Cash Rewards and Compromising Candids
I showed her the candid photos. "Report this to Kang Hyeok just like this."
First off, I hadn't touched any info related to me.
Kang Nabi's eyes widened in surprise at my unexpected words.
The reason I left my info untouched was simple.
'Gotta earn trust in the intel first.'
Once the info she brings starts building trust, she'll swallow the doctored stuff hook, line, and sinker later on.
'She might already trust it somewhat...'
But better to be sure.
"Good work."
I set a thick wad of cash in front of Kang Nabi.
Her eyes had been dead until a moment ago.
Now they lit up at the sight of the bills.
"I'm not like Kang Hyeok."
He probably never paid her a dime.
'That desk-jockey type ain't got money to burn.'
He's just using her by keeping her identity under wraps.
Of course, I wasn't exactly rolling in it either.
But with Choi Rin covering all the date costs and meals, I had plenty of pocket change.
She always stopped me whenever I tried to pay, insisting she had more money.
If she saw me using that spare cash to lure women, she'd flip her lid...
'As long as she doesn't find out!'
It's not a crime if you don't get caught, right?
"Take it."
Kang Nabi hesitated.
I gestured for her to grab it quick.
As she scooped up the bundle, I spoke up.
"I believe in clear rewards and punishments. Obey my orders like today, and you get a reward."
Thwack!
I smacked the desk once to grab her full attention.
"Act out like you did when we first met... and you'll get punished."
Gulp.
Kang Nabi swallowed hard, tense as hell, but her hands kept grabbing the cash.
"Is this the end of the report?"
"...Yeah."
I glanced at the report for a moment.
'Should I check the other stuff?'
Might be something useful. I flipped through page by page.
'Demon King?'
A word that caught my eye.
The Demon King from Zeke's world.
And here it was in Kang Nabi's report.
'Eh, probably a different one.'
This world's "Demon King" seemed to be some villain playing kingpin.
'Oh? And they're guessing he made the suppressor rounds too.'
Intriguing, but nothing to do with me.
I skimmed the rest.
She had a real knack for intel gathering—the quality was top-notch.
"Looks good. Go treat yourself to something nice with that."
****
"Haa..."
I didn't wanna contact him.
One day, a hero showed up at the orphanage...
This guy, who didn't act like any hero I'd met, somehow knew my identity and blackmailed me.
I'm just a thief who robs corrupt rich bastards.
If my secret got out, those fat cats I'd ripped off would come after the orphanage.
So I couldn't turn down that blackmailer's deal.
He had some grudge against Kang Hyeok, apparently.
Told me to report whatever he was investigating.
And Kang Hyeok had me digging on this blackmailer...
'Settle your own damn grudge!!'
Thinking back, their beef must've been why my cover got blown in the first place.
Anyway, I'd finished the job Kang Hyeok asked for, so before hitting him up, I had to report to the blackmailer first... Park Kiyong.
The call barely rang before Park Kiyong picked up.
Mid-convo, I heard a woman's voice.
'Sounds familiar...'
I tried guessing who from the voice.
'Wait, that pisses me off? I'm dying of stress here.'
Someone's having a blast rolling in the hay?
I swore I'd sock him one when we met and set up the appointment.
Appointment time rolls around, and the second I see Park Kiyong's face, my body freezes.
'Scary...'
Was I always this much of a wimp?
Thugs chasing me with knives never fazed me.
'But this guy's weirdly terrifying...'
So much for punching him out— that resolve vanished into thin air.
Park Kiyong quietly reads the report.
It included the background check on him too, which made me uneasy.
I could've hidden it, but he'd have sniffed it out 100%.
Luckily, he seemed pleased, flashing a smile.
He beckons, and suddenly cash rains down from thin air.
All mine, he says.
'Wait... is he a good guy?'
No, don't get dazzled by money.
This guy's the one who tried to kill me.
'But I struck first?'
No, he's just using me!
'But unlike Kang Hyeok, he pays up?'
My head was a mess.
'Okay, first meeting sucked... but if he keeps paying like this...'
Might not be so bad after all?
Park Kiyong wraps up business and bounces quick.
His no-nonsense style was starting to grow on me.
Glancing at the bundle in my bag, a smile crept onto my face.
'This'll cover operations, and I can get the kids something tasty.'
Enough cash to skip villain gigs this month.
'Gotta pick up their fave pizza on the way home.'
