Chapter 321
Chapter 321: Heavenly City (11)
People gathered in the central plaza of District 8.
But this time, it wasn't because of fear.
"Oh great God of Death Kim Minwoo, give us strength. Give us our daily bread……."
The sound of prayer echoed.
Death Cult.
The faith that started in District 9 was taking root in District 8 as well.
At first, it was forced.
Because they had to join the cult to be incorporated into the Money Talks Guild.
But now?
"I prayed last time and the hunting went really well."
"Me too. I felt like I could concentrate well or something."
"As expected, God does exist."
Voluntary believers were increasing.
Kim Minwoo watched that sight from one side of the plaza.
Ttiring—.
[District 8 Faith Propagation Rate: 56%]
[Faith Point acquisition amount increases.]
[The influence of the Death Cult expands.]
The corners of his mouth went up.
"Kkukku!"
Hayang flapped its wings pleasantly.
Everything was going according to plan.
Dominate with fear, tame with welfare.
Make them grateful, bind them with faith.
It was a proven formula in District 9.
But District 8 was different.
The speed was crazy.
'It's thanks to the Faith Orb.'
Fake believers who only say they believe with their words.
There was no way to filter these bastards out until now.
But one was created?
It even steadily assigned grades, making it an excellent element to stimulate a sense of competition.
This caused a crazy butterfly effect.
The deeper you believe, the warmer the benefits.
Desperate despair to those who don't believe.
"I want to join too."
"Where do you register for the cult?"
It wasn't forced, it was voluntary.
They believe because it brings profit.
Kim Minwoo chuckled.
'What is the essence of religion.'
Salvation?
Comfort?
Heaven?
No.
It's profit.
The certainty that something gets better if you believe.
That was the core of faith.
Kim Minwoo's Death Cult pierced through that essence exactly.
Ttiring—.
[Faith Orb Distribution Status]
[District 8: 32,324 Orbs.]
[District 9: 54,323 Orbs.]
Naturally, he had also distributed them in large quantities in District 9.
He simply made it so there was no place they weren't spread out.
Fake believers?
They must have wailed quite a bit this time.
At that moment, it was noisy in front of a cult shop on one side of the plaza.
"No, why won't it turn on!"
A man was shaking the Faith Orb.
The orb remained off without the slightest movement.
The clerk shook his head expressionlessly.
"Your faith stat is insufficient. The discount cannot be applied."
"What are you talking about! I prayed yesterday, you know? For real!"
"You cannot just believe with your mouth, customer."
The clerk's tone was calm.
It sounded like an explanation he had given about a hundred times.
"The orb does not lie. It only reacts to faith that comes from the heart."
"Ah, damn it……."
The man ground his teeth.
The gazes of the people lined up behind him were stinging.
"Please step back. Next person—."
The woman right behind him held out her orb.
At that moment.
Uung—.
The orb blazed with a deep purple light.
The clerk's eyes widened.
"Oh, you are a B-grade. I will give you a VIP discount and even a priority admission ticket."
"Thank you. Glory to the God of Death."
The woman bowed her head politely.
The clerk also bowed his head in response.
"Glory."
The man from earlier stared blankly at that sight.
B-grade.
VIP discount.
Priority admission.
They were members of the same cult, but the treatment was like heaven and earth.
"……F*ck."
A curse popped out automatically.
But what could he do.
When the orb proves it.
Eventually, the man headed toward the corner of the plaza with his head bowed low.
He squeezed in among the praying believers.
This time, with sincerity.
Kim Minwoo snorted while watching that sight.
'That is human nature.'
If you don't want to suffer a loss, you end up believing.
If you keep believing, it becomes real.
A virtuous cycle of faith.
"Guild Leader, a report has arrived from the District 9 Cult Leader. They say the believer accommodation limit is almost full."
"Is that so?"
"It seems we will need to build more chapels."
Kim Minwoo nodded his head.
"Build them. We have enough money."
"Understood."
The guild member stepped back.
Kim Minwoo looked at the plaza again.
Believers kneeling and praying.
They were the ones who had been trembling in fear just a few days ago.
Now, they were voluntarily bowing their heads.
Occupation of District 8.
Reinforcement of District 9.
Establishment of the faith system.
The puzzle pieces were coming together.
"Next is……."
His gaze turned toward the sky.
District 7.
Above that, 6, 5, 4.
And all the way to District 1.
The place where the Seven Lords waited.
The time Medea had bought for him would not last forever. He had to devour more before the Demonic Cult and Red Flag came to their senses.
"Kku?"
Hayang tilted its head.
Kim Minwoo chuckled.
"Are you hungry?"
“Let's go. We should eat and plan our next move.”
He moved his steps.
The sound of prayer in the plaza faded behind his back.
Oh God of Death, give us strength.
That god was currently just on his way to eat dinner.
＊ ＊ ＊
District 8 temporary headquarters.
It was when Kim Minwoo was drinking tea.
“Guild Leader.”
One of the guild members rushed in.
“We received contact from the Shadow Guild.”
“Shadow?”
Kim Minwoo's eyebrows went up.
Shadow.
An information organization rooted throughout the Heavenly City.
A neutral faction that was neither under the Demonic Cult nor under Red Flag.
To be exact, bats who sold information to both sides.
“Yes. It is said Queen Lilith sent a message directly. The District 8 Head came personally.”
An executive standing next to him furrowed his brow.
