Chapter 282: Entering Europe (1)

Whoosh—

A heavy, loud engine noise echoed, and the sounds of people bustling about, moving busily in all directions, were abundant.

It was a sight that was not easily seen in the modern society that was rampant with terrorism, as if this place alone was another world.

'That also means that the defenses are thorough.'

On one side of that space.

Heinz II, who had been standing still with his arms crossed, watching the countless people moving about, glanced around and nodded lightly.

It was not surprising since this was one of the most important strategic facilities of the country.

It was the Incheon International Airport.

'…That's right. Originally, taking a plane was the best way to go overseas.'

Although he had forgotten it since he had been so comfortable traveling all over the place, long-distance travel was not that easy on Earth.

In order to use "Hero's Footsteps," he had to have visited that place at least once, and there was a limit to using Hans's teleportation service as well.

'Unless the distance was close like Japan or China, it's not good to fly there myself just to get the coordinates.'

Even though Hans's speed was as fast as an airplane, it was not possible to travel like that to a place that was close to the other side of the Earth.

In that case, it would be better to simply sneak onto a plane.

-I would like to make an announcement. Ariana Airlines flight OG501 to Paris will depart shortly. Passengers who have not yet boarded should….

At that moment, the announcement that he had been waiting for began to play.

And Heinz, who had been calmly leaning against the wall while looking around, carried out what he had decided on beforehand.

He actually attempted to infiltrate the airport, despite its airtight security.

'Even if I have forged identification, the inspection process is more difficult than I thought. Rather than leaving useless traces, it's easier to do it like this.'

Although there were a number of awakened individuals, magic tools, and barriers deployed all over the airport, they were not able to detect the "Existence Denial" that he, who had a level that overwhelmed them all, had used with all his might.

Even if it was a key location, there was no way that a transcendent-level individual, of which there were only a handful even in Korea, would be stationed here all day long.

'I need to visit other areas in advance as well. So that I can use "Hero's Footsteps" to travel anywhere at any time.'

And so, he, who had hidden his presence and infiltrated from near the airport, had successfully snuck onto a plane heading to France like a ghost—.

-Dear passengers, we will be taking off soon. Please make sure that your seatbelts are fastened again...

After that, he was able to begin a long-distance flight to Europe without any further issues.

'A stowaway on a plane for my first ever flight.'

He felt a little disappointed by that point, but there would be many chances later, right?

Heinz brushed past the awakened one who was patrolling the cabin and leisurely sat down cross-legged in an empty seat. Then, he closed his eyes.

About 13 hours until arrival.

That was the remaining countdown to the vampire king, who had ruled a world, landing in Europe.

A cool breeze and slowly flowing clouds.

It was a perfect day for traveling somewhere…

"My sad premonitions never miss."

Kang Tae-san, a new recruit in the Power Management Agency's crime investigation team, murmured to himself while looking at the sky as if he was lamenting his fate.

The concerns that he had had while talking with a friend a while ago had become a reality.

"Why are you muttering to yourself again?"

"Ah, senior! This is too much, isn't it? Why do we… no, more than that, the White Knight is not a criminal, is he?"

The team that he belonged to had been mobilized for another search mission after Hahoe Mask.

'White Knight' was a code name that the Power Management Agency had arbitrarily assigned to the paladin who had been active in the hospital terrorism incident.

In the first place, there were more than a handful of paladins who were active in Korea, so it was not appropriate to use such a common noun to refer to a specific individual.

Therefore, the title they had come up with was the White Knight, which they had taken from his pure white armor, which was also his symbol.

"We can't help it. Anyway, it's a fact that he hasn't registered as a returnee yet."

Since the law itself was like that, the justification was sufficient.

Of course, he was a hero who had stopped a dangerous terrorist attack and protected civilians, so he wasn't really being treated as a criminal.

Even if the terrorist had died in the process, that situation could be easily deemed justifiable.

However, that did not mean that they could just sit idle either…

"Think about it. It doesn't make sense for us, as a national institution, to not know anything about someone as famous as him. Actually, we're losing face because of Hahoe Mask even now."

Strictly speaking, the number of people who had not voluntarily reported themselves was by no means small.

However, they were people who tried to hide themselves as much as possible and did not appear in public.

It was different from the White Knight, who had been featured in the media and had attracted global attention this time.

"...Ugh, well, that's true."

At that, Kang Tae-san could not help but agree and scratch the back of his head.

It was still frustrating that they were doing nonsensical things instead of chasing real criminals, but what power did a mere office worker… especially a low-ranking government worker have?

He had no choice but to do as he was told.

"But, it's still a bit too much to be accommodating Pantheon like this… it's not like we're a tour guide."

Of course, that didn't mean he was completely convinced with the current situation either.

If it was them who had asked for cooperation in the investigation, then it would be understandable, but what they were showing now was not at that level.

Kang Tae-san turned his gaze to the group of foreigners who were loitering all over the hospital within the cordon.

They were not the priests of the Pantheon Korean branch, but were those who had been dispatched from the main headquarters in the United States.

His senior, who glanced at that side along with him, sighed lightly and shook his head.

"…I also feel a bit uncomfortable about it, but what can we do? It'll be troublesome if we have a falling out with them. We're receiving quite a bit of help from them as well."

Pantheon's solidarity was very weak due to its nature, but the fact that it was a group that represented the interests of the priests did not change.

They had formed quite close relationships with government organizations for their own benefit, and there were a number of cases where the Power Management Agency members, who were frequently involved in dangerous matters, had been able to save their lives because of them.

'Of course, those welfare benefits don't extend to their family members.'

That was why his grandmother had been forced to be hospitalized in the hospital, wasn't it?

The supply was too low compared to the demand to expect that much.

When thinking about the status of those priests, this amount of work was not a big deal.

