Akashic_Tales Originals
Hades, Inc.: The Billionaire God of Death's Chaotic System
Chapter 11: Seoul's Underworld
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The morning after Jinx's encounter with Chaos, Haiden found himself standing in a part of Seoul that didn't appear on any tourist maps. The narrow alley was tucked between two modern high-rises, yet somehow existed in its own pocket of reality where time seemed to move differently. Neon signs in languages both human and decidedly not flickered despite the daylight, and the air smelled of incense, exotic spices, and something faintly sulfurous.
"Welcome to Shadowed Way," Haiden told Detective Moon, who stood beside him, taking in the hidden supernatural district with remarkable composure. "Seoul's unofficial supernatural marketplace and neutral ground for all non-human entities in the city."
Kyra adjusted the iron bracelet on her wrist, a gift from Haiden after their confrontation with Zadkiel, and nodded. "I've walked past this area a thousand times and never noticed it."
"That's the point," Haiden explained. "Glamour spells and perception filters keep mortals from stumbling in accidentally. The fact that you can see it now means your awareness has been... expanded."
"A side effect of learning that my consultant is actually the God of Death?" Kyra asked dryly.
"Precisely." Haiden smiled, pleased by her quick adaptation. Most mortals took weeks to adjust to supernatural revelations. Kyra had managed it in days. "After last night's developments, we need information that conventional sources can't provide."
The "developments" he referred to were, of course, Chaos's dinner invitation and the revelation of a cosmic conspiracy involving a mysterious "Mediator" and a buffer realm being constructed between afterlives. After Jinx's call, Haiden had immediately contacted Kyra, bringing her up to speed on the situation.
"And we'll find this information here?" Kyra looked skeptical as she observed the eclectic mix of beings moving through the alley. Most appeared human at first glance, but closer inspection revealed subtle differences, eyes that reflected light like a cat's, skin with faint scale patterns, shadows that moved independently of their owners.
"Shadowed Way exists in every major city on Earth," Haiden explained as they began walking. "Different names, same concept, neutral territory where supernatural entities can conduct business without interference. Seoul's happens to be particularly well-connected."
"Connected to what?"
"Everything." Haiden nodded to a vendor selling what appeared to be glowing fruit. The seller, who had too many fingers and pupils that rotated like kaleidoscopes, bowed deeply in response. "Information flows through places like this. If someone's building an unauthorized afterlife realm, the ripples would be felt here."
Kyra's hand instinctively moved toward her service weapon as a group of pale, elegant figures passed by, their eyes lingering on her with predatory interest.
"Don't," Haiden warned quietly. "Drawing a weapon here would violate neutrality protocols. Besides, they're just curious. Mortals who can perceive this place are rare."
"What are they?" Kyra whispered as the pale figures moved on.
"Vampires. Lesser cousins of Luna's bloodline. Probably from the Seoul Nightcourt."
"There's a vampire court in Seoul?" Kyra looked incredulous. "How have I never investigated supernatural crimes before now?"
"You have," Haiden corrected. "You just didn't recognize them as supernatural. Remember the frozen businessman last summer? Ice elemental territory dispute. The twisted nightclub owner? Ran afoul of a reality warper. The kindergarten teacher whose shadow remained? Shadow realm incursion."
Kyra stopped walking. "Those were my cases. How do you know about them?"
"I make it my business to know about unusual deaths in my vicinity," Haiden replied. "Occupational habit, even in retirement."
Before Kyra could respond, a small figure darted from the shadows and attached itself to Haiden's leg. Looking down, he found a goblin child, green-skinned, large-eared, and dressed in mismatched clothes that appeared to be made from discarded fast food wrappers.
"Lord Death!" the goblin squeaked. "You came back! Did you bring treats?"
Haiden sighed but reached into his pocket, producing a small wrapped candy that definitely wasn't available in mortal stores. "Hello, Nix. Still causing trouble?"
The goblin child snatched the candy with surprising speed. "Only good trouble, Lord Death! Promise!"
"I'm sure," Haiden said dryly. "Where's your mother?"
