Heaven's Net 3

Holy Church, Saintess's Office.

"So you're saying you let him get away?" Priest Yohan asked in disbelief.

Isha von Estel trembled ever so slightly as she held her teacup, nodding with a feigned look of sorrow.

"Yes. I had no choice."

She turned her gaze to the window, spitting out the lie she'd prepared in advance.

"That scum Lee Han... he threatened me using the life of that soup shop grandma as collateral. He said if I made a move, he'd slit her throat."

"That dog worse than a dog!" Yohan slammed his fist on the desk. His face flushed red with rage.

"Exploiting the Saintess's mercy! As expected, that bastard is a devil beyond redemption!"

Isha felt a pang of conscience, but she calmly brought the teacup to her lips. In truth, it was because of the deal she'd struck with him—he'd sent them over, and she'd even run up a tab for the meal cost.

"But Saintess, don't take it too hard."

Yohan softened his expression and comforted her.

"Letting Lee Han slip away stings, but we can always catch him again. More importantly..."

Yohan's eyes drifted to the stacks of boxes in one corner of the office.

"We recovered a substantial amount of the stolen mandrakes. That's a massive success for this operation. The national asset he stole nearly went up in smoke, but you brought it back. Clearly, even that scum bowed to your dignity."

"...Y-yeah, you're right?"

In reality, Lee Han had just tossed over what was left after he'd gorged himself. Isha nodded with a bitter smile.

"I'm tired. I want to be alone for a bit."

"Understood. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Please rest well."

As soon as Yohan left and the door clicked shut, Isha yanked open her desk drawer and pulled out her smartphone. Her fingers flew at the speed of light to tap the Hunter Inside icon.

If word got out that the Saintess let a criminal escape because she was blackmailed... Would there be sympathy? Or cries of incompetence?

Her heart pounded. I wonder what the public opinion will be.

Isha nearly dropped her smartphone.

"Th-this granny's got some business savvy...!"

Her dark history updated. Now the whole nation knew the Saintess had stiffed a soup shop on the bill. Sure, she'd paid the tab later, but the "Tab Saintess" title wasn't going anywhere.

Isha's gaze shifted to the mandrake boxes. Dodging the bill was infuriating, but at least he'd kept one promise to the letter. It meant he'd honored their deal properly—no new dark history scandals popping up.

"...That jerk."

Isha bit her lip. She wanted to curse him, but this weird inability to fully hate him only confused her more.

Seoul's back alleys.

I stared down at my fist and muttered.

"As expected..."

At my feet lay an old man in rags, gasping for breath. The Black Moon's leader, the Silent Elder.

The only clue to find him: a jade plaque that only activated up close. It vibrated faintly the moment I entered this alley.

What I saw: a powerless old man getting beaten by local thugs.

'Mana signature zero. Presence zero. Civilian.'

Any normal person might've walked right by. But my Intuition said otherwise.

'Four thugs stomping an old man, and not a single scream?'

A normal geezer would've begged for mercy or screamed. Plus, Seoul was crawling with Estel knights right now. One shout and they'd come running. But this old man clamped his mouth shut like his life depended on it.

'Like... someone who can't afford to be found here.'

I was certain. Time for a test.

"Oh, hey. Lemme ask you something."

I approached ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with a savior's grin. Then, before he could answer, I smashed my fist into him.

Thwack!

"Guhk!"

The old man tumbled. Power enough to knock out or shock a grown man. Yet he just coughed and curled up again.

"Wh-why... are you doing this..."

"Dunno. Felt like more."

I unleashed merciless punches. Gut, ribs, ribs.

Thud! Thud! Crack!

A one-sided beatdown spectacle: young punk pummeling geezer.

'He's tanking it.'

Dragon Slayer-infused punches that could shatter rock. I held back, but bones should've crumbled. Yet he only faked pain—insides fine. Proof he was shielding with mana.

"Ugh... pl-please... spare me..."

"Tough old bastard."

I stopped. Certainty confirmed.

'This is the guy.'

But no kill here.

'Snag him now, no Demon King's Horn recovery.'

Time to act. I feigned surprise, scratching my head.

"Oops. Wrong guy, I guess. You tanked it like a hunter."

"......"

"Sorry, gramps. Long life to ya."

Lee Han abandoned the fallen old man and vanished from the alley. He felt the old man's murderous glare on his back but whistled away.

Gangwon Province, abandoned house.

I fired up my smartphone and logged into Hunter Inside. As expected, the gallery was in chaos.

I skimmed the comments.

"Yeah. This is it."

The Holy Church's Heaven's Net covers sky and earth. But like fish slipping through nets, gaps exist. Millions of gallery eyes fill them—the digital Heaven's Net.

Why I beat the old man and left? To expose him.

'Who's that gramps?'

'Why tank Lee Han unscathed?'

Suspicion breeds attention, attention breeds surveillance.

Now the Silent Elder had nowhere to hide. Knights IRL, gallery online.

"Lemme see... about time."

I eyed the wall clock, counting down. 5, 4, 3, 2...

Ding-dong.

The rundown doorbell rang. In this off-map mountain shack, only one possible guest.

I opened the door.

There stood the familiar ragged old man. Eyes deep and dark as the abyss—Black Moon's leader.

"...I lose."

The old man—no, the Silent Elder—ground his teeth.

"No escape. Sky's got the Saintess's light, ground's swarming with your hounds."

Utter isolation. Even breathing gave him away. Better odds facing the tiger in his den.

I grinned and stepped aside.

"Come on in. Been waiting, gramps."