Chapter 332

Words : 2427 Updated : Oct 15th, 2025

Chapter 332 For centuries, many questioned what truly defined “having authority.” In the past, it was wealth or political power that allowed those with them to claim it. However, with the advent of the Tower of Heroes and the Abyss of Demons, the world underwent a massive upheaval. With random people being gifted with magical power-like abilities, the long preserved authority and society collapsed like a sandcastle. And just as the receivers—heroes—who had gained newfound authority were about to reorganize the world according to their will... “You’ve crossed the line.” “So you were the ones who paralyzed the logistics.” “Clueless fools...” The Perfect Ones came down to punish their arrogance. The European Coup Incident, where three S-rank heroes were squashed like insects by the Emperor of Ascension, the Eternal Nocturne, and the Visionary, marked a major turning point for the world. The heroes, who had been rejoicing over obtaining newfound authority, realized they had been leashed. Simultaneously, the citizens realized that, albeit a bit differently, they could now continue their former lives. Well, at least we’re not being treated like slaves... I can’t help but feel a little uneasy, but as long as the Perfect Ones are here... Neither side was entirely without dissatisfaction, but the existence of the Perfect Ones forcibly held things together, and humanity continued its prior way of life. Yet one thing had changed: the perception of climbers, those once seen as saviors of humanity. If one of them launched a coup... would anyone be able to stop them? If their power were turned against us, even by chance... Could an individual capable of destroying not just a nation but an entire continent be controlled by any united force? Those who considered that possibility all came to the same single realization. “Seize everything!” That day, a new law known as the Perfect Ones had been born for humanity. “What is this...?” “This is ridiculous...” Out of the blue, a surge of investigators barged into the Seraphim Guild and began confiscating all crucial data. Taken aback, some employees resisted, but their outcome was far from favorable. “Arrest them all.” With that declaration, the investigators dressed in black suits swiftly subdued and dragged them all away, shackling them with mana restraints. At that moment, the remaining staff realized their situation. It’s over. We’re doomed. Human experiments and bioweapon development—each was a severe crime, but what mattered most was that the person who proved these facts was the Sacred Craftsman, Li Kenxie. No matter the truth of the incident, with a Perfect One stepping in personally, what they said simply became the truth unless stopped by another Perfect One. And right now, there was not a single Perfect One who would move for the Seraphim Guild. Their future was all but decided. “...” Yuriel Oppenheimer—Casper—shackled in mana restraints, walked out of the headquarters with the investigators, surrounded by waiting journalists. They had come not just from America, but all over the world as well. Seeing Yuriel, a few, with the investigators’ permission, began asking questions. “Is it true that the Seraphim Guild’s predecessor, Eden, was a human experimentation facility?” “...” “Could you comment on the rumors that claim all your weapons were created for human experiments?” Questions poured in from every direction. The reporters were seemingly more eager to salvage scraps from the guild’s fall than to verify the truth. Realizing that, Casper’s gaze sank deeply. Is there really nothing left...? At first, he thought it would be best to observe the situation longer, but seeing how events were unfolding, it was clear the two responsible had no intention of leaving him alone. Making a quick decision, Casper smirked faintly and scanned the reporters gathered around him. “Can all of you guys just shut up and get lost?” “...Excuse me?” The journalists’ eyes widened in shock. But Casper ignored them, turning to the investigators flanking him. “I’m not going to play along with you guys; get moving already. This is a waste of time.” “...” Seon-Woo exchanged glances with the other investigators. “Then let’s move immediately.” Leaving the reporters behind, Casper was placed into a waiting transport vehicle, which set off for the Washington Branch—the largest among the Heroes Association’s American branches. The vehicle soon arrived at a massive building, which was practically the headquarters of the Heroes Association. Exiting the vehicle, Casper was quickly moved to an underground interrogation room, where he surveyed his surroundings. They’re underestimating me quite a bit. The basic facilities were in place, but the mana restraints could be disabled easily, allowing for an escape. Of course, even if he escaped the building, the investigators would quickly