97
Chapter 97
The weather was unusually nice.
A slightly chilly breeze blew in from the sea, carrying the scent of salt.
The summer evening sky was dyed in a peculiar shade of blue, neither too bright nor too dark, drawing those walking around into a profound sense of sentimentality.
However, this beautiful weather didn't hold much meaning for the people gathering here right now.
The first one to arrive in Ulsan was Parang.
Of course, strictly speaking, the very first to arrive would be the advance team dispatched by Cylo.
Just in case, Parang was wearing a Bodysuit as her first layer, with a neat Suit on top.
The fact that Parang had dressed up like this meant she was attending an incredibly important event.
Like meeting with the high-ranking Executives of Cylo.
Swimming dozens of kilometers every day had given her a fantastic physique, making her look like an actor on a film set.
One might think that standing out so much disqualified her as an assassin, but she hadn't picked this outfit out herself; it was requested of her.
Today, Parang was scheduled to meet Natsuko for an official discussion regarding the grade evaluation of Undersea Hunters.
While the people around her stole glances, too intimidated to speak to her, Parang arrived in front of a building.
It was the Warp Station of Ulsan Metropolitan City.
It was a place she was deeply familiar with. Whenever she traveled far and needed to take a warp back home, she always came here.
Experiencing the most unfamiliar situation of her life in the most familiar place—things couldn't get any weirder.
And the Warp Station she finally arrived at, carrying those strange emotions, was surprisingly exactly the same as usual.
People running frantically, people sitting on chairs looking at their Cellphones, and people arriving through the warp with exhausted faces.
It was just the same scene Parang usually saw. It was enough to make Parang wonder if she had mixed up the location.
"We'll fill 90% of the people in the building with our own."
Cylo's groundwork would have been completed long before Parang arrived, so ninety percent of the people Parang was looking at right now were all on Cylo's side.
'They don't look like it at all.'
She couldn't have actually mixed up the location, which meant this was all an act.
'No kidding, seriously.......'
Staring blankly ahead, she suddenly realized this wasn't the time to be zoning out.
'Get a grip, Yoo Parang.'
She quickly ran to the Elevator and went up to the Conference Room on the fifth floor.
If one were to ask why there was a Conference Room in a Warp Station, it was because it had been converted from a building that used to serve as a Hunter Association Branch.
Most early Warp Stations were like this. Warp rooms that were originally just an add-on to a building with a more important function grew in size as warps became commercialized, and when they occupied a significant portion of the building, the whole place would be converted into a station.
This was a phenomenon that occurred because a Warp Device was difficult to move once installed, and installing a new one cost even more than relocating it.
In that sense, the Portable Warp Device Parang had used when she kidnapped the former World Government official was truly a massive culmination of technology itself.
Anyway, Parang entered the Conference Room.
"You've arrived. This way."
A rugged-looking man in a Suit then guided Parang to her seat.
Perhaps out of consideration from Cylo, Parang's seat allowed her to see the sea outside the Window. It wasn't as close as Parang's house, but this building was also situated quite close to the sea.
The Conference Room was structured simply with one table where people from both sides would sit facing each other, but the intimidating presence of the people standing in a circle around the table gave off a daunting aura.
"The Bodyguards coming from the Association side have all been replaced with my people too. You don't need to worry about that part."
Knowing that all these people were on her side was certainly reassuring, but the surrounding Bodyguards had so little change in expression that even Parang wasn't entirely sure.
Parang tried her best to stay calm, but it wasn't easy due to her chronic problem of turning into a total dork whenever she stepped out of the water.
'Anyway, do I just keep sitting still like this?'
Parang felt slightly puzzled that there was no final mission briefing or anything like that.
It was because she had never done an operation like this before. Cylo had explained the operation in great detail, but they hadn't given her any instructions for this particular part.
The fact that Parang, feeling unsettled, had left a little early also played a part.
Either way, in a rather awkward atmosphere, Parang sat quietly in her chair and waited.
'Think about something else, think about something else, think about something else.......'
Desperately trying to erase the bad thoughts from her mind.
With nothing else to do, she mostly reviewed the details of the operation.
"After the meeting is over, there will be a moment where the two of you shake hands for a Photo. A Fire Alarm will go off then to distract Natsuko, so quickly activate Departure and implant the memory into Natsuko."
"Out of all the possible methods, why a Fire Alarm?"
"......There are various reasons."
'He looked a bit depressed back then. I wonder why?'
That was something Parang couldn't know.
And how much time had passed?
Click-
The door opened, and she finally revealed herself.
Neatly cut black hair that looked as if it had been sliced with a ruler, and bright red eyes that looked like a blood Fountain could erupt from within them at any moment.
It was the Association President, Igarashi Natsuko.
At first, Parang was slightly intimidated upon seeing her.
For one, she was an incredibly powerful person, and she had an overwhelming aura about her.
Plus, knowing the things she had done, it wasn't all that surprising.
'Just now, I felt a gaze.......'
Parang unconsciously tightened her grip on the Evidence hanging around her neck.
