Trait Hoarder-Chapter 258

Disappearance – Part 2

But he didn’t agree with me.

“I don’t think they would go that far.”

Instead, he quietly offered a rebuttal.

“I’ve heard about the relationship between Sword Heaven and the Old Father Cult as well. But while the Old Father Cult may be extreme at times, they’re not the kind of organization that acts with such reckless abandon. After all, they’re one of the top-ranked divine entities listed in the Westphalian Covenant. And didn’t they contribute significantly to our country’s independence? They’re not a cult, not a demonic sect either. It’s hard to believe they would really offer up an entire metropolitan city.”

That was the biggest problem.

By this world’s standards, the Old Father Cult wasn’t considered an evil organization.

Sure, they were incredibly violent and fanatical—but still.

Who do you think ousted the Amaterasu Cult in Japan?

What started as a campaign to expand their influence had, with time, come to be celebrated as a contribution to Korean independence. Now, that legacy served as justification for their political backing.

‘I’ll need to show him proof.’

I reached into my golf bag and pulled out a magic chip.

One I’d received from the High Priest of the Dark Jaguar Cult.

It wasn’t the original.

The original was quietly sleeping in my secret vault aboard the Sky River.

After reaching Level 8, I’d made a few copies in case of situations like this.

“What’s this?”

“Take a look. It contains the truth about the Old Father Cult.”

The President fixed me with a gaze as sharp as a hawk’s.

Then he took the chip and slotted it into his glasses.

Green letters scrolled rapidly across the lenses.

Graphs, diagrams, documents.

It seemed even the President had some form of miniature embedded computer interface.

He was keeping up with the playback speed—something that would have left a normal person dazed.

“The Dark Jaguar Cult…”

“You understand, right? Despite officially being declared extinct centuries ago, the Dark Jaguar Cult survived. On the surface, they acted like mortal enemies of the Old Father Cult—but in truth, they had a secret alliance.”

The Dark Jaguar Cult was officially designated as a heretical organization.

It was also classified as an international criminal syndicate.

They’d even recently carried out a massive terror attack in São Paulo, remember?

Seeing this, I thought the President’s opinion might shift.

But contrary to my expectations, he wasn’t all that surprised.

“If it’s the Old Father Cult, I suppose this isn’t too far-fetched. They’re not a righteous or benevolent group, after all. But what exactly is your point?”

“…Excuse me?”

“As you know, the Big Four—especially the religious factions—do all sorts of dirty work behind the scenes. Support for heretical sects? Secret alliances with cults? Sword Heaven, even the Thor Cult, Gaia Cult, and Mama Quilla Cult, which you yourself are affiliated with, are the same. I could list more than ten cults those groups secretly support. Even the Golden Demon Cult you treat like a younger sibling is a cult, isn’t it?”

Wait, how could he say that?

How could he compare that cult to the Dark Jaguar Cult?

The words nearly burst out of me, but I managed to swallow them.

Because technically… he wasn’t wrong.

Kim Saje was gentle by nature and made an honest living.

Even when I first met him, he was working as a qi-healer.

But what about the other priests?

Those bishops and clergy who served a long-forgotten god of wealth and gold?

They were all con artists.

They chased money without shame, by any means necessary.

Whether their victims committed suicide or suffered, they didn’t care in the slightest.

Their cult was weak, so they couldn’t conduct large-scale terror attacks—but if there was profit in it, they’d gladly run cons on the scale of cities or nations.

Still, that didn’t mean I could just say, “Ah, I see your point.”

“Mr. President. You remember the terror attack, don’t you?”

“Of course. I nearly died. I still owe you for that, Sword Heaven.”

“That time, I happened to stumble upon a lead in the back alleys.”

“Yes, I recall you mentioned that.”

“This time is similar. All the information I’ve gathered points to one thing—the Old Father Cult’s deviation.”

“And what, exactly, do you think they’re trying to do?”

“There’s only one answer. The resurrection of the Old Father.”

“Hmph…”

I fixed him with a firm look and issued my warning.

Tying it back to the Seoul terror attack made it impossible for the President to ignore.

Even as he muttered disbelief, his face twisted in concern.

This time, he was taking it seriously.

I pressed harder.

