A three-story house with a garden, located in the suburbs of Seoul.
A luxurious residence, clearly expensive, but not particularly desirable.
It was far from the city center, lacking convenient infrastructure, and more importantly, it was isolated, making it difficult to receive assistance from Guardians in emergencies.
Korea was generally safe, but crime still existed. While the risk of large-scale terrorist attacks was lower, petty crimes were more common. Isolated houses were prime targets for burglars.
'That's the place.'
People who chose such locations were usually either powerful Awakened who could protect themselves, or those wealthy enough to hire protection.
Of course, there were also those who simply took the risk for the affordability, hoping for the best. Ignoring the risks, it was excellent value.
'I wonder which category this one falls into?'
A large garden surrounded by high walls, a three-story house standing serenely in the center.
The self-proclaimed "Grand Thief," recently gaining notoriety in the underworld, observed his target through a telescope, licking his lips.
A thief seeking fame was contradictory, but he considered it an outdated notion. Weren't there countless stories of beloved phantom thieves?
'As long as my true identity remains hidden, it's fine.'
And he was confident in his ability to remain hidden. Early in his otherworldly adventures, his master, recognizing his unique skill, had taken him in and taught him everything. He had never been caught before returning to Earth, surpassing even his master.
'I want to feel that thrill again. No, something even greater…!'
Earth, with its convergence of various world's mystical powers, was the perfect playground for his ambitions.
He could target the Awakened Association or the Blue House for the ultimate challenge, but he wasn't ready for that yet.
'One step at a time. I'll gain more experience with otherworldly methods…'
He had already burgled over ten luxury homes since his return six months ago.
'Who cares about Hahoe Mask or Phantom? They don't even know I exist, let alone how to catch me. The Supernatural Management Bureau, the Association, and even the underworld's Blood Alliance only recently became aware of me.'
He was different from the small-fry thieves who were caught. Even if those renowned monsters pursued him, he was confident he could escape.
'Let's see what this hunting ground has to offer.'
Confident, he activated his signature skill, 「Ghost Walk」, approaching the house silently. Other skills activated simultaneously, erasing his presence and appearance.
Even a skilled Awakened wouldn't detect him.
He reached the wall smoothly. But then, an inexplicable unease stopped him.
'…What's this?'
A chill ran down his spine, a primal sense of danger. He hadn't felt this since his early days, when he had foolishly relied on his unique skill and ignored his master's advice, nearly getting caught. He wouldn't be here if his master hadn't saved him.
His pride was stung. He wasn't the same naive fool anymore. His master had retired before reaching his full potential, but he had already surpassed him in both skill and experience.
'I can't keep targeting easy marks. Time to move on to the next level. I'll use this opportunity to transcend my past.'
He wouldn't ignore the warning. He activated all his sensory abilities and magical tools, meticulously analyzing the situation beyond the wall.
'I see, a formidable security barrier. Completely concealed. Is this the source of the unease?'
This was top-tier security, perhaps on par with government facilities.
'Such security for a suburban house…'
His curiosity piqued. Someone powerful must be involved to establish such defenses. And they must be hiding something.
'Hidden funds? A secret lover? Or perhaps a more sinister crime scene. Drugs? Human trafficking? Organ harvesting?'
Dangerous possibilities filled his mind. He had a feeling this would be troublesome.
'Logically, I should retreat…'
But a strange resolve hardened his gaze. This was a crossroads. Remain a common thief, or become a legendary phantom thief.
He had made his choice. The defenses might be dangerous, but discovered mysteries had limits. It would be challenging, but not insurmountable.
'Let's go!'
He activated his unique skill, 「Wormhole」, creating a spatial tunnel that bypassed all defenses. Its range was limited, but it was perfect for infiltration and escape.
'I'll uncover all your secrets!'
He confidently stepped through the wormhole, entering the property…
"…?"
And was immediately trapped within a formation in the garden.
'Huh?'
A dense forest surrounded him, filled with towering trees and thick undergrowth.
"…What is this? How?"
He couldn't help but exclaim. He had bypassed the security and aimed for the house, not the garden. His calculations were perfect, and he hadn't sensed anything unusual.
There was only one explanation.
'Insane! Spatial distortion that negates even my 「Wormhole」? But I didn't detect it from outside…!'
Alarm bells rang in his mind. He realized he had only scratched the surface. Blinded by arrogance, he had walked into a trap.
Crackle
He tried using 「Wormhole」 again, but only white sparks appeared. The tunnel wouldn't form.