It was an item that had been slightly modified to look like a simple Self-Defense Artifact.
But what really surprised her was the sight of Seo Sunwoo entering right after.
She hadn't met him many times, but the image of Seo Sunwoo in Parang's mind was of a somewhat cold, ice-like man.
He gave the impression that not a single drop of blood would bleed if you pricked him.
However, the Seo Sunwoo standing before her today was completely different from before.
His stiff, expressionless face was the same, but his eyes were different.
Within those pupils that had only ever seemed cold, a fierce fire that looked ready to burn everything down was currently blooming.
'Ugh.......'
Seeing the one person she could at least say she knew looking like that caused Parang's tension to pierce the sky.
Moreover, officially, Seo Sunwoo and Natsuko were Association personnel, and Parang was an invited Expert.
The seating arrangement had Parang sitting across from Natsuko and Seo Sunwoo.
'I'm going crazy, seriously.......'
Sitting face-to-face with the two scariest-looking people in the room made her feel like cold sweat was pouring down her body.
To reiterate, Parang was currently in dork mode. She was trying her absolute best in her own way.
Parang's Head felt like it was going to explode right now.
The tension and anxiety she felt about what was going to happen next, and the intimidation and pressure radiating from the space itself.
On top of that, all sorts of negative emotions and thoughts were stemming from the fact that her assassination target was right in front of her.
She was in no state to call this comfortable, even as a joke.
Maintaining a straight face and a clear mind in this situation was an impressive feat in itself.
But perhaps Parang's state was quickly read, as the Association President was the first to speak.
"Don't be too nervous. It's not that serious of a meeting."
Hearing her clear voice that sounded like rolling jade beads made Parang realize that the person sitting in front of her was truly a living Human, worsening her anxiety.
Perhaps mistaking Parang's nervousness as being due to the surrounding Bodyguards, Natsuko looked around and casually continued.
"Ah, you really don't need to mind these people. Since this is a gathering of such high-ranking individuals, we have to do this even if we don't want to. Especially in a World like today's."
"Ah, yes......."
Parang replied in a bewildered voice.
"Being too relaxed is a problem, but excessive tension can also ruin things."
Seo Sunwoo also spoke as he looked at Parang.
'Phew.......'
Still, making eye contact and talking with Seo Sunwoo was much better. If she had had to keep making eye contact with Natsuko, Parang might have shed a few Tears.
"Now. Let's get straight to the point, so, if you look here......."
And just like that, the meeting began.
The meeting was, truly just a meeting.
Productive conversations that actually affected practical matters went back and forth, and the atmosphere reflected that as well.
It was to the point where Parang could easily imagine just finishing this meeting and heading straight home.
That meant it was such an ordinary meeting that one couldn't possibly think it was a setup for an assassination.
In a way, it was natural. Considering everything Seo Sunwoo had built up for this moment.
'So all that suffering that day wasn't for nothing.'
Parang recalled her first meeting with Seo Sunwoo, the dual conversation that felt like it would make her Head explode.
"Then, let's wrap it up here. Thank you for your hard work."
Eventually, the meeting ended with Seo Sunwoo's words.
Outside, it was already a dark night.
Parang inconspicuously let out a heated breath.
From the middle of the meeting, she even subtly brought up the position of the long-marginalized Undersea Hunters, unintentionally participating in the meeting with true sincerity.
Parang noticed the Reporter, who had been slouched in a chair in the corner of the room, get up and walk over.
"We will now take a commemorative Photo. Please shake hands and look at this Camera."
The Reporter with a strangely whiny voice slyly pointed his Camera at Parang.
Natsuko stood up with a smooth, elegant motion and headed to the center of the room, and Parang awkwardly moved toward her.
Seen up close, Natsuko exuded an even more intimidating presence than Parang had thought. For one, she was tall.
Parang's tension reached its peak. She was trembling so much she could barely speak.
"You're too nervous until the very end. I'm almost a little sad."
Whether she knew how Parang felt or not, Natsuko held out her hand with a bright smile.
Parang stared down at that hand for a moment before finally taking it.
"Alright, taking the picture on one, two......."
And right at that moment.
WEEEEEEEEEE-!!
"A fire has broken out in the building. A fire has broken out in the building. Everyone inside, please follow the instructions and quickly evacuate......."
Just as planned, the fire alarm went off, and in that split second when Natsuko's gaze was diverted elsewhere.
All the lights in the room went out, and at the same time, Parang activated her Artifact.
"Departure!!"
Or rather, she tried to activate it.
'Huh......?'
She bravely shouted for Departure, but the water that should have burst out was nowhere to be found.
'W-what. Is it broken?!'
At such an important moment?
Left with no choice, Parang reached for the Necklace around her neck, intending to use the 'Evidence' instead of Departure.
To be exact, she tried to reach for it this time, too.
"Uh."
In an instant, despite being in pitch-black darkness, Parang felt as if her vision had flipped upside down.
By the time she thought something had touched her neck, she was already grabbed by something and lifted off the ground.
