Only Wisdom Awakened

Chapter 36: First step

Hans stepped outside the association building after not finding Aiden on the first floor at all. It seemed that the fellow had run away and didn't want his friend to see his vulnerable side.

'It's better to leave him alone for a while,' Hans thought, sensing that the immature boy didn't want to see anyone at the moment.

While he was taking the bus to the outskirts of Chicago, Hans mulled over his recent conversation with Garrison.

"The first thing you have to do to kill Logan, that is, if you care least about the consequences of your actions, is to bring him down from his position," Garrison had advised.

"If it were so simple and you knew his character, why haven't you kicked him out already," Hans had questioned this after this suggestion.

"Calm down, it's not so straightforward...right now, even if you do manage to fire him, the association will lose power, inviting intervention from the higher-ups, who in turn might strip you of your powers and put him in command," Garrison had explained.

"That is why, you need to find a replacement, someone with a strength of at least B-Rank. If you do that, the troubles with the higher-ups can be resolved."

"Find a candidate and worry about the rest later."

This was what the bearded man had concluded.

Meanwhile, Hans proceeded with the first step of his plan to get rid of Aiden's tormentor.

Initially, he had thought about asking Hephaestus, but he quickly trashed the idea, afraid of receiving that old man's hammer on his head. After all, the smith still didn't know that Hans was aware of his true identity.

Then, another name came to his mind: the only other person above B-Rank whom he would possibly be able to persuade– someone who liked money above everything else.

The last time he had met this person, Hans was left astonished by his incredible display of strength and solemnity.

A person who didn't even hesitate to kill his friend for straying down the wrong path, the leader of the underworld loan business: Kwang-su Kim.

Hans retraced the path he had walked a couple of weeks ago and turned into the dark alley after the corner, where three goons were sitting and lounging on the steps, each having a cigarette in hand.

The youngest one, slightly shorter than Hans, sat in the middle, flanked by the chubby and short man with various tattoos under his loose white tank top on the left and a particularly ugly guy on the right.

Hans recognized the three from the previous encounter.

Their stares were unfriendly and they acted all tough, until they realized who was standing in front of them.

Rumors about him had spread in their striped gang after the incident with their vice team leader, Liam.

People talked about how he was like a devil that came out of hell just to punish them, but those involved in the case knew damn well that he was way worse than that.

The heat of those terrifying flames was deeply imprinted in their minds, making them sweat just after thinking about it.

And so, the moment they recognized Hans, all their tough facades shattered and their bodies started shaking uncontrollably as if they were going to lose their bowels the next moment.

This time, instead of demanding they take him to their boss, Hans simply strode past them, already aware of his destination.

As the bar's doors swung open, the sunlight pierced through the thick smoke in the air, revealing the faces of some gangsters.

The ones hit by the light covered their eyes with their arms that used to stay in the dark not allowed to see anything. While the others simply watched Hans, whose face was shrouded in shadow against his brightly lit shoulders.

He slowly walked towards the corner table where Kwang-su Kim sat, sipping a glass of red wine.

"What have you come here for?" Kim asked, lounging on the couch.

"Need money again?" he continued.

"Not this time. I am here for another purpose today, could we talk in private?" Hans replied, eyeing the men at the table.

"Follow me," responded Boss Kim.

They moved their conversation to another room.

The new spot was dark and warm while the wooden tables furnishing the room were low, making it seem like an ideal atmosphere to play card games.

The armchairs were made out of red leather and were very comfortable to sit on.

"So? What's important enough to warrant a change of place?" inquired Boss Kim, who as always, was dressed in a black suit which contrasted against his white shirt.

"I have a job for you, not a temporary commission, but a stable job with good pay," Hans began.

"It'll just require you to fight criminals and people like them, also-"

However, before Hans could finish his sentence, the man interrupted him with a firm and serious tone.

"I'll agree, but under two conditions."

Hans listened attentively, awaiting Kim's conditions.

"First, since I'll likely need to expose my face in public, I want a fake identity and an artifact to alter my body structure. You see, there are some people where I came from who don't exactly have warm feelings toward me and are constantly on my lookout, so I don't want a half-assed identity, but a flawless one that won't be tracked down even if the entire CIA comes knocking at my door."

The man then paused for Hans's response, who thought about the condition for a while before nodding and giving his approval for the first condition.

"Second, I need a personal favor from you. I have witnessed your strength as a mage last time and there will be a day where I'll need your assistance in taking down certain people."

The second condition carried more weight than the first. It was vague and Hans could be led into doing anything, but still, he didn't have a choice. It wouldn't be too late to back down when the time came.

Just as Hans was about to accept his second condition as well, Kwang-su Kim added, "Don't worry, the ones I'm talking about are those who have committed things that would deserve a death penalty at the very least and my request won't be too outrageous."

Convinced, Hans agreed.

"Deal. The identity will take some time, but I'll contact you as soon as it's ready."

Before departing, the man in a suit asked jokingly, "Shouldn't you at least tell me what job I'll have to do?"

Hans replied with a smile, "Oh, right. You'll be the security team leader of the Chicago branch association."

As if he had seen a ghost, the man was shocked.

Meanwhile, seeing him like this, Hans continued, "What is it, don't tell me...

____

[Name: Kwang-su Kim

Age: 21

Class: Shadow Assassin (RARE)

Title: Black Devil

Lvl: 192

Strength: 214

Dexterity: 274

Endurance: 159

Wisdom: 103

Skills:

{Shadow Camouflage (Class Skill)

Effect: The user will be able to hide in the shadow cast by all non-living objects. When hiding inside a shadow, if the opponent does not have an acute perception or a specialized ability, the user will remain effectively invisible.

Note: The effects of the skill can be reduced if the user makes any sounds or if they move too much.}

{Swordsmanship} (C-Rank)

....

Hidden skills:

{Shadow Domain}(??)

Unlocking Conditions: (????)

Description: A skilled swordsman with the troublesome ability to hide in the shadows. If the user plans for an ambush, they could potentially confront someone above their rank.

Evaluation: Low A-Rank]

_____

...that you don't have the ability to do so." Hans finished as he assessed the fellow.

"N-no, it's not that. It's just, to be able to appoint me as the security team leader of the branch, who are you?"

"Of course.... the next branch leader."

Hans left the gang's hideout before returning to the association to consult with Garrison.

When the ex-branch leader saw him entering his office, he wondered if Hans had rethought his decision and wanted to take a step back.

However, he soon realized that wasn't the case.

Hans had returned because he had already found a candidate to replace the current security team leader and just needed a fake identity for him.

Hans specifically requested an Eastern Asian identity, already knowing that it would be meaningless trying to hide it.

It was now time to proceed with the second step of the plan- to strip Aiden's father of his current position and powers.

"Here they are," Garrison said, tossing a stack of documents on the office table before his chair.

Hans picked them up and started going through them.

Tax evasion, murder, rape, drug dealing, smuggling, violence, corruption.

These were some of the many crimes committed by the man in question.

Over the five years he had served as the association branch leader, Garrison had accumulated all of this evidence and was ready to release it in case of a sudden political attack from Logan Harris.

He wanted to release them but knew that the absence of a security team leader would mean the weakening of the association's branch, allowing the other guilds to act bolder and more fearlessly in the city.

Meanwhile, after reading line after line of those documents, a sense of anger and disgust grew in Hans' heart.

Never once in his life had he thought that someone deserved death as much as this man.

It was time to put an end to this monster's life.