Queen (2)
Hwa-ran spotted Queen standing at the counter.
"Look at that woman. Her physique is right up there with yours."
Even in Hwa-ran's eyes as a woman, Queen's figure stood out first. Lee Yeon finally noticed her.
"You gave me way too high a score. No one could compete with a body like that."
"You're too harsh on yourself."
"I know my place."
"Anyway. Looks like she's a Murim person, just like you."
The words "a Murim person like you" felt strangely new to Lee Yeon all over again. Even carrying a sword around, she sometimes forgot the fact.
"She looks incredibly strong."
She didn't yet have the skill to read someone's energy, so it was just a gut feeling. Even just standing there, she had the aura of a true master.
As they whispered back and forth, Queen and Ben bought their coffee and left the cafe.
She had no idea just how strong the woman was, but it sparked a desire: I want to become a master like that.
It felt similar to the awe she'd felt toward Jang Cheon. But he was a man, so it had seemed vague. With this woman, though—another female—it hit much more concretely.
The kind of master who made anyone go, Whoa! She looks powerful!
Hwa-ran pulled Lee Yeon close and whispered,
"Still, you're prettier."
Lee Yeon made a face like she couldn't deal with her. Worried the beauty talk would drag on, she quickly changed the subject.
"So, unnie, you're aiming for a department related to broadcasting or film?"
"Nah. I'm going for Korean Literature. I wanted to be a poet when I was little."
"Pardon?"
Lee Yeon was genuinely caught off guard by the unexpected answer.
But then it clicked.
"It suits you. Not just flattery— you and poetry really match."
"Thanks, even if it's just words."
"Unnie, you have to pass."
"Yeah, I'll do my best."
Lee Yeon hoped she would. She wanted to read her poems someday.
It was still fascinating how she and everyone around her were changing. She liked this subtle tension that came with transformation.
The next day, as Lee Yeon passed through the lobby, someone called from behind.
"Excuse me."
It was Queen who had called her.
Queen glanced at the security badge on Lee Yeon's chest and asked,
"Lee Yeon-ssi? You're staff here, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Sorry to ask, but could you give me a tour of the facilities?"
"If you ask at the front desk, they'll arrange it."
"Couldn't you do it personally?"
It wasn't common for guests to request a tour, let alone from a security agent like her. There had to be a reason.
"Sure, I'll show you around."
Lee Yeon led Queen through the HT Group Residence.
"That way are the weight room and pool. Over there is the terrace. Straight down this path is the walking trail."
"Pretty path. Shall we walk a bit?"
"Sure."
As the two beauties strolled side by side, passersby stole glances at them.
And both women carried swords and staffs. They sucked in stares like high-powered vacuums.
Queen was quieter than expected. It was odd that someone so taciturn would specifically request a guide.
"Where are you from?"
"Australia."
"Ah, I see."
"Have you been?"
"No, not yet. All I know is kangaroos and that Sydney isn't the capital."
"It's Canberra."
"Right. I only learned that recently—from a quiz show."
Lee Yeon beamed, but Queen didn't smile. It wasn't deliberate sternness; she just didn't.
Lee Yeon almost asked why she'd singled her out for the tour but held back. Whatever the reason, it was a guest request—and a particularly striking one.
After circling the residence, they returned to the lobby where they'd started.
"Thank you."
"No problem. Enjoy your stay."
With a polite bow, Lee Yeon headed down the corridor toward the operations room.
As Queen watched her go, Ben approached.
"What did you think?"
"She seems nice. Her smile is really pretty."
Ben knew. Even this seemingly perfect Queen had her insecurities. Smiling was one of them.
"Good people tend to gather around Teacher Jang. He's blessed with great connections."
Queen nodded at Ben with a faint smile.
"Let's head out, miss. I've booked spots nearby—plenty to see."
"Okay."
They walked out and got into the waiting car.
Actor brought Raymond to the small theater.
"Lately, I've been using this as my operations base."
"I hear you're an actor."
"That's right."
"You've pulled off operations while acting. Even before Korea, your feats were impressive."
"Rumors get exaggerated. I'm a prime example."
"No one who tries to stay low-profile fails. Only those worth the hype get exaggerated."
Raymond was a Murim master with razor-sharp intellect.
One small mercy for Actor: Raymond wasn't some bulldog type.
He wasn't here to bully or show off. He wanted precise investigation and truth.
Actor answered Raymond's questions faithfully. After hearing the full story from Bulldog's arrival to departure, Raymond asked,
"Do you know what evaluation Investigator Bulldog gave you?"
"No idea, but probably not flattering."
"Why think that?"
"He hounded me relentlessly the whole investigation."
"How did you feel hearing he'd gone missing?"
"In other circumstances, honestly relieved. But with the mess Jang Cheon stirred up here, it just felt suffocating. I knew special inspections would follow. Couldn't be happy even if I wanted to."
Actor answered honestly yet cautiously. No sloppy attempts to fool him.
Except for joining Jang Cheon, he laid everything bare.
In the afternoon, Raymond's subordinate arrived at the theater.
Actor had thought he'd entered alone, but he'd brought backup—separately, to avoid eyes.
"I checked the house where Bulldog was."
Actor expected that, but not a subordinate handling it.
"Nothing suspicious inside."
Phone and the crew had cleaned it spotless.
Then the man handed over a memory card.
"Black box footage from a car parked where it could see the entrance. Lucky one had 24-hour recording. From the day Bulldog vanished."
Actor's heart sank. The footage should show Bulldog leaving—but they'd killed and disposed of him inside.
It's over.
He hadn't considered it. All focus on joining Jang Cheon; his crew handled cleanup.
Whew.
Actor knew his life was numbered: days at best, months at worst.
Lies exposed, Raymond would report up. Two outcomes: drag him back, or investigate and execute here.
Raymond connected the phone to the screen and played the black box file.
"What time did he leave?"
"Around 9 a.m."
Raymond found the timestamp.
Actor's heart pounded. No weapons allowed during questioning; gun was in the drawer.
Only option: drawer, grab, shoot.
But near impossible. A Murim master like Raymond wouldn't wait.
Plus, his subordinate was there.
Still, can't go down without a fight.
As Actor scrambled for an excuse to the desk, Raymond spotted something.
"Here it is."
Actor looked at the footage.
He was stunned—more than when they'd first planted it.
There was Bulldog, leaving the house. Luggage in hand. Timestamp: 9:10 a.m.
Raymond's expression toward Actor softened slightly.
"Your statement checks out."
Not fully cleared, but proof he hadn't killed the man.
"Why would I dare lie?"
Actor realized: Jang Cheon had planted the car and footage. Bulldog with bags? Deepfake, synthesized perfectly.
How the hell?
Incredible. So natural.
Low-res black box, distant shot from the door—no way to spot the fake.
Actor marveled anew at Jang Cheon and his crew's skill and thoroughness.
"Now, tell me about Jang Cheon."
Actor calmed his excitement and spoke evenly.
"Jang Cheon returned to Korea as an unparalleled master. He's been thwarting our operations since."
"Why clash with us?"
"My take? He's hired by the Murim Alliance leader."
Jang Cheon had prepped him to say this if asked.
Raymond nodded. It aligned with statements and Bulldog's uploads.
"Any proposals in your current situation?"
"Yes."
"What?"
Actor knew: more words now meant less suspicion. Overkill, even.
"To take down Jang Cheon, send your organization's top fighter."
"Top fighter."
"Stronger than Death. And for ops planning, a core member sharper than me. Honestly, I'm outmatched."
Raymond stared. Expert at sniffing lies. This rang true.
He concluded Actor was uninvolved in Bulldog's death.
With momentum from the mind game, Actor played his ace to fully shake suspicion.
"Pull me from the Korea op."
A traitor who'd killed Bulldog and joined Jang Cheon wouldn't say that.
Raymond shook his head.
"Can't do that— not my call. But I'll report up. Recommend top reinforcements."
"Thank you."
Just what Jang Cheon and Actor wanted. Higher-ups meant paths to their leadership.
Then Raymond dropped the unexpected.
"I'd like to meet Jang Cheon. Any way?"