Chapter 93 - Shadow Hand (5)

"However."

Right after what seemed like a confession, Valen continued without taking a breath, "The Cult of the End is an exception."

This is unexpected.

"Why?"

"They're not sustainable, that side."

Not all Abyss Worshipers unite with the same purpose or intentions.

Rather, compared to Explorer organizations established in the city, they were like loose sand.

Unlike Explorers who shared close bonds, common goals, and a sense of belonging, though to varying degrees, Abyss Worshipers only shared two things: reverence for the Abyss and self-interest.

Abyss Worshipers only banded together reluctantly to avoid being excluded by Explorers.

They might look polished on the outside, but inside, it was every group for themselves.

However, among Abyss Worshiper organizations, some had strong unity like Explorer organizations.

Those bound by a single clear ideology.

"The Cult of the End is the most extreme among them."

Literal madmen among madmen who aimed for world destruction.

A madness different from other Abyss Worshipers.

Following unified ideology and doctrine as their name suggested, they were stronger than any other Abyss Worshiper group and dedicated themselves to their ideals.

"Money is good. Money and information. With these two, you can control the world even without much power. But what use is it if that world burns away?"

"Is the Cult of the End at that level?"

"Haven't you experienced it?"

He knows even that?

No. If he had informants in the Union, it wouldn't be hard to find out.

Jegan, who planned the training center raid.

The Professor, who planned to turn the Second Floor into hell.

Both belonged to the Cult of the End.

Unlike Jegan, whose combat ability was surprisingly weak due to investing heavily in resurrection, the Professor could somewhat match even Viola.

"What position did the Professor hold in the Cult?"

"Information about the Cult starts at 100,000 Rupe."

"...You were talking freely just now?"

"That was barely worth calling information, just common knowledge."

Pure robbery.

"Fine. I'll find out myself. More importantly, the undiscovered ruins in the garden. Wasn't that your doing?"

"Didn't I just say? The Cult is an exception."

"...So you know they were behind uncovering that place?"

Even we only suspected that much.

We were certain they were behind the Evolver incident still causing chaos in the First Floor's ecosystem through the Divine Blood Serum.

But who exactly?

While certainly Abyss Worshipers, which organization among them still remained unclear.

Rather than the Cult, we suspected the Abyss School—a group that disregarded city law, industry unwritten rules, and basic human morality and ethics, focused solely on unveiling mysteries.

Human experimentation.

Perfect for those Abyss School bastards who were no different from mad scientists.

Valen remained silent.

His expression didn't suggest he considered it a mistake.

"You intentionally spread rumors to interfere with the Cult's plans."

His continued silence was as good as agreement.

"Why deny it?"

"Well? Should we have admitted it was us spreading the information?" Valen said with a smirk.

"The Cult's retaliation. Even major organizations struggle to withstand it. It’s not something connections with the City Guard can handle."

These were people who raided training centers run by the City Guard and Union.

They even attacked despite the presence of celebrities like the Grand Duchess.

Just one information organization.

They could easily eliminate a single information broker from the underworld.

"Same reason you didn't verify directly. Because you might be traced?"

"It was already a failure once the name was mentioned."

Valen sneered.

The exposure of his name and organization seemed unintentional even for him.

Given the organization's effectiveness, they don't seem sloppy. Did they make mistakes rushing things?

I carefully traced the outline of Shadow Hand in my mind.

"How did you get such information? Don't tell me you have informants within the Cult?"

"What if I say I have no obligation to answer?"

Though he asked casually as if it didn't matter, Valen still wouldn't bite.

After all, he was someone who built himself up through the fierce competition of Res Limen's underworld.

If he fell for such an obvious trap, I'd suspect he was either lying or a double.

But if I was going to back down here, I wouldn't have sought him out.

"Then I'll have to make you talk."

"How? Going to borrow the Grand Duchess' power?"

"If necessary."

Connections were also my power.

It would be foolish not to use others' help when needed just because of pride.

"But I don't think we'll need to go that far."

"Such confidence."

The carriage slowly reduced speed.

A carriage ahead had stopped.

[Pact-bearer, be careful.]

[They're together.]

[Fear not, Covenant-bearer. Following our blood pact, the world's truth and falsehood in confusion—]

[You talk too much. Can't you tone it down?]

