Returnee's S-Rank Management Guide

Chapter 221 : Embers (1)

Embers (1)

All the awakeners of UnderStellar were made up of S-ranks.

Naturally, for countries with few or no S-ranks, they were like a disaster.

Their armies couldn't stop them, and they had no awakeners capable of confronting an S-rank.

Unless in truly exceptional cases, awakeners below A-rank could not face an S-rank.

So, among the new members of UnderStellar—

Figaro had been waiting for this day alone.

"The day I announce my S-rank strength to the world...!"

Just as Dune Graham said, UnderStellar began to act in earnest, spreading across the globe to assassinate key government figures.

To attack ten nations at once, the members of UnderStellar also had to act individually.

In other words, countries that could not even block a single S-rank properly became primary targets.

Out of those, the country Figaro was assigned to was Italy.

A nation with many skilled awakeners, but none at the S-rank.

Among the great powers, it was also a place where the government's defense against awakeners was relatively weak.

'I always wanted to overturn this trash heap one day.'

Growing up in the slums of Italy, Figaro considered himself lucky to seize such an opportunity.

He was now getting a chance to take revenge on the country that made his childhood hell.

'... Hmm?'

But upon entering the presidential residence—the Quirinal Palace—Figaro realized something was off.

'Why is there no security?'

Moreover, it was quiet.

Unusually so.

'Are they hiding because the French president was killed?'

If that was the case, coming here today would have been for nothing.

'No, even so, something's strange...'

Even if they had fled, someone should have been left behind.

If it became known that the president ran for his life, it could stir public outrage.

Step, step.

Just then, he heard footsteps from somewhere.

As he turned his head, someone emerged from the pitch-black darkness, walking toward him.

"A woman?"

Judging from the small figure, it was a woman.

Judging by the flow of magic power, she was an awakener.

"Ha, are you planning to face me alone?"

Figaro had become an S-rank awakener.

What's more, he had gained power from a demon, granting him unique abilities unlike ordinary S-ranks.

Those who became 'kings' in Alcatraz all received power from demons.

If they could adapt to that power, they became S-rank; if not, they died.

Figaro became the king of Alcatraz and emerged from there, succeeding in adapting to the power of the demon.

"Where is the president?"

Figaro asked the approaching woman but received no answer.

She just drew her sword slowly and continued walking forward.

'No way...'

Figaro was an S-rank awakener.

He hadn't concealed his strength, so she must know it.

Yet she walked forward so calmly. Something wasn't right.

But there shouldn't be an S-rank awakener in Italy stronger than Figaro...

Fwoosh!!

"!!"

At that moment, blue flames surged from the sword.

No, not just the sword.

Blue flames erupted from the woman's entire body as she walked, spreading along the ground around her.

He sensed the magic energy in the area tremble and burn away.

"What the—"

Within the burning flames, the woman's face came into view.

She was someone Figaro knew.

"What are you doing here?"

Korea's S-rank hunter, Lee Soo-ah.

The S-rank hunter raised by Park Jung-woo, whom the demons had warned about several times.

A swordswoman who defeated even Kian Rogers, once called the strongest in UK in Odyssey.

Her power was said to burn away all magic power.

'There shouldn't be any reason for Lee Soo-ah to be here, right?'

Figaro aimed his sword at the slowly approaching Soo-ah.

Because of the abundant flames, he felt as if his mouth was burning.

Lee Soo-ah was a Korean hunter.

There was no reason for her to be in Italy's presidential residence.

'Did they know we were coming in advance?'

Impossible.

Even if there was a traitor inside, the orders had been given individually.

No one knew for sure who would go where.

Unless... unless someone could see through all their movements.

"Damn it!!"

Cursing, Figaro tried to run away from Soo-ah.

He had to let his comrades know that something was wrong.

However—

"It's already too late."

"Urgh!!"

Soo-ah was faster than him.

In an instant, Soo-ah closed the distance and grabbed Figaro's throat, slamming him into the ground.

Instinctively, black demonic energy burst from Figaro like blades, but even that was burned away by the flames enveloping Soo-ah's body.

"There's not a single comrade left who received your message."

At the very least, all seven currently launching attacks had probably been subdued.

"Still, you're one of the lucky ones."

At least he wouldn't die.

But there were plenty here who would never leave an enemy alive.

***

"Graham, they know exactly where we're moving."

At the words of Victor Garcia, a member of UnderStellar, Dune narrowed his eyes.

He never imagined all their attacks would fail.

"Was there a traitor?"

"No, even then, it would be impossible. So, we have to assume there's a way for them to pinpoint our locations."

He didn't know what that was.

At least UnderStellar's main force, prepared for emergencies, was still unharmed.

Thankfully, they had mostly mobilized new recruits acquired from Alcatraz for this operation.

'Who could have figured out our movements?'

Dune suddenly thought of Park Jung-woo.

