Chapter 82: Into the Violet Throne
"I don’t really have a problem with that... but can I make a phone call to my family first?"
I asked Alea calmly.
"If I disappear without saying anything again, So-ah will definitely be furious and punish me to death," I added inwardly.
Alea looked at me for a moment before answering.
"Yes. You may."
She then glanced casually at her subordinates.
"Untie him."
Immediately, one of her men stepped forward and cut the rope binding my wrists.
At last, my hands were free.
I reached into my pants pocket and pulled out my phone.
I dialed Lee Donghyun.
While waiting for the call to connect, I noticed something unsettling—Alea was staring at me the entire time.
...Is she suspicious of me?
Just then, the call connected.
"[Hello, hyung. What’s wrong?]"
"Ah, about that..." I said casually. "It seems I have to go overseas for a while, so I probably won’t be able to come home for a few days. Can you let everyone know later? I’m worried they’ll be too concerned if I suddenly disappear."
There was a brief pause on the other end.
"[Uh... alright. I’ll tell them. But what kind of business requires you to leave the country?]"
I glanced at Alea, then gave a faint smile.
"I need to deal with some people."
"[...] Figures. Even if I try to stop you, you’ll do it anyway. In that case, have fun, hyung.]"
"Yeah. See you later."
I ended the call and slipped the phone back into my pocket.
"I’m done. Let’s go."
The moment I said that, Alea stood up from the sofa.
*The Next Morning — Moscow, Russia*
I was sitting in the back seat of a black sedan, with Alea beside me.
The cityscape of Moscow passed by quietly outside the window.
Snow-covered streets, tall buildings, and a cold, heavy atmosphere filled the air.
Alea seemed focused on looking outside, her expression unreadable.
I decided to break the silence.
"By the way... how did you become so fluent in Korean?" I asked.
"When we first met, you couldn’t speak Korean at all."
She froze.
Then I noticed something interesting.
Her ears turned red.
"...That’s none of your business."
I let out a soft sigh and smiled.
"I was just asking."
Why was she reacting like that?
She looked exactly like a flustered cat.
A few moments later, the car stopped.
In front of us was a massive hole carved directly into a thick concrete wall.
Countless villains stood guard around it.
So this must be the HIVE headquarters.
Alea and I stepped out of the car and walked toward the enormous opening.
As we moved forward, I noticed something peculiar.
Every villain we passed immediately lowered their heads toward Alea in respect.
They moved with discipline—almost like soldiers.
I followed her silently, observing my surroundings.
The interior was unbelievably vast.
Villains walked back and forth everywhere.
Most of them radiated powerful auras.
A-rank... S-rank...
As expected from the largest villain organization in Russia.
Not only did they have numbers, but every single one of them was strong.
I glanced around and noticed several large rooms lining the sides.
"Those rooms... what are they used for?" I asked quietly.
"Training rooms," Alea replied without stopping.
"Our members use them to spar or train."
So that’s what they were.
This place was enormous.
Was all of this really dug out?
I asked the question directly.
"Was this massive hole excavated?"
"No," Alea answered calmly.
"His Excellency created it with a single punch."
...Wow.
I knew Boris was strong, but this was on another level.
My eyes scanned the surroundings again.
Then I noticed a door marked with a skull symbol.
"That room with the skull symbol... what is it?"
Alea finally slowed down and spoke in a low voice.
"That is the execution chamber.
We execute those deemed worthy of execution there."
She paused briefly.
"Even you could be executed if you do something foolish here."
...That’s terrifying.
But honestly?
It sounded kind of exciting.
I stayed silent and continued following her.
Just like in the webtoon, Alea clearly disliked being asked too many questions—unless they came from her superior.
I had been doing it on purpose.
I wanted to see her reactions.
But judging by her stiff posture, she was probably already annoyed.
That made it even funnier.
We stopped in front of a massive door.
I tilted my head upward, staring at it.
How heavy was this thing?
Alea placed her hand on the door and pushed it open slowly.
A purple glow spilled out.
Inside was a vast circular hall.
The concrete floor was covered by a circular violet carpet.
At the center stood a statue.
Boris Medvedev.
The circular carpet branched into four separate paths, each leading to a door.
Without hesitation, Alea walked straight past the statue.
That must be our destination.
I followed behind her.
When we reached the door, she knocked exactly six times.
Then she pushed it open.
The room beyond was enormous.
Truly massive.
Dozens—no, hundreds—of villains stood inside.
The hall was dark, illuminated only by glowing purple crystals embedded into the walls.
At the far end, atop a raised platform, sat a man on a throne.
Like a king.
There was no doubt.
That man was Boris Medvedev.
Alea began walking forward slowly, and I followed.
Boris spoke first.
"Why are you so late...?"
Alea stopped and bowed her head.
"My apologies, Your Excellency.
Finding Indigo proved to be far more difficult than expected."
Boris rested his head against his hand.
Then his gaze shifted.
Straight to me.
I felt it immediately.
He grinned widely, baring his teeth.
"Oh? You’ve brought a very interesting guest!"
His voice echoed through the hall.
The eyes of every villain present turned toward me.
Alea spoke nervously.
"Y-Your Excellency... He claims to be a close friend of Indigo.
So... we brought him here as an intermediary."
"What are you talking about?" Boris said, standing up from his throne.
He descended the steps slowly, his smile never fading.
That muscular body radiated overwhelming pressure.
Then—
In an instant—
He launched a punch straight at my face.
Fast.
Violent.
Lethal.
But—
I reacted immediately.
I caught his fist with my bare hand.
The impact sent a shockwave through the hall.
Gasps echoed everywhere.
"That’s Indigo himself!!"
Boris shouted with pure excitement.
His face was filled with joy.
I held his fist firmly, my expression completely calm.
Behind me, Alea froze.
Her face was pale.
She stared at me in shock and fear, unable to believe what she was seeing.
The fact that I had stopped Boris Medvedev’s punch... effortlessly.
The hall fell into silence.
A slow grin spread across my face.
"...Looks like I’ve been found out."
I tightened my grip slightly.
"Nice to meet you properly, Boris."
The violet crystals pulsed brighter.
And in that moment—
I knew.
This meeting would change everything.