Chapter 149: Odion (1) |
Thud!
Victor doubted his own eyes.
Daren was shivering underfoot, a wreck of his former self.
This was the boss of KF who had tormented him for a whole year.
“Ahhhh, ahooo…”
Victor felt no sympathy for him, despite his teeth being knocked out and blood pouring down his mouth.
On the contrary, he felt a surge of murderous intent, as if now was his chance. After all the suffering he had endured while captured, even tearing him apart would not be enough.
“Let’s not kill him just yet.”
His voice sounded male, but his nationality was unclear.
Victor thanked him first and foremost.
“Thank you so much. Because of you, Riki and the kids are safe. Riki, say thank you.”
“Thank you, thank you.”
Seeing Riki shyly express his gratitude, Ryu Min thought,
‘This child, seeing him for the first time, he must have been destined to die otherwise.’
If he hadn’t intervened, the child would have been killed without a doubt.
As Victor and the kids expressed their gratitude, did it ease the tension?
People who had kept their distance just a moment ago slowly approached Ryu Min to express their gratitude.
“Thank you, Masked Sir.”
“Thank you for saving our lives.”
“Thank you for taking care of those trash.”
They clearly recognized him as a complete ally.
He had not only killed all the members of KF but also captured their boss.
Who wouldn’t consider him an ally after witnessing this?
The looks people gave Ryu Min were filled with deep respect and affection.
Then, Victor, representing everyone, asked a question they were all curious about.
“Masked Sir, may I ask your name?”
“…”
“Ah, I understand it must be difficult to reveal. That must be why you wear the mask. But please consider our position. It would be a lifelong regret not to know the name of our savior. If it’s too difficult, could you at least tell us your nickname?”
“Black Scythe. That’s my nickname.”
“Ah…!”
Others might not know, but Victor immediately recognized the name.
“Are you really the Black Scythe?”
“Do I look like someone who lies?”
“It’s not that… it’s just so unbelievable.”
To think a celebrity known to all players was right in front of him, and that celebrity had saved his life?
It was natural for Victor to be incredulous.
“To meet the top-ranked Black Scythe… it’s an honor. My name is Victor Zaphiel. I’m a player and a Level 40 alchemist.”
“Is that so?”
Ryu Min responded nonchalantly, though he already knew all about him.
“But what did you mean earlier? About not killing him yet?”
“It means he’s still of use. We need to lure out the leader of KF through this guy.”
“The leader?”
Victor, having been captured by KF for a year, did not know who the real leader was.
The organization was decentralized with many members, making it hard to find their base, and the leader was well-hidden.
“How do you plan to do that?”
“I’m thinking of sending a message. With a picture of this guy. Now that it’s mentioned, let’s throw the bait right away.”
Ryu Min took a picture of the battered Daren and found the KF leader’s contact to send a text.
He knew who the leader was from previous regressions.
‘I had already sent a text saying this guy was being attacked.’
Pleased with how things were turning out, he sent the text along with the picture.
[Daren: The guy has lost. If you want him alive, come here now.]
Victor tilted his head upon reading the message.
“This person is the KF leader?”
“That’s right.”
“How do you…”
“I just know.”
“But, sending this… would he really come? Wouldn’t he rather not come?”
The rational KF leader wouldn’t be swayed by such threats.
A boss of KF could easily be replaced, after all.
That was the reasoning behind Victor’s question, and Ryu Min agreed.
However, he was confident.
“He will respond. Definitely. He might even find it interesting.”
He had managed to draw out leader Odion in a similar manner in previous regressions.
Sure enough.
A text came flying in.
[Odion: Wait there.]
He must have been intrigued upon hearing the name Black Scythe and became even more interested upon learning that the organization was being dismantled by a single person.
“Wow, he really did respond.”
Victor was surprised to see the text.
But his expression soon turned worried.
“You’re not planning to wage a war against KF, are you?”
“Now that we’ve started, we must uproot all members of KF.”
“Isn’t that too dangerous?”
“For me? Or them?”
Victor chuckled at Ryu Min’s confidence.
It didn’t feel like bravado or arrogance.
He was a man with the strength and qualifications to back it up.
“I was worried for nothing.”
“Victor, what will you do now?”
At Ryu Min’s question, Victor spoke softly.
“I have to return to Lagos. It has been a whole year since I’ve seen my family.”
Ryu Min nodded and waved his hand towards the outside.
“Hurry on then. Leave this place to me.”
As if he was ready to let go without any regrets.
Of course, Ryu Min, having read his mind, knew Victor wouldn’t leave.
“Why aren’t you going?”
“I’ll stay and watch.”
Victor had already made up his mind.
“I need to see the end of the demons that tormented me.”
“What about the others? Do you all feel the same as Victor?”
At Ryu Min’s question, people hesitated before nodding.
“To be honest, we don’t want to stay here even for a moment, but if Victor is staying, we will too.”
“We’ll stay to see what becomes of KF.”
Ryu Min appreciated their resolve and courage, but he shook his head quietly.
Considering the upcoming battle, they would only be a burden.
“Victor might be okay since he’s a player, but you are all civilians. Just a graze from a bullet could send you to death’s door, and you want to stay in KF’s stronghold? It’s too dangerous, so please leave immediately. You’ll hear about the results on the news.”
“Um…”
They couldn’t argue with that.
Truth be told, they didn’t want to stay in such a dangerous place.
Especially with the KF leader expected to come?
They wanted to run down the hill as fast as possible.
Only hesitating because of their loyalty to Victor.
Realizing this, Victor smiled and said,
“Black Scythe is right. You shouldn’t be here. It’s too dangerous. Before KF arrives, please return to your homes now. Don’t you have to take care of the kids here too?”
“Um, if you put it that way, okay.”
“Victor, thank you for healing and protecting us all this time.”
“It’s nothing, really.”
“Not at all. We could endure because you were here.”
“Thank you for saying that. Ah, Mr. Marcus! You live in Lagos, right? Could you take care of the kids with you too? It’s just until I return. Many have lost their parents and have nowhere to go.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll take responsibility for sending the kids to their parents. Those without parents, I’ll take care of them.”
“Thank you, Mr. Marcus. There are many cars down there; you can take any to leave.”
“Got it. Let’s meet again alive.”
“Haha, sure.”
“So, we’ll be going now.”
“We’ll find out what happens to KF through the news. I hope for a good outcome…”
“Please take care of yourselves, everyone.”
“Let’s go, kids.”
14 adults and 10 children began to leave the base.
Riki, who had been glancing back frequently, finally couldn’t hold back and ran to hug Victor.
“Sob sob, Uncle. We’ll meet again, right?”
“Kid. Of course. Wait at Mr. Marcus’s house. I’ll come to find you as soon as this is over.”
“Okay. You must come.”
Victor patted Riki’s head and sent him off.
Riki looked back numerous times until he was no longer visible.
‘Riki, I hope you go back safely.’
I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!