Chapter 348. Bunker (2)
I decided to spare the Earthling before in exchange for these conditions. In a way, it was an unavoidable choice. No matter how capable the informant helping was, it was impossible to track down every single minion of PIXY on Earth.
Kang Changho also declared that, aside from Andy Oliver and Spectrum, no other individuals could be tracked down. And realistically, that's just how things are.
If it'd already caught Andy, who seed to hold the highest rank within that particular faction, then that was enough. By attaching specific conditions through the [Knight's Oath], I could manage the entire group of underlings just by securing their leader. There was no need to chase down and lecture the remnants hiding across various countries. From now on, that foreigner—who holds his organization's information—would take care of reining in his friends himself.
"T, that."
But it was at that mont. The other party seed to have so sort of complaint.
"...Everyone, co to your senses. I could die here! And yet, are you still thinking about slacking off?"
No, let correct that. To be precise, Andy Oliver had sothing he wanted to say to the fallen guards. That must've been why he shouted such a sharp remark.
"U, ugh...!"
It was a strange thing. That foreigner's voice seed to have so kind of linguistic power. One of the collapsed Awakened suddenly sprang up like a spring and charged forward. But the man's struggle was subdued in the blink of an eye.
"Huh, what the heck?"
It's not like it was just anyone—there was no way a surprise attack would work when the opponent was an SS-rank Hunter still under the effects of a physical enhancent spell.
Boom!
I grabbed the ankle of the enemy attempting a flying kick. And while the limb was still suspended in the air, I tightened my grip with both hands and slamd them straight down. This body wasn't familiar with Earth's martial arts, which is why such a simple move ca out.
"I guess the damage from the water wasn't enough..."
Surely, that last attack must have broken quite a few of his bones. Perhaps that's why one of the bodyguards began sweating cold and shedding tears.
"Don't kill him!"
No, I think I might have guessed the reason wrong.
"Please don't kill him!"
The foreigner with braided hair showed an oddly desperate attitude. And the only thing shouted in that state was a single phrase—one that Kim Giryeo's mind, with its stored knowledge, could easily interpret.
"Don't kill him!"
Andy was stunned as he watched the bodyguard get subdued in just three seconds. Perhaps because of that, he soon gave up all hope and spoke.
"Among the high-ranking Awakeners in this bunker, there are a few individuals who are bound by a contract to die the mont I do."
How did they co to this agreent?
"Life's ups and downs are different for everyone. So when it cos to Awakeners with desperate circumstances—like needing treatnt for a child's incurable disease—they can actually be persuaded more easily than you'd think."
Anyway, that's quite the talent.
"Oho."
I knew there were many bound by contracts in the bunker, but I didn't expect there to be promises under such conditions. Even for an archmage, uncovering the exact terms of an oath that's already in effect is no simple task.
But does that really matter? In any case, I haven't killed Andy Oliver yet. I'd already sensed that he was entangled in all sorts of curses, so even without being told all this, I wouldn't have snapped his neck right away.
"If such a contract is in place, then to make sure no innocent person suffers, I definitely can't just ss with you carelessly..."
The PIXY shareholder's gaze montarily shifts upward. He doesn't seem to have any intention of hiding his emotions.
"But fortunately, I have a good solution."
But his joy wasn't ant to last long.
"Fortunately, I happen to know a way to make soone live for a very long ti."
"Yes?"
"I'm not joking. I'm practically an expert in this field."
"._."
"Then from now on, Andy Oliver, I'll let you live like a vegetable for about 100 years..."
This was a space without [Justitia]. But Andy Oliver seed to sense sothing instinctively.
"Wait!"
He shouted as soon as he finished his sentence.
"I—I only conveyed the fact that such contracts exist within this organization. That's all! I have no intention whatsoever of using that as a weapon. I surrender."
"Really?"
"We already lost truly key personnel in the last incident, including Enzo Chano. What could I possibly do?"
"Rebellion?"
"With Poseidon, the one who perford a miracle right before our eyes, standing tall here—there's no way we can do that anymore."
I don't like how he's running his mouth.
"I accept your terms. I will sohow handle the aftermath of the Beast incident. The seeds I have sown, I will surely gather."
But since the preemptively cast fairy's promise didn't activate, at the very least, his words weren't lies. It seed that the awakened one I just slamd into the wall was so sort of last line of defense he trusted. As soon as that bodyguard was rendered useless, Andy Oliver quickly changed his stance. Honestly, it really felt like he held his own life in the highest regard.
