High-Grade Intel 5

I approached Jang Yuk. The monster had already lost all reason, reduced to a mass of energy on the verge of explosion. Deep in his pupils lingered words he couldn't spit out, blocked by the gag. That name was surely still there.

I decided to borrow the faint lingering power of this drug for a moment.

If he couldn't voice it, I'd just peek into his mind. Adel had already shattered Jang Yuk's mental barriers. All I had to do was look. That name he'd thought of right before death. That figure filled with fear and awe.

Flash!

My golden pupils pierced into Jang Yuk's hazy world of consciousness. Amid the black mist, alongside a blurry silhouette, one name rose sharply into focus.

Choi Ik-hyeon.

Hoo. A familiar name. Before regression, a heavyweight who dominated politics and business. This old fox had played the part of an upstanding entrepreneur on the surface while secretly serving as Black Moon's money line behind the scenes. He'd claimed the Prophecy Elder's seat this time. The puzzle pieces clicked into place. Why Black Moon wielded such immense funds. Why they evaded government surveillance.

"I've learned everything I need."

Business here was done.

"Good work, pepperoni artisan. Hell's got plenty more ingredients. Make lots of tasty sausages down there."

I kicked Jang Yuk hard in the gut. Then I turned to Adel.

"Adel! Open it up!"

"What? Here?"

"Spatial transfer! Coordinates are the empty lot outside the factory!"

"Oh, got it! Guys! Hold on tight! Let go and you'll get lost in the dimensions!"

Adel swung her staff. A massive purple magic circle etched itself onto the underground chamber floor. The spare slaves hanging from the ceiling, us two—we were swallowed by the magic circle.

2 seconds. Half of the ring on Adel's finger glowed.

1 second.

KABOOOM!!!

A colossal explosion engulfed the entire factory. Just before the flames could reach us, we vanished into a rift in space.

Gangwon-do, Taebaek Mountains. The rugged terrain stretched endlessly, too treacherous even for "layered peaks" to describe. No sign of humans, not even mountain beasts dared stir in the deep night. I stood alone atop a sheer cliff.

This is the place.

Black Moon's headquarters. The coordinates I'd dragged from Jang Yuk's head pointed precisely ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to this range's deepest, most secretive valley: Yunmu Valley.

Hoo.

The night air was frigid. Inside me, the Dragon Heart pumped ceaseless waves of scorching heat.

This infiltration, I decided to handle solo. I'd planned to roam with Adel, but bringing her now would be like hugging a timed bomb while charging into flames.

Bzzz! Bzzz!

My smartphone wailed desperately, begging me to pick up. Caller: Assistant No. 1. Former Red Skull action captain, current Desolatus figurine safety manager, Doki.

"What."

I answered, and a scream-like voice exploded from the receiver.

-B-Bro! S-Save me! Please come quick!

"What, what's up. Did the 1st Branch guys revolt or something?"

-I'd take a revolt—I could crush it! Sister Adel's gone full psycho!

Behind Doki's voice: Thud! Crash! Something shattering, then a familiar bellow.

-My pepperoni!! Give it back! GIVE IT BAAACK!!

I pinched my throbbing brow. It came.

"Put her on."

-One sec! Sis! Bro's on the phone! Calm down, aargh! Put down the staff and wrench! Please!

Rustling noise, then heavy, ragged breathing—like a starving beast growling.

-......Lee Han.

"Yeah."

-Tell me the truth.

Adel's voice was low, laced with fury I could feel through the line.

-That factory we wrecked—was that really the only domestic monopoly line? No substitutes? Other factories? 2nd, 3rd branches?

"Nah. Jang Yuk consolidated everything for 'quality control.' It said 90% last time, right?"

-AAAAAARGH!!!!

An ear-splitting wail. The phone speaker crackled with overload.

-I'm insane! I am! With my own hands! Turned the holy grail of my fave pizza topping to dust! What do I live for now? Huh? Life without pizza means nothing!

"Chill. Just eat chicken for late-night snacks."

