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After defeating the red moon, a new ability emerged.

The ability to summon the Golden Reaper’s garden into reality.

It was a versatile ability that could cover the entire area or just bring over parts of the garden.

Considering it’s a degraded version, it was quite a decent ability.

The things in the garden were fictional products created from the dreams and hopes of the Golden Reapers, and to be able to materialize and bring them along was quite impressive!

If the Golden Reaper begins to imagine practically, it looks like the ability will get even better.

Well, for now, it’s an ability that lets me pull out snacks anytime, anywhere.

I summoned a piece of bread from the garden and took a big bite, filling my mouth.

Om nom nom.

Well, even if I drifted onto a deserted island, I wouldn’t go hungry.

Since I’m bored, I should test out my new ability.

*

Late afternoon, behind the Sehee Research Institute.

The Gray Reaper and I were lying on a mat, enjoying a picnic.

Om nom nom.

The Reaper picked up a crab bun, took a small bite, and munched away.

With an indifferent expression, the Reaper grabbed the bread, but seeing the cheeks puffed out like a squirrel, I could tell it was tasty.

In a way, it could be called an ordinary picnic time at the research institute, but today was a bit different.

Crab buns growing on trees.

Hot chocolate flowing like a river.

Marshmallows flying across the sky like clouds.

A fairy-tale-like scenery unfolded in the backyard of the institute.

I wished Unnie Sehee could have joined us for today’s picnic.

Lately, Sehee has been so busy that she’s been stuck in her office doing who knows what.

Such a fairy-tale-like break doesn’t come often, so it felt a little disappointing without her.

The Gray Reaper had absorbed reality to create a new scenery, and this was a first for me.

Watching the Reaper display a power I had never seen before, a doubt crept into my mind.

Wasn’t there a time when the Reaper suddenly showed some abilities as well? Was it when Unnie Sehee got kidnapped?

After rescuing Unnie Sehee, a sudden enchanting fragrance started wafting in.

When I was in Dobong-gu, the mini Golden Reaper also suddenly popped up.

I completely forgot how cute it was.

It feels like these abilities are popping up out of nowhere—what’s the reason behind it?

Hang on, could it be that the Reaper is hiding power?

*

A darkened office in an apartment.

A hidden place secretly set up by the Black Agent.

There sat a blonde girl and the Black Agent, with a table between them.

The expression on the serious Black Agent stood in stark contrast to the cheerful blonde girl.

“Miss, please share what you know. I believe it’s necessary to understand the current situation.”

“I’m not sure how much I know. I was ambushed by monsters, passed out, and when I came to, I suddenly turned into an Object.”

The girl splayed her palm and let out a breath, and flames erupted above it.

“I’m not sure if it’s a characteristic of the Object or if I’m special, but I’ve figured out what I can do.”

As the girl played with the flame in her palm, grinning mischievously, she continued.

“First off, if I touch the sun, I turn to ash. I can also resurrect the dead and transform into a bat.”

“That’s… reminiscent of a vampire.”

“Yeah, including my red-tinged irises, it gives off that vibe, but there are some differences. I can breathe fire, and I can feel the flames coursing through my body from my heart.”

The flames, shifting around in the girl’s palm, grew larger until they ballooned into a basketball-sized orb.

“If you’re a vampire, what about blood?”

“Unfortunately, I have to consume blood. I need blood to grow the firewood inside my heart. If the firewood goes out, the flames flowing through my veins would burn my entire body.”

Hearing that, the Black Agent fell into deep thought.

The blonde girl felt her heart racing at the sight.

What if this man hates me for being a monster?

If that’s the case… what should I do?

The girl fidgeted, thinking through her last resort.

“How much and how often do I need to consume blood? Right now, evading the Association President’s gaze is top priority, but my biggest issue seems to be ‘blood consumption.'”

Contrary to the blonde girl’s worries, the Black Agent was contemplating something entirely different.

Somehow, it felt like the flames flowing through my veins were becoming hotter, warming my skin.

“Um… You don’t need to consume that much. Just the blood from the uncle should be enough.”

In truth, it’s just that I don’t want to drink anyone else’s blood.

