Chapter 413 – Part 2 – Meeting with the Vice-Leader

As soon as Woo Seong-jae left Kwak Min-cheol’s mansion, he picked up his phone.

It was to carry out Choi Seong-min’s instructions.

“It’s me, Peter.”

“Hello, Lord Woo Seong-jae! You’ve been calling quite frequently lately. Haha!”

Peter was trying to laugh, perhaps because he felt guilty about something.

“You don’t seem happy about my calls?”

“Haha, th-that can’t be!”

Woo Seong-jae responded coldly.

With his life mortgaged to Choi Seong-min, he wasn’t in the mood to laugh.

“By the way, what’s this about…”

“About the phone call you had with Kwak Min-cheol today.”

“Ah, that nonsense about being careful of the black mask? You don’t need to worry about that…”

“You should be worried about it.”

“What?”

“I was curious why he suddenly said that, so I had a direct conversation with Kwak Min-cheol… It’s not something to just brush off.”

“You talked with Kwak Min-cheol?”

“Yes.”

Of course, it was a lie.

Far from having a conversation with Kwak Min-cheol, he had only heard babbling.

“The black mask isn’t very famous in Westland, but in Eastland, he’s quite a celebrity.”

“Who on earth is this black mask…”

“He’s a kind of terrorist. No, it would be more accurate to call him an assassin. The one who killed Christopher Gibson is this black mask.”

“Ch-Christopher is… dead?”

Peter was surprised by the news he was hearing for the first time, but so was Woo Seong-jae.

He too hadn’t known that Christopher had been killed by the black mask.

Not until he heard it from Choi Seong-min.

“This black mask guy’s skills are formidable. If he could kill Christopher, we have to assume his combat power is at least over 3 million.”

“Such a guy is in Eastland…”

“There’s no way to know if he’s from Eastland or Westland. Well, his identity isn’t important. What’s important is that he’s clearly our enemy.”

“That bastard should have his spine ripped out and ground up! How dare he kill a Great Hero…!”

“Peter, you should be careful too. According to intelligence I’ve obtained, he’s planning to attack the Pentagon.”

“The Pentagon…?”

“Yes. I heard he’s targeting the Magic Core.”

“That damn bastard! How does he even know there’s a Magic Core…”

“He probably found out by threatening Christopher before killing him.”

“Sigh… As you said, Lord Woo Seong-jae, this isn’t something to just pass over.”

“I don’t know when he’ll attack, but just in case, mobilize all your S-rank subordinates immediately to guard the Pentagon. You absolutely cannot let the Magic Core be stolen.”

“Don’t worry. If that guy enters the Pentagon, he’ll be dead that very day. He absolutely won’t make it out alive.”

“Don’t let your guard down and prepare thoroughly from now on.”

“Yes. I’ll do as you command.”

After finishing the call, Woo Seong-jae let out a long sigh.

‘How confident he is. Without even knowing who the black mask is.’

Woo Seong-jae knew.

The identity of the black mask.

‘It’s probably Hunter Choi Seong-min.’

He had no evidence, but he was almost certain.

‘The person who killed Christopher is Hunter Choi Seong-min. If the black mask really killed him, then they’re the same person.’

Since Choi Seong-min had the Paladin trait, it was certain he had killed Christopher.

‘Moreover, when I said I’d bring the Magic Core from the Pentagon, he refused, saying he’d get it himself.’

Now he could see it was a plan to attack the Pentagon under the name of the black mask.

‘All circumstances point to Hunter Choi Seong-min being the black mask.’

But this was only circumstantial evidence.

It was still too early to be 100% certain.

Even his Insight trait was suspicious but didn’t say it was definite.

‘If only I could see his inventory, it would be easily resolved…’

Just once.

If Choi Seong-min showed him opening his inventory just once, he could know, but somehow he had never shown it even once.

‘Whatever. Whether the black mask is Hunter Choi Seong-min or not isn’t what’s important.’

What mattered was his own life.

How to escape from Choi Seong-min’s grasp.

