Hahoe Mask's attack on Heaven’s Turn Society's East Asia branch in Shanghai didn't end there.
As if making up for lost time, he continued his rampage, systematically dismantling all affiliated organizations in the vicinity.
Naturally, the news of this unprecedented incident in one of China's most bustling cities quickly spread like wildfire.
Not only within China, but across international borders as well.
And the most intense reaction came from…
<Hahoe Mask, who disappeared from Japan, sighted in Shanghai.>
<Why did the Korean dark hero go to China?>
<Triad and affiliated organizations annihilated in Shanghai - Chinese Public Security Bureau on high alert.>
…South Korea, the neighboring country and Hahoe Mask’s homeland.
From sensationalist tabloids reprinting articles from Chinese media to online news aggregators capitalizing on the buzz with clickbait titles, and even established media outlets… everyone was eager to report on the incident.And as expected, Korean online communities were even more fervent.
<Hahoe Mask's spectacular comeback.>
-The scale of his return is insane lol. From Yakuza to Triads, he’s unstoppable.
-??? : I was just bored with Japan, so I took a short break and went sightseeing in China. Now I'm back to work, so everyone can rest easy and go back to their daily lives!
-Hahoe Mask hyung is back! I knew you were alive!
└Weren't you the one whining about him being gone?
Hahoe Mask's fan site, “Dawn’s Shrine”, which had been slowly declining, saw a massive surge in traffic from the moment the news broke.
<Hahoe Mask is alive, you bastards!>
-All those who said he was dead, bow your heads in shame. I’ll start.
-Confession. I was wrong.
-My head is on the ground...
-Whoa, he’s really alive? Could it be a double?
└This scale of operation, with all the evidence pouring in… It can’t be fake.
└If someone can pull off such a perfect impersonation, they might as well be the real deal.
└Exactly lol.
Those who had been skeptical of his return quickly changed their tune.
After all, everyone acknowledged his power and reputation.
Whether they viewed him favorably or not.
But not everyone was pleased with this news.
Namely, the Korean government officials who were now facing complaints from both Japan and China.
It was an unfair situation for them, having nothing to do with Hahoe Mask… but they couldn’t ignore the issue.
Maintaining international relations was a priority, and taking some kind of action, whether offering cooperation or something else, was essential.
And as a part of that effort…
“Let’s begin the emergency meeting. Everyone knows the agenda, right?”
…A meeting was being held at the Korean Returnee Association headquarters in Namsan, Seoul.
“Didn’t we already discuss this? It fizzled out last time with Japan. Why are we bringing this up again?”
-Seriously. We’re busy, why did they call us all the way here?
“Well, it’s an unavoidable issue. I don’t know what we can do, though.”
“…Can’t I just participate through video call? Why is Seoul mandatory… It’s unfair…”
The branch managers gathered under the Association President’s direction grumbled amongst themselves.
From Seoul’s branch managers to those from other cities participating through video call.
Unlike government officials, the relatively informal atmosphere quickly turned the meeting room into a chaotic mess.
Awakened individuals’ power and status were closely linked.
Naturally, the branch managers were all influential figures in their origin dimensions.
Heroes, nobles, organization leaders, renowned figures…
Confident in their own abilities, they didn’t hesitate to voice their opinions.
It was a meritocratic system, where strength was paramount.
“The Chinese government is taking a hard stance. They’re applying pressure through various channels.”
Of course, that also meant they were treated with respect.
After all, possessing such power meant they had survived dangerous trials.
The Association President’s words silenced the room, everyone’s attention now on him.
“Seriously? Why are they making such a fuss? He just took care of some criminals, right? And it was only a few small-time gangs in Shanghai.”
-Their pride must be hurt. Some punk from another country coming in and acting like he owns the place?
“Who knows what their reasons are. Maybe he messed with someone connected to their higher-ups.”
As the discussion continued, Yoon Ji-yoon, the Seoul Southern Branch Manager, aka Lightning Empress, who had been dragged to this meeting against her will, frowned as she scrolled through the data on her tablet.
‘It’s definitely him.’
All the information was about Hahoe Mask’s activities in China.
Photos, CCTV footage, eyewitness accounts, and analysis based on the gathered data.
It had only been a few hours, but the information gathering was incredibly efficient.
‘Well, most of it probably came from the Chinese government.’
The meeting was progressing slowly, as expected.
It was a dead-end issue. What could they do now that Hahoe Mask was in China?
‘Are they just trying to make a fuss to gain some diplomatic leverage? That sounds like them…’
As she was flipping through the data, her gaze suddenly stopped.
It was a report about the building where the initial incident occurred.
‘Officially, an investment firm. But some suspicious activity was detected during the investigation… Hmm, something’s not right.’
The other reports were all similar.
Indiscriminate punishment of Triad members and affiliated organizations in the vicinity.
Typical Hahoe Mask behavior.
‘Hahoe Mask… Hahoe Mask… Wait a minute…’
As she repeated his name, something clicked.
‘Heaven’s Turn Society was exposed right after Hahoe Mask appeared.’
The organization that Alpha, the former leader of the Blood Alliance’s hardliners and the level 9 Mad Blood Devil who had caused the recent terrorist attack in her jurisdiction, belonged to.
