Only two men remained in the Cult’s conference room. Ordinarily, the leaders of the Cult would have gathered here to continue a somewhat tedious discussion. The agenda would usually revolve around survival—how to endure state suppression, starting with accounting matters like taxes.

  But this time was different.

  Only two people—the Vice-Leader and the Chief Executive Officer, excluding the fallen executive—were here to decide the fate of one man.

  Jeong Jihyeon.

  The man who had stolen the Cult Leader's power.

  It was unknown exactly what he had done to take that power, but now, he was the only one who could wield the strength of electricity. A Tool with similar power had been implanted into the Chief Executive’s daughter, but she could not withstand its strength and was currently unconscious. No matter how hard the Cult’s doctors tried, her recovery remained a distant hope. Even the suppliers of the Tools reacted as if there were no solution for such cases. This fact weighed heavily on the Chief Executive’s heart, but there was nothing he could do for now.

  However, his daughter was not the topic of discussion today. In fact, they deliberately tried not to speak of her. Such a conversation only served as a reminder of their failure, making both the Vice-Leader and the Chief Executive feel miserable.

  The current subject was strictly Jihyeon. The thief who had stolen the Leader's power and the man who had repeatedly given Ha-eun a taste of bitter defeat. He was the man whom the Vice-Leader personally felt a certain favor toward, yet had declared an enemy of the Cult. And he was the man Ha-eun wished to kill.

  The two had a deep conversation regarding his disposal. In Jihyeon's case, it was a sensitive matter that could not be discussed with other leaders. The Vice-Leader, having failed to inherit the Leader's power, was still stuck as the Acting Leader. Therefore, this was a matter that had to be dealt with eventually. While no one spoke of it now, it was a problem that necessitated a resolution.

  But how?

  Although the police denied it, Jihyeon was cooperating with them. If anything happened to him, the police would surely move. Even the military might get involved. Furthermore, Jihyeon's own strength could not be ignored. He had defeated the Leader and rescued Min-ah twice. To them, it was an indelible failure and evidence of their own incompetence.

  They all agreed that defeating Jihyeon was the only way to resolve the grievances that had accumulated. However, it was unclear how many resources would be required to dispose of him. Ha-eun was confident, but they couldn't be certain he would succeed. And even if he did, they had to consider the aftermath. Someone, after all, would have to take the responsibility.

  Of course, if Ha-eun took all the blame, that would suffice. Fortunately, Ha-eun lacked the skill to extract Tools, so even if he killed Jihyeon, he wouldn't be able to steal that power. Thus, it was safe to let him try. The Chief Executive agreed on this point. For the sake of the future, Jihyeon ultimately had to be eliminated.

  The unpleasantness of a thief becoming a "hero of the city" wasn't the main issue. The real problem was the very fact that Jihyeon, wielding the same power as the Leader, continued to appear on broadcast. It was constantly shaking the Cult’s leadership. If this continued, it would be the Vice-Leader and the Chief Executive who would suffer.

  The hearts of the followers were still firm. But once they began to waver, they would collapse quickly. That had to be prevented at all costs. Therefore, it would be better to kill him now while the opportunity had arisen. Though they didn't rate Ha-eun's chances of winning very high, it was far better than doing nothing.

  Ha-eun’s faith was deeper than anyone’s. His loyalty was beyond doubt. The fact that he followed orders not to touch Jihyeon’s family, despite his bottomless grudge, proved he was perfect. It was for this reason that they intended to give their permission despite their anxiety. Even after several failures, he was a man they could trust.

  "Still, it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. If by any chance the Leader..."

  The Chief Executive brought up the past once more. But the Vice-Leader cut him off with a cough, not wanting to dwell on that particular subject.

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  Their mistake. Everything had started there, and the ill fate had continued ever since. Had it not been for that incident, they would have proceeded with all their business without ever crossing paths with Jihyeon. But the ill fate once forged continued to plague them. If possible, they wanted to act as if it had never happened—to admit their wrong and ask him not to interfere anymore.

  But that was impossible. Denying the deceased former Leader was an act that could collapse their positions in an instant, even if they knew the truth in their hearts. They tried to deny the truth by rationalizing that they had done nothing wrong.

