"I want him," Baekho said quietly. "I want to find him.""You will. But not for revenge. We need him alive to testify about what the government did. He is our key to exposing the Veil Directorate and stopping their experiments permanently.""When do we move?""Soon. We are tracking his movements. Once we confirm his location, we will extract him." Choi Minho's expression became serious. "But Baekho, you need to understand something. Dr. Heo knows more about your abilities than anyone alive. He studied you for three months. He knows your weaknesses. If we go after him, he will be prepared. This will not be an easy mission.""I do not care how hard it is. I want answers.""Good. Because you are not the only one." Choi Minho pulled up another file. "We found another Shinigami descendant. She has been hiding in Seoul for the past year, avoiding government detection. Her name is Kang Dami. She is twenty years old and her power is similar to yours but different. Instead of absorbing death e

They entered the research level. It looked like a hospital mixed with a laboratory. White walls, bright lights, rooms with glass windows showing various equipment.And in those rooms were people.Not researchers. Test subjects.Men and women strapped to beds, hooked up to machines. Some were unconscious. Others stared at nothing with empty eyes."What is this place?" Choi Iseul whispered in horror."A nightmare," Baekho said. He recognized it. It looked exactly like the facility where he was held two years ago.They walked past the rooms, looking for Dr. Heo's office. Each room they passed showed more horrors. People being injected with strange substances. People having their mana forcibly extracted. People screaming silently behind soundproof glass.Finally, they found it. A door marked "Dr. Heo Gunwoo, Lead Researcher."Baekho kicked the door open.The office was empty. But on the desk was a computer still running. Files were open on the screen.Choi Iseul rushed to the computer. "I

Emergency backup lights activated, bathing everything in red.And through the door that had been locked, Choi Iseul and Choi Minho walked in with a full team of Shadow Division operatives."Sorry we are late," Choi Minho said. "Traffic was terrible."Dr. Heo's eyes widened in shock. "How did you get in?""We own this building," Choi Minho said calmly. "Well, not all of it. But enough shares to have access to override codes. Funny what you can buy when you have enough money."Shadow Division operatives engaged the guards. The fight turned into chaos.Choi Iseul ran to Baekho. "Are you hurt?""I am fine. How did you know we would need backup?""Because I know you. You always try to handle things alone. So I convinced my grandfather to prepare a rescue team just in case." She smiled. "You are not alone anymore, remember?"Choi Minho walked toward the reinforced glass where Dr. Heo was trying to escape through a back exit."You are not going anywhere, doctor. I have questions, and you are

Baekho stared at Hong Wonho. The man looked to be in his mid twenties, with the build of a professional fighter. Scars covered his exposed arms like a roadmap of pain."Why would I be the leader?" Baekho asked. "You are older. Probably stronger.""Strength is not just physical power. You broke your seal completely and survived. You fought a Grade A creature in the middle of Seoul and won. Most importantly, you had chances to become a monster and chose not to." Hong Wonho walked closer. "The other descendants and I have been watching you for months. You are the only one of us who still cares about being human.""What about Kang Dami? She seems to have good control."Hong Wonho's expression darkened. "Kang Dami is not what she seems. But we can discuss that later. Right now, I need to know if you will help us. Will you stand with the descendants against the government?"Baekho thought about it. He had been running and hiding his whole life. Maybe it was time to stop running."Tell me ab

The Hunter stood outside the cave entrance, scanning the area with sharp eyes. He was young, maybe in his early twenties, with military cut hair and tactical gear.Baekho recognized him from the academy. His name was Lim Sion. He had graduated last year and joined the Hunter Association's special forces.Lim Sion walked past the cave, his boots crunching on leaves. He was looking in the wrong direction. For now.Baekho, Shin Sola, and Choi Iseul stayed perfectly still. Even breathing felt too loud.Lim Sion spoke into his radio. "Area Seven clear. Moving to Area Eight."He walked away.The helicopter moved on, following him to the next search zone.They waited ten more minutes before moving. When they finally crawled out of the cave, the forest was quiet again."That was close," Choi Iseul whispered."Too close," Shin Sola agreed. "We need to move faster. The safehouse is another five kilometers northeast."They started moving again. This time, everyone was on high alert. Every sound