CHAPTER 114: THE OWL HUNT (5)

The black-haired secretary's eyes turned cloudy, her mouth hung open, and she clumsily staggered to her feet.

“Heh...”

So I can control up to mid-ranking executives, Kwon Oh-Jin noted. Though it required poison and inducing fear to succeed, it was still a significant feat.

Not long ago, he'd been pummeled by Ashad Khan, yet he could subdue an opponent of the same level now with relative ease even if she seemed far less capable than his former adversary.

I've gotten really strong in such a short amount of time.But if I think about it, I’m still technically ranked lower than that guy, who was a seven-star.

Yet after battling against multiple eight-star Awakeners recently, seven-star Awakeners didn’t seem all that threatening anymore. In fact, at his current level, they posed no real danger at all.

I can do so much as just a six-star... how powerful can I really become?

“Hmm...”

Well, I’ll find out eventually.

He had no intention of stopping. His desire to grow stronger had even influenced his decision to infiltrate the Owl faction’s headquarters despite the risks.

He turned to the dazed woman. “Alright. Lead me to the records of the branch locations and headcounts.”

The woman nodded mechanically. “Yes.”

She led him into the server room, where he pulled out a USB drive from his bag.

“Transfer all the information you can onto this.”

“Understood...” She inserted the drive into the system. “There are currently thirty-two branches across the country.”

Thirty-two?

“And how many are large branches?”

“There are six branches led by high-ranking executives.”

“How big is each one?”

“Large branches consist of roughly two hundred members while small to medium branches have thirty to fifty.”

That’s certainly a lot, he acknowledged. Over five thousand members in total, which is more than the top ten guilds combined. Their ability to grant Stigmas is a serious threat.

Of course, no power came without a price. Forcing the power of Celestials onto those who lacked the capacity would undoubtedly lead to serious side effects.

“How many have been sacrificed so far?” he asked.

“Sacrificed...?”

“How many people have died after receiving the Stigma of Owl Nebula?”

“Ah, you mean the defective products.”

“... Defective products?”

“That is how we refer to those who fail to withstand the Black Stars' blessing and die in the process.”

Defective products? Is that what these bastards are calling other human beings?

“What... do you people think human lives are?” he asked.

“Pardon?”

“Are they just tools or products to you, huh?”

“Th-That's...” The woman was flustered. “That’s not what we mean...”

“You’re fucking spot-on.”

“What?”

“I’m saying I agree.” He nodded with a sly grin. “Wow, I never thought I’d have something in common with the Black Star Society.”

Jinx.

The woman looked up dumbfoundedly despite her hypnotized state.

“Alright, since we’re on the same page, let’s talk openly," he continued. "How many have died so far?”

“Approximately... two thousand have died as defective products.”

Two thousand, huh? The success rate is surprisingly high, then.

With around five thousand members in the faction at present, this meant about three in four survived receiving the Stigma. Of course, that didn’t mean they emerged unscathed. There were likely cases of shortened lifespans, internal damage, and other side effects.

But what matters is that they can become Awakeners in the end. With a seventy-five percent chance to escape a miserable, hopeless end and become a superhuman, who wouldn't take the gamble?That’s why the Black Star Society is overflowing with recruits.

Whether they held a knife to children's necks or unleashed demonic beasts on defenseless civilians, people's morals were bound to drown in the face of greed.

“Here... is the information you requested.” The woman handed over the USB drive.

Nice.

Once this information was distributed, the dozens of guilds already trying to hunt down the Black Star Society would immediately take action.

No matter how powerful their faction is, they can't fend off an entire nation, or else they wouldn't be living in secrecy like this.

He looked at the drive and chuckled wickedly.

“Is there... anything else you’d like to ask?” the woman asked.

“Hmm.” He already got the information he originally came for, but decided to indulge. “What’s Cheon Do-Yoon doing right now?”

“That... I do not know.”

Even the executive with access to the organization's core information doesn't know?

“In that case, what about the movements of the other factions?” he asked.

“Other than the Leech faction in Italy and the Seahorse faction in Japan, no movements have been detected.”

The Seahorse faction?

“Which Executor is leading the Seahorse faction?”

“It’s led by the seventh-ranked Executor.”

That’s below Cheon Do-Yoon. Japan's quite close, but... I don't have the luxury of worrying about foreign affairs right now. Let's leave it at this.

He had plenty of other questions he wanted to ask while he had the chance, but he risked being discovered with every second that passed.

It's game over if I get caught here.

