episode_0460

Yoon Myungho, the brainwasher who lost his carefully built foundation overnight and was arrested.

Having recovered from his injuries to a non-life-threatening extent, he was immediately confined to the Association’s investigation room.

Sitting in a chair, he was utterly helpless.

Not only were his hands and feet restrained with handcuffs and leg irons, but he was also clad in confinement attire that perfectly restricted his movements.

As if that wasn’t enough, a specially made blindfold covered his eyes completely blocking his vision.

The reason for these actions stemmed from a deep-seated fear within him.

“Be careful, and be cautious. We don’t know when that guy might act up.”

“Yes, understood.”

Among the numerous criminals captured by the Association thus far, he possessed one of the most heinous abilities.

Brainwashing.

A power to manipulate others’ minds as he pleased.

Hundreds of hunters detained in temporary holding cells still clamored for him.

– “Release our leader!”

– “You filthy seeds of malice will receive divine punishment!”

– “Our leader, the almighty Son of Light, will punish you!”

They sang feeble hymns until their voices grew hoarse, reciting doctrines.

Only madness filled their bloodshot eyes.

Brainwashing was truly terrifying.

Turning individuals with different appearances and personalities into blindly obedient followers.

Witnessing this, the Association staff felt profound dread.

“I don’t want to end up like that.”

Before falling victim to brainwashing, they were all upright hunters.

Conquering dungeons, facing villains, and contributing to the peace of the nation.

Those who had led lives far removed from crime now cried out names of criminals.

Even their families, reunited after years, were disregarded.

This pitiful sight had transformed into fear and terror.

Hence, they imposed excessive constraints on Yoon Myungho.

They even went as far as attaching a collar with built-in electric shock capabilities as a precautionary measure.

Accompanied by their colleagues’ earnest pleas, the investigator who entered the interrogation room opened his mouth with a tense expression.

“Mr. Yoon Myungho, do you know how many days you’ve been detained here?”

Yoon Myungho smiled faintly, tilting his head.

“Well, I can’t tell. With my eyes covered, I can’t even distinguish whether it’s day or night.”

His tone was remarkably relaxed.

One could hardly think of him as a criminal facing the worst possible outcome.

“Hundreds of hunters are unable to return to their families because of you. Do criminals like you not feel any sense of guilt?”

At the righteous remark, Yoon Myungho’s lips twisted.

It was a clear mockery.

To taunt and deceive his interlocutor.

“Investigator.”

“…”

“I don’t care about their pasts or families at all. They are siblings, parents, and children to each other right now, and I am their mother and father.”

A blatant fallacy.

But his words were not yet finished.

“Isn’t it you who have gone too far by keeping me here? You have separated children from their parents and parents from their children.”

Thud!

A shocking sound rang out as he finished speaking.

Unable to bear the brazen statement, the investigator, his face contorted, rose abruptly, slamming the table and letting out a growl.

“Do you call that…!”

Just as Yoon Myungho was about to explode in anger,

Clang!

“Okay, that’s enough.”

The tightly shut door of the interrogation room swung open, and a man walked in, silencing him.

“W-who…?”

Turning towards the door in confusion, the investigator saw none other than Kim Dojin.

“H-Hunter Kim Dojin…?”

Intruding into the midst of an ongoing investigation, he chuckled and spoke.

“I’ll take it from here, so why don’t you step out and cool off, Investigator.”

* * *

The story has been passed down.

Ever since our leader was imprisoned in the investigation room, all they do is spout nonsense.

Thanks to that, more than five investigators almost collapsed from sheer frustration.

“Haha, unbelievable.”

Thanks to that, a competitive spirit starts to simmer.

How well must one talk nonsense for all the skilled investigators who were selected to have dropped out?

So, I heard that they went in early to face the investigator who had already entered for preliminary investigations.

-“Isn’t it too much for you to keep me detained here? You’ve separated children from their fathers and fathers from their children.”

Just a couple of exchanges are enough to understand.

“Well, nothing special.”

They may be top-notch, but they’re not particularly exceptional.

People who casually commit unimaginably heinous crimes tend to be like that.

Even they know that my beliefs and perspectives are not normal.

But there’s only one reason why they speak like that.

It’s because the reactions that follow are amusing.

Before showing the desired demeanor, I break into the investigation room and pull out the existing investigator.

Then, I sit comfortably in the warmed seat, facing the other person.

“How have you been? Is everything okay?”

“…Thanks to you, I’ve been doing well. Oh, but there is one thing I need.”

“What is it?”

“Your life.”

A harsh tone.

I lightly clap my hands in response.

“Oh, that’s a bit tricky. There are many people who want to kill me, you see.”

“Oh, you seem to have earned quite a lot of grudges here and there?”

“They’re all criminals like you, aren’t they?”

“…”

“Anyway, if you really want to kill me, take a number and wait. Who knows? Your turn might come too.”

Of course, that’s unlikely.

After swallowing the rest of the words, the guy closes his mouth as if stuck, removing the blindfold wrapped around his face.

The guy furrows his brow at the sudden light.

“Not great, right? Seeing the light after so long.”

“…It’s not so great when your face is included in that light.”

The tone starts to get rough.

By now, they should have understood.

Unlike the investigators who have been manipulated so far, the fact that my arguments won’t work with me.

“I know you guys well.”

These kinds of people never do what you tell them outright—demand, give, order—they just won’t do it.

What’s the point?

Once caught, they are destined to fall into ruin.

Their mindset is to make things as difficult as possible before going down without a fight.

So, to make these people listen obediently, you have to pave the way for them.

“Let’s make a deal, shall we?”

“A deal?”

For the first time, curiosity sparks in the guy’s eyes.

“Yes, a deal. If you promise to release the brainwashing, I’ll give you what you want as much as possible. Of course, without any unreasonable conditions.”

As I finish speaking, the guy laughs menacingly.

“Besides the proposal to release the brainwashing, do you think there are more conditions that could harm me right now?”

“If you look closely, you’ll find some.”

People in unfavorable situations often make a common mistake.

They believe that their current situation is the worst with no further depths to fall.

But that’s wrong.

Where I think is rock bottom, there exists another layer beneath.

A constant descent into an abyss with no known end.

Looking at that place makes you realize something.

That even now, struggling can take you one step further away from true disaster.

I intend to make this guy realize that.

“First and foremost, you will end up in Prison Belt, that’s a given.”

“…”

The worst prison in history.

And a tomb for criminals.

“The sentence… well, it doesn’t matter there, as you probably know.”

Whether it’s 3 years or 30 years, it’s meaningless in front of Prison Belt.

Because once you complete your sentence there, returning to society is nonexistent.

“If you promise to release the brainwashing, you might not end up in Prison Belt. How about that?”

“…”

Yoon Myungho hesitates for a moment.

But it seems I haven’t instilled enough fear with just this much.

“Honestly, it’s frightening… but I’ll accept it. After all, being trapped elsewhere, not being able to come out into the world anymore is pretty much the same.”

“Ah, I see.”

It’s a fair point.

Thinking about what this guy has done so far, it’s always been a death sentence.

Of course, since executions have disappeared a long time ago, he’ll rot in prison until he dies, that’s for sure.

“Sigh, it’s a shame.”

I genuinely feel regretful.

I thought it was a decent deal to be taken out of the Prison Belt, but it seems like I’ll have to skip over a few other proposals.

It doesn’t seem like anything reasonable will come through, so I’ll have to bring out my worst hand prepared.

“Well then, how about this?”

I rise up and approach him, reaching out my hand.

The point of contact is near his heart.

I imbue my palm with a dark aura.

Gradually emerging grotesque mouth, teeth, and a long tongue.

This is gluttony.

As my stats increase, this ability becomes more concrete and disgustingly transformed.

With the form taken by his mouth, he can now devour everything.

Including others’ magic power.

“If the condition is to protect your four abilities bestowed by the God of Sloth.”

Even the abilities granted by other gods.

Chrup!

Along with the sound of regained appetite, the opponent’s power began to flow into my grasp.