Click

The door of the interrogation room that was protected by several kinds of star relics opened.

I always knew that these kinds of facilities existed in the basement of the Association, but its my first time seeing it with my own eyes.

Ohjin looked around the dark interior and whistled.

Im here to interrogate the criminals.

Yes, sir! Your identity has been confirmed, Special Officer!

The Association member that was protecting the interrogation room saluted in a polite manner as Ohjin showed his identification.

Dont let anyone come inside.

Understood!

Creak

Ohjin opened the door and entered.

Uub! Uuub!

Uub! Uuuuuuub!!

Inside of the interrogation room were nine Owls that had been firmly restrained.

Cheon Woosungs direct subordinates.

They were powerful individuals that were classified as elites in the Noctua faction, but werent able to endure the coordinated ambush of the Valhalla guild and Associations Special Officers.

Cheon Woosung ran away as soon as the battle started, after all.

When using war as an analogy, it would be the equivalent of the commander escaping. Them being apprehended so helplessly couldnt be helped.

Twelve died in the middle of combat, and there are nine survivors, huh

Ohjin glanced through the document he received from General Manager Han and chuckled.

Nine is more than enough.

First and foremost, Ohjin was certain that they were in possession of information regarding the Black Star Organizations HQ since the information that there were 3,000 members at the HQ was retrieved from their mouths.

Though were in a situation where we cant find out its location even if theyre willing because of the taboo.

There was a method Ohjin thought up that could potentially remove the taboo.

The new ability I obtained.

He opened his status window and looked at the list of the Black Heavens traits.

[Black Heaven]

1. State: Fourth Awakening

2. Trait

Stigma Absorption : Absorbs the mana of stigmas and stores them within the Black Heaven.

Black Curtain : Completely shrouds the presence of the user and the Black Heaven.

This trait can be adjusted by the users will.

Transmission : Reads the records contained in stigmas. This trait is influenced according to the awakening stage.

One is All : The main stigmas proficiency will influence other stigmas

Transformation : You can change the shape of your body without constraint using the stigmas mana.

Domination : You can exert control over Awakeners who possess stigmas subordinated by the Black Heaven.

What used to be only three traits had increased to double that number before he knew it. A cautioning and detailed explanation showed up as he lightly touched where it displayed the trait Domination.

[The targets resistance to Domination increases the higher their Star rank is.]

[The effect of Domination weakens the more targets there are.]

[The effect of Domination increases according to the mental state of the target.]

The newly obtained ability, Domination.

The taboo is probably something similar to a kind of domination, anyways.

If that were the case, there was no way he wouldnt be able to release the taboo when he had the same kind of ability.

It said that the effects of Domination increase according to the mental state, right?

In that case, there was a need to pressure the targets enough to make it difficult for them to function normally.

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Uub! Uuuub!!

Ohjin brought over one of the restrained Owls and took off the muzzle.

Fua!

The man with a grim look exhaled out a ragged breath.

Alright, there are a couple of questions I have.

Ive already told you guys that I said everything I know! Why the fuck are you asking more questions?!

The man shouted out aggressively, despite being in a restrained situation.

Hmm. Is that so?

Slick

Ohjin dragged a chair over and sat down in front of the man while taking a dagger out of the holster equipped on his thigh.

Wh-What?

Flinch

The mans shoulders shook.

Hah, are you planning to threaten me with that? Give me your best shot! said the man as he smiled in a triumphant manner and chuckled boastfully.

You know what will happen if a public institution directly under the government uses violence and gets exposed, right?

Of course. Im well aware.

Despite possessing great authority, the Association was a public institution under the government in the end. It was obvious that trouble would arise if the fact that they used torture or violence while interrogating criminals became known to the public.

Hehe. Then put away that knife immedia

Pshk!!

Ohjin unhesitantly dug the knife into the back of the mans hand.

Aaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!

The man tied to the chair struggled and caused the chair to rattle due to the pain.

Y-You sons of bitches!! Do you think youll all be unscathed after committing such an act?!

What, are you going to report me?

Rub, rub

Ohjin twisted the dagger that was dug into the back of the mans hand.

Aahhhhhh!! H-Human rights! This is a violation of human rights!!

Violation of human rights?

Thats right! I want a trial to receive just judgment! Call my lawyer immediately!

It was a surprising fact, but there were actually official human rights that everyone was supposed to be guaranteed, even terrorists that had massacred hundreds of civilians by releasing demon beasts in the middle of the city.

They had the right to go through procedures to receive a trial and get lawyers appointed.

Naturally, that was only what was stated officially.

Fuck me. Youre talking about human rights?

Crack!

He twisted the dagger a step more violently.

Ugaaahak!! Aahk!!

When did you guys ever care about something like human rights to bring it up now?

S-Stop! Stooooop!!

Didnt the people you guys killed also have human rights? Am I wrong?

Ohjin tilted his head and put his face right in front of him.

H-Hiccup!

If youre trampling on the lives of others, shouldnt you also be prepared to get your life trampled on?

Kuuuuuuuugh!

The man looked down at his hand that was gushing out blood and chewed his lips.

