Chapter 275
The blue light from his lightning stem colored his face blue, and it was obvious that his heightened emotions were already uncontrollable. His blue eyes had always been piering, but the eerie light from the lightning was now added, making his eyes glare with a blue flame.
His utter ungratefulness provoked me even more. I had made allowances to the Goldsteins and had taken care of the defeated soldiers. I had also helped them avoid extinction, and let them join the Jeonil Club. Without such generosity, the Goldsteins would have disappeared from history. But what did I get in return? He said that if he left this hellhole, then he would have come for me first. To do what, to kill me?
I was sick and tired of the lowbrow nature of the elites.
[You have transformed Devi’s Sword into Indra’s Sword.]
I also had the murder weapon that he was so confident of. Moreover, it was just one of the many skills I possessed.
[You have used Indra’s Sword.]
His death sentence started from the moment my lightning stalk pushed his away, which was about to stab me.
Zing-
There was no power struggle because if his lightning was the weak wavelength of a stream, then mine was a tidal wave that had reached its highest height. My lightning first pushed his away before engulfing the skinny stem whole. The initial collision between the two caused many side thunderbolts to form, and they stretched out like multiple stalks.
Murderous intent and anger pervaded the atmosphere. However, our heightened feelings were completely buried by the beautiful sight of all kinds of lightning dancing in the air. Even he fell into a state of ecstasy at the sight, and it was obvious because the collision of the lightning created an illusion here. All of this happened in a flash.
[You have destroyed Indra’s Sword.]
His skill had disappeared the moment his lightning stalks were completely engulfed by mine. I deftly maneuvered the thunderbolts that had been torn in all directions until they combined into one large bolt. It then pierced his chest.
“Eup!”
At last, his eyes opened wide. I could tell exactly what he was thinking: ‘How could you have that too?’
After he gazed at me in a startled manner, his face contorted in agony. All at once, a scream broke out. Sparks of lightning began to bounce around inside his wide-open mouth and behind his eyes as he struggled with the pain.
Zing! Zing! Zap!
He trembled rapidly.
“Aaaaaaaargh!”
His screams were loud enough to make the guys waiting outside rush in. I wasn’t a friendly person, and I wasn’t a saint. There was no reason for me to smile at the guys who were trying to kill me. Was I supposed to smile benevolently like a kind god and say “You poor things?”
Well screw this.
No one should look to me to act like an ideal saintly figure. I wondered until when… how long I would have to waste my time and energy for these ungrateful jerks…
***
Tae-Han sensed the fate of the Frank Guild as soon as he received a message that stated that they were attacking Odin’s city. Therefore, he hurriedly organized a troop that would accommodate the prisoners of the war. As expected, the situation had already ended by the time he had reached Odin’s city.
[The guild ‘Frank’ has been disbanded.]
Odin was sitting on the rubble of the collapsed city hall building. Everywhere around him were severed arms and legs that would break into ash at a slight touch. In fact, when a cluster of debris crumbled, they scattered into a grisly powder and fluttered in the wind. Each time this happened, they stuck to Odin’s face, which was already covered in blood.
Meanwhile, thousands of people were quietly kneeling in front of Odin, and none of them appeared to be the leader of the Frank Guild or the commander-in-chief. Those bodies must have been somewhere in the rubble under Odin.
Tae-Han blamed himself, cursing that he should have moved faster before Odin had a conflict with Frank Guild.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” he apologized meekly.
Odin tersely replied, “Take care of the mess and move to the central area when you are done.”
“Please wait.”
Tae-Han hastily spoke to Odin’s back, who had jumped from the piles. However, his mind went blank when he made eye contact with the man’s cold gaze. He knew that it all depended on how he delivered what he wanted to say next.
Tae-Han sincerely pointed out, “You weren’t able to sleep at all throughout the last stage.”
That was the truth. Thanks to Odin, the guild was still alive without any further damage in Act Two, but the savior Odin was a human like anyone else. Odin focused on day and night raids, but he became edgier with every passing day. It got to the point where it was difficult to talk to him. He even eyed his relative Ji-Ae with a nervous temperament. Therefore, Tae-Han couldn’t handle Odin’s scary glance. The aloof man’s eyes always looked like a bottomless abyss as he always suffered from sleep deprivation.
This had happened because Revolucion lacked power. After all, they could have been wiped out without Odin. Act Two, Stage One was a tough time for everyone, but Tae-Han was certain that Odin had suffered the most. Even with that overwhelming power of his, he was still human. Thus, Tae-Han believed that such a situation should never happen again. Their savior Odin was the only person on humanity’s side who could at least have a fighting chance against Doom Kaos.
Tae-Han braced himself and continued, “I will be blunt. Other than the World Awakened Association, neither the Cat Food Warehouse nor the New Triad will lower their heads to you, Odin. Unfortunately, they don’t know how strong you are.”
