"How do you know my name?" Karry asked.
The man smiled faintly.
"A guess."
"Answer me."
The man stepped forward.
"This place—this underground world—is run by me. We are called the Sinners."
He spread his arms slightly.
"Our purpose is simple. We find those who remember the truth… and we clean the mess this world refuses to acknowledge."
Karry's eyes narrowed.
"Clean the mess?"
"We kill criminals," the man said calmly.
"The ones beyond redemption."
Karry's expression hardened.
"Why?"
The man finally looked serious.
"When population increases, sin increases with it," he said.
"But the sin limit of a species remains constant."
Karry froze.
"The demons crossed that limit," the man continued.
"Not because they were evil—but because they became too many."
"So you're saying—" Karry began.
"Yes," the man interrupted.
"Reducing criminals reduces sin. Even scum has a purpose."
Karry clenched his fists.
"And how do you stop people from becoming criminals?"
The man was silent for a moment.
"I don't," he said.
"I only deal with the results."
Karry exhaled sharply.
"Then who are the people behind you?"
The man turned slightly.
"The one who brought karry—step forward."
The hooded figure removed her cloak.
Silver hair.
Elven features.
Eyes glowing like twin blue moons—cold, brilliant, unreal.
For a moment, Karry forgot how to breathe.
He forced himself to look away.
Focus.
"This is Sasha," the man said.
"The Fifth Sinner, ranked by strength and achievements."
More figures stood behind the throne.
"The Fourth is Kernel. The others are on missions."
The man finally introduced himself.
"My name is Arnold. Leader of the Sinners."
He looked directly at Karry.
"You belong here."
Silence fell.
Karry thought.
Killing criminals is a sin.
But if their existence pushes an entire species toward annihilation…
If the Unknown Entity was real—
Then doing nothing was worse.
"Yes," Karry said.
Arnold smiled.
"From this moment on—you are the Seventh Sinner."
"Your rank," Arnold continued,
"will rise through strength… and accomplishment."
Karry met his gaze.
"How can you trust me?"
Arnold leaned back.
"Because I know you better than you know yourself."
A chill ran down Karry's spine.
This man…
He could shake the world.
End of Chapter 3