Headhunting (2)

I wondered what his intentions were. The fact that the president was no ordinary man was something I'd known even before stepping onto this stage. This wasn't the usual empty flattery he spouted to thank me for handing over skills and traits. After all, I hadn't even killed him yet. Not that I was doing this because I felt lonely or anything. Anyway.

At the very least, the president was someone who had either worked with the cult leader or used him to rise to power. The possibility that he was just a puppet couldn't be entirely ruled out. Until I met him, I'd kept that in mind as one option. But after meeting him, I realized the president was at least capable of building an equal partnership with the cult leader. Besides, my Insight didn't lie.

Master rank was rare even among humans. The Master or Expert ranks I'd encountered so far were the Preacher, the Holy Warrior, the Centurion... and maybe Lee Ye-eun? They were an extremely small number of exceptionally trained humans. Or cases where someone who had already been outstanding before becoming a variant broke through the ceiling after mutating.

But a non-variant with Master rank? That meant he could kill or save people with words alone. If his Oratory was at that level, his trait was even more dangerous. After experiencing it a few times, I was certain. People with traits were special. A trait represented an individual's physical, mental, or experiential qualities. It had to be something special enough to be considered unique—either a cultivated ability or an innate one. It didn't become a trait otherwise.

Kim Chae-hyun's Aspect of the Wolf's Glance ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠must have been his way of life, perhaps even his philosophy. Choi Tae-woo's Strong Bone came from his innate temperament and that incredibly tough body that could recover quickly from my fists and wouldn't shatter even against the Holy Lance.

So what about the president?

A man who had mastered the art of sweet-talking, persuading, and subtly manipulating people. That was President Park Do-hyun. A clearly dangerous individual. Not quite at the level of hypnosis or brainwashing, perhaps. But if I listened to his requests a few times, I'd probably end up the same. I'd start moving according to his intentions, doing only what benefited him. Maybe I'd even become mentally dependent on him.

It was fortunate we came from the New Heaven Rapture Mission Church. When it came to gaslighting and subtle manipulation, we were professionals—at least on the receiving end. So I didn't let my guard down and followed the president inside.

It was the best room in the resort. The most luxurious suite, reminiscent of the cult leader's penthouse. A flashy yet adventurous atmosphere befitting the name Exodus Arcadia. The room captured the refreshing passion of the Mediterranean.

The president used it as both an office and his residence.

“Please, have a seat. Would you like some tea—”

“No need. Water's fine.”

“Then I'll bring you some water.”

“We're not exactly in a relationship where we can just accept things so readily, are we? Whatever you bring, I won't touch it, so let's get to the main point.”

The one saving grace was that my sister and I had considerable combat power. Even if the opponent had a gun, as long as I had one too and it wasn't already aimed at me, I'd win without question. Unless some variant like a gunslinger from the wasteland showed up.

I sat down, mentally checking the automatic pistol in my coat and the .22 at my waist. My sister sat beside me, staring at the president with those eerily large eyes.

We were already inside the resort. If things went south, I could kill the president, torture him for information and then kill him, then head straight to the armory to gear up. The president might or might not know that. He probably had some idea. He wouldn't know our exact capabilities, but he'd know we were dangerous.

That's why I focused on his actions. So, how are you going to play this? You've invited two wild beasts into your home—what will you do to avoid getting bitten to death?

As I watched with anticipation, the president sat across from me and spoke.

“That's true. Then... before we get to the main topic, shall we clear up one thing?”

Under my gaze, he continued, “What happened to Kim Chae-hyun?”

“He's dead.”

“Did you kill him yourself?”

“Yeah. He pointed a gun at me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠first.”

“And the reservists who followed him...”

“I killed them all.”

“I see.”

I'd answered coldly on purpose, but the president didn't flinch. He didn't argue, didn't question, didn't press. The truth was, the method we'd used to kill them all wasn't normal. An ordinary person couldn't take out fourteen men armed with rifles. I'd expected him to ask about the method or something, but surprisingly, the president remained indifferent. That was unexpected too. It was as if he'd known it would turn out this way. He even stroked his chin with a look of deep interest.

What the hell? Did he think we had some bigger force behind us? That was the most common assumption. So he didn't see us as a threat? Even after I smashed one guy's head like a watermelon with a judo throw? I could rush him right now and he wouldn't be able to stop me.

I couldn't figure it out. As I tried to keep my expression neutral, my eyes caught the female bodyguard standing behind him. A woman in a suit.

She was quite strong. Anyone could see she was well-trained. But not enough to stop me. I couldn't read the situation. Since I'd noticed her, I observed the female bodyguard closely. Her sporty ponytail reminded me of Lee Ye-eun, but her hair was shorter and fell down her back. She was very tall—nearly 5'10". A woman with martial arts to match that height.

I swallowed hard as I watched her techniques. Combined with Tadol, it would be a real killing move. Tadol into a push kick? That sounded incredibly good.

Lee Chae-rin subtly adjusted her stance under my gaze. A shadow flickered beneath her suit. The moment I saw it, something flashed in my mind.

...Of course it didn't actually pop up like that, but the feeling was similar. Presidential Security Service. Kim Chae-hyun's colleague. Same family name pattern. A woman hiding a submachine gun under her suit. Killing her would give me a new killing technique and ammunition for my automatic pistol. There was no reason not to kill her. I hoped she'd make the first move. Or say something like “I'm good at this.” Or maybe the president would order her to kill us.

