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chapter 189
The drug lord, Nayeli Vargas, grabbed the package that had arrived in front of her with trembling hands.
“Boss, if this isn’t to your liking—”
“Quiet!”
“…”
“This is something I must do.”
All the butlers took a step back and bowed their heads.
Their faces, swallowing dry saliva, were tense.
As if they fully understood how the boss’s wrath might erupt.
And…
“…”
Nayeli stood frozen for a long while, even after opening the wings of the box.
Her lips were tightly pressed together. Her reddened eyes seemed ready to spill blood at any moment.
It was proof she was forcibly restraining the madness of vengeance building inside her.
“Those… who brought this… where are they…?”
Inside the box was a neatly packaged right hand, lined with wrinkles.
The hand of an old man, gripping the head of his staff tightly.
A hand Nayeli could never mistake.
It belonged to someone precious, who had patted her head and even tailored her clothes since her childhood.
Bruno Calisa.
“Black Maria is currently waiting outside.”
“Maria… Those bastards had the audacity to do this, hand in hand with Guirei, without knowing their place? Hoho. Well. Fine.”
She had heard that Guirei had seized all of the cartel’s operations in Guam and formed a new company.
Homerous Holdings?
It sounded like a ridiculous name, but she had let it slide since Bruno’s whereabouts were still unknown.
Now, there was only one remaining course.
War.
Although the scale of Black Maria, another pillar of evil, would result in considerable damage,
Any wrong decision must be met with a fitting consequence.
“Um, boss—”
“What is the problem? Not doing your job right?”
When Nayeli’s blazing gaze fell upon him, the butler hurriedly lowered his head.
“The envoy who delivered the box… is the Butcher of Iloliolo.”
“What?”
In an instant, Nayeli’s eyes erupted like flames.
Luciano Della Cruz
He and his accompanying secretary were leisurely enjoying coffee in the reception room.
“Hmm… the aroma is exquisite. Indigenous coffee, perhaps? The fresh-pressed scent from Colombian farmers is so intense, very nice.”
“…”
The surrounding guards, keeping watch over them, shot daggers with their eyes.
Just by looking at them, one would think they could open fire with machine guns at any moment.
The secretary’s frustration grew as her superior remained completely unbothered by the obvious threat.
“Hahaha! Why’s the guy so tense? Relax your shoulders, tighten your neck.”
“Ah, understood.”
“No need to be nervous. After all, this is a noble company founded by the descendants of the Oligarquía (a South American aristocracy that monopolized land and power, or Criollos). Would they harm their guest? That’s something only street punks like us would do. Hahaha!”
Luciano patted his secretary’s back, laughing uproariously.
The laughter was so loud it echoed throughout the reception room.
The guards’ stares grew even more murderous.
‘This isn’t an easy place. For underground guys, their discipline is surprisingly strict. Nayeli is truly impressive. If we clash properly, the damage to our side could be significant.’
Despite the laughter, Luciano’s eyes gleamed sharply.
He was well aware that his behavior was disgraceful and insulting to the enemy.
In fact, it was insane for a second-in-command of a major force to personally bring the hand of a rival’s top executive.
It was a gamble that could get him killed here,
‘But it’s a gamble worth taking. If it succeeds, the rewards falling into my lap will be substantial.’
Luciano had requested Bruno’s body from Guirei for this very purpose.
Some protested why Black Maria would bear the wrath of a drug lord on Guirei’s behalf, but
Luciano had a single rationale for this operation.
‘Following Guirei will yield far greater benefits. How long are we going to remain under the City Cartel’s thumb? Tch.’
In fact, Black Maria and the City Cartel often overlapped in their territories.
Sometimes their relative power was compared.
Black Maria consistently ranked a few steps below the City Cartel.
Luciano hated that.
Now was the perfect opportunity to reverse the hierarchy.
‘Guirei’s greatest weapon isn’t magic or lightning tactics. It’s his brilliant mind, the ability to read the situation, make bold disruptive moves, and remain completely anonymous.’
Luciano was certain.
‘He will rise! He can even reach Mars!!’
Though it was risky since the rival faction’s leader was a top ranker,
Some risks must be taken to reap greater rewards.
‘Moreover, with the biggest mine dungeon now closed, the supply of seawater ore will gradually decrease. We must seize this chance.’
While Luciano mulled over these thoughts,
Creeeak!
The door connecting the reception room to the central hall opened.
“…”
At that moment,
Luciano’s eyes gleamed like a cunning serpent.
After dropping a bombshell declaration,
Lee Hyun began asking Lee Gunsan for various favors and started preparing for something step by step.
“What are you going to use all this for?”
“Resurrection.”
“…”
“There’s a way to open the ritual. Help me prepare.”
“…You really… Fine, let’s do it.”
Go Jinwoo clearly had many objections but held back, arranging the ritual tools in the empty room as Lee Hyun requested.
