“It sounds like there’s going to be an interesting story. Kick!”
The young boy with orange hair spoke with the exuberant confidence of a child. His demeanor was rather disagreeable.
It seemed as though he viewed the world as his playground, exuding a vexing air of superiority.
If it were feasible, one might be inclined to give him a firm tap on the head.
The boy was well aware of this, but continued to behave obnoxiously, as he was doing now.
“Hmm… Hmm… Hmmm…!”
“If you have something to say, then say it. Did you lose your tongue or something?” Chef inquired, suppressing his irritation.
Pan snapped his fingers and began to speak.
“That’s a nice car, huh?”
Pan gestured toward the car that Human-meat Chef had driven to the scene.
Undoubtedly, it was an exceptional vehicle—a limited edition model from Company B in Landa, with only ten units in existence worldwide.
Originally crafted for royalty and high-ranking officials, Human-meat Chef had adopted multiple identities and paid a significant premium to acquire it.
All of this was done to satiate his insatiable greed and vanity.
“Uh… Thank you,” Chef muttered.
“It’s not enough, though,” Pan retorted.
Pan snapped his fingers, and a boulder the size of a house plummeted from the sky, dropped by another colossal bird concealed in the nocturnal sky.
In an instant, the car, valued at the price of several houses, was reduced to a heap of wreckage.
“Fuck, my car…” Human-meat Chef lamented.
Inside the car, a disciple waited, but that was not Chef’s concern.
What mattered was the destruction of the car.
Swish.
Human-meat Chef produced a concealed French knife from his sleeve. It appeared so sharp that even a gentle touch could cut through.
“Ho… Shall we?”
Unfazed by Chef’s demeanor, Pan raised both hands flamboyantly.
In response, the giant bird emitted an eerie cry, and numerous eyes flickered in the forest surrounding the village.
Some were so massive that their forms extended beyond the forest’s boundaries.
A tense standoff unfolded as two prominent figures of the Black Hand were poised for confrontation.
The situation was defused by another prominent figure.
“Let’s talk first, if you want to fight, do it after I leave.” intervened Puppet, speaking words that drew the attention of both Human-meat Chef and Pan in different directions.
Evidently, there were multiple enigmatic auras detected around the village, likely more puppets.
A moment of silence ensued. Puppet spoke in a calming tone.
“It won’t take long. Please cooperate.”
“…Alright.”
“Well, good! But answer my question first!”
“What is it?”
“Didn’t the man who plays the flute come?” Pan rotated mid-air and perched on the giant bird’s head, causing everyone to look up to him despite his shorter stature.
Puppet responded, “He didn’t come, of course. He has no interest in places like this.”
“He came last time, didn’t he? Decades ago.”
“He was nearby back then. Not anymore. No one left to bother.” Puppet explained, surveying the now-deserted village.
“Great! Understood!” Pan exclaimed, satisfied, as he reclined on the giant bird’s head, indicating that his business was concluded.
He appeared very much like a child, easily intrigued but also easily distracted and unable to maintain focus for long.
“Hmm… Do you have a question for me?”
Puppet turned his gaze towards Chef who specialized in preparing human flesh and inquired,
This gathering wasn’t solely at Puppet’s request.
The meeting had been arranged because Human-meat Chef desired to meet Puppet. Pan, on the pretext, had been invited as well.
“Ah, it’s nothing much. I suddenly became curious about something.”
“What is it?”
“Why did you say not to mess with that solver named Dave? I forgot to ask last time.”
Human-meat Chef posed the question without lowering his French knife, which emitted an eerie gleam even in the faint moonlight.
Just as Puppet was about to respond, Pan interjected.
“Who’s Dave? No, don’t say it! Let me guess! I’m smart! Hmm… Is it the guy who messed with your stupid little sister? Right now, you are completely—”
—Swish!
Human-meat Chef swiftly swung his French knife, moving only his arms.
The emotions imbued in the French knife turned the blade black at the caster’s will, slicing through everything—air, earth, distant houses, trees, and creatures hiding in the forest.
Everything except Pan.
“You’re getting old, it seems. You’re not what you used to be, huh?”
Pan blocked Chef’s attack with his own shadow, serving as a shield not only against the air and earth but also against the blade that cut through distant houses and the forest.
“Because it was a casual swing.”
“Heh… Acting all high and mighty for an old man with nothing to show? Want to try me?”
Pan smirked and provoked, drawing a dagger energetically from his waist, like a boy playing pirates.
“I thought he could help me achieve my goal.”
Puppet suddenly spoke up, halting the impending clash between Chef and Pan.
“Goal…?”
“Yes, reviving the dead and creating a perfect soul.”
Both Chef and Pan displayed interest.
They knew that Puppet had dedicated his life to this research. They weren’t privy to the details, but they understood the depth of sincerity and challenge involved in his work.
“Could such a young solver help you achieve your goal, Puppet?”
“Yes… He had some interesting points.”
“Ho… interesting points specifically?”
Pan leaned in to inquire.
“Is this a trade proposal?”
“No, not falling for it.”
Pan expressed his disappointment with a flick of his finger.
The Black Hand always engaged in trade, even for trivial matters. Of course, they also extended assistance when it served their interests, but trade was at the core of their operations.
“Will he live up to expectations?”
Chef abruptly questioned.
“Talking about Dave?”
