Hoarding In Hell [EN]: Chapter 268

268. Sky Leech (5)

At Maria’s words, Adam slowly knelt to the floor. Then, he rested his head on Maria’s lap as she sat in her wheelchair.

Maria quietly stroked his long hair and murmured,

“Adam, all the other stars are just beasts. But you are different.”

Maria’s gaze shifted from the night view of St. Petersburg to the sky.

The stars, dimmed by the city lights, twinkled faintly. But Maria felt a cool heat emanating from them.

“The only star that doesn’t take in familiars, Augustro, chose you. Your selection is the only hope given to humanity. You must not become a beast. You must become a watchdog to protect humanity.”

“Of course, Professor Maria Keller.”

Adam whispered quietly.

It was a phrase he had heard hundreds, thousands of times. And as always, Adam gave the same answer.

“I am a dog leashed to your collar. Everything will be as you wish.”

The difference between other stars and Adam was that Adam was a star that submitted to a human, Maria.

It was unknown what Augustro, the star of monsters, saw in Adam to choose him, but it was a great fortune that a powerful star who didn’t need to take in familiars was bound to a human.

Watching Adam obey her, Maria felt relieved but also had complicated feelings inside.

She had been trying for decades to teach Adam the emotions and values of humans.

With painstaking effort, Adam followed Maria’s intentions well, but it was only ‘imitation’.

It was clear that Adam was leashed to her.

But what if she disappeared for any reason?

Would Adam still show loyalty to humanity then?

Maria couldn’t bring herself to ask that question. Adam also knew her intentions but didn’t offer empty words.

The day Maria Keller disappears from the world may be the day humanity perishes.

“It’s late, Professor. Let’s go to bed.”

“Hmm.”

Maria answered briefly but didn’t get up. For some reason, she wanted to look at the night sky for a long time tonight.

She felt like it would be difficult to see the star-shining sky for a while after today.

Maria, who was trying to count the stars one by one, suddenly realized that one of the stars she had seen earlier was gone.

She almost got up without realizing it.

Of course, her lower body had been broken long ago, so she almost rolled off the wheelchair. But Adam quickly supported her.

“Professor, what’s wrong?”

“The star.”

Maria murmured, unable to take her eyes off the sky.

“The star is disappearing.”

***

A pub in downtown St. Petersburg.

The downtown area was crowded with ability users from the South China Union.

Wang Xinliang, the Premier of the South China government, had left on a night flight, but many of the ability users were ordered to stay.

The ability users from South China who came here were top-tier hunters belonging to the top ranks of the entire nation.

Since they had joined the Pan-Continental Alliance anyway, they didn’t withdraw the hunters to avoid being pushed back in the power struggle with Russia.

“Mei Lunhai, Level 55.”

“Ugh, 5-star? Oh my god…….”

“Lin Huimin, Level 62.”

“Huh? 6-star? Wow, as expected, China has so many people, there are some crazy ones…….”

Hyeonmu and Song Yeowun were sitting in a corner of the pub, observing them.

Hyeonmu would call out the name and level, and Song Yeowun would confirm it with the information about the key figures of the South China government that Lee Seoyeon had passed on.

They were planning to deal with all the hunters from the South China government anyway, but once they were organized into a list like this, they could at least know who among them was ‘really’ high-ranking.

‘Having a high level doesn’t necessarily mean a high position. Well, of course.’

The stars incite desire and love those who resemble them most.

The stars incite the desires of their familiars and love those who have desires that most resemble their own.

Among the hunters of the South China Union, there were 8 hunters in their 50s and 3 hunters in their 60s.

Among them, the Apostles were Mei Lunhai and Lin Huimin.

‘At best, they’re similar to Kawaro and Itwaro.’

The abilities they possessed would be more important than their level, but even that would be less meaningful if the level difference was more than 10.

Being a 6-star was impressive, but several could be found even at the conference hall.

Since the existence of 5-stars had become commonplace, it wouldn’t be strange to have 6-star hunters in the top ranks.

Moreover, some of them would be hunters whose powers had been enhanced by becoming familiars of the Starving Star, so the high proportion of 6-stars could be understood.

“Wow, but how does Branch Manager know all this information?”

“There’s nothing I don’t know. I can even tell who’s a good kid and who’s a bad kid.”

Hyeonmu answered vaguely and looked at the remaining personnel.

No more Apostles were visible.

It was said that there were at most five Apostles per star, so unless they were immediately replenished after Kawaro and Itwaro died, it seemed safe to assume that most of the remaining ones were gathered here.

The way to distinguish between Apostles and Familiars was simple.

Apostles are marked with proper nouns, while Familiars are marked with species names.

Of course, some of them might be agents, but judging by their levels, they were not opponents to be reckoned with.

It was then.

One of the South Chinese hunters, who was laughing and sharing drinks, made eye contact with Hyeonmu.

“Huh? Isn’t that the bastard who was at the conference hall?”

The gazes of the South Chinese hunters turned to Hyeonmu. Instead of being flustered, Hyeonmu smiled at them.

The faces of the South Chinese hunters who met that smile contorted.

“Ah, the hunter who was guarding behind that idiot president when he was talking nonsense?”

“What did he say? That he hoped Russia and China would fail together?”

Hyeonmu had said it with the end of North China in mind, but they didn’t seem to think so.

Anyway, North China had suddenly become a minor power in terms of ability users, as the 4-star hunters they had were all massacred because of Xiaojie.

Most of the 4-star hunters they had left had long since moved to the South China Union. It was only a matter of time before they were merged.

The hunters of the South China Union began to approach Hyeonmu, swaggering.

Song Yeowun picked up a thick beer glass with a blank face.

She would rather strike first than concede the first move for the sake of justification.

“Stop it.”

It was then. A voice was heard stopping the hunters of the South China Union.

Lin Huimin and Mei Lunhai, who had been sitting at the bar, had approached at some point.

“He is a distinguished guest. Go back.”

The hunters of the South China Union grumbled as if they had lost their energy, but bowed their heads and returned.

Lin Huimin pulled a chair and sat next to Hyeonmu’s table without asking for permission.

“Young people are too energetic…….”

“I’m owed a debt, Lin Huimin.”

At Hyeonmu’s sudden words, Lin Huimin and Mei Lunhai looked puzzled.

They had seen Hyeonmu for the first time today.

However, they had already heard from their superior to be wary of Kang Hyeonmu. But suddenly, a debt?

“What do you mean?”

“I was about to crush both legs of the guys who were trying to pick a fight with me just now. But because you stepped in, I stopped, so you owe me a debt. You can be grateful. It wasn’t a big deal anyway.”

His attitude was polite, but Lin Huimin could only hear crazy talk.

Mei Lunhai looked at Lin Huimin with a face that said, ‘Do we have to keep listening to this crazy talk?’

“Your confidence is excessive.”

“So, should we just say there’s no debt?”

But Lin Huimin smiled.

“Of course not. Although you tried to rip me off, isn’t this also fate? The fate of people is unpredictable. I’ll repay the debt and pour you a drink.”

Lin Huimin skillfully deflected Hyeonmu’s unnecessary provocation.

It was a mature response.

Lin Huimin smiled and ordered a bottle of alcohol. It was the most expensive and strongest alcohol sold in the pub.

“The Russian white pigs know how to make alcohol. But they don’t seem to know the taste of alcohol.”

“The taste of alcohol?”

“Alcohol is not just about drinking and getting drunk, but the taste comes alive when good people, good scenery, and good snacks harmonize and blend together. I am honored to meet you like this today.”

Lin Huimin opened the bottle and began to pour it into the beer glass in front of Hyeonmu.

It was an extremely strong alcohol, but Lin Huimin poured the alcohol until Hyeonmu’s beer glass was full. The alcohol rose slightly above the glass, almost overflowing.

To drink it as it was, one would have to lower their head and touch their lips, or bring a straw.

“Come on, drink it all in one go. Although I’ve only seen you for the first time today, I don’t feel like you’re a stranger, so how about we take this opportunity to form a bond of brotherhood? Although the first encounter with my younger brother was interesting, if we build a relationship like this…….”

It was then.

Suddenly, a loud boom echoed from somewhere. The vibration was enough to shake the pub.

