Chapter 362: Hunting Ground!!
The conversation at the table became noticeably quieter after Johanna excused herself to retrieve the blank sheet of paper Light had requested earlier.
As she disappeared into the crowd, Thea looked around to make sure no one was close enough to overhear them.
Only then did she lower her voice.
"You mean..."
"He was part of the WEB?"
Light nodded once.
"Yes."
"I don’t know what position he held."
"But I’m certain of one thing."
"He has a personal grudge against them."
Thea slowly leaned back in her chair.
"I never expected that."
She looked genuinely surprised.
"I wonder what they did..."
"To make him hate them that much."
Light calmly stirred his coffee.
"I can’t answer that."
"Only he knows."
He looked toward the crowded dining hall.
"But whatever the WEB is doing now..."
"It will shake the entire underworld."
Thea immediately looked at him.
"How do you know?"
A faint smile appeared beneath the white mask.
"I happened to discover a few things."
He paused before continuing.
"But that’s exactly why this concerns me."
"I cannot stand by and watch a criminal organization grow into something capable of threatening the entire world."
His voice remained calm.
Almost emotionless.
Yet every word carried conviction.
"Power is dangerous."
"So is money."
"When both gather inside the wrong organization..."
"The consequences are unimaginable."
He continued quietly.
"An organization that accepts contract killings from other criminals..."
"Doesn’t simply create victims."
"It creates massacres."
"It encourages wars between syndicates."
"It destabilizes countries."
"It turns human lives into transactions."
Thea silently listened.
Light’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"What worries me most..."
"Is that intelligence agencies across the world seem completely unaware."
He slowly shook his head.
"A scandal lasting for over decades..."
"Cannot remain hidden without help."
"Someone inside the system..."
"Has been protecting it."
He looked directly at Thea.
"What do you know about it?"
Thea lowered her eyes.
"...Unfortunately..."
"Nothing."
She sounded frustrated.
"The WEB has many layers."
"Too many."
"I’m practically at the bottom."
"I manage the public-facing operations."
"Anything involving senior leadership..."
"Never reaches me."
She sighed quietly.
"But..."
"I think the Grandmaster already knows."
"And..."
"I believe he’s planning something."
Light nodded.
"That’s why I’m staying out of it."
"I’m only collecting information."
He looked toward the large windows overlooking Frankfurt.
"But Thea..."
"If the Grandmaster ever finds himself cornered..."
"And needs help..."
"I’ll be there."
Thea looked at him in surprise.
"You would?"
Light smiled gently.
"Even if he’s a foreigner."
"Even if he has lived under another identity for years."
"He married my grandmother’s sister."
"He never betrayed that family."
"He fulfilled my grandfather’s wishes."
"He protected him for years."
"I don’t think..."
"He’s a bad man."
Thea smiled for the first time since the conversation had become serious.
"No."
"He isn’t."
Her answer carried complete certainty.
After a brief silence...
Light remembered something.
"You mentioned earlier..."
"Your dream."
"To become free."
Thea looked down at the untouched slice of Pizza.
She smiled faintly.
"The Grandmaster promised me..."
"My freedom."
"After all of this ends."
She slowly exhaled.
"I think..."
"The time has finally come."
She looked out toward the bright afternoon sky beyond the windows.
"I’ve already thought about where I’d go."
Light waited patiently.
"Star Harbor."
"I fell in love with that city."
"It felt..."
She searched for the right word.
"...Peaceful."
"For the first time in years..."
"I felt like I could simply walk without worrying who was watching me."
Light smiled.
"I think you’ll like living there."
Before either of them could continue...
Johanna returned carrying several sheets of blank paper.
She walked over to the table.
"Mr. Light."
"Here’s the paper you asked for."
Light accepted it.
"Thank you."
He reached into his pocket and produced a fountain pen.
Instead of writing ordinary words...
He began writing seemingly meaningless combinations of letters, symbols and numbers.
The writing flowed naturally.
Almost effortlessly.
Johanna watched with complete confusion.
It looked nothing like any language she had ever seen.
After finishing, Light folded the paper once.
Then slid it across the table toward Thea.
She unfolded it.
Her eyebrows immediately lifted.
"...This is?"
Light smiled.
"This will help you obtain the Blue Stone you liked in today’s catalogue."
Thea looked up in disbelief.
"How..."
"How do you know about that?"