catch him again—but that, too, could be used to his advantage. They must be moving on the outside. I’ll time my escape accordingly... Plotting his escape, Casper remained silent and soon heard the interrogation room door open and the footsteps of two people. Assuming they were investigators, Casper glanced over indifferently— “It’s been a while, Guildmaster Yuriel.” —only to see a smiling Se-Hoon and an expressionless Eun-Ha standing there. “...I didn’t expect to see you here.” “Well, this place is quieter than a cafe for a private chat. I’m relieved you seem comfortable over there, though,” Se-Hoon nonchalantly replied, sitting across from Casper. “...” Eun-Ha, however, remained standing behind him, silently staring at Casper. On the surface, she seemed extremely calm, but Casper felt chills run through his body upon meeting her gaze. She’s overflowing with emotions. Killing intent and resentment toward Casper filled her mind—decades of pent-up negative emotions had sharpened her hatred toward him. They were so intense that Casper even though it might even be possible to provoke her into going berserk. “Dean.” “Yes?” However, at Se-Hoon’s call, the tension immediately broke. “You’ll tire yourself out if you keep standing there awkwardly. Please, take a seat.” “Understood.” Nodding obediently, Eun-Ha sat beside Se-Hoon, leaving Casper completely stunned. What...? He had known from reports that Eun-Ha had sided with Se-Hoon, but the scene before him was on a completely different level. “Would you leave already, if you're done?” “You raised me? So what?” “Don't make me angrier than I already am.” From her childhood in Eden to the present, he had failed to tame or even earn the trust of the uncontrollable test subject before him. And yet, here she was—completely docile toward a man far younger than herself. If I’d known it was this bad, I would’ve kidnapped Lee Se-Hoon earlier... Realizing he had misjudged their relationship, Casper furrowed his brow. “Now, shall we begin?” “...Begin what?” Addressed, Casper looked toward Se-Hoon. “Discussing what happens next, of course.” Without wasting time, Se-Hoon pulled a document from his void pocket and slid it toward Casper. “Read it.” “...” Taking the document, Casper carefully read it. In summary, it outlined many demands and agreements, which all led to one simple conclusion: “You want me to give up everything.” If he were to sign this document, both his legal and illegal wealth would be transferred to Eun-Ha, nullifying the previous contract as well. Some clauses seemed outright illegal, but the preparations to counter any objections were watertight. ~Jürgen Krüger~ The elegant signature on the guarantor line belonged to the Eternal Nocturne in German. The guarantee of such a person, the chairman of the UD Group and a Perfect One himself, ensured no one could challenge the document. “You won’t need any of it moving forward. So, shouldn’t it go to the one who was harmed the most by your dangerous experiments?” Se-Hoon casually asked, smiling brightly. Seeing that, Casper’s gaze darkened. “I didn’t expect you to be so reckless.” “Oh, this isn’t reckless.” Waving off Casper’s sarcasm, Se-Hoon leaned back in his chair. “Getting rid of garbage who oversteps their bounds... I’d say that’s rather merciful, don’t you think?” Despite the faint smile in his voice, it carried an icy chill. Taken aback, Casper remained silent. “Well, I understand. You spent decades preparing for a single objective, yet everything is being dismantled by some rookie in less than a year. It must be hard to just back down.” “...” “Still, you should’ve at least considered who you were up against and who stood behind them before you made your move, shouldn’t you?” To challenge someone backed by the Perfect Ones—it was an act anyone would call foolish. Yet Casper hasn’t acted thoughtlessly. I never expected the Perfect Ones to get this involved with someone like him... Humanity had vaguely understood the authority Perfect Ones held for a while now, but most had never directly experienced it. The Perfect Ones were indifferent to the affairs of the world, and those who did publicly act never strayed beyond their own domains. As such, while everyone feared the Perfect Ones, they also believed those beings wouldn’t get involved with them. And Casper, a high-ranking executive of Succession, had shared such an understanding. But Lee Se-Hoon was different. Se-Hoon could wield the power of the Perfect Ones—powers that meant more to them than blood relations—and could thus turn what was only imagined into reality. Experiencing that power firsthand, Casper upgraded Se-Hoon’s threat level to the highest point. In some ways, he’s even more dangerous than the Perfect Ones. What would happen if someone like him took dislike to Succession and actively sought to root them out? In that case, just the slightest exposure of their existence