‘Damn… How long has it been since I last saw him, and his potential combat power has increased even more…’

When Woo Seong-jae faced Choi Seong-min this time, he knew.

Choi Seong-min’s combat power, which had been 40 million just a few hours ago, was now exceeding 50 million.

‘It’s probably thanks to strengthening legendary items with the Magic Core I gave him…’

He had ended up helping his enemy, but whether it was 40 million or 50 million, the fact that he couldn’t win remained unchanged.

‘Anyone would be fine. Please, someone kill Hunter Choi Seong-min…’

Choi Seong-min would probably attack the Pentagon wearing the black mask.

If Peter and his subordinates responded properly then, they might be able to kill him.

‘What if they fail…?’

Not only would Peter and over 100 subordinates die, but the Magic Core would also be stolen.

Just as Choi Seong-min wanted.

‘He deliberately warned them to prepare for the Pentagon probably to deal with Peter and his subordinates all at once.’

It showed how confident he was.

‘If they handle it well, they might be able to kill him…’

Woo Seong-jae pondered.

Whether he should also join the fight at the Pentagon.

Whether to unite with Peter to kill Choi Seong-min, who was suspected to be the black mask.

‘I want to kill him… I really want to kill him…’

Insight told him.

The Pentagon was dangerous.

Going there would only hasten his death.

‘Right. Confronting such a monster would be the worst choice. I should rather look for ways to escape.’

Woo Seong-jae bit his nails and frantically racked his brain.

If he didn’t find a solution quickly, there would be no nails left.

* * *

Despite his cold impression, Ryu Jong-ik was a broad-minded person.

He didn’t get angry easily and had the magnanimity to forgive and embrace people.

However, because of such excessive tolerance, he believed that even criminals could be reformed…

But not now.

That was only until he was betrayed.

‘Park Hui-jun, Nam Il-woo, and now even Christopher betrayed us… It’s all my fault.’

Because he easily trusted and accepted people, he was played for a fool.

Ryu Jong-ik held his head in both hands.

‘Because of my complacency, the organization almost fell into danger.’

Without the black mask’s help, the organization called Revolution might have disappeared from the world.

‘The comrades who trusted and followed me almost died in vain…’

Though he didn’t show it, Ryu Jong-ik was quite shocked by this incident.

‘I almost lost everyone because of me. Like my daughter Eun-bi…’

Was it because he thought of his daughter’s death?

Ryu Jong-ik’s eyes burned with vengeance.

‘Kwak Min-cheol… That bastard at least, with my own hands…!’

He was determined to do anything for revenge.

He had gathered organization members and built up enough power for terrorism.

But to have problems before even reaching the destination…

‘I’ve been too foolish all this time. Blinded by expanding my forces, I thought I could reform criminals.’

But now he realized.

That black-haired beasts shouldn’t be reformed but eliminated.

Using criminals was a dangerous idea.

‘At times like this, I need to focus on security and strengthen the interior.’

Now was the time to solidify unity among organization members rather than increase troops.

Ryu Jong-ik made another resolution.

He would never stop until he smashed the association and reformed this rotten society.

‘When I see the black mask, I should express my gratitude once more.’

He was a man who had saved the organization and given him enlightenment.

Though he didn’t know his identity, it was certain he was an ally.

And an ally with tremendous skills, enough to toy with Great Heroes.

His information network was also unparalleled.

‘To have such a person as an ally. It truly can’t be anything but the luck of a lifetime.’

When he first saw the black mask at the hunter training facility, he was honestly displeased.

Because he had massacred the criminal hunters that he was trying to reform as allies.

But in the end, it was the right judgment.

‘What if I had accepted them as organization members and there were guys like Park Hui-jun…?’

The organization’s collapse would have been a matter of time.

Just imagining it made him shudder.

‘Thanks to the black mask killing them all, such thoughts couldn’t even occur.’

Looking back now, all of the black mask’s judgments were correct.

He didn’t know how old he was, but he was certainly a seasoned genius with the insight to see through the future.

That’s why Ryu Jong-ik accepted the black mask’s previous advice.

The advice to meet with Westland rebels and establish an alliance once more.

That’s when it happened.

