Chapter 171

[Translator – Prøks]

[Proofreader – Prøks]

Chapter 171: Exposed

[Did the Griff family commit horrific atrocities?]

[Secret facility locations revealed! US embassy officially confirms!]

[Kim Minwoo, did he have a reason to confront the Griff family? The story behind the new guild member, Han Siah!]

[The German government launches its own investigation! Chancellor Meckanen declares they will not stand idly by if any wrongdoing is found...]

— Wow, they threw the first punch hard lmao

— Looks like the US is backing this up too? It’ll be hard to bury this now.

— When he told Germany to back off, I almost lost it with his audacity;;

— Oh? More articles are coming out.

[Saudi King Abdullah, enraged by the heinous acts! Restricting oil exports to Germany...]

[Isabella strongly criticizes the Griff family’s atrocities!]

[France, adding momentum to this public opinion war?]

[Chinese President Li joins the criticism? Restricting exports of key resources to Germany...]

— So Saudi Arabia, the US, France, and China are all moving together?

— Kim Minwoo’s international power is insane ????

— Can the Griff family withstand this?

— Until a moment ago, it seemed like they could endure it... but now, I’m not so sure?

— There’s a good word for this: cutting ties ????‍♂️

— Even considering that, it seems difficult for them to easily cut ties. The top echelons of the financial and political worlds are all intertwined. Did they really not know about all this XD

— This is so entertaining to watch lol

— Totally Fr. They were being jerks at the airport. This is a perfect lesson, right?

— Still, we don’t know yet. What can they do even if the Griffs endure? They’re not going to actually arrest them.

“That’s true, but...”

Kim Minwoo nodded as he looked through the articles on his smartphone.

He had already spoken with the US president. From the battery business to education and guild shares, he had quite a few ties with the US.

The same went for China.

Both countries were easy to mobilize. What he offered in return was education. In China’s case, there was already a precedent for receiving his education, and they readily agreed to apply pressure due to the outstanding results they had seen.

The US was no different.

‘If they’re moved by just a bit of tutoring, that’s quite cheap.’

With a little effort on his part, he could crush Griff.

And Isabella...

“Is this enough? I’ve also spoken to my home country to some extent, so they’ll likely participate actively.”

“It’s sufficient. Then, I’ll let you know.”

Heart Fist’s education.

He had requested this public opinion war as one of the prices for it.

Honestly, it was a very cheap price.

‘I can get more of this and that in the future.’

Isabella was also included in the list of those guided by fate. Because of that, it was information he had to share anyway.

So, there was no regret.

It wasn’t even something he had created in the first place.

Gulp.

Isabella swallowed.

“Are you aware that there’s a world beyond the material plane?”

“...A world beyond the material plane?”

“Simply put, Heart Fist is a technique that can only be utilized by transcending the perception of the material plane.”

“How do you transcend perception?”

“It would take a lot of time to do it on your own. It would require countless contemplations. There is one shortcut...”

“Tell me.”

“Ask the Sword Saint for help. After all, seeing such things often is the best way.”

“I’ve asked him many times. But he never taught me.”

“Just a moment.”

Kim Minwoo picked up his smartphone and made a call. Before it rang three times, a familiar voice answered.

— Minwoo?

“Yes, sir. It’s about Isabella. Could you help her with Heart Fist?”

— It’s not difficult. Tell her to come.

“Thank you always, sir.”

— It’s nothing. By the way, I heard the news. You have something going on with the Griff family?

“Yes.”

— Need any help? Will you be okay on your own?

“I’ll be fine. It’s something I have to do alone.”

— Alright. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call.

“Yes, sir. Goodbye.”

— Okay.

The Sword Saint hung up after a cool reply. Kim Minwoo looked at Isabella.

“You can go to the Sword Sect now.”

Isabella blinked.

She had been visiting the Sword Sect almost daily for the past month.

Yet, instead of teaching her the technique, he had only shown her the basics.

With just a single phone call, everything was falling into place.

It was only natural for her to be dumbfounded.

‘Was it this easy?’

In other words, it meant that Kim Minwoo’s influence was so great that it even reached Korea’s top experts.

Anyway.

Kim Minwoo had kept his promise to teach her. He had helped with the public opinion war, but it was a meager price compared to Heart Fist.

Would things quietly settle down now even if they fired a couple of people in charge?

Not a chance.

Sanctions had already begun, and the more Germany tried to protect them, the more damage they would suffer. And the more resentment towards Griff would grow.

The financial and political worlds would also feel the increasing burden of the people’s resentment.

The head butler bit his lip.

He thought of the family head, who was in seclusion training.

“...I have no choice. I’ll go see the family head.”

“Are you sure? He said not to be disturbed by anyone...”

“Is there any other way? If we could solve it with our own power, we would have done so already.”

The executives became silent. Indeed, no one in the family had a higher status than the family head.

This was especially true after he absorbed Han Siah’s talent.

The absolute ruler of Griff.

They desperately needed him now.

The head butler stood up.

In the middle of the family’s territory, a massive 222-story tower stood tall. The family head was undergoing seclusion training at the very top.

After absorbing Han Siah’s immense talent, he had been refining it for a long time.

Because of this ongoing training, hardly anyone visited the 222nd floor.

The head butler approached the door and carefully infused it with mana.

A dark, spider web-like pattern appeared. It was a signal they had set up for emergencies.

Creak.

Thud.

The door opened.

An old man with a pale complexion appeared.

His limbs were thin and withered.

But the pressure emanating from his frail body was beyond imagination.

Gulp.

The head butler, dripping with cold sweat, quickly bowed his head.

“I greet the family head.”

“What is it?”

“We’ve lost Han Siah. And also...”

It was impossible for him to dare lie.

The head butler reported the situation in detail.

After hearing everything, Lucas’s brow furrowed slightly.

He reached out his hand.

The smartphone in the head butler’s hand flew towards him. Lucas, with an impassive face, dialed a number.

A moment later, a voice came through.

It was the Chancellor of Germany, Meckanen.

— Head Butler. I told you not to call unless you had a solution to my problem...

“Meckanen. Who put you in that position?”

— ...Gasp! F-Family Head? Is that you?

“You’ve become a bad dog since I last saw you. Daring to bite your master.”

— T-That’s not it... The situation is just so bad...

“You’ve become quite talkative.”

— I-I apologize!

“Close your eyes and shut your ears. Isn’t that what you do best?”

— ...I’ll keep that in mind.

Click.

Lucas hung up the phone and looked at the head butler.

“I’ll contact the Shadows.”

The head butler gulped.

The Shadows.

They were a secretive organization.

They were so secretive that no one except the family head knew how to contact them.

All the head butler knew was that they worshipped an evil apostle and that their power was beyond imagination.

Especially the evil apostle.

A statue resembling a spider.

It was placed throughout the family’s estate.

Even Lucas would bow his head respectfully and pray to it, showing how powerful it was.

“Will it be alright? They will definitely demand a price...”

“It’ll be too late if we move after the fire spreads. Besides... the apostle’s reaction is unusual.”

Lucas’s gaze turned towards the statue of Hardronox.

While he was in seclusion training, he felt the power of the Shadows within him subtly swirling.

The power had started to rampage as if it was overjoyed.

This had never happened before.

Seeing this, he was certain that something must have happened to the apostle.

However, Lucas didn’t know the reason.

He had received power, but not the ability to communicate.

Only the High Priest within the Shadows could directly communicate with Hardronox.

“In a delicate situation like this, there must be no disruption in communication. It’s important to understand the apostle’s intentions.”

“I understand.”

“You may leave now.”

The head butler bowed his head and left. Lucas was left alone, deep in thought. A faint glow emanated from his eyes.

Soon, he took out a crystal ball.

As he infused it with mana, a figure wearing a dark robe appeared.

It was the High Priest of the Shadows.

[Translator – Prøks]

[Proofreader – Prøks]