Chapter 367: Chapter 367

A fierce crackling sound, accompanied by a shower of sparks, echoed through the air.

And then, massive chunks of reinforced concrete, seemingly too heavy for a single person to lift, began to rise into the air, defying gravity.

It was an awe-inspiring sight, the sheer scale of the phenomenon enough to make those watching from below gasp in shock.

The massive debris, floating effortlessly, began to stack neatly in a corner of the devastated area.

And then, as the last piece of concrete settled into place, the spectacle ended.

“Huu, where to next?”

Yoon Ji-yoon, the branch manager of the Returnee Association, the one responsible for this impressive display of power, casually spoke, ignoring the awestruck gazes of the people around her.

She didn’t have time for distractions.

-“That was the last one. Thank you for your hard work, Branch Manager.”

“…Really? Are there any other urgent matters?”

-“No, not at the moment. We’re still cleaning up, but there’s nothing that requires your immediate attention.”

Her tense expression softened slightly as she received her secretary’s report through her bone conduction headphones.

She had been moving non-stop for hours, zipping across the city like a bolt of lightning, dealing with the aftermath of the terrorist attacks.

And now, she could finally take a break.

She stretched her stiff limbs, a sigh escaping her lips.

What in the world had just happened?

‘A terrorist attack of this scale… This wasn’t something that could have been planned overnight.’

And as she relaxed, the thoughts she had been suppressing began to surface.

The identity and motives of the perpetrators, the aftermath of the incident, and the necessary countermeasures…

Each one a potential headache.

“This is already giving me a headache.”

She shook her head, trying to distract herself.

She would have to deal with those problems eventually.

There was no point in worrying about it now.

‘The Blood Alliance’s vampires were a great help. If it wasn’t for them, the villains who tried to exploit the chaos would have caused even more damage.’

And Heinz’s contribution was even greater.

He had not only participated in the rescue efforts, but also kept the other underworld factions in check.

It had been a wise decision to cooperate with them.

‘And there were several other promising individuals as well.’

She recalled the Awakened individuals who had distinguished themselves during the crisis.

Some were already known to her, but there were also many new faces.

‘Is the Supernatural Management Bureau even doing their job properly? There are so many unregistered Awakened…’

To think there were so many hidden talents!

She hadn’t had time to contact them personally, but she couldn't be fooled. She could sense everything within a radius of several kilometers through her subtle electrical currents.

‘Where were they hiding all this time? It would be nice if they all joined the Association. Especially…’

And among them, two individuals had caught her attention.

A spirit summoner, an incredibly rare type of Awakened on Earth, and a mysterious figure in a strange metal suit, zipping through the air.

‘And the spirit summoner… even I couldn’t easily defeat him. How many times has this happened?’

Another unregistered transcendent, appearing out of nowhere in Korea.

She wasn't sure if she should be happy or worried.

“…I’ll inform the media.”

“Now, let’s move on to the next item. The estimated damages so far…”

But the government had already made a decision.

They needed to quickly shift the public’s attention away from the tragedy, to boost morale and inspire hope.

Korean heroes rising to the occasion amidst adversity—.

That was their narrative.

Creating heroes was the best way to inspire patriotism and unite the people.

-Wow, is that even human?

-Thank you! Thank you for saving my father!

-I want that suit! Where can I buy it? Is it a magic tool? Does Howard Industry sell it?

And it was surprisingly effective.

The sudden terrorist attacks in Seoul left deep scars on Korean society.

Astronomical property damage, countless casualties, and the resulting trauma…

Despite the swift response of the government, the Association, Pantheon, and other organizations, the number of victims was still being tallied, and the related agencies were overwhelmed.

It was fortunate that they had managed to stabilize the situation within a few hours, preventing the declaration of martial law.

Naturally, the entire country, and even the international community, was focused on Seoul,

…eager to learn more about the incident.

And the media, following the government’s instructions, began to subtly shift the narrative.

A martial artist, his body wreathed in Ki, entering a burning building to rescue children.

A mage, summoning a torrent of water to extinguish the flames.

A psychic, using telekinesis to transport civilians to safety.

A priest, protecting survivors with a barrier just before a chain explosion.

The focus shifted from the tragedy to the heroic actions of those who had responded to the crisis.

Naturally, the individuals mentioned in the media became the center of attention, and those who had displayed particularly impressive feats were showered with praise and admiration.

-It’s amazing how he extinguished the flames so quickly.

-I was more impressed by the earth manipulation. Lifting people out of the rubble like that… and the look on their faces when they realized they were safe lol.

-I was more touched by the ordinary people who risked their lives to help others. I almost cried.

