At the location where Lightnova stood, Smile remained before her while she was completely unable to move.

"U-Ugh... Why are you telling me all of this about yourself?"

"Uhm... Well... I don’t know either."

Smile answered with his strange smile.

At that moment, Smile’s eyes suddenly widened.

He immediately dodged.

In an instant, a shadow lunged at him.

A shadow wolf appeared, its body enormous—almost as large as a house door.

The shadow wolf positioned itself protectively in front of Lightnova.

Lightnova looked shocked, confused by what had just happened.

Then she saw Nightwolf running toward her.

"Ji-hye! Are you okay!?"

Hearing Nightwolf’s voice, Lightnova immediately turned toward her.

"Yerin!"

Nightwolf stopped beside Lightnova.

"Are you alright?"

"Ugh... That weird man made it impossible for me to move with those strange threads."

Nightwolf turned toward the man Lightnova was referring to.

Smile stood some distance away, facing them.

"An unexpected attack... Why do you heroes always use the same tricks?"

"In situations like this, anything is acceptable."

Nightwolf replied coldly.

Lightnova opened her mouth and spoke.

"Yerin... Be careful. The threads coming from his hands are extremely sharp and dangerous. If they touch you, your body could be sliced apart."

Hearing that, Nightwolf nodded.

"Alright. I understand."

Without hesitation, Nightwolf charged toward Smile.

Her shadow wolf ran beside her.

Both of them rushed forward together, aiming directly at Smile.

Smile remained silent for a moment before raising his right hand toward Nightwolf.

Instantly, countless red threads appeared, blocking her path.

Nightwolf’s eyes widened in surprise.

However, she quickly spotted a gap among the threads.

There was a section she could pass through.

The bottom.

Without wasting a second, Nightwolf accelerated.

As she approached the threads, she dropped low and slid across the ground.

Her body glided beneath the web of threads.

Smile’s lips curled into a sinister smile.

"Got you."

He muttered quietly.

Instantly, another set of threads multiplied and shot toward Nightwolf at incredible speed.

Smile had intentionally left an opening to lure her into a trap.

Unfortunately for him, Nightwolf was smarter than that.

She instantly switched places with her shadow wolf.

The shadow wolf was immediately shredded the moment it collided with Smile’s threads.

Smile’s eyes widened in shock.

At the same time, Nightwolf appeared from his side, moving at tremendous speed.

A dagger suddenly appeared in her hand.

She sprinted straight toward Smile.

Smile noticed too late.

Nightwolf successfully drove the dagger into his back.

Smile coughed blood.

Pain flashed across his face as he collapsed onto the ground.

"Huh..."

Nightwolf breathed heavily.

Meanwhile, the threads restraining Lightnova began to loosen.

She could move again.

Without delay, she rushed over to Nightwolf.

"Are you alright!?"

"Yes... I’m fine... This man... He’s incredibly cunning. I thought I was smarter than him, but I was wrong..."

Nightwolf answered.

Lightnova stood beside her and looked down at Smile’s body.

Then her eyes narrowed.

The Smile they had been fighting all along was nothing more than a thread clone.

His body slowly faded away, unraveling into countless red threads.

"These are... threads? A thread clone? He really is cunning."

Lightnova muttered.

"Yeah... A thread clone. I didn’t expect that either."

Nightwolf turned toward Lightnova.

"Do you know anything about him?"

"Yes. He called himself Smile and said he was one of the three major powers of The Overseer."

"The Overseer? This is the first time I’ve heard that group’s name. Who are they?"

"I don’t know much either... But lately, I’ve been running into them quite often in Seoul."

Lightnova replied.

Nightwolf fell silent for a moment.

"...We’ll figure that out later. Right now, we need to head east. There are still many civilians who need to be evacuated."

"You’re right. Let’s go!"

Without another word, the two of them sprinted toward the eastern district.

---

Two Days Later — Yongin

"Hah... I never expected something like this..."

Jinhoo muttered while standing atop a building, gazing toward the sky.

There, a massive aircraft floated above the city.

Its shape resembled a UFO, and its enormous size nearly covered the skies of Yongin.

---

A Few Minutes Earlier

Yoo Jinhoo’s House

Strategy Room

Jinhoo stood before a large map of South Korea, carefully studying it.

"Hmm... Which area would be suitable for my next operation..."

It’s been a long time since I last made a move.

I’m worried the Seven Deadly Sins will keep watching me and eventually start suspecting that I’m a traitor...

He crossed his arms.

I need to continue committing criminal acts. At least twice a month so they won’t become suspicious.

At that moment, Min-seo entered through the doorway.

She had apparently just finished taking a shower.

"Oppa? What are you doing? You’ve been staring at that map of South Korea the whole time."

Jinhoo turned toward her.

"Hmm? I’m just trying to come up with a plan for my next criminal operation. It’s been a while since my last one."

"Oh!? Then can I come with you!?"

Min-seo’s eyes sparkled with excitement the moment she heard the words criminal operation.

"No. This time, I want to carry it out alone."

Min-seo immediately walked over and tried to persuade him.

"Come on, let me join! Please!!"

She moved her face closer to his.

Jinhoo simply placed a hand on her forehead and gently pushed her back.

"No. I already said I want to do this operation alone."

Min-seo stepped back.

Crossing her arms, she puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction.

"Tch... I wanted to come too."

"Instead of joining me, why don’t you help me find the perfect location for the operation?"

Jinhoo suggested.

"Nope!"

"Uh..."

Jinhoo thought for a moment.

Then an idea suddenly appeared.

"Listen. Even if you don’t participate directly this time, I want you to help create the plan. That way, you’ll be considered one of the contributors. How about it? Interested?"

The moment Min-seo heard that, her eyes lit up.

"Really!? Then alright!!"

Success.

Just as I thought. Min-seo is great at planning, but she’s incredibly easy to persuade.

Min-seo immediately shifted her attention to the map of South Korea.

Then she pointed at a city.

Yongin.

"Why don’t you carry out your operation here?"

"Yongin? Do you have a specific reason?"

"Of course! Yongin is where many wealthy people gather. They care more about money than anything else."

"Hm. I see. Then?"

"You could threaten those rich people by stealing the wealth they’ve hidden away. After that, do whatever you want!"

"Hm... Interesting. It might be worth trying."

Jinhoo replied, sounding increasingly interested.