Those Who Live Without the Law Chapter 218

Chapter 218

The End of Hypnosis (1)

lvin had already repeated the experint several tis, and through it, he succeeded in completing an almost perfected recipe. Of course, mass brainwashing was still impossible since the materials had not arrived yet.

Those who had been brainwashed during the experints still remained as lvin’s assets.

“Now, begin.”

The vacant-looking woman gripped a razor blade in her hand. A child’s sorrowful scream echoed out, and hot blood spilled onto the floor.

As a mother, it was sothing she normally would never have done no matter what kind of threats she faced. But now, with dull and unfocused eyes, she carried it out without hesitation.

The hypnosis created through various drugs and the power of Sopor overca even maternal instinct as though it were laughable. If told to kill and tear out a heart to eat it, she would do exactly that.

“It’s all in the palm of my hand.”

It was natural for humans to ta animals. Dogs and cats were dosticated, cows and horses made to work.

Because humans were superior. Compared to such beasts, humans were overwhelmingly superior beings. There was nothing especially thrilling about a naturally superior existence dominating things inferior to itself.

The act of subjugating beings that were equal—or even superior—was what truly brought exhilaration.

“I’ve already heard the Emperor’s answer as well.”

They had reviewed the matter positively and agreed to provide the necessary drugs and funding. It was not even sothing that would take very long.

As long as there were enough materials, he could brainwash more than ten people a day, stripping away their will and using them like puppets.

“It’ll arrive within today.”

The cargo was scheduled to arrive tonight. After passing through several locations and being transported safely using every thod lvin could think of, the goods were now being imported through the Antaria Grand Canal.

Museum director, Operations Committee mber, king of the night.

At last, the foundation had been completed for him to ascend to the most splendid throne in this beautiful city where anyone with power could possess whatever they desired.

“When that ti cos, I’ll make sure each of you gets a solid position too.”

lvin had not forgotten the efforts of those who cooperated with him. As soone who would reign over an entire city, he possessed at least that much generosity.

Of course, the thoughts of the others being treated that way differed slightly.

‘Without our help, he’d just be so architect holding Sopor.’

It was true that Sopor played the key role, but the success of the brainwashing owed greatly to the people working alongside lvin and their specialized knowledge.

And now this bastard was trying to dance above their heads. There was no way that felt good.

But there was no other option. In the end, the fact that Sopor was the core of everything did not change….

“Smile, you bastards.”

At lvin’s command, awkward smiles appeared on the lips of those who had been wearing dissatisfied expressions. lvin had already succeeded in planting hypnosis even into the people working alongside him.

Still, he had not subjected them to complete brainwashing since turning them into full puppets would make their specialized knowledge useless.

They could not defy lvin’s orders. Several words buried deep beyond their consciousness controlled them.

“Now then, everyone get up. We need to head to the harbor and collect the goods.”

Whistling, lvin put on a top hat made of black silk and picked up Sopor.

The scabbard of Sopor, originally shaped like a broom, had been altered by lvin to suit his own taste and now resembled a cane. Even if he carried it openly outside, no one would realize that the cane in lvin’s hand was actually Sopor.

“Hm hm hm~”

Humming to himself, lvin placed a record onto the gramophone and started the music. He had no intention of personally heading to the harbor.

‘That bastard Kairus.’

A rather deep fear had been planted within lvin. Back when he had been at his weakest, he had gone through countless hellish experiences while acting alongside Kairus. Because of that, he understood the danger to a certain degree.

The re fact that Kairus was pursuing Sopor forced lvin to beco extrely cautious.

The reason he had dressed up like this was simply because he felt he could not wear ordinary clothes on such a aningful day.

The brainwashed underlings headed toward the harbor.

“You look busy.”

Kairus and Irena had already arrived at the harbor. The dark Antaria Grand Canal. Among the docked ships, n carrying cargo could be seen moving back and forth.

“He spent over a month moving it around in circles here and there.”

lvin Istovan had been ticulous. If Nora had not perford so well, they probably would have failed to track it down.

Nora had even deliberately refrained from taking any docunts so that no changes would occur during the transportation process.

‘Of course, there was always the possibility that I wouldn’t trust Nora’s words.’

But the mutual trust they had built while spending ti together was too deep for that. Nora must have believed in that as well, which was why she did not take the docunts.

“But did we really need to do it this way?”

Now that they had identified the culprit, it would have been entirely possible to launch an imdiate assault. But Kairus did not do that. It was not because of so disgusting emotional urge to give lvin the worst possible mont at the happiest mont of his life.

“That bastard rigged all kinds of shit inside his own house too.”

After hearing Nora’s report, the very first thing Kairus did was investigate what lvin had been doing inside his ho all this ti.

He was a cautious bastard. Not only had he undoubtedly prepared escape routes leading out of his house, but he had probably plastered the place with all sorts of traps as well.

That was what they learned through the testimony of the people who had sold materials to him.

“He’s not soone we can afford to let escape.”

In the end, he was a man standing on the Emperor’s side. If he sohow managed to escape and reach the Empire’s protection, the Emperor would undoubtedly shield lvin Istovan.

‘Because he possesses exactly what the Emperor desires most.’

Loyalty without compensation. Puppets that would never betray. And it was not as though lvin lacked ans of escape.