-Wait, does anyone know about that power suit? It shoots lasers! And it vaporized a wall with a single shot! What is that?!

Numerous heroes were born amidst the chaos.

Photos and videos circulated online, and reporters rushed to interview the survivors.

-“How did you feel at the time?”

-“I was terrified. I could hear the building collapsing, and the smoke was so thick I couldn’t see anything outside. The door to the rooftop was locked, and I thought I was going to die…”

-“And then the man in the power suit appeared and saved you.”

-“Yes! He suddenly burst through the wall and reached out to us, and these black threads wrapped around me and the others who were trapped…”

The mysterious hero in a metal suit, like a character straight out of a movie, was a perfect subject for the media.

His heroic actions and his… romantic appearance naturally captured the public’s imagination.

-Someone compiled a list of the ‘Iron Man’s’ estimated specs.

-Supersonic flight, zero to sixty in less than a second, a full-body energy shield, no-delay laser beam barrage, laser swords that cut through steel like paper, and energy wires that extend indefinitely from his right hand lol.

-He even lifted a collapsing building with one hand while flying. And his movements are so efficient. As if he knows exactly where to go and what to do.

-Wait, considering his appearance and the timing of his arrival… Did Howard Industry create him?

And so, the attention shifted to Howard Industry, a mysterious company that had recently been established.

A new company claiming to custom-make high-grade magic tools, and a superhero appearing shortly after their debut…

It was a suspicious combination.

-Can we request them to make one for us?

-They accept elixirs as payment. But it’ll probably cost a fortune.

-Is that suit actually a combination of multiple high-grade magic tools? The arms, legs, head… If that’s true, how much would it cost?

Some were close to the truth.

Of course, the Titan suit, powered by an Ancient Dragon’s heart and requiring a high-end AI-equipped 「Cybernetic Eye: Callicas」 to operate, couldn't be sold to the public.

It was practically a miniature spaceship in human form, a Special-grade magic tool.

‘Well, it’s good publicity. I might as well officially make Titan Howard Industry’s mascot.’

It would help alleviate the skepticism of those who were still doubtful after seeing Mjolnir at the showcase.

‘Of course, we’ll have to postpone our expansion plans for now. We’ll a large sum of money to improve our image… and provide some potions for disaster relief.’

Money wasn’t a problem for him anymore.

The wealth he had accumulated in two different worlds was beyond measure.

Especially Hans, the Immortal King, and Horus, who had inherited the 「Golden Treasury」. They had mountains of gold and jewels.

‘I should also make a donation in the name of the Blood Alliance. It’s a good opportunity to improve their image.’

The Blood Alliance’s contribution to the disaster relief efforts was also becoming known.

It was a chance to change the public’s perception of vampires.

Of course, most people would still be wary of them… but it was a step in the right direction.

‘Right, that takes care of that… Now, what about this?’

A series of beeps and boops echoed through the room.

Hesperon, clad in the full Titan suit, stood in the center, wires extending from his shoulders and connecting to various devices.

‘These aren’t ordinary devices. This is taking longer than I expected.’

He was in the Heaven’s Turn Society hideout, located beneath the DMZ.

A place filled with the remnants of their presence.

He had used 「In the Hero’s Footsteps」 to bypass their security and infiltrate the facility, hoping to extract any remaining information.

His main body, having used Hans’s 「Individual Projection」, had already extracted their memories and returned home.

Heinz the Second and the Blood Alliance, who controlled Korea’s underworld, were more than enough to deal with the remaining members.

After what felt like an eternity,

…a message, the one he had been waiting for, finally appeared on his HUD.

Normally, even with a high-end AI like 「Cybernetic Eye: Callicas」, it wouldn't have been possible to hack these devices, especially those incorporating technology from another world.

After all, it was originally designed as a prosthetic eye, not a hacking tool.

But Howard’s 「Technological Revolution」 and 「Artisan’s Soul」 had broken those limitations.

And Hesperon’s 「Chains of the Oath」 had transformed it from a mere device into an extension of his own body, a skill in itself.

「Cybernetic Eye: Callicas」 wasn’t just a separate device, it was a part of him, evolving alongside him, benefiting from his avatar’s growth bonuses and the effects of the “Growth Elixir”.

‘And with Titan, a miniature spaceship, as the hardware, it’s even more powerful.’

These devices were probably provided for their secret mission.

He didn’t expect to find anything valuable from low-ranking members like these…

But memory extraction wasn’t perfect, so any additional information was welcome.

He might even find something unexpected.

Hesperon’s eyes widened as he reviewed the information displayed on his HUD.

He had found a clue in their database.

Information about Heaven’s Turn Society’s Southeast Asia branch, another of their key locations.