Chapter 166

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 166: Pandemonium (1)

“Oh, right.”

The young man, Odin, turned to Azeth Hermes and said, “I’m going to need to spend some money.”

“Money? What do you mean? Haven’t I granted your request?”

“It’s not for me. The others won’t move unless there’s money involved.”

At Odin’s words, Azeth Hermes frowned.

“Others?”

“I brought some people who’ve been lounging around in Pandemonium.”

“You involved outsiders in this affair?!”

“I’m an outsider myself. What’s the difference?”

“You are an exception!”

Azeth Hermes burst out angrily, but Odin didn’t lose his smile.

“I didn’t tell them everything, so don’t worry. I just said we’re about to mess with Hyukcheon. Anyone interested could join. And after what they’ve seen with their own eyes, they should’ve realized by now — Aeon alone can’t handle Hyukcheon.”

Odin had foreseen how the situation would unfold and had already gathered reinforcements.

“So the ones you brought — can they handle the Dark Shade?”

“Of course they can.”

Azeth Hermes fell silent, contemplating. Odin’s judgment was usually reliable. Still...

“We’re up against Hyukcheon. How can you be sure they won’t run?”

Hyukcheon’s reputation was infamous, even within Pandemonium. It was hard to believe any scoundrel would willingly cross them for mere coin.

“That’s why I only brought fools who aren’t afraid of Hyukcheon.”

Odin shrugged.

“So, what’ll it be? I can handle this alone, but it might get a little messy.”

“How much?”

Odin named a sum. Azeth Hermes’s expression hardened at the staggering figure.

“Come on, Aeon’s flush with cash anyway. Why not loosen the purse strings a bit?”

“…Fine. I’ll pay once the job is done.”

“You won’t regret it.”

With a satisfied grin, Odin pulled out his phone and made a call.

“It’s me. The payment’s secured — everyone, begin.”

Before he even finished the sentence, over twenty people charged into the hospital.

“See you later, then.”

“Where are you off to?”

“Me? Where else…”

Odin looked toward the hospital.

“I’m going to take care of the toughest ones.”

* * *

Meanwhile...

Alexander Aaron was escorting the Dark Shade unit to the procedure room.

“Damn, what a nothing fight.”

Grumbling, Alexander recalled the battle with White.

“You saw that too, right? No need to be scared of punks like that. When it comes down to it, they’re nothing.”

Kwon Hudon, Mei Hong, and Gael Garcia exchanged uncertain looks.

To them, White was no ordinary opponent. It would’ve taken all three of them just to gain the upper hand. For Alexander to dismiss him after defeating him so easily felt... surreal.

“We’re almost there. Just a bit more…”

Suddenly, a wall collapsed.

From the rubble, an assailant burst out and lunged at Alexander.

Alexander reacted instantly, blocking the man’s hand with the handle of her axe. The man gripped the handle and drove Alexander back into another wall.

“Who the hell are you supposed to be?”

Grinning with jagged, yellowed teeth, the man replied, “Pin Cooler. I’m from Pandemonium.”

At the name, Kwon Hudon gasped.

“The Pin Cooler?! The one who assassinated the mayor of New York and became a Pandemonium councilman?!”

“…Sir, guys like this love being recognized.”

Alexander snapped at him, and sure enough, Pin Cooler let out a grotesque laugh.

“Thanks for the intro. I’ll repay you with a painless death.”

“You filthy bastard, try anything with our guy and you’re dead!”

“First, I think I’ll deal with this lady here.”

Pin Cooler’s muscles swelled. He pressed harder against Alexander, whose back was now crumbling the wall behind her.

“Sir! You and the juniors go ahead — I’ll handle this!”

More crashing sounds rang out. Alexander’s voice echoed from within.

“W-what should we do?”

Kwon Hudon hesitated, glancing around. Mei Hong was also frozen.

“…We’d only get in the way,” said Gael Garcia.

“Let’s think about not being a burden right now. As she said, let’s regroup with the captain.”

Though reluctant, the others agreed and followed Gael to Kwon Hanul’s location.

* * *

Elsewhere...

After dispatching Red, Secretary Kim was about to regroup with Joo Hayun

“That was quite the show.”

A voice behind him made him freeze.

Turning around, he saw a young man.

Though he had a youthful face, his hair was half-gray like an old man’s. It gave him an odd aura.

“To erase such widespread magic in a single blow... Impressive.”

“Who might you be, sir?”

Kim instinctively realized this was no ordinary man. He was certain he was much older than he looked.

“Oh... You caught on quickly.”

“My specialty is detection. I could sense your energy.”

“I like your humility, not flaunting your strength.”

Odin chuckled. It was an old man’s laugh.

“My name’s Odin.”

“You’re a high councilman of Pandemonium. My apologies for not recognizing you.”

“Haha, don’t worry. I rarely leave the shadows. But tell me…”

Odin’s smile faded.

“Why haven’t you withdrawn your killing intent?”

In fact, it was only growing. Kim’s aura shook the very air around them.

“A lowlife from Pandemonium dares bare his fangs at Hyukcheon — you should be punished.”

“Bold words. Calling me trash to my face.”

“The stench is too much to bear.”

The rings coiled around Kim’s arms began spinning like saw blades.

“Whatever deals you struck with Aeon— you’ll confess every detail.”

“Think you’re capable?”

Instead of replying, Kim hurled her rings. Ten of them flew at Odin like gliding blades.