The man the demons regarded so warily.

The one who had disrupted and thwarted their plans several times.

Could he be involved in this incident as well?

'If that's the case...'

It was just a hypothesis.

But Dune decided to assume Park Jung-woo was involved this time.

Not only Park Jung-woo himself, but many awakeners under his command whose abilities were hard to gauge.

'They definitely have some way to know our movements.'

Should they revise the plan here?

All their attacks had failed, and if they stopped now, UnderStellar would be a laughingstock.

"But we might just end as a laughingstock."

As Victor said, should they swallow their pride and be done with it, or...?

"The demons didn't want us to assassinate government officials specifically."

Dune spoke.

The mission the demons gave UnderStellar was to reveal the dangers of awakeners to the world.

'So that people would recognize the risks of awakeners and try to control them.'

Of course, they wouldn't actually let the world control them.

When it came to that, the awakeners would rise up first anyway.

When that happened, people would split into factions.

Those wanting to awaken to survive; extremists insisting all awakeners must be eliminated; and the naïve ones claiming everyone should coexist.

The purpose of UnderStellar was to create the embers that would produce such factions.

"Indeed, the easiest method is always the one most easily blocked."

With folded arms, Dune muttered with some regret.

Killing the powerful elites who could move the law would have been preferable in many ways, but given the current situation, there was no need to cling stubbornly to that plan.

So, what should they do?

Should they carry out indiscriminate terror attacks?

Or roam the streets killing random civilians?

Both options were tempting, but the awakeners couldn't afford to become 'evil' in the public eye.

There was a clear difference between killing a nation's power brokers and killing its citizens.

"Then should we kill awakeners instead?"

"... What?"

"I mean, since killing elites seems difficult, maybe it's better to change our focus."

Victor stared at Dune as if wondering if he was serious.

To UnderStellar, awakeners were like brethren.

That was the reason they sided with the demons in the first place.

"Aren't you curious? If we start killing awakeners, how will those shrill power brokers and citizens react?"

"That's..."

Victor found it hard to respond to Dune's remark.

If they attacked awakeners, would those who had been pushing for laws and raising alarm about awakeners' dangers change their attitudes?

Probably not.

They wouldn't do anything to protect the awakeners.

And even if they did, it would just be for show.

"Maybe this way is better. They won't expect us to attack awakeners."

"But Dune..."

"Think of it as a necessary sacrifice, Victor."

At those words, Victor closed his mouth.

They had already braced themselves for losing some of their own.

Even in this operation, some UnderStellar members had died.

'But...'

At least, Dune didn't truly believe it was necessary.

He simply thought this option was a bit better.

That was all.

***

At some point, UnderStellar's movements changed.

Until now, they had attacked heads of state and elites, but now, it was different.

No one could guess what they would do next.

"They seem to be moving more cautiously than before. They're not using cell phones, so it's become harder to track their locations."

Gold light shimmered in Alencia's eyes, blue currents sparking.

"Have they figured out my ability?"

"Not necessarily. They're probably just removing every possible risk."

Electronics and artifacts, anything—

They must be factoring in even the detection of magic power.

"Their losses must have been considerable, so they might just stop here. They've already achieved a certain effect."

"That would be nice, but..."

At Alencia's muttering, I fell into thought.

There was no way they would stop so easily.

'Let's think about their goal.'

The aim of the demons—and UnderStellar—was to create conflict between awakeners and ordinary people.

That's why they killed elites and pushed for new legislation, attacking those in power—

So that power holders would publicize how dangerous awakeners truly were.

But now that's no longer possible, so the option they'd now choose is...

Brrring!

At that moment, Enoch's phone rang.

Since everyone was deep in thought, the sound seemed especially loud.

"What is it?"

Currently, Enoch was deploying S-rank hunters based on the information provided by Alencia.

With UnderStellar moving against the powerful, it was necessary to dispatch them to the right locations.

"What?"

But Enoch's expression changed.

He looked as if he'd heard something unbelievable.

"What's going on?"

"UnderStellar has been discovered."

"Did a hunter guild find them?"

At my words, Enoch's eyes widened.

"You knew already?"

"No, just... it makes sense, since the guilds are practically empty now."

All the S-rank hunters were currently spread out protecting the heads of various nations.

As a result, the guilds that had been deprived of their S-rank hunters were now relatively vulnerable.

"... Pandemonium is under attack right now."

A leading management agency and guild in the U. S.

Taking advantage of the absence of S-rank hunters, UnderStellar launched an attack.

"Alencia!"

"Yeah, we're heading for Pandemonium, right?"

At Alencia's resolute words, I nodded.

We had to reach Pandemonium before they escaped, no matter what.

'This isn't good.'

If we lost them here, there was no telling how many would die.

There were virtually no management agencies or guilds that could handle UnderStellar now that they were moving together.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

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