Light simply shrugged.
"I thought I was supposed to be the Genius."
Thea couldn’t help laughing.
"Fair enough."
She carefully folded the paper and slipped it into her handbag.
"Thank you."
She stood from her chair.
"I’ll see both of you tonight."
"At the Grand Auction."
Light nodded.
"See you tonight."
Thea gave Johanna a polite smile before walking away through the crowded dining hall.
Johanna continued watching her until she disappeared among the guests.
Only then did she turn back toward Light.
"What exactly was that?"
"And..."
"Will it really help her obtain that Blue Stone?"
Light answered casually.
"They’re bank credentials."
Johanna nearly choked on her drink.
"Bank..."
"Credentials?"
She stared at him.
"Mr. Light..."
"Are you really that rich?"
"I distinctly remember hearing you say you weren’t fond of materialistic things."
Light looked genuinely puzzled.
"When did I say that to you?"
Johanna blinked.
"..."
She replayed the earlier conversation in her mind.
Then sighed helplessly.
"...Right."
"You never actually said it to me."
Light smiled innocently.
She pointed at him.
"You deliberately sent me away."
"You wanted to discuss something privately with Princess Thea."
Light didn’t deny it.
"You’re quite intelligent."
Johanna sighed once more.
"I don’t know whether that’s a compliment anymore."
Light stood from his chair.
"Come on."
"We still have work to do."
Elsewhere...
Princess Thea returned to her private chamber.
She closed the door behind her before removing the folded paper from her handbag.
Curiosity quickly replaced her composed expression.
She unfolded it again.
Rows of coded symbols covered the page.
Her eyes widened.
"How..."
"How does he know the WEB’s code language?"
She carefully reread the first line.
This time...
She mentally translated it.
"Give this to Senior Nine."
"I’ll purchase the Blue Stone for you."
The corners of her lips slowly lifted.
"I understand the first sentence..."
She continued reading.
Her smile gradually faded.
"...But these remaining lines..."
"They aren’t WEB codes."
She frowned thoughtfully.
"No..."
"They’re different."
She compared the writing with several code systems she had memorized over the years.
Then realization slowly dawned.
"...Could these be..."
"Graveyard codes?"
She quietly leaned back in her chair.
"Do I really know anything about him?"
For someone who always seemed one step ahead...
The man called Light remained wrapped in mystery.
She folded the note again.
A small laugh escaped her.
"Well..."
"A free Blue Stone isn’t a bad bargain."
"Especially after helping him today."
She looked toward the window overlooking Frankfurt again.
Her thoughts drifted toward another man.
"Grandmaster..."
She softly whispered to herself,
"What exactly..."
"Is your relationship with the WEB?"
Star HarborPearl Villa
Rain gently tapped against the large glass windows of Pearl Villa.
Inside...
The villa felt warm.
Peaceful.
The comforting aroma of freshly prepared hot cocoa filled the kitchen.
Elena carefully poured the steaming drink into elegant ceramic mugs before placing them on a wooden tray.
Across the kitchen island...
Chloe rested her chin on one hand as she watched the rain outside.
She let out a small sigh.
"He hasn’t even contacted me, Mom."
Elena smiled knowingly.
She walked over and gently ruffled Chloe’s hair.
"Don’t worry."
"He already told us there would be days when he couldn’t contact anyone."
She placed one mug before Chloe.
"Mona called earlier."
"He’s safe."
"That’s all that matters."
Chloe nodded.
"I know."
"But..."
She smiled helplessly.
"I still miss him."
Elena didn’t tease her.
Instead...
She quietly pushed the warm mug a little closer.
"Here."
"Drink before it gets cold."
Chloe wrapped both hands around the mug.
The comforting warmth spread through her fingers.
She smiled.
"Hot cocoa..."
"It reminds me of Paris."
Elena looked curious.
"Oh?"
Chloe stared into the rising steam.
"It was the first treat he ever bought for me."
"It was raining that day too."
Elena laughed softly.
"So that’s why."
She shook her head with amusement.
"I was wondering why he specifically asked me to make hot cocoa that day."
She looked toward the rain outside.
"It was raining then as well."
"I suppose..."
"He was remembering that day."
Chloe smiled quietly.
"He always remembers the little things."
Elena couldn’t help smiling.
"That boy..."
"He hides his feelings well."
"But he expresses them in the smallest ways."
