The World Is Mine For The Taking

"Sorry, but you're under suspicion and need to be questioned," I replied. "You should have hidden that tattoo better."

"Tattoo? Which one? Don't tell me you think I'm a cult or terrorist member just because of a tattoo?"

"My intuition is telling me you're up to something bad. So no matter how unreasonable it seems, my suspicion stands."

"You're telling me you grabbed me because of something as stupid as a woman's intuition? Come on, you can't be serious! I paid with my own money to be here and watch the idols' first appearance! And now, because of a woman's intuition, I miss it and waste my money?!"

"You can yap all you want. I don't care."

I threw him down in a dark alley, his hands and feet now tied to prevent any chance of escape. If he could run even in these circumstances, it would be pointless anyway.

"Can you be a little more gentle?!" he shouted at me.

I stomped my foot beside his face, making him flinch.

"Hii!"

"I've got some questions for you, you bastard," I said. "Does the word Eclipse mean anything to you?"

I saw the slightest wavering in his gaze. Gotcha. This man was definitely affiliated with that cult.

"...I don't know what you're talking about," he stammered, his voice betraying a hint of panic.

"You don't have to deny it. I already know because of that crescent tattoo on your wrist," I said, my tone icy and unyielding. "Tell me, what exactly is a member of a cult doing in a public place with so many people around? Are you planning to assassinate someone?"

"What?! No!" he protested, his voice cracking.

"Then what exactly are you here for?" I demanded, my eyes boring into his.

"I've already made it clear—I have no idea what you're on about! Haven't I emphasized that I'm here to indulge myself?"

"Do you fancy getting hurt?"

"Tsk. There you go with those worn-out lines. Agents of the Administrations ought to afford the benefit of doubt to those they suspect wrongly. I fail to comprehend your intentions here, but your assumptions about me are entirely misguided."

"Hmm? Pray tell, precisely what have I done to warrant your suspicions?"

"For one thing, you dragged me all the way here and threatened me based on nothing more than a woman's intuition. And for another, you're suspecting me without a shred of evidence! If you want to arrest someone, maybe try bringing some proof instead of relying on baseless hunches."

With a sharp stomp, I drove my heel into his crotch.

"Ack! W-What are you doing?" he gasped, his voice cracking in pain.

"If you don't tell me exactly what you're doing here, I'll crush your balls so thoroughly that your line ends with this generation. How does that sound?"

"T-There's no way you're going to do that...! If you do, you'll tarnish the reputation of your organization! Do you even realize the consequences if this gets out?"

"My organization's mission is to maintain peace in the country. That's why we're tasked with eradicating threats that jeopardize that peace. Just like any other pest, if I crush these and end your lineage right here, even the Administrators won't bat an eye. To them, you're merely a nuisance."

To emphasize my point, I gradually apply pressure with my foot, slowly compressing the sensitive area between his legs.

"Gah! Don't!"

"Don't what?" I responded with a steely calm, increasing the pressure steadily.

"I-I'll tell you, okay! Just don't take my family jewels from me! There are things a man can't afford to lose, you know? And these certainly are!"

I eased off slightly, but kept my heels poised threateningly over his groin. Any sudden movement could spell the end for him.

"Speak."

"O-Okay... Jeez, you're terrifying, you know that? If you'd just ease up that scowl, you'd look stunning. Ow, ow, ow! S-Sorry, I'll talk now!"

I lessened the pressure slightly, watching him wince under my heel. With a sharp breath, he began to speak.

"I used to be a member, but I'm not anymore. If you're searching for them, I guess I should tell you what it's all about. It's a cult that worships an evil god. A friend of mine, one of the first to join, persuaded me to come. I was hesitant at first, but eventually I went along. He promised there were rewards for being part of it.

However, once inside, it felt like any other cult. All we did was chant praises to the evil god they worshipped. That was the extent of it."

His words painted a picture typical of cult behavior: devotion to a malevolent deity, luring members with promises of benefits. So far, there was nothing particularly nefarious apparent in their practices.

He continued, "After a while, though, I started experiencing something eerie, like a turmoil in my mind. It felt as if I was being coerced into actions I never imagined. The cult leader would issue commands, no matter how irrational or bizarre, and I found myself obeying unquestioningly. There was a moment when I realized I had taken someone's life, yet I felt no guilt or remorse.

Even in the aftermath of such a drastic act, I remained disturbingly composed. Gradually, I sensed a profound change in my moral compass, as if something was manipulating my thoughts. It was like a sinister whisper guiding me toward deeds that revolted me."

So, the members were initially normal until they became victims of brainwashing? It certainly mirrors tactics used by some cults.

"I was terrified of the person I might become, so I made the agonizing decision to break free from the cult. It wasn't easy; escaping their grasp took immense effort and courage. Eventually, they ceased their pursuit, and I dared to hope I had eluded them for good. That's the extent of what I know. I want no part of their darkness anymore.

I used to live as an A-rank adventurer, embracing life's challenges to the fullest, until the cult ensnared me. Now, if I've satisfied your curiosity, can you untie me and let me go? "

"Not yet," I responded firmly.

"Why?!"

"There's something crucial I still need to understand."

There was something critical I needed to ascertain before making a decision about the man's fate. Despite my initial urge to incarcerate him, it seemed he had genuinely repented for his sins as a cult member and turned a new leaf. That's what my Intuition was nudging me towards, anyway. But I had to probe further.

"What happened to the women who were abducted by the cult?"

He averted his gaze, guilt flashing across his eyes. "I already told you, didn't I? The cult leader ordered us to carry out many reprehensible acts. That included kidnapping women, and then..." He faltered, biting his lip. "...sacrificing them in front of the statue of their evil god. I don't know their ultimate goal, honestly.

I only joined for the perks. But looking back, I think I grasp their agenda now. Frankly, I believe they were attempting to awaken that evil god. It's mere speculation on my part."

"Why do you think that?"

"Well, because all the women we killed in front of the statue were virgins. They believed virgin sacrifices would nourish the evil god and somehow bring it to life."

So that explained the wave of kidnappings targeting women. But if that was truly their aim, why did they suddenly cease their activities for ten years? Hmm? Perhaps they lost faith, but why was their name resurfacing now? It didn't add up. No, that wasn't the priority at the moment.

To unravel this mystery, I needed to be direct.

"Do you have any idea who the cult leader is?"

"Hmm. Oh, yeah. I know him. I've seen his face many times," he replied, his voice carrying a hint of recognition tinged with unease.

Good. If he disclosed the leader's name now, we could bring this investigation to a decisive close. We could capture the leader and put an end to their depravity.

"What is his name?"

"His name is..." Suddenly, he fell silent, his eyes staring ahead but vacant, turning milky white. "...name is..."

"Hmm? Hello?" I called out, but he remained unresponsive. What had seized him?

As I approached, intending to shake him back to awareness, I noticed blood trickling from his nose and then from his eye sockets. The crimson streams ran down his face, staining his features.

And then, abruptly...

Plop!

His head exploded with a nauseatingly wet sound. Blood and fragments of brain sprayed across the dark alley, splattering the walls and pooling on the ground. The visceral scene unfolded in grotesque detail, yet I felt no revulsion.

Everything around me seemed to blur into a haze, and a piercing, high-pitched ringing filled my ears, drowning out all other sounds.

The ringing was so intense, I couldn't even hear the distant sounds of the concert anymore.