"Shop! Making potions!" Nix unwrapped the candy, which glowed faintly and changed colors as it was exposed to air. "She says business is weird. Too many ghosts buying travel supplies."
Haiden's interest sharpened. "Travel supplies? Ghosts don't travel."
"That's what Mom said!" Nix nodded vigorously. "But they're buying ghost-passage and liminal tokens and boundary chalk! Lots and lots!"
Kyra watched the exchange with fascination. "I'm guessing that's significant?"
"Very," Haiden confirmed. "Those are items used for crossing between spiritual realms, things that disembodied souls would need to navigate outside their designated afterlife."
He crouched to the goblin child's level. "Nix, take us to your mother's shop. There might be more treats involved."
The goblin's already large eyes widened further. "Three treats?"
"Two," Haiden countered. "And I won't tell her about the pixie dust incident last month."
"Deal!" Nix grabbed Haiden's hand and began pulling him deeper into the alley. "This way! This way!"
As they followed their enthusiastic guide, Kyra leaned closer to Haiden. "You're good with supernatural children."
"I've had practice," Haiden replied. "Jinx was a handful growing up. And before that, there were... others."
Something in his tone made Kyra curious, but she sensed it wasn't the time to press. Instead, she focused on their surroundings as the alley widened into a small square filled with shops. Each storefront was more bizarre than the last, a bookstore where the books floated and occasionally snapped at browsers, an apothecary with ingredients that moved in their jars, a café serving beverages in cups that changed shape based on the drinker's mood.
Nix led them to a narrow shop wedged between a fortune teller's booth and what appeared to be a travel agency advertising "Discount Dimensional Displacement." A hand-painted sign above the door read "Myrtle's Metaphysical Merchandise" in both Korean and a script that seemed to shift and change as Kyra looked at it.
"Mom! Mom!" Nix called as they entered. "Lord Death is here! With a mortal lady!"
The interior of the shop was cluttered but meticulously organized, with shelves reaching to the ceiling and narrow aisles between displays of supernatural curios. The air smelled of herbs, old books, and something faintly metallic.
From behind a beaded curtain emerged a female goblin, taller than Nix but still barely reaching Haiden's waist. Her skin was a deeper green, her white hair tied in a complex braid, and her apron covered in stains of various colors and consistencies.
"Lord Hades," she greeted with a formal bow. "An unexpected honor. I heard rumors you had... retired."
"It's just Haiden now, Myrtle," he corrected. "And retirement isn't going as smoothly as planned."
Myrtle's gaze shifted to Kyra, her expression curious but not hostile. "A mortal companion? With awareness? Interesting times indeed."
"Detective Kyra Moon," Haiden introduced. "Seoul Metropolitan Police. She's investigating the recent divine murders."
"Ah, the celestial combustions," Myrtle nodded. "Bad business, that. Disrupts the natural order."
"Speaking of disruptions," Haiden continued, "Nix mentioned you've had unusual customers. Ghosts purchasing travel supplies?"
Myrtle's expression grew serious. She turned to her child. "Nix, go organize the charm cabinet. Adult talk now."
The goblin child pouted but scampered off after receiving a second candy from Haiden.
Once Nix was out of earshot, Myrtle lowered her voice. "It started about three months ago. Disembodied souls appearing in my shop, not the usual lost ghosts, but processed souls. Ones that should be in their designated afterlife."
"Heaven or Hell?" Kyra asked.
"Both," Myrtle confirmed, seeming impressed by the detective's quick understanding. "And others, souls from various cultural afterlives. All asking for the same things: boundary chalk, liminal tokens, ghost-passage. Items for navigating between realms."
"Did they say why?" Haiden pressed.
"Most wouldn't talk. Scared, I think. But one, a scholar who died in the 1800s, mentioned something about 'the new place.' Said it was 'neither up nor down, but sideways.' Whatever that means."
Haiden and Kyra exchanged significant looks.
"The buffer realm," Kyra murmured.
"Exactly," Haiden agreed. "Myrtle, have you heard anything about someone called 'The Mediator'?"
