MBD | Chapter 14

Everhart forced himself to smile, suppressing the urge to put a bullet in Viktor’s head.

“The head of the Friedrich family isn’t me, but my father. I’ll inherit the position eventually, but that won’t be for another decade at least. If anything, wouldn’t it be better for you, Viktor-nim, to attend the gathering yourself…? Ah, my apologies. That was an inappropriate suggestion. Please forget I said anything.”

Viktor was a con artist, sure. But Everhart? Everhart had the blood of a nation ranked number one in fraud running through his veins. He didn’t just have a drop of it—his whole bloodstream was practically overflowing with it.

“This gathering… what exactly do you mean?”

“Oh, it’s just… not something that should be spoken about openly. But really, it’s nothing special.”

“Hmm, for someone who seems so outspoken, you sure know how to keep secrets. What kind of gathering is it?”

“It’s nothing grand. Just… a small social club, that’s all.”

Everhart kept playing it down, making it seem insignificant. And as Viktor’s curiosity built to an unbearable level—just when he was practically squirming with anticipation—Everhart decided it was time to drop some bait.

He casually mentioned a few famous figures from the novel, including the head of the Friedrich family, his mother, and other influential names.

Viktor’s eyes practically flipped inside out.

‘Gotcha.’

Like any cult, the real money came from the upper class. And Viktor, more than anything, wanted to use Dawn’s Light to position himself as the one leading the elite.

“Well, Viktor-nim, if you truly desire it, I could recommend you as a member under the Friedrich name.”

“That would be fantastic. Ever-kun, do you have any conditions?”

“Conditions? Oh, Viktor-nim, I doubt you’d have any trouble getting in. But…”

“Hmm?”

“The entrance fee is ten million Ardenrian gold.”

Welcome, sucker.

“Surely, you meant one million?”

“Huh? One million?”

“Ah… I must have misheard.”

“Just ten million gold, and I’ll handle the rest.”

Who was he trying to fool with just one million? That wasn’t even enough to bribe the doorman.

Everhart continued introducing more “famous members” of his completely fake gathering, and Viktor was already half-convinced.

For the final push, Everhart delivered the finishing blow.

“If Viktor-nim were to attend in person, I have no doubt everyone would be so moved by Dawn’s Light’s teachings that they’d be brought to tears.”

“Oh-ho, of course! That makes perfect sense. Then, would you be accompanying me?”

“Of course.”

Yeah, no. Not going. The gathering doesn’t exist. Just hand over the cash.

Everhart grinned, playing along, and Viktor moved in closer once more.

“But there’s a small problem.”

“Oh?”

“For you to accompany me… don’t you think you lack faith, Ever-kun?”

”…”

“One can only truly become a follower of Dawn’s Light after achieving enlightenment. I never knew you held me in such high regard. But once you achieve enlightenment, you’ll be able to fully embrace the essence of the dawn.”

‘What the actual hell is this guy talking about?’

Everhart tried to make sense of it, but no matter how he turned it over in his mind, he couldn’t.

“Ah, I see! Then I’ll receive your teachings next time!”

“Why wait? There’s no need for delay when I’m right here.”

Viktor’s hand slithered onto the back of Everhart’s hand, his fingers slowly trailing up his arm. Everhart felt a shiver crawl down his spine.

“What exactly is this… enlightenment?”

“Ah, Ever-kun, you wouldn’t understand since you’ve never experienced it. It’s a spiritual lesson. A process of feeling the divine energy of the prophet and becoming one with it. The less exposure you’ve had, the stronger the effect.”

”…”

“I can understand why you’d be hesitant, but don’t worry. This is purely an act of divine guidance.”

Uh…

Everhart knew this novel had its fair share of crazy moments, but he hadn’t expected it to be this unhinged.

Then Viktor leaned in, whispering into his ear.

“I guarantee… it’ll be an experience you’ve never had in your life.”

He drawled out his words in that oily voice, inching even closer.

Everhart was fairly certain it was an experience he did not want to have.

“But right now, we’re in the middle of a charity event… Isn’t getting into the gathering more important?”

“I think there’s a misunderstanding. I am merely serving as a divine messenger. There are so many unfortunate souls in need of salvation. Why should I rush to attend some exclusive gathering when there are people to help right here?”

”…”

Everhart clicked his tongue internally.

“Of course, if a true follower of Dawn’s Light, like yourself, were to earnestly desire it, then perhaps the situation would change.”

Up until now, Everhart had thought Viktor was just using Dawn’s Light as a stepping stone to enter high society.

‘This bastard actually believes in his own bullshit.’

