don’t know for sure since I’ve never experienced it. Hehe…]
“Grr— Aaaaack—!”
A tearing scream and convulsing body.
The undead that had been pinning him began to stir.
As some time passed, the factory chief’s resilient life slipped through a lengthy series of screams, gradually fading away.
When the undead that had restrained him stepped back, he staggered to his feet, bleeding from everywhere.
[You’re quite sturdy; that’s a good thing. So, who shall be next?]
The captured demons sweat profusely, evading Hans’s gaze.
Despite the fact that what awaited them was merely a brief reprieve.
For quite some time after that.
Only screams that would never echo outside wrapped within the barrier reverberated hollowly throughout the factory’s interior.
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