The season had changed, and autumn had arrived.
November in Seoul was chaotic. The once proud public safety, celebrated as one of the world’s best, had deteriorated, making it less safe than before. Children could no longer play late into the night, and even the less crowded streets had beco places to be cautious of, even in broad daylight. The frequency of patrol cars with sirens blaring through the city had noticeably increased. Each day, headlines in the dia were adorned with stories of criminals with extraordinary physical abilities, who ran through the streets, evading police pursuit, and committing cris that were once rare or deed impossible. The shadows over the city, inhabited by millions, grew larger and darker with each passing day.
However, despite all this, Seoul was still considered one of the safest cities in the world. This wasn’t just because Seoul’s safety had declined less than the global average but also because the entire human system was woefully unprepared for the new era. The severe economic downturn caused by the Chinese-origin pandemic had only aggravated the situation.
In such a world, I was facing a young troublemaker.
“Hey, mister[1]Ahjussi .”
The kid, who was puffing on a cigarette, glared at and exhaled a puff of smoke. The way this youngster referred to as “mister” sounded more like “uncle” and had a rough pronunciation. There was light-colored lipstick smudged on the cigarette filter. She extinguished the cigarette against the wall he had been leaning on and straightened up.
“Why are you staring like that? Do you have business with us?”
The group of punks who had been standing next to started to move around as if they were annoyed. Their hands were in their pockets, shoulders slouched, and they struck poses that suggested they thought they were cool. While they might have recently beco adults in terms of age, ntally, they were still stuck in their school uniforms.
I didn’t pay them any mind and called out the target’s na.
“Do Won-hee.”
She flinched. The cigarette, which had been burning slowly, weakened. Today’s prey, Do Won-hee, had a fierce look in her eyes.
“Ajussi, what’s going on? How do you know my na?”
“Baek Seungyeon. Rember?”
“…Hah, bastard.”
This ti, the target burst into a mocking laugh.
Four years ago, Do Won-hee, who was in the third year of middle school at the ti, had driven Baek Seungyeon, who was in the sa grade and was now part of this group of delinquents, to suicide. It involved repeated physical assaults, bullying, extortion, and extended periods of forced prostitution. However, due to the protection and influence of her parents, who were part of the upper-class cartel, Do Won-hee had received a remarkably light sentence in court, with only one year of probation. This was despite the fact that at the ti, Baek Seungyeon had been in a coma, and a tenuous relationship of power existed between Do Won-hee’s uncle and Baek Seungyeon’s father.
“This fucker.”
Do Won-hee flicked her cigarette and stared at from head to toe.
“You know that girl’s father, right? How did you know I was here? You didn’t stalk , did you?”
“I did.”
“You did what? Seriously, it’s unbelievable. Hey, ajussi. That’s a cri, a cri. Do you want to visit the prison with your friend? Should I send you there right now?”
The henchn laughed. The confident Do Wn-hee took one more step closer to and raised her chin.
“Why, does that girl’s father ask for more money? If he needs money, he should co and beg himself. But he sends his friend instead? Isn’t this a matter of courtesy? If a la person kneels down and begs, well, I can show so courtesy to my father and ask for a favor.”
I shook my head.
“It’s not like that.”
“Then what is it?”
“He asked to make you die. For sure, with his own hands.”
“…What?”
Beep, beep, beep, beep…
The sound of a signal indicating the reverse of a large cargo truck ca from the narrow alley at the end. The white side of the 25-ton trailer blocked the setting sun from the west. It was one of the mobile workshops operated by the organization. Do Won-hee, feeling an unusual atmosphere, stiffened her expression.
“What? What is this?”
The exit on the opposite side of the alley was blocked by a van that ca to a halt and the sound of footsteps descending from it. Five n dressed in Western clothes with their hands neatly folded. They were the security personnel from the security team, including Kyung-tae. Do Won-hee stepped back a little more as she looked at .
“Do you know who my father is?”
“I do. But do you know who I am?”
“Who even are you!”
She shouted fiercely and took another step back, showing clear fear in her body language. With her back against the wall, Do Won-hee called one of the henchn who had moved a little less than her.
“Hey, Beomgyu! Do sothing!”
The guy called Beomgyu, like the others in the gang, was undoubtedly a well-raised punk with good parents. Reacting as if cornered like a trapped animal, he looked left and right and exclaid, ‘Ahhhh!’ as he pulled out a butterfly knife from his pocket. His na was Park Beomgyu. Just by looking at him being part of this gang, one could tell he was no match for Dowon-hee, but he was also a brat who had been lucky with his parents. As soone who had earned his keep by being the princess’s errand boy, his reaction was different from the usual, but he was still just a kid.
