An underground facility leading from a deserted alley.
A warehouse filled with various equipment and ammunition that have been purchased over the years.
Dozens of Nuova Era members gathered in a secret location that only a few people knew of. Kim I-hyeon, who had finished his business at the hotel, also took a seat.
'There are quite a few people.'
Even though only members of the organization with a certain level of status were called, excluding the lower ranks, the warehouse was bustling. It wasn't for nothing that they were considered one of the most influential people in the city.
With her men gathered, Echidna began to speak in a whisper.
"Today we destroyed the Ricardo family. We tore down the house the old man bragged about all those years ago, burned down his farm, and completely ruined his business."
Since there are many surviving members, it won't be disbanded right away. However, it will no longer be able to enjoy the same power as before. The next leader won't even be able to show up at parties.
However, the expressions on the faces of the organization members were not bright.
It was not the time to be basking in the afterglow of having won the struggle. They understood the nature of the Timorese underworld.
"So, from today onwards we can no longer remain in Timorta."
Nuova Era is only a force that is 'counted' as a powerful force. There are several organizations of similar size, and some are even stronger.
"If it were a single force, it might be possible to do something, but the old guard here are all as small as a grain of rice. They will join forces to try to exclude us."
The groups belonging to the cartel do not all get along well. They often squabble among themselves. However, when a common enemy is encountered, they tend to unite like ghosts.
"Of course, but first of all, I have no intention of fighting."
Opposition is impossible.
It is no exaggeration to say that the entire city has been turned into an enemy. No matter how many weapons they have stockpiled, it is not enough. They will not be able to hold out for even a week.
The air flowing through the room became even heavier.
Echidna's impulsive behavior itself wasn't something that happened just a day or two ago. During that time, the members of the organization followed the leader's strange instructions, and thus the organization grew.
But this time the stakes were different.
There were bound to be some who doubted the leader's judgment. Echidna herself had expected that she would be driven to the edge of a cliff.
He did it even though he knew it.
"I won't apologize. I didn't do it accidentally in the heat of the moment. This was an important challenge for me. I didn't come here to rot away playing house with some mediocre guy."
A step out to escape from stagnation.
This was her way of life.
"I'll give you just one chance. There's a hotel that has no ties to our organization on the surface. It may be small, but it'll make a lot of money. I'll hand over ownership and shares, so if you want to leave, you can leave."
It would be difficult to wash someone who has already sold his face as a member of Nuova Era. It was realistically impossible to pay that much attention.
There were a few people who were seriously conflicted. Antonio, who had been supporting Echidna for a long time, showed no signs of wavering, but it was not possible to expect the same loyalty from everyone.
Even in that kind of atmosphere, Echidna's eyes were full of strength.
"If not, shut up and follow me."
Her eyes, which had been scanning her subordinates, stopped at Karajam. It was difficult to read his expressionless face. She declared, still fixing her gaze.
"There's no more business in this remote village. We're eating Naraka."
* * *
The members of the organization were given half a day to relax.
It was time for each of them to sort out their personal affairs. For safety reasons, they had to escape the city immediately, but it was definitely a necessary procedure. After all, their subordinates were also human beings living their own lives.
If you complain later, it can be annoying.
"Here, here's the pay for this job."
Kim Yi-hyeon, who was called in separately, received a bundle of money from Echidna. He had just arrived in Timorta, so he had nothing to pack. The only thing he had to pack was a knife.
Soon Echidna tilted her head.
It was because Kim Yi-hyeon just stood there blankly.
"What are you doing? Don't you want to receive it?"
"No, I appreciate it, but I didn't know you'd give it to me so readily."
"What are you talking about? It's a promise, so you have to keep it."
She gave me a look that seemed to be strange.
"I thought the price had gone up, but I guess not."
"I like you, Don."
"Who doesn't like someone? Sometimes, no, often, there are those who are overly clingy, which is a problem. Judging from your reaction, it seems like you're not that type."
In reality, Kim Yi-hyeon was not a materialistic person. He thought that if he had no difficulties in life, it was enough. He did spend a lot of money on his hobbies, but that was a separate matter.
The reason for demanding compensation was not the money itself but something else.
"I just didn't want to work for free."
When Asterike was captured by the Pavoni family, he realized the hard truth: ability is not the only factor that determines a person's worth.
Even when he was working at Cellbrox Lab, he was very strict about his compensation. Thanks to that, his wallet got quite thick. To the extent that Chelsea might faint from shock if she heard the amount.
"...No matter how you look at it, it's unique."
"Is that so?"
"At least I've never seen anyone like you before."
Echidna, her chin raised, stared intently at the stranger before her.
Now I finally understand a little bit about what kind of person he is.
There was a hint even in the insignificant conversation we just had.
The fact that he immediately asked for a large sum of money was to avoid selling his efforts cheaply. The ruthlessness he sometimes displays was to handle the work efficiently and reliably.
He has a firm principle of action when it comes to 'work'. He is a very calculating person. Even if he seems to be acting strangely at first glance, there is a reason behind it that you can nod your head to.
