Chapter 143
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: Levatein (1)
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National-level?
I recalled what Lee Seojun had explained to me before about the influence of criminal organizations.
"You said they're divided into [World-class], [National-level], and [Regional-level], right?"
-Yes. Right now, the only [World-class] criminal organization is the Villain Alliance, but things change when you drop down to [National-level].
Unlike the single [World-class] criminal organization that currently existed, it seemed there were many [National-level] ones.
Still, wondering if those [National-level] criminal organizations were also under the Villain Alliance, I asked Lee Seojun.
"Aren't the [National-level] criminal organizations part of the Villain Alliance too?"
-Some are affiliated with the Villain Alliance, but the rest aren't. Groups at the [National-level] don't really need to subordinate themselves under the Villain Alliance.
Lee Seojun suggested we target one of the [National-level] criminal organizations that wasn't part of the Villain Alliance.
"Even if we wipe out a [National-level] criminal organization like you say, wouldn't that be too small for our first strike?"
-The alternative would be raiding the Hero Headquarters, the Villain Alliance, or the Geneva Cult, but honestly, you don't feel up to any of those.
It was true—as Lee Seojun said, none of those three appealed to me.
The Hero Headquarters handled gates all over the world, so I had no desire to mess with them.
The Villain Alliance and Geneva Cult were already at each other's throats, so there was no need to get involved.
"Which leaves [National-level] criminal organizations."
-Exactly. Plus, true to form as criminal organizations, they hoard rare items obtained through illegal channels.
Rare items aside, I liked that they were criminal organizations to begin with.
They must have committed heinous acts to earn [National-level] status, so there was no need to hold back.
"I could wipe them all out and enslave the survivors."
For reference, my special inventory already held criminals from my previous world.
I had them prepped so I could summon and use them however I wanted, anytime, anywhere.
'I haven't needed them until now, so they've just been sitting in storage.'
Death would have been too merciful for them, so I'd sealed them away to exploit indefinitely.
Anyway, when I said I'd wipe out the [National-level] criminal organizations and enslave them, Lee Seojun responded with an expression of quiet admiration.
-[National-level] groups range from a few hundred to as many as several hundred thousand members per country. You plan to enslave them all?
"...Several hundred thousand?"
-Yes. The Chinese triad alone is estimated at 600,000 strong. Of course, that's different if you're only targeting the executives.
"..."
What had the country been doing while their criminal organizations swelled to 600,000 members?
-They were cracking down hard at first, but after towers and mana appeared, they grew back.
Seeing my incredulous look, Lee Seojun continued explaining.
Besides, those 600,000 wouldn't all be conveniently gathered in one place, so rooting them out completely would take time.
"Looks like we'll have to go after the key executives."
-That's probably best. Though even the executives number in the thousands.
"Then maybe just the ringleaders."
Separately, taking down China's [National-level] criminal organization would likely spread word far and wide about the group Lee Seojun and I had formed.
"What about Korea?"
I briefly pondered the scale of China's criminal syndicates before curiosity turned to Korea.
When I asked about Korea, Lee Seojun answered nonchalantly.
-Around 2,000 members.
"2,000 sounds about right."
-The size varies by country population.
Unlike China, 2,000 members qualified as [National-level] in Korea.
"Anyway, 2,000 seems manageable to handle right away."
-With fewer numbers, they hide more desperately than in other countries, but I know their locations, so don't worry.
I nodded and turned my thoughts to the organization we'd formed earlier: Levatein.
"Just five members in total."
From the organization boss down to the healer, destroyer, archmage, and mountain guardian.
Numbers didn't really matter, but five did feel a bit too sparse.
"Maybe create two more."
-Clones?
"Even for an organization, showing up with only five feels too thin."
I already had seven clones summoned, so adding two more wouldn't be an issue.
I could push beyond seven if I strained myself, but that risked coordination failures.
'Seven clones is my current limit.'
I could manage up to seven somehow.
Three was probably the max for fighting freely and fluidly.
-Five is definitely too few. So, what kind of characters for the other two?
"I can decide their personalities roughly later. Let's start with appearances."
-Appearances... Ah, including the organization boss, that's three we need to make.
Organization boss?
"Yeah, you're right."
We needed a boss, but I hadn't created one yet.