“I acknowledge that the Old Father Cult contributed to our country’s independence and development. I’m not denying that. But, Mr. President—do you really want to witness the resurrection of the Old Father? Right here, in our country?”

“…Absolutely not.”

“Exactly. Maybe I’m just being paranoid. But I was the one who uncovered the Seoul terror attack in advance. And you know I caught the Dark Jaguar Cult in the Pacific, right? They were en route to Seoul. What do you think would’ve happened if they had made it?”

“Hmmm…”

“I can guarantee it—there would’ve been a second Seoul terror attack. Maybe even the same Wraith King who descended in São Paulo would’ve appeared in Seoul.”

“Would they really go that far?”

“They’re a cult, aren’t they? That kind of thing is right up their alley. If they could do it in São Paulo, why not here?”

“…That’s true.”

The President gazed into his glasses with a troubled expression.

“But Sword Heaven. We can’t act on suspicion alone.”

“What I gave you wasn’t enough?”

“The Dark Jaguar Cult hasn’t done anything in Korea yet. At most, they tried to poison Chairman Seong of the Geumo Group—and frankly, that kind of thing happens more often than you’d think.”

An assassination attempt on a chaebol group chairman isn’t a big deal?

This world really is twisted beyond saving.

“As you know, the Old Father Cult has twenty million followers just in our country. My own younger brother is one, and quite a few ministers are, too.”

“Still, we can’t just sit on our hands.”

“Sigh… If Sword Heaven’s information is reliable, then yes. That’s why I’m asking—can this information be trusted?”

“I swear on my mana. Shall I make a magical oath if needed?”

“No. I trust you, Sword Heaven.”

Seems my bluff about a non-existent informant paid off.

The President was slowly starting to believe me.

Only half-convinced, sure—but still progress.

“I’ll start by ordering the NIS to raise their alert level.”

“That won’t be enough. You need to declare martial law.”

“Excuse me? I’d be impeached. Martial law without a war? To declare that, I need solid evidence. This isn’t Joseon—you know that.”

So he needed proof.

Not just proof of a secret alliance with the Dark Jaguar Cult, but evidence that Seoul—or the Republic of Korea—was about to be directly attacked.

Wait a second.

There is something.

That encrypted bundle Seong Huiyeong was analyzing with the supercomputer.

The one we recovered from the secret base beneath the Han River.

“Alright. I’ll find the evidence and bring it to you.”

“I’ll be waiting. Either way, I’ll start preparing. I know you wouldn’t say these things without good reason.”

“A wise decision.”

I moved immediately.

After taking one last glance around the Jongno Great Temple, I boarded the Red Cougar.

It didn’t take long to get to Samseong-dong, where the Geumo Group HQ was located.

Still fused with the Dokkaebi realm.

Seong Huiyeong was working in her personal office, suspended in midair.

“Sword Heaven? What’s the matter? I thought you were still at the Great Temple in Jongno.”

Seong Huiyeong pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses when she saw me.

“I was. I just left. I met with the President there.”

“The President? I guess that makes sense. There are quite a few Old Father followers in his circle.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“The Old Father Cult is close with politicians. They donate heavily, to both parties. Would you like some coffee?”

“If you’re offering, I’ll have a cup.”

As if waiting for the cue, Chief Kim came in carrying a cup of coffee.

But there was no time to chat leisurely.

I downed the hot coffee in one shot and got straight to the point.

“Chairwoman Seong. You remember that encrypted code we recovered from under the Han River? May I take a look at it?”

“Of course. I was actually hoping you’d ask.”

Seong Huiyeong made a finger-gun gesture at me.

The encrypted file was delivered straight to my monarch interface.

Lines of code poured out onto the magical light screen.

English, Latin, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic numerals, Cyrillic letters, Chinese characters, ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, machine code, assembly, hexadecimal, quaternary—utter chaos, completely unreadable.

[뜕섹저빛난옓뷹고어치질]

Even with Hangul annotations next to it, it was still gibberish.

The core decryption process hadn’t been completed yet.

Seong Huiyeong looked at me with a mix of hope and curiosity.

“Any idea what it says?”

Chief Kim chuckled bitterly beside her.

“Chairwoman, even if it’s Sword Heaven, do you really expect him to decode this at a glance?”

