Controlling the Battlefield

"The police have just arrived in the area." Anton looked at the chaos unfolding with a severe headache.

As the cars parked, only Anton got out. Surveying the surroundings, he said, "Clear the area and clean up the crime scene; target identified."

Anton, holding the black eye, looked into the distance at a silhouette. His gaze passed through police officers, and before he could see what was watching him, a man approached his side.

"Sir, I'm Detective Tony; we met before at the crime scene. I'm quite curious, and it seems this series of murders concerns you. Is it related to something you're investigating?"

In this perplexing situation, Tony wanted to know where these crimes truly originated, knowing that Anton had the answer but was reluctant to share it.

There were about five murders in which the corpses withered completely. No chemical substance could achieve that in such a short time, and the problem was that the suspects ended up being victims.

"You don't have the authority to know. All of this is classified," Anton said as he walked toward the corpse hidden in a pipe's mouth.

Apparently, this was the fourth victim, and the demon's power would be growing stronger each time, reaching a point where dealing with it could become a significant problem.

"Is it a biological weapon?"

"Perhaps."

"How many more will die?"

Anton turned around and looked at Tony, who seemed very interested in the case. He said, "You must have a bad idea of who we are or if we take this job seriously, but don't investigate this case any further and take care of what I told you."

"Sir, we'll start with the cleanup," Terry approached to report after all personnel were moved away.

Anton nodded, walked away, and let the Association of Light personnel take over. "Listen carefully, Mr. Tony; don't get involved in this case anymore, or you will die."

"Let's go!"

Now the essential thing was to return to the Association of Light's base, secure the black eye on the lower floors, and start hunting the demon before it came after them. As long as they controlled the field, there would be no excessive losses.

Upon boarding the van, Tony could see Anton being followed by a heavily armed group, which was strange in this country.

"What the hell is happening?"

Association of Light Bases.

The surroundings were the farthest from the city center. Here in the north of Daegu, a government building served as the association's strategic location to control the entire city.

"[Issue a protection order; all logistics personnel except the essential ones must leave the premises.]"

"Red containment alert, expecting a possible attack from a special-class dark entity. All non-essential personnel must evacuate the facilities and await orders. [Containment teams must take their positions.] "

As Anton glanced at the staff rapidly leaving the building, he walked without paying much attention to an elevator at the back of the building.

"[Identification confirmed, Guardian Bishop, welcome to the 23,374th base of the Association of Light.]"

"Terry, place the cursed object in the safest place in the base," Anton said while taking off his jacket and entering a gigantic room with numerous security cameras.

"Understood, sir!"

"Sir, do we expect an attack from the demon?" A captain from the last group at the rear asked.

Anton looked at the man and nodded. "The demon should come after I've killed the seven victims who have been marked. If the detectives manage to find out who these victims are before they die, then we can do something for them."

"[Maximum alert: all personnel must wear special breathing masks, expecting an attack of all natures.]"

In a state of maximum alert at an association base, the tasks were simple: protect and eliminate. If everyone in the base died, then the last defense mechanism would be activated—a self-destruction where the demon, now in physical form, would likely perish.

But Anton was sure this was the best way to eliminate the dark entity. He would personally be on the middle floor of the facility, where nothing would happen besides him.

"When do you think it will come?" Yoshio, who was putting on a bulletproof vest, asked.

Anton was lying down, wanting to sleep, so he said, "It will come after I've killed the seven victims who have been marked. If the detectives manage to find out who these victims are before they die, then we can do something for them."

"Guardian, we have a report. Except for essential personnel, 400 people remain in the facility, of which 250 are field personnel, 50 are exorcists, and the rest are logistics agents."

"Good, everyone rest and await orders."

"Understood..."

Jayden looked at Harry and asked, "Are we just going to wait?"

"It seems that's the intention of these people. We can only stay quiet and watch how they work."