Chapter 208

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Within Night School, designated as a Special-Rank wanted organization worldwide, there is no leader.

The freedom of action is left to each individual member, and what they think and what they do is purely up to them.

However, separate from that, there was a leader everyone tacitly acknowledged.

His name is Luke Pensalot.

Born in Poland, he moved to England and, at the young age of barely twenty, became a prodigious genius known for killing famous Exorcists.

Those who met him were all terrified and would utter the same testimony. That he possessed a talent akin to a demon’s.

And three days before the suspension order was issued at Korea’s Cheonghwa Academy, that very Luke was gathering all the members of Night School at a pub in England to discuss future plans.

“Are we all here?”

Naturally, there were no other humans inside the pub besides them. Although not even corpses were visible, the bloodstains left here and there made it clear what had happened there.

“It seems we’re one short.”

“If it’s Xiao Chen, it’s highly likely she’s dead.”

“What? Even she was taken down that easily?”

Xiao Chen’s skills were one thing, but with her cautious personality and Art Formulas advantageous for escape, she was essentially the member with the highest survivability even within Night School.

“Missing for over six months, and she was also acting together with the previously deceased Bihyeong and Hectail. Do you need any further explanation?”

“I wasn’t disparaging it as nonsense. It’s just unbelievable.”

If so, the remaining members of Night School were only the four present here. It was practically a level where you could say they were nearly halved.

“It seems like someone is targeting Night School itself.”

“I agree. There has never been a situation where vacancies occurred so consecutively until now.”

In response to the members’ opinions, Luke, who had been silent all along, finally opened his mouth.

“Is that important?”

“Huh?”

“They acted according to their own judgment and were defeated due to lack of skill. There is no other fact.

“No, well, it’s not wrong, but… Wasn’t that why you called us to discuss that matter?”

At the words of the woman tilting her head, Imeris, known as the Soul Collector, Luke slowly brought up the main point.

“I obtained information from a fortune-teller I know. The third Night Parade of One Hundred Specters is coming soon.”

“Consecutively like this?”

“Probably some kind of trigger has been pulled. If there’s a fourth or fifth, it’s certain they will follow immediately.”

Into the conversation of the two, a clear, low woman’s voice interjected.

“This will be the last one.”

“…Yeon Jaki, is it?”

“Yes. Don’t you actually think so too?”

In response, Luke nodded slightly.

“I think the same. The Night Parade of One Hundred Specters will likely end with this.”

That’s why Luke gathered all the members here.

“The time has come. It’s time to revert everything.”

“Then……”

“Starting five days from now, we will sequentially raid Headquarters around the world. The first places we’ll touch are here in England, China, and Korea.”

“Without Xiao Chen, is that possible?”

Originally, when the members of Night School gathered to execute tasks, her presence, possessing Teleportation Arts, was indispensable.

However, Luke nodded as if that too was no concern.

“I’ve already created passages near most Headquarters long ago. Xiao Chen, who set up the Ritual Arrays, is dead, but activating them should be possible.”

If so, realization itself is sufficiently possible.

However, one most crucial part was missing.

That was mentioned by the giant man, Drax.

“Not to disregard you, but with just these four, isn’t it honestly insufficient?”

Indeed it was. Each member of Night School was worth a thousand, but they still hadn’t filled the void left by the three who had died.

Against the Exorcism Headquarters worldwide, the current forces were certainly lacking.

But Luke, as if he had prepared even for that, immediately waved his hand, sending a signal to someone.

Thud.

Thud thud.

“I thought so too, so I’ve already called for reinforcements. They don’t belong anywhere in particular, but they’re quite notorious figures in various ways.”

Seeing the two figures appearing with footsteps, the members of Night School soon nodded.

Finally, the moment their goal was being executed had arrived.

“…The Headquarters is being attacked?”

“Correct. And in a day or two.”

At my words, Seoa couldn’t hide her bewilderment. However, since she recognizes that I read the future, she probably thinks the possibility of it being true is high.

“But that’s… isn’t it impossible?”

Originally, that statement would be correct. The Headquarters isn’t called Headquarters for nothing.

There are numerous Exorcists there, and among them, those of high level have essentially reached the Special-Rank realm.

There aren’t many humans who can raid such a place and remain unscathed.

‘The problem is, the opponent is a group formed by gathering such individuals.’

When I explained that appropriately, Seoa immediately made a serious expression and nodded.

“Then, it’s possible the Headquarters could be taken down?”

“That’s right. That’s why I’m agonizing over it now.”

Looking at the reasons why Bihyeong, Hectail, and Xiao Chen were taken down in the first place makes it clear.

While I skillfully created situations for it to happen, the more fundamental cause was that they were alone.

Therefore, it was correct to view the gathered members of Night School as possessing power great enough to raid a nation’s Headquarters.

‘The simplest method is to gather all the Elders of the Cheong Family, but…’

The members of Night School aren’t fools either.