The headquarters didn't have its main forces on site, but there were still about three thousand members present. If he was unlucky enough to get surrounded, he wouldn't be able to escape.

“Alright. That’ll do.” He stood up from his seat and placed his hand on the woman’s head, giving her one final command. “Forget everything that happened here.”

“Yes...”

He'd already neutralized the poison within her, erasing any and all evidence.

Time to head out. He pocketed the USB and headed out of the room.

He moved cautiously, wary of encountering any other members. However, the corridors were completely empty.

“Hehehe. This is too easy.”

Things had gone surprisingly smoothly without any real danger for someone who had infiltrated the Black Star Society’s headquarters all on his own.

Now I just have to get down...

Just as he pressed the button outside the elevator and stepped in, a large group of Black Star Society members poured through the gate and crammed into the elevator with him.

Woong!

“What the hell is it now?” one frantically asked.

“There’s an emergency request from another branch, apparently,” another answered.

Oh, shit.

In the blink of an eye, the elevator was packed full like the subway during rush hour.

I’m fucked. I was so close, too. What kind of cruel twist of fate is this?

“The Leech Queen and the association have been a headache recently,” one of the men said.

“Man, if only Mr. Do-Yoon were here right now,” another expressed.

“I’m sure he has a plan. We just have to do what we’re told.”

Thankfully, the members chatted casually amongst themselves, seemingly mistaking Kwon Oh-Jin as one of their own.

But it's just a matter of time. Damn it.

The moment even one of them realized who he truly was, all his effort and planning would go down the drain.

In desperation, he activated Domination, and a dark cloud—invisible to the naked eye—began to spread throughout the cramped elevator.

Ring!

[There are too many targets to dominate.]

[Domination has failed!]

Fuck. I can’t just knock them all out, either.

Taking them down wasn’t hard, but the problem was the massive uproar that would follow.

They'd immediately send in reinforcements.

Not even Kwon Oh-Jin could take on a swarm of thousands of Awakeners.

If I can just make it to the first floor without being recognized...

He stared nervously at the elevator display as they dropped from the sixth floor to the fifth, but one of the men suddenly echoed, “Huh?”

“What is it?” another asked.

“I don’t recognize that face...”

“Is he from another team?”

“Wait a second.”

The man stared intently at Kwon Oh-Jin.

Fuck, I’m screwed.

“Wait... I’ve seen that face somewhere before.”

“Th-Thunder Wolf! It’s the Thunder Wolf!”

“W-What?! Why is the Thunder Wolf here?!”

The Black Star Society members in the elevator quickly surrounded him.

He scanned the encirclement with a cold gaze. “Quite the fuss.”

“Huh?”

“What team are you from?” he asked, turning the tables on them.

“H-Hic! I’m from team three...”

“Team three, huh? Then it makes sense you don’t recognize me.”

The members exchanged confused looks.

He continued, “Honestly, Mr. Do-Yoon keeps things so confidential. It’s a real problem sometimes.”

“No way...”

“W-Wait, wasn’t he an Awakener of the Weaver?”

Kwon Oh-Jin smirked slightly. “For the will of the Black Stars.”

The Owls’ eyes widened in shock.

Ding!

The elevator arrived on the first floor.

“Didn’t you say you were on the way to provide emergency support?” Kwon Oh-Jin asked.

“Y-Yes! That’s correct!”

“Good luck.” He patted one member’s shoulder before striding out of the elevator.

The stunned Owls watched him walk away, too dumbfounded to react.

***

The Owls fussed wildly as they exited the building and got into their vehicle.

“Whoa, no way! The Thunder Wolf is one of us?!”

“Then does that mean the story about Mr. Cheon Woo-Seong's death is a lie?”

“Oh, right! They did say he was the one who captured Mr. Woo-Seong!”

“Hahaha! What the hell? So the association’s been dancing in the palm of our hand all along?”

“Wow, Mr. Do-Yoon really does always have a plan!”

“Who would’ve thought he’d manage to bring in the Thunder Wolf?”

The idea that the Weaver's apostle, the center of global attention, was secretly associated with the Black Star Society was utterly shocking.

“Ha! Doesn’t this mean our faction will practically take over Korea soon?”

“Didn’t you hear Mr. Do-Yoon before? The ideal world ruled by the Black Stars is nearing.”

“Hehehe, and when that time comes, we’ll also...”

Greedy smiles spread across all their faces.

“Wow... But seriously, the Thunder Wolf? I saw a video of him fighting before, and it was just insane how strong he was.”

One of the Owls clenched their fist tightly, looking shy. “Do you think I could transfer to his team one day?”