Money-grubbing Necromancer (234)
While riding in a car to meet the ‘higher power’, Santos and Lee Seo-yoon quickly became close.
It was because there was a common history.
Santos was a priest and administrator of the Shadow Philippines branch.
“Oh! So, Seo Yoon, you were also part of the Shadow?”
“That’s right. I belonged to the Korean branch.”
“If it’s the Korean branch… … the place that Han Baek-gil managed?”
“Yeah, that place. South Korea, not North Korea.”
“Haha, I know that much. This is truly a great irony. The crazy woman who massacred our children was actually a colleague?”
“I wanted to find it as soon as possible. It’s not really a secret that the Shadow is spreading throughout the Third World.”
“… … So, you killed him on purpose?”
“That’s why a big shot like you would show up. That’s exactly what happened, right?”
Santos nodded.
It was certainly radical, but there was no faster way to meet the hidden self.
“Okay, I admit it. But I’ve never heard of anyone as talented as you in Korea.”
“It couldn’t be otherwise. At that time, I was just a trainee.”
“… … A trainee? Really?”
Santos asked back, surprised.
Usually, in the shadows, a person with priestly rank was sent to each country as a representative. Han Baek-gil, who governed Korea, was also of priestly rank.
Among the talents that those priests scouted and kept an eye on, the lowest position was that of a trainee.
‘This woman was really a practitioner?’
Just looking at the skill with which he was able to wipe out four branches in two days, isn’t it enough to slap a decent priest in the face?
“I was trapped in the hidden gate.”
“Trapped?”
“Yeah. That place… was a horrible hell.”
Santos rubbed his chin.
There are many different types of hidden gates. If you are unlucky, there are many cases where a lower level awakened person enters the highest gate. The problem is that usually, nine times out of ten, you die.
‘Did you come back alive? So you got the chance?’
In that case, it was understandable that he had become so strong. The rewards from the gate were truly endless. It goes without saying that it was a hidden gate overflowing with treasures and coincidences.
“so?”
“When I came out, it had been almost half a year. The Korean branch had collapsed, and I had no way to contact my superiors even if I wanted to.”
“So that’s why you came here to the Philippines?”
“Yeah. Even if I tried to set it up in Korea, there’s a good chance I’d die. The people above me are all missing, so what could I do?”
“… … That’s, that’s right.”
Santos nodded.
I didn’t believe everything Lee Seo-yoon said. At this point, I knew that I had to test every stone bridge before crossing it.
‘Still, most of it is probably true.’
After Lee Seo-yoon revealed her name, it was Santos who had been digging up information about her.
Real name: Lee Seo-yoon.
A B-class awakened person who was quite famous in Korea under the nickname of “Amyeong”. He went missing half a year ago, and was declared dead shortly after. The reason he went missing was because of the Hidden Gate, and if he came out too late… … .
‘The story fits perfectly.’
After asking the higher-ups to share information, I was able to find out that it was true that she was a shadow practitioner in the Korean branch.
Because the name Lee Seo-yoon was definitely on the list of trainees.
‘There are no further detailed records… … .’
There was nothing particularly strange.
It’s great now, but back then, half a year ago, I was just a trainee.
Although he gained fame there, he was only a B-class Awakener.
Even as a priest who managed the information, Han Baek-gil would not be able to record the information in detail.
In fact, Han Baek-gil had no need to report to Kim Min-woo that he had lost a trainee, which would have resulted in a deduction of points in his personnel evaluation, so he had just roughly covered up the information. However, there was no way for Santos, including his superiors, to know about this fact.
That’s why he was the one who raised more than 80% of suspicions about Lee Seo-yoon.
“So, by the way, do you know anything about how the Korean branch went under?”
“Do you know the Awakened One named Kim Min-woo?”
“… … I know. He’s such a famous gentleman. The world has completely changed since I left the gate.”
“Yes. He’s a famous guy. According to the last records of the Korean branch, he sent a request for support to the Japanese and Chinese branches. The reason was to defeat him. Japan sent an outstanding S-class swordsman named Satoru, and China sent a skilled S-class magician named Wu Longgang. And then contact was lost. Completely.”
“… … You’re saying he died after hitting that guy?”
“Probably so.”
“No, why on earth did you do that? What does that guy have to do with the Korean branch?”
“… … I heard that the growth was bizarrely fast. If things continued as they were, they would inevitably get entangled someday, so I sent a letter saying that I would take care of it in advance. The higher-ups didn’t object much either. After all, isn’t it the cheapest way to put out a fire before it starts to burn?”
“ha…….”
“Well… … Even though the Korean branch collapsed, it wasn’t that important to our Shadow. There’s no need to be so heartbroken.”
Santos spoke comfortingly.
For a huge, shadowy organization to run, money was the most urgent need.
In that sense, the Third World was a money pit. Not only was there money in illegal activities, but there were also many gates that were not managed by the government.
On the other hand, what about Korea?
It was a country that was uselessly high on public security despite being a weak country. It had no money, and it wasn’t overflowing with talent either.
Even like the Griff family in Germany, it did not include the core power of the country. That is why, among the numerous branches, the Korean branch was the weakest.
Of course, when he heard the news that the Korean branch had collapsed, Santos was of the same opinion.
That’s why I’m spitting out words of comfort filled with emotion just now.
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“Yeah. I think I can guess just by looking at the escort vehicles now. How much money did they spend?”
“It’s probably a lot more than you think.”
