Chapter 421
Chapter 421
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 421
Chapter Title: Burning Torch (2)
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A room packed full of massive electronic devices.
Woooong—
Beep— Deedleedle!
Bzzzzt— Whirrr—
Even with the air conditioner running at maximum output, the space still radiated stifling heat, filled with the hum of cooling fans, electronic beeps, and a cacophony of other noises all blending together.
And then, in the midst of that relentless din—
"...We've finally made contact. Smooth sailing so far."
A man's voice suddenly cut through the air.
In the center of the room, lined with rows of expensive supercomputers,
there lay a figure sprawled in a plush recliner, draped in cables connecting to the machines, all bundled onto a metal suit.
A man wrapped head to toe in chunks of metal that glowed mysteriously with a faint light, like circuit patterns.
"Well now, this must be Odin's Eye. More useful than I expected."
It was Hesperon, fully armored in the Titan summoned from his subspace.
Gazing at the satellite footage he'd hacked via Mechanical Eye: Callicas, he let out a low whistle.
As a test run, he'd linked the newly unlocked Odin's Eye from the shop upgrade with the satellite view. It was definitely worth the Karma cost for occasional use.
'It pierces through most mysteries, and unlike Andrew's Trajectory Observation, there's no limitation on higher beings slipping past.'
This was no exaggeration for a Unique Skill reinforced multiple times over.
To think he could wield something like this just by paying Karma.
True, it was limited to Earth, and the ongoing Karma drain made casual use burdensome. But paired with other tools like this, he could maximize its efficiency.
Case in point: He'd just wrapped things up more easily than anticipated, thanks to the intel Andrew had gathered.
'Even just for final verification of info, it's worth every bit.'
Staring at the projected image of a rundown house on Vietnam's outskirts, he slowly closed his eyes.
Then, through the Chains of Oath linked to his right arm, he focused on Ken's senses and sent his will across.
-You know not to make a huge scene if those guys pick a fight, right? Placate them for now and head to the spot I've designated next. Build some rapport on the way. They're pretty capable folks, looks notwithstanding.
-...Ugh, no matter how I slice it, getting bossed around like this is totally our Demon King's style. Is tangling with owners like you my fate...?
Ken grumbled in response to the command that came as naturally as breathing.
But there wasn't much resentment about taking orders from a total stranger.
And for good reason.
Whatever the circumstances, he'd only returned to Earth's soil thanks to Hesperon summoning him.
'Plus, if he wraps this up properly, I get some freedom on Earth as a reward.'
Recalling how bewildered Ken had been upon first arrival, Hesperon chuckled softly.
Questioning if he'd been hit with a mind attack, double-checking if this was really Earth...
Without the Chains of Oath to rein him in, it would've taken ages to even set out.
'Since the enemy's a demon, Ken's just the guy to gauge their level properly. And if things go south, he can buy plenty of time.'
Not to mention offloading all the tedious errands in demon-heavy Southeast Asia.
A little while later.
Having watched the Burning Torch members through Ken's eyes as he diligently followed orders, Hesperon opened his own and slowly surveyed the room.
A space brimming with high-end computing arrays and servers that ordinary people could never acquire.
This was his dedicated workspace, meticulously prepared.
To maximize the efficiency of his ability, Mechanical Eye: Callicas.
'The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Can't let them crumble just like that.'
Simply surviving this long against the stealthy, formidable Reverse Heaven Society proved their capability.
Allying with them would allow more efficient resistance, plus access to intel he lacked.
But initial contact hadn't gone smoothly.
Their leadership, battered from repeated defeats against the Reverse Heaven Society, had scattered and gone into deep hiding.
They operated like guerrillas on a good day; now pinpointing them was near impossible.
Desperation for survival left no other choice.
'That's why I had to find them before the Reverse Heaven Society did...'
And that's where Hesperon and this state-of-the-art facility he'd prepared came in.
A composite data center incorporating otherworld parts and tech smuggled to Earth via his subordinates—supercomputers included.
The cost was astronomical, but money was no object for him.
With his legitimate front, Howard Industries, firmly established, setting up a few secret bases was a breeze.
Woooong—
Beep-beep!
Light pulsed from the central Titan through countless cables, spreading to the surrounding electronics.
Hesperon's Mechanical Eye: Callicas was a mystical crystallization akin to a 'machine spirit,' growing in tandem with him.
And the synchronized Titan was the pinnacle of magitech, second to none.
Linking with peripherals went beyond mere electrical signals, tapping into supernatural realms to exceed normal limits—not unusual at all.
'Their key facilities are no joke security-wise. Need more prep to breach that. ...Well, defenses evolve with attack methods.'
Of course, implementing otherworld tech on Earth guzzled resources, so such fortified systems were rare.
All data on his target area flooded in endlessly—via satellites, wired internet, radio waves, and wireless networks.
Fragments too shredded for ordinary supercomputers to parse, mere digital trash.
