Haeun was trembling in a small room inside the cult’s true main headquarters building, hidden away in the countryside.

  He feared the wrath that his failure would bring. He knew that this failure was unforgivable.

  Haeun had disappointed the Deputy Leader.

  He had betrayed the expectations of the Deputy Leader who trusted him, gave him power, and provided him with an opportunity. That fact alone felt terrifying.

  It felt like the sky was collapsing. What on earth had he done? Haeun slowly felt himself crumbling in terror.

  The feeling that he had lost the right to wear clothes different from the ordinary members and stand above them was beyond words.

  He was simply afraid. The trembling loser could do nothing but await his punishment.

  Haeun merely waited for the Deputy Leader, not daring to flee even in his fear.

  Defeat.

  Haeun recalled that moment again. Haeun had been defeated, even though he had gained a new power.

  And in a deeply miserable way.

  He had never once imagined that he would fall simply due to noise. He thought he would overcome all difficulties with a body like iron that could withstand any attack, but he was defeated.

  He was an opponent he absolutely should not have lost to.

  He was a sacrifice that he had to capture and present to the Deputy Leader unconditionally. Despite that, he was defeated.

  That fact made Haeun feel miserable. He was trash who couldn't even properly do what he was supposed to. That thought kept him depressed.

  Just as those thoughts piled up and weighed on Haeun with a pressure like drowning, the door opened.

  And there stood the Deputy Leader.

  "I heard the story."

  The Deputy Leader spoke in a soft voice. Entering with a gentle expression that matched his voice, the Deputy Leader approached the frightened Haeun and gently patted his shoulder.

  "People can sometimes fail. And we didn't tell you about your weakness. So there is no reason to be this despondent."

  The Deputy Leader said that, comforting Haeun. His words slightly erased Haeun's fear.

  "I am scared. Scared that I have let down your expectations."

  Haeun said that, and tears streamed down his face involuntarily. For him, who had never felt such emotion before, this was incomprehensible.

  Haeun was the one who had become cynical and sought to escape the cult and return to his family's embrace.

  But the surgery, followed by the meeting with the Deputy Leader, had changed him to the very depths of his soul. Now, Haeun was the Deputy Leader's most loyal servant and feared disappointing him above all else.

  "It is alright. Through this incident, we were able to learn about the challenges we must overcome and the enemy's ability. That is a very great gain. Now we have newly identified and can overcome the enemy's weakness. That is a sufficiently great gain."

  The Deputy Leader said that, reassuring and patting Haeun once more. Haeun, in response to the Deputy Leader's words, merely sobbed, grateful for the kind words.

  "Now. If you get another chance next time, I hope you do not miss it. And I will tell them your story and provide you with equipment to protect yourself from strange noises."

  The Deputy Leader said that and rose. Haeun looked at him as if he were a savior. A halo seemed to shine around the Deputy Leader's head, and seeing him like a sacred painting, Haeun simply bowed his head in reverence.

  "Let us all work to follow the will of the former Leader and create a new world. I am confident that you can do it."

  The Deputy Leader said that and smiled. Looking at his expression, Haeun resolved to certainly do so. His eyes shone more intensely than ever, as if the path to destruction did not matter.

  Jihyeon lived his life as usual until he finished organizing the information. It was a time to better understand his opponent and to prepare for a possible cult attack.

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  Jihyeon had been in a state of emergency since he began to worry that they might target his family. Even if he pretended otherwise, he couldn't help the feeling of his insides burning.

  Family safety.

  As always, Jihyeon's biggest concern was the safety of his family. After gaining his abilities, his worry for his family had increased several times over.

  The memory of his family almost being hurt because of drug addicts had driven Jihyeon into a state of extreme tension.

  If he were dealing with ordinary people, he wouldn't worry this much. But his opponent was a cult.

  The fanatics belonging to the cult could become the most deadly terrorists in the world with a single command. They were difficult to deal with more than anyone else, and those for whom physical force was the only answer were always the most troublesome enemies.

  Fortunately, nothing had happened yet. But vigilance was key. They could move at any time and in any way. There was a high possibility that they would find information about Jihyeon.

  More than anything else, Jihyeon was the person who saved Mina, so they might have already caught on.

  The worry started from there. If he hadn't gotten involved in the first place, it might be different, but since he had already stepped in, there was nothing he could do.

  All he could do was monitor them more thoroughly and destroy them as quickly as possible.

  However, that would not be easy.