Just before they struck, a shadow rose from beneath Odin’s feet, forming a wall.

The rings scraped the wall and ricocheted back to Kim.

“Creepy,” Odin muttered, eyeing the damage. “That wall’s tougher than an S-rank monster’s hide. And you managed to cut it.”

Kim recoiled his rings, deep in thought.

The rings made an unpleasant sound when cutting that wall. To truly harm Odin, he’d need to double their power.

“Oh? Are you planning to show me more?”

Kim combined all ten rings into one massive one floating above his head.

“How brave. You want to match power with me?”

“Why not?”

“Impressive. You truly are Hyukcheon’s number two.”

Odin laughed again, that same elderly chuckle.

“This is why Hyukcheon’s so terrifying. There are countless strong ones beyond just the famous names.”

Even as a mere secretary, he had damaged a Pandemonium councilman’s barrier and was now challenging him outright.

Skill-wise, Kim was stronger than most global rankers.

“Well, I can’t just stand by.”

Odin’s barrier liquefied, then expanded like writhing jelly, engulfing the ground.

“What is this?”

Kim frowned.

He couldn’t tell what it was, but his instincts screamed danger.

“It’s concentrated curses.”

Odin dipped his hand, scooped it like water, and let it fall.

“Blindness, deafness, weakness, decay, necrosis... Every curse magic that exists, distilled and refined.”

Everyone knew Odin was a mage — but no one knew what kind.

Because those who fought him never lived.

“Just touching this will rot your flesh. Don’t believe me? You’ll find out soon enough.”

“Thanks, but I’ll pass.”

Kim spun his ring, concentrating 80% of his mana into a killing blow.

“You refuse? Too late. You’re already cursed.”

The moment he finished speaking, Kim staggered. Darkness swallowed his vision.

“Kh-!”

His limbs went limp. Mana flow severed. Agony tore through his insides.

“Curses cling to things.”

Odin’s voice rang clear. His hearing was still intact.

“When you cut my barrier with your ring, the curse transferred to it.”

And then Kim had wrapped those cursed rings around his arms.

“Your body will now rot slowly. But that’s no fun…”

Odin raised a hand. The cursed sludge slithered toward Kim.

“Get up. Or you’ll be reduced to bones in seconds.”

He laughed louder, knowing Kim was paralyzed.

“Not moving? Then it’s time to die.”

The curse opened wide to devour him—

“…Oops, did I go too far?”

Odin suddenly pulled back his hand. The cursed mass turned to vapor and receded.

A moment later, the ceiling collapsed.

“Secretary Kim, are you alright?”

He recognized the voice. Kim looked up but saw nothing.

“Hold on, I’ll apply the cleansing potion.”

Liquid poured over his head. The darkness lifted from his sight.

“Lady Kwon...”

Tears welled in Kim’s eyes. Kwon Mi wiped them with her thumb.

“You’ve done well. Now please, step back.”

Kim struggled to his feet. The curse was gone, but the aftermath remained.

“Please be careful.”

Leaving those words, he staggered away. Kwon Mi watched until he was gone.

“A big shot has arrived,” Odin said.

Kwon Mi’s face hardened. Her eyes were filled with killing intent.

“Yikes. This is why I hate dealing with Hyukcheon.”

“Odin. You’ve gone insane. Attacking Hyukcheon like this.”

“Insane? I’ve never been sane.”

He shrugged. Kwon Mi spat her words in disgust.

“Save the childish crap. That’s the kind of garbage kids say.”

“Now that’s harsh.”

“You attacked Hyukcheon and tortured my subordinates. You’ll answer for that — right here, right now.”

“I know you’re strong, being direct lineage and all…”

Odin scratched his head.

“But still, I’m a high councilman of Pandemonium.”

Only the most elite underground hunters could join Pandemonium. Among them, only a handful were council members.

And Odin was one of the mere 17 high councilmen.

“If it were Kwon Hyuk, maybe. But you? You’re not enough.”

Unlike the infamous Odin, Kwon Mi wasn’t well known.

All anyone knew was that she handled foreign affairs for Hyukcheon.

Though recently she had wiped out the South American cartels, her fame was still minor.

“Even so, if you want to fight, I won’t stop y—”

Suddenly, Kwon Mi lunged.

Odin didn’t panic. He immediately gave his cursed masses an order.

The cursed sludge spread thin over the floor, then shot up like spears.

Hundreds of cursed blades aimed to tear Kwon Mi apart.

And then—her body vanished.

“Oh?”

Odin gave an impressed hum and quickly reshaped the curse blobs into a barrier. The moment he did, Kwon Mi appeared before him.

Without hesitation, she punched the barrier. It shattered like glass.

“…What?”

Odin staggered back, stunned. But Kwon Mi was already upon him, stepping forward with another punch.

Odin instinctively crossed his arms to block it.

Crunch.

A terrible sound. Even with both arms raised, he couldn’t absorb the full force. The impact launched him far back.

He barely managed to land on his feet—only then realizing his forearm was broken.

“…”

A chill ran through him. Just one clash was enough.

He realized it deep in his bones.

The gap between him and Kwon Mi.

“A Pandemonium councilor?” she muttered, brushing her wrist.

She sensed the curse on her fist and summoned her magic to burn it away completely.

“Sitting atop a mountain of trash—you must be real proud of yourself.”

She summoned her power again. The overwhelming aura bore down on Odin.

“Let me show you what a true difference in class looks like.”

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]