-Leave it to me. I'll make them look awesome.
"..."
I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I could trust him with it, but nodded soon after.
After consulting with Lee Seojun, we created three more members and headed to the location of Korea's [National-level] criminal organization.
Korea's [National-level] criminal organization, Impact.
With around 2,000 members, they dabbled in every illegal activity imaginable: gambling, drugs, smuggling, prostitution, human trafficking, and more.
"Surprisingly normal-looking place."
One of the seven figures overlooking the secret auction house run by the organization murmured softly.
At first glance, it was a grand mansion with a sprawling garden and a two-story building behind it.
"Including the land, I'd say it's over 1,000 pyeong."
It was lavish for a private home, but sorely lacking as an auction house.
The ghost floating beside the man gave a brief rundown of the mansion.
-The secret auction house is underground. Think of the entire garden as the ceiling.
The man nodded and scanned the mansion and garden once more.
"No auction today, it seems."
-They don't hold them every day. But the auction warehouse should have all their stockpiled goods.
"Where's their ringleader?"
-Kim Yong-il is likely here. If not, he'll flee once he hears about the raid.
If the boss Kim Yong-il wasn't here, catching him later would be tough.
"Should be fine."
The man's purpose wasn't to capture Kim Yong-il specifically.
It was to dismantle the organization, announce Levatein to the world, and incidentally loot their accumulated goods.
'No idea how much they've hoarded.'
With Lee Seojun's recommendation and the floating ghost beside him, the man decided to proceed with some expectations.
"Let's go."
-Yes.
With those words, the seven men hovering in the sky plummeted toward the garden like falling stars.
As he descended rapidly, the man channeled his energy into his legs, intending to shatter the garden to pieces.
Kwaaaang!!
The secret auction house's ceiling was reinforced with thick steel plates, but it couldn't withstand him.
Bursting through, the organization members leaning against the entrance door gaped at the intruders.
"A-An attack? It's an attack!"
In the sudden chaos, the members shouted and eyed the seven men.
Most faces were unfamiliar, but one was an exception—a figure all members recognized.
"Destroyer...?"
The Destroyer had previously raided the Artifact Shop, along with Daeyang Corporation and ND Corporation.
His image had spread via CCTV and cell phones, so the members knew him.
"Why the hell is the Destroyer attacking us?"
Ignoring them, the man in the center of the seven casually surveyed the area as if it were his own home.
"Where's Kim Yong-il?"
"You bastard!"
Hearing the name, the members realized these intruders knew everything and had come prepared.
Every member in the secret auction house rushed in from their tasks and unleashed attacks without warning.
"Kill them!"
They fired smuggled guns and bombs, even activating skill stone techniques.
But every attack halted as if blocked by an invisible wall.
"Barrier? No, a ward?"
"He didn't even show signs of using it."
The man had nullified their assaults with his 'Block' power and spoke indifferently.
"We can figure it out after killing them all."
At that, a silent man beside him stepped forward.
The members tensed at his movement, bracing for attack.
Stab―
But their preparations were futile. Each member's shadow spiked upward like thorns, piercing heads or throats.
In an instant, he shadow-slayed the thirty-odd gathered members without a flicker of emotion, scanning the fallen bodies.
Bang!
"Who the hell are you?!"
Then, a brutish man with a fierce face and hulking build kicked open a door, bellowing loud enough to shake the auction house.
-That's Park Ho-chil. One of the key executives. He can wield S-rank power for about ten minutes in a fight.
Regardless, Park Ho-chil spotted the Destroyer and widened his eyes.
"Destroyer? What the hell are you doing here?"
To Park Ho-chil's question, the hitherto silent Destroyer turned and answered flatly.
"The organization's will."
"Organization? To think a monster like you joined one."
Park Ho-chil glanced at the remaining six men excluding the Destroyer.
Incredibly, the Destroyer—who had once shaken the nation with his might—stood as if guarding them.
"...Are you the boss?"
Park Ho-chil shifted his gaze to the central figure.
Appearing in his 40s or 50s, with eyes indifferent to the world.
The man nodded confidently and calmly to the question, without a hint of hesitation.
"As you guessed. I am the boss of Levatein."
The man—Lee Seongmin—revealed the name of the organization he had created.