Chapter 421

Chapter 421
## Chapter 421

### The Burning Torch (2)

A chamber packed with massive electronic apparatus.

Wooong—

Beep— Beep, beep—!

Crackle— Whirr—

Though the air conditioning system was functioning at maximum capacity, the temperature inside remained elevated, dominated by the constant hum of cooling fans, digital alerts, and assorted technological murmurs.

And then—,

“…At last, contact has been established. Everything is proceeding smoothly for now.”

…the resonance of a male voice drifted across the space.

Positioned in the middle of the room, flanked by rows of high-priced supercomputers,

…a silhouette, nearly reclining in a luxurious armchair, maintained a connection to the machinery via a multitude of cables fastened to its metallic outerwear.

The individual was clad in a polished, iron-like armor, the exterior radiating a subtle, otherworldly luminescence that resembled elaborate circuitry.

“So, this constitutes ‘Odin’s Eye’. It proves… remarkably effective.”

This was Hesperon, completely outfitted in his Titan armor, which he had summoned forth from his pocket dimension storage.

He clicked his tongue in approval, thoroughly impressed, as he scrutinized the orbital photography displayed across his heads-up display, having breached and accessed the network utilizing 「Cybernetic Eye: Callicas」.

He had been experimenting with ‘Odin’s Eye’, a novel functionality integrated into the Karma Shop following its recent modification, linking the system directly to the planetary satellite grid… and it was unquestionably worth the expenditure of Karma.

‘…It possesses the capability to pierce through nearly all forms of sorcery and defensive grids, and unlike the “Trajectory Observation” utilized by Andrew, it remains unaffected by the target’s operational level.’

It functioned essentially as an intensified iteration of his personal trait.

To think that an ability of such magnitude could be wielded simply by sacrificing Karma points…

Its operational range was restricted exclusively to Earth, and the continuous drain on his Karma reserves was admittedly… substantial… yet by employing it alongside his alternative talents, he could optimize its overall performance.

Ultimately, he had just managed to execute a task flawlessly using the specific intelligence Andrew had managed to harvest.

‘…Even if its utility is confined strictly to validating data, the expenditure remains justifiable.’

He lowered his eyelids, keeping his internal vision locked onto a tiny, deserted dwelling situated in the countryside of Vietnam, projected clearly onto his HUD.

Concentrating his perceptions, he linked up with the awareness of Ken via the mechanics of 「Chains of the Oath」, utilizing his right arm, and conveyed his directives.

-”Avoid creating an unnecessary scene, regardless of any provocations they throw your way. Simply… placate them and guide them to the predetermined destination. Additionally… make an effort to… establish a positive connection with them. They possess considerable talent, notwithstanding their… present circumstances.”

-”…Ugh, this breathes entirely of… Hella-nim’s methodology. Is this truly my destiny… to be constantly surrounded by such… dictatorial masters…?”

Ken, absorbing the mandates, offered a mutter, his vocal delivery carrying a tinge of… irritation.

Even so, he was not genuinely… insulted by receiving directives from an unfamiliar entity.

After all,

…he had returned to the terrestrial realm solely due to Hesperon, who had performed his summoning.

‘…And he gave his word to grant me a period of… personal liberty on Earth upon the fulfillment of this assignment.’

A faint smirk crossed his face as he recalled Ken’s initial behavior upon setting foot back on Earth.

The demon had been utterly perplexed, thoroughly… disoriented, to the point where he repeatedly investigated his environment, questioning if he was falling victim to… mental coercion, or if this location truly represented… Earth.

Had he not stepped in utilizing 「Chains of the Oath」, it would have required far more time for the demon to… regain his composure and chart a path toward his objective.

‘…He remains a demon at his core. He ought to possess the capacity to… evaluate the opposition’s capabilities with greater precision. Furthermore, should an unforeseen complication arise, he can secure additional time for us.’

Moreover, he could transfer the… tedious burden of gathering intelligence throughout Southeast Asia onto the demon’s shoulders.

After a brief interlude,

Hesperon, having monitored the operatives of the ‘Burning Torch’ through the perspective of Ken, parted his eyelids and surveyed his environment.

A sanctuary filled with highly sophisticated processing units and mainframes, a state-of-the-art laboratory that would prove nearly impossible for ordinary citizens to enter.

It functioned as an operational zone crafted solely for his purposes,

…intended to elevate the performance of 「Cybernetic Eye: Callicas」, one of his defining traits, to its absolute peak.

‘…The adversary of my adversary serves as my ally. I cannot permit them to be eliminated in this fashion.’

The ‘Burning Torch’, a clandestine coalition that had somehow preserved its existence despite being hunted by the Heaven’s Turn Society… their expertise and capacities were indisputable.