The goblin shopkeeper's eyes widened. "Where did you hear that name?"
"So you know it," Haiden noted.
Myrtle glanced around nervously before reaching under her counter. She produced a small, tarnished coin that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it.
"One of the ghosts paid with this. Said it was 'Mediator currency.' I've been in metaphysical merchandise for three centuries, Lord Had– I mean Lord Haiden. I've never seen anything like it."
Haiden took the coin carefully. As his fingers touched it, the System activated:
[Item Analysis: Mediator Token]
[Origin: Unknown Realm]
[Properties: Dimensional Anchor, Soul Tether, Reality Marker]
[Warning: Unauthorized Divine Artifact]
"May I?" Kyra asked, reaching for the coin.
"Carefully," Haiden cautioned. "It has... properties."
Kyra took the coin and immediately shivered. "It's cold. And it feels... wrong somehow. Like it's pulling at me."
"It's designed to pull souls," Haiden explained, taking it back and returning it to Myrtle. "A dimensional anchor and reality marker combined. Essentially a passport and map to this buffer realm."
"Can you track it?" Kyra asked. "Find where these souls are going?"
"Not directly," Haiden admitted. "But this confirms what Zadkiel told us. Someone is creating an unauthorized afterlife and redirecting souls there."
Myrtle wrapped the coin in a cloth that glimmered with protective symbols. "There's more. The supernatural gangs are restless. Territory disputes have doubled in the past month. Everyone's sensing the imbalance."
"Gangs?" Kyra looked surprised. "Supernatural creatures have organized crime?"
"Of course," Myrtle said, as if it were obvious. "The Nine-Tail Syndicate controls most of eastern Seoul, fox spirits, very traditional. The Midnight Court handles the northern districts, vampires, very political. The Stone Fists have the south, trolls and ogres, very direct. And the western areas belong to the Whisper Network, ghosts and spirits, very secretive."
"And they're fighting?" Haiden asked, concern evident in his voice.
"Skirmishes so far," Myrtle confirmed. "But tensions are high. The balance is shifting, and everyone's trying to position themselves for whatever comes next."
Haiden's expression darkened. "A power vacuum. If the traditional afterlife systems are being undermined, the supernatural factions would sense it. They're preparing for chaos."
"Speaking of Chaos," Kyra interjected, "could your father be behind this? The dinner invitation seems suspiciously well-timed."
"It's possible," Haiden acknowledged. "But this doesn't feel like his style. Chaos prefers disorder with a purpose, usually his own amusement. This is too... structured. Too planned."
A commotion outside interrupted their conversation, shouts and the sound of breaking glass. Haiden moved to the window, Kyra close behind.
In the square, two groups faced off, one composed of elegant, pale figures similar to those they'd seen earlier, the other consisting of individuals with distinctly vulpine features and multiple tails swishing behind them.
"Midnight Court and Nine-Tail Syndicate," Haiden identified. "This isn't good."
"Territorial dispute?" Kyra asked.
"Worse," Myrtle said, joining them at the window. "That's Lord Kumiho himself, leader of the Nine-Tails. And Lady Carmilla of the Midnight Court. They don't leave their territories for minor matters."
Indeed, at the center of each group stood imposing figures, a regal fox spirit with nine magnificent tails and a vampire woman whose beauty was as terrifying as it was perfect.
"We need to intervene," Haiden decided. "If they start a supernatural gang war in the middle of Seoul, the mortal casualties would be catastrophic."
"Intervene how?" Kyra asked skeptically. "I'm pretty sure my police badge doesn't carry much weight with vampire lords and fox spirits."
"No," Haiden agreed with a grim smile. "But mine does."
[New Quest: Negotiate Peace Between Rival Monster Gangs]
[Reward: Enhanced Diplomatic Influence (48-hour duration)]
[Penalty: Supernatural Gang War in Seoul]
"Perfect timing," Haiden muttered to the floating text. To Kyra, he said, "Stay close to me. Don't show fear, but don't make direct eye contact with either leader."
