161 – Pandora -2-

The Reverse Praise Society and the Black Hand.

The shadowy underbelly of this world maintained a peculiar equilibrium, ruled by these two colossal organizations in tandem.

These organizations flaunted their camaraderie to the point of issuing a shared commodity, a currency known as Judas’ Silver, and thus far, no significant conflict had surfaced between them.

But was that all?

Delve deeper, examine those who held the true power, and the symbiotic relationship between the Reverse Praise Society and the Black Hand was more intimate than imagined.

The very fact that these prideful, abrasive factions could unite without triggering a major conflict stemmed from their shared devotion to a single entity.

The Reverse Praise Society, utterly devoid of ethical constraints, sought relentlessly to amplify its power, its research spearheaded by the amoral researcher Hex and his ultimate test subject, Omega.

The Black Hand provided the capital and expanded their influence.

Drugs, human trafficking, organ harvesting, loan sharking, the black market, illegal auctions – wherever the scent of money hung heavy in the shadows, the Black Hand’s reach was undeniable.

The funds, the monsters, even the humans used in the Reverse Praise Society’s experiments…

More than half originated from the Black Hand.

It was true that Omega’s unexpected death had prompted Hex to visit the Black Hand directly, preemptively voicing his grief.

But the crucial point remained: they hadn’t lost Hex.

Omega’s death was an enormous loss, undeniably, but the deed was done.

It merely meant investing more time and resources, pouring money into the project without restraint.

That each individual needed to act with greater urgency.

Omega’s unforeseen demise had begun to trigger a chain reaction, a butterfly effect.

To reach the Academy City, Pandora expended a precious artifact, a journey made in person.

It wasn’t an item for use at a time like this, but today was crucial to shorten the time to her goal.

Pandora’s field was different from Hex’s, after all.

Her curiosity, this woman who bore the name Pandora, was simple.

If specific conditions were met, was it possible to create a rift in dimensions at will?

The ideal conditions to attempt such a thing were being prepared right now, within this Academy City shopping mall.

Her heart quickened.

Certainty based on verification was the first task for the advent of Her Grace.

*

[You have encountered Pandora, Betrayer of Humanity – Achievement Unlocked]

[You have acquired a random point pouch as an achievement reward]

Rewards more generous than usual since when? He couldn’t spare a glance now.

Rohan merely savored the name.

‘Pandora…?’

Rohan was certain he was seeing her face for the first time.

But he remembered that name. It was a name occasionally mentioned while playing Abyss City.

Had the game’s story continued for another year or two, he likely would have faced her.

Not of the Reverse Praise Society, but Pandora, one of the heads of the Black Hand.

‘Academy City… how did she even get into such a bustling district?’

The security of Elysium, Academy City, was no joke.

As a place where sprouts were nurtured, it was a place teeming with those obsessed with security. The stronger and more prominent an evildoer was, the harder it was to quietly infiltrate the center.

That’s what made it strange.

‘A special artifact? A skill?’

He couldn’t think of any other possibilities.

Even Rohan wouldn’t have paid attention if not for the notification window; her presence was no different from any other pedestrian.

If not for the ominousness lurking in Pandora’s shadow, he surely would have questioned the notification window.

‘First, breathe. Breathe, breathe, breathe.’

As quietly as possible. He repeated shallow breaths.

But the sticky, uneasy feeling coursing through his entire body wouldn’t dissipate.

No matter the method, if a human worthy of being called a “Betrayer of Humanity” harbored malice, this shopping mall would surely become a sea of blood in an instant.

Even if Jooyeon was fast, she couldn’t outpace that woman reaching for the civilian right in front of her.

“…”

Feigning nonchalance, Rohan pulled out his phone to contact Jooyeon.

Just a tap on the name in the phone book, a tap on the call button.

His fingertip hovered just above the screen.

He stopped.

Rohan glanced around.

“…”

Too many innocent civilians in this mall.

The moment he called Jooyeon, this place could become a battlefield, was this call the best course of action? Perhaps an unnecessary provocation?

Could Jooyeon calmly handle a powerhouse, possibly comparable to an Omega, in a place teeming with hostages?

‘Calmly, coolly, think it through.’

Rohan bit down hard on his tongue. The metallic tang of blood filled his mouth.

He used the pain as a driving force, his mind forcibly churning.

‘Why is that woman even here in the first place?’

For an unscrupulous criminal, Academy City was hell.

Because Jooyeon wasn’t the only one here.

Excellent instructors and peacekeepers, not to mention powerhouses like the Dean lurked here. It was practically the heart of enemy territory.

