Chapter 1483

Tom Valencia’s pharmaceutical company wasted no time in abandoning him.

Everyone associated with him was dragged down as well, and the company suffered a massive drop in its stock price after the severe damage to its reputation from nonstop news coverage. Nonetheless, the company itself still managed to survive.

“That company can’t run without me!”

Inside a dark, dreary interrogation room, Davey sat with his legs crossed and said to the haggard Tom Valencia sitting across from him, “Well, Chairman, I hate to break it to you, but it seems to be running just fine.”

“You’re truly a cruel person... A being of your stature didn’t have to crush me this badly,” Tom complained.

“Funny you say that. Are you saying I should’ve just taken the slap you threw?”

Tom didn't have a response.

“And you seem to be confused about something. It wasn’t me who set you up and suppressed those who raided the warehouse—it was the Sacred Group.”

He truly hadn’t stepped in this time.

Tom was clearly surprised. “What do you mean...?”

“I believe you underestimated the Awakened force of the Sacred Group.”

Tom chuckled and asked, “What’ll happen to me?”

“No telling. Whether you’re sentenced to death or life in prison, that’s up to the authorities here. I just came to talk for a moment.”

There was no longer any need for courtesy and walking on eggshells between them.

“Right... So let me hear it, then. What exactly made you come all this way?”

Davey shrugged. “Nothing much. I believe it’s called the Icarus Project? Certain nations conspired to create something interesting.”

“Hah. Are you also here to tell me to hand over the research data?” He scoffed and looked away. “Why do I even ask, obviously that's what you want. Many nations demanded the final research data from me, you know. But I didn’t hand it over. Why do you think that is?”

“Obvious. It’s the only thing keeping you alive.”

“Right. Though, I never imagined the secretary I trusted most would betray me and take it.”

Surprisingly, the secretary he trusted most had betrayed him, handing over some of the classified data to Sacred Group in exchange for protection.

Tom continued, “Hahaha. Seeing that princess of the Sacred Group ruthlessly cast him aside is truly satisfying, though.”

Of course, Hyun-Ah would never let someone who betrayed everyone around him, even the one he served, just for the sake of his own life, off the hook.

“I’m not here to satisfy my curiosity,” Davey told him. “It looks like you tried to artificially awaken humans by increasing their mana density.”

“Hahaha. How’d you figure that out?”

“I can tell just by the state of the corpses. A specific organ was completely ruptured, and it wasn’t consistent with any combat injuries I could imagine.”

“Kufufufu. To know that the saint the world worships knows things like this. Did you also conduct that experiment? You're a sickening guy.”

“Honestly, I don’t need to run such experiments to know something like that. However, there are always people who think like you, no matter what world I go to,” Davey said calmly. “Your experiment requires one crucial element to succeed.”

“Crucial element?”

“Yes. The condition for an Awakened to be chosen.”

Hearing that, Tom Valencia’s eyes briefly flashed. Even in his current situation, he seemed more interested in finding out how his research could be completed than anything else.

He looked at Davey with a different attitude and asked, “What is it?”

Seeing the fervent longing in his eyes, Davey sneered. “It’s laughable for a mere mortal to try and analyze a Saint Miracle.”

“There’s nothing in the world that can’t be analyzed,” Tom insisted.

Davey smiled faintly and rested his arm on the table. He said, “Fine. Then go ahead and analyze what’s coming, too.”

“What?”

“There’s something called karma. The test subjects you used in your experiments became similar to those who violated a taboo. It’s a good thing they were destroyed before they could actually cross that line.”

No response.

“Of course, don’t think you’ll escape the consequences of what you did.”

People on Earth knew with certainty that gods existed. It was only natural for them to wonder why those gods didn't immediately punish the wicked.

Of course, some actually paid the price through divine punishment, but there were definitely those who committed sins and still lived.

Frankly, they were the majority.

“Just because God doesn’t punish you immediately doesn’t mean you won’t face any consequences. The truth is, you’re going to be executed soon. Once you die, your soul will return to the River of Souls, and you’ll finally be made to pay for your karma.”

Tom Valencia trembled, speechless.

“It’s too late for regret, and no matter what you imagine, what awaits you is still a hell beyond your wildest dreams.”

Tom angrily shot back, “Did you come here to talk about such occult things?”