Was an attack coming? Or...

As I watched with tension and anticipation, the president spoke.

“It's unfortunate.”

Not a vow of revenge, not a threat to lock me up. Not even asking me to do him a favor in return. Or assuming we had some other force behind us. His reaction was completely different from what I'd expected.

“It would have been better for that friend, for me, and for this provisional government if he'd been alive... but you can't have everything in this world.”

“What are you...”

“You know very well what happens to people who can't let go of things when they need to be discarded in a world like this, don't you?”

The president smiled gently.

“But that's not important. Since you wanted to get to the main point, I'll do the same...”

The president gazed into the distance for a moment. His line of sight fell on the two bridges connecting this island. One led to the mainland, the other to another island.

...Come to think of it, why were those bridges being guarded? When I checked the navigation on the way here, that other island didn't even have a bridge to the mainland. I was feeling puzzled when—

“I have a request.”

The president said.

“A request...?”

“Yes, a request—”

“You don't seem to understand the situation.”

I drew my pistol and aimed it at Lee Chae-rin. The bodyguard couldn't pull out her submachine gun because it was suddenly pointed at her. At the same time, my sister had already drawn a small pistol and was aiming it at the president.

“Kang Ahyeon, if the bodyguard moves, shoot her immediately.”

“Okay.”

The president raised both hands, and the female bodyguard frowned slightly, biting her lip. I thought she was surprised by how fast it happened, but no. She seemed strangely calm. Something was off.

I narrowed my eyes for a moment before speaking.

“Why should I listen to your request?”

“...Because I can offer you something in return.”

“Doesn't it occur to you that I could just kill you all and take it?”

The existence of a reward gave me no reason to fulfill his request. Quite the opposite. If there was a reward, I could simply kill them and take it without doing the job. I didn't know exactly where the armory was, but finding it wouldn't be hard. This was actually the perfect opportunity. Kill Lee Chae-rin, loot her, gain a new martial art, and while I was at it, take her submachine gun and magazines from her side. That would give me enough firepower to reach the armory. Yeah, not getting swayed was the right answer.

I put my finger on the trigger, then stopped.

“Wouldn't that be a waste?”

The president's words made me pause.

“...What?”

“I asked if it wouldn't be a waste.”

A waste? Of what? As I frowned, the president spoke with a calm face, staring at the pistol his former subordinate was pointing at him.

“Bullets aren't infinite. They'll run out eventually, and unless you find manufacturing facilities, you won't be able to get more. Factories that can produce new guns and ammunition aren't operational yet. There might be some somewhere, but not right now.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“If you kill me and Lee Chae-rin here, take her weapon, and head to the armory... how many bullets will you consume in the process? And what about the risks that follow?”

There was something strange about it. His voice. His words. For some reason, his tone suggested that me killing both of them and reaching the armory... wasn't impossible. I could feel that he genuinely believed I could do it. Even my Aspect of the Wolf's Glance didn't detect any hostility. What the hell? How?

I didn't look like a special forces soldier from the military. Even if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I were, I couldn't fight an entire unit. “Unless you don't die even when shot, I think this arrangement benefits both of us.”

“Is that a threat?”

“It's reason, Kang Hyun.”

“Reason my ass—”

I had to be careful not to pull the trigger. He had just called my name.

“You... how do you know my name...?”

To my flustered question, he replied expressionlessly.

“An Seong-ho was one of my people.”

An Seong-ho. The man who, following his conscience, infected the cult leader, became a Holy Warrior, and stood in my way. The variant who had given me the martial arts, swordsmanship, weapons, and armor I used most often. As I stared at him blankly, the president continued.

“And the reason An Seong-ho began to rebel against Pope Ju Ye-su... was because of you.”

It was from a very long time ago. I'd made a slip of the tongue with the cult leader and cried in fear at his request. The cult leader had tried to kill me. I remembered the man who had protected me from him. That man later met me in the bunker and died with his head smashed in by my sister's gun-bayonet.

The reason I could stand here now was thanks to the Holy Warrior. But that alone didn't explain everything. The same went for Park Do-hyun's trust in my abilities. He knew something. The president had been looking for the cult leader and knew about his power. If so, he could guess that there might be others with similar power.

...Perhaps the president hadn't been looking for the cult leader, but for a new bearer of a 'miracle' on par with him?

I swallowed the question that had occurred to me and asked.

“...What is this request that you want to entrust specifically to me?”

“I'd like you to kill one infected.”

The president answered immediately. Infected. Probably what they called zombies.

“Why not send the military?”

“Because they failed.”

Failed? How? Unless it was something on the level of the Serpent of Eden, I couldn't imagine ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠anything that could defeat the military. And if the Serpent of Eden had been there, it would have devoured everything on this land.

“What the hell is there?”

Since it clearly wasn't either of those, the president spoke with a pained expression.

“Pastor Oh Jin-uk of the New Heaven Rapture Mission Church. He's occupied the northern island along with the infected.”

The moment I heard those words, a notification I hadn't seen in a while appeared in my vision. I stared at the window, my expression hardening. This time, something was different. Below the relatively short, information-scarce quest was a note that caught my eye.

I was at a loss for words and lowered my gun.