To Damien, getting kidnapped was a really novel experience. After all, kidnapping a spatial expert was a joke. To even consider doing so, an insane amount of planning was needed. The timing, precision, and even equipment needed to restrict a spatial expert to were exorbitant.
That was why Damien spent an entire 2 months letting them observe him. If they wanted to grab him properly, they should've at least set up a spatial lock.
But he realized that the ones kidnapping him didn't know his identity at all. From the information they were given, he was just a normal researcher.
'Haa, you play too many games.' He sighed to himself. Still, he was enjoying the chauffeur service these shadows turned into.
White Shadow in particular was annoyed with his behavior, being the only one who noticed it. Nevertheless, she ignored him and simply did the mission she was assigned.
It didn't take long for the group to reach a secluded area within Evotech Headquarters. After doing so, each of the shadows pulled out a necklace with a small blue pendant, injecting mana into it.
Voom!
Four miniature spatial arrays formed under their feet. The one under White Shadow encompassed Damien as well. And then, the group disappeared.
Evotech's alarm system finally went off. With this, another researcher had been kidnapped. And once again, the only trace left was that of spatial mana.
Looking at it this way, these assassins were quite smart. Using the same methods would hint at the same culprit, but this culprit was still unknown.
It had to be said, during the two months that passed, Evotech didn't release their high-security state. Even if their technique in kidnapping him was shoddy, Damien knew these shadows were extremely skilled to be able to walk freely in Evotech without fear.
Regardless, Damien was no longer at Evotech. When the spatial fluctuations around him cleared up, he found himself in a large open space surrounded by flora and fauna.
When compared to the Hub Cities and Outer Wilds of the unnamed world, the current location was like a completely different realm.
There were lush green grasses lining the entire ground, foliage and beasts all over, and clear natural springs and rivers as well.
"Hmm…" Damien hummed as he looked around. It was an impressive sight in comparison, but in reality, it was quite modest and homey.
"Even after sensing our presences, you still don't greet us? You are quite the daring boy." An elderly voice came from behind him.
Damien shrugged noncommittally. "You brought me to such a fun place, you should at least let me enjoy it a bit first, no?"
"Hahahaha! It's really as she said! This boy is cheeky enough to make your nerves itch. But does he have the strength to back up his attitude?"
"Shut up, Albeus. We don't have time to play your games."
"Boy, turn around and face us. We have called you here for a reason."
The three voices who spoke were different from the first. It wasn't surprising, though, as Damien already sensed the six elders behind his back.
They were sitting on such gaudy thrones that he almost didn't want to turn around and look at them with his eyes, but he didn't really have a choice.
As he turned around, the aura of Divinity clashed against his body in waves. Not just one or two, but three of these elders were Demigods.
As for the other three, they were essentially Quasi-Demigods, beings at the extreme peak of 4th class.
"Ah, yes. It is my honor to meet your exalted selves. This humble one is Damien Void, and here is some unnecessary sophistry to wet your egos before we talk. Merry Christmas."
"Boy, you…!" The first voice fumed. He was a small old man seemingly of an imp or goblin-like race. His nose was crooked and he had a large pair of glasses on his eyes that enlarged them by many times.
As for the other six, they were two more men and three women, causing an even split. The Albeus who spoke earlier was a large middle-aged man with an unholy amount of muscles. As for the two that rebuked him, they were a pair of twins on the female side.
In reality, Albeus was one of the three Demigods among them, with the other two being the remaining man and woman who hadn't spoken yet. However, his personality was the simplest.
The two twins were kids he viewed as nieces or daughters, and with them similarly seeing them as their uncle, they had no fear of rebuking him like a normal old man.
As Damien appraised the dynamic between these six, the feeling he got was far more…real when compared to the atmospheres he felt from both Niflheim and Asgard.
It was something akin to their "flow," but Damien didn't understand it well enough to accurately describe it yet.
Whatever the case may be, he felt more comfortable around these six than he did with others. This was a natural feeling, and also the reason why he greeted them so rudely.
Because he decided to be reckless.
He used his own body in a gamble to test the waters. If he lost, he'd get punished by a Demigod, but if he won, he'd be able to pause the character he'd been playing recently.
Damien was tired of Damien Grey. That guy was too much of a coward, too indecisive when it wasn't related to research.
And he was too much of a slave to his research. Even if he was demoted to being a true slave, he wouldn't care as long as his hands were able to remain on a project.
This kind of character went against Damien's character completely. Now that he was in a position where he could drop it, he'd gladly do so.
"How long did you know?" A voice separate from the six spoke up. Walking out from a nearby section of foliage was the very woman who arranged his kidnapping.
"Wasn't it obvious from the beginning? Though, it took you around a week, and that was with all my constant prodding. I didn't imagine a researcher could be so dense."
"Did you forget that you're disguised right now? Even if you look similar, there's some strange magic that messes with my perception."
"Is that your way of telling me you're blind?"
"Shut up."
Right, the woman in front of Damien was none other than Lynn Carter herself. She was the main reason why this organization set its sights on him.
Not on Damien Grey, but Damien Void.
As for the secondary reason…that was something that came later.
For now, Damien turned his attention to Lynn and the six experts.
"I'm sure you've already been introduced to me by her, but my name is Damien Void. At the moment, my goal is the destruction of the two societies that are ruling this world. And you?"
Albeus smiled. "Perfect! I love straightforward people the most. My name is Albeus, this kooky old man is Reynold, these twins are Alex and Alice, and the stuck-up pair over there is Oberon and Crystal. Our long-standing goal is the exact same one you've just mentioned. The destruction of Niflheim and Asgard."