“He is Sword Heaven. It wouldn’t be strange if he did.”

“Well, that’s true…”

I calmed my mind.

To decode Dark Jaguar encryption, you have to take the long view.

I expanded the view.

Displayed the entire code across the magic screen.

The letters became so tiny they were unreadable.

[Spirit Eyes][Sixth Sense][Magic Brain]

[Insight][Meditation][Origin]

There are multiple ways to decrypt a Dark Jaguar code.

You could offer a ritual and borrow the power of a deity, flood it with massive divine energy to purify it, or gather theologians and magimancers to interpret it literally.

But the easiest method—

The most dangerous, yet the fastest—

Was to confront the Dark Jaguar directly.

I dove deep.

Letting my consciousness sink into the code like I was burying my face in it.

Using Spirit Eyes and Sixth Sense to pry it apart, analyzing it with Magic Brain—but the overall path was dictated by the sub-traits.

Through Insight and Meditation, I gazed into the subconscious.

And with Origin, I initiated contact with the Dark Jaguar.

Through this very encrypted script.

[Grrrghhh…]

A wet, guttural growl.

The cry of a predator echoed through my mind.

I couldn’t see it clearly.

Only an enormous shadow looming over me.

A body larger than mountains.

An overwhelming presence that swallowed the sky.

Only two eyes burned like suns.

[You’ve grown bold, little thing.]

A vicious voice stabbed directly into my psyche.

[Daring to touch my blessing? You’ll pay with your flesh.]

Stare into the abyss long enough, and the abyss stares back.

This was why I hadn’t attempted to decode Dark Jaguar encryption before.

But now?

I snorted toward the voice.

“Try me. You’re just a washed-up god without a name.”

[You dare—!]

I swapped traits.

[Vajra Body][Vajra Body]

Vajra Body didn’t just strengthen the flesh—it fortified the mind like diamond.

With two stacks?

Even without synergy bonuses, I was more than a match for a nameless has-been.

Then I added Indomitable.

The rest stayed as Sixth Sense, Insight, and Meditation.

[Kghh… you wretch!]

“Shut up for a second.”

Lesser deities are usually Level 8.

Lesser and minor gods that can’t directly affect the surface—like Persephone or Mars—can sometimes be Level 9, but most are Level 8.

Especially ones like the Dark Jaguar, who’ve lost their names and are barely clinging to a sense of self.

8 versus 8.

And as a Transcendent, my standing isn’t that far below.

So what’s this ghost whining about?

Time to put him in his place.

[Magic Brain][Mana Soul][Supreme Flame]

I lit him up.

Even the shadowy tendrils that had been creeping into me got incinerated all at once.

KRRRRAAAAGH!

The Dark Jaguar howled in agony.

The massive shadow engulfing the world rippled in shock.

[W-What is this?! Impossible! How can a mere human—!]

Simple answer.

“You’re just weak.”

[You insignificant worm, how dare you—!]

“Here, have another taste.”

KRRRAAAAAAGH!

I scorched him again.

Burned him, seared him, turned him to ash.

The Dark Jaguar had lost his followers and was severely weakened.

Even if he had invaded my mind when his cult was intact, it would’ve been difficult—charging in now, unaware of how far he’d fallen, was a mistake he’d pay for.

[Y-You bastard! This isn’t over! I’ll make your body my vessel!]

Can’t kill him.

Gods can only be slain within their own divine realms.

So the Dark Jaguar screamed and fled.

“Hmph.”

I scoffed, then focused on the traces he left behind.

The remnants of the Dark Jaguar.

They were the true key to decoding the encryption.

From a distance, it looked like a giant circle.

Up close, like a footprint.

From another angle, it resembled a faint flame, or smoke that had almost risen.

No—a single character.

That was more accurate.

My consciousness sank.

The unconscious mind shimmered like a sea.

Inspiration surged like a tide.

As I drifted deeper into reflection, my thoughts finally surfaced with a clue.

A sharp clarity lit up my mind.

The [Contemplation] trait bloomed, and at that moment, a symbol etched itself—

In my head.

And across the entire magical display of the Dragon Sovereign Interface.

[Ω]

A symbol resembling the Omega character.

It represented the aspect of Tezcatlipoca the Dark Jaguar once possessed.

Death and apocalypse.