But the Mechanical Eye, an over-tech entity and evolving artificial spirit, mobilized connected devices to process the deluge swiftly.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Analyzing collected data. Retracing paths based on new information. Movements detected from presumed hostile forces. Marking position on satellite map. A being who wielded greater power on tech-savvy Earth than in the otherworld.
Hesperon closed his eyes tightly.
To max out Mechanical Eye: Callicas and miss not a single clue in the torrent of data.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Ken rubbed the nape of his neck, glancing sideways at the four bustling men and women.
'Reverse Heaven Society... and Burning Torch, huh.'
Back on Earth after ages, both names were new to him.
Even if he hadn't been kidnapped to the demon world, he doubted he'd have crossed paths with such shadowy groups.
'Just who the hell is that guy? How'd he summon me from the demon world to Earth? And what he's up to now...'
In that sense, his summoner Hesperon was shrouded in mystery.
Thinking back to their first meeting, it felt like no time had passed since his own return to Earth. Yet Hesperon handled summoning him, issuing orders, and countering secret societies with eerie expertise.
As if he'd been battling them on Earth for years.
'No way he can hop between worlds at will.'
Dismissing the illogical, Ken ruffled his hair roughly and sighed deeply.
Either way, it didn't matter anymore.
The moment that curse trapping him in the temple fell into Hesperon's hands, his choices vanished.
If anything, it let him breathe Earth's air again—a win for Ken.
'Wonder how family's doing. Showing up now would shock 'em. ...But first, gotta nail this job.'
Fortunately, the initial skirmish after first contact hadn't dragged on.
Ken easily parried the ambush without counterattacking, pushing for talk. Plus, Hose regaining composure upon his comrades' return helped.
"What the—? What's going on here...!"
"An! Hose! You okay? ...Huh? Who's this! How'd he get in?!"
"...Becky? Tolla? You guys made it out safe?"
Assuming his scouting comrades were done for had triggered the preemptive strike.
No other way an intruder reaches the core undetected, right?
Slipping in without ringing the bell screamed ulterior motives.
'Tch, can't argue with that.'
Having infiltrated on demonic instinct and haste to wrap things up—ignoring perimeter scouts—Ken had only earned suspicion.
"...So you're just a messenger boy?"
"That's right. Truth be told, first I've heard of you folks or the Reverse Heaven Society. All I know is we share a common enemy, so we should team up against them."
"Then why not send the boss? What's the point of chatting with an errand boy?"
"Would've if you were in fighting shape... but in your current state?"
Ken shrugged at An, the group's de facto leader.
His gaze swept the surroundings.
A remote mountain hollow, no proper base or even a civilian house in sight.
And just four members, even with brass included.
Practically fugitives—expecting the boss to show for alliance talks was wishful.
"Tch."
An clicked her tongue, out of retorts.
Besides, she was just one scattered exec, not Burning Torch's rep.
"An, you sure about this?"
Then Hose, reverted to human form and glued to her side, spoke lowly.
Still eyeing Ken warily.
They'd halted the brawl since prolonging it hurt them too—his gaze never left Ken.
"It's fine. No lies in what he's said so far. He opposes the Reverse Heaven Society, and he's approached in good faith."
"But he's a demon. One of those..."
"Not saying I buy it all. Who knows his secrets. But we're in no spot to nitpick."
"...True. He's clearly stronger than me."
Chatting openly with the man himself right there. Ken's lip twisted wryly, but he held his tongue.
Having lived among demons so long, he knew public perception wasn't far off.
Without Thought Transference anchoring his ego, his human traits would've eroded long ago.
"Sorry to interrupt, but fresh urgent news just in."
"News?"
Of course, he didn't just let them confer.
His orders: Help them escape to safety.
For Earth freedom, he had to succeed.
"Reverse Heaven Society goons inbound. No sign of that Executor demon, so fight's manageable... but getting snagged by them? Bad news."
Obvious, really.
Fugitives like them—exposure to pursuers tanked survival odds exponentially.
"...How do you know?"
The issue: How much to trust this demon, Ken.
Blind faith into a trap meant game over.
As if reading their minds, Ken smirked and pointed skyward.
"My employer's watching from above. This area's basically his palm."
"Ha!"
It sounded like a joke to anyone.
But leader An couldn't dismiss it.
Her Unique Skill—the one sustaining her survival against Reverse Heaven Society—whispered in her ear.
Only one choice now.
"So, what's it gonna be? Trust and follow me?"
"......"
Her decision was set, naturally.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A room filled with pastel-hued mists billowing thickly.
"Whew— the currents have shifted."
A sigh-like murmur escaped the woman lounging on the central floor cushion, accompanied by sky-blue smoke from her lips.
Her hazy, unfocused gaze drifted to the swirling vapors in the air.
"You've finally appeared, my nemesis."
The being who disrupts fate's flow.
The one clouding the future.
The shadow mocking the world from behind the curtain.
"Then we must prepare accordingly."
Like sand slipping through fingers.
The remnants of Burning Torch, whom she'd thought firmly in her grasp, began slipping away one by one. It was on such a day.