Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Return (3)
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Just because they used a sprawling site with the latest facilities and equipment didn't mean they weren't scammers. Scamming wasn't a walk in the park. To pull off a convincing con, this was the bare minimum. Especially when the marks were superpowered individuals...
"Where's the director?"
"He's in his office inside. Shall I let him know you've arrived?"
The receptionist didn't seem fazed, already recognizing Kang In-gyu's face.
"But what about the people with you?"
"Ah, my team..."
Suhyun stomped hard on Kang In-gyu's heel.
"Urk!"
"Still hungover from last night? Jeez..."
Suhyun pretended to support him while whispering in his ear.
"Don't say team leader."
"Yes?"
"It'll make them suspicious. Say colleagues. Interested in superpower enhancement."
"Ah, got it."
Kang In-gyu gave an awkward smile.
"They're my team colleagues. They wanted to see the training I'm getting."
"Oh, the director will love that. I let him know. You're good to go in."
"Alright, let's head up. I wanna get stronger already."
Suhyun's words didn't sound like a joke at all. Kang In-gyu felt like he was walking on thin ice as he headed upstairs.
"Kang In-gyu here. May I come in?"
"Ah, Kang In-gyu. Come on in!"
The door slid open automatically. For a scammer's lair, it was surprisingly spartan. Aside from the front window overlooking the expansive grounds, there wasn't much to catch the eye.
...!
Suhyun, who had walked in expecting some sleazy con artist's mug, felt like he'd been clubbed over the back of the head.
'What the hell is that bastard Kim Jong-tae doing here?!'
Kim Jong-tae wasn't a powerhouse with overwhelming superpowers or an elite combatant. He was a merchant.
No merchant hated money, but he took it to extremes. The guy acted like he'd sold his soul for it. Give him cash, and he'd deal with anyone.
Korean, Chinese, Russian—it didn't matter if it was legal or illegal. He did it all. The last Suhyun had heard of Kim Jong-tae was that he'd gone on the run, desperately evading capture. He'd been caught smuggling Korean artifacts to the Chinese side and leaking a few classified intel pieces to them.
Word was, two teams got wiped out thanks to the intel he sold. If it had been Suhyun's team, he'd have hunted the guy down and torn him limb from limb personally.
And yet, here he was, lounging around.
"I heard from downstairs. Colleagues you work with?"
"Yes, my team leader."
"?"
Kang In-gyu shot Suhyun a baffled look.
'I'll check Kim Jong-tae out later once this is done.'
The guy's behavior screamed caution. No point in lies that'd unravel with a quick check.
"I heard colleagues...?"
"Team leader's a colleague too. I don't do strict hierarchies."
"I see. You've got a good team leader, Kang In-gyu."
"Hahaha..."
Kang In-gyu agreed Suhyun was a good team leader, but nothing about what he was saying now rang true. Suhyun watched Kim Jong-tae's expression closely.
It was an intelligent, kindly face that didn't scream scammer, but those eyes held a faint, unmistakable wariness.
'He's on guard.'
No wonder—after grooming Kang In-gyu, his team leader shows up out of nowhere. The merchant hid his emotions well, but Suhyun saw right through him.
"So, what brings you here? You all want training too?"
"If we could, sure. But we've got our next job coming up soon."
"That's a shame."
"But what I heard from Kang In-gyu was a bit different."
"What?"
"That there's a drug that enhances superpowers in a short time..."
"Ah, I think there's a misunderstanding."
'Look at this punk?'
Kim Jong-tae took a step back. Clearly wary of the new arrival, Suhyun.
'If he digs into my identity, this gets messy...'
Kang In-gyu was an easy mark, a pushover superhuman. But Suhyun? No hiding from that. Even scammers picked their targets. You didn't con someone who could kill you on a whim.
If he sensed danger, Kim Jong-tae would bolt.
'If he runs, oh well.'
Suhyun steeled himself. If Kim Jong-tae fled, so be it. This was just a casual visit to punish a scammer. Useful info would be a bonus; no big loss otherwise.
"There's no way to enhance superpowers short-term. Like anything worthwhile, there's no shortcut. Only the proper path works."
Lecturing Suhyun—a top superhuman—on powers was laughable, but the delivery sold it. No wonder supers shelled out cash here.
"So no superpower enhancer exists?"
"No, no... It does exist. Just think you've got the wrong idea about its effects. It's not like doping for a quick boost. It just helps those who put in the effort progress faster."
Luiril listened with apparent interest, but to Suhyun, it was pure bullshit.
"If you think of superpowers as a glass full of water, the enhancer is like adding one drop on top. No immediate effect, but for some, it'll make a real difference."
"That much is fine."
"!"
"I'll take it. How much?"
"It's pricey, but more importantly, we're out of stock right now. Sorry. With all the supers training here... We'll contact you when more comes in."
"I see."
Suhyun didn't buy it. This was just a stall to gauge his intentions.
'Act a bit more desperate.'
Suhyun spoke earnestly.
"I hate to ask, but when stock arrives, could you contact me first? We really need that drug right now."
"Really? Mind if I ask why?"
"The Dragon Slayer Project left a gap in the roster. Opportunities like this don't come twice. If we can power up our team's supers short-term, anything goes."
......
Kim Jong-tae narrowed his eyes, probing if Suhyun meant it.
"I'm begging you."
"Got it. I'll see what I can do."
"And I have one question too..."
"Yes?"
"I want to verify if that drug really works."
Even desperate people obsessed over authenticity. Suhyun didn't care if the enhancer was real or fake, but to avoid suspicion, he had to pretend.
"Any data on it?"
Suhyun hoped for a slightly annoyed denial. Instead, Kim Jong-tae smiled.
"Not a problem."
A button press turned the wall into a screen. It showed a superhuman training video, with date and time stamped in the corner.
'Energy type.'
A common power: firing circular energy bolts.
!
Suhyun's eyes flickered. Kim Jong-tae wasn't lying. The super on screen had genuinely powered up!
'No synthesis.'
He could spot that a mile away.
"Want to see a few more?"
"No need. This suffices. Thanks for showing me."
"Sure. We'll call when stock arrives."
Outside, Suhyun clicked his tongue.
"Good thing our ties to the Development Planning Bureau aren't public."
Uncle Jo Company had expanded fast, but on paper, they looked understaffed. Without deep digging, no one would uncover government links.
"What was that conversation about? And the enhancer—is it real?"
Luiril was an elf well-integrated into human society. Her reactions gave it away.
"No way it's real. If a real enhancer existed, he wouldn't be slinging it here. Every outfit would be lining up to recruit him."
"But the video showed real effects?"
"Yeah. Effects are real, for sure."
Kim Jong-tae had videos of multiple supers for convincing proof.
?
"Side effects, probably."
Side effects too severe for legit commercialization. Nothing else explained it.
"What kind?"
"You'll find out."
......
* * *
Luiril inwardly cursed Suhyun as she carried out the box. For her, swiping from a place like this was as easy as twisting a child's