“Occult? Sorry, but that’s simply what’s going to happen to you soon. It’s as natural as someone breathing the moment they’re born. I only came here to tell you in advance about what you’re soon to experience. You might not want to believe it, but... I can even interfere with the River of Souls.”

Davey smiled faintly and reached out a hand toward Tom. It was simple illusion magic, but showing him a part of what he’d experience was enough.

Settling karma in the River of Souls wasn't exactly pleasant, to say the least. It wasn't a light punishment, as sometimes something harsher was necessary.

However, Willow’s purgatory was different. That place forcibly neutralized evil karma.

They say death was just one way of escape.

That belief hadn't changed, but thanks to Willow, who had created purgatory at the command of harmony and Goddess Freyja, it was fascinating that even death could have such unusual exceptions.

It was where most wicked souls fell, slightly different from the sector of purgatory where Nyx or Gargantia fell, but purgatory wasn’t called purgatory for nothing.

Thump!!!

Once a giant heartbeat sound rang out, Tom’s eyes opened wide, and his breathing began to get frantic. “Ugh... Uuugh.”

“What I showed you just now should be enough for you to understand.”

“J-just a moment!! Give me a way out! Give me a solution to all this! I’ll give you anything!!!” His pale face and unfocused eyes trembled madly. “Please... Please! Give me a way to not go to that place!”

“A way? I can give you one,” Davey said calmly, then got up from his seat.

“Erasing all the karma you’ve accumulated is impossible, but you can save and protect as many people as you’ve harmed. It’s a pointless path to redemption, though, since most people like you would never choose to do so.”

However.

“Still, it seems you won’t even have that chance.”

Simply regretting and repenting sincerely helped with settling karma to some extent, but what was truly important was neutralizing the evil karma one built up, using good deeds.

Davey continued, “Since you’re about to die.”

He walked around and looked down on him.

Those who fell into purgatory were actually a very small minority.

Davey said to him, “Let me ask. Have you ever wondered?”

“About what?”

“The reason why the wicked don’t last as long as you’d think?”

Drug cartels collapsed for no clear reason, and terrorist organizations disintegrated. That all wasn’t simply bad luck.

“The more evil deeds you accumulate, the more you incur God’s wrath. You guys have a common saying, ‘May God protect you.’ isn't that right?”

That saying wasn’t just something that came out of nowhere.

“Live a reasonably kind and sensible life. Stepping on others and violating souls is a sin, regardless of the era or dimension.”

Davey finished what he had to say and turned around.

“Aaaaaah!!!”

Tom Valencia let out a horrifying scream, begging to be saved, but Davey didn't look back as he left the interrogation room.

* * *

As soon as Davey left the interrogation room, he saw a man calmly waiting for him. It was none other than Chris Marten, the man known as America's superhero.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you, Mister Davey.”

“I’m not becoming an American citizen, no matter how many times you ask.”

“Hahaha. I’m not asking for that. I have an important story I’d like to talk to you about. Could we go somewhere private for a bit...?” He gave an awkward smile and gestured, and Davey nodded appropriately. He continued, “Mister Davey? Can you teleport to the Sacred Group’s headquarters?”

“I was just about to head back, anyway. Were you looking for a ride back?”

“Hahahaha!” He let out a hearty laugh and looked at Davey. “You’re quick on the uptake.”

“Oh, please.”

Davey lightly waved a hand to dominate and secure the space. He then instantly folded, twisted, and leaped over space.

“My goodness,” Chris Marten marveled. “No matter how many times I experience this, it's still amazing...”

Amazed by warp magic, he looked himself over and then around his surroundings.

Chris Marten occasionally visited the headquarters. Though he was known as America's superhero, he was under contract with the Sacred Group and had, for some reason, continued to maintain that contract.

The reason for that was obvious, though.

“Actually, I was sent on the mission to capture the guys who raided the warehouse too. Of course, all I did was beat down the ones who managed to survive after our princess blew the place up.”

Davey gave a wry smile at his cheerful response. “Tell me, what's going on?”

“Actually, Mister Davey,” he began before looking around with a serious face and quietly continuing, “It's a story about the princess.”

Princess likely referred to his three-legged octopus sister Hyun-Ah.

Good or bad, she was his younger sister, so his expression also hardened. “Go on.”

“Actually... Mister Davey, do you know why I'm still under contract with the Sacred Group?”

