Chapter 1198
"Just as I suspected."
Raon mirrored the soft expression on Denning Rose’s face, a subtle smirk playing on his lips.
"It appears the Branch Manager was already aware of my intentions."
When he had initially tasked Evelyn with looking into the various disappearances, he anticipated that Denning Rose would decode his true goal. Seeing her arrive here personally confirmed his hunch.
"The data from the primary and secondary investigations made it quite transparent," Denning Rose remarked, shaking her head. She suggested that missing the connection would have been the real challenge. "To be honest, it looks like a perilous gamble, but there is likely no more effective way to strike at Derus’s Achilles' heel. Furthermore..."
She studied Raon’s features intently before delicately masking her mouth with her hand.
"Even if I attempted to dissuade you, you wouldn't pay any mind."
With a twinkle in her eyes, she noted that since he was bound to proceed regardless, providing him with exhaustive research was the only logical course of action.
"It’s a bit awkward to admit, but you’re correct," Raon replied, scratching the back of his neck as he gave a firm nod. "This strategy is non-negotiable."
As Denning Rose pointed out, he could not abandon this course. However, he wasn't planning a reckless assault like in his younger days. He intended to polish every detail and verify every piece of intelligence until success was a mathematical certainty.
—So, what is this grand mystery plan!
Wrath lunged forward with the intensity of a charging bull.
—At this point, you should just inform this King!
He scowled, complaining about being kept in the dark when there was no risk of him leaking the secret.
'By now, you really ought to have pieced it together yourself,' Raon thought, letting out a faint sigh.
—That is because I cannot!
Wrath shook his head vigorously, insisting that no matter how much he pondered, the logic eluded him.
'Then just be patient.'
Raon reached out and gave Wrath’s head a gentle pat.
'The answer is coming soon.'
With Denning Rose delivering the final pieces of the puzzle, the execution phase was imminent. There was no reason to explain it verbally now.
"Indeed. I have compiled the necessary data," Denning Rose said, smiling as she accessed her Subspace Pouch. The fact that Raon hadn't even detected the pouch suggested that while it might not have the sheer volume of Dorian’s, it was far superior for concealing high-value items. "I coordinated the efforts with the Shadow Agents, so the findings are ready for your review..."
Just as Denning Rose was reaching for a dense manual within her pouch, a sharp cry interrupted them.
"Hold on!"
Evelyn came sprinting out of the annex, her voice nearly a shriek. She was clearly in a frantic state; her usually pristine hair was a mess, and she was gasping for air.
"That report shouldn't have been finalized until tomorrow at the earliest!"
Evelyn bit her lip, clearly frustrated that Denning Rose had beaten her to the punch regarding the Black Market intelligence.
"I pulled an all-nighter to get it done," Denning Rose replied with a radiant smile, though she admitted the lack of sleep had taken its toll.
"You’ve never stayed up all night for work in your life!" Evelyn countered, her brow furrowed. It seemed she had been keeping a close eye on Denning Rose’s personal habits as well.
"When the situation demands it, I can be quite diligent," Denning Rose said cheerfully, emphasizing that since this mattered to Raon, she wanted to deliver it without delay.
"Ha! So that was her angle!"
Evelyn let out a dry, incredulous laugh while staring at Denning Rose’s pleasant expression.
"I suppose she didn't become the head of the Zieghart branch by accident."
She conceded that the woman was truly worthy of being the apprentice to the master of the Black Market.
"I appreciate the sentiment," Denning Rose replied, nodding as she handed the prepared booklet to Raon.
"Th-thank you."
Caught off guard by Evelyn’s sudden arrival, Raon nonetheless accepted the documents Denning Rose had assembled.
"I was the one who wanted to present that to you," Evelyn muttered, clicking her tongue in disappointment as she watched the booklet change hands.
"Evelyn, what have you been up to?"
Raon blinked, looking her over. She was so disheveled that he was genuinely curious about her activities.
"I went to inspect that particular forest. I thought there might be new developments," Evelyn explained with a sigh. She had remembered his request and had gone to scout the woods where they suspected Derus might be lurking. "Whether or not Derus is actually there, the positions of the magical barriers have been shifting constantly."