“Yes… No, don’t answer. Whatever it is, Puppet, I regretfully plan to kill him.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s causing a big loss. Because of him.”
Puppet didn’t delve into the details. He was aware of what had occurred in Lake Village.
He had controlled the World Tree of Lake Village, isolating it from the outside, albeit with the help of Lillith.
‘Precisely, thanks to Lillith, but anyway.’
Chef’s eyes sparkled as he brandished his knife, a sign of his current state of agitation.
“I let it slide last time when he interfered with me and killed my disciples. Honestly, it wasn’t a big deal, and you had a request too. But the situation has changed now. Things have gone awry because of him.”
“It’s not your affairs that went awry; it’s your little sister’s.”
Stab.
Chef directed the tip of his French knife at Puppet’s throat, bringing his face closer.
“That’s the point.”
“······I see.”
Puppet replied, and Pan observed, munching on peanuts from his pocket, evidently entertained.
“I think I’ve paid you back fully for the gift you gave me. Now, would it be a problem if I kill him and take care of it myself? … This is not asking for permission; it’s an announcement.”
His demeanor was resolute. Chef was genuinely furious and had intentions of taking a life.
Given that the situation had deteriorated not only within the wizarding community but also within the Galos administration due to the failure in Lake Village, his anger was understandable.
The Parter Church was also becoming increasingly active.
‘The main reason is probably his sister.’
Puppet assessed and responded.
“Do as you wish.”
“······Are you serious?”
“Yes. How should I put it? He seemed talented and capable, and I thought of scouting him for the Black Hand, but he declined… So now whatever happens to him, it doesn’t matter. Satisfied with the answer?”
Human-meat Chef felt uneasy.
Puppet was not one to easily abandon his pursuits.
Despite outliving anyone else in the Black Hand, his unwavering devotion to his research spoke volumes.
Nonetheless, there was no room for argument. He had received the answer he sought.
“I have one more question.”
“What is it?”
“What’s the reason you called us? It seems like you have something to say, seeing as you even called Pan.”
“It’s nothing special.”
Puppet replied and took a seat on a discarded barrel nearby.
“I called you all to ask what you plan to do in the future. The Parter fanatics are also sensing that the end is coming. It’s practically a foregone conclusion.”
Puppet discussed the impending end of the world with a casual tone, although it held little importance for him.
“What will you do?”
Pan, quietly munching on a peanut, inquired.
“I have to continue my research. What about you guys?”
Pan shrugged nonchalantly, as if it were inconsequential.
“I’ll carry on as usual. Because everything will turn out fine on its own.”
“I will prepare for the coming new age.”
“So, everyone will carry on as usual. Good, I just wanted to confirm that. If you have anything that could be useful for my research, let me know. I’ll buy it at the best price.”
Human-meat Chef and Pan felt uneasy.
It seemed too ordinary for something that Puppet had gathered them for, especially considering that he was the oldest and perhaps the most powerful entity in the Black Hand. Furthermore, no one knew his true form, let alone had the privilege of seeing it.
It was peculiar for him to convene them merely for this purpose.
“Puppet.”
Human-meat Chef called out to Puppet, who appeared prepared to depart.
“What is it?”
“Yes… I’d like to make a deal. I need zombie soldiers, warlocks capable of controlling them, and facilities. I think I’ll need them soon.”
“Ah… I see. I’ll tell my disciple. Discuss the details with him.”
“Understood.”
Upon receiving this response, Puppet resumed his stride and vanished into the darkness.
As Puppet departed, Pan also prepared to take his leave. The initial reason Pan had come here was in response to Puppet’s summons.
Another peculiar bird descended from the sky, and Pan climbed aboard.
“Hold on.”
“Huh? Why? Want to try me?”
Pan acted provocatively, much like a challenging child.
“If you want… but first, let’s talk. There’s something we need to discuss.”
“Um, let’s see… I’m not interested, though?”
“No, you will be. It concerns the son of an angel from the Parter religion.”
“…What?”
Pan paused and showed genuine interest. Naturally, Chef had expected this reaction. He was a delusional young man who fancied himself a prince.
“I said it’s related to the son of an angel… Will you listen or not?”
Human-meat Chef spoke again, and Pan descended from the peculiar bird.
Soon, the two of them engaged in conversation.
***
In one of the neglected corners of Landa, in District X.
A loud voice echoed from a large multi-family house.
“How audacious! How dare you demand this building that my grandfather inherited! Do you see this as a buyable and saleable property?! This building is more than just assets built by our family’s blood, sweat, and tears! It’s our territory, our pride! People like you who don’t understand honor. Bring me a pile of cash stacks and see what my eyes will do—”
-Thud.
Midway through the building owner’s tirade, Joe and his colleagues placed three enormous duffel bags on the table.
Each bag was bulging with contents, appearing weighty and full.
The building owner felt a strange sense of astonishment and inquired,
“What is this…?”
Seated across from the building owner, Forrest, maintaining his distinct air of sophistication, suggested,
“Why don’t you open it, sir?”
Although skeptical, the building owner complied with the request and unzipped one of the duffel bags.
To his astonishment, as the bag’s contents spilled out, it revealed stacks of cash.
Indeed, the mountain-like stacks of cash he had just mentioned.
The ambiance shifted, and Forrest seized the opportunity to speak.
“As for the amount… no need to say, is there?”