By aligning with them, he could not only wage a more efficient campaign against the Heaven’s Turn Society, but also secure priceless intelligence.

Nevertheless, establishing a link with them had proven highly problematic.

Their command structure, crippled by their recent engagements with the Heaven’s Turn Society, had fragmented and retreated into concealment.

This was their standard method of engagement, functioning from the darkness like unconventional combatants… yet their current plight rendered tracking them down an even greater challenge.

They were pushed to the brink, fighting for their very existence.

‘…Consequently, it was imperative that I locate them prior to their discovery by the Heaven’s Turn Society… ‘

And that precise requirement was the reason for Hesperon’s presence and the creation of this infrastructure.

A cutting-edge data computing hub, outfitted with mainframe computers blending technologies and components derived from alternative realms, obtained stealthily through his diverse web of contacts.

The capital required for its assembly had been… astronomical… yet financial resources posed no barrier to him.

He had already anchored a secure economic pillar through Howard Industry, a legitimate corporate entity, meaning the deployment of several clandestine outposts was of little consequence.

Wooong—

Beep!

The indicators on the machinery gleamed and throbbed, power coursing through the cabling that linked them directly to Titan, the core hub.

「Cybernetic Eye: Callicas」, a technological graft that had merged with his being, progressing in tandem with his own growth, functioning as a… technological entity, in a manner of speaking.

Meanwhile, Titan, a masterpiece of techno-arcane craft, operated in perfect harmony with the artificial intelligence, its computational limits extending far beyond its initial specifications.

It did not merely trade digital code; it was… magnifying the output of the attached hardware, driving the machinery beyond conventional boundaries and straight into the territory of sorcery.

‘…Their defensive coding is quite formidable. Greater groundwork will be mandatory to breach it… Then again, as coercive technology progresses, defensive architecture advances in parallel.’

Naturally, replicating structural designs from alternative worlds upon Earth demanded an immense quantity of assets, meaning merely a handful of syndicates maintained such sophisticated protective frameworks.

Information derived from orbital networks, physical cables, over-the-air communication frequencies… every scrap pertaining to his targeted zones was flooding into the infrastructure, a relentless tide of data.

Bits of information, far too fractured and corrupted for standard computational engines to analyze, rendered essentially useless…

…yet 「Cybernetic Eye: Callicas」, a self-improving artificial consciousness and a technological miracle, navigated the data deluge effortlessly, managing the linked machinery.

An entity capable of commanding authority that transcended the restrictions of this reality, its impact multiplied by the relatively sophisticated state of Earth’s current infrastructure.

Hesperon drew his eyelids shut,

…pushing the cognitive capacity of 「Cybernetic Eye: Callicas」 to its absolute threshold, ensuring not a single hint slipped by unnoticed within the massive influx of data.

—

Ken, casting a glance at the four individuals shifting frantically in his vicinity, kneaded the musculature at the base of his skull.

‘…Heaven’s Turn Society… and the Burning Torch… ‘

Both titles were entirely unfamiliar to his ears.

Naturally, even had he made his return to Earth on schedule, he would never have crossed paths with such… clandestine operations.

‘…Who exactly is this individual? By what method did he pull me from the Abyssal Realm? And what exactly is his objective?’

Hesperon, the entity responsible for summoning him, remained an enigma.

He appeared to have resided on Earth for quite some time, considering his deep understanding of the current landscape and his competence in dictating terms to him while managing these covert factions…

…almost as though he had been engaged in combat against them for an extended duration.

‘…He cannot realistically be transitioning between dimensions at his own whim.’

He cast the notion aside, adhering to basic rationality, and subsequently let out a breath, raking his fingers through his hair.

Ultimately, it was of no consequence now.

He possessed no leverage given that the malevolent force previously confined within the sanctuary was now entirely managed by Hesperon.

In truth, it was precisely due to that dynamic that he found himself back upon Earth.

‘…I wonder how my kin are faring. They will surely be startled by my reappearance… Yet first, I must see this assignment through to its conclusion.’

On the bright side, the skirmish that had erupted upon their initial encounter had proven short-lived.

He had managed to hold his ground against his adversary, prioritizing dialogue over outright violence… and Jose, witnessing the arrival of his allies, had deactivated his hostility and consented to a conversation.

“What is transpiring here…?”

“Ahn-nim! Jose-nim! Are you unharmed?… Wait. Who are you? By what path did you enter this sanctuary?”

“…Beki? Ddol? You survived?”

The group had launched an assault against him under the assumption that their scouts had been terminated.

After all, there was no logical pathway for an intruder to breach their sanctuary completely unperceived.