Lee Hyun understood what Jinwoo wanted to say.
Resurrection is never easy. It defies the natural order of life and death; only a few in myth or legend ever achieved it.
Even Dionysus, said to have been resurrected in myth, was actually another being named Zagreus who died and returned.
‘I’m not assuming this will definitely succeed.’
‘But it’s better than not trying at all.’
‘Perhaps we might even uncover some clue about resurrection.’
That was the hope Lee Hyun clung to.
That night…
“I hope it really works…”
“We’ve already held the funeral and cremated him. How are we supposed to revive someone like that?”
“Still, let’s follow through. Lee Hyun must have his reasons.”
“If not, I would have scolded him for this nonsense already. Damn it.”
Lee Gunsan smiled bitterly, while Go Jinwoo gritted his teeth, standing on either side of the brazier.
According to the USB given by Mags, the resurrection ritual required few items:
-
The Chalice of Resurrection
-
Wine made from grapes harvested at night
-
Candles made from dried wood
-
And…
‘Something that symbolizes my brother.’
Lee Hyun knelt slightly before the altar.
As if offering himself as the sacrifice.
Hwajeon Geumjeong.
[‘Holy Relic: Hwajeon Geumjeong’ is fully activated!]
His eyes shone with golden light.
Immediately, Lee Gunsan and Go Jinwoo frowned. Go Jinwoo clenched his teeth.
Their disagreement had centered on the interpretation of the “symbol.”
Jinwoo insisted only Munsu Chan’s cherished dagger should be used.
But Lee Hyun argued it had to be Hwajeon Geumjeong—the item his brother had used from childhood until becoming a ranker.
Thus, Lee Hyun took on the role of the ritual master as well as the offering.
He was certain he would not lose Hwajeon Geumjeong or his sight.
‘Crazy… Who in the world would willingly use their sibling as a sacrifice to revive them? Ugh.’
Jinwoo desperately hoped nothing would go wrong.
“Let’s begin.”
With Lee Hyun’s declaration, the ritual commenced.
[Resurrection ritual initiated!]
[The ritual consists of five stages.]
[Stage 1: ‘Initiation Purification (Teletē)’ in progress.]
Lee Hyun raised the empty chalice, and Jinwoo, acting as the supporter, poured the wine in.
Meanwhile, Lee Gunsan, the incantator, lit the candles and fanned the smoke to spread it widely.
The solemn ritual continued.
Lee Hyun cut his eye to draw blood, mixing it with wine, singing a sorrowful melody…
A ritual secretly transmitted from the ancient Orpheus mystery cult.
[Orpheus Resurrection Ritual]
A mystery cult worshiping Orpheus, who nearly revived the dead by journeying to the underworld.
They worshipped Persephone and Dionysus, believing humanity originated from Dionysus’ birth and resurrection.
As the ritual progressed, a deep blue aura spread from the chalice, symbolizing the wine.
The sacred wind of divine power could be felt.
Lee Jinwoo’s pupils trembled violently.
The Hwajeon Geumjeong, intended as the sacrifice, began turning from gold to deep blue.
[Stage 1 successfully completed.]
[Stage 2: ‘Symbol Dismantling (Sparagmos)’ in progress.]
[Stage 2 successfully completed.]
[Stage 3…]
As the ritual neared completion, Lee Hyun raised the chalice to his lips.
The wine inside had turned a vivid red, symbolizing life.
‘This is it,’ he thought.
The ritual had proceeded flawlessly; divine energy had been properly accumulated.
Above all, his demon senses confirmed the ritual would succeed.
If he drank all the wine, Hwajeon Geumjeong would be sacrificed and his brother resurrected.
The exact form was uncertain. It might merge with the ritual or the relic, or only the spiritual body might appear.
But that was fine.
Even if the body remained intact, it wouldn’t matter. Munsu Chan was not exactly human.
Yukimi Fu had said it: A demon (妖魔) is a being born from a specific concept or superstition. The body isn’t crucial.
As long as the existence could be resurrected, the rest would follow.
‘My brother will be revived.’
But the moment the chalice touched his lips—
Bang!
Suddenly, the Chalice of Resurrection exploded.
Wine spilled everywhere.
[The resurrection ritual was forcibly interrupted for unknown reasons!]
[One resurrection attempt has been forcibly deducted from Cantaro.]
“Lee Hyun!”
“Are you okay?”
Jinwoo and Gunsan rushed over.
Lee Hyun stared at the fallen chalice with a firm expression.
“I’m… okay.”
But his face did not look good.
The ritual had failed at the very final step.
‘What… went wrong?’
[Investigating reason.]
Lee Hyun’s pupils trembled violently as the message window froze.
Then:
[Reason confirmed.]
[Could not find the designated target for resurrection.]
[The target is not recorded in the register of the Underworld.]
“…!?”
Lee Hyun’s face froze.
His brother… isn’t in the afterlife?