and Se-Hoon would overturn everything and obliterate them completely. “...It was my mistake. I’ll apologize, though it seems like it’s a bit too late.” Casper’s gaze was calm. “You don’t even know who you should apologize to... sigh. Well, whatever. So, are you going to sign it or not?” “If I sign this, will you release me?” “Are you insane?” Se-Hoon gave him an incredulous look. “...” “Whether you sign or not, your future remains the same. You’ll be investigated by the Association, go to trial, receive a life sentence, have your photo taken, give a few interviews, and then...” Se-Hoon paused briefly, his voice turning cold. “Then, we’ll figure out why you did what you did to the Dean. Even if we have to tear apart your mind.” “...” “Oh, and don’t worry about dying. Our guarantor is an expert when it comes to that field.” Smiling, Se-Hoon gathered the papers and stood up along with Eun-Ha, turning to leave. But just before leaving the interrogation room, Se-Hoon turned back. “We’ll meet again, Guildmaster Yuriel,” he said softly. Clink. The door closed, and the air inside the room grew noticeably colder. ...There’s not much time left. The ideal timing to escape would be during the prison transfer, but before then, Se-Hoon or Wurgen might pull him out for their own purposes. If that happened, his survival would be the least of his worries—every secret about Succession that he held could be leaked. It was an absolutely unacceptable scenario. It seems... I’ll have to accept some losses. The thought of sacrificing the power that he had built up over decades made him seethe, but it was better than losing everything. With his decision made, Casper stared coldly at the now empty seat opposite him. Lee Se-Hoon... He quietly uttered the name of the enemy he now swore to kill. *** After about four days of investigation, Yuriel was locked in a solitary underground cell at the Washington Branch, which was a special facility for holding convicted felons before trial. In there, the prisoner was meticulously managed with restraints on both limbs and mana, rendering them utterly helpless. “Sir, it’s time to switch shifts.” Hearing the voice, Seon-Woo, who had been monitoring Yuriel through surveillance cameras, looked up. The person who had called out was Rachel, his one year junior investigator with crimson bobbed hair. Seon-Woo rubbed his tired face. “Is it that time already?” “You’re overworking yourself again, aren’t you?” Rachel looked at him with concern, but Seon-Woo waved it off, responding matter-of-factly, “I’m not overworking anything. I’m doing as much as anyone else.” “No one else works like you, sir. If they were told to, they’d all quit.” “Don’t jinx it when things are finally settling down.” Just half a year ago, the Heroes Association was struggling with a manpower shortage, but the situation had recently begun improving. Their new partnership with the Pilgrimage Church provided prosthetics and treatment support, which also brought retired high-ranking heroes back into the fold. “Never mind then. Anyway, was there anything unusual, sir?” “Not really. Just don’t let your guard down.” “Of course. Go home and get some rest, sir.” “Alright. Good luck.” Handing over his duties, Seon-Woo left while Rachel cheerfully waved him goodbye. Now left alone, Rachel quietly watched Yuriel through the cameras. And about an hour later, she got up and headed for the solitary cell. “Time for an inspection. I’ll step inside for a moment.” “Understood.” With permission from the guard outside, Rachel opened the door and entered. Yuriel was fully restrained, including a gag, making escape seem impossible. Still, with countless bizarre abilities existing in the world, no one could afford to relax. That was why Rachel had entered, to inspect Yuriel’s body and make sure. Woong- However, the moment she approached, both their eyes glowed red. Hiss- Thin red lines extended from the depths of their pupils, connecting between them and forming a pathway between their bodies. Through that eerie, mana-free connection, Casper’s soul swiftly infiltrated Rachel’s body. Whoosh- Then, as if nothing had happened, both returned to their original positions. “...Hmph.” Inspecting Yuriel’s body one last time, Rachel left the cell and returned to the control room as though everything was normal. “Good work, Rachel.” “I’m off for the day!” And when the end of her shift came, Rachel exited the Washington Branch. That was when her expression changed. I need to move quickly. Having hastily carried out the Succession process without proper preparation, Casper needed to stabilize before his accumulated knowledge and power collapsed. Using Rachel’s body, Casper hurried off somewhere... “And this is why I enjoy fishing.” ...unaware of Se-Hoon, who quietly followed with a smirk, hidden behind the boundary of dreams.

Chapter 332

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