'What, happened......!'
She tried to struggle, but she couldn't move at all. Her breath caught in her throat.
Her left ear felt particularly drafty yet muffled.
A moment later, the lights in the room turned back on.
Parang was able to grasp her current situation.
She was suspended in mid-air, held by her neck with one of Natsuko's hands.
The 'Evidence' had already been snatched and was in Natsuko's other hand, and everyone in the room except Seo Sunwoo had collapsed as if dead, with red spears pierced into their bodies one by one.
Soon, Parang also realized why she hadn't been able to activate Departure.
Her left ear had been sliced clean off.
'H......ow......?'
As if finding the current situation incredibly amusing, Natsuko looked straight into Parang's eyes and whispered.
"If you want to kill someone, that level of resolve won't do. You poor little fish."
But those words didn't register in Parang's ears. She was far too confused right now.
'How did she know? Did she notice I had the Evidence? No, but even if she knew that, the plan to use it for murder.......'
Hundreds and thousands of possibilities popped into her head, only to disappear again.
She just couldn't keep up with the situation.
And amidst all that, Parang's gaze landed on a certain spot.
On Seo Sunwoo, who didn't have a single scratch on his body while everyone else in the room had gruesomely collapsed.
Parang's pupils immediately dilated and began to tremble violently.
'No, this, this makes no sense.'
Parang had thought the chances of Seo Sunwoo betraying them were close to zero.
Having met him several times, she had confirmed over and over again that Seo Sunwoo's anger toward Natsuko was real.
However, the current situation was telling Parang that she had been wrong.
Perhaps noticing the shift in Parang's gaze, Natsuko started cackling even louder.
"What's wrong? Is it because you can't believe the current situation? How naive."
Natsuko's grip tightening around Parang's neck grew even stronger.
"Did you not know? That guy you trusted and followed has been my friend since we were kids. You handed your leash over to the enemy from the very beginning."
She genuinely seemed to be enjoying this situation. Her gaze swept over every inch of Parang's body. Almost like a wild beast pondering which part to devour first.
"Fix your expression. According to the plan my 'friend' made, we need to take a Photo."
As she smoothly moved her other hand, the Camera the Reporter had been holding floated up and fixed itself in midair. Unlike the Reporter, who had been reduced to a bloody pulp, the Camera appeared entirely undamaged.
Having been choked for so long, Parang found it hard to maintain her consciousness. All expression was fading from her face.
"I said, fix your expression."
Paying no mind, Natsuko grabbed the corners of Parang's mouth, forcefully twisting them into a smile before bringing her face in front of the Lens.
Then, she looked back at Seo Sunwoo and spoke.
"Sunwoo, come here. We have to take a Photo together. Ahahahaha!!"
She was stomping her feet like a child on the Floor that had already turned into a bloody mess.
Her expression was exactly like a young child smiling with Candy in front of them.
Through her fading vision, Parang watched Seo Sunwoo walking toward Natsuko.
He walked over to Natsuko without meeting Parang's eyes and affectionately linked arms with her.
"Sunwoo. Do you have any last words to say to this poor fish?"
'How......could......you.......'
Parang's words failed to leave her mouth.
Instead, only Seo Sunwoo's voice echoed through the quiet room.
"Right. I suppose I should say something. Hmm...... Hunter Yoo Parang."
Seo Sunwoo suddenly rummaged through his Pouch.
"I'm sorry for putting you through this. I want to apologize. Truly."
"See, my precious friend says he's sorry. Won't you forgive him, hmm?"
The object Seo Sunwoo pulled out from Natsuko's blind spot, while she was distracted observing Parang's expression, was a small white mechanical device.
'That......is.......'
Within her fading memories, Parang barely managed to recall what that object was.
The Portable Warp Device that Parang had used when she infiltrated the Government Secret Base back then.
With that, Parang had successfully dragged out a Government executive who was trying to torture her, turning him into a hostage instead.
For some reason, that very device was now in Seo Sunwoo's hands.
And then.
Fwoosh!!
"Wh-what!!"
In a split second, Seo Sunwoo made a lightning-fast Dash, hugged Natsuko from behind, and pressed the button on the Warp Device.
At the same time, because Natsuko's hand let go of Parang to stop Seo Sunwoo, she was freed from her Binding.
As her fading consciousness returned, Parang could finally understand the current situation.
Seo Sunwoo was trying to take Natsuko somewhere.
Using the exact same method she had used.
"Hunter Yoo Parang."
The figures of Seo Sunwoo and Natsuko began turning into light and disappearing.
"Let's meet at the promised location."
And then, pop.
The two figures vanished.
Parang soon realized what this situation meant.
Seo Sunwoo had taken Natsuko to the coordinates he had been given.
And those coordinates were.
'The East Sea......!'
In other words.
Natsuko was now under the sea.
And very close by, at that.
Parang's judgment was fast.
She immediately tore off her Suit with a ripping sound and dashed out of the building.
"You're dead, bitch......."
Flames blazed furiously in her eyes.