He had disappeared after clashing with Hahoe Mask.
‘I didn’t think much of it at the time…’
But now that she thought about it, Hahoe Mask’s movements, from Korea to Japan and now China, were suspicious.
Why was he traveling to other countries to hunt down criminals?
And what was the connection between his sudden disappearance from Japan and this incident in Shanghai?
Perhaps he had been tracking Heaven’s Turn Society, following a lead he found while dismantling their operations in Japan?
‘…I should talk to Heinz.’
She had been suspicious for a while, but hadn’t actively investigated.
About the connection between Hahoe Mask and Heterosis.
‘He even operated under the name “Phantom” while Hahoe Mask was gone. …Hmm, could they be from the same dimension?’
Having reached a plausible conclusion, she returned her attention to the meeting.
She would investigate it later.
But her focus didn't last long.
Bored with the unproductive discussion, she discreetly took out her smartphone from under the table and started playing a game.
She muted the sound and, with her superhuman control, made sure her actions were as inconspicuous as possible.
‘She’s playing a game.’
‘A game, huh.’
‘I’m so jealous…’
But everyone in the room was an awakened individual.
Naturally, no one missed her subtle movements.
But they all just glanced at her, then quickly looked away. No one dared to interrupt her.
Only the Association President frowned slightly.
‘Should I just spend some more money…?’
Her official title was just a branch manager, but her power rivaled even the President.
No one questioned her authority.
____________________
Crash—!
A loud shattering sound echoed through the cluttered lab, filled with various high-tech equipment and strange concoctions.
It was a common occurrence, but today, the one responsible for the commotion was in a foul mood.
“Damn it! This is infuriating!”
Smash— Clatter— Crack!
Several flasks, lined up neatly on a shelf, exploded like bombs without being touched.
As if reacting to his emotions.
“No, no, no! This won’t do. I’ll lose all my precious reagents!”
But as soon as he finished speaking, the shattered fragments and spilled liquids reversed their trajectory, returning to their original state as if rewinding time.
He checked the restored flasks, then nodded, seemingly relieved.
And then—
“I don’t need this!”
Crash—! Smash—!
He swept them off the shelf, sending them crashing to the floor.
Doctor, Heaven's Turn Society’s chief scientist and the Master’s right-hand man, ran his fingers through his greasy hair in frustration.
Nothing was going his way.
The trap had been set for a while, but Heinz, the key to his “Complete Evolution Project”, was still in Europe, showing no signs of returning to Korea. And Yulryeongja, a valuable asset, had been defeated by Hahoe Mask.
Losing the East Asia Branch Manager was a significant blow.
Their control over the region would inevitably weaken.
“That eye! It was such a valuable item!”
But Doctor’s frustration stemmed from a different source.
“I even offered him a compromise! Damn it! I was planning to steal it after he gathered the data!”
He was more upset about losing the cybernetic eye than losing a high-ranking member of the Society.
‘I can always make another prosthetic arm and legs, but that Calicas eye… I really wanted it.’
He had already dispatched his subordinates to search the former East Asia branch headquarters.
But like all previous victims of Hahoe Mask, there was no trace of Yulryeongja or his magic tools. Not even his body.
“I shouldn’t have lent it to him! I should have just taken it and attached it to my own eye… No, my forehead! Then I would have three eyes… Hmm?”
As he was ranting, he suddenly stopped, a thought crossing his mind.
“Three eyes? A third eye?”
He tilted his head, pondering the idea, and then…
“Ooh ho ho~! Now this is interesting!”
His anger vanished, replaced by a manic excitement, a wide grin spreading across his face.
“I need a test subject! Let’s see… I’ll have to drill a hole in the skull and connect it to the pineal gland… Hmm, a sturdy awakened individual would be ideal!”
He rubbed his hands together, his eyes gleaming with anticipation, and then left the lab.
‘Someone else can deal with the East Asia mess. That woman, or whoever.’
He no longer cared about Yulryeongja’s fate.
____________________
After capturing Yulryeongja, one of his highest-ranking targets so far,
Hans naturally delved into his mind, hoping to extract valuable information.
‘But the results were… disappointing.’
As expected of a mental-type awakened individual, it hadn’t been easy.
Even though he was barely master-level, the difficulty of accessing his mind was comparable to a transcendent being.
‘I didn't expect him to be able to format his own mind.’
He had done it so quickly that Hans hadn't been able to react.
And in the process, Yulryeongja had even destroyed his own consciousness.
To prevent Hans from extracting any information, even after his death.
He was a truly formidable opponent.
‘It’s a good thing I had the Orb of Mind.’
He had managed to recover some fragments of his memories, like performing a digital forensic analysis, thanks to the orb he had acquired during their previous encounter.
He had been lucky.
And after extracting what little information he could,
He immediately took action.
“Master, I’m going on a trip!”
“Huh? Suddenly?”
Tarak, a city in the Tulk Kingdom, where Howard’s workshop was located.
Zaonic blinked in surprise at Howard’s sudden declaration.
But Howard simply nodded firmly.
“Yes, I need to… experience new things and gain enlightenment.”
A look of determination, fueled by a burning desire for knowledge, shone in the young Dwarf’s eyes.
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