The look on the villains faces when they finally recognized was one of disbelief.
C-Crazy!
Hes going to kill us all!
L-Lets run!
I silently watched the chaotic scene unfold. Heartworker called them benefactors, but to , they were just common villains.
A common villain was soone who should be killed.
Was there a righteous villain in the world?
I assert that there were not. There might be villains who had their own stories and twisted sense of justice that society could not tolerate, like Berserker.
But there were no villains involved in illegal activities related to money who maintained any sense of ethics.
Hey.
Yes, yes?
These guys are from Jagalchi, right?
Y-Yes.
The villain organization Jagalchi.
The mont I heard that na, I was certain. They all had to die.
Stay put. If you have a weak stomach, close your eyes.
..
Heartworker, who had been trembling, stopped hiding and closed his eyes. Its a good choice if he had a weak stomach.
I drew a dagger from my belt and unleashed Blade Storm.
Swoosh!
One of the villains right in front of shattered into pieces.
***
eting the nationally certified Transcendent, Choi Jun-ho, was an unexpected stroke of luck.
The other told him, a person with a bit of skill, that he would bring him to Seoul, and he revealed that he would help with his mothers treatnt, which could be considered the goal of his life.
Money! And won!
Kim Jong-hyun wanted to follow Choi Jun-ho right away, but the organization he was supplying goods for got caught in the middle.
Lately, the rapidly growing villain organization called Jagalchi had accepted villains from Seoul due to the large-scale purge that had occurred in the capital region. It was rapidly expanding its influence in Busan.
If things continued like this, they would beco a prominent organization in Busan.
Kim Jong-hyun was terrified of when that knife would co for him if he disappeared without a word while delivering goods to this organization. So he tried to use Choi Jun-hos authority to escape.
Yes, he thought that a few villains might die or get injured.
But he never thought it would lead to everyone dying.
Aaah! Aaaah!
Uh, uh-uh!
A series of pitiful screams echoed through the building. Kim Jong-hyun closed his eyes, and at one point, he covered his ears with his hands and sat down, shivering.
This was none other than Jagalchi. The organization that was gaining the most montum these days.
There was no place in Busan that could match this organization. Not even Busans elite Villain Response Team, nor any other organization, could take down Jagalchi.
The sll of blood, piercing screams, and a deep sense of dread filled the building. A grueso ripping sound followed this, each echoing with screams.
One of Busans largest villainous organizations had been sentenced to death by just one man.
Was this what a human could do? Even if a monster had invaded, it couldnt have created this kind of fear.
At one mont, even the screams fell completely silent. Footsteps could be heard. A sticky sensation was transmitted through the ear. It was made of the blood and flesh of the villain who had been making a commotion just a mont ago.
Open your eyes.
Choi Jun-hos voice sounded no different from when he had told him to close his eyes. If he hadnt heard the screams earlier, he would have thought the other had just taken a quick smoke.
Maybe he had mistaken sothing. Maybe he had overreacted due to fear.
But the mont he opened his eyes, what greeted Kim Jong-hyun was a scene from hell.
Ugh! Uweaek!
Kim Jong-hyun began to vomit as he saw the torn flesh and blood.
After vomiting for a while, when more bile was about to co up, a water bottle rolled over from the side.
Rinse.
Kim Jong-hyun drank the water without saying a word. He didnt want to look, but his gaze went to the flesh scattered throughout the building.
Why did it have to be this bad?
It felt like it was too much, no matter how you looked at it. Regardless of his thoughts, Choi Jun-ho continued to approach one side of the building without hesitation.
Jagalchi is not the place you think it is.
With a loud thud, the wall was pierced. Then, a safe was revealed, and he tore it off. When he pulled out the contents of the safe, a bag full of white powder fell out.
Drugs.
Choi Jun-hos actions didnt stop there. After checking several places in the building, he kicked the floor, revealing a hidden passage leading underground.
Shortly after entering, screams echoed down the hallway, and a few monts later, children and won began to climb up behind Choi Jun-ho.
Human trafficking.
Kim Jong-hyun stared blankly at the scene. He had never dread that the organization he knew would be like this. He had simply thought of them as a group of people who had strayed slightly onto the wrong path, selling goods in a slightly illegal underground market.
