Rome’s Saintess V

"…You're quite late."

Once Ohjin knocked on the door of a worn-out house, a middle-aged man with disheveled gray hair came out.

He had a skinny body and notably high-strung eyes hidden within his thick glass lenses.

"The way here was very complicated."

"You should have called me."

"I took time to look around to get used to the streets."

Ohjin gave simple excuses and entered his house.

The interior of the house, which seemed to be around 100 square meters, was thoroughly organized to the point that it seemed medical.

The sofa, TV, simple utensils, and even trifling items were all angled to perfection.

'I got the idea of what kind of personality he has.'

It was fortunate.

Rather than a lazy and laid-back informant, an informant who was morbidly thorough was more trustworthy.

"What information do you need?" asked Paolo suddenly without any sort of introduction.

"I need information about the Black Star Organization."

"The Black Star Organization… please wait for a moment."

Paolo went into a room and came out with a bunch of documents.

"Can you read this?"

"No."

Ohjin was able to hear and talk with the help of the translation device, but reading and writing were impossible.

"Then I'll reprint the Korean ones for you."

"There are ones that are in Korean?"

"I've been exchanging info with the Valhalla guild for a fairly long time, after all."

Paolo lent out the freshly printed documents.

Ohjin read through the document that contained information about the Black Star Organization.

'Starting from a couple of months back, they've been increasing their forces in the underworld by pushing out the territory of the Marco Family?'

'Marco Family?'

"What's the Marco Family that's written here?"

"They're a mafia organization that ruled the entire underworld of Italy before the Black Star Organization appeared."

"Hmm."

'A mafia organization…'

"They're infamous for being extremely brutal. They will kill not only Awakeners but also civilians without hesitation if they're not to their liking."

"Then are you saying that the Black Star Organization pushed out the Marco Family?"

"Not completely. After all, the Marco Family is a powerful group that not even those 'Seven Stars' can recklessly face."

"Excuse me?"

'The Seven Stars? What kind of mafia group is able to defy the Seven Stars?'

"…Hm. It appears that I must first explain about the Marco Family."

Paolo raised his thick glasses and continued.

"Marco Giorno. He's the current boss that leads the Marco Family. Have you heard of his name before?"

Marco Giorno…

Ohjin remembered his name from when it appeared on the news a couple of times a while back.

—A high-rank Awakener.

—An existence that had managed to reach or surpass the 9-Star rank that was considered to be in the realm of a non-human.

…That kind of being was leading the mafia organization.

"…Yes. I've heard it before."

"You might not know because you're Korean, but he was the very person who reigned over Italy like a king before the Black Star Organization appeared."

Paolo frowned like it was unpleasant.

"He's a cruel and vicious person; he is also the reason why Italy wasn't able to be designated as a 'safe country' despite highly dangerous gates being scarce, unlike Korea."

He was a human akin to a monster that hunted down and tore up flesh.

'Well, not that it's uncommon.'

Even before monsters appeared, several thousand years of history showed that the biggest natural enemy of humans was humans themselves.

"In any case, the situation has changed a lot ever since the Black Star Organization appeared. Marco Giorno, who previously acted without the tiniest bit of fear, is now in hiding without being able to make a sound."

"…"

'Wait a second… why does his opinion of the Black Star Organization sound so positive?'

At this point, it was hard to imagine that they were the organization that had the insane goal of killing every single Awakener.

'No way…'

Ohjin's face stiffened.

"Um… how is the public opinion of the Black Star Organization in Italy?" he asked.

"What do you think?"

Paolo looked at him like he was asking the obvious.

"Of course, people of all ages and genders are praising the Black Star Organization. Especially the Romani, it's to the point where they now gather up and train in order to join the Black Star Organization."

"Ha."

Ohjin involuntarily chuckled at how absurd it sounded.

The opinion about the Black Star Organization was the complete opposite of how it was in Korea.

'Is this what they planned?'

One could think that their collision was inevitable, as they were both organizations that acted in the dark, but the Black Star Organization could have also acted with the goal of getting recognition from the start.

'It's not implausible.'

It was the same for scamming.

—Rather than being considered evil to others, existing while being perceived as good would be several times more advantageous.

If the Black Star Organization had thought everything through and pushed out the biggest 'villain' to the Italians, the Marco Family…

'They're considerably intelligent.'

Most of the time, idiots took the role of villains when heroes could receive the most benefits.

'No…'

To be more accurate, the 'villians that pretend to be heroes' were granted the most benefits.

"…What a pain."

"A pain?"

"Ah, it's nothing."

Ohjin shook his head and avoided answering.

"Then, changing up the question… have you heard of a group known as the Pseudo Star Cult?"

"Pseudo Star Cult… no. I've never heard of them before," answered Paolo as he shook his head.

'Not even Paolo knows?'

Ohjin narrowed his eyes.

He didn't expect much from Kim Sunyoung, but he thought that at least Paolo would know about the Pseudo Star Cult.

'Just who the hell are they?'

Perhaps they were a group that wasn't even created yet.

'Or maybe they've thoroughly hid themselves, even more than the Black Star Organization.'

Those were both plausible answers.

In other words…

'Currently, there's nothing I can do to find out about them.'

Ohjin decided to forget about the Pseudo Star Cult for the moment.

"I've heard from the Valhalla guild that the Black Star Organization was witnessed frequently near 'Rome's Saintess'."

"Ah, that is the truth."

Paolo nodded.

"We can't say for sure as the Black Star Organization isn't that well-known in public yet, however… it's true that they've been showing up strangely frequently near her."

"And were there assassination attempts every time?"

"Yes, that's right. The times they took place nearly match up, as well."

Paolo nodded his head.

'Indeed.'

The Black Star Organization was targeting her.

While wearing the mask of a hero, they were secretly disposing of the beings that were a hindrance to their plans.

"Then could you tell me of all the locations where the Black Star Organization was witnessed?"

Ohjin needed to investigate all he could before the 30th.

"Of course."

Paolo took out a map and pointed out where the Black Star Organization was witnessed in chronological order.

There was definitely a large amount of unusual movement from the Black Star Organization near the Colagrande House.

"Up to here is all I know. And…"

Paolo continued with a voice that was filled with confidence.

"At least in Rome, it'll be extremely hard to obtain information that isn't already known by me."

'What incredible confidence, though he isn't wrong.'

Ohjin activated the stigma of the Hunting Dogs and sensed the presence of the ones nearby.

It seemed that Paolo was alone at first glance, but in reality, hundreds of his agents were scattered out, surrounding the entire apartment.

'His skills don't seem that bad either.'

It would be difficult to find an information organization that exceeded his magnitude.

"I understand. Thank you for helping me."

"It's my pleasure. If it's the Valhalla guild's request, this much is nothing."

Paolo put on a faint smile and got up from his spot.

"Then I shall contact you again once I have more questions."

"Yes."

After exiting Paolo's house, Ohjin used the map he gave to move to where the Black Star Organization had been witnessed.

The time left until Isabella's death was six days.

There wasn't much time.

Dazzle—

[What are you doing?]

The silver pendant shined as Vega appeared.

She flew up and sat down on the top of Ohjin's head like it was her designated seat and looked down at the map.

"I'm in the middle of changing a page of destiny."

[Hmm?]

Vega opened her eyes wide.

"A 'Saintess' will be assassinated here in six days."

Ohjin briefly explained about Isabella and the Black Star Organization, in addition to the calamity that would happen two years in the future.

[Indeed. So you are planning on saving the child known as a Saintess in order to prevent a future calamity.]

"There's that, and… I'm going to get the Saintess on our side."

Ohjin was certain her power that opposed demon beasts would be a great help in his fight with the Black Star Organization.

[Fufu. As expected of my child… That sounds like a great idea.]

Vega patted his head like she was proud.

"In regards to that, Vega…"

[Hm? Is there something you would like to request of this lady?]

"Try to avoid materializing yourself during this operation."

[…Why is that?]

Vega asked as she narrowed her eyes.

"You might need to use your power this time."

As Lee Woohyuk cautioned, the current operation was extremely dangerous.

'I don't have a single clue on how powerful the forces of the Black Star Organization are here.'

It wasn't likely, but in the worst-case scenario, the 'Executor' that led them could move personally.

'And if that happens, I'll have no choice but to rely on Vega's blessing.'

Even if it was impossible to win in a fight with her blessing, it would at least be possible to escape.

[…So you are saying to preserve my power in preparation for an emergency.]

"Yeah," Ohjin nodded.

"Preserve as much power as you can, and grant me a blessing right away once I call you."

[Alright.]

Ohjin didn't want to give such a request when thinking of the horrifying pain Vega would have to feel after granting a blessing, but…

'It can't be helped.'

He needed at least some sort of insurance.

[Call this lady whenever you're placed in a dangerous situation.]

"Well, the best-case scenario is if I save Isabella without having to call you, so let's hope it doesn't come to that."

[Hmm. Still, you mustn't overexert yourself.]

Vega pulled on his hair with a crumpled expression.

[Even if it's in order to change destiny, you must keep in mind that it's all meaningless if you get hurt!]

"Haha! Alright."

'She worries too much.'

[Then I shall stay dematerialized until then and preserve my power.]

"I'm counting on you."

Vega returned back into the necklace.

"Well then…"

Ohjin spread the map out wide and continued his investigation.

'Starting from where the assassination attempt could take place…'

And, in the worst-case scenario, planning a route for his escape.

"There's a lot to do."

Ohjin diligently focused on his work.

—six days had passed.

The day for when a new page in destiny would be written had dawned.