"Well, with that kind of mindset, it makes sense he was so invested in the Elixir of Youth."
He's a Westerner, so the features still feel unfamiliar to . But now that I look again, his face looks much younger than the information I had suggested.
"But in the end, anything that cos out of a gate is just a cheap potion. Even if he did get the drug, it probably only kept up appearances—his body would've still aged and died of old age around the sa ti anyway."
I briefly admired Andy Oliver's features. This didn't last long.
"Please, give the oath."
"Alright. Let's do that."
Anyway, that guy has to work for at least the next three years. This scroll still contains information on gates for a whole three years ahead. I decided to use him to keep the overseas scroll seers in check—at the very least, to prevent any new terrorists from erging.
"It's not too late to think about his real punishnt after so ti has passed. For now, let's just watch him. After what happened with Seonwoo Yeon, I've realized the dangers of undervaluing life, so I'll try to keep him alive as much as possible for now"
But what's this now? The foreigner who had been pressing just monts ago to hand over the contract suddenly went quiet.
"Hmm?"
I looked over, wondering what was going on, and the other person spoke.
"Wait a mont. Now that I look again, I think the contents within this artifact need to be slightly revised."
"What's the issue?"
"I have a hobby of searching and collecting information. Because of that, I know the backgrounds of most people involved in this matter—except for one person whose identity I still haven't clearly confird."
"What?"
"I have absolutely no intention of hiding anything. The ones who joined hands with were Spectrum Corporation and the Guild Master of 333 from the Middle East."
The Earthling continued speaking in an urgent tone. Judging by the lack of an electric shock, this too didn't seem to be a lie.
"The problem lies with the last one—the operator of the Youth Guild."
"Is that so?"
It's not a guild na commonly heard in South Korea, at least not easily.
"But there's sothing I really want to ask at this point. Hunter Kim Giryeo, just how exactly did you manage to find ?"
And on top of that, suddenly a question like this pops out—what on earth brought about this change of heart? I warned Andy Oliver that I would be the only one asking questions. But, unusually, the foreigner in front of didn't back down.
"I'm soone who's already been captured by you and is awaiting punishnt! There's no room left for resistance. So please, show so rcy. Besides, this answer is essential if I'm to provide Mr. Kim Giryeo with further information."
Soone as obviously timid as him had actually rolled his eyes back and said that. Moved by his desperation, I ended up revealing a bit of information. It didn't really matter—I could always mix in a few lies if needed.
"Well, I just... asked Enzo about you while he was still alive..."
But as soon as I said this, the other person snapped back.
"That's complete nonsense! The hunters I sent to Korea back then were under a contract that would kill them if they revealed any information about ."
"Is that so? Well, actually, I had captured the scene of you, Andy Oliver, eting with the male beast."
"Huh."
"So it wasn't hard to figure out that you were Enzo's boss. As for the bunker's location and other details, I only recently hired soone to—"
"That part doesn't make sense to either."
"Hmm?"
The head of a certain organization spoke with his eyebrows deeply furrowed.
"Because I've spent a full three years in this bunker."
I watched him without any change in expression.
"Having a lot of fear and caution is not a trait exclusive to the Youth guild. I, too, was careful to ensure my actions were not revealed to the world; for the past three years, I have lived solely through a representative. I have absolutely never acted directly."
"What..."
"I only ever t Enzo Chiano once, and that was several years ago. The world doesn't know who I am. Both the Youth Guild and I always operated in disguise unless we were in front of soone we deeply trusted. That's how much effort we all put into staying hidden."
"Is it possible for people to survive without the light of day?"
"Did your informant happen to use the only online records where I was active?"
Andy Oliver was shouting as if he'd been wronged.
"If that's the case, doesn't sothing seem off? How could anyone possibly guess that the person using the nickna 'P' wasn't the current operator of the PIXY Company, but —soone who disappeared a long ti ago?"
These were his pure questions, untainted by a single bit of deception.
"If that informant managed to learn the whereabouts of the Youth guild's leader, then please share that information with . That way, I can properly carry out the cleanup you've assigned to ."
"Wait."
"But if that informant said they had no knowledge of the Youth Guild at all, that would be very strange—because the leader of that guild actually left behind even more traces online than I did."
Oh no. Don't tell ... the things Andy's about to say—could it be?
"So. Did you get what I was saying? I, I have a strong suspicion..."
At last, the mammal in front of finished the sentence with a trembling voice.
"Isn't it possible that the very person who gave you the information... was actually Youth himself?"
He began to assert the whistleblower theory.
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