Chapter 62

"Looks like it failed."

Whiiii!

A desert wasteland, where sand and dust blow fiercely.

In the middle of the desert, where the wind stings the skin so sharply that an ordinary person would struggle to open their eyes, two people were sitting and talking as if nothing was wrong.

A middle-aged man with a tree root tattoo under his eye.

A young man with a lean build, snake-like eyes, and a suspicious expression.

The leader of the radical faction of the Black Mages and the terrorist organization Palshion.

The heads of the two organizations were talking alone, without any of their subordinates.

"Strictly speaking, it wasn't a failure."

The young man replied.

Even in the harsh center of the desert, he looked relaxed, wearing short sleeves and shorts, and shaking a glass of alcohol as if he were on vacation.

In contrast, the middle-aged man, wearing a heavy jacket and torn jeans, sitting on a small wooden plank, seemed to fit the place perfectly.

"Craig, we did manage to recover the encryption key. We've gathered all the cards we need before the investors' meeting. Isn't your worry a bit excessive, Jaewoon?"

"You know this isn't a situation where we can just let it go, Jaewoon."

".........."

"You don't know that woman. If Evelyn Marcia gets fully involved in this, it's over. We need to wrap things up quickly before the city council grants her access."

Jaewoon, the young man, listened to Craig and remained silent.

With a thoughtful look on his face, he stared into the distance and muttered.

"Indeed, at this point, the only place to find someone capable of dealing with her would be the Demon Exorcist Temple....."

"That's the worst move."

Craig stated firmly in a rough voice.

"Bringing those lunatics in has never led to anything good. If we drag uncontrollable monsters into this game, the plan will fall apart."

".....Relax."

Jaewoon slowly stood up.

"I have no intention of handing over Rayson's slush fund to them."

"........"

"Whatever we can get, we should take it all. Didn't we collaborate on that premise from the beginning?"

A mocking, strange smile was directed at Craig.

"Once we start, we can't stop. If you're hoping for a dramatic compromise with the city government, you're dreaming. At least for this, we need to hold each other's collars and drag each other to the goal line."

"Obsessing over material things can ruin everything."

Craig answered without looking at Jaewoon.

"Money is just a means, not an end."

"What bullshit?"

Jaewoon laughed.

"That's just an excuse from people who don't have enough money."

The final exchange that starkly revealed their differing values.

Sssssaaahh!!

As he spoke, Jaewoon's body transformed into tiny crystal fragments and disappeared.

Craig stared resolutely at Jaewoon's form melting into the hot desert air.

After a moment, he pulled out his phone and, at the same time, his own form vanished.

Once the hot wind swept over the spot where they had been, no trace of them remained.