'Damn, this is… holy power? Was it masking the trap?'
With his escape route blocked, he had to find another way out. He leaped onto a treetop, but all he saw was a vast sea of trees.
A powerful barrier. It would take an Archmage, a Transcendent being, to create something like this. No, considering the holy power, perhaps multiple Transcendent beings…
'Such a barrier for a residential garden? What is this place?! A secret base for some world-domination plot?'
In a way, it was. It was the base of operations for someone combating a world-conquering organization. Although that someone was just one person.
Determined to live up to his reputation, the Grand Thief moved swiftly, searching for a weakness in the barrier. No trap was perfect.
But he quickly learned that while perfection might not exist, near-perfection did.
"Pant… Pant…"
His strength and energy drained rapidly, as if being sucked away. His normally tireless body felt heavy and sluggish after less than a day.
"…Ha, haha! Insane… This is ridiculous. What kind of madman would create such a demonic realm in Korea…!"
Plants came alive, attacking him. Magical traps sprung unexpectedly. Blood-formed monsters relentlessly pursued him, their stench of blood filling the air. Even when he found a moment to rest, the pervasive curses and nightmares prevented him from sleeping or recovering.
He couldn't even find an exit, let alone escape. He had reached his limit. Surviving for a day was a miracle.
"Damn it… To die in a place like this…"
Thud
As his consciousness faded, he realized his mistake. This wasn't a challenging dungeon for leveling up.
It was a death trap designed by high-level players.
"Hmm, is it over? That took longer than expected. This one's quite skilled."
I took a sip of coffee, closing my eyes as the intruder's presence faded. I saw him, collapsed and near death, being restrained by Blood Spawns within the barrier.
'Hmm… what should I do with him? He seems useful.'
He was far beyond a common thief. His infiltration skills were exceptional. With thorough preparation, a bit of luck, and a distracted target, he could even fool a Transcendent being, at least temporarily.
'It's a waste to just kill him.'
This had happened before, and my response was always the same. Interrogate them, identify their accomplices and any related organizations, and eliminate them. There were no innocents among those who shared information about planned crimes.
'If they were truly innocent, I would simply modify their memories.'
Then, I noticed the magical tools he carried. They caught my eye as they were pulled out of his spatial pouch for safety inspection.
Because…
"I sold those."
More accurately, they were among the magical tools I had acquired through the Hubert Company and sold through the Blood Alliance. It wasn't unusual.
The demand for magical tools was high, and the Hubert Company and the Blood Alliance had benefited greatly from the trade.
The Blood Alliance, despite being an underworld organization, had risen to control Korea's night thanks to their moderate approach and the profits from the magical tool trade. Without that lubrication, they would have faced severe restrictions, regardless of their cooperation.
'…I'll send him to the Blood Alliance. They can turn him into a vampire and bind him with restrictions.'
Turning someone into a vampire on Earth required a significant amount of energy, but he was worth the cost. It was a trivial matter for Heinz II, who had unlimited access to blood without any risk of mental contamination.
"Alright, that's settled."
Having decided on the intruder's fate, I surveyed the other locations, nodding in satisfaction.
'Good, everything is proceeding smoothly.'
Ganghwange was unfolding as predicted. Everyone understood the gravity of the situation, so complex schemes were unnecessary.
'This concerns everyone in Ganghwange.'
Some had doubted the reports, but the recent event had changed their minds. The dark clouds filled with demonic energy that had covered Beijing's sky. It had been visible throughout Hebei Province and had even been sensed in more distant regions.
The news, spread through informants, personal connections, and even footage captured by Golden Island sorcerers, had heightened everyone's sense of urgency.
Reaching a consensus and proceeding to the next stage was easy.
'Gather a small, elite force as quickly as possible and strike the Demonic Cult in Beijing.'
Even the one-armed elder of the Shaolin Temple, already severely weakened, was participating. Now that the entire martial world knew the truth, those who remained inactive would lose face, regardless of their faction.
'Of course, some will prioritize personal gain and remain passive.'
They wouldn't last long after this was over. Whether they fell at the hands of the martial world alliance or mine.
"Only time remains."
The plan was progressing steadily. My task was clear.
Tap Clatter
Items piled up on the table, each radiating a unique energy.
'Let's do this properly.'
Elixirs gathered from Auterica, Ganghwange, Earth, and various other worlds, prepared for the most efficient use of 「Power of Gluttony」.