______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Black Organization Headquarters.
Hidden deep in the wilderness, this place was extremely secretive.
Aside from a handful of core members, no one knew its exact location.
Right now—
All the high-ranking members of the Organization had gathered inside a large conference room.
At the head of the long rectangular table sat Renya Karasuma, leaning on his cane, exuding a sense of decay and death.
Seated to his left and right were Rum, Gin, Korn... and the rest of the alcohol-themed officers.
"Boss, aren't you giving Vermouth a bit too much freedom?" Gin said, frowning. "She claims to have some critical intel, but she doesn't even bother to show up herself."
"This meeting was Boss's decision. Are you questioning him?" Rum frowned back.
"Hmph, I'm just telling it like it is. If Boss thinks I'm out of line, he can punish me however he wants."
"Alright, everyone. We're here to have a meeting, not start a fight," Rum cut in, trying to defuse the tension. "Let's wait until Vermouth shows up."
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The tapping of a cane on the floor echoed through the room.
Instantly, all the arguing came to a halt.
Renya Karasuma slowly scanned the room and spoke in a low voice:
"Vermouth has discovered a way to wield supernatural powers. That's why she's in such a rush. Be patient."
The Black Organization, being a massive underground group, knew far more than ordinary people.
They were well aware that beneath the surface of everyday life, many things were hidden—things beyond their understanding.
After all...
Why else would the Organization make immortality its ultimate goal?
Even Gin had nothing to say at that point.
BWAAA—!
Suddenly, a deafening alarm shrieked through the base.
It was immediately followed by loud explosions and rapid gunfire.
"What the hell's going on?!"
"Are we under attack?!"
Everyone was shaken. Rum quickly reached for a communication line to the surveillance room—only to realize the explosions were getting closer.
In the distance...
They could already hear chilling screams and agonizing wails.
BOOM!
The massive alloy door—strong enough to withstand a missile—was blown apart.
The thick stench of blood instantly filled the air.
The hallway was littered with bodies, blood, and guts.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Crisp footsteps echoed from down the hall.
Under everyone's stunned gaze...
Edgar, flanked by three women, strolled into the meeting room like he was out for a walk in the park—stepping right over the corpses.
"Vermouth?"
"Sherry—you're alive?!"
"Is that... Akemi Miyano?!"
Everyone reacted differently.
How did these three end up together?
And who was that man?
"Vermouth, what the hell is the meaning of this?"
Renya Karasuma spoke with a cold, deep voice.
"Bringing an outsider into our base..."
"And killing this many people—even you can't be forgiven."
"Who the hell needs your forgiveness?"
Vermouth replied with a cold, mocking smile—shocking everyone in the room.
Rum and the other officers exchanged looks of disbelief.
Was this really Vermouth? Could she have been replaced?
No way she'd dare this kind of thing...
Ignoring their confusion, Vermouth clung to Edgar's arm and pointed straight at Karasuma:
"Master, that old fossil is the leader of the Organization."
"Want me to wipe them all out?"
"WHAT?!" × N
Everyone in the room was floored by the next bombshell.
They stared at Vermouth in disbelief.
Did she just call that man 'Master'?!
And the way she held onto him...
It looked intimate. Too intimate.
Was this all just a twisted dream?
"If I kill them now, can you take control of the Organization's finances?"
Edgar asked quietly, his arm around Vermouth's slim waist.
He was broke.
And this "Distillery" was the perfect rich-man target to rob for the sake of the poor.
He wasn't letting that kind of cash pile go to waste.
"That might be a bit tricky," Vermouth said, blinking playfully.
She pointed at Rum.
"Let's keep him alive for now."
"I'm confident I can get all the Organization's funds for you, Master."
"You've really lost it, haven't you?"
Rum was completely stunned—like he was seeing this witch for the first time.
"Damn it! Get your hands off him!"
Calvados, who had always been hopelessly obsessed with Vermouth, couldn't take it anymore and reached for his gun.
Edgar casually flicked his hand.
A beam of magical energy shot out—blasting a hole straight through Calvados.
"How did he do that?!"
The others couldn't hide their fear.
They only saw a flash of light—and then Calvados was gone.
Bang!
Gin kicked over the table and drew his gun in a blur of motion.
"Quick moves," Edgar said calmly.
He flicked his finger again—another magic beam shot out, blasting Gin into a pile of bloody pulp.
The Organization's strongest fighter...
Gone, like an ant crushed underfoot.
"..." × N
Silence fell over the room.
Everyone's face turned pale.
That power—it was supernatural.
There was no mistaking it.
No one here was stupid. They were starting to put things together.
But then...
Someone got excited.
"Hahaha! So Vermouth didn't lie to me after all."
"You must be from that world, right?"
Renya Karasuma sat calmly in his chair, tapping his cane with both hands.
"We can work together, you know."
"Kill me now, and all you get is the Organization's money."
"But if we team up, I can give you power—enough for us to take over this entire country."
Even the other officers were impressed.
No wonder he was the Boss—still scheming even in a situation like this.
"You talk too much," Edgar said, shaking his head.
"Guess there's nothing to discuss."
Karasuma struck the floor with his cane.
"Don't think you're the only one with supernatural power."
"Kill them for me, and I'll offer you a hundred human sacrifices."
"Deal."
As those words fell, a huge, terrifying figure appeared out of thin air.
It had a twisted face and a hulking body.
"Hhh—!"
Rum and the others gasped in horror.
Even though they were ordinary people, the oppressive aura it gave off made their blood feel like it was freezing.
But then—
Their faces lit up with hope.
The Boss had a hidden trump card!
Maybe they weren't doomed after all!
"A curse spirit, huh…"
Edgar's eyes glinted.
He had already sensed the cursed spirit when he arrived.
He just hadn't expected it to be tied to Renya Karasuma.
But then again, it made sense.
This world was a chaotic blend of many things.
Karasuma had lived for nearly a century and wielded immense power.
It wasn't surprising he'd come into contact with something like this.
"Last chance, mister."
Karasuma said darkly.
"If you don't listen, you'll end up as food for the great curse spirit…"
BOOM!
An explosion erupted beneath them.
The cursed spirit, along with the floor, was vaporized in an instant.
The meeting room went completely silent.
Karasuma and the others stared blankly, minds frozen.
They couldn't even process what had just happened.
"A mere mid-level curse spirit?"
"You dare show off in front of me?"
Edgar said calmly and snapped his fingers.
Zzzap! Zzzap! Zzzap!
Beams of magic burst in all directions—instantly reducing everyone except Rum into bloody mush.
Thud! Rum collapsed to his knees, face deathly pale.
Seeing this, Vermouth stepped forward, ready to have a little chat.
She was sure she wouldn't need any torture to get what they wanted.
"..."
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________