Chapter 179
Chapter 179
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 179
Chapter Title: God's Atlantis
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〈 Chapter 179 〉 God's Atlantis
"Indeed. I am the Heavenly Demon."
My voice was deeper and more resonant than usual. I'd modulated it using Voice Deception (SS).
"......"
The man standing firm in the alley scanned me from head to toe before clicking his tongue briefly.
"Tch. What's with that ridiculous mask? Trying to imitate Helten's executives?"
Helten.
The most infamous criminal legion in Atlantis. However, its base location and exact sphere of influence remained unknown.
Rumors said Helten's executives operated wearing masks.
Of course, I knew about Helten. It was one of the protagonist's enemies in the original story. And my current goal was to infiltrate Helten.
"It has nothing to do with you. Act like a guide if you're going to be one."
"What the hell is this bullshit... Sigh. Fine. Dealing with a guy like you just tires me out... Follow me closely."
I began walking behind the man.
District 2's Today's City back alleys twisted like a maze. True to Atlantis's largest city, even the backstreets were enormously vast.
"Harek! Working? Who's the clown behind you?"
As we walked the alleys, rough-looking men occasionally called out to the burly man.
"It's the old hag's client, so mind your own business."
The burly man, Harek, snapped irritably. He seemed fairly popular in these back alleys.
After fifteen minutes of walking, we arrived in front of a dilapidated building. Scattered furniture and rusted armor lay around, giving off an eerie vibe.
"Here. The old hag's inside, so go in."
"Thanks for the trouble."
Harek just waved his hand dismissively, as if telling me to hurry off without another word.
I strode confidently into the building.
Unlike the outside, the interior was spotlessly clean. The ceiling lights shone brightly.
I glanced at the papers plastered on the wall. Requests like "kill this person," "steal this item," "find this individual," and so on were pinned up.
This was an illicit request brokerage. Assassination contracts were commonplace here.
"Another lunatic's shown up."
At the far end of the building sat an old woman in a chair. Draped in a red cloak, she looked at least seventy. Her hair was snow-white, her face etched with deep wrinkles.
The unusual part was the piercings covering her chin, the sides of her nose, and both ears.
Broker Peshika. The old crone who arranges all sorts of illegal jobs. And a member of Helten.
Peshika also scouted promising talent for Helten.
"I am called the Heavenly Demon."
I introduced myself as I approached Peshika.
Peshika furrowed her brows.
"Cut the crap and tell me why you killed an innocent man just to find me, you punk."
"Innocent? That bastard was a pickpocket."
I sat across from Peshika, using an archaic tone. To hide my identity, I had to restrain my natural speech patterns.
"You beat him to death and dumped the body in the alley? And wrote my name on the alley wall!"
I winced at the old woman's shrill voice.
"I spotted the pickpocket and killed him on the spot. I wrote your name on the wall because I had business with you, didn't I? Besides, you couldn't care less if that pickpocket lived or died."
Two hours ago, I'd tailed a guy who looked like a pickpocket and beaten him to death. Peshika, sensitive to back-alley intel, would've heard about it within the hour.
Plus, it was faster to make her come to me than to seek her out.
"Business with me? What business?"
"......"
Instead of answering, I tilted my head upward.
In Heavenly Demon mode, my senses were razor-sharp. Something lurked in the ceiling.
Obvious without looking. Wraiths. Peshika's a necromancer.
Peshika the necromancer wielded considerable power despite her frail appearance. If we fought now, I'd probably lose.
I lowered my gaze back to Peshika and spoke.
"What business does one have with a broker? I want a commission."
"You killed a pickpocket just to get a commission from me? You're out of your mind."
A chilling presence seeped from all directions. Invisible wraiths were encircling me. Peshika probably planned to kill me here.
"It was the fastest way. And that pickpocket was annoying anyway."
"Annoying? Did he steal your money or something?"
"No. He was picking some woman's pocket."
"Then why kill the pickpocket!"
I didn't have to kill him. Beating him up and dragging him along would've gotten me to Peshika just fine. She dominated these back alleys, after all.
"She was a pretty woman."
"......What?"
"Right up my alley, too."
"......You're insane. I've seen all kinds of lunatics in this line of work, but you're top-tier."
"I'm perfectly sane... Anyway, will you give me a commission?"
"I'll give you one. That pickpocket wasn't one of ours, so it doesn't violate the rules. However... this guy's not fond of you."
A blue wraith materialized before my eyes. Elongated face, thin eyebrows. It was the pickpocket I'd killed two hours ago.
This old hag. She turned the pickpocket's soul into a wraith.
Peshika called me insane, but to me, it just looked like the pot calling the kettle black.
I glanced sideways.
The wraiths had all revealed themselves and were slowly closing in.
Peshika watched me with a blank expression, saying nothing.
A test.
If Peshika really meant to kill me, it wouldn't be this half-hearted.
Fine. I'll meet it head-on.
I began drawing up the mana—no, the Heavenly Demon Qi—within me.
Then I unleashed the Heavenly Demon Qi in all directions, dominating the surroundings.
Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Heavenly Demon Force.