Lin Huimin and Mei Lunhai flinched and looked out the window. People were seen running outside, screaming.

“Mei Lunhai, check what’s going on.”

“Understood.”

Mei Lunhai lightly clasped his hands and hurried out. Lin Huimin turned his head back to Hyeonmu.

Then, he discovered that the alcohol he had poured precariously on the table had overflowed due to the vibration, wetting Hyeonmu’s hand.

Hyeonmu muttered quietly.

“This is definitely a provocation.”

“Huh?”

“Calling me a younger brother and even spilling alcohol on my body. I even let it slide that you were trying to pay off the debt with a drink, but I can’t believe I’m being subjected to such insulting provocation. Song Yeowun, right?”

“It’s shocking. Does that mean a great power can call a small power a younger brother?”

“No, it’s just that I’m older…….”

Despite Lin Huimin’s excuse, Hyeonmu threw the beer glass at him.

Lin Huimin quickly grabbed the beer glass, but he couldn’t stop the alcohol that was filled inside.

Suddenly, Lin Huimin was drenched in high-proof alcohol.

Lin Huimin wanted to ask if he was out of his mind, if he didn’t care about the vibration that had just shaken the city or the screams of the people.

Until Song Yeowun took out a match.

“Classics are always safe.”

The moment the lit match was thrown, Lin Huimin kicked off and jumped back. But Hyeonmu was faster to trip him from behind.

Lin Huimin’s body was instantly engulfed in flames.

“Kuaaaaaa!”

Lin Huimin rolled on the floor to put out the fire. The hunters who were trying to go outside because of the screams and vibrations hurriedly returned at the sight of Lin Huimin, who had suddenly become a fireball.

The spray of fire extinguishers was poured on his body, and the fire was barely extinguished.

He didn’t suffer any major injuries, but he couldn’t prevent himself from becoming a charred, unsightly figure all over his body.

“Y-you damn bastard, I was trying to treat you politely!”

Lin Huimin hurriedly looked for Kang Hyeonmu and Song Yeowun, but the two were nowhere to be seen.

Then, Mei Lunhai was seen returning with a pale face.

“Mei Lunhai, find Kang Hyeonmu immediately……!”

“Now is not the time to worry about Kang Hyeonmu.”

Mei Lunhai was surprised to see Lin Huimin’s appearance, but he could grasp the gravity of the situation.

Her complexion was pale to the point of being ghostly.

“The Sky Leech…… The Sky Leech has appeared in the sky above this city!”

***

“What the hell is going on!”

Maria Keller was shouting into her phone.

She was constantly monitoring the movements of the Sky Leech through Chrome’s agents [spies or informants].

When she finished the meeting, she had clearly heard a report that the Sky Leech was slowly passing through the uninhabited highlands of eastern Kazakhstan.

But suddenly, it appeared in the sky above St. Petersburg, thousands of kilometers away?

[Here…… Dir…… Clearly…… Something……]

However, only an unclear voice could be heard from beyond the phone.

Even that call was completely cut off before long.

Maria Keller clenched her mouth tightly as she watched the Sky Leech, which had almost completely covered the city sky.

They were not the only ones monitoring the appearance of the Sky Leech.

Most countries with interest in the Sky Leech, including the United States, Russia, China, Japan, and the EU, were constantly tracking and monitoring it.

None of them were found to be warning or preparing.

The stars disappeared, and the moon was covered. The sky was a deep black.

Clusters of tentacles, subtly drooping in the city’s streetlights, came into view.

A vibration was felt each time the tentacles were inserted into the city. The tentacles were fixed like anchors, holding the Sky Leech to the ground.

“Professor, the wired line was connected, but no one can grasp the situation. The leadership is already escaping. I think you should escape too.”

Adam Fault approached and reported with a stiff expression.

Maria Keller realized how the Sky Leech had occupied the city and massacred people, and felt a chill.

Unexpected mobility and camouflage, a huge body that completely disables wireless communication, and once isolated, monsters pour down and completely occupy it.

It was a perfect occupation.

Maria Keller said to Adam with a stiff expression.

“Adam, prepare the Tepes Case.”