-That's not the flavor!! That greasy, salty-spicy kick of pepperoni! Chicken can't replace it!

Adel's stomping echoed through—probably turning the abandoned factory floor into a wasteland by now.

-Where are you! Get here NOW! Take responsibility! Revive my pepperoni! Necromancy it back! Resurrection!

"Busy. Here to raid HQ."

-HQ? Food security's collapsed! I'm coming too! Gonna wipe their seed out!

"Don't. Stay there, drill discipline into the Black Moon 1st Branch punks. And..."

I paused, then dropped the killer line.

"Check the freezer. Got some frozen pizzas stocked from last time. Eat that for now."

Silence on the line.

-......Hey.

Adel's tone iced over.

-You telling me, great grand mage Adel von Kryber, to eat frozen pizza? The kind where the dough gets soggy in the microwave?

"Eh. Hate it? Starve then."

-You demon! Heartless prick! When you get back, you're done! Cursing you with all my figurines! Waaah!!

Click. I hung up. Ears ringing. But she wouldn't chase me here. She'd be too busy channeling grief and rage into grinding Red Skulls and Black Moon 1st Branch into the dirt.

Sorry, Doki. I'll buy you something tasty later. Sacrifice for me.

I pocketed the phone and peered down the cliff again. The valley choked with thick mist. Faint barrier ripples emanated from below. HQ was buried deep underground. To find the entrance, I'd breach the barrier's gaps.

My golden eyes swept the darkness. Leaf rustles, wind flows, subtle mana distortions.

Not killing intent. Persistent, sticky stare. The presence that had trailed me since ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Busan—no, from Gangnam.

I sighed, not bothering to turn.

"Enough lurking. Come out already?"

"......"

"Climbing the mountain must've been rough. Heels still intact?"

Rustle. Shadows rippled in the woods at my words. A woman emerged slowly from behind a tree.

Darker than the pitch-black night: her dress. Roses blooming up her body, thighs brazenly exposed between. Black Moon 2nd Branch's finance head and Ma Gwang-su's former business partner: Black Rose.

"As expected...."

Her high heels were caked in mud, hair tousled by mountain winds. But her eyes burned like a fanatic beholding a god.

"You noticed."

Black Rose gazed at me, cheeks flushed red.

"Wasn't hiding. Just... your back was too beautiful to interrupt."

Drug's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠still kicking. Persistent bitch.

"Why trail me here. Revenge? Or curious about Ma Gwang-su?"

I turned to face her. Black Rose shook her head, stepping closer.

"Ma Gwang-su? Don't care if he lives or dies. What I want is..."

Her gaze lingered on my lips, then trailed up to my eyes.

"You, Lee Han."

"......"

"That night at the club, you saved me. Promised to fill me with the real deal, not fakes."

She pulled something from her bosom. A black keycard.

"Need this?"

My brow twitched. Emblem etched on the surface: crescent moon entwined with a snake.

"Black Moon HQ First Gatekeeper, Gate of Sighs master key."

Black Rose smiled seductively, waving the card.

"As 2nd Branch finance head, I got it for HQ reports sometimes. With this, no barrier hassle. Walk right through the front."

Hoo. Unexpected harvest. I'd cross-verified Saint Order intel with Jang Yuk's for location, but entry route was a headache. And here the key rolls in on its own.

"Conditions?"

Nothing's free. Especially from a Black Moon woman.

Black Rose closed in, rose scent overwhelming.

"Take me with you."

Her hand on my chest, voice husky.

"Inside. I want to see you crumble it with my own eyes. And at the end, stand by your side."

She's offering betrayal. Destroy her own org, serve new master—me—amid ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the ruins. Classic opportunist. But right now, my perfect card.

"Fine."

Nice how it falls into place.

"Needed a guide anyway."

I turned, pointing to the mist-shrouded valley below the cliff.

"Ladies first."

Ecstasy lit Black Rose's face. She hiked her skirt slightly, bowing gracefully toward me.

"With pleasure, my king."