The wraiths faltered under the pressure of the Heavenly Demon's aura that subdued ten thousand demons, then began retreating.
I thrust my hand forward and seized the pickpocket wraith by the throat. With the demon-sealing gauntlet infused with great demonic power on my hand, I could grasp even incorporeal wraiths.
Kiiiiiiek!
The wraith writhed in my grip.
"To die twice by my hand... You're lucky. Heavenly Demon Explosion!"
Boom!
A black explosion erupted from my hand. The wraith, struck head-on, vanished without a trace.
I surveyed the area, and the wraiths backed away from me.
"...Enough."
At Peshika's curt command, the wraiths disappeared completely—not just hiding, but erased.
"Wraiths fearing a human... It's impossible by all logic. What are you, exactly?"
"You know already. I am the Heavenly Demon."
Peshika clicked her tongue as I spoke gravely.
"Tch. No one would buy that as your real name. First, show your face. Take off that childish clown mask."
"Impossible. My social standing is too high; revealing my face would cause no end of trouble."
"If you're here for a commission, shouldn't you at least share basic info on yourself?"
"Hm. My name is Heavenly Demon. I'm in my early twenties."
"Insufficient. You look like an exile... When did you arrive in Atlantis?"
"Three years ago."
"Lies."
"Why do you think so?"
"Kid. How many years do you think I've been doing this? I've been at it since this world began. I've seen plenty of lunatics like you."
"I'm sane."
"Whatever. I don't plan to argue. If you won't share your details... regrettably, I'll back off. Instead, name the Divine Seat you're contracted with. In exchange, I'll broker a commission for you."
"The Seed Sower. The Divine Seat contracted to me."
Peshika glared at me sharply.
"Don't mess around."
"I've never messed around. Even if I told you the Divine Seat's name, how would you verify it?"
"Ask your Divine Seat to send a message. You can manage that much."
"Think my Divine Seat will listen to me?"
"Hmph. If a Divine Seat won't grant even that, your level ends there. No commissions for a nameless, faceless weakling. Get out."
I couldn't leave.
My plan was to complete Peshika's commissions, naturally connect with Helten, and become one of their executives. It couldn't fail here.
"......My contracted Divine Seat is a bit eccentric. Tell me yours first. Fair trade, right?"
"......"
Soul Harvester.
Peshika's Divine Seat, no doubt.
"King of Demon Heaven. If you please."
She must have seen the alert too; her mouth hung slightly open.
"...King of Demon Heaven. No ordinary Divine Seat."
"Do you know the King of Demon Heaven's true nature? Care to enlighten me? I'm dying to know."
"No. I don't know who the King of Demon Heaven is."
"Then why the shock?"
"If my contracted Divine Seat is surprised, it means the King of Demon Heaven is on a higher tier. Plus... a Divine Seat with 'King' in the name has over fifty percent odds of being extraordinary."
"The King of Demon Heaven is indeed impressive. Now, can I get that commission?"
Thanks to the King of Demon Heaven's cooperation, things smoothed over easily.
"I'm short on time. Ideally, something I can finish tonight."
I still hadn't left the Temple of Beginnings. I'd skipped education today and snuck out. They didn't take attendance anyway, so no risk of getting caught. I'd coordinated with Yoo Seo-hee to say I was sick if needed.
"Tonight... Conveniently, three are available."
Peshika peeled three request papers from the wall and showed them to me.
"Pick one and do it."
I examined the requests closely.
"One's an assassination... one's intel gathering... the last is theft."
Surprisingly, the assassination paid the least. The theft offered the highest reward.
"Height? What's this piss-poor named guy's deal?"
"Herb scammer. He disguises wilted herbs as fresh ones and sells them."
"I can guess the client. Intel gathering?"
"Gather info on Mate Legion."
"Can that be done in a day?"
"Kidnap a Mate Legion member and interrogate them. Done in a day."
The old bat was ruthless as expected.
"Stealing one red tree branch for 3 million peni. What's so special about that branch for 3 million peni?"
3 million peni was about 30 million won in Korean currency.
"It's not the item—it's the theft location that jacks up the pay. The branch is in Hopson's mansion in District 57. Hopson's the richest tycoon there."
"District 57... That'll take days to reach."
"If you take that one, I'll give you a warp scroll."
"Warp scroll?"
"Spatial transfer scroll."
Spatial transfer scrolls teleported to set coordinates. Single-use, rare, and expensive.
"You know the scroll costs more than the reward, right?"
"Don't want it? Skip it. Plenty of takers besides you."
"Who said no? I'll take this one."
"Don't forget: bring the branch to me to complete it."
"What the hell is that branch, anyway?"
"No idea."
Lies.
Peshika clearly had no intention of explaining the branch to me.
Whatever.
I knew what the branch was. Helten had posted this request.
It's one of the Seven Chart Branches.
Even if I didn't take it, Helten would recover the branch soon enough.
Peshika showed me this one to test me. Contracted to a high-tier Divine Seat like the King of Demon Heaven, I was the talent Helten sought.
"Tear this scroll to warp to an alley in District 57. And this one's set for the outskirts of Today's City. Don't be stupid and lose it."
"Got it. One thing I'm curious about."
"What?"