But now, that belief was shattered before his eyes.
From the very beginning, Choi Jun-ho knew everything.
This is the real face of the villains, Heartworker.
Why, why are you showing this?
I didnt do it with the intention of showing you. I just killed them because theyre villains.
After saying those words, Choi Jun-ho took out his smartphone from his pocket and began to contact the Busans Villain Response Team.
***
Having entrusted the cleanup to the Busan Villain Response Team, I headed to the city hall to et the mayor of Busan.
Im Mayor Yoo Seong-soo of Busan.
Im Choi Jun-ho.
Busan Mayor Yoo Seong-soo was a big-ti politician from the opposition party and was the oppositions leading candidate for the next presidential election.
He was praised for protecting Busan from the threat of monsters and had improved Busans position through collaboration with neighboring cities such as Yangsan, Gimhae, Ulsan, Pohang, Daegu, and Changwon.
In my opinion, it was a typical show of achievents.
On the contrary, the economic improvent also fostered villains and increased public unrest.
But theres no denying that it worked pretty well for the citizens.
I didnt expect to see Transcendent Choi Jun-ho in Busan.
I ca because I had so business to attend to. Thats when I ca across the villain organization and decided to contact you.
Considering that, you handled it quite ruthlessly.
It couldnt be helped, as todays handling of the villains was done using the new Gift, Blade Storm. This Gift combined the sharpness of Slash with the area attack of Nuris Blade Storm, tearing apart opponents who were caught in its path.
The power was so terrifyingly brutal that it could be associated with the Eraser. However, because it was even more brutal, it would be difficult to link the two.
The Eraser, as the na suggested, was a villain who didnt leave any trace of himself. The scene I created today was excessively cruel.
They were involved in drug trafficking and even human trafficking. I couldnt stand it and dealt with it on the spot.
Ah! I want to thank you for your efforts to maintain safety in Busan.
I discovered sothing interesting while looking around before the villain response team arrived.
Sothing interesting?
The villain organization Jagalchi has been making paynts to several governnt offices in the city.
We cant punish public servants who serve the citizens of our city just based on circumstantial evidence. Please understand.
I believe it may be associated with soone higher up.
With that, I looked into the eyes of the Mayor of Busan. For a mont, it seed like ripples were forming in the eyes of the seasoned politician, but they quickly stabilized.
Are you suggesting that Im related to this?
If the shoe fits, I guess.
I am the elected mayor of Busan. Even if youre a Transcendent, dont forget that youre working for the state.
This was quite different from my thoughts.
Elected powers have an expiration date, but Transcendental powers last for a very long ti. In fact, isnt my power eternal?
Where did elected power dare to compete with lifelong power?
Whether my words made sense or not, the Mayor of Busan stared at , speechless.
Anyway, since this is sothing that happened in Busan, I hope that Transcendent Choi Jun-ho will leave it at that.
I want to take action, but the evidence is lacking. However, there is one thing Id like you to consider.
What is it?
I believe that if soone collaborates with villains, they are also considered villains. Because they benefit from the villains. If you have seen how I dealt with that journalist on the first day I beca a Transcendent recognized by the state, that shall set the standard for your future actions.
Since I havent seen it, I dont know.
There might be an opportunity to show it to you soon.
The Busan mayor, who couldnt even manage to save his face, kept his mouth shut.
Right now, the evidence wasnt perfect, so I could only let it slide this ti. But there wouldnt be a next ti.
I concluded my eting with the mayor of Busan, thinking that I should go up to Seoul and get so more information.
I traveled up to Seoul with Heartworker and his mother, and after helping her through the hospitalization process, I brought Heartworker to the National Security Agency.
Youre going to be a mber of the Sacred Guild from now on.
, in the Sacred Guild?
Do you think its really that easy to be admitted to Sacred Hospital? Its because we have the Sacred Guilds support.
What exactly am I supposed to do
I recomnded you, thats what. Your job is simple. Learn the processing thod Ill teach you, and learn it as quickly as possible.
Processing thod?
Heartwalkers eyes sparkled. It was similar to the look hed given in my last life as I learned to process.
