Underworld

The underworld typically refers to an imagined or mythological realm beneath the Earth's surface, often depicted as a place where spirits go after death or where darker, hidden aspects of life exist. In literature and culture, it symbolizes the unconscious, secrets, or taboo topics. In a more literal context, especially in organized crime, the underworld refers to illicit activities and networks operating outside the law, such as money laundering, illegal trading, and violence, functioning quietly beneath the surface of society. Both uses evoke a sense of mystery, danger, or clandestine activity beneath the visible world.