Secret World of Occultists
Chapter 68: Mission Briefing

Chapter 68: Mission Briefing

The screening process carried out by the Ministry of Occult Affairs was holistic and thorough.

They chose potential Occultists either by recommendation or direct scouting. Those deemed worthy were subjected to a series of interviews.

After that, they would undergo tests of psychological resilience, and be trained in firearms, melee combat, and field tactics.

Then, they would serve as free agents under probation for three months. This was the final test they had to go through in order to join the Ministry and become a full-fleged Occultist.

If they passed, they would then be required to swear the binding oath of secrecy. After that, they would undergo the ritual art for awakening their spirit energy, and finally enter the Spirit Crucible.

It was during the probationary period of three months where prospective applicants served as free agents that they would be given an initiation mission.

However, since Abel had awakened the old way, he was able to skip the entire screening process and directly become an Occultist after completing his First Trial of Ascension inside the Crucible.

And since then, he had been doing, in reverse, what was required of an Occultist before they became one.

It was only after he’d become an Occultist that he was sworn in by Director John Kensington. Then, he was made to undergo a psychological test, ensuring he was fit to work in supernatural cases.

He was then trained in firearms, combat, and field tactics by the members of the Security & Special Operations Team.

Now, he was finally given his initiation mission after being deemed ready.

"I hope you know, Abel, that this is something that you have to complete on your own," Hugh said in a somber tone. "You will receive no help from any of us."

"I understand, Commander." Abel nodded solemnly.

"However, unlike the rest of us, you do have an advantage," Hugh Preston added. "You can use your Hallmark. The rest of us never did because we weren’t even Occultists when we went through our initiation mission."

Abel silently nodded, musing to himself, I suppose that is an advantage.

"Open the file." the Commander gestured.

Abel did as told. Inside the file, there were several papers containing detailed information about his target.

He gradually started to frown as he read the contents. He couldn’t help but turn to Hugh Preston and mutter incredulously, "Commander, this... The Marrowmen? This is a gang!"

"Indeed." Hugh nodded solemnly. "However, they are not merely a gang. They are an organized criminal syndicate."

Abel couldn’t help but involuntarily gulp.

It’s my first mission and you’re sending me to deal with a whole gang? Isn’t this... a little too much?

He shifted his attention to the documents detailing the Marrowmen’s information. The more he read, the darker his expression turned.

Operating primarily in Newport’s docklands and alley-riddled industrial districts, the Marrowmen were a brutal criminal syndicate notorious for their cruelty, precision, and lack of mercy.

They were known to sabotage machinery and murder factory owners, foremen, or union leaders. Whichever side paid them more. They disguised their killings as ’accidents’.

They also ran a vicious debt collection operation. Victims who failed to pay their dues were abducted, tortured, or maimed.

Through corrupt surgeons and undertakers, they even trafficked human organs harvested from the homeless, drunks, and even abducted children.

They extorted protection money from local businesses, and those who refused would find their shops burned to the ground overnight.

But their most heinous crime was human smuggling!

They used Newport’s status as a port city to smuggle people, especially desperate immigrants. Upon arrival, many were sold to hard labor or forced to work for free in squalid factories run by gang-affiliated businessmen.

And as for the women... they were sold into prostitution.

Abel was utterly disgusted after reading the report. He turned to Hugh Preston and stated, "If these people are engaging in such despicable acts, then why hasn’t the police done anything?"

"It’s simple," said Henry, who was sitting beside the youth. "Some of the constables receive generous sums from the Marrowmen. In return, they are told to turn a blind eye to their dealings."

"Then why hasn’t Trust done anything about them?" Abel was unable to understand, and couldn’t help but say, "Especially since we have the means to!"

"Abel, there is something you must understand," Hugh spoke in a calm and steady voice. "The Ministry was founded to deal solely with the anomalous, not the troubles stirred up by the Dormants."

"That is also the reason the Occultists from the Ministry refrain from political entanglements," Francis chimed in, his voice gentle. "Or from meddling in anything that might affect the mundane world."

"But..." Abel gritted his teeth. He wanted to ask his teammates how could they allow such a thing to happen knowing they had the powers to stop it.

But in the end, he helplessly sighed and instead asked, "But why now?"

Hugh revealed a faint smile, "Just because we don’t deal with the likes of Marrowmen doesn’t mean they are without use. On the contrary, one can argue that such people are quite invaluable to the Ministry."

"Invaluable?" Abel frowned. "These filthy bastards who sell women and children for money, and even kill innocent people?"

Hugh silently nodded, his brown eyes flashing with a peculiar light. "There is still much you have yet to learn about how we operate, Abel. I shall explain once you’ve completed this mission."

Abel remained silent for a long time before asking, "What do you require of me? Surely, you don’t want me to... kill them, right?"

Coming from the 21st century, the act of killing was deeply appalling to him. It was something he had never even considered.

Hugh Preston deeply looked at the youth and answered in a solemn voice, "It would be ideal to keep most—if not all—of them alive. But in desperate moments, you may find yourself with no choice but to kill."

Abel’s hands trembled ever so slightly, hearing the Commander’s words.

Kill someone? He wondered.

Do I even have it in me to take someone’s life?

"I shall leave it to your judgment whether to take a life," Hugh Preston added. "However..."

His voice trailed off, his expression growing serious. "If it truly does come to that, you must not hesitate. For if you do, it will be your life at stake. I assure you these people won’t think twice before ending it."

Abel looked intently into the Commander’s eyes before nodding ever so slightly.

"Now, turn to the final page," Hugh added.

The youth turned to the final page and saw the names of three gang members. His eyebrows furrowed and he couldn’t help but ask, "What about them?"

"Abel," the Commander spoke in a clear voice, his gaze sharp with certainty.

"These are the very men who nearly took your life that night. Yes, I speak of the night Henry and his grandfather found you bleeding in the street."