In fact, he was known as America's greatest hero and Awakened, yet he maintained his contract with the Sacred Group, even abandoning the special privileges he could’ve received by contracting with the U.S. government.

Davey figured there had to be more to it than simple loyalty. “Well, you probably have your own thoughts.”

Chris Marten hemmed and hawed, then said carefully, “It’s nothing dramatic. I never intended to contract with the government in the first place.”

He was a capable and respectable man, praised by the government as the country's strongest Awakened even after turning down their contract. Davey couldn’t help but wonder what the higher ups of the American government would think if they knew he held such ideas about them.

“Do you have that much affection for the Sacred Group?”

Chris shook his head. “No, no. The Sacred Group is important, yes, but... honestly, it’s not that important.”

“Then what is it? Don 't tell me... after all that talk about princess just now... is it related to Hyun-Ah?”

“She’s my savior. When I was dying from illness and falling apart inside, it wasn’t some expert who saved me. It was her.”

Though she was called young, she was a mature woman full of energy and confidence.

Chris then poured out his story.

When he fell ill, his guards had heartlessly abandoned him, even though he'd kept his condition from the public. The people who'd flocked to him for his power and prestige deserted him.

After being betrayed by the people he’d considered friends and lovers, he’d fallen apart. He’d even assumed that the Sacred Group would deem him no longer useful in combat and cast him aside.

Having been betrayed time and time again, he expected the same from both Sacred Group and the government. Yet, unlike the government, which had been reluctant to help him, the Sacred Group—or rather, Hyun-Ah—was different.

- Be quiet and get your treatment first. I don’t abandon my people just because they’re sick.

She had most likely said that because he was an Awakened under contract with the Sacred Group. And perhaps it was also because of the emotional scars she had carried ever since Davey, or rather, Hyun-Su, died long ago.

That compassion, her inability to heartlessly abandon someone who was suffering, might be seen as a weakness for a corporate leader, but it had won Chris over.

“She’s my savior,” he insisted. “If I had to choose between the government, the Sacred Group, and her, I would choose her every time.”

When Davey first saw him, he’d thought they had a prickly, transactional relationship, but it seemed that wasn’t the case. In retrospect, it seemed like he had been unusually favorable toward Hyun-Ah.

“Even animals know how to repay kindness. I want to spend the rest of my life repaying what she did for me.”

Davey was getting impatient. “Tell me what you really want.”

“I want to sweep her off her feet, put a ring on her finger, and kiss her. I’m confident in my stamina, so I’ll make her feel like she’s in heaven every da— Aaaaaah!!!”

What a shameless man.

When Davey grabbed his face with one hand and squeezed, he screamed and squirmed.

The Awakened belonging to the headquarters nearby seemed a little surprised to see Chris and Davey, but they casually walked past as if it were business as usual.

Kouna looked at Davey from a distance with a face full of discontent.

“My apologies,” Chris said to him. “I had no intention of hiding it.”

“Whew, so what now?”

“Well, she doesn’t seem to have any room for romance, or maybe she’s just ignoring me.”

Davey wondered if she really was just that busy.

“So, you're asking for my help?” he asked with one brow up.

Chris Marten then saluted dramatically and replied, “Yes, sir!”

Since it was difficult to persuade Hyun-Ah alone, he was asking for help. He was, in effect, telling Davey, who used to be her actual older brother, that he would trick and put a ring on his sister’s finger to take her away.

The air around Davey subtly began to ripple.

Whoosh.

Chris Marten looked at the trembling surroundings with a puzzled face. “I will be sure to make her happy. I love her.”

At his words, the air around him trembled even more intensely.

Only then did Chris notice something strange about Davey and stumble backward. “Mister Davey? What are you... Holy mother of—”

He was a fool who only realized his life was in serious danger after seeing the air visibly distort around him.

When he backed away, Davey also advanced the same amount. He grabbed his arm tightly so he couldn’t run away.

“Cough! Mister Davey! Stop!”

“Good thinking.” Instantly, the heavy air scattered.

Chris was too confused. “Pardon?”

Davey turned to Kouna in the distance. “Take that idiot away quickly. Haaah.”

At the same time, he had other thoughts as well.

‘How in the world did he fall for Hyun-Ah... No, get caught by an octopus like her? Should I pity him right now? Should I help this poor guy survive before it’s too late?’

All sorts of thoughts ran through his mind.