Conflicts were bound to break out, and the other guilds’ leaders and executives would soon follow in the footsteps of the Frank Guild. This meant that more pressure would burden Odin.
Tae-Han’s goal was clear. He would fully absorb the strong ones who had survived this far into Revolucion. He thought that minimizing the help that Odin gave to Revolucion would relieve their savior's stress to a certain extent. Also, someone had to assist Odin without testing him. This was the only way to save all mankind.
Odin looked at Tae-Han for a long time silently after Tae-Han had finished speaking.
“You are acting like…” Odin finally said.
Towards the end he was speaking so faintly that Tae-Han couldn’t hear who he was talking about.
“Pardon me?” Tae-Han asked.
“They wouldn’t listen to us since they are too arrogant.”
Tae-Han felt a bit off. Odin’s tone was blunt and harsh, but it reminded him of how he had acted when he had suffered from sleep deprivation.
Anyway, Tae-Han brought up the answer he had prepared, “Do you remember? I immediately responded to your call in Act One, Stage Two.”
Tae-Han recalled that the guild leaders of other forces were the leaders of those who had survived to this point. Then, he waited for Odin’s answer, expecting that they wouldn’t be foolish. However, Odin gave him an unexpected reply.
“The Cat Food Warehouse is my group. We’d better get them on board and add a few more from here.”
“Then, do we just have to focus on merging with the New Triad?” Tae-Han asked.
Odin continued, “Also, the World Awakened Association is fake. No one is supposed to use that title except Joshua. If the World Awakened Association (3) was under Joshua, then he would have come to see me right away.”
Ah, as expected, he had planned everything before the Stage of Advent occurred.
Tae-Han was impressed by their savior’s forethought.
Odin clarified, “Joshua was prepared to lead the World Awakened Association after the Stage of Advent.”
Why is he saying that in the past tense?
Tae-Han had thought anything could be possible under Odin’s name, but when Odin talked about Joshua von Karjan like the man was one of his subordinates, Tae-Han stiffened. He also had a sharp sensation that something was coming, and it tingled from his hip to his spine.
“However, he likely would have died as his stage would have been also designated as one of the top stages.”
“Oh…”
“Most of Revolucion is also likely destroyed, and I’m sure Tomorrow is gone by this point too. The current situation is that the World Awakened Association has lost its center.”
Tae-Han got goosebumps as he knew what was going on. Odin had designated him as Joshua von Karjan's successor! Odin was really a man who had the authority to do so.
Thud! Thud!
The small but powerful sound of drums began to resonate in his heart.
Odin bluntly continued, “Your achievements will be recognized even if Joshua returns alive. If you are confident, then try to reconstruct the World Awakened Association.”
“If I wasn’t, then I wouldn’t have told you that,” Tae-Han responded.
Odin nodded. “Good. Regardless of whether you succeed or not, I’ll make sure to return the controlling stake of Ilsung and the affiliates to you when we go out.”
Although Tae-Han had no regrets as he had abandoned the title of the head of Ilsung Group a long time ago, the surrounding scene suddenly faded away from him. The groans of the Frank Guild members, which had been ringing in his ears for a while, also disappeared. His vision was only filled with Odin’s face, and he could only hear Odin’s voice.
Ilsung’s controlling stake and their affiliates’ shares were largely divided into three groups. While the controlling stake had fallen into the hands of the Jeonil Group, the stakes of all their affiliates were encroached on by the South Korean corporate body of Jeonil Group, Jonathan Investment, and Gillian Investment.
But all the shares?
Tae-Han thought again. Odin definitely said ‘all shares,’ which meant he was the owner of those huge capital forces! One person suddenly crossed Tae-Han’s mind. That person was known by the name of John Doe, which wasn’t his real name, and he was the largest shareholder of Jonathan Investment Group. However, he had never revealed himself to the public. In fact, all the capital in the world was sitting in this guy’s pocket.
Tae-Han’s voice trembled, “Jonathan Investment Finance… Gillian Investment Finance… Jeonil Group… Jamie Corporation…”
Odin easily said, “Yes, they are all my companies. So never forget the reason why I built them and why I sustained the global financial markets on the Day of Advent. Also, keep in mind what I’m going to do in the future and where you belong in that.”
“...”
“Don’t disappoint me,” Odin warned.
Swoosh!
Tae-Han felt like he was being sucked into a new world that he had never seen before. It was a world that couldn’t be compared to the Stage of Advent.
Seriously, you are…
Then, he felt a tap on his shoulder.
Tae-Han’s eyes opened wide when Odin touched him. He clenched his teeth, then took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
Thank you. I’ll do my best to repay you for your trust. Dear Odin.
He was supposed to say that, but his lips didn’t move. Even then, his trembling body was constantly telling him to kneel down. Right then, his body began to sink. Both hands were placed politely on his bent knees. That was the most polite gesture he could make toward the savior and the ruler of the earth.