Since that day, Jihyeon had searched for the werewolf several times. However, he was nowhere to be found. Once he vanished, that was the end of it. Jihyeon endured extreme pain to dig through information in search of a trace, but there was no record of the man anywhere.

  As a result, Jihyeon spent several days in a futile search.

  He couldn't deny the possibility that the creature had moved to another city. Nothing in this world is absolute, and it wasn't an impossible feat.

  However, at this point, that possibility seemed low.

  Considering Jihyeon had unilaterally overwhelmed the werewolf—only stopping short of killing him—it was only natural. No matter how good the recovery rate, injuries of that magnitude required a few days of rest. And it was always better to avoid moving while recovering.

  That is, if the side that recovered the werewolf intended to reuse him.

  In the worst-case scenario, they might have discarded the werewolf after he served his purpose. To eliminate evidence, they could have removed the Tool and abandoned him.

  But Jihyeon thought that if he were the one selling them, he would have no reason to do so.

  Even though he had lost to Jihyeon, the werewolf’s strength had already been proven. Even Jihyeon couldn't help but admire the toughness of the creature that kept trying to get back up and attack even after being struck by an electric whip stronger than lightning and slammed down repeatedly.

  The werewolf, fitting the image of a berserker, was a powerful nightmare capable of striking down enemies without yielding to any attack. That endurance and relentless tenacity would make him like a grim reaper to those without the ability to fight back.

  Of course, no one was unaware that turning a government agent into such a thing was a provocation and a warning.

  It was something that had always happened. Just as drug cartels in certain countries killed military, police, and politicians as a warning, this unfortunate and pitiful man had become the target this time.

  But that wouldn't be all.

  It was like a demonstration—a showcase for the Tools they were about to sell. Furthermore, it was a test of the Tool's performance, which even they might not fully understand.

  Jihyeon felt disgusted by his own thoughts. But those who sold the Tools had long since given up on being human. They were capable of crossing any line. To ask for human decency from those who would do anything for their profit and the true purpose behind it was a truly foolish act.

  Now, only the fact that they had to be caught quickly remained.

  However, the fact that everyone was coming up empty-handed irritated Jihyeon. Yet, Jihyeon did not waste his time. Giving in to emotion was the best way to waste time. He knew well that while continuing to wander when no answers were found might make one feel like they were working, such false comfort was of no help.

  The important thing was to solve the case, and what was needed for that was the proper allocation of limited resources. Those resources included his concentration and physical strength. As always, Jihyeon’s Tool provided nearly perfect information, but it demanded significant resources to find and use it properly.

  Concentration accompanied by pain, and physical strength.

  Wasting those on the streets could lead to the deaths of others. Jihyeon let out a sigh, feeling the weight placed upon his shoulders. There was actually no reason to feel a sense of responsibility for the deaths of strangers he didn't know at all. Nevertheless, Jihyeon knew well how much salvation the power he held could lead to.

  Therefore, to avoid wasting time, Jihyeon began to review everything from the very beginning. Sometimes, excessive passion turned into vigor and forced the body to move first. It would be problematic if that happened again. So, Jihyeon suppressed himself. Instead, he began to check the most basic things once more.

  Even though he had checked them several times before moving his body, he did so again to find his own mistakes.

  And this time, he was able to find it.

  What he had missed.

  "Damn it... I didn't think they'd trick me this way..."

  Jihyeon muttered, clicking his tongue. Hiding within too much information was actually easy. Had the cunning bastards he was looking for used a Tool to neutralize the CCTVs, Jihyeon would have found them easily instead. Subtle distortions of visible light could no longer deceive Jihyeon’s sharp senses.

  Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

  But what if they simply used them normally, resigned to being caught on CCTV?

  Then Jihyeon would have no choice but to spend more time finding them. It was a very simple deception, but Jihyeon had fallen for it completely.

  Perhaps the enemy was cunning. Or perhaps they were just very indifferent. Either way, they succeeded in wasting Jihyeon’s time. Jihyeon hoped it was intentional. That would have made him feel a little less miserable.

  But it probably wasn't. They likely just did it without thinking. In fact, Jihyeon, who succeeded in reading the thoughts of the people in the car at that time, couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity.

  They were people from the pseudo-cult. The ones at the final contact point he found by following the trail of blood were like long-time archenemies to Jihyeon. They were lucky ones, workers and fanatics trying to prove their value by making money.

  Jihyeon bit his lip and began to organize all the information he had seen.