  He knew that if it were the time after the former Leader's death, when the remaining members had no abilities, it would be different, but that was not the case now.

  His insides were burning.

  Perhaps he was worrying too much, but the side with the exposed weakness is always at a disadvantage.

  Jihyeon, who was lying in bed contemplating various things, got up and muttered.

  "There really is no end to this."

  The emotions that surfaced the moment he thought about his family's safety were numerous negative feelings accompanied by annoyance.

  He knew his life couldn't be the same as ordinary people's, but nevertheless, it now felt overwhelming.

  Jihyeon couldn't help but smile bitterly, thinking that people in the back alleys in novels and such were often orphans or in similar situations for a reason.

  Throughout human history, how many examples were there of families being taken hostage or targeted for revenge?

  Just thinking of such possibilities made Jihyeon feel an unbearable burden. While it was good that he could make the knowledge and information of the past his own, what he gained as a result was paranoia.

  It might be inevitable for Jihyeon, who possessed the deepest knowledge of human darkness.

  "Ah, in times like this, I should make people work for me."

  As if something suddenly occurred to him, Jihyeon muttered to himself. Thinking that he could at least ask for that if the work had to be done, Jihyeon contacted someone.

  And a little while later, Jihyeon went out, saying he would be back. His parents were worried, but now was the time to do something more important.

  The Master's office had now become a familiar place to Jihyeon. Although frequenting such places was never a good thing, Jihyeon had no choice but to visit here.

  Fortunately, the Master was in his office today. Relieved that he hadn't arrived too late, Jihyeon stated the reason for his visit.

  "Bodyguard service... are you taking us too lightly?"

  The Master said, looking bewildered by Jihyeon's request. But Jihyeon simply replied to his words.

  "Isn't it better than me being incapacitated without being able to use my ability? Besides, those guys are in an even more dangerous situation now because they are choosing their successor."

  The Master nodded at Jihyeon's words. The frenzy they were showing now was not normal. The cult's internal situation was like a beehive, a bomb that could explode at any moment.

  The Master knew that protecting Jihyeon's family was a cheaper option, as Jihyeon needed to exert his full strength to deal with such people.

  "This is ridiculous. We're not a private investigation agency."

  The Master said that, but did not refuse. Instead, he only mentioned reducing the payment, and Jihyeon did not object to that at all.

  "By the way, why are those guys bothering us because of their internal affairs?"

  Jihyeon gave the Master a somewhat different answer to his question.

  "It's probably a matter of securing legitimacy. If there are three people with equal power, legitimacy will ultimately decide the successor."

  The Master said, sounding annoyed.

  "The strongest one should just take over, what's the problem..."

  In the back alleys, the strong always climb to the highest position. It was a simple logic befitting a place that best aligned with the rule of the jungle.

  "They don't want to split up, probably. And those behind the cult also dislike chaos."

  The Master asked Jihyeon.

  "So who are those people behind them? I don't understand why they are creating these incidents..."

  Jihyeon decided to reveal a little more of the information he knew to the Master.

  "Those guys are the ones who initially distributed the tool that nullifies CCTVs. The cult is a kind of cover, existing for those sellers. They must have something they want to do with the cult. We just don't know what that is at all."

  The Master's annoyance began to pile up again at Jihyeon's answer.

  "Damn it, what kind of nonsense is this?"

  He did not like complex schemes. While many things happen in the back alleys, the Master still thought that solving things with fists was the best.

  "How would I know? But one thing is certain: those guys are just puppets, and we are the ones who suffer because of it. After all, they are running wild, and only we are being harmed, aren't we?"

  The Master did not hide his discomfort at Jihyeon's words. But he agreed with one fact.

  "Can you definitely destroy them? We absolutely cannot leave those bastards alone."

  The Master said that, looking into Jihyeon's eyes. In his gaze was the determination to kill Jihyeon by any means necessary if he failed.

  "It will take some time. There are three people with power equal to mine. Not to mention the mastermind behind them, and the people beneath them are also dangerous."

  Jihyeon said that and rose.

  "But I promise one thing. I will definitely bring down the cult. Even if it's for my own survival."

  The Master nodded at Jihyeon's words.

  "I will send the guys starting tomorrow, so just make sure to smash them completely."

  The deal was established. The Master accepted Jihyeon's request. Therefore, Jihyeon also had to faithfully fulfill his contract.

  "Understood."

  Jihyeon replied cleanly and went out. The Master merely watched Jihyeon with a complicated expression.