When you reach a satisfactory level, theyll promise you a billion-won annual salary and performance bonuses from then on.
Ill take your word for it.
You should.
Its a skill I developed while delivering to the villains. I looked it up, and it said it would earn over 1.5 trillion won, so of course I have to stick with it.
In the end, what he believed in was the money he could earn. Thats fine by .
I looked into the guys eyes and said.
Right. And dont ss with won.
Ugh, why
You know why yourself.
This Heartworker guy couldnt keep his pants on around won.
Even in my last life, he packaged it nicely by saying that he was looking for his own way of life, but in reality, he couldnt overco his desires and went to the black market, where he t the Executioner and died.
If I disobey your orders
Imagine the outco as you wish.
Argh!
Heartworkers face turned pale. I didnt know what hes imagining, but he seed ready to listen.
Take a few days off for now. Ill call you when things are ready.
Why did he suddenly had the face of soone who lost their country?
Thats how the conversation ended.
Just then, Jung Da-hyun entered with a knock on the door.
Excuse .
As she walked in, she made eye contact with the Heartworker.
Hmm, not a good situation. eting Jung Da-hyun right after that warning about won.
Among the young awakened individuals, Jung Da-hyun was considered top-notch, both in talent and beauty.
Shes so beautiful that it was once said that she could bewitch and capture villains with her beauty alone, so theres no way the Heartworker would pass her by.
This would be troubleso.
But the way he looked at her was strange. His eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost, and he jumped to his feet in fright.
- nacing Woman! Eek! Save !
Terrified, Heartworker tried to flee but stumbled and fell.
An eerie silence fell over the room.
***
Heartworker left. Until the mont he left, he didnt even make eye contact with Jung Da-hyun.
Was this the dignity of the nacing Woman? It seed like shes even scarier than .
Apparently, many of the villains who fled the attacks of the three agencies during the operation to hunt down villains in the capital ca to Busan. They talked about Jung Da-hyun, one of the hunters from the three agencies, as if she was so terrifying demon, so much so that the Heartworker, who had only heard tales, was filled with fear.
For example, intentionally putting a grenade in the mouth of a villain who was charging with a grenade, or cutting off a villains limbs and making him an invalid, saying that a villain didnt need limbs, and then arresting them.
The highlight of the story was cutting off the legs of the villains with a bomb, making them crawl on the ground, and drawing a finish line, then detonating the bombs in order of the slowest one to arrive at the finish line.
Indeed, human imagination was remarkable. It was a more grueso tale than most heinous villains cris.
Jung Da-hyun sighed.
Where in the world is there a governnt hunter like that?
There are probably no villains like that either.
Then the rumors are even more sinister than the villains.
Jung Da-hyuns sigh deepened.
Fa has a way of creating notoriety.
I sympathized with Jung Da-hyuns feelings, having been haunted by all sorts of slander when I was the Blood Master.
It was not good. I looked at Jung Da-hyun and said.
Lets eat. Tis like this, a savory soybean paste stew is the best. Its been a while. Shall we go?
Sounds good.
Indeed, when youre feeling down, soybean paste stew was the best.
Jung Da-hyun and I had a conversation as we ca out of the National Security Agency. Fortunately, it seed that she wasnt shocked enough by the rumors to receive significant ntal trauma.
Thats because you beca more resolute. In reality, the number of arrests has increased significantly compared to before. The Director is concerned, but I think its not a bad change.
Cruel as it may sound, breaking the villains spirit like that can save more of our colleagues.
Exactly. Thats why there were significant achievents this ti.
Despite the vicious rumors, Jung Da-hyun said she had no intention of changing her arrest policy.
And there might be one more departnt established above the three agencies, headed by a Commissioner.
If it was a commissioner, it was a deputy minister level. If the position was above the three agencies, its power would be very strong indeed.
According to Jung Da-hyun, this was an indication that the governnt would take the initiative and make a strong drive based on the villain hunting operation and my capture of Nuri.
The most likely candidate for the new commisioners position was Jung Ju-ho.
Was it because the approval rating was high? I would have to watch how things unfold.
And soon, starting with the United States, several countries are planning to visit. Theyll probably apply for an exchange battle.