C-Commiting this kind of torture during an interrogation Ill make sure to file a complaint towards the Association.

It appeared that he had yet to resolve himself to getting trampled on.

Is that right?

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Well, people wouldnt change easily from just a couple of words.

A lawyer immediately

My little friend, you think of procedures as incredibly important, dont you?

In that case

Then I guess I should follow the official procedures.

Ohjin took out the dagger that was dug into the back of the mans hand.

Kugh!

My guy, did you know?

He cleaned the blood stained on the dagger and put it in the mans hand.

That Special Officers have the right to respond immediately upon getting attacked during an interrogation.

What?

Havent you seen that kind of thing in movies? Dont criminals secretly hide their weapons and make a fuss in the interrogation room?

B-But theres no such thing as a hidden weapon here!

What are you talking about?

Ohjin pointed to the dagger grasped in the mans hand.

Theres one right here.

S-Stop spouting bullshit, you bastard! Youre the one who gave me this weapo

Ill be the one to judge if its bullshit or not.

Ohjin forcefully pulled the mans hand that grasped the dagger.

H-Huh?

The man urgently twisted his body in order to pull back his hand, but there was no way he would be able to overcome Ohjins strength.

Pshk

The dagger dug into Ohjins temple; he slowly lowered his hand and cut all the way down to his chin.

It wasnt even a minor injury that scratched the surface of the skin.

It was an injury so deep that his bone was exposed beneath the torn flesh.

The blood that trickled down his chin drenched his body.

Y-You crazy bastard!

It wasnt an injury that was just adequate enough to fool othersit couldve been fatal if the dagger dug a couple of millimeters deeper.

With that kind of injury, there wasnt even the need to think of where the arrows of suspicion would head to.

What do you think? Dont you think this is enough to fall under self-defense?

Drenched in blood, Ohjin smiled brightly.

The mans expression turned pale.

Well, then.

After taking back the dagger in the mans hand

Lets resume.

Pshhk!!!

Ahhhhhh!!

he ruthlessly stabbed the mans body.

A-Ahh!! S-Stop! Stooooop!!

The man cried out as he screamed pathetically. He was completely backed up against a wall mentally.

His pupils trembled as he was devoured by the emotion called fear.

Ohjins eyes shone as he observed his reaction.

Right now

Ohjin grasped the mans head with his hand.

The black clouds that leaked out of his palm dug into the mans head.

[The targets Star rank is high. Domination resisted.]

Indeed, as fitting of a subordinate directly under Cheon Woosung, he didnt surrender himself to Domination easily.

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However

[The targets mental state is extremely unstable. Domination resistance is reduced]

[Domination has successfully been executed!]

As expected, it was worth being a little dramatic to plant fear into his mind.

The mans eyes turned cloudy as Domination succeeded.

Are you able to answer my questions now?

Please just give me the word.

The man, who once shouted aggressively, submissively nodded his head as if he had become a docile sheep.

First of all, where is the Black Star Organizations HQ located?

It is in Seoul Yongsan.

What?

Isnt Yongsan right in front of here?

How are they staying hidden?

Yongsan was basically in the middle of Seoul. It was impossible for 3,000 members of the Black Star Organization to go unnoticed when the entirety of Korea was looking for them with fire in their eyes.

There is a gate. O-One that is hidden secretly.

Ah.

In other words, it meant that the Black Star Organizations HQ was within a gate that was located in Yongsan.

Its possible for them to go unnoticed in that case.

In cases of very small gates, even ones that were the size of a room door existed.

Hiding their presence wouldnt be difficult if they hid the entrance of the gate and made a base inside of it.

There is a seven-floor building called the Changhyun building in Yongsan.

Ohjin had never heard of that building before.

If you press on the elevators buttons at that place in a set order, youll arrive at the 8th floor.

What the fuck, is it some kind of Konami code?

No wonder we werent able to find it.

Right under ones nose

Honestly, Ohjin himself couldnt imagine that the entrance that led to the Black Star Organizations HQ would be located in the middle of Seoul.

I thought theyd be hiding in the mountains or some kind of underground cave.

To think that the HQ was inside a hidden gate

Well, alright.

It was all good as long as he was able to find out the HQs location.

What was left to find out was

Where is Cheon Doyoon?

Connection was cut off starting from a couple of weeks ago.

Connection was cut off?

Yes We were informed that he would be absent for a couple of months due to an important matter.

Is that why Cheon Doyoon has been so quiet lately?

Hm Then did Cheon Doyoon gone absent alone?

No. He went gone absent with the Night Hunters.

Night Hunters?

They are subordinates directly under Sir Cheon Doyoon that consists of members that belong only to the position of high-rank Templar.

Like you guys?

That is correct. However, our skill is heavily lacking compared to those beings.

Hmm then doesnt that basically mean all their main forces are currently absent?

Naturally, he couldnt be certain with the testimony of one person. He needed to dominate the remaining eight people and perform cross-examination.

But if he was telling the truth

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Ohjins eyes shone.

Wouldnt it be possible to destroy the Noctua faction in one blow?

Needless to say, the corpses of the destroyed Owls would be used usefully for filling up his stomach.