Published at 5th of December 2025 8:14 pm

Chapter 221 Part 2

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The drug was spread before that.

Timing the ambush is critical.

Too early, the culprit spots us and picks another target. Too late, its the same as last time.

The Investigation Bureau said, The berserk potions air concentration was high, targeted only at sealed rooms, so damage didnt spread, delaying the report.

What info can we extract? The keys here.

Means the victims died in their sleep.

Likely a mix of sedative and berserk potion in the air.

Intentional. If victims screamed and ran, theyd be subdued before more died, so they were put to sleep for a quiet death.

Berserking usually takes minutes to hours, but direct ingestion, prolonged exposure, or high-concentration air flooding skips that. Depending on conditions, it hits fast.

So, the perfect window for drug dispersal is 5 to 10 minutes before the incident

Hmm

I chuckled. My hands felt sweaty from tension.

Thats too wide.

Need to narrow it to one choice.

One minute too early or late, and its over.

Last time, say they entered at 3:23 a.m. to spread the drug. If I arrive 10 minutes prior at 3:20, theyll bolt.

Isnt that good?

It wastes the rewind.

Theyll stick to their obsession with getting me back on stadium duty and commit a crime elsewhere.

Better to report during dispersal, tightening imperial security to stop them from running rampant.

Five minutes or ten?

High concentration means no need to consider times beyond 10 minutes from the estimated deaths.

I tapped my artifact to signal Leo.

[Lucas.]

Got it. Five minutes before the deaths, or ten?

Leo paused, then answered slowly, [Sudden Tough call. If you dont want to give the stalker a chance elsewhere, fives safer. Somell need long hospital treatment, but its better than more deaths elsewhere.]

Good.

I asked out of the blue, but he got it. Always convenient.

Plus, hes utilitarian, like a budding leader.

But theres a flaw.

Long hospital treatment means leaving athletes with severe health issues. From my time as Nicolaus at scenes, most rescued mid-berserk die anyway.

He used polite noble-speak, but I cant take it at face value.

Back to square one.

Trying to save those few from dying too.

[Can I disconnect now?]

Nope.

[Why]

Leo picked the next-best option since the best isnt there, but he wants everyone to live.

If even Leo picks five minutes, maybe thats right.

I rubbed my chin, then froze as a piece of info hit me.

Victim stats.

I shouldve factored in the culprits behavior pattern.

I scribbled fast, reading aloud for Leo. Fourteen Korean deaths, two Ottoman Empire, two Iran. Nine ICU transfers, all Ottoman and Iranian.

[Hmm.]

All Asian.

A crime targeting Asian nations?

Or targeting Korea because they know something about me?

Thats for later.

It could be coincidence. Theres one comforting scenario thatd be better.

What matters here is

[Clear victim group.]

Exactly.

They didnt randomly aim for mass deaths.

The sedative mix proves it. They didnt want berserkers running out, infecting unintended targets, or tainting their crimes meaning.

That meanings something theyre sending meshock or proof they know this much about me.

They act thoughtless but dodged the trap Yulia and I set once.

In short, theyre sloppy but meticulous about their work.

Meticulous. To prepare thoroughly

Even risking escape, my choice is 10 minutes prior.

Gotta go 10 minutes before.

[What?]

***

Why ask if youre gonna do that?

3 a.m.

Leo, with Richthofens help, entered the estates space magic. I thanked Richthofen, heading back to school, and gave Leo a short answer. Gotta hear all opinions.

He gave a hollow laugh, shaking his head at my shamelessness.

Still, he didnt stop me. Without explanation, he trusted I had reasons for picking 10 over 5 minutes.

Until 3:18, we strategized.

So, we move at 3:20. The rest of the team gets the signal and warps to the hotel coordinates. Cool?

Yeah, good.

I nodded, standing.

Elias and Narce stepped out first. Leo stopped me. Lucas.

What?

The drug you used in early DecemberI checked. You serious?

Knew hed bring it up.

I shrugged. Dead serious.

Leo, silent, handed me a key. Put it in an empty safe.

Thanks.

I checked the clock and said, Lets go.

We warped to the Grand Hotel.

Not the main entranceusing a covert Investigation Bureau warp coordinate.

Were in the second-floor stairwell, lit only by indirect lights.

Leo, leaning against the wall, holding his breath, tapped his artifact.

Unlike him, I climbed the stairs immediately.

This fight hinges on whether 10 or 5 minutes is right, so no need to wait.

I scanned the area.

Two nameplates on doors for athletes. Excluding the injured, 18 deaths mean they hit nine rooms.

Lots of doors to open. Gotta be quick.

I eyed the front door by the central staircase.

A Korean flag hung on it.

Felt strange. My heart started pounding harder.

*Knock, knock*

Ive never desperately wanted to return to my homeland. Just thought I might someday.

But the urgency of an imminent attack and meeting people from another worldmy homeland, despite being a different worldstirred an unplaceable unease.

I didnt want to pinpoint why.

If they dont come out, should I break in?

Refocusing, I stared at the door.

With sedatives in the air, theyre likely not coming out.

As I knocked firmly one last time, the door opened.

Whos this?

Similar height and Magic Power, with brighter bleached eyes and hair, but clearly different features.

As I stood silent, the mage struggled to keep sleepy eyes open, likely affected by sedatives.

Not fluent in German, he mixed French and English, speaking slowly. Whats the matter this late?

If youve no business, Im already awake, so fine, but dont do this to other teams. Were still adjusting to jet lag and prioritizing sleep.

I finally spoke, using English for clarity. Im Lucas Askanian, Eszett deputy leader of the Imperial Mage Association, handling Brandenburg berserker cases.

I see.

Your name?

Kim Seong-hee.

He gave his name, smiling tiredly. Berserker case. That why youre here?

Yes. I already smell it in the air.

What?

He frowned, offended.

I understood why. As someone from the same country, I felt bad.

But thats not what I meant.

Gripping my staff horizontally with both hands, I thrust it toward he window. Red Magic Power sliced through the dark, flashing as it hit.

*Boom! Crash!*

What, whats that!

Another sleeping person jolted awake at the noise.

My focus wasnt their nationality anymore. Shattered glass, broken wooden frames, and metal joints flew outward. The Magic Power sealing the window shattered too.

Look at that.

Sealing windows with Magic Power to prevent them from opening at night?

They put in effort.

Good thing I didnt assume theyd rush in, spread berserk potion, and lock the door in 5 minutes. They coated the buildings exterior with their Magic Power, slowly injecting the drug to avoid rejection.

Securing clean airs enough for now.

Other Eszett members warped in, following Leos orders via artifact. Narces purification magic from the halls end swirled at my feet.

I tapped my artifact, connecting to the Investigation Bureau.

*Beep*

[Yes, Brandenburg Investigation Bureau. Speak.]

Terror attempt detected at the Grand Hotel targeting Pentalon athletes. Deploy now.

***

[Done. Never failed, huh?]

Across from the Grand Hotel, a mage crouched on a rooftop, mouth agape. He nearly forgot not to stand and almost jumped up.

Light flashed beyond the hotels curtains. Soon, Investigation Bureau mages started warping around the building.

How?

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