Chapter 765

Whoosh.

The air inside the private aircraft grew heavy, pressing down on everything within.

The auras flowing from Michael Silbert and me faced each other across an invisible line. Neither of us gave an inch. The standoff felt ready to erupt at any moment.

But if we crossed that line and clashed, there would be no turning back. One of us would die.

I had no intention of backing down. Now that he had found a fatal weakness, one step backward would be the end of me.

Tap. Tap. Crash!

The coffee cup cracked, then burst apart.

At the same instant, I sensed dozens of people racing toward us like streaks of light.

Bang!

The alloy door was ripped off in an instant, and a piercing sound rang out.

In the blink of an eye, the loyal hounds had entered the aircraft, wagging their tails at their master.

“Is something wrong?”

I knew that voice. Over my shoulder, Michael Silbert calmly addressed Huginn, who had returned only minutes after leaving.

“I told you to wait outside.”

“My apologies. I thought there was trouble.”

“Nothing of the sort. Our guest accidentally dropped his coffee cup.”

“I see.”

Huginn glanced at the glass scattered across the room.

“I’ll bring another.”

“No need. Whatever you bring, our friend won’t like it.”

“Then…”

“Go back outside. Don’t return until I call for you.”

Huginn hesitated at his superior’s quiet, firm order, then led his men away.

Once the guards had left the aircraft, Michael spoke again.

“I think we should stop here. What do you say?”

“…”

“Whatever happens if we continue, we’ll both lose a great deal. Is that really what you want?”

I stared at him, then slowly reined in my aura.

I hated it, but he was right.

As long as the world did not realize what he truly was, even if I killed him here and eliminated the threat of future consequences, I would be branded the worst kind of murderer and criminal.

I would have to spend the rest of my life running from pursuit and surveillance worse than those aimed at a public enemy of the Murim, while my family and friends lost their ordinary lives completely.

That was what frightened me most, and Michael knew it.

“That’s better.”

He brushed the glass from his clothes, then crooked a finger. A fresh cup and a coffee machine half-full of coffee floated over.

“Good thing I prepared spares. Would you like some?”

“If you’ve got more cups you want to throw away.”

“I’ll take that as a no. They were hard to come by. I hate seeing them break.”

Trickle.

He filled his cup carefully.

“Now that you’ve calmed down, let’s get to the point. Help me.”

Go fuck yourself.

The words rose to my throat, but I swallowed them.

Michael already knew the Skeleton King’s identity. He also knew that, however angry I was, I couldn’t kill him here. Those two facts were the main reason I couldn’t just get up and leave.

Damn it.

My fist trembled beneath the table. I kept my voice as even as I could.

“What if I help you?”

“The World Hunter Federation takes root. Without any controversy. Cleanly.”

He dropped a sugar cube into his coffee.

“And I become the head of the new federation, of course.”

“You sound awfully sure of yourself.”

“Oh, Jin.”

He gave a quiet, derisive laugh and shook his head.

“You already know who would take the top seat if the federation were founded now.”

“…”

“Only you and I are qualified. And…”

Clink.

He slowly stirred the sugar into his coffee. After a sip, his face settled into an expression of perfect satisfaction.

“Once this useful conversation is over, I’ll be the only one still qualified.”

“…!”

“Are you sure you don’t want any? The aroma and flavor are perfect.”

Grind.

My teeth clenched.

I felt like the sugar cube in his cup. It would dissolve whether it wanted to or not, completing the flavor of his coffee.

And the finished coffee—the World Hunter Federation—would flow into Michael Silbert’s mouth. An armed organization powerful enough to ignore nations and restrictions alike would fall into the hands of a monster wearing a hero’s mask.

If this goes the way he wants… it’s over.

During the Great Cataclysm, the World Hunter Federation had earned its praise by serving as humanity’s sword and shield. Its members had chosen the public good over private gain. They had risked their lives for a greater cause instead of chasing wealth and power, then disbanded after the Erasure of Demon King Asmodeus.

Michael Silbert was their opposite.

A man who caused disasters without hesitation for the sake of his own interests and power. A monster consumed by endless desire was sitting across from me.

In place of the true hero, who had fallen into an indefinite coma, that monster sat across from me.

“…Cheon Taemin.”

The name escaped me like a groan. Michael’s face stiffened for a moment before he smiled faintly.

“Ah, yes. Sky. He was there.”