She confirmed that, just as Raon suspected, the forest required ongoing surveillance.
"Just as I thought."
Raon clicked his tongue softly, his hand tightening into a fist.
'If her observations are accurate, Derus hasn't caught wind of us yet.'
Since absolute discretion was paramount, he had kept their maneuvers strictly confidential. It appeared their efforts to stay under Derus’s radar were succeeding.
"I'm grateful, Evelyn."
Raon voiced his appreciation to Evelyn for her tireless work and reached out to take her hand.
"Hmph!"
Evelyn let out a small, peculiar sound—something between a hungry kitten and a puppy—and her shoulders gave a slight quiver.
"It was no trouble at all!" she insisted, though she couldn't resist shooting a triumphant look toward Denning Rose.
"Hmm."
Denning Rose kept her calm smile perfectly intact, unfazed by Evelyn’s small display of rivalry.
"Let’s see what we have here..."
Raon began flipping through the pages where Denning Rose had synthesized the intelligence.
'The victims don't seem to have much in common.'
The records detailed the individuals who had vanished, but there was no obvious pattern. The list included commoners, warriors, and mages alike. However, the combatants were never top-tier; the strongest among them was only at the Master rank. It seemed the kidnappers avoided targeting those with overwhelming power.
'Is there a specific motive behind that?'
Given the combined might of Derus and the Archangels, snatching a Grandmaster wouldn't be impossible. He wondered why they stopped at the Master level.
'Men, women, old, young... they aren't being picky at all.'
The backgrounds were a hodgepodge: traders, smiths, barkeeps, narrators, sentries, and the destitute. There were virtually no shared traits among the victims across any demographic.
'The abduction sites are scattered as well.'
Some were taken from isolated homes, some while traveling lonely roads, and others vanished from crowded public houses. There were no obvious breadcrumbs to follow.
'Wait a moment...'
Raon’s gaze sharpened as he delved deeper into the text.
'A small number of these people claimed they had found a path to paradise?'
There were scattered reports that a few of the missing individuals told those close to them that they were headed for heaven.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Raon pointed to the specific passage, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Denning Rose.
"It is exactly as written. A handful of the victims mentioned to their acquaintances that they believed they were going to heaven."
Denning Rose shook her head, explaining that this was the extent of the information they could recover on that detail.
"I actually spoke with a friend of one of the missing during my scouting," Evelyn added, raising her hand. "They said the person vanished shortly after claiming they’d discovered a way to reach the celestial realm."
She lifted her chin, proud that her own findings matched the report.
"Heaven..."
Raon scowled, mentally processing everything in the booklet.
'There isn't anything else.'
He finished the entire document but found no further leads.
'This is problematic. At this rate, moving forward with the plan will be difficult... Wait.'
Raon’s tongue clicked, and then his eyes widened.
'Could it be...?'
He swallowed hard, flipping back to the start to re-examine the biographies of the disappeared.
"I believe I’ve found it."
Raon gave a heavy, certain nod.
"Found what?"
"Did you see something we missed?"
Evelyn and Denning Rose both leaned in, their curiosity piqued.
"There have been countless victims of every age and gender, but there is one specific demographic that is entirely absent."
Raon shut the book and gazed up at the sky.
"What group is that?"
Evelyn blinked, looking completely stumped.
"Clergy. There isn't a single person of faith among the missing."
A cold smile spread across Raon’s face as he finally saw through Derus’s scheme.
"It appears Derus Robert has established a new faith."
"Clergy... a religion..."
Denning Rose let out a soft sound of realization.
"You’re right! We have jewelers, smiths, beggars, traders, fighters, and mages, but not a single priest or missionary!"
She struck her palms together, acknowledging the accuracy of Raon’s deduction.
"How did you even..."
Denning Rose exhaled in shock, stunned that he had spotted the omission after a single reading.
"Hmph! Impressive, isn't he?"
Evelyn puffed out her chest, acting as though she shared in the brilliance of the discovery.
"Derus Robert snatched these people in total silence. Because there are so few signs of struggle, it suggests the victims left of their own accord. A religious calling is the most effective way to achieve that."
Raon explained his logic as he pieced together Derus’s strategy.
"Particularly since the White Blood Religion—the king of cults—was wiped out. It wouldn't have been hard to step into that vacuum."
Followers of such cults seek immediate, tangible rewards from their deities, so they rarely turn to mainstream faiths. With the destruction of the White Blood Religion, a massive void was left across the continent, making it the perfect time to strike.
"When you put it that way, it’s undeniable," Denning Rose said, her expression turning somber as the theory took hold. "I’ll need to shift the focus of our investigation to follow that trail."
She nodded, already planning her next move.
—This brat’s mind is truly...
Wrath looked away, seemingly in disbelief.
—It is baffling. He is completely clueless when it comes to social nuances, yet his predatory instincts for this sort of thing are terrifyingly sharp!
He grumbled, unable to understand how Raon’s brain functioned.
"We have our lead now."
Raon’s smile took on a predatory edge as he brushed a stray lock of blonde hair from his brow.
"We know exactly where we need to infiltrate."
It was a moonless night, the world swallowed by shadows. Two figures draped in midnight-colored robes slipped through the corridors of a bustling district like liquid darkness.
The streets weren't empty, yet no one seemed to notice the pair. It was as if a shroud hung over them, diverting the eyes of every passerby.
The shorter figure led the way with total confidence, navigating the labyrinthine alleys as if he lived there. The taller man following behind was stiff, his eyes darting around in a constant state of agitation.
"There is no cause for alarm."
The leader glanced back and offered a reassuring smile.
"You have been chosen. Everyone in the celestial realm will welcome you with open arms."
His voice was warm and comforting, designed to melt away any lingering doubt.
"Ah, I... I understand."
The taller man’s blue eyes flickered as he swallowed nervously. His rigid posture and trembling voice betrayed his anxiety.
"We are nearly there."
Despite the leader’s claim, they navigated five more winding alleys before finally coming to a halt.
"This is the place."
They stood before a dilapidated structure with scorched walls and a door that looked ready to crumble into splinters.
"It appears modest, but that is intentional. We must remain hidden from the eyes of the envious."
The shorter man’s lips curled into a gentle smile, reminding his companion that the path to paradise was not for everyone.
"Y-yes, of course."
Standing at the threshold, the tall man’s face went pale, his nerves reaching a breaking point.
"Let us enter."
The leader gripped the corroded handle and pushed. Despite its fragile appearance, the door glided open in total silence.
"Hmm..."
The tall man let out a soft groan as he stepped inside. The interior was just as ruined as the outside; there wasn't a single spot that looked fit for sitting.
"Th-that person..."
He stared at a corner where a man who looked like a beggar was snoring loudly in his sleep.
"Pay him no mind. He is one of us."
The leader gestured dismissively, explaining that the man served as a guardian of this threshold.
"You look disappointed."
He smiled, noticing the taller man’s crestfallen expression.
"N-no, it's not that."
"It’s a natural reaction. You are still viewing the world through the lens of mundane reality."
The leader reached out as if signaling the start of the true revelation.
"From this moment on, you shall see with the eyes of your spirit."
He gave the wall a rhythmic tap with his fingertip. Suddenly, a section of the floor retracted without a sound, revealing a hidden subterranean passage. Unlike the squalor above, the stairs leading down were immaculate, glowing with a platinum sheen that radiated luxury.
"Hah!"
The tall man’s breath hitched as he stared at the divine-looking staircase. His expression shifted from doubt to absolute shock.
"Come. Take your first step toward paradise."
The leader signaled for him to follow and began the descent.
"Ah, yes!"
The tall man followed, a flush of excitement rising to his cheeks.
"I have been waiting for this."
Though it was hidden from view, a crimson light—more intense than molten rock—flared deep within his blue eyes.
"The true paradise."
His expression wasn't one of a naive convert; it was the chilling euphoria of a predator who had finally tracked his prey to its lair.