"Ha, ahahaha."
Echidna burst out laughing at the absurdity.
"Everything went just as you wanted."
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't act like a fool. I knew this would happen."
He has business in Naraka. It is a place that is difficult to reach alone. That is why he came to see Echidna, who was dissatisfied with her current situation in Timorta.
And led.
To make other organizations more restrained against Nuova Era, and to make Echidna's discontent grow, he eventually gained a companion who would take him to Naraka.
But there was something that Echidna had a hard time understanding.
"You knew me?"
This is not the 'Echidna of Nuova Era' who is active in Timorta. It is a story from the past. She was disillusioned with her stagnant self in the past, and she had also challenged herself in the same way.
If you didn't understand those circumstances, you wouldn't be able to come up with a plan. It doesn't make sense from a common sense perspective. If you were someone with the ability to see through people's nature through physiognomy, you wouldn't know.
The answer that came back was extremely rude.
"What a coincidence."
"You crazy kid."
Echidna frowned sharply.
But it was only for a moment. I was too gratified to feel offended, and even if I was led astray, it was my own choice.
'It was bound to happen like this someday.'
It was an objective judgment. In reality, Echidna was destined to leave Timorta within two years. The intervention of a foreign substance merely brought the timing forward.
She rolled her eyes, all the strength leaving her body.
"Would you mind telling me your name now?"
"name?"
Karajam looked troubled by the unexpected request. After a while, he shrugged his shoulders, as if some calculations were going through his head.
"My name is Kim Lee-hyun. Others call me Hyun."
"That's your real name?"
"That could be the case, you could just pick a person by name."
"I don't mean to be rude, but um..."
Needless to say, the real name sounded more fake.
* * *
When I shook my gloved hands, blood mixed with sand dripped down. When I looked down at the blade, I saw that it was covered in sticky mucus.
Kim Yi-hyeon felt disgusted at the unsanitary sight.
"Yeah, I said we should avoid it."
"...I'm sorry. It was my mistake."
Antonio admitted his mistake, though he was impressed. It was indeed his fault. He had been attacked by the sandworm that lived under the sand dunes.
"Have you ever crossed a desert?"
"It's my first time. It's even shittier than I thought."
"But how do you know so much?"
Kim Yi-hyeon noticed the monster's appearance faster than anyone else. It was the same just now. While passing through the desolate hill, he suggested taking a detour because the worm was hiding there.
Until then, Antonio had not seen anything. So he ignored it and went straight ahead, only to be attacked as if by chance.
"I've heard a lot of things."
It was a difficult answer to accept.
Antonio glanced at Kim Yi-Hyeon, who was polishing his blade. It had been two days since he left Timorta. During that time, he had witnessed Kim Yi-Hyeon fighting several times.
And every time, I couldn't help but be amazed.
"You seem to be used to dealing with monsters."
"There are monsters everywhere in the world. If you don't go out to the city, you probably won't encounter them often, but since I had to travel around a lot, I've really met all sorts of guys."
A spell to create various weapons. Although not a master's domain, he has a sense for handling everything from guns to blunt weapons without any shortcomings. Knowledge as broad as that of a professional hunter.
As the battle progressed, his presence grew.
"Aww, shit. It's so dirty it won't even wipe off."
"...If you keep doing that, it'll rust quickly."
Antonio gave some instructions to his subordinate. He was soon given soft cloth and stone powder and began to clean the blade instead. His delicate hands were the complete opposite of his dry expression.
"You've done this a few times. Are you good at sewing?"
"Isn't that basic knowledge?"
"Hey..."
It was an unexpected side.
Kim I-hyeon is not bad at it, but he doesn't seem to be able to match Antonio's skills. Of course, knife handling and sewing are completely separate issues.
"What are you guys doing? If you're done, let's get going."
Echidna stuck her face out the car window. She was wearing fashionable sunglasses, and she looked like a tourist. She seemed to be having a hard time calming down since leaving Timorta.
"I just came out to play."
"I guess that means you were that frustrated. Timorta had too many people, good or bad. It's a town where you can't be free no matter where you go."
Suddenly, I remembered something from the past.
'I think Roscoe said something similar.'
Ulan-Zu was simply a cramped area rather than a place with many people, but there was definitely a common thread. There must have been a sense of liberation as well.
'It's better than whining.'
This is something that you should fully enjoy now.
From now on, it's going to be even harder.
'I need to come to my senses too.'
There is also a high possibility of death by screaming. If Timorta was a city where illegal business was flourishing, then from here on, it is a full-blown conflict zone.
There are many people who are worse than monsters.
"It's finished. It's a good knife, so take good care of it."
"That's right. If you don't want to get nagged later."
"Nagging? To whom?"
"The guy who gave me this. He couldn't stand to see his work ruined."
Kim Lee-hyeon chuckled as he picked up the blade.
There were faces that naturally came to mind.
'I wonder if I'm doing well.'