“Can we trust those bastards? They are the bats among bats.”
“But their information power is crazy, isn't it. I heard they even know the movements of the Seven Lords in District 1 in real-time.”
“That's why it's even more uncomfortable. They are bastards who would sell our information somewhere too.”
Murmuring.
Kim Minwoo raised his hand.
It became quiet.
“Let him in.”
A moment later.
The door opened.
The District 8 Head approached cautiously.
Shadows were cast under his eyes.
It was obvious he hadn't slept properly for the past few days.
“Mr. Kim Minwoo, I see you again.”
“Sit.”
Kim Minwoo gestured with his chin.
He carefully took a seat.
His fingertips trembled minutely.
Whether it was tension or desperation.
“I will speak directly. Our Queen Lilith conveyed that she is willing to discuss things with you very positively, Mr. Kim Minwoo.”
“Very positively?”
“Yes.”
Kim Minwoo chuckled.
“The bastards who were under the protection of the Demonic Cult?”
“……That is.”
“Be honest. You're running away because the Demonic Cult is shaking.”
It hit the bullseye.
The District 8 Head swallowed his saliva.
He couldn't completely deny it.
Because the moment Medea started running wild in District 1, the umbrella of the Demonic Cult had become torn paper.
“It is not necessarily only because of that. No matter how strong Medea is, she is just an individual. If the Demonic Cult intends to stop her, they can stop her as much as they want. Because one of the Seven Lords, Yoo Honbi, is by no means a weak existence.”
The District 8 Head raised his head.
“You might call it a bat-like choice but…… we are serious as well. Because it is a matter of survival.”
His voice dropped low.
“I will speak honestly. We sold information under the Demonic Cult for over 10 years. To Red Flag too. But do you know? What returned to us.”
His fists clenched.
“Expendables. Expendables whose information is sucked out and then thrown away. Even if we hand over core information, just a single word of 'good work'. Even if we succeed in a dangerous mission, 'you should at least do that much'. Even if we showed loyalty ten times, one mistake and it was the end.”
A bitter smile flowed.
“So this time, we truly intend to change lines. Not to end as information brokers, but because we truly want to become a pillar.”
“Well, I understand. So? What's the main point?”
“We will hold it, that hand.”
“The conditions?”
The District 8 Head's eyes gleamed.
From here on out was the main point.
"We also need compensation."
"What compensation?"
"Simply creating an underworld and sharing it like before won't do. That is too small."
Kim Minwoo propped his chin.
"Continue."
"We, Shadow, are an information organization. An information network rooted throughout the Heavenly City. From District 1 to 9, there is no rumor we do not hear."
The District 8 Head leaned his body forward.
"We will bet that on you. All of it."
"All of it?"
"Yes. The trends of the Demonic Cult and Red Flag, the movements of the Seven Lords, the locations of hidden pieces. We will share everything for free. At the same grade as Lady Lilith. We will also help in battle. If only you request it."
It was an incredible proposal.
Information is power.
Especially in this Heavenly City, it was even more so.
Just knowing who was doing what and where was practically the same as winning half the war.
"Instead, if we bet on you, what can you give to us?"
Silence.
Kim Minwoo smiled slowly.
"What do you want?"
"A firm status. That is what we want."
"Status?"
"We do not want to end up merely as information brokers anymore. If you climb all the way to the top…… please allocate a proper armed organization to us."
"So you came to me?"
"Yes. Because the Demonic Cult, Red Flag, and the other bastards. Even if they give us information fees, they never hand us military power."
Hmm.
While Kim Minwoo was pondering, the District 8 Head spoke passionately.
"We believe it is possible if it's you. Creating a new pillar in this mess. A third faction that is neither the Demonic Cult nor Red Flag. Even becoming the new ruler……."
"Kku?"
Hayang flapped its wings on his shoulder.
Kim Minwoo stroked Hayang's head.
"Interesting."
"……Excuse me?"
"Good. We have a deal."
"A-are you serious?"
"Instead, there are conditions."
Kim Minwoo raised a finger.
"One, information must be in real-time. It's meaningless if it's late."
"Of course."
"Two, every time I go up, Shadow's core personnel will enter my territory. Because I will protect them."
"……Understood."
"Three."
Kim Minwoo chuckled.
"Pass it on to Lilith. That we should meet in person."
"The, the Queen?"
"If I'm going to make a deal with one of the Seven Lords, we have to meet in person. It's not something that can be done through a message."
Silence.
The District 8 Head slowly bowed his head.
"……I will pass it on."
"You may go."
"Mr. Kim Minwoo."
"Yeah?"
"……You will not regret this."
"You guys probably won't either."
The door closed.
Kim Minwoo looked out the window.
The direction of District 1.
It was still far away.
Because he would go up while solidifying his ground.
However, a path began to be seen.
'Since an information network has been created.'
Calculations ran in his head.
District 7.
A place that is not under the direct control of the Demonic Cult but is within its sphere of influence.
He would have to receive a detailed report from Shadow by tomorrow.
What kind of place District 7 is, who he has to crush first, what kind of powerhouses are there, etc.
If there is information, it becomes a sword.
If there is a sword, he can cut.
If he cuts, he can devour.
"Kkukku?"
Hayang tilted its head.
Kim Minwoo chuckled.
"Are you hungry?"
"Kku!"
"Let's go. We should eat and plan our next move."