He really seemed to believe that he was the “chosen agent and messenger of God.”

Ha, maybe I should’ve just beaten the crap out of him, threatened him, and then swiped that ten million gold?

The so-called spiritual exchange that Viktor was talking about—yeah, no one would be dumb enough not to get what he really meant.

‘Hoo, calm down. Just stay calm. There are plenty of ways.’

It was absolutely disgusting, but there was always the option of pretending to go along and then knocking him out cold.

Sure, Everhart couldn’t drink as much as Karl Heinrich and had passed out before, but that didn’t mean his alcohol tolerance was low.

If he downed four bottles of 45-degree liquor, forget Everhart—his ancestors would probably ascend to the afterlife.

The fact that he wasn’t already en route to heaven after drinking that much was a miracle in itself.

“Especially you, Ever-kun. Your eyes are so clear.”

“Haha, is that so?”

Everhart leaned in closer to Viktor, his face just inches away.

“I’d love to experience it too. That spiritual exchange or whatever. My chest has been feeling really heavy lately.”

“It will surely be wonderful.”

Viktor’s eyes glazed over, half-lidded from Everhart’s flirtation. This guy wasn’t some messenger of God—he was just a horny beast.

As Everhart silently sneered in contempt, Viktor’s disgusting breath tickled his ear.

“Come outside. I’ll have a car waiting in the back alley. See you there.”

Viktor left first, probably to avoid drawing attention.

Leaning against the railing, Everhart took a deep breath and ran his hands through his hair in frustration.

“Ha… This is so fucking gross.”

Convincing Graf at the May event had gone smoothly, but this turn of events left him stressed and disillusioned.

He had to make EberTech a success—only then would the Friedrich family survive the storm that was coming. But did he really have to go this far? Him, of all people?

The moment that thought crossed his mind, visions of his family’s downfall flashed before his eyes.

The screams and blood of his loved ones collapsing one by one right in front of him were vivid, even though he had never actually witnessed it. Lately, he had been waking up in terror from nightmares just like this.

“…I wanna cry.”

Drinking and chatting with Viktor had left his emotions in a mess.

‘Just this once.’

If he could get through this unscathed, he could handle the rest somehow. And once he had power, he’d make damn sure to capture that bastard, turn him into a eunuch, and throw him to the dogs.

Everhart clenched his eyes shut and stepped out of the terrace.

And waiting for him there was none other than Karl Heinrich.

Already in a bad mood, Everhart found it even harder to tolerate him.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m busy.”

“Answer me.”

Everhart sighed and tried to walk past him.

“I didn’t take you for that kind.”

Of course.

Karl Heinrich already knew about Dawn’s Light and Viktor’s antics.

After all, it was someone from Karl Heinrich’s own faction who had exposed them. It made perfect sense.

There was no way the scandal had been revealed at such a convenient time purely by chance.

Everhart looked up at Karl Heinrich. The expression on his face was one of pure disdain—something he had never seen before.

A heat surged from deep within his chest. Why the hell was he looking at him like that?

‘Who do you think made me like this?!’

If Karl Heinrich hadn’t destroyed the Friedrich family, Everhart wouldn’t have had to struggle like this.

Why did he have to suffer humiliation from the very person responsible for forcing him into this situation?

“This has nothing to do with you, sunbae-nim.”

Turning his back on Karl Heinrich, Everhart walked away.

Just then, a server carrying a tray suddenly stepped out from between the crowd. He tried to dodge, but his vision swam.

He nearly crashed into them. Stumbling, he barely managed to regain his footing. The server bowed quickly, apologizing.

“Are you alri—”

“It’s fine.”

“……”

“Just go.”

The sharp tone in Everhart’s voice made the server hesitate before hurriedly leaving.

A sharp headache pulsed through his skull, his vision blurring for a moment. Realizing it wasn’t just the alcohol, he instinctively reached out and braced himself against the wall.

His breath came out ragged, his body swaying unsteadily. Watching him struggle, Karl Heinrich clicked his tongue. His voice came from above.

“Did you drink?”

“What… what are you talking about?”

“What that bastard gave you.”

“……”

“You really have no sense of self-preservation, do you?”

“N-nothing happ—… Shit.”

His mind went hazy, his thoughts slipping. As his knees gave out, Karl Heinrich caught him, supporting him before he could collapse.

Glancing around at the people watching, Karl Heinrich wordlessly carried Everhart toward the mansion’s back exit.

There, Viktor was already waiting for Everhart. But when he spotted Karl Heinrich beside him, his eyes widened in shock.

“Ever-kun! What are you doing there?”

“Ever-kun, my ass.”