(A.N. - I published the wrong chapter yesterday, it's fixed now. Please read it before you start here.)

***

Celeste was somewhat conflicted. 'What should I do?'

She can't wait for her friend to come back to the Association. Now that Shin and the others are going to deal with them. She also felt some responsibility.

There is no way she can accept running away while others are trying to help her.

She thought for a moment. 'They all are good people. I think I won't regret this choice.'

Seemingly making her resolve Celeste directly looked into Shin's eyes and said.

"Shin, I would like to join the Astros guild."

Shin smiled upon hearing this. Having Celeste on the team would be great. Her ability is very important.

"Glad to have you." He said.

"Let's go then. Alice tell me the location?" Shin said prompting her.

"It's 10 Km east from here. The place used to be a school before the Cataclysm. It's probably their base now." Alice answered while keeping a check on the soul marks.

Soon after they left the restaurant.

***historical

A place little far away from the Xtra Class restaurant. Inside a building that used to be a school before. One man was sitting in a throne-like structure while looking down at the people in front of him.

The whole school building was changed. All the desks were removed. Classrooms were changed into normal rooms and facilities. The school boundary was fortified and several people guarded them. It no longer looked like how it used to be.

It can be ascertained from the current look of the school. It was the work of an Awakened whose rank is not below C. He had made the changes as per their boss's orders.

This place used to be the auditorium but now it looks completely different. It looks more like a throne hall. Where the king is sitting on the throne addressing his subjects. But the king here had a cold look on his face.

"Are you telling me you failed to bring a girl back who has yet to use her abilities properly and is only at level 5 when you have more than 12 high-level awakeneds with you?" The man sitting on the throne said.

The black-clothed man in front of him nodded. He was very terrified of the current situation.

"But sir, she suddenly disappeared in thin air." Another person beside him said. He knew his words sounded like an excuse but that's the truth. Others also nodded their head agreeing with him. But they were too terrified to speak. After all, a failure is a failure. They were going to be punished. They knew it.

"Did I allow you to speak?" The man said in a cold voice.

The person who spoke before was now terrified to the core. He started sweating and immediately went to his knees.

"Pl-Please forgive me. I won't dare speak without permission."

"You say that but you are still speaking nonetheless. I have to show others what happens to someone who opposes me right." The man stood up from the throne and walked towards him.

He knew what was coming for him. He started begging for his life.

"Sir, please spare me. I won't dare."

But his pleas were ineffective. That man had a hysterical smile on his face.

'Even If I die here, I won't fall so easily.'

The black-clothed figure jumped up trying to sneak up an attack before he dies. This was his struggle which turned fruitless.

He was already covered in a Crimson Fog. As he died screaming in pain.

Soon the body fell lifeless. Others who watched this scene gulped in fear. Their boss was too ruthless. Even to them.

"This is what happens to those who disobey me. So don't be useless and job your fuck*ng job." Despite his harsh words, others nodded their heads in fear of angering him.

Without any more words. He went and sat on the throne. Everyone waited for him to say something.

He opened his mouth and said.

"Should I treat you all to dinner?" His words were cold as he eyed everyone.

They wanted to agree but shook their head immediately.

"No, No Boss. How dare we." They said in unison. How could they dare eat with their boss when one of them just died as he misspoke?

"Then get the fuck*ng out of here." He shouted while emitting terrifying pressure. Others didn't dare wait any longer as they scurried away in fear.

Only one person in glasses stood beside him.

"How are the preparations?" The man asked.

"Boss, we can enter Polaris city in a month. We have over 300 men. We can recruit more. But the base here is eyed by the association. Now they are busy but we may end up in trouble if they decide to take action." The person in glasses said.

"Hmm okay. Continue with the plan then. Bring me, strong people. If you can't then kill them." His words were cruel but he said them casually.

"Right, bring me a few girls to play with. Dealing with these useless sh*ts is annoying."

"Okay boss."

"Also, check why did that girl disappear in thin air. Is her ability to get invisible? I don't think so. If that was the case she would have used it much earlier. Someone must have been helping her. Send people to keep an eye out for her." He ordered.

"Yes, boss." The man in glasses replied instantly and left.

The man was alone inside his throne room looking at the empty hall. He swayed his blonde hair as a creepy smile formed on his face.

"An 'S' rank. Even higher than me. She can be my woman. If not then there's no reason for her to exist."

The man was Ren Hector. The same person Shin and his team want dead. A dangerous criminal and the leader of 'Green Serpents' a criminal organization that will commit atrocious crimes ending many lives and ruining others.

In the future, they were the ones who ruled Polaris city from the dark. They were very strong. But their end came at the hands of James Felbert. 'The Lone warrior', who led an army of golems to end them. Although some members did survive they were never able to revive the organization.

James also died after that. Completing his revenge was the only reason he lived until then. Ren Hector was the reason his wife Jenny died.

When James was unconscious Jenny did everything she could to protect him and ended up dying at the hands of Gnolls. This time everything changed when Shin and his family saved them. So Jenny also survived.

James in the future was very strong. Strong enough to destroy a whole organization that others couldn't do anything about.

***

"Is this the place?" Shin asked.

"Yes, this is it," Alice replied looking at the wall in front of her.

They were behind a small building away from the school. The current base of Green Serpent organization.

Shin used his magic eyes at full power as he scanned the whole school. The number of people, their strengths, the ones with strong abilities, paths, traps, and their leader.

Shin had an ulterior motive for attacking them. If there were no benefits. He won't be in a hurry.

From Leonard's memory, Shin had seen the ability of the leader of their organization when Leonard was working with them. Although he never knew the effects. He understood one thing. He needs that ability.

Not because it's strong or fierce. But because it is useful for him in obtaining an item he wants in the future. If he gets this ability he won't have to trouble himself with the long process before he can get the item.

That item is very valuable.

But if Shin's guess is wrong and Ren's ability is different than he expected then he would have to trouble himself with the long process.

Currently, Shin was still scanning the school. Now his focus shifted to the school's auditorium. A man was sitting on a throne-like structure.

'Is that the leader?'

Shin concentrated further. A moment later his eyes opened widely as he smirked.

"Bingo."

***

[Ren Hector]

[Level - 50]

[Age - 23]

[Title - Ruthless Tyrant ]

[Special ability - Demonic Fog (A)]

[Trait - Ruthless, Angry, Lustful ]

***

'Hehe, if it's Demonic Fog it should have demonic properties.'

'Looks like he will have to die.' Shin confirms it. Now even if others don't kill him. He will.

"We can easily deal with them. Even if James and Jenny's level is low they can easily kill most of them. Heck, even me and Alice alone are enough. Celeste can come with us. There's no need for her to fight. She can just watch the massacre." Hearing Shin's words everyone was shocked. Was that organization with more than 300 people that weak?

Seeing the look on everyone's faces Shin coughed and said.

"They only have one A rank awakened that is the leader and the strongest of them with level 50. All the others are below the C rank and less than level 40. They don't have any tricky abilities so it will be an easy fight. There are traps, but I know their location so it's useless now. Some people are kept as hostages, so we have to rescue them too." Shin explained everything. While others gave him a look of awe.

Celeste asked Shin a simple question that made him smile.

"What rank are you?"