And the reality that he had crossed into their domicile without utilizing any standard entry alerts… it bred intense skepticism.

‘…Well, their reasoning is sound.’

He had merely been acting upon his primal demonic drives, focused intently on fulfilling his directive… yet it appeared his approach had birthed a severe misunderstanding.

“…Consequently, you are merely a… courier?”

“Precisely. I possessed zero knowledge regarding your existence or this ‘Burning Torch’ collective prior to this moment. My understanding is limited to the fact that we share a mutual adversary in the Heaven’s Turn Society, and it behooves us to form an alliance.”

“In that scenario, the individual pulling the strings ought to have presented themselves personally. What value is there in exchanging words with a mere courier?”

“Well, if your faction occupied a… superior standing, I imagine he would have done so… yet given your current state?”

Ken, who had been conversing with Ahn, the commander of the assembly, gave a shrug of his shoulders,

…and scanned his surroundings.

An isolated, alpine territory, completely separated from any indicators of human civilization.

Furthermore, their numbers totaled a mere four individuals, even taking into account their executive status.

It could hardly be described as a… protected environment suitable for a high-ranking commander to frequent.

“Tsk.”

Ahn clicked her tongue, momentarily stripped of a retort.

When all was said and done, he functioned merely as a courier, not the mastermind behind their operations.

“Ahn, are you entirely certain regarding this individual?”

Jose, who had shifted back into his human guise and taken up a protective stance at her side, questioned, his vocal delivery muted and filled with apprehension.

He maintained his suspicion regarding Ken.

They had halted their physical altercation to prevent drawing additional complications… yet his focus, intense and unwavering, had not drifted from Ken for a single instant.

“It is acceptable. He has spoken nothing false up to this point. His opposition to the Heaven’s Turn Society is genuine, and he is initiating contact with beneficial motives.”

“Nonetheless, he is a demon. Akin to… that entity…”

“I am not suggesting we accord him unreserved faith. He undoubtedly harbors truths he is withholding from us. However, our faction is scarcely in a position to be… overly selective regarding our partnerships, are we?”

“…Granted, his combat capacity undeniably eclipses my own.”

They engaged in muted dialogue directly before him, acting precisely as though he were invisible. Ken’s mouth twitched slightly, yet he chose to remain silent.

He had spent a vast duration existing alongside demonic entities. He understood that their dark reputation was not entirely without basis.

Had it not been for the influence of 「Thought Transference」, which had… anchored his sense of self, he would likely have surrendered his… human consciousness a long time ago.

“I have just been granted an immediate notification.”

“A notification?”

Yet he had no intention of loitering indefinitely merely to overhear their private discussions.

His directive was to facilitate their extraction, guiding them toward a protected sanctuary.

He needed to achieve success here to secure his promised autonomy on Earth.

“A detachment believed to belong to the Heaven’s Turn Society is closing in on this position. The Executioner does not appear to accompany them, meaning the engagement itself should pose no true threat… however, we cannot permit ourselves to be immobilized here.”

The situation was elementary.

They were targets on the run.

Should their current coordinates be exposed, their prospects of evasion would deteriorate drastically.

“…By what means do you possess this knowledge?”

Yet the core issue remained… how much faith could they invest in him, given his demonic nature?

This development could easily represent an ambush.

Ken, interpreting their underlying doubt, permitted a brief smirk to show and gestured toward the heavens above.

“The entity employing me keeps watch from high above. This entire territory is… monitored under his authority.”

“Ha!”

The assertion carried the ring of an absurdity.

Yet Ahn, the commander of the collective, could not dismiss the claim out of hand.

Her personal trait, the very gift that had preserved her life until now, allowing her to evade the hunts of the Heaven’s Turn Society…

…it was currently broadcasting a intuition to her mind, directing her next movement.

“What is your choice? Do you intend to follow my lead?”

“………”

Her path had already been determined.

—

An apartment saturated with pastel-tinted vapor, curling and weaving through the atmosphere.

“Huu… The current has shifted.”

A female figure, resting upon a low-profile couch, let out a slow breath, her vocal delivery gentle and carrying a… hypnotic quality, as a plume of pale blue vapor drifted from her mouth.

Her focus, blurred and unfocused, remained locked upon the vapor, its amorphous patterns twisting and morphing.

“So you have finally stepped onto the stage, my sworn rival.”

An existence that shattered the laws of destiny, a chaotic variable, a hidden participant mocking the grand design from the shadows.

“In that case, we must also… construct our counters accordingly.”

Resembling grains of earth slipping through her grasp,

…the survivors of the ‘Burning Torch’, whom she believed she had completely cornered,

…were beginning to break free from her net.