Chapter 39 – The Devil Walks Into Hell

The night air was thick with tension as Haruto stepped out of the taxi.

His golden eyes reflected the neon glow of the underground district—a place that had no name, no official existence, yet controlled more of society than the government ever could.

The Devil had returned.

And tonight, he was walking straight into hell.

---

The Auction of Sin

The building was hidden behind layers of illusion—to the ordinary, it was nothing more than a condemned warehouse. But to those who knew?

It was the greatest den of crime and power.

The Auction.

A place where anything could be bought. Weapons. Drugs. Slaves. Even lives.

Haruto took a step inside.

Immediately, a wave of thick perfume, cigar smoke, and sweat filled his lungs.

The grand hall was built like an opera house—lavish, extravagant, and filled with the filth of humanity.

Men in tailored suits. Women in dresses worth millions.

Killers. Traffickers. Drug Lords. Mafia Heads.

And in the center of it all—a stage where the most depraved deals were made.

Haruto barely had time to scan the room before a man approached.

Leon.

One of the world's top drug dealers.

And an old associate of The Devil.

Leon smirked, swirling a glass of whiskey in his hand.

"You've finally come home, Haruto."

Haruto ignored him. His eyes were locked on the stage.

A young girl—barely sixteen—was being dragged onto the platform. Shackled. Beaten. Branded.

The crowd whispered hungrily.

Haruto clenched his fist.

This place hasn't changed.

Leon followed his gaze and chuckled. "Feeling sentimental?"

Haruto didn't answer.

Because he knew.

Knew that if he let his emotions take over, he would slaughter everyone in this room.

Leon leaned closer, voice teasing. "You used to run this place. Now you stand here as a guest."

Haruto finally turned to him.

"I'm not a guest."

Leon raised an eyebrow.

Haruto smiled, slow and deadly.

"I'm here to take back what's mine."

---

The Devil's Reputation

The room was filled with whispers.

"Is that really him?"

"The Devil? I thought he died years ago."

"No… look at his eyes. That's him."

A man in a crimson suit stepped forward. His presence alone made the weaker ones in the room shrink away.

Reiko—the leader of the Revenants.

The most powerful underworld syndicate.

He looked Haruto up and down before speaking.

"You've been gone a long time."

Haruto smirked. "Miss me?"

The room tensed.

Reiko's eyes darkened. "You don't belong here anymore. You abandoned this world."

Haruto tilted his head. "That's where you're wrong."

He stepped forward, and in that moment—something changed.

The air grew heavier.

A suffocating pressure filled the room.

The weak-willed ones began to sweat.

Because they could feel it.

The monster was still here.

Reiko scoffed, masking his unease. "If you think you can just walk in here and—"

Haruto was suddenly in front of him.

Too fast.

A blade pressed against Reiko's throat.

The entire room froze.

Leon took a step back, watching with amusement.

Haruto's voice was soft, but it cut like a knife.

"I'm not asking."

The room stood still.

Then—

Reiko laughed.

He slowly raised his hands, stepping away.

"Alright, Devil." His grin was sharp. "Let's play, then."

---

A Game of Monsters

A table was set.

Cards were dealt.

The game was simple.

A high-stakes gamble.

A single round.

The winner takes everything.

Reiko leaned forward, voice laced with amusement.

"You've always been good at manipulation, Haruto. But are you willing to bet everything on one move?"

Haruto smiled.

Because that was the thing.

The game was already over.

Reiko flipped his cards.

A strong hand. Nearly unbeatable.

The crowd whispered.

Then Haruto placed his down.

A perfect hand. An impossible hand.

Reiko's smile faltered.

Because he understood.

He had been played.

From the very beginning.

Haruto leaned back, voice calm. "I just won the Revenants."

Reiko's face twisted in rage. "You—"

Haruto snapped his fingers.

Gunfire.

In an instant, the hall erupted into chaos.

Leon's men. Haruto's old allies.

Reiko barely had time to reach for his gun before a bullet buried itself in his shoulder.

He collapsed, gasping.

Haruto stood over him, gaze cold.

"This is your last chance."

Reiko spat blood. "You think you can control the underworld again?"

Haruto crouched, gripping his hair.

"I don't think."

He pulled a knife from his coat and slowly dragged it across Reiko's cheek.

Blood dripped onto the floor.

"I know."

Reiko trembled.

Because for the first time in years… he felt fear.

---

The Return of The Devil

The auction was over.

Haruto walked through the blood-soaked hall, stepping over corpses.

Leon laughed, following behind. "You really are something else."

Haruto didn't respond.

Because in his mind—he wasn't done yet.

The Revenants had sent a message.

Now, he was sending one back.

He lifted his phone, dialing a number.

A voice picked up. "Haruto?"

Himari.

Her voice was soft, laced with worry.

Haruto closed his eyes.

"Himari. No matter what happens, I need you to trust me."

A pause.

Then, her answer.

"I always do."

His fingers tightened around the phone.

"Then don't let go."

He hung up.

And then, he spoke to the man beside him.

"We burn the Revenants to the ground."

Leon grinned.

"Now you're speaking my language."

Haruto looked up.

The night stretched endlessly.

And in his mind—the war had only just begun.

---

To Be Continued…