Sopor was the problem. Kairus already knew from experience just how terrifying a battle gear it was. He had suffered through it firsthand with his own body.

‘If we get caught off guard even for a mont.’

lvin would definitely use that opening to activate everything he had prepared in his modified house before attempting to flee.

“It’s not like we can’t catch him.”

“That would just make things more troubleso. And you know what we’ve been dealing with lately.”

They had already figured out lvin was the culprit, and until the cargo arrived, there was no chance lvin would leave the city.

While the cargo was being transported cautiously from place to place, Kairus had to manage the city.

“…There were over 150 cases.”

Conflicts between organizations. The rules established within each territory by the organizations under the Operations Committee. The people of this city possessed the temperant to willingly risk great danger for great profit.

‘No matter how terrifying Survivors are, including him there are only three of them. Maybe we can trick them sohow?’

Thinking that, countless damned bastards tried pulling sches one after another, and Kairus and the other two had to run around nonstop beating every single one of them down.

It would not be an exaggeration to say the only reason three people could cover everything was because each one of them possessed monstrous strength.

‘If Nora had continued spending all her ti chasing that cargo.’

Kairus and Irena would have been driven to the brink of exhaustion. Well, as a bonus, it also had the effect of lowering the guard of an already highly tense lvin.

“That’s… true.”

“And in a few days, Lukas and Donovan will return.”

They were in the middle of returning to the city after successfully accomplishing the goals they had set out for.

They did not even need to fully return. Just hearing the news that they were coming back would instantly restore peace to Kairus’s hectic days. That was why they were finishing lvin off now that the cargo had arrived.

“They’re moving. Let’s follow them.”

After confirming the movents of lvin’s underlings transporting the cargo, Kairus and Irena imdiately headed toward lvin’s residence.

“Then what about simply collapsing the building?”

“The laboratory’s underground, so bringing down the surface wouldn’t an anything.”

On top of that, if a perfectly fine building collapsed, the nearby buildings would suffer major damage as well. Entering cleanly was the best option.

“Do you perhaps have any more brilliant suggestions, Head of the Kellogg family?”

At Kairus’s words, Nora slightly frowned. Strictly speaking, it was true that Irena Kellogg was the head of the Kellogg family. It was just that there was nothing left of the Kellogg family anymore.

“I can only thank you for enlightening to my shortcomings through your wisdom, Head of the Featherwing family.”

Of course, the sa applied to Kairus as well. Orphans were originally allowed to mock each other by calling each other orphan bastards.

Because they were both in the sa situation.

“Opening the door.”

At Kairus’s words, Irena gave a small nod. A chilling flash of light briefly glead from the scabbard hanging at her waist.

The door, its hinges completely severed by the slash, slowly toppled over. As Irena lightly moved her hand, the falling door floated slightly into the air through the power of Swift Blade before being hurled far away.

“You’ve gotten better.”

“Thanks to you.”

The mont he stepped into the mansion, the very first thing Kairus did was sweep through the interior with Swift Blade.

Even if the entrance leading underground was hidden, it could not block the flow of air.

“…”

Kairus lightly tapped Irena’s shoulder, then casually tossed a red paintball sowhere.

He had marked the location where the hidden entrance was concealed. Now they just had to break through it.

There was no intention of using complicated thods. Things like this were originally a matter of speed. Kairus raised a hand with three fingers extended, then folded them down one by one.

Three. Two. One.

The instant his hand beca a fist, Kairus charged straight at the wall and slamd his body into it. With a heavy cracking sound, the wall concealing the underground passage shattered apart.

And without either one needing to say anything, both Irena and Kairus sprinted underground.

Both of them had already reached the level of masters in handling battle gear. And lvin’s mansion was absolutely not built to descend hundreds of ters underground.

It only took an instant for them to arrive at the space where lvin Istovan was located by following the underground passage.

“Dr. Istovan. Long ti no see.”

“Y-You….”

lvin, who had just opened the cargo crates and was basking in exhilaration, stared blankly at Kairus.

anwhile, Kairus casually swept his gaze over lvin’s attire. A tailcoat, a silk top hat, and even a cane.

“For soone skulking around in a gloomy basent pulling shady crap, you sure dressed up nicely.”

Instead of answering, lvin shouted loudly.

“Stop them! Stop them with everything you’ve got. I said give your lives to stop them!”

“Ugh… no! Please!”

At his shout, the people standing throughout the basent charged toward Kairus and Irena.

Even while screaming that they did not want to do it, their bodies moved on their own against their will.

Of course, Kairus was not the kind of person who would carefully consider circumstances like that while fighting.

“…”

The six humans who rushed toward Kairus were instantly sliced into dozens of pieces and scattered across the floor.

While Kairus dealt with them, Irena charged toward lvin and grabbed him by the collar.

“Kgh… Kha… Y-You bitch. St-stop her!”

A small beep! echoed out. Along with the sound of iron bars opening, people with vacant eyes rushed toward Irena while making strange noises.

“This is….”

For a mont, Irena hesitated. The ones charging at her now were all children under the age of ten. Unard, unaware even of what they themselves were doing, they blindly rushed toward her.

The hypnotized children ignored pain, hunger, and thirst alike as they clung desperately onto Irena’s body.