Creak-

The conference room door opened and a member entered.

“Leader! He’s here. The vice-leader of Wings of Hope.”

Ryu Jong-ik nodded and stood up from his seat.

He had just been thinking about him, and he appeared at the right time.

Shortly after, a brown-haired foreigner entered the conference room.

Ryu Jong-ik approached and cheerfully extended his hand first.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Leader Ryu Jong-ik, leading Revolution.”

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Don Hall, serving as vice-leader of Wings of Hope.”

Don Hall was a man with a good impression.

At least he didn’t look like someone who would betray.

Of course, you shouldn’t judge people by their faces, but that was his first impression.

Most importantly, Ryu Jong-ik trusted.

‘The black mask said the other members except Christopher could be trusted, so it should be fine.’

Since the most trustworthy black mask had vouched for them, there was no need to worry.

“Please sit this way.”

As the two sat down, a full-scale conversation began.

“It must have been a long journey, but thank you for coming, Vice-leader.”

“Not at all. I was planning to visit Eastland following the leader… no, now I should call him by name instead of leader. Following the traitor Christopher. Though I ended up coming alone.”

“To think the leader was a traitor… The members must be greatly shocked.”

“Don’t even mention it. Everyone was so shocked they couldn’t sleep properly. Me included. It felt like being hit hard on the back of the head with a hammer.”

“Haha, I understand.”

Ryu Jong-ik smiled and said.

“I can laugh about it now, but thinking back, it’s chilling. Not only me but the members were almost in danger.”

“I heard the story. That Melvin… no, the traitor Christopher suggested an alliance while planting spies and even trying to kill Leader Ryu?”

“Yes… It was just three days ago, so thinking about that time still makes the back of my head feel cold.”

“Phew… Since the dead traitor can’t speak, let me apologize on his behalf.”

When Don Hall stood up and bowed his head, Ryu Jong-ik waved his hands.

“No, no. You don’t need to apologize. What did you do wrong, Vice-leader…”

“I did do wrong. Even though I was closest to him, I didn’t notice the leader was a traitor. Moreover, no matter what, he was our side’s leader who committed this act, so it’s right to apologize.”

Looking at Don Hall with his head bowed, Ryu Jong-ik made an awkward expression.

But at the same time, he felt relieved.

‘He doesn’t seem like a bad person.’

He thought he was right to trust the black mask.

“By the way, could I hear about how Christopher, that traitor, died? I heard roughly over the phone, but I’d like to know in more detail.”

“Ah, of course.”

As a witness to the incident, Ryu Jong-ik explained the situation in detail.

Don Hall, who had listened to all the circumstances while nodding, suddenly looked at him with puzzled eyes.

“Leader Ryu.”

“Yes.”

“That black mask, is he trustworthy?”

At Don Hall’s question, Ryu Jong-ik answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“Of course.”

“I can’t trust him.”

“What?”

“Honestly, isn’t it so? He suddenly appeared, killed the Great Hero and spies, then disappeared without a trace. Leaving behind words that he’d kill other Great Heroes… Anyone would ask if you’re writing a novel.”

“A novel… I was just telling you what I saw and heard…”

“I’m not saying you made up lies, but that it’s that hard to believe. It’s not like he’s a knight on a white horse, but a philanthropist wearing a black mask… Don’t you think there’s some ulterior motive?”

“Ulterior motive? We’re just helping each other because we have the same purpose…”

“Helping each other… We’re thankful if he kills Great Heroes, but what about the black mask? What benefit could that person gain from being with us?”

“……”

Ryu Jong-ik was at a loss for words and closed his mouth.

Thinking about it, that was true.

With the black mask’s level of force, there was no reason to be with them.

He could just eliminate Great Heroes as originally intended.

“Did that black mask leave contact information?”

“No. Just saying we’d meet next time…”

“It would have been nice to talk with that person. Too bad.”

Just as Don Hall was clicking his tongue in disappointment.

“You want to talk with me?”

At the sudden voice, both men turned their heads as if they had made an appointment.

The black mask was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, though no one knew when he had appeared.