"&$#%&@!"

"@$^#@#."

At that moment, the foreigners, who were inspecting the scene, were talking to the Korean priests who were next to them.

Then, they all nodded and began to approach this side all at once.

"Oh, it seems like they're done?"

Thinking that, Kang Tae-san straightened his posture with his senior. But their investigation was not over yet.

"Uh, yes?"

He was taken aback by the sudden question and involuntarily asked back. The Korean priest then opened his mouth again with a soft voice.

"I heard that you were at the scene at that time."

"Ah… yes. But I was knocked unconscious by the first attack, so I don't know anything. I just got caught in the explosion and lost consciousness, so that's all."

It was what he had been saying endlessly since he had returned from his vacation.

He waved his hand while smiling awkwardly.

"I heard that the reason you were at the hospital that day was because your grandmother was going to be discharged."

"Yes, I was unlucky. It just happened to explode when I was standing right at the front door."

At that, the priest nodded seriously.

He already knew that much, since they had shared some amount of information.

What was important was what came next.

"It is written in your medical chart that your grandmother recovered rapidly at a certain point."

"…That's right. It wasn't a complete recovery, probably because of her age, though."

He looked around at the priests that he was with, then he turned his gaze back to Kang Tae-san, and opened his mouth slowly.

"Can we see her once?"

Looking back on it now, it seemed that it had been lucky that he had obtained "Xenoglossy" from 'VIP Market's 'Acquire Random Other Skill (500,000)'.

Heinz II, who had secretly gotten out of the plane just like when he had boarded it, thought as such while looking around at the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

"Did you really check if the luggage was properly checked in? Why is it so…"

"I'll guide you to your accommodations first. This way…"

"Oh! Agnes, you've returned safely! Come home quickly…"

He could naturally understand the exotic languages that were heard from all directions, and he could also easily read the letters on the signs that were placed everywhere in an instant.

He had felt it a little in China as well, but he could feel its performance even more strongly now that he was in a place so far away from home.

'It's good that I don't have to repeat the tedious process that I had gone through when I first went to Japan.'

Heinz evaded the security devices that had been deployed all over the place, just like he had done at Incheon International Airport, and nodded.

Since he was not only planning on staying in France before returning, it was a great advantage that he could immediately understand all the languages in Europe.

Since language itself was the biggest barrier, whether he was acting directly or gathering information.

'Hmm?'

While he was thinking about that, he noticed that a blonde woman, who was sitting on a bench in the middle of the airport and was playing a game on her phone, had glanced at the direction where he was.

She frowned lightly and tilted her head subtly, and then she lowered her gaze back down and started to tap on her smartphone again.

'Not bad.'

But Heinz could tell.

That she, who seemed like she was engrossed in her game, was still keeping her senses heightened while keeping a close watch on the direction where he was.

He reorganized his mind, which had been relaxed for a moment, and used "Existence Denial" with all his might and slowly moved his feet.

Naturally, the observer did not notice his movement at all.

'Her level seems to be around the middle ranks of the peak level. Is she specialized in the detection category?'

If he were to put it in terms of a vampire, she was roughly at the tail end of level 7.

However, just the fact that she had felt a slight sense of unease with his stealth, which could be considered as level 9, was enough to guess her detection ability.

How could someone with that much talent be a security guard at an airport?

'Does that mean that the level here is high, or is there a reason why they can't do anything else?'

Either way, it was an interesting fact.

Heinz, who had walked out of the airport with ghost-like steps in a situation where no one recognized him, then put his hand inside his coat and pulled out a pure white mask.

A pure white opera mask that covered from the forehead to the nose, without any special patterns.

'Come to think of it, was the Phantom of the Opera originally a French story?'

He felt somehow pleasant.

He looked at it for a moment and then slowly brought it to his face.

It was a mask that he had been wearing all along, but he felt a sense of elation as he was wearing it in a different place.

It was like he had truly become the Phantom.

'Then, I wonder where my Christine is?'

His gaze, which had taken a deep breath while wearing the mask, was directed to one side.

Towards the direction where the "Yearning of the Bloodline", which had been raging since he had gotten closer to Europe, was guiding him.

Right after that.

His figure disappeared from that spot.

Of course, no one even recognized that.

And then, the place where he reappeared was a back alley in a city center, about ten kilometers away from the airport.

He, who had revealed himself without using "Existence Denial," straightened his clothes and walked proudly.

Tap tap—

A black fedora and a high-end suit, and shiny shoes, which were contrasted against the white mask that he was wearing on his face.

Heinz, who looked like a stylish gentleman in every way, approached a young man who was frowning and looking at him warily at the end of the alley.

And then, he spoke to him with his usual cold voice.

"Are you my Christine?"

"…Who the heck are you, you crazy bastard?"

After that unintentional slip of the tongue and facing the other party's dumbfounded face, Heinz was able to realize that he wasn't just a little excited.

'Oops, I was slow to notice because I was constantly filtering it out with "Mind Hub".'

The original cynical and calm Heinz II would never have made such a mistake.

It seemed that the effect of the "Yearning of the Bloodline" on the individual was greater than he had thought.

"My apologies. I'm the Phantom. Or, you can call me Eric, if you prefer."

"…Are you trying to die, saying such nonsense…!"

The Parisian vampire young man, who was about to burst out in anger with a distorted face.

"I'm sorry, but."

His body stiffened as a voice suddenly came from behind him.

There was only an empty space in front of him, where a person had been standing just a moment ago.

He could not even perceive when the other party had gone behind him.

'What the heck…!'

While he was cursing inwardly, a cold hand grabbed his neck from behind.

Sharp fingernails dug into his flesh and muscles and tightened his windpipe.

"Let's talk later."

After you become a little more cooperative.