Lee Seo-yoon nodded.
Santos’ wealth was apparent from the outside. Top-of-the-line bulletproof sedans with special materials from the gates, reinforced on the outside and windows, raced down the road, and dozens of armed vehicles surrounded them like ironclad guards.
There, the road they were passing through was completely empty, as if some kind of control was in place.
Is that all?
The Gate-level measuring device, which is said to be in the dozens even in the Korean government, was spinning around in Santos’ car. It was the best detection device that could even detect the stealth skills of an S-class assassin.
These are things that the Korean branch couldn’t even dream of.
That was when.
Lee Seo-yoon’s phone vibrated.
[Kim Min-woo]
-Where are you?
There was a text from Kim Min-woo.
Tododok.
She tapped her fingers.
[Lee Seo-yoon]
-Mindanao Island. Found the Philippine branch. Approaching. It is said that a very high-ranking person visited.
[Kim Min-woo]
―Okay. I’m in the Philippines now too. Keep moving. I’ll find it on my own.
“Who are you talking to right now?”
“broker.”
“……broker?”
“We need to find a place to live here. Something decent.”
“hmm.”
Santos’ eyes, which had been narrowed, opened slightly.
Although my doubts were not completely gone because I had been through so many things up until now… … .
‘Okay.’
Even if Lee Seo-yoon were doing something stupid, it didn’t matter.
Because the High Priest, the highest ranking official in the Shadows, had visited this place. Seo Yoon Lee was also relatively calm.
‘Well, I guess you’ll figure it out.’
Anyway, he couldn’t disobey Kim Min-woo’s orders. Since he had to go inside the enemy’s territory anyway, he had no choice.
It was rather fortunate.
Unless Kim Min-woo is crazy, he must be trying to come to me in person because he has at least a chance of winning.
Surely it won’t end in a bad ending where both of them die?
Not far from Davao City.
Mountainous area of Davao del Norte province.
The Syndicate’s headquarters was located here. It was a mountainous area that was easy to hide in, but it was also close to the city, making it easy to move supplies.
In each and every trench there were three or four guards standing, and they were all high-level Awakened people.
“Get down. I’m going to see him now.”
A mansion built in the forest.
Santos went in there.
He reached the huge door, knocked, and spoke in a polite tone.
“Your Highness, the humble Santos asks to see you. She has also come with us.”
-Come in.
Squeak… … .
The door opened.
The interior of the room was so plain that it was almost colorless. Inyoung was seen sitting at the table, wearing a pitch-black robe.
“What are you doing? Why don’t you hurry up and say hello!”
“Huh. You seem to be mistaken. I’m not a Shadow member yet. The Korean branch that was managing me was already ruined. So our signing is over.”
“What the hell are you talking about! If that’s the case, then why did you come to us… … .”
“What if I don’t come to you? You probably already know that I belong to the Shadows, so you want me to be oppressed for the rest of my life? You see, I’ve been active since I became stronger. You must have come to me first to try to catch me. No?”
“… … .”
“If not, I might have told Kim Min-woo about my former affiliation. That’s why I came. To tie up my affiliation.”
“… … You want to get away from us? How dare you?”
“I’m not saying that’s necessarily the case. But you should definitely pay the ransom so there won’t be any complaints, right? Probably.”
―Haha. Father Santos. There is nothing wrong with what that woman said, so calm down.
A voice boomed through the robes. Santos quickly stepped back and was airborne.
-Yeah, you said your name was Seo Yoon Lee?
“Yes. Are you the famous high priest?”
―That’s what they call it. I’ve heard of your achievements. The level of the Philippines is not low at all, but it’s quite good.
“I will appreciate your compliments.”
– By the way… Are you enjoying your new life?
“… … !”
In that moment, Lee Seo-yoon’s poker face was completely broken. A new life?
It was a statement that accurately described his condition.
‘You know?’
She swallowed hard and answered calmly.
“I don’t understand what you are saying… … .”
―The man’s curse is harsh and poisonous. It is exactly as I heard. But there is a way. Don’t you want to throw off the shackles of the dead and become human again? To be more precise, don’t you want to escape the life of a slave?
Lee Seo-yoon’s spirit was shocked.
The fact that he is undead.
This man was fully aware of the fact that he had become Kim Min-woo’s summoner.
‘Isn’t it for nothing that he is called the High Priest… … .’
I had a vague idea that he would be a great person, but isn’t this beyond my imagination?
“Is that possible?”
―There is nothing impossible in this world. Nothing. If you want, I can help you. Oh, but first, I have to deal with the uninvited guest who came right before my eyes.
Boom!
As soon as the high priest finished speaking, one side of the wall was shattered.
A familiar face appeared to Lee Seo-yoon.
One who is his own master.
A necromancer who has placed an inescapable bondage on you.
It was Kim Min-woo.
“Are you that famous high priest?”
– Nice to meet you, young man. It is true that you are an old man with that title.
I guess the closest superior to the Apostle Hadronox.
High Priest.
‘Found it.’
Kim Min-woo’s eyes lit up.
The high priest stood up, leaning on the wrinkled wooden staff that had formed in his hand, and spoke while glancing at Lee Seo-yoon.
―Is it any use to keep such a promising young person so tightly bound? So I politely ask you. Could you please release her?
“Sir. Are you perhaps suffering from dementia?”
-Kk kk. What a sharp-tongued friend. I think you need to learn manners.
A sharp blade shot out from within his staff.