"Any other supernatural etiquette tips before we walk into a monster standoff?" Kyra asked, checking that her iron bracelet was secure.
"Yes. If anyone offers you food, drink, or gifts, politely decline. And whatever happens, don't make promises or deals."
With that, Haiden straightened his tie and walked out of the shop, his posture shifting subtly. Kyra followed, noticing how his presence seemed to expand, not physically, but in a way that made the air around him feel heavier, more significant.
The arguing supernatural factions fell silent as Haiden approached, recognition dawning on their faces.
"Lord Kumiho. Lady Carmilla." Haiden's voice carried easily across the square, though he didn't raise it. "This is neutral territory. You know the rules."
The fox spirit, Lord Kumiho, flicked his tails in agitation. "The rules are changing, Death God. Or haven't you noticed from your corporate tower?"
"The balance shifts," added Lady Carmilla, her voice melodious yet cold. "Souls move where they should not. The natural order falters."
"I'm aware," Haiden replied calmly. "That's why I'm here. But fighting among yourselves only weakens all supernatural factions at a time when unity would be wiser."
"Unity?" Lord Kumiho scoffed. "The vampire thinks her kind should control the flow of lost souls in my territory."
"Because your foxes are letting them wander into mortal spaces," Lady Carmilla countered. "Three hauntings in Gangnam this week alone. Sloppy."
"Enough," Haiden said, and though his tone remained conversational, both supernatural leaders fell silent immediately. "The soul disruptions are not caused by either of your factions. They're symptoms of a larger problem, one that affects all realms."
This caught their attention. The gathered supernatural beings murmured among themselves, tension still high but curiosity piqued.
"What problem?" Lord Kumiho demanded.
"Someone is creating an unauthorized afterlife realm," Haiden explained. "Souls are being diverted there instead of proceeding to their designated afterlives. The imbalance you're sensing is real, but fighting each other won't solve it."
Lady Carmilla's eyes narrowed. "You speak of the Mediator."
Haiden's expression revealed nothing, but Kyra could sense his surprise. "You know of them?"
"Whispers only," the vampire lady admitted. "One of my courtiers encountered a ghost who claimed to serve a new master, neither Heaven nor Hell, but something in between. The Mediator."
"The foxes have heard similar tales," Lord Kumiho acknowledged reluctantly. "Spirits speaking of a new path, a third option."
"Then you understand the gravity of the situation," Haiden pressed. "This affects all supernatural factions equally. Your territories mean nothing if the cosmic order itself is undermined."
The two leaders exchanged glances, centuries of rivalry momentarily set aside in the face of a common concern.
"What do you propose, Death God?" Lady Carmilla asked finally.
"A truce," Haiden said. "And cooperation. Your factions have eyes and ears throughout Seoul. If you encounter souls speaking of this Mediator or the new realm, I want to know. In return, I promise that when this threat is neutralized, both your courts will receive favorable consideration in the next supernatural territory negotiations."
It was a significant offer, Kyra realized. Haiden was essentially promising divine intervention in local supernatural politics, something that, as the God of Death, he would have the authority to influence.
Lord Kumiho's tails swished thoughtfully. "And if we refuse?"
"Then you're welcome to continue fighting while a power greater than both your courts reshapes the afterlife," Haiden replied with a shrug. "I'm sure that will work out well for everyone."
The sarcasm wasn't lost on either leader. After a tense moment, Lady Carmilla inclined her head slightly. "The Midnight Court agrees to your terms, Lord Hades."
"As does the Nine-Tail Syndicate," Lord Kumiho added, though less graciously. "For now."
"Excellent," Haiden said with a satisfied nod. "I'll expect your first reports within three days. You know how to reach me."
With the agreement reached, the supernatural gangs began to disperse, though not without exchanging final glares and subtle threats.
"That was... diplomatic of you," Kyra observed as they walked back toward Myrtle's shop. "I was half expecting you to pull rank and threaten them with divine punishment."
"Force is rarely the most effective tool in supernatural politics," Haiden explained. "Especially with beings as old and proud as those two. Besides, they're right to be concerned. The balance is shifting, and they can sense it even if they don't fully understand what's happening."