“Oh! And I have vague information, do you want to hear it?”

“Please do. We’re currently in such a state of low information.”

Clearing her throat, the girl spoke in a low voice.

“Create the moon. Stand in the desert. The heart will guide the way.”

The girl imitated a deep voice, as if doing vocal mimicry.

“Did you hear that from someone? It has that kind of vibe.”

“It just popped into my head when I opened my eyes. I don’t know who said it or why these words came to mind. It’s what was engraved in my brain right after waking up with a dagger stuck in my heart on the altar.”

“You should definitely remember that information. It seems crucial for understanding the current situation.”

The Black Agent jotted down the girl’s lines quickly and added a few more notes.

[Create the moon. Stand in the desert. The heart will guide the way.]

[Create the moon - correlation with the red moon.]

[Stand in the desert - relationship with the red desert.]

[A dagger in the heart. The fire produced from the heart. A heart that guides the way?]

[Object status unconfirmed. Miss’s ID is intact. 'No name'?]

The girl, gazing quietly at the Agent’s notes, turned his face toward her holding his cheek.

“There’s something more important. We need to track down those Trinity Researchers and get our revenge.”

The blonde girl said with a sinister smile.

*

In what I prided as my paperless office, countless books and materials were neatly lined up.

“Ugh.”

A groan escaped my lips involuntarily.

“I don’t want to study.”

My head was pounding due to the evil ‘Daily Object.’

It was because of the sudden change in law after the appearance of the black penguin which caused many people to be harmed and die.

All individuals and groups handling ‘Objects’, including news agencies, were required to have specific qualifications due to the new law.

Of course, the institute had needed these qualifications long before, but the existing institutes could substitute qualification with records of containment prior to the law’s establishment.

Our research institute, containing the Gray Reaper, naturally enjoyed the exemption due to our containment records!

However, the new law required a mandatory qualification after a three-month grace period.

But.

It’s way too tough.

Hearing that certification exams were becoming increasingly difficult to prevent the proliferation of Object research institutes, I never expected this trial would befall me while I was smiling as a victor.

At that moment, I regretted not studying ahead instead of mocking.

Knock knock knock.

It was an ordinary knock, but it felt like an ominous one that I shouldn’t open for some reason.

Knock knock knock.

“Is Director Lee Sehee there? Open the door quickly.”

Ah, it’s Seoah after all.

Seoah came to torment me.

I heard an audit regarding the management system for Object research institutes was coming up—that’s probably why?

I stealthily approached and locked my office door, preparing for a siege.

“I’ve done nothing wrong! I only followed the usual practice!”

“Open the door quickly, Director!”

Bang bang bang.

The sound of pounding on the door was terrifying.

*

In a private room of the Oh Muryong mansion.

“Grandfather!”

With a bright smile, a blonde girl with blue eyes threw herself into Oh Muryong’s embrace.

“Oh, my granddaughter.”

Oh Muryong smiled contentedly, stroking the blue-eyed girl’s head.

Knock knock knock.

A steady knock echoed through the room.

“It’s time for this old man to work. Go back to your room and play.”

“Okay! Grandfather!”

As the blue-eyed girl exited, a man entered, bowing respectfully to Oh Muryong.

“Association President.”

“Yes, what’s the matter?”

The man raised his head and began to report.

“I’ve erased all traces of the lady visiting the Gachisan Research Institute.”

“Mm.”

Satisfied sounds came from Oh Muryong as he turned around.

The man bowed and exited the room.

Once the man left, Oh Muryong approached the fireplace and began to operate something.

Then, a dark opening revealed itself.

A lavishly concealed grand underground secret passage.

Oh Muryong slowly moved down the passageway.

Descending to the deep underground using an elevator, he found a lab equipped like a high-tech facility.

As Oh Muryong appeared, researchers in lab coats rush over and bowed their heads.

In the depths of that underground lab lay the goal Oh Muryong had sought.

A freezing pod.

Inside, a blonde girl lay without a shred of color on her face.

Oh Muryong pulled out a rocket pendant from his pocket and gazed at it, muttering.

“I can’t lose this. I absolutely cannot.”

Inside the pendant was a photo of the blonde girl with a bright smile.