Seeing everyone laughing hysterically in his face, the corners of Dusk's mouth twitched slightly.
Of course… How could any normal person believe such a statement? If he had been a political prisoner arrested for opposing ideologies, perhaps a few might have seen him as a righteous man. But a serial killer? That was a serious crime under any regime.
Even Dusk himself didn't believe he was a good person. But what choice did he have? He was merely following the example of those so-called "righteous heroes," trying to craft a perfect facade for himself.
"What do you fools know to laugh at me like that? You couldn't possibly understand the depth of my love for humanity!" he suddenly shouted, his face filled with anger.
The room went silent. Although none of them believed he was actually a good person, his attitude clearly showed how serious he was.
Boss rubbed her chin and studied Dusk with narrowed eyes. Now even she was curious—what kind of explanation was he about to give?
"Go on then. If your reasoning makes sense, I might reconsider the nature of our relationship in the future."
Dusk took a deep breath. His face grew solemn, making everyone in the room even more curious about what he was about to reveal.
"You think I want to kill people? If someone is a decent person living a normal life, why would I kill them? I kill… because it's for their own good."
He clutched his chest as he spoke, his face contorted in pain, as if each word wounded him.
One had to admit—his acting was becoming more and more convincing. As outrageous as his words were, a strange trace of belief began to form in the hearts of those present.
But Boss was not an easy person to fool. A few dramatic lines and a pained expression were far from enough to sway her.
"You're saying you kill people for their own good? What kind of twisted logic is that? If you don't explain it clearly, there's no way I'll believe you."
'She's too rational… Looks like I'll have to bring out my ultimate move.'
The thought crossed Dusk's mind as his expression shifted. His face now seemed conflicted, as if he was holding back from revealing a deeply important secret.
Both Silas and Boss could sense it—he was hiding something that was terribly difficult to speak of.
"Go on, spit it out," she said, her voice laced with dominance and subtle threat. "If you won't talk, then just obediently become my subordinate."
Gazing into her eyes, Dusk's expression turned into one of helpless resignation. He hesitated for a few seconds, then finally let out a sigh.
"I… I'll tell you. You might not believe me, but that tremor just now wasn't a normal natural disaster."
Boss's eyes sharpened, her expression growing serious. After a brief pause, she responded in a low voice.
"You're right. That wasn't a typical natural phenomenon. This region only experienced a light quake, so I didn't pay it much attention at first. But my intelligence network reported something strange—Earth's surface area has inexplicably increased many times over. Are you implying you know something important?"
Dusk was taken aback for a moment, but then he nodded. It made sense. This mafia group clearly had considerable reach—having access to classified information wasn't surprising.
"I didn't expect you to know even that much. But the truth… the truth goes far beyond just an expansion of Earth's surface. The truth is—Earth has finally broken free from a seal that held it for eight hundred million years. And along with that… those ancient threats from that era are beginning to awaken. Demons will soon rise again to attack humanity."
His voice dropped to a heavy, grim tone.
To the others in the room, his words sounded like the delusions of a madman—like something out of a bad dream.
Demons? Seriously? And eight hundred million years ago? According to everything they'd ever learned, there shouldn't have even been intelligent life back then, let alone demons and ancient threats.
And yet, among them, Boss was the least skeptical.
From the moment she received the classified intel, she had felt a deep sense of unease. It wasn't logic—it was instinct.
And she never underestimated her instincts. Her rise to power had been built on a sharp mind and an uncanny sixth sense.
"Tell me more," she said, her voice solemn, her eyes locked onto his. "Tell me exactly what kind of future Earth is facing."
Huh… she's the one who believes me the most? Not bad. Dusk gave her a mental nod of approval. Still, if I ever plan to use her, I'd better tread carefully. A woman like this… misuse her, and it might blow up in my face.
His wariness toward her quietly grew.
"I don't know the full details," Dusk said hesitantly. "But just before the tremor happened, I received a message in my mind. It said that the demons would rise again to attack humanity… and that the world would return to its original form."
He deliberately used this hesitant tone to make them feel his inner struggle. After all, if he were saying this in a mental asylum, no one would bat an eye.
Boss frowned. The information was interesting, but it wasn't what she wanted. She was looking for something that could bring her tangible advantage.
"Anything useful? Like… how to fight against these demons?"
"There is." Dusk nodded solemnly. "We can fight the weaker demons with human weapons. But for high-ranking ones… only high-rank Heart Masters can defeat them."
The phrase 'Heart Master' flashed in her mind like a spark of destiny. She immediately leaned forward, grabbing him by the collar with excitement and urgency.
"Explain. Tell me what a Heart Master is!"
Dusk tried to push her away, but damn—her grip was absurdly strong. All he could do was flail helplessly while she held him in place.
"Heart Masters are beings who surpass normal human limits—like divine spirits walking among mortals. From what I know, the higher their rank, the stronger they become… and the longer they live."
Her eyes lit up with an almost childlike gleam. She released his collar with visible delight, already envisioning a bright and powerful future.
"Tell me how to become a Heart Master."
"I don't know."
The abrupt response shattered her enthusiasm. A vein popped on her forehead, and she seized his collar again, her voice turning icy.
"Are you messing with me?!"
"Not unless you agree to cooperate with me," Dusk replied confidently.
Judging by her reactions, he was certain the information about Heart Masters had struck a nerve. It was leverage—something she clearly valued.
Upon hearing his condition, she let go again. Her tone softened slightly—only slightly.
"Hmph. I'll consider it. You'd better have something truly worthwhile to offer."