With a flick of his wrist, the butterfly knife ca out of its sheath, shining in the tallic light from the knife’s movents. Lately, it had beco a trendy item for so reason. It was a display of manual dexterity that they considered a threat. In my eyes, it was just a child’s play, no different from a kid’s scissors ga. What would happen if they used this showy trick in a real fight?
The guy, who looked like a punk with his appearance, growled as he swung the knife.
“I’m going to kill you… Fuck, I’m going to kill you!”
“Try it.”
Ignoring the knife’s less effective actions, his strength and speed were beyond the norm. It was a sign of physical enhancent. Moreover, it was quite advanced.
Tick, tick, tick…
anwhile, Do Won-hee was grimacing, pressing the walkie-talkie to her lips. Unfortunately, the driver and security guards who were supposed to receive the signal were already taking a bath in a nearby mobile workshop. These people had made a living from dark jobs, and they must have been prepared for such “accidents.” Just like , who never forgot to be afraid.
Even a lion could die from a hyena’s bite.
Holding the walkie-talkie, Do Won-hee yelled loudly.
“Beomgyu, you idiot! Aren’t you supposed to take hostages? What are you guys doing, not helping Beomgyu?”
Then, she put her hands together and shouted as loudly as she could over the fence.
“Help! There’s a psycho killer here!”
This was the reason I took action myself. Do Won-hee’s shouts couldn’t break through my deployed telekinesis barrier. It was a low-density telekinesis spread to neutralize soundwave diffusion. This allowed silent abductions and murders in broad daylight, even in busy alleys. It was an application technique for telekinesis I had developed, inspired by the ‘Trembling Giant,’ which served as a damper for sound diffusion.
If it was just about killing, I wouldn’t be needed. However, I had to keep one alive to capture, so caution was necessary. Plus, I intended to make a good impression on my newly recruited subordinates. Rember that the debt belongs to them.
Contrary to Do Won-hee’s words, human relationships were not just about sincerity.
“Aaah!”
The guy with the knife charged at relentlessly, urging on to make a move. It seed like he intended to stab sowhere and take as a hostage. I deflected his large knife move with ease and grabbed his vulnerable neck, twisting it in an instant. There was a sickening crunch as his vertebrae snapped. His body, which had been exerting great force, suddenly transford into a weighty mass as I felt the life drain from him.
The eyes of Do Won-hee’s gang, who had witnessed death, were filled with fear.
“Let go! You bastards!”
“Aaaah!”
“I’m sorry! Please spare !”
The security personnel who had approached without us noticing easily subdued the fleeing gang mbers. They broke their necks to kill them without blood splattering. Kyung-tae grabbed Do Won-hee, who had fallen to the ground after my blow, by the ankles and dragged her down. With a sickening thud, Do Won-hee hit the ground, clutching her abdon in agony.
Snap!
She whimpered and curled up like wounded prey. Kyung-tae, holding her hair, dragged her like a sack. In the midst of this, I picked up the fallen knife and made a casual remark.
“Be gentle. She is a product that must be handled with caution.”
“Hey, Hyungnim. This is custor satisfaction delivery. Even Sergeant Baek would approve, don’t you think?”
As we exchanged such conversations, the side of the truck’s cargo compartnt, where several subordinates in protective suits and the client who had been monitoring the situation on a monitor were located, began to fold down, making a motorized sound. With a walking stick in hand and a slightly uncomfortable leg, the client, Baek Yeong-hun, a forr naval sergeant and the father of Baek Seung-yeon, whom Do Won-hee had killed, looked at Do Won-hee, who was being dragged closer, with a cold and indifferent gaze.
This man was the client for this hunt and would be joining our organization from today, as well as the one who had been unfairly discharged due to undue pressure, not as a reservist.
Suyeon had found this valuable recruit in a holess shelter near Seoul Station. He had a history of serving as an electrical engineer on a ‘Dolphin’-class submarine during his ti in the Navy.
Once I and Kyung-tae climbed up into the workspace, the side of the cargo compartnt closed again. Only when the door was completely closed did Kyung-tae toss the prey as if discarding it. Do Won-hee fell to the ground at the client’s feet. I also released the back of the body I had been holding. The organic being known as Park Beomgyu crumpled and crinkled as it folded.
