Chapter 43
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Friend (7)
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Actually, inviting Dennis and Saburo went a little against the plan. The Martial God Cult's original scheme was to act like they didn't know Iwamoto Serika's true identity, keep her paired up with Hwayoung, and let her absorb Serika's leadership qualities.
Inviting Dennis and Saburo, who had infiltrated as surveillance, meant Serika would inevitably catch on, throwing a wrench into future plans. One of the believers knew this and shot an uneasy glance at the driver believer.
"Is it really okay to do this ahead of orders from above?"
The driver believer nodded solemnly in response. He knew his actions deviated somewhat from the plan. But you couldn't get approval from higher-ups for every little thing, and in emergencies, he had decision-making authority.
The driver believer lowered his voice.
"Of course, this veers from the original plan and direction. But it was an unavoidable call. We can't clash with those Prophets with brute force right now."
The believer nodded at that.
"True. Coming all the way to our estate and setting up surveillance was crossing a line. If we hadn't gotten orders, we would've attacked on sight."
"In our territory, putting on such a bold display—we can't just keep ignoring it. They're only watching from the yard for now, but who knows what audacious moves they'll pull later if we let them think we're pushovers? That's why we're changing tactics. Let them know we see through their disguise and have no intention of fighting. It's a standoff."
Saburo and Dennis's car bumped along toward the estate's parking lot. The Iwamoto family car stood out right beside it. The believer, leaning against the fence, spoke up.
"So you deliberately invited those two inside. Want to see how Iwamoto Serika reacts when she runs into the surveillance?"
"Exactly. Remember how she acted at dinner? Devoured unfamiliar food without a second thought, even though this place might as well be enemy territory to her. That's not ordinary boldness. It's the kind of demeanor a group leader should emulate."
The driver believer recalled Serika as he'd seen her through the window. She'd scarfed down the food without hesitation, staring down the believer couple with a chilling expression. She exuded the confidence and ferocity of the estate's true owner.
The confidence that she could devour this place anytime. That steely expression was precisely what Hwayoung needed to emulate if she was to lead the Martial God Cult. That's why the driver believer wanted to confirm it even more.
"At dinner, I want to see if Iwamoto Serika's display was because she trusted the surveillance behind her—or if it's her innate guts. That's what I'm after."
"Well said."
The believer nodded. The driver believer's reasoning sounded solid.
"What do we do?"
"Can't back out now. Just play it cool."
Having accepted the invitation, Dennis and Saburo were grimacing. Their plan to observe from afar had completely fallen apart. Refusing now would just make them look foolish. Might as well dig up everything they could before leaving.
Saburo tilted his head, scanning the surroundings. People in white clothes chatted or worked efficiently; from the snippets of Korean conversation, that's what they were. Saburo asked the staff member setting out refreshments.
"You folks aren't local, huh? Came from pretty far? Or is the organization's headquarters in Korea?"
The organization member rolled his eyes briefly before replying in Korean.
"No Japanese."
Saburo glanced at Dennis.
"What'd that guy just say?"
Dennis grimaced in disbelief.
"No idea. Think I'd know? I'm not fluent in every language."
"You've had a long trip—must be tiring."
The driver believer stepped forward. Saburo lit up at the sight of someone who seemed to speak Japanese.
"Oh, finally—a guy I can talk to."
"Nice to meet you. You're the Prophets, right?"
The driver believer twitched his eyebrow at the word "Prophets."
How dare these people—who might spark trouble any moment—call themselves Prophets? Compared to their divine leader who foresaw the future and descended to save the world, it was nothing but mockery.
Saburo eyed the driver believer.
"You know who we are. Fair's fair—we know you too."
Of course, Saburo didn't know the driver believer and the others were from the Martial God Cult. He'd never even heard the name; he just figured they were some mysterious group serving Iwamoto Yoshio.
Still, he found it odd that most here were Korean.
Saburo kept his thoughts hidden and pressed the driver believer.
"So why come out of hiding now? We getting too close for comfort?"
The driver believer nodded frankly.
"Yes. That's a big part of it. Stepping into our turf—we couldn't pretend not to notice. Had to show ourselves. Our goals align anyway, don't they? We just want to keep things quiet."
Saburo rolled his eyes. With so many around, provoking them might stir trouble. Debating between calling their boss "Iwamoto Yoshio" or "big shot," he opted for politeness.
They hadn't come to start a bloodbath today.
"Your boss's orders?"
"Yes."
Saburo jerked his head toward the mansion with a grin. Coincidentally, past the cult leader's bust between them and the mansion. The driver believer followed his gaze, then frowned.
"...Please don't point like that."
"My bad."
Saburo pegged the driver believer and his group as highly loyal. The atmosphere had shifted just from a gesture. Seeing Dennis stiffen and scan around, Saburo muttered.
"Don't freak out. They're small fry—we could clean 'em up easy."
"I've never been scared."
Dennis twitched her eyebrow at his wording. Saburo chuckled, and the driver believer addressed him.
"In that case, please make yourselves at home."
"Yeah, we will."
Saburo nodded and sipped his tea leisurely. As the driver believer turned to leave, he signaled the other believers. Inside, the mother and father believers drinking tea caught the signal, stood, and said.
"Well then, Mr. Iwamoto. Shall we step out for a light stroll? Our garden is beautifully kept."
Iwamoto Yoshio brightened.
"Whoa, I was hoping you'd say that. I noticed the garden coming in—it's stunning. I've always dreamed of making one myself. This time, maybe..."
As Iwamoto Yoshio flushed and rambled, his wife gently tugged his arm.
"Dear, calm down."
"Oops, my mistake. Heh heh heh."
The mother and father believers inwardly cheered at Iwamoto Yoshio's naive charm. The more innocent and good-natured, the easier to draw into the Martial God Cult. The father believer told the mother.
"Hey, go grab Serika and Hwayoung too. Nice weather—let's all head out."
"Oh dear, how could I forget? Yes!"
Outside the window sat Saburo and Dennis. They tensed as the mansion door opened. Iwamoto Yoshio stepped out oblivious, chuckling heartily, followed by Hwayoung and Serika toward the garden.
It was time for the clueless to come face-to-face.