Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: The Saint of Rome (5)
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“…You’re quite late.”
When I knocked on the door of the old house, a middle-aged man with a shaggy mop of gray hair emerged.
He was a man of striking appearance, with a gaunt frame and sharp, nervous eyes hidden behind thick glasses.
“The streets are quite complicated.”
“You should have called.”
“I took a walk to familiarize myself with the area.”
I offered a simple excuse and stepped into his house.
The house, about a thousand square feet, was pathologically neat and tidy.
From the sofa and TV to the simple tableware and miscellaneous supplies, everything was aligned with perfect precision, not a single item askew.
‘I can tell what kind of person he is without even asking.’
That’s a good thing.
A pathologically meticulous informant is far more reliable than a lazy and indolent one.
“What information do you need?”
Paolo asked bluntly, without any pleasantries.
“I need information on the Black Star Guild.”
“The Black Star Guild… Please wait a moment.”
He went into a room and returned with a stack of documents.
“Can you read this?”
“No.”
The Sacred Relic allowed me to speak and understand, but not to read or write.
“Then I’ll print you a new copy in Korean.”
“You have it in Korean?”
“We’ve been doing business with the Valhalla Guild for quite some time.”
Paolo handed me a document fresh from the printer.
I scanned the document containing information about the Black Star Guild.
‘For the past few months, they’ve been expanding their influence in the underworld by pushing out the Marco Family’s territory?’
The Marco Family?
“What is this Marco Family mentioned here?”
“Before the Black Star Guild appeared, they were the mafia organization that controlled the entire Italian underworld.”
“Hmm.”
A mafia organization.
“They’re known for being incredibly ruthless. They’ll kill anyone who displeases them without hesitation, whether they’re Awakeners or civilians.”
“So the Black Star Guild pushed out the Marco Family?”
“Not completely. The Marco Family is so powerful that not even the ‘Seven Stars’ can touch them carelessly.”
“What?”
The Seven Stars?
Why would the Seven Stars be mentioned in connection with some mafia organization?
“…Hmm. I should probably explain more about the Marco Family first.”
Paolo adjusted his thick glasses and continued.
“Marco Zorno. He’s the current boss of the Marco Family. Have you ever heard the name?”
Marco Zorno.
I remembered seeing that name on the news a few times.
‘It was on some show about the world’s top five worst High-Rank Awakeners, or something like that.’
High-Rank Awakener.
A being who has surpassed the 9-Star level, the realm of the ‘post-human’.
So a being like that was leading a mafia organization.
“…Yes. I’ve heard of him.”
“As a Korean, you might not know, but before the Black Star Guild appeared, he was the one who reigned like a king in Italy.”
Paolo scowled in displeasure.
“A savage and cruel man. He’s the reason Italy, which doesn’t have many high-risk gates like Korea, hasn’t been designated a ‘clean’ country.”
So instead of monsters that hunt humans and tear their flesh, a fellow human has taken on the role of the monster.
‘Well, it’s not exactly a rare occurrence.’
Before the monsters appeared.
Throughout thousands of years of history, humanity’s greatest predator has always been other humans.
“Anyway, things have changed a lot since the Black Star Guild showed up. Even Marco Zorno, who used to run rampant without a care in the world, has gone into hiding without a peep.”
“……”
Wait a minute.
Something about this sounds strange.
‘Why is their reputation so good?’
It was hard to believe this was the same organization with the insane goal of killing every last Awakener.
‘Could it be?’
Oh-jin’s expression hardened as he asked.
“By any chance… what’s the public opinion of the Black Star Guild in Italy?”
“What do you think?”
Paolo looked at me as if I’d asked the most obvious question in the world.
“Naturally, everyone, young and old, praises them. The gypsies, in particular, even gather to train specifically to join the Black Star Guild.”
“Ha.”
Oh-jin let out a disbelieving chuckle.
A reputation completely opposite to the one they had in Korea.
‘Did they plan this?’
One could assume they clashed simply because both operate in the shadows.
But they might have been aiming for this kind of reaction from the very beginning.
‘It’s not an impossible theory.’
It’s the same with con artists.
It’s far more advantageous to be seen as a good person than to be branded a villain.
If the Black Star Guild took all that into account and pushed out the Marco Family, the biggest ‘villain’ in the eyes of the Italians…
‘They’re pretty damn smart.’
Only fools would willingly play the villain; in most cases, the good guy reaps more benefits.
‘No.’
To be precise.
‘The villain who pretends to be a hero’ is the one who can grasp the most.
“…This just got complicated.”
“Complicated?”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
I shook my head, avoiding the question.
“Then let me change the question… Have you ever heard of an organization called the Satellite Cult?”
“The Satellite Cult… No. I’ve never heard of them.”
Paolo replied, shaking his head.
‘Even Paolo doesn’t know?’
Oh-jin narrowed his eyes.