  And he was a little grateful for their honesty in not deceiving the CCTVs. Now, based on this, Jihyeon would be able to move with the police. Through their carelessness, Jihyeon would obtain the desired result—though no one could guarantee the possibility.

  However, this thought was soon negated. Although Jihyeon hadn't intended it, a new timeline began the moment he checked a video that had just happened to be captured on CCTV.

  "Hey... the price for missing a few days shouldn't show up like this..."

  Jihyeon muttered and hurried. He didn't know what would happen this time if he were late. Thinking that he should at least avoid people dying, Jihyeon threw on his usual hoodie and moved to the scene.

  The man had no idea where he was. He couldn't feel his hands or feet, and his consciousness was merely hazy. The flow of time felt faint in a state where his five senses were paralyzed.

  Just how much time had passed?

  If he had to pick the last strong memory, it was an inexpressible pain. it was an agony that spread to the tips of the man’s fingers. It was likely a miracle that he hadn't died in the midst of it. He hadn't even lost consciousness because it was so painful.

  But once the time of pain ended and he regained consciousness, however faintly, the man’s body was filled with an unprecedented vitality. Thanks to that, the man felt like he could do anything.

  He felt as though he could tear anyone apart if they attacked him, run faster than anything else, and enjoy the pleasure of the hunt. And at the end of the hunt, he would feast on the banquet awaiting him. Devouring meat where juice and blood flowed simultaneously would provide him with ultimate satisfaction.

  That would soon become reality. Not yet, though.

  Indeed. Not yet.

  The man had a small problem. It was the fact that his body was completely restrained.

  His vision was entirely blocked. He didn't know what was blocking it, but darkness imprisoned him even when he tried to open his eyes. He could see nothing here. Moreover, his hands and feet were tied. Every time he tried to move, an unknown pain tormented him here and there, forcing him to be still.

  As a result, his hearing and smell had become sensitive beyond comparison to before. Just by taking a deep breath, he could map out everything around him in his head.

  What he could smell most around him was the scent of iron. It was a heavy, damp, yet cold fragrance. It was so pervasive that he could even taste it in his mouth if he breathed deeply. It was perhaps an iron cage. A solid iron restraint space created to imprison a beast.

  The man was merely restrained like a beast within it. He was itching to resolve this overflowing vitality right now, but it was forbidden.

  The man felt anxiety. He felt impatience. Sweat flowed, and his body began to tremble. If only the man could open his mouth, he would have screamed wildly. To set him free. Even if the humans around him couldn't understand his voice.

  Such things were not important. Once he could open his eyes and move, anything would follow. Gradually, his heartbeat grew louder, and the man twisted his body violently amidst uncontrollable emotions.

  What stopped him was a scent that stimulated the man’s nose. It was the scent of a human, the scent of the one who had given him food. But it did not approach beyond a certain distance.

  It was so close that if the man’s hands were free, he could have swung his arms and smashed those fragile necks, arms, and legs long ago, but the restraints only made him unable to do anything.

  Now, irritation dominated the man. The thought that he wanted to run wild no matter what made his five senses even more acute.

  However, as he felt his body being lifted, the man suddenly stopped shaking his body as if he were going wild. He realized that those who came here were moving him.

  He didn't know where he was going, but the moment he felt the wind, the man exhaled deeply and trembled in excitement.

  He would be released soon. Then he could do anything.

  Thinking so, the man quietly suppressed himself. It is the basic rule of a hunter to wait until the moment one must truly explode.

  Indeed. The man knew he was a beast, a warrior, and a hunter. There are times when one must suppress themselves, no matter how much power overflows, until the truly necessary time comes. To explode everything and seize victory at the truly necessary moment.

  To do that, the man suppressed it. Everything. But that time would likely not be very long. His heart was already in an uncontrollable state.

  Fortunately, the restraint did not last as long as he thought. While distracted by a strange smell that momentarily stimulated his nose, the man realized his shackles were gone.

  With trembling hands, the man removed the blindfold from his eyes.

  And the man confirmed it. That he was free. Now all he had to do was run wild as he pleased.

  But he couldn't run wild.

  Because his instinct told him. That his enemy was coming. He couldn't see the smell or the sound, or even the enemy with his eyes, but his instinct knew. That the most dangerous being was coming for him.

  The man rejoiced at that fact. There was no reason to be afraid. His overflowing vitality would be able to do anything.

  Now, the time for revenge had come.

  The howl of a wolf echoed out. Like the only answer a being on the borderline between beast and human could give, the sound shook the entire city.

  And as if in response, the man’s most dangerous enemy revealed himself.