On a dark and silent night, strong winds made the trees around sway their leaves and branches. In the heart of the forest, an abandoned factory lay hidden, accessible only to those who dared venture deep among the trees. The factory’s history was not particularly interesting; it had been closed after an investigation.


    The place no longer met the requirements to continue operating, and the case had dragged on for over fifteen years. So much time had passed that the investigation was probably forgotten, perhaps even discarded like a piece of paper in a trash can. However, it was precisely this obscurity that made the factory a point of interest for those wishing to remain in the shadows.


    Footsteps echoed against the factory walls, making the already eerie atmosphere even more horrifying and terrifying. The person in question wore a typical cleaning worker’s outfit, and their bangs were long enough to partially cover their face.


    The man raised his gaze, revealing, beneath the long bangs, black eyes that conveyed no emotion whatsoever. In fact, he seemed utterly devoid of something essential to any human being. In the deep black eyes of the man, there were no traces of humanity or will; only a faint desire glimmered, almost like a spark in the void.


    The man advanced through the abandoned factory until he reached the area where the machines were located. The space was vast, but rust and neglect were evident in every corner. The atmosphere was oppressive, as if at any moment, a monster could emerge from the shadows.


    Amidst this, two more footsteps echoed, and the man turned his gaze toward the source of the sound, which came from the back of the factory. However, no hint of fear showed on his face; in fact, he appeared completely impassive, as cold as ice.


    “Ah! Boss, you’ve already arrived? I apologize for the delay; some unexpected things came up, you know how it is”


    Upon hearing the man’s words, the woman turned to him, raising an eyebrow in disdain. She stared at him with such a frosty look that, if she had a superpower, it would certainly be to freeze everything in her sight.


    “Unexpected things? You stopped halfway just because you wanted an ice cream, you idiot!”


    A female and a male voice echoed in the dark space. Oliver briefly lifted his gaze toward both. Although there had been no tension before, that simple glance brought a biting chill to the place, causing both the man and the woman to lower their heads.


    “Forgive us, Mr. Oliver. We promise not to repeat this mistake again”


    Both knew when it was time to relax and when they should act seriously. Instinctively, they felt that at that moment, it was time to behave gravely. Oliver, looking at the two with a cold expression, sighed before pulling out a photo.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    “Forget it. It doesn’t matter to me. Anyway, take a look at this photo”


    The man and woman exchanged a brief glance before lifting their heads and fixing their eyes on the photo Oliver held. Their eyes widened at the sight of the image, but soon were replaced with fervent expressions of desire.


    “Sir... could this be?”


    Oliver remained silent, simply nodding at the woman’s question as a rare smile spread across his face. Seeing this expression, the man and woman froze, as if their hearts were immersed in a mix of fear and admiration.


    “That’s right! The savior we’ve been waiting for has finally arrived! Our long wait is over. Although brief, I managed to catch a glimpse of him. Ah, haha, ahahahaha!”


    Deafening and maniacal screams echoed through the depths of the factory. Both the man and the woman kept their eyes fixed on the man who was laughing crazily, a laugh that blended fear and admiration. It was as if those poor sheep looked at their shepherd, the shepherd who was now guiding them to their final destination.


    “It was simply fantastic! Although it was brief, I glimpsed a fragment of his immense and immeasurable power. It was just as we expected: a blank page, ready to be filled with our desires. If we feed it, we will finally achieve our ultimate goal”


    Both the man and the woman changed their expressions, reflecting a mix similar to Oliver’s: a combination of admiration and madness, dancing in perfect harmony in their eyes.


    “So, should we proceed to the second phase of our plan, sir?”


    When the woman asked the question, Oliver, with an expression of anticipation on his face, rested his hand on his chin, briefly reflecting on the matter. Although the moment seemed perfect, he shook his head in denial of the woman’s words.


    “It wouldn’t be wise to rush, Sophie. While the plan worked, it was only due to [Him] being by our side. Besides, that researcher, Emily, seemed quite perceptive when I passed her in one of the facility’s corridors. It’s quite possible she has already figured out that [Shadow]’s escape from its containment room was my doing”


    Upon hearing this, Sophie and the man beside her exchanged worried glances. It was he who spoke to Oliver, seeking to clarify his doubt.


    “But Oliver, if that’s the case, hasn’t your true identity been leaked to them?”


    Oliver heard the man’s words with a subtle smile, not because he found the question amusing, but because he himself had pondered that before initiating his infiltration plan into the organization.


    “Don’t worry, Edward, they wouldn’t be able to, even if they tried. Other members of ours have already infiltrated the organization. We chose the perfect moment for my entry, when Emily Parker would be most susceptible to mistakes. Thanks to [Him], she probably no longer remembers my appearance. Furthermore, even if she tries to gather information about me, all data will be masked and swapped, making it impossible for her to do anything but go in circles”


    Though Oliver’s method was simple, often, the most direct approaches are the most effective. People are complex, yet at the same time, simple. By identifying their weaknesses or what makes them vulnerable, it becomes easy to manipulate them as desired.


    Sophie and Edward, who were paying attention to every word Oliver spoke, reaffirmed their convictions that they were on the right side. After all, neither of them wanted to be an enemy of the intimidating man before them.