BRDM 187

chapter 187

The moment Maxance saw Gui-Rye’s mask, his heart sank.

“Oh my… Cow-bezoar heart pills? Weren’t they supposed to be good? They’re doing nothing!”

Maxance had once taken a whole box of pills recommended by a fellow Korean operative, yet his tension remained unbearable.

He wasn’t usually such a coward. If he were, he wouldn’t have been able to hide his identity as a Mossad secret agent and operate as a double agent within the Sons of Zeus.

But Gui-Rye was different.

A gaze that seemed to pierce through everything.

Hands that showed no mercy.

Impeccable execution of tasks.

And a face and identity that were never revealed.

Being someone who thrived in the shadows, he had everything that would make even those who live in the shadows fear him.

“Do you have the item?”

Even now, his tone was calm.

He could have pinned all the blame on Maxance and caused chaos, yet he always… looked toward something far beyond.

“I have received permission from headquarters to deliver the item. Here… it is.”

Swallowing dryly, Maxance handed over the box.

Lee Hyun took it casually, opening the lid slightly.

A Kantharos.

The Chalice of Resurrection rested inside.

Lee Hyun’s eyes flickered briefly, but he quickly snapped the lid shut, hiding any reaction.

“I have received the item.”

“And now…?”

“As promised, Mossad will not be held responsible for this matter. Report to Dionysus that I, who am thoroughly angry, have seized the Chalice of Resurrection.”

Maxance exhaled a silent sigh of relief.

This was the crucial point.

Incurring Gui-Rye’s wrath.

Gui-Rye knew not only his identity but also Mossad’s secrets.

What if Maxance had intentionally withheld information, leading to a conflict with Hercules and his party?

The years of painstakingly planned projects would have been wasted.

Mossad and the Sons of Zeus would have gone to war.

“Originally, they even mentioned assassination… but that’s absurd. How could anyone defeat a monster like that?”

Many Mossad executives underestimated Gui-Rye, seeing him as nothing more than a lucky rising star.

“Thank goodness the Director sided with me.”

Recalling the last grueling video conference where he had to convince the executives, Maxance clenched his teeth.

“And the other requested materials?”

“Oh, here.”

Maxance took a USB from his pocket and handed it over.

“This data is…”

“Single-use, not backed up, right? I’ll handle it immediately, so don’t worry.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Lee Hyun stared intently at the USB.

Inside were all the details Mossad had gathered about the Sons of Zeus.

“Even the rituals required to use the Chalice of Resurrection.”

Although Israel’s security-related portions had been redacted, the remaining information could still hint at Astrafe or the Plaster Mask.

“He probably has Radamantus’s mask too.”

[‘Holy Relic: Fire-Eye Gold Star’ – Conducting thorough exploration of the target!]

[Fragment of Astrafe detected.]

Within his wide golden vision, Lee Hyun noticed floating gem fragments in his grasp and smiled faintly.

“Ugh…”

After the deal with Lee Hyun concluded, Maxance slumped into the vehicle, exhausted.

He let out a deep sigh.

At that moment,

“Tch. You’ve done this many times, haven’t you? Why so nervous?”

A laugh came over the vehicle radio, as if mocking Maxance’s every move.

“The Director wouldn’t say that even if he were there. Ugh…”

“What are you talking about? Back in my day, during the Middle East war, I went over 84 hours without sleep in the harsh desert, surviving on just one chocolate bar…!”

“That was then! And I’m tired of hearing it now. Stop. My ears are bleeding.”

“Ha! Look at this! You got slapped by Gui-Rye, and now you’re venting on me?”

Any Mossad agent listening would be shocked.

The meticulous, authoritative Director was joking with a field agent.

Mossad Director Gabe Kepler, a top-ranker among 9,000, nicknamed The Judge, descendant of the Moses legend who split the Red Sea and led the Jewish people to the Promised Land.

“Sorry. I was too flustered.”

To Maxance, this man was like a mentor and a parent.

“No. You’re the one in the front lines; you must have been more nervous. How did Gui-Rye react?”

“I still don’t know.”

“I see. A true poker face. This one understands their biology well… Who could it be?”

“Even with your ‘gaze,’ you can’t see them?”

“Exactly. That’s why I had you check things out. Still nothing. Using Astrafe confirms they’re definitely an Apostle of Zeus…”

“Director, could it be—”

“No. That’s certain. Zeus is gone.”

“….”

Though he’d heard it before, Maxance felt his breath catch every time.

“Not transformed, not ascended—gone. Even at that level, Olympus remains silent. Seeing that they don’t stir up trouble…”

“Meaning you still haven’t identified the culprit?”

“Right. But now an Apostle has appeared. What should we do?”

“Keep them close. Build trust.”

“You’ve learned well. Smart mentor, huh?”

Maxance shook his head.

Do the agents know? This man is just a typical 50-something who loves showing off once social etiquette is disregarded.

“But was it okay to hand over the Chalice of Resurrection so easily?”

“Why? You regret giving it?”

“No, but maybe some negotiation could have happened in between.”

“No, this is enough. Astrafe requested it too.”

Maxance’s eyes widened slightly.

“You mean Astrafe was involved in this?”

“When do they ever stay out of shadow matters?”

“Still…”

“Their Director personally called me. They’re cooperating fully with Gui-Rye-related affairs.”

“…!!”

“There’s something they know. Something we don’t.”

Maxance exhaled.

“Too many heavyweights. I’ll just pretend I don’t know.”

“Good. That’s best. Pretend you know nothing… focus on handling Dionysus.”

“Yes, sir.”

The radio went silent.

Maxance rubbed his temple, his head throbbing from so much information.

City Cartel, Black Maria, Sons of Zeus, Mossad, even Astra…

Too many forces entangled in one incident.

But one thing was certain.

“Gui-Rye has become the eye of a storm for every shadow agency and axis of evil.”

And,

“Guam, where he’s based, will rise again. Things will only get louder.”

“And somehow, I’m assigned to monitor him… Haha. Good or bad? Not like I care about promotions.”

Maxance clicked his tongue and pulled out a plaster mask.

The stern face of The Judge.

Radamantus.

His other face.

Sigh. Whatever. Just do the work.

As he wore the mask,

Click—

Whoosh!

[You are invited to Dionysus’ palace!]

The perspective around Maxance shifted.

And where he looked,

“Have you arrived? You’re late.”

Among marble floors and columns wrapped in grapevines, Dionysus elegantly tilted his wine glass and smiled at him.

Meanwhile, in Korea…

“What does the General even do normally?! Why are there so many emails?!”

Go Jin-woo held his head in frustration.

Lee Gun-san was slowly handing his assistant, Jin-woo, more and more tasks.

Tasks Jin-woo had longed for—access to Gun-san’s astonishingly wide network.

“What the… why is this so complicated?”

Jin-woo’s first project was tracking Peng Jinghao, who suddenly disappeared in China.

Using Lee Gun-san’s network, Jin-woo traced his movements and intentions.

But…

“The Middle East is erupting? Astra intervened? Wait, what’s Dungeon Break…? A god descended? What the hell?!”

He was overwhelmed.

“Did he seek asylum in Russia? Then the Russian military moved? But they deny it… what kind of bizarre case is this…”

Peng Jinghao’s actions had the world’s full attention.

He had brought out a large number of hunters from the Central Hero Committee.

Depending on his allegiance, the balance of power could shift drastically.

China could never accept him; threats had been made. But now, the Z-Team had already neutralized Pingxin, leaving no fear.

Newly appointed chairman Luuchen announced he would focus on internal stability…

So Peng Jinghao began revealing himself slowly.

<Chairman Peng seeks asylum in Russia>
<Forms new guild ‘Sama Association (Four Demons)’>
<Sama Association enters Middle East front>
<Clashes with Tower of Babel>
<Defeat and surrender of 10th legion of 13>

…

Sama Association.

Peng Jinghao named his guild blatantly after ‘demon’.

Their actions were bold, almost militaristic.

Leading armies into the Middle East, defeating the notorious 13th legion, and clashing with the Tower of Babel…

The Middle East front became impossible to predict.

Hence, Jin-woo, following all these movements, developed a headache.

Even with Lee Gun-san’s network, it was relentless.

But,

“…Thanks to the General, I can finally understand global affairs. I guess I should be grateful?”

Jin-woo pressed his temple while reorganizing incoming emails.

“But why intervene in the Middle East? Asylum in Russia makes sense, but Peng never acts without purpose…”

His eyes focused on one spot on the world map:

The Palmyra Desert, Syria.

“Syria… what could be here?”

The area Sama Association coveted most.

As Jin-woo muttered,

“There is. Something huge.”

“Ah, damn! You scared me!”

Startled, he turned to see Lee Hyun standing behind him, carrying a strange bundle over one shoulder.

“Hey! At least knock if you’re coming in!”

“Why? I can tease you.”

“Ugh, this guy…!”

Jin-woo wanted to punch his smirking face—just once.

“Move. Let me see. Peng is here, right?”

Lee Hyun leaned close to the monitor.

Emails arrived in real-time. Algorithms highlighted Palmyra Desert in red for analysis.

“What do you know? What’s there?”

Lee Hyun answered silently:

‘King Sata is there.’