Met Park Kiyong, now time for Kang Hyeok.
Since I set the meet here, I just had to wait.
"You've kept me waiting."
Cold greeting, no pleasantries.
-Hey, come on in.
Compared to Park Kiyong's short but polite hello.
"The intel?"
Straight to business, just like Park Kiyong—but it grated for some reason.
I watched Kang Hyeok pore over the report.
"That's it?"
He said it after rereading the Park Kiyong section twice.
"Time was tight, so just the basics."
"I see..."
Still that icy tone.
"Fine, I'll give you more time. Dig up something that can be a weakness."
Bossing me around like he owned me.
'Sure, he's got the upper hand...'
But it pissed me off anyway.
I'd spent plenty of time with Kang Hyeok.
Couldn't he be a little nicer?
"The pay..."
I tested him on a whim.
"What the hell?"
I didn't really want pay. Just something sweet like Park Kiyong's "Good work."
I figured anyone I liked would say that much.
"Overlooking your actions and pretending not to know your identity that's your pay."
Better not bring up pay again.
But he'd shattered my expectations.
"Fine, got it..."
I threw back a cold line and left.
****
'This is fun.'
I hadn't left the cafe—I was hiding.
Not long after, Kang Hyeok strolls in.
'Knew it.'
Figured she'd set up a meet right away.
I eavesdropped on their chat, and my conviction that Kang Hyeok was a moron solidified.
'How does he not get women at all... Dumbass?'
Kang Nabi's words carried a hint of fondness.
But Kang Hyeok missed it completely.
Her liking for him started fading right before my eyes.
By the end, pure disappointment.
'Makes it that much easier for me.'
She's tanking her own affinity—such a good girl.
Well, that's all thanks to the setup I built.
Without me, Kang Hyeok's actions would've been different.
Awakened, no more jitters.
Riding the vibe with Choi Rin, he'd read women better and catch Kang Nabi's hints.
Hypothetical bullshit...
'Parallel worlds without me will thrive. This one's gotta suffer.'
One world's misfortune ain't the end of the world, right?
Kang Nabi's gone too—no more reason to stick around.
Peaceful days followed.
City exploding with rampaging villains.
Me and Choi Rin taking 'em down.
We built trust watching each other's backs.
Days as heroes.
Nights, Choi Rin as my bitch.
This leisure? 'Cause I'd already ordered Kang Nabi.
'Hope she's snapping good shots.'
Nights, I deliberately pulled the curtains and fucked Choi Rin.
Told her from afar to get the candids right.
'I'll get the report later, so for now...'
Focus on Choi Rin.
Days later, met Kang Nabi again.
"Oh, nice shots."
The photos she'd taken.
Me and Choi Rin in the throes of passion, crystal clear.
From a distance, so Choi Rin's nudity was blurry.
Key parts hidden.
And among the haze, my standout member stealing the show.
"This'll do fine as is."
"Haa... What the hell am I doing..."
Kang Nabi sighs.
Post-nut clarity hitting her about her situation.
'Time for some financial therapy.'
Hunting with Choi Rin had stacked my cash.
Plop!
Enough to shock her.
"Wha...? Huh?"
'Nothing beats financial therapy.'
Her shock was brief.
A smile bloomed on Kang Nabi's lips.
Her eyes even flashed that ₩ shape for a split second—felt like an illusion from how thrilled she was.
"This'll fix the busted door and..."
Muttering plans for the money.
Second time around, no hesitation—she swept it up.
"Report good to Kang Hyeok."
"Yeah, got it."
Left the cash-dazed Kang Nabi behind and pretended to leave the cafe like last time, then hid.
Ding!
Sure enough, Kang Hyeok enters.
"Investigation done?"
"Yeah."
Cold exchange.
Kang Nabi, joy wiped from her face, stared at him icily.
She tosses the paper bundle.
Kang Hyeok grabs it, puzzled by her shift, but reads anyway.
Starts with my abilities.
Fake ones, of course.
No change in his expression.
Reading coolly until his brow furrows.
"What's this?"
What he saw: my nude candid.
Concept of shower-room sneak shot.
Ordered Kang Nabi to snap it to bruise his male ego with my impressive tool.
"Just got as much intel as I could."
"Tch!"
Kang Nabi averts her eyes from the pic.
Kang Hyeok clicks his tongue.
Irritated, he flips past it like it burned him.
Then his eyes widen.
Finally hitting the shots of me and Choi Rin together.