She reached toward another plate.
"And because hot cocoa shouldn’t be lonely..."
She placed several freshly made churros beside Chloe.
"Have these too."
The warm cinnamon sugar filled the air with an inviting aroma.
Chloe laughed.
"I’m starting to worry."
"I think I’m getting too spoiled, Mom."
Elena smiled warmly.
"And what’s wrong with that?"
She gently touched Chloe’s cheek.
"I enjoy taking care of my children."
The word children made Chloe’s heart feel unexpectedly warm.
She dipped one churro into the hot cocoa before taking a bite.
Her eyes immediately brightened.
"Mmm..."
"So good."
Before she could take another bite...
Two familiar voices echoed from the hallway.
"I smell cocoa!"
"Me too!"
A second later...
Asher and Hope appeared in the Living room.
Both looked around dramatically.
Hope crossed her arms.
"I knew someone was hiding snacks."
Asher pointed accusingly toward Chloe.
"Big Sis, You started without us."
Elena laughed.
"Relax."
"I made enough for both of you."
She pointed toward the remaining mugs.
"Come."
"Join your sister-in-law."
Hope immediately looked toward Chloe.
She pouted dramatically.
"Big Sis..."
"That’s not fair."
"You didn’t invite us."
Chloe laughed.
"I didn’t know I needed invitations."
She picked up another churro.
"Come here."
She held it toward Hope.
"Have a bite."
Hope happily leaned forward.
"Mmm!"
"So good!"
Asher immediately protested.
"That’s favoritism."
"What about me?"
Chloe laughed again before handing him another churro.
"You too."
Asher grinned triumphantly.
"I knew Big Sis loved me more."
Hope immediately nudged him.
"Dream on."
The siblings immediately started arguing over whose churro looked bigger.
Elena simply watched the scene with a peaceful smile.
"I heard Germany doesn’t really have a monsoon season."
Chloe nodded.
"It doesn’t."
"France doesn’t either."
She watched the raindrops race down the window.
"But..."
"It still rains."
"And somehow..."
"It brings different emotions."
Elena smiled thoughtfully.
"The rainy season here is almost over."
She looked toward the maple trees lining the driveway.
"Soon..."
"The maple leaves will begin changing color."
"The whole Villa will look different."
Chloe followed her gaze.
Elena looked at Chloe with a warm smile.
"Then..."
"The wedding will finally arrive."
The moment those words left her mouth...
Chloe’s cheeks instantly turned crimson.
"M... Mom..."
Hope immediately noticed.
"She’s blushing again."
...
Years earlier, When Graveyard’s operation involving the identity known as Light had proven successful...
The Old Commander reached an important conclusion.
The Annual Underground Secret Exchange Conclave...
Wasn’t merely a marketplace.
It was the perfect hunting ground.
For two days every year...
People from Hundreds of criminal organizations gathered beneath a single roof.
Every influential name eventually appeared at the Conclave.
If any government or allied intelligence agency ever wished to remove a high-value target...
There would never be another opportunity quite like it.
Rather than rushing into reckless operations...
Graveyard chose patience.
Over the following eleven years...
They quietly planted agents inside the Conclave.
Not as assassins.
Not as spies hiding in ventilation shafts.
As guests.
Carefully constructed identities.
Businessmen.
Collectors.
Middlemen.
Representatives.
Every identity underwent years of preparation.
Every background could survive detailed investigation.
One after another...
More than five long-term assets successfully entered the Conclave under the Krause Family’s nose.
None were discovered.
Graveyard studied everything.
The guest selection process.
Security rotations.
Hospitality schedules.
Auction procedures.
Emergency exits.
Hidden service corridors.
Kitchen logistics.
Elevator access.
Family traditions.
Most importantly...
The Krause Family Rules.
Nothing was ignored.
Every year’s Conclave produced another report.
Another observation.
Another lesson.
Another weakness.
By the end of eleven years...
No organization understood the Conclave better than Graveyard.
Except...
The Krause Family themselves.
That knowledge had already proven its value.
During those eleven years...
Three guests had quietly disappeared from the Conclave.
No alarms.
No witnesses.
No one ever realized they had become targets.
Only a handful of people within the Graveyard knew the truth.
This year, however...
Everything was different.
This operation had not been commissioned by any government.
The mission had only one client.
The retired young man who led the past operations.