‘Infiltrate and aim for a massacre?’

Unlikely. While there were many people here, there were places with even denser concentrations of civilians.

Even the gains from instigating an incident were unclear.

If she was one of the heads of the Black Hand, she’d weigh profit and loss with cold precision.

Frankly, if she was a pervert who enjoyed thrills and committed terror without a second thought, she should belong to the Retroactive Eulogy Society.

Conclusion.

‘That woman isn’t here to fight. She has a purpose.’

As Rohan calmly reached this conclusion,

A new notification window popped up.

[Rohan’s Main Story is progressing]

[Encounter the Architect of the South’s Downfall]

◇ Quest Objective: Pandora holds no malice. She doesn’t even know Rohan’s face. Keep her here silently for at least one minute while she attempts to leave. If the experiment is performed, you can avert a greater disaster.

◇ Category: Main Story

◇ Success Reward: 10,000P, Transcendence x1, Restricted Access Video #1 (Partially Censored)

◇ Failure Penalty: None

‘Wouldn’t it be better to keep not knowing the face? More important than that is grabbing the ankle? I don’t know what kind of experiment it is, but it’s good that it’s being carried out?’

The moment I saw it, questions cropped up like weeds, but the direction of action was decided.

“…”

I had hoped the quest would open soon, fueled by a frustrating lack of points.

And as much as I’d waited, a reward so lavish it made the word ‘insane’ leap to mind appeared before my eyes.

However.

The suffocating nature of the quest details was unavoidable.

*

Pandora retrieved her phone and checked the time.

Her eyes narrowed, sharpening with displeasure at the situation.

‘The remaining time is awkward.’

She thought her time calculation was perfect, but the mana diffused into nature repeated petty errors and anomalies.

And so, the artifact was on the verge of running out of power.

She knew she really had to get out now.

But she could see it. The flow of mana she’d desired was being created with gusto.

When that was complete, she could add an artificial line with mana, ending the verification of one hypothesis.

‘What to do?’

Even if precious resources were consumed, should she abandon her greed and leave?

‘After coming this far?’

If she suppressed her presence and power as much as possible, wouldn’t she be able to stay undetected for about a minute?

Just as she was agonizing over this,

Pandora stopped her clicking footsteps and looked behind her.

Because she felt a gaze and footsteps targeting her.

A tall, handsome man stood before her, a smile blooming on his face.

Displaying an annoyingly pleasant smile, he extended a hand.

On the palm of his hand was something that looked like a credit card.

“Did you perhaps drop this?”

“What’s this? Doesn’t seem to be mine?”

Pandora replied, crinkling one eye.

Normally, she might have found such a mishap amusing, but she had little patience for it now.

Quite the opposite, in fact.

Rohan felt an indescribable revulsion towards this woman, Pandora.

He’d never experienced such a feeling upon a first meeting. For some reason, the mere sight of her made him want to retch.

But it wasn’t an emotion worth displaying, was it?

He forced it down. Hidden it away. He curled his lips into a smile.

“Ah, right. I thought I saw something fall…”

Rohan scratched his head with an awkwardness that didn’t quite fit his size.

Pandora, her gaze sweeping over him, let out a soft hum, intrigued.

“An Orion Academy student, are you?”

“Yes, that’s right. But… how did you know, without the uniform and all?”

Rohan’s eyes sparkled with genuine curiosity.

Pandora, buoyed by his innocent reaction, smiled faintly.

“Well, let’s just say I have my ways. Your level’s not bad.”

Pandora then checked the time again.

Escape was a certainty, but she had to decide her actions before it in under a minute.

“Did you go to the Academy too, *noona*?”

“*Noona*?”

“Yes? You’re not a man, are you?”

Rohan’s flattery deepened Pandora’s smile.

Hex’s research really was something else.

To be called *noona* by a young man like this at her age… if she weren’t so busy, she might have gotten some wicked ideas.

“I’m sorry to say, this *noona* is not an Academy graduate. As for assessing potential… a certain amount of power is essential to survival, you see.”

Pandora said this and looked at the time again.

Seeing this, Rohan asked cautiously.

“Am I bothering you? Are you busy?”

At Rohan’s words, Pandora maintained her smile as

she reached her hand into the air.

“Oh? Thanks to you, I made a pleasantly swift decision, dear.”

Rohan’s gaze followed Pandora’s outstretched hand.

The air cracked! And he saw a monster clawing its way out.

And when he looked back ahead.

Pandora was already gone.