“…… Hng!”
Do Won-hee, who t eyes with Sergeant Baek, paled and took a step back. However, her hand remained in her pocket. Thump, thump, thump. Shouting earlier to capture a hostage, it was clear that her judgnt was not fitting for her age. Perhaps if left alone, she could have turned into a major problem.
“Load them up.”
With the obvious order given, the subordinates in protective suits began to work on disposing of the bodies. This included putting the bodies of the deceased, including Park Beomgyu, into the sa ‘bathtub’ as the deceased security personnel. The six sealed containers on the two-axle stabilizers were useful tools that allowed the bodies to be decomposed even while driving, safely storing and dispersing corrosive gases. There was no need to worry about odor complaints when driving on deserted roads while releasing the gas.
Tears welled up in Do Won-hee’s eyes.
“Spare .”
She had nowhere else to go.
It seed like she didn’t have the courage to look at her henchn as they entered the bathtub.
“I-I really made a mistake. Please forgive just once. Will you?”
I ignored the sobbing voice and watched Sergeant Baek as I carried out the orders.
“Sergeant Baek Yeong-hun. Can I consider you my subordinate now?”
“…… Yes.”
“Good. From now on, speak freely.”
At this, Sergeant Baek Yeong-hun’s gloomy gaze, which had been fixed on the prey, turned toward . His deeply sunken eyes were like dry wells, filled only with a cold chill and determination. I felt a small sense of satisfaction knowing that there was no sign of regret. While it might be difficult to expect blind loyalty, the likelihood of betrayal seed slim. These were the eyes of soone without desires other than survival.
“Do you rember the terms of our deal?”
Sergeant Baek asked with a faint smirk.
“I owe my life, and I will repay it with my life. Isn’t that right?”
“That’s right.”
“When do I start working?”
“After we’ve got your body in shape.”
Just a month and a half ago, Sergeant Baek had been a holess man suffering from malnutrition and alcoholism, his body severely damaged. To build up the physical stamina required for a voyage, he would need a considerable period of care and rehabilitation. Circuit engraving and adjustnt were not yet under consideration. It might be different if natural awakening beca inevitable.
In any case, it would take quite so ti to secure the first submarine. Just three days ago, I received a call that we had finally found a ‘Connection Seller’ from the White Chief. Even if I were to board a plane to Houston the day after tomorrow, there were many obstacles to overco before ultimately achieving success.
From the end of the workspace, a faint sobbing sound could be heard.
“Please spare … I’ll give you as much money as my dad has…”
Do Won-hee. Outwardly, she appeared to be just a scared college girl crying, but there was no one here who would be fooled by that facade. After all, no matter how you look at it, she was a murderer. Tears of a murderer, whether adult or not, were crocodile tears. If ever there were tears I would shed, it would be the sa.
“I can arrange a separate place for you.”
Ignoring anyone else’s gaze and taking enough ti to vent one’s anger, I made the proposal, but Sergeant Baek slowly shook his head and declined.
“We’ll finish it here.”
“Aren’t you going to regret it later?”
“It’s fine. Just make sure that brat’s parents are well taken care of.”
“Alright.”
Parents who helped absolve their child’s guilt would soon shoulder their own responsibility. It would be a simple traffic accident. I also planned to expose the corruption of her uncle in the military at so distance and bury it. There would be a lot of rumors for a while, but the alibi was thoroughly prepared.
“What are you talking about?”
Do Won-hee, who had stopped crying, asked urgently.
“What are you going to do to my parents?”
It seed like her love for her parents ran deep, no matter how she appeared.
“Speak! Tell !”
Approaching with a limp, Sergeant Baek Yeong-hun violently pushed down his daughter’s enemy. No matter how weakened he had beco, Baek Yeong-hun was still a forr soldier by na. The cries of the prey soon turned into a choking sound. The hand with manicured fingernails dug into the forr soldier’s forearm, and the foot in sneakers kicked the empty ground for a mont. Do Won-hee’s arms, weakened by the loss of strength, fell lightly on the cold floor. Reddish blood gradually flowed from her congested eyeballs. If you were to put red ink on a white canvas, it would look sowhat similar.
The forr soldier continued to exert force with his grip for quite so ti afterward.
1. Ahjussi Author's Thoughts
Disclair:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elents inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find so error in translation please do let know by tagging (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to translate. But I'll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
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