CHAPTER 205: RELIGION OR CULT

AHN KISOO-ssi: Text me when you’re on your way home, Yool-ssi. Let’s have a meal together. ^_^

Graham-ssi: Yool-ah! Call me when you’re done with your appointment. I’ll come and pick you up~

What the...?

Yool knitted his eyebrows while reading the messages in the group chat.

[Plus, the name of the GC is weird as hell.]

Why would they name it ’Precious Yool’ when the GC was for the three of them?

[Weird couple.]

"Hyung, the Team Leader is coming."

Oh.

Yool put his phone in his pocket and raised his head.

He was then greeted by Maru’s beaming face.

[Is he that excited that I finally got to attend a mass with him?]

Yep, the Systema Church was open again.

Yool attended the mass with Maru and his churchmates.

So far, he didn’t notice anything strange.

[The priest who led the mass only talked about how the System was God’s gift to humanity. He also referred to Hunters as ’Apostles.’ Then he just kept praising the System again and again before ending the mass.]

And now...

"Team Leader?" Yool asked Maru curiously. "Who is that?"

"He’s one of the ’Founding Pillars’ of the Systema Church," Maru explained excitedly. "Can I introduce you to our Team Leader, Hyung?"

"Sure. Why not?"

And that was how Yool ended up following Maru in a room in the church called the ’Second Pillar.’

It was just a simple drawing room despite its fancy name.

"Maru-ya, you’re here."

"Hello, Team Leader Park," Maru greeted the Team Leader enthusiastically. "As I mentioned before, I’m here to introduce a new friend to you."

The Team Leader then turned to Yool.

Huh?

[That face...]

Yool momentarily froze while staring at the tall and fit older gentleman in front of him.

[He looks like he’s in his late forties or early fifties, but his face seems familiar.]

"Hyung?" Maru called his name as if snapping him out of his trance. "What’s wrong?"

"Oh, I’m sorry for spacing out," Yool said while scratching his cheek. "It’s just that the Team Leader looks familiar, but I can’t remember where I could have seen him before."

Maru’s face beamed as if it wasn’t the first time someone said that about the Team Leader. "It’s probably because the Team Leader reminds you of someone famous."

Someone famous?

Yool looked at the smiling Team Leader’s face.

And then it hit him.

"Park Ruda?" Yool asked awkwardly. "The Team Leader looks like the older version of Park Ruda-ssi..."

"That’s because I’m Ruda’s uncle. His father is my twin brother," Team Leader Park said, extending his hand to Yool. "I’m Park Il-sung."

Yool was surprised to know that the Team Leader was Park Ruda’s uncle, but he thankfully snapped out of it and accepted the older gentleman’s handshake. "I’m Gong Yool, sir. It’s an honor to meet you."

The Team Leader gave his hand a firm shake before dropping it.

"You must be surprised to know my connection to Ruda, Yool-ssi."

"A little bit, sir. I did hear that Ruda-ssi used to attend a church before, though."

Team Leader Park chuckled. "Ruda used to attend church with me. But when he became famous as a Guide, people flocked the church just to take a glimpse of him. My nephew thought he was being a nuisance, so he decided to quit in order to protect the peace here."

Yool didn’t ask for Park Ruda’s back story, but he nodded politely. "I see."

"Hyung, didn’t you say that you were having a hard time?" Maru asked carefully. "Team Leader is called like that because he listens well. And, more often than not, his advice can help you solve your problem."

"Oh, really?"

"Trust me, Hyung."

"Okay."

"So, I’ll leave you to talk to Team Leader Park," Maru said cheerfully. "I’ll wait for you outside, Hyung."

Before Yool could even respond, Maru already bolted out of the room.

[That brat...]

"This is awkward."

Yool nodded politely in agreement with what Team Leader Park said. "Yes, this is awkward, sir. I’m shy around strangers—"

"It’s awkward because I don’t know what kind of advice to give someone who’s not from here."

Excuse me?

Team Leader Park laughed awkwardly. "I might be a few years later, but, welcome to this world, Yool-ssi."

What the fuck?

Yool suddenly felt a shiver down his spine.

[Who is this person?]

***

SONG MOONHO raised an eyebrow. "I thought I had to resort to dirty tricks in order to bring out the big shots in this evil organization, but I guess I’m important enough for the ’Commander’ to welcome me."

Of course, he wasn’t familiar with the person who welcomed him there.

By ’there,’ he meant the hidden and heavily guarded dormant dungeon called ’Moonless Palace.’

[It’s so well-hidden that neither APA nor the Big 4 knew its existence.]

Hence, it wasn’t surprising that the Moonless Palace became the Anti-System Faction’s secret base.

As its name suggested, the Moonless Palace was a dungeon with a night sky but without a moon. A beautifully ruined palace stood in the middle of a thick forest. Since it was a dormant dungeon, there were no monsters inhabiting the place.

"Of course, you’re important to us, Hunter Moonho-ssi."

The tall and lanky man had a square head— a television— flashing the word ’Commander’ on the screen.

[And I heard the low-ranking members of the faction address him by that title.]

Plus, everyone in the hall was kneeling with their heads hung low.

Everyone except Moonho, of course.

[They didn’t let my team members enter the hall.]

"If I am important to you, then why didn’t you let my team members in?" Moonho complained lightly. "I brought the core members of my elite team here to show you how serious I am about considering your offer to join hands, and yet you do this to us."

"Our apologies, Moonho-ssi. But, as you said, I’m one of the leaders of this "evil organization,"" the Commander said. "I can’t show my face to just anyone."

[You’re not even showing your face, though.]

"But, rest assured, your team members are being treated well outside."

"Since Dawn isn’t throwing a tantrum yet, I believe you."

Dawn, Moonho’s genius protégé, wasn’t the type of person who would endure being treated like shit. That was how he could tell that his team members were safe outside.

"You’re here because you want to know who killed your younger brother, aren’t you?"

"That’s true, but I’m also curious about how much your organization knows," Moonho said, crossing his arms over his chest. "You know what I’m talking about, Commander."

"Let me ask you a question first, Moonho-ssi."

"Go ahead."

"Why do you think our organization wants the System gone?"

"I don’t know— you tell me."

The Commander chuckled. "Because if the System disappears, then the world will never return to normal again."

Aha.

What did Moonho expect from a lunatic?

[Now I understand why the Anti-System Faction is after the Awakened People that the System favors blatantly.]

"Moonho-ssi, do you know who’s the biggest obstacle we’re currently facing?"

"That, I can answer," Moonho said, smiling bitterly. "It’s Chu Wonhee, isn’t it?"

The Commander nodded. "That’s right, it’s Chu Wonhee— the person the System loves the most among the Awakened People."

***

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