Whats an exchange battle?
Its about bringing promising talents from various countries and assessing their abilities through a fight. Level 8 Transcendent co and judge the fights.
What about you?
Ive been sent a few tis, too.
Jung Da-hyun replied with an embarrassed expression. She must have won.
The exchanges were between Awakened of all levels, from academy students to Transcendent.
It seed troubleso.
You should be cautious, Oppa.
Why?
Because the Transcendent who will visit might try to test your abilities. They might acknowledge that you hunted Nuri, but there will be a lot of suspicion beneath the surface.
I dont care if they believe or not.
Their perspective is different, and theres also the governnts stance.
Jung Da-hyun smiled bitterly.
South Korea was relatively stable compared to other countries when it ca to dealing with monsters, but other countries judged it as lucky to have such a small landmass and urban concentration that there wasnt much to protect.
Whats wrong with that? If they had complaints, they should concentrate all infrastructure in the cities as well.
It seed like they took pride in nitpicking over little things.
Maybe I would just kill them if they talk shit in front of .
You cant kill them.
Huh?
Both in our country and in other countries, Transcendent power is extrely valuable. The governnt even manages departures rigorously. It could potentially lead to severing diplomatic ties in the worst-case scenario, so we need to be cautious.
What should I do then?
Subdue them without causing harm?
It was the most difficult task in the world. I wondered why I was always given such trials.
Id rather not engage than risk hurting them while trying to subdue them.
They probably wouldnt believe that I caught Nuri alone. Even if thats the case, Nuri would still be recognized as my catch, and all the money would co to .
It was around the ti we almost arrived at the destination, a Baekbanjip (T/N: A restaurant specializing in traditional Korean ho-cooked als) restaurant, when a small figure popped out from a corner about 30 ters ahead and rushed fiercely toward us.
Wait a minute! I, Im Go Ye-jin from dia Force. Just a mont for an interview Aah!
There was a thud! sound as if soone had hit their head hard. Instinctively, I recoiled, clutching my head, and raised my hand upward.
I recognized the persons face from sowhere. As I brought my hand reflexively to my forehead, I realized it was wet with the blood of the girl who had tripped and fallen, accidentally hitting . I licked the blood off my hand.
I, Im Go Ye-jin from dia Force Eek!
Go Ye-jin froze as she watched lick the blood.
I rembered her, the reporter who had a knack for making article titles.
I handed Go Ye-jin a recovery potion.
Spray it.
Yes? But this is incredibly expensive
Youre causing more trouble by bleeding here. Spray it.
Okay!
If I ran out of recovery potions, I could always get more from Lee Se-hee. As long as I didnt waste them, they were refillable.
So, whats the matter?
I-Im Go Ye-jin from dia Force, and I want to cover Transcendent Choi Jun-ho. Is that okay?
I dont really have any objections. But didnt you write a lot of sensational articles when I was a governnt hunter?
She did? Thats a problem then.
The worried expression on Jung Da-hyuns face turned sharp. She was famous herself, so she had experienced dealing with reporters like this before.
Go Ye-jins expression grew desperate.
P-please. Since then, Ive written many positive articles about Transcendent Choi Jun-ho. Please take a look!
Go Ye-jin handed her tablet with articles.
It was a feast of titles that left speechless. It was close to inspiring. I couldnt believe that this was the perfect form of the patriotic thumbnail I had been hoping for.
Co to think of it, Yoon-hee once ntioned it casually. She told that I shouldnt click on Go Ye-jins articles because shes famous for her sensationalized headlines. Shes famous for creating titles that would catch you off guard and make you click.
After a mont of admiration, I had been thinking about the information that had been flashing in my mind since earlier.
By the way, are you an Awakened?
Huh? H-How did you know that?
I just had a feeling. We can talk about the investigation story later. How about so food?
Yes! Thank you! Thank you!
I decided to have a al with Go Ye-jin first.
The reason I realized that Go Ye-jin was an Awakened was because the information about her had been transmitted to through the blood I accidentally licked earlier.
It wasnt blood from the heart, but it was a form I hadnt seen before, albeit briefly.
Aggr..o?
What kind of Gift was this?
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