Click.

He set down his cup with an easy hand, and his voice was just as relaxed.

“In fact, I intend to ask him to lead the federation first.”

“What did you just say?”

“Why so surprised? He has more than enough qualifications. The living savior who rescued humanity from Demon King Asmodeus. The greatest hero in history, and the man who led the World Hunter Federation during the Great Cataclysm. Who could be better suited?”

It felt as though someone had struck me in the back of the head with an iron club.

I finally understood what Michael wanted. I bit my lip.

“You son of a bitch… Don’t tell me.”

“Isn’t it tragic? A hero of his stature should be leading humanity and saving the world once more, yet his illness prevents him from stepping forward. What a cruel whim of God.”

“…!”

“But the fortunate thing for the people is that Sky recommended someone else as his replacement. The captain who will lead the newly born ark known as the World Hunter Federation. Another hero of the Great Cataclysm known throughout the world, someone else who stopped the spread of terrorism through a noble spirit of sacrifice.”

My breath caught.

None of it had happened yet, but as he spoke, I could see the whole thing unfold.

Michael Silbert would nominate Cheon Taemin as Alliance Leader of the federation. Cheon Taemin would decline on account of his illness and recommend Michael for the position instead.

And after that…

“I think I’ll refuse three times or so. Humbly, of course. Once we’ve put on that little show, you can step forward. It’ll make a fine picture.”

Michael smiled at me. I couldn’t smile back.

He wanted more than my help. He wanted me to put him on the throne.

Once all those gears, large and small, had turned together, every accusation that he’d revived the World Hunter Federation for his own power would disappear. Everyone would seem to have urged him to take the throne.

Without any disturbance or suspicion.

With the support of Cheon Taemin, humanity’s living savior, and of me, his greatest obstacle, he would have an unassailable claim. The next savior—and a king with immense power at his command.

“You crazy son of a bitch…”

The words came out like a groan. Michael smiled.

“Don’t worry. If you and your friends cooperate, I’ll fulfill my duties as Alliance Leader of the World Hunter Federation.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

“Oh dear. It seems I haven’t done enough to earn your trust.”

“What?”

“You know everything I said in front of the cameras today was true. Magical power levels around the world have crossed the critical point. Humanity needs the World Hunter Federation.”

He drained his coffee and added calmly, “And I need the World Hunter Federation.”

“…!”

At those words, something hot surged up from deep in my dantian.

Grind.

I glared at him, fire in my eyes. My fists were clenched so tightly they’d turned white, ready to erupt like volcanoes.

For the sake of the power he wanted—that paltry thing—dozens of cities had been destroyed and more than a few million people had died.

And that wasn’t all. Black smoke from the collapsed forests of buildings and the burning streets had blotted out the sun. Survivors who had barely escaped the sudden disaster now huddled in bomb shelters and their homes, clutching family and friends as they trembled in fear.

And he said what?

“You fucking bastard…!”

Fwoosh.

Blue-white flames surged from the fist that had been trembling all this time. Powerful Scorching Yang Qi burned the air and melted everything nearby.

Rage seized my entire body. Killing intent rose with it, and I drove my fist forward.

Whoom! Roooar!

Flame-Extinguishing Divine Fist.

A single punch carrying heat fierce enough to reduce anything to ash tore through the space between us.

Toward the monster in human skin. Toward the madman who would sacrifice anything to get what he wanted.

I’ll kill him here. No matter what.

For that moment, I forgot everything else and gave myself over to rage.

And in a world that seemed to slow without end, I saw it: a dazzling streak of light intercepting my flame-wrapped fist.

BOOM!

A tremendous blast shook everything around us. I withstood the shockwave driving against my body and stared wide-eyed at Michael Silbert.

At the last instant, he had drawn his sword like lightning and caught the Flame-Extinguishing Divine Fist on its blade.

Sizzle-sizzle-sizzle!

A gray aura, the color of its master’s eyes, gleamed ominously. From beyond the blade pressed against my blue-white flames, his low voice reached me.

“I’m warning you. If you don’t stop here, there really will be no going back.”

Shhhk!

There was still one last line we hadn’t crossed. As his warning sank in, I sensed Huginn and the guards approaching behind me. I closed my eyes.

In the darkness, the faces of my family and friends flashed before me.

Damn it.

My fist relaxed and slipped away from the blade.