In raiding Korea’s Exorcism Headquarters, what they are most concerned about is also the movements of the Three Great Noble Families, and if such movements are seen, the likelihood is high they will immediately change plans or switch targets.

To borrow the Cheong Family’s power, it’s necessary to set up the board more skillfully and certainly.

‘In the original work, Korea was their third target.’

That means, in effect, two Headquarters in other countries have already been taken down by them.

If we’re not careful, us becoming like that could happen in an instant.

‘Should I ask Haekaram for help again?’

However, that is far too risky. If they hear the facts and change their target to Yangcheolkoong, it would be a complete disaster.

‘Then, if I select only individuals who don’t need to be concerned about as much as possible…’

Various names began to list rapidly in my mind.

If I borrow their power and give Cheong Soha a hint to deploy the Cheong Family at the appropriate moment, the members of Night School will have no choice but to fall perfectly into the trap.

Having thought that far, I nodded slightly.

This much is sufficient. Originally, in the original work, the crisis came precisely because no one knew such facts. In this case, if known in advance, it’s not a difficult matter to handle.

‘It’s just a matter of simply preparing greater combat power.’

However, because of that, I couldn’t help but be utterly bewildered by the information that flew in with Baek Soyool’s subsequent phone call.

[It seems a considerable number of wanted individuals are causing disturbances on the West Coast right now. Could this be the situation you mentioned?]

“What do you mean?”

[It’s not certain, but it appears they are likely detainees who were held on the Chinese side. They are confronting the forces there by ship.]

That was a completely new situation to me. I quickly racked my brain trying to recall if a similar event existed, but nothing matched.

“Then, how is the situation progressing now?”

[It seems quite powerful individuals are involved, so you can assume troops are being drawn from the surrounding Guard Units and family members are also moving.]

As soon as I heard those words, a bolt of lightning struck my mind.

The answer was simple. Think about who can gain the greatest benefit from this now.

‘…Could it be coming out like this?’

Once the answer came out, the process also roughly revealed its outline.

Probably, the members of Night School, who raided Chinese detention facilities before coming to Korea, threatened or persuaded them to send them towards Korea and are currently wreaking havoc on China’s Exorcism Headquarters, taking advantage of that disturbance.

So, now that a disturbance has occurred in Korea, the situation is already at a point of conclusion.

They can then raid the next target, Korea’s Headquarters, taking advantage of the gap where defenses have collapsed again.

The Three Great Noble Families side will naturally have a delayed response. They will already be pouring all their nerves into the unidentified situation of the Chinese detainees’ attack.

It was a truly cunning operation, unpredictable if you didn’t have prior information.

‘This is serious.’

I immediately grabbed the phone and shouted at Baek Soyool.

“It’s a trap! Now is not the time to be concerned about them!”

“…Huh?”

“The real goal of those causing the situation is Korea’s Exorcism Headquarters.”

Upon hearing that fact, Baek Soyool swallowed a groan. However, after a brief silence, she soon threw a firm, direct statement at me.

“Even so, the movements on this side can no longer be stopped.”

“……”

Certainly a correct statement.

There is a clear threat before their eyes now. Even if it’s a diversion, that doesn’t mean it holds no danger for them.

In such a situation, the grounds we possess are ridiculously insufficient to move other forces.

‘Certainly, those who can move… are few.’

Not Haekaram, not the Three Great Noble Families. Probably the only one who can come here immediately is Cheong Soha, who trusts me completely.

But nevertheless, it had to be done.

If I give up here as well, Korea’s Exorcism Headquarters will be helplessly destroyed.

So, I quickly contacted those I could ask for help and left the house with Seoa, who wore a worried expression.

“…What do you plan to do?”

“There’s no choice but to gather as many people as possible and buy time.”

If there’s any consolation, it’s the fact that I know their information relatively well.

And the fact that I have become considerably stronger compared to before.

‘If I have Seoa with me, I can aim for a stat increase through the power of the Companion Trait.’

It was something I didn’t know before facing them, but at least it was certain it wasn’t a fight with zero possibility.

“You can drop us off here.”

Beyond our view after getting out of the taxi, the quiet building of the Exorcism Headquarters stood without any noise yet.

Seoa and I hurried towards it and soon arrived before its entrance.

“…Will people seriously listen to us?”

At Seoa’s voice asking without confidence, I shook my head slightly.

Although I’ve started to make a name for myself, that fame hasn’t reached a level to hold such value yet.

But there was no need to worry.

While making them believe us is difficult, I knew a method to ultimately elicit a similar effect.

“Step back.”

“…Oppa? What are you going to do?”

The enemy is coming.

And to engrave vigilance about that into the Headquarters personnel, they must be alerted.

Then, a truly simple method exists.

Whoosh.*

“Wide Threads, Six Concealment, Feathered Thunder Typhoon.”

I just need to become their enemy myself.

“Seven Generation Strike.”

Soon, with the completed Art Formula, the main gate of the Exorcism Headquarters exploded.