But now, even that power had faded—reduced to nothing more than a divine cipher.

Toward that now-revealed cipher, I activated a trait.

[Heaven Defiance]

The encryption dissolved.

The divine seal scattered, revealing the truth beneath.

[Zombie Legion Project Plan]

Zombie Legion!

I scanned through the document at high speed.

With Magic Brain activated, it took no time at all.

I understood everything immediately.

“I’ll share this with you.”

“Huh?”

“You mean… already?”

I knew this information.

It was from Episode 2—the Zombie Crisis.

Though messy, it documented a plan decades in the making, in thorough detail.

And more.

It included records of support received from the Old Father Cult.

Of course.

How else could the Dark Jaguar Cult, with no foundation in Seoul, have set up a secret base and prepared for a zombie crisis?

They were helped by the Old Father Cult.

After sharing the decrypted contents, I reached into my golf bag and pulled out a magic chip.

Identical to the one I gave the President.

“Take a look at this too.”

“This is… Ha! Those rotten bastards!”

Seong Huiyeong slammed her desk in a fury.

The expensive celestial wood desk split cleanly in half.

“Those Old Father Cult bastards—I’ve never liked them!”

“Chairwoman? What’s wrong?”

“Look at this, Kim.”

“Mm… Huh. You’re saying the Dark Jaguar Cult was actually subordinate to the Old Father Cult?”

“Yes! They’re the ones who attacked me!”

“If this plan had gone through, it would’ve been a disaster. Even worse than the last terror incident. Hah, those idiots messed with the Chairwoman and got themselves rooted out.”

“Me? I didn’t do any of that. Sword Heaven handled everything.”

“Ahaha, right. That’s true.”

Chief Kim scratched his head sheepishly.

“We don’t have much time.”

I looked at Seong Huiyeong.

“The Old Father Cult is already moving. At this rate, something big will happen within days.”

“Then let’s move now! Just with your forces and ours, we can make this happen!”

“No. That’s not enough. The whole Republic of Korea has to unite.”

“What? That’s impossible!”

She’s right.

It is impossible.

Even the President had balked at the idea.

Even with this newly decrypted evidence, rallying everyone together immediately is a pipe dream.

Politicians aligned with the Old Father Cult will interfere.

And plenty of factions within the Big Four have their own agendas.

Even the Sun Mage Tower is probably playing both sides.

They’ll stall, hedge their bets.

They’ll argue the zombie plan was the Dark Jaguar Cult’s doing, not the Old Father Cult directly.

Aside from Geumo Group and the Eastern Army, none of my allied factions would move right away.

Just a few days of hesitation would guarantee the Old Father Cult’s victory.

This was a race against time.

I stood up.

“Chairwoman Seong. I’ll leave the rest to you.”

“Huh? Where are you going?”

“I’m going to infiltrate their base and retrieve their full plans.”

If possible, I’ll cause some chaos while I’m at it.

Delay their execution timeline.

“Are you crazy? That’s way too dangerous!”

“The one in the most danger right now is me. This is literally life or death for me.”

“Still…”

Good thing Seong Huiyeong is personally involved.

If not, Choi Sunsoo would have to take over—but a Level 7 superhuman and executive of my company just doesn’t carry the same weight as a conglomerate chairwoman.

“I’m counting on you.”

I clasped her hand and spoke earnestly.

Seong Huiyeong’s eyebrows trembled.

“Alright. I’ll do whatever it takes to move the government. We’ll form a united front, like during the last terror attack.”

Can she really pull it off?

If so, to what scale?

Right now, I had no choice but to trust Seong Huiyeong—and Choi Sunsoo as well.

I operated the Dragon Sovereign Interface and sent orders to Choi Sunsoo.

Just as I was about to leap into the Red Cougar, Seong Huiyeong asked with glistening eyes:

“Where are you going? Do you even know where the Old Father Cult is hiding?”

“Yes. I know.”

There’s only one place.

“I’m going to Gwangju.”

Gyeonggi-do, Gwangju.

Where I once met Jo Chul and crafted the prototype protective suit.

The artisan village there? Just a front.

Beneath it is a hidden base.

The Shadow Temple.

A subterranean stronghold that rivals—perhaps even surpasses—the Great Temple in Jongno.