  Yet, worry remained. No one could guarantee that Ha-eun could truly defeat him. They trusted his ability, certainly. But compared to Jihyeon, no one could be sure if Ha-eun was truly stronger. Objectively speaking, no matter how much they favored their own, Ha-eun was weaker.

  The Chief Executive couldn't understand what Ha-eun was relying on to challenge him. Taking Min-ah hostage could be a strategy, but the Chief Executive knew well that it could turn into the same situation as touching Jihyeon's family, so they had to be careful. Still, they had no choice but to trust him. As leaders of the Cult, they had to trust their Apostles, even if they had their flaws.

  Nevertheless, the Chief Executive’s heart was heavy—especially because of the report he had recently received. That news shook his very soul. It was so shocking that even the Vice-Leader could notice his agitation.

  "So, will this be alright?"

  The Chief Executive asked once more, cautiously. His voice sounded as if, even just a little, he hoped this wouldn't proceed.

  Lee Young, was it?

  The story that her consciousness had been restored was treated as a top-secret matter, but information always finds a way to leak. How shocked had the Chief Executive been when he heard that?

  It was a miracle no one else had achieved—a miracle even those who supplied them with Tools could not perform. If that were the case, he could surely restore his daughter as well. Unlike himself, who had lived only to plunge people into suffering while obsessed with strange things, his daughter was pure and kind. It was perhaps a natural desire for a father to want to see her wake up again.

  He knew his own foolishness. Back when he didn't understand the nature of the Tools, he had tried to seek more power by offering his daughter. It was an ignorant greed. But at some point, he realized it was all hollow. From that moment on, all that remained for the Chief Executive was saving his daughter.

  The Vice-Leader let out a sigh as he looked at the Chief Executive. He understood well what it meant for him to hold a sliver of hope for the man who might save his daughter. Nevertheless, the Vice-Leader clearly declared once more that he could not grant the Chief Executive’s wish.

  "It is impossible. If by some chance he were to grant your wish, that would be one thing, but do you truly think he would?"

  At the Vice-Leader's words, the Chief Executive could only let out a sigh. The Vice-Leader wasn't entirely wrong. To Jihyeon, they were surely an eyesore. No one could guarantee that he would restore the Chief Executive's daughter just because he was asked.

  Despite that, he couldn't deny wanting to grasp at that thin thread of hope. The thought of paying back even a little of the sin of failing as a father continued to haunt him. Yet, the Chief Executive knew the weight of his position. Thus, he gave up on asserting himself strongly. Though he knew this might be the only chance, he did not forget that he was an executive of the Cult.

  In the end, perhaps it was the Chief Executive's limit to take an ambiguous stance toward both his child and the Cult. He was aware of his own limitations. He even mocked himself for appearing unsightly, like a man who had lost his resolve.

  But whatever the case, the Chief Executive said nothing more. Though he desperately wished for his daughter's recovery, perhaps he had completely given up with this.

  "Who knows. If Ha-eun truly brings him here properly, there might be a chance..."

  The Vice-Leader spoke as if to comfort the Chief Executive. Of course, even the Vice-Leader felt a tiny bit of sympathy. But regardless of emotion, the die was cast. And they knew well that they could never subdue Jihyeon without killing him. They would have to watch their hope vanish entirely, but that was the only path.

  With those thoughts, they concluded their private meeting. The Vice-Leader turned and walked out immediately upon making the decision. However, the Chief Executive did not. He sat back in a nearby chair, sinking into it. Then, he let out a sigh.

  It might have been regret for his choice. While it was a natural decision for the sake of the Cult, he had to wonder if this was truly for the best. Could he leave everything to Ha-eun alone? And was there truly no way other than killing him?

  He didn't know. The Chief Executive couldn't even tell if he was making sound judgments lately. His daughter, and all the others... the numerous wrongs he had committed suddenly dominated his mind. The Chief Executive was terrified of the consequences of his own mistakes.

  It was laughable to act like this now, after having walked the wrong path for so long. He knew that all too well. But his daughter, who remained unconscious, was within reach if he only stretched out his hand.

  And what about the others? After stabilizing the Cult, which had been shaken by tax evasion charges, what returned were the countless victims of the Tools. What should he do there? What could he do?

  He didn't know. For now, he could only let out a sigh.

  Tears fell. The Chief Executive, unable to control his emotions, continued to weep for a long while.