"You didn't come alone."

"Safety is paramount in this profession," Valen said calmly.

"Think you can still talk now?"

The carriage blocked the front.

The aura emanating from the inside was quite threatening.

One or two were close to Ruslan or Lyudmila's level.

For mere information dealers to have Expert-level fighters?

Quite surprising, but money could buy anything, I suppose.

Behind too.

The sides were open, but with the front and back taken, even those weren't viable escape routes.

"S-Sir Roman!" Bong-sik, sensing something wrong, called out urgently.

"Now we have proper conditions for a smooth conversation."

Valen tossed aside his reins and leaned back against the driver's seat.

Showing off his advantage, he even laced his fingers behind his head.

Every action seemed to proclaim his control of the situation.

"I've answered your questions until now, so how about I ask some?"

As if everything until now was just playing along.

Valen's eyes had completely changed from before.

"Who are you?"

"...I don't understand the intent of your question."

"It's exactly as I said. You're strange. Take your time if you can't answer immediately."

The group surrounded us from the front and back.

His offer of time to think notably omitted the location.

Planning to take me to their hideout or wherever for interrogation, is he?

"Since you've shared something, I'll tell you one thing."

"Oh?"

"I'm confident I can escape from here. Taking you with me is fifty-fifty, but alone? Absolutely."

Fighting properly here would make winning difficult.

But there was no need to fight here specifically.

Remove this location as a precondition, and I would definitely win.

"And I'll go straight to Frontier Guild. I have various debts they owe me. There are at least three people who'll gladly open the path to meet Lady Viola if asked. Then I'll tell her I have a stalker I'd like removed."

I guarantee it.

Right now, with Viola Pelletier being the only Pioneer in the city, she was the strongest here.

"What do you think she'll do?"

"..."

"Here's what I think. She'll take the lead."

To the silent Valen, I continued explaining the future steps disguised as threats, "She'll surely end people, then I’ll head to the Grand Duchy residence. The person I'm looking for is, as you know, Fiona McManus. So the City Guard won't move to help you."

This wasn't some guild conflict—would anyone stop them from cleaning up one underworld organization?

Rather, the City Guard, lacking connections with Shadow Hand, might welcome improved security.

"How long will it take? I think... no more than a day at most."

"...Empty threats."

"If you think they're empty, continue what you were doing. We'll see the results."

Valen and I stared at each other.

Both of us tried to pierce the other's psychology through locked gazes while controlling our minds to hide our true thoughts.

Breaking the silence where time seemed to stand still came Valen's hollow laugh.

"Kehe, good. This much makes my expectations worthwhile. Enough."

At Valen's wave, the Shadow Hand members creating the menacing atmosphere silently returned to their carriages.

Another carriage pulled up close.

Not a cargo wagon like ours, but a proper carriage for the wealthy.

"Get in."

Bong-sik, who had climbed down from the cargo area, gave me a worried look, but I ignored it cleanly and followed Valen into the new carriage.

"First, let me give you one piece of advice. Better refrain from reaching out to Frontier and the Grand Duchy."

"I'm aware."

"No. That's not the issue."

Valen muttered quietly as if telling me to listen, “Don't you know yet?”

I quickly reviewed my memories for anything I might have missed but found nothing significant.

That was inevitable.

The point Valen raised was about an area I knew nothing about.

"It's about the Grand Duke's succession."

"Succession?"

It was common knowledge in the city that the current Grand Duke's withdrawal from public view was due to declining health.

Though life extension might be possible with vast power, wealth, and artifacts excavated from the Abyss falling into the city's hands, even that has limits.

The Grand Duke's death and succession was a natural course.

And everyone was already moving with this in mind.

There are three succession rights holders.

One heir and two duchesses.

The current Grand Duke's direct line consisted of one son and two daughters.

Probably only two have a real chance.

The heir and Fiona.

The first duchess, Fiona's older sister, wasn't in the city as far as I knew.

Captivated by the Abyss' allure, she chose life as an Explorer over being a duchess.

Bringing this up now, could Valen's goal be...

Just as my thoughts reached this point, the moment of truth arrived.

"I want you to arrange a meeting with the Grand Duchess."