I could understand Kim Seon-yeong not knowing, but I thought Paolo would know about the Satellite Cult.
‘Just who the hell are those guys?’
Perhaps.
Is it an organization that ‘hasn’t even been created’ at this point in time?
‘Or maybe they’ve hidden themselves even more thoroughly than the Black Star Guild.’
Either theory was plausible.
In other words.
‘There’s no way to know in the current situation.’
For now, I decided to put aside my thoughts on the Satellite Cult.
“I heard from the Valhalla Guild that members of the Black Star Guild have been spotted frequently around the ‘Saint of Rome’s’ residence lately.”
“Ah, that’s true.”
Paolo nodded.
“The Black Star Guild isn’t widely known to the public yet, so I can’t say for certain, but… it’s true that they’ve been appearing there an unusual amount lately.”
“And there were assassination attempts each time?”
“Yes. That’s right. The timing almost always coincides.”
Paolo nodded.
‘Just as I thought.’
The Black Star Guild is targeting her.
Wearing the mask of righteousness, they’re eliminating anyone who gets in their way, one by one.
“Then, first, can you show me all the locations where the Black Star Guild was spotted?”
Before the 30th day.
I had to investigate everything I could.
“Of course.”
Paolo offered a map and marked the locations where the Black Star Guild had been spotted, in chronological order.
Indeed, an unusually high number of Black Star Guild members had been active around the Colagrande family estate recently.
“This is everything I know. And…”
Paolo continued in a confident voice.
“At least within Rome, you’ll find it difficult to obtain more information than what I know.”
What incredible confidence.
‘Well, he’s probably not wrong.’
Oh-jin activated the Stigma of Canes Venatici and scanned his surroundings for any presence.
At a glance, it seemed Paolo was alone, but in reality, hundreds of agents were spread throughout the apartment building, surrounding it.
‘Their skills don’t seem half bad, either.’
It would be difficult to find an intelligence organization that surpasses one of this caliber.
“Understood. Thank you for your help.”
“Don’t mention it. For a request from the Valhalla Guild, this is nothing.”
Paolo rose from his seat with a faint smile.
“I’ll contact you if I have any more questions.”
“Yes.”
After leaving Paolo’s house, Oh-jin followed the map he was given, heading to the locations where the Black Star Guild had been spotted.
There were six days left until the day Isabella would be killed.
There wasn’t much time.
-Tinkle-
[What are you doing?]
The silver necklace glowed, and Vega appeared.
She flew up and settled on Oh-jin’s head as if it were her designated seat, looking down at the map he was holding.
“Changing a page of fate.”
[Hmm?]
Vega’s eyes widened.
“In six days, the ‘Saint’ will be assassinated here.”
Oh-jin briefly explained about Isabella, the Black Star Guild, and the catastrophe that would occur in two years.
[I see. So you intend to save the child called the Saint and prevent a future disaster.]
“That, and one more thing.”
There was another objective.
“I’m going to bring the Saint over to our side.”
Her power, said to be anathema to monsters, would surely be a great help in the coming fight against the Black Star Guild.
[Huhu. Just as I’d expect of my child. An excellent idea.]
Vega proudly stroked his forehead.
“In that sense, Vega.”
[Hmm? Do you have a favor to ask of me?]
“For this operation, please try not to manifest.”
[…Why is that?]
Vega asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.
“I might need to use your power this time.”
Just as Lee Woo-hyeok had warned.
This was an extremely dangerous mission.
‘Because we have no idea what the Black Star Guild’s full strength is.’
The chances were slim, but.
In the worst-case scenario, the ‘Executor’ leading them might make a move personally.
‘If that happens, I’ll have no choice but to rely on Vega’s blessing.’
With her blessing, even if I couldn’t win the fight, I could at least escape.
[…You mean I should conserve my power for an emergency.]
“Yeah.”
I nodded.
“Conserve as much power as you can, and when I call you, come out and grant me your blessing immediately.”
[I understand.]
Considering the terrible pain Vega would suffer after bestowing her blessing, I didn’t want to ask this of her.
‘I have no choice.’
I needed at least some insurance.
[Call me anytime if you’re in danger.]
“Well, the best-case scenario is rescuing Isabella without having to call you. Let’s hope I don’t have to.”
[Hmph. That doesn’t mean you should push yourself too hard.]
Vega tugged on my hair with a scolding expression.
[Even if it is to change fate, you must remember that it’s all for naught if you get hurt!]
“Pfft! Alright.”
My goddess worries way too much.
[Then I shall remain unmanifested and conserve my power until then.]
“I’ll be counting on you.”
Vega disappeared into the necklace.
“Alright, then.”
Oh-jin spread the map wide and continued his investigation.
‘First, the potential assassination points.’
And the potential escape routes in a worst-case scenario.
“Looks like I have a lot to do.”
Oh-jin moved diligently.
—And so, six days passed.
The day to rewrite the page of fate had dawned.