Chapter 109: Seeds of Alliance and Shadows of Betrayal

Inside the meeting room, the atmosphere was calm… yet heavy with unspoken tension.

Sinly sat elegantly at the head of the table, holding a porcelain teacup between her slender fingers. Steam rose gently from the surface as she brought it closer to her lips and took a slow, composed sip. Her crimson eyes were half-lidded, observing everything without appearing to do so.

Across from her sat Jinhoo and Min-seo.

Min-seo looked noticeably nervous, her hands resting on her lap as she tried to maintain composure under Sinly’s overwhelming presence. Meanwhile, Jinhoo sat relaxed, his posture steady, patiently waiting for Sinly to finish her tea.

After a few seconds, Sinly placed the teacup back onto its saucer with a soft clink.

Then, she spoke.

“So… can you explain to me why you want me as your ally?”

Jinhoo didn’t hesitate.

“Your strength alone is already a sufficient reason.”

Sinly’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“That is not enough of a reason.”

A faint smile appeared on Jinhoo’s lips.

“I know what the Ifrani race desires,” he said calmly. “You want land of your own… isn’t that right?”

Silence filled the room.

Then—

“…You’re right.”

Sinly leaned back slightly, her expression growing colder.

“For a long time, we have desired a land that belongs to us. A place where our kind can live freely. But humans…” she paused, her grip tightening slightly on the armrest, “…humans have always rejected our existence.”

Min-seo glanced at her, listening closely.

Sinly continued.

“They see us as inferior. As lesser beings. Yes… we were once animals that mutated into human forms when supernatural power entered this world. But we learned. We adapted. We lived like humans… we fought like humans… we even thought like humans.”

Her voice lowered.

“And yet… nothing changed. To them, we are still nothing more than a lower race.”

Jinhoo listened carefully without interrupting.

He understood.

Completely.

The hatred.

The resentment.

It wasn’t born out of nothing.

It was cultivated… over time… through rejection and discrimination.

And that was exactly why—

He knew this would work.

“I can make that happen,” Jinhoo said calmly.

Sinly’s eyes flickered.

“Hmm? What did you just say?”

“I said… I can make that happen.”

“…Are you certain about your own words?”

Jinhoo’s smile didn’t fade.

“Of course. Achieving that is one of the easiest things I can do.”

He paused.

“But… on one condition.”

Sinly leaned forward slightly.

“…What is it?”

“Help me,” Jinhoo said.

“Help me overthrow the International Hero Association.”

The room fell silent again.

Even Min-seo’s eyes widened slightly.

Sinly stared at him.

“Overthrow the International Hero Association…?” she repeated slowly. “Are you serious? Bringing down the largest organization in the world is not the same as toppling a single nation. It’s far more difficult.”

She wasn’t wrong.

The Hero Association had influence across the entire globe.

Countless heroes.

Countless resources.

Countless connections.

Destroying something like that…

Was considered impossible.

But—

Jinhoo had already made his decision.

No matter what it took—

He would tear it down.

And rebuild something new.

“Yes,” he said firmly. “I know exactly what I’m saying. And I’m not afraid of it.”

Sinly stared at him for a moment.

Then—

A sly smile appeared on her face.

“…That’s exactly what makes you so interesting, Mr. Indigo.”

She leaned back again, crossing her legs.

“Very well… I accept your offer.”

Min-seo’s eyes widened in shock.

Jinhoo nodded slightly.

“Good. In the near future, I’ll bring the rest of our allies here. You can all get acquainted.”

Min-seo blinked.

’Other allies!? Does Oppa already have more people on his side…? Since when…?’

A short while later.

Jinhoo and Min-seo walked side by side toward the SUV parked near the forest’s edge.

Min-seo glanced at him.

“Oppa… what do you mean by ’other allies’? Since when have you been gathering people like this?”

Jinhoo opened the car door but paused before getting in.

“I’ve been doing this for a long time,” he said calmly. “It’s necessary… for the future.”

Min-seo looked at him, still surprised.

Meanwhile, Jinhoo’s thoughts ran quietly beneath his composed expression.

’Because in the original story… every single one of them would eventually oppose Lightnova and make her life miserable…’

His eyes darkened slightly.

’And I won’t let that happen.’

*London Airport, England*

private jet had just landed.

The door opened, and a woman stepped out gracefully.