Inside the shop, Myrtle looked relieved. "I thought we'd have a war in the square. You still have the touch, Lord Haiden."
"Let's hope it's enough," Haiden replied. "Myrtle, I need you to keep your ears open. Any more ghosts buying travel supplies, any mention of the Mediator or this new realm, I want to know immediately."
"Of course," the goblin shopkeeper agreed. "For old times' sake. And because whatever's happening isn't good for business. Supernatural chaos is one thing, it keeps demand for my merchandise high. But cosmic restructuring? That's bad for everyone."
As they prepared to leave, Nix darted out from behind a shelf. "Lord Death! You promised three treats!"
"Two," Haiden corrected with a smile. "And silence about the pixie dust."
"But I organized the whole charm cabinet!" the goblin child protested. "Even the exploding ones!"
Haiden sighed and produced a third candy, this one shifting between all colors of the rainbow. "Don't eat this one all at once. And stay out of trouble."
Nix snatched the candy with a gleeful cackle and disappeared back into the depths of the shop.
Outside, the supernatural marketplace had returned to its usual bustling activity, though Kyra noticed the different factions giving each other a wider berth than before.
"What now?" she asked as they made their way back toward the entrance to Shadowed Way.
"Now we prepare for dinner with Chaos," Haiden replied grimly. "And hope he's feeling talkative rather than cryptic."
"Is he ever not cryptic?"
"Once, during the Paleozoic Era," Haiden said with complete seriousness. "He was very direct about his opinions on trilobites. Hasn't happened since."
As they reached the boundary between Shadowed Way and normal Seoul, Haiden paused. "Detective Moon, Kyra. I want to thank you for your adaptability. Most mortals wouldn't be handling any of this nearly as well."
Kyra shrugged, though she looked pleased by the compliment. "I've always believed in following evidence wherever it leads. I just never expected it to lead to Greek gods, vampire courts, and fox spirit syndicates."
"The supernatural world has always existed alongside the mortal one," Haiden said. "Most humans simply lack the awareness to perceive it. You're different."
"Lucky me," Kyra replied dryly, but there was no real bitterness in her tone. Despite the danger and the mind-bending revelations, she couldn't deny a certain exhilaration at discovering this hidden world.
As they stepped back into mortal Seoul, the sounds and scents of Shadowed Way faded, replaced by the familiar noise of traffic and the smell of street food. To passersby, they appeared to emerge from an ordinary alley between office buildings.
Haiden checked his watch, a timepiece that tracked not just hours and minutes but cosmic alignments and divine convergences. "We should head back to Elysium. Luna will have updates on the financial audit, and we need to brief everyone before Sunday's dinner."
"About that," Kyra said as they walked toward Haiden's waiting car. "What exactly should I wear to dinner with a primordial deity? Is there a dress code for cosmic family reunions?"
Haiden laughed, a sound that made nearby flowers bloom despite it being the wrong season. "Wear whatever makes you feel confident. My father doesn't care about mortal fashion, he once showed up to a divine council meeting dressed as a 1970s disco dancer because he thought the aesthetic was 'delightfully chaotic.'"
As they slid into the back seat of Haiden's luxury car, Kyra found herself smiling despite the gravity of their situation. A week ago, her biggest concern had been departmental budget cuts and filing paperwork on time. Now she was preparing for dinner with Chaos himself while investigating a conspiracy to reshape the afterlife.
Life had certainly become more interesting since meeting Haiden Black.
[Quest Complete: Peace Negotiated Between Rival Gangs]
[Reward: Enhanced Diplomatic Influence unlocked for 48 hours]
[Note: Supernatural factions now aligned with your interests, temporarily]
The System's approval glowed before Haiden as the car pulled away from the curb. For once, he was grateful for his father's meddling. The diplomatic boost would be useful in the coming days, especially if Sunday's dinner went as chaotically as he expected.
After all, family reunions were complicated enough without cosmic conspiracies and the fate of all afterlives hanging in the balance.