Chapter 101: Masked as a brother, a demon's deception
A jeep moved into a garage outside a luxurious mansion, and "Heilan" jumped out of it, yawning.
Curious, he looked around. Cars of luxury brands stood in a line around the garage, barely lit by a small yellow bulb—some of the cars were even more impressive than the brands he had seen on Earth in sheer looks alone. But strangely, the designs were somewhat similar to the ones he had seen on Earth, too.
Slowly, touching the cars as he walked, Mark walked out of the garage and looked up. The sky was brightening and the night was nearly over.
This garage was near the highway and to enter the actual mansion, he had to descend a small staircase by the side. He could faintly hear music from inside the mansion.
The Bluetooth headset he had gotten from the jeep buzzed in his ears.
"Like it?" Yuri said, "That's how the rich live!"
"Aren't you rich, too?" Mark chuckled.
"I am rich, yeah. But I don't have an A-Rank Hunter as my brother. The Neslan Brothers—Elder Brother Bale and Younger Brother Hailen are different. The younger brother is a Hunter who helps criminals in his free time but he is not a known criminal himself. Even the authorities don't make trouble for him."
"No wonder they are in the open with a mansion like this."
Yuri hummed. "Yep. If I made a mansion and became public with the location, I bet you that on day three, the cops would arrive and I'd be toast."
Mark clicked his fingerprint against a small gate and walked down the small stairs. He entered a vast open pool area of sorts, then walked around it and descended another stair to walk into an unlit, luxurious, living room.
A boy stood up from the couch and got on his knees.
"Young master," he said with a bowed head.
Mark walked past him, asking, "Where is my brother?"
"He has been in the room all night, and I was asked not to allow anyone—even you—to disturb him."
Mark frowned. "What is going on?"
The boy stood straighter. "I think, young master, the elder young master is in a meeting with other A-Rank Hunters regarding the problem of Angels."
"I see."
Mark didn't linger to explain himself and walked towards a certain room from where he could hear a certain rough voice. He didn't actually disturb his 'brother,' but instead, waited outside while leaning against the wall.
Taking out his phone, he began texting Yuri.
Mark: Yuri, is this the little boy you mentioned?
Yuri: Yes. He is the attendant of the Neslan Brothers, named Laboy. Saved from the slum by the two. That kid was famous some years ago as the youngest Hunter in the world. He is just a C-Rank but he is also just ten years old.
Mark—who had possessed the younger of the two Neslan Brothers—examined the boy with indifferent eyes.
He had done some research into the Neslan Brothers before he decided to possess the younger one to begin his plans, so he had an idea about everyone related to them.
Mark: He has a very peculiar Hunter Ability.
Yuri: The brothers kept the kid's Hunter Ability a big secret. It's sort of a mystery out here. So what is it?
Mark: Nothing powerful, just peculiar. He can create honey out of thin air. Normal honey.
Yuri: So useless.
Just as Mark was lost in the conversation, his heart rate picked up and he quickly put his phone into his jeans pocket.
He turned to look at the door of his 'brother's' room. It slowly opened with a slight creak.
"Hailen, what are you waiting around my room for?" asked the man.
He looked rough, with skin like pure bronze, and a body so big he looked demonic. He was a small muscular giant with a shining, bronze, and bald head.
This was the A-Rank Hunter Bale Neslan, brother of Hailen Neslan.
In a short and brief second, his stats flashed through Mark's mind. This guy was even more of a menace than Hanmo had ever been.
[Bale Neslan]
[Tier 2]
[Physique: 921 (High)]
[Mind: 901 (High)]
[Hunter Ability: Super Strength.]
[Physical Resistance (High) (Tier 2)]
This guy had incredible luck. He had a physical type ability, so he also had a Physical Resistance like the demons. Indeed, he could kill Mark with a simple punch.
Reol'ran warned. "Your stats are barely 100 and he is nearly 1000. If you could destroy a small wall with a punch, this guy could decimate an entire building with a similar punch."
Mark forced a smile.
"Brother," he said.
"What?" the giant of a human asked, walking past Mark to sit on the couch.
Mark acted completely calm and got seated on the other side of the couch. As far as his research had gone, Mark had learned that Bale Neslan adored his little brother—he didn't have to act respectfully or it would be suspicious.
Laboy quickly served vodka for both of them on the small tea table between them.
Bale didn't seem to mind Mark and just took the full bottle of vodka before starting to drink.
"These liquor don't work at all," Bale said, "The liquor brands should try harder to make liquor that's effective for us Hunters."
Mark placed a hand on the tea table. He didn't speak for a while and remembered how Heilan used to act first—somewhat effeminate, rather soy. He didn't want to be too hasty with this man, so he decided to take it slow for now.
"Brother, don't talk about that. So what is going to happen, are the Angels going to appear?" 'Heilan' seemed nervous.
Bale laughed and the couch trembled. "I told you before not to be afraid, Hailen. If Angels come or not, we will still have somewhere to live. Only the bottom rung of society would struggle. We have useful powers that sentient beings would like to have on their sides."
Mark looked towards the fireplace that Laboy was trying to turn on.
"So what's going on on your side?" Bale asked with his sharp eyes on Mark. "Is that scientist girl suspicious, did she bitch out the other Mafia gangs?"
Mark shook his head. "I tried gauging her, but she doesn't seem to be the one. The dead mafia leaders are mostly B-Rank Hunters, so the killer should be an A-Rank Hunter or a truly exceptional B-Ranker. Yuri doesn't have such connections—her biggest aid is a C-Rank Hunter named Choi Sung."
"How are you assured of that?" Bale asked as if pointing out a fault in his brother's way of thinking.
Mark smiled. "I know, don't ask how."
Bale drank the entire bottle and sighed. "Anyway, it's your business. And as for Angels… in my opinion, they will come. When the mega-dungeon expands a bit more, we A-Rankers are planning an attack on its boss, if that fails, the Angels will descend."
The A-Ranker rubbed his bald head. "All of us A-Rank Hunters together—all 10 of us will attack." He grew contemplative. "Oh not exactly, that Hanmo has been silent for a while, he also seemed to be training some kids but who knows, that arrogant Ice God has never been silent for so long, some are even saying he's dead."
"How can he be dead?" Mark shook his head. "He is an A-Ranker like you brother. Even though he is not as strong as you."
Of course, he is dead, I killed him.