Jade.

She adjusted her sunglasses as she walked forward confidently, her heels echoing against the ground.

Not far from her—

Oceanaria stood.

Or rather…

Barely stood.

Her body looked weak, fragile. Her eyes were dull, almost lifeless, as if all hope had been drained from her.

Jade approached her slowly.

“Oh my… you look absolutely exhausted,” Jade said with a faint smile. “Did those traitors treat you that harshly?”

Oceanaria’s lips trembled slightly.

“…Please…” she whispered weakly. “Take me away from here…”

Her voice was barely audible.

Jade reached out and gently held Oceanaria’s cheek.

“Of course I will,” she said softly. “But… you must show proper respect to our leader when you arrive, understood?”

Oceanaria’s body trembled.

But she nodded.

“I-I will… anything… just please… get me out of this hell…”

Jade’s smile deepened slightly.

*At the hideout of The Obsidian Pact*

Inside a dimly lit meeting room—

Helena sat calmly across from a man dressed in a black robe.

She rested her chin lightly on her hand, her expression unreadable.

“I invited you here personally,” Helena said. “So there’s no need to be overly formal.”

“O-of course, Lady Helena…” the man replied nervously.

“Let’s get to the point.”

The man stiffened immediately.

“I saw the news,” Helena continued. “It seems you failed to make the Angelic Moon Sect and Indigo clash.”

The man lowered his head.

“My apologies… Indigo is far more cunning than we expected. He acts like a detective… disguised as a villain.”

“Hmm… I see.”

Helena didn’t seem angry.

“That’s fine,” she said calmly. “After all… you would never know what kind of person he used to be.”

The man blinked.

“Huh? Do you know him?”

Helena smiled faintly.

“Yes… he’s someone I know very well.”

A faint blush appeared on her cheeks.

The man swallowed nervously.

“I-I see…”

Helena paused for a moment.

Then she spoke again.

“I want you to change your target.”

She placed a photo on the table and slid it toward him.

The man picked it up.

His eyes widened slightly.

It was Ji-hye.

“I want you and your group… to kill her.”

The man hesitated.

“…But… doesn’t she… resemble you, Lady Helena?”

Helena’s smile remained.

“Yes… you’re right.”

She leaned forward slightly.

“She resembles me… no… to be precise… she is my copy.”

The man froze.

“Huh? What do you mean—”

“There’s no need for further explanation,” Helena cut him off. “Do your job. You’ll be paid accordingly.”

The man quickly nodded.

“A-ah… yes… understood…”

He didn’t dare ask more.

Because he knew—

If he pushed further…

He might not leave the room alive.

*At Ji-hye’s house*

Ji-hye was in her room, practicing yoga.

Her movements were smooth and controlled, her body flexible and toned. Sweat glistened on her skin as she focused on her breathing.

But—

Her mind wasn’t at peace.

’Where is he…? It’s been two months… and he hasn’t shown himself at all…’

She shook her head slightly, trying to refocus.

At that moment—

Her phone rang.

She paused, glancing at the caller ID.

Na Yerin.

Ji-hye quickly put on her earphones and answered the call, resuming her yoga poses.

“Hello… what’s up, Yerin unnie?”

“Ah! Ji-hye! I missed you!” Yerin’s voice sounded cheerful. “By the way, have you heard the news?”

“Hmm? What news?”

“Jade—the S-rank hero from America—personally picked up Oceanaria, the S-rank hero from France, in London.”

Ji-hye frowned slightly.

“Eh? What happened?”

“I’m not entirely sure,” Yerin replied. “But apparently, Jade took her to New York.”

“New York? Not back to France?”

“Yeah… from what I heard, Oceanaria herself refused to return to France.”

Ji-hye’s movements slowed.

“…That’s strange.”

“Right? It’s like she knows something dangerous is waiting for her there… and she doesn’t want to go back.”

Ji-hye went silent for a moment.

“I don’t know what’s going on exactly…” she said slowly, “but I have a feeling this is going to turn into something much bigger.”

“Yeah… I feel the same way.”

Ji-hye ended the pose and stood still.

Her expression turned serious.

For now—

She and the others still didn’t know about the darker side of the Hero Association.

But if things continued like this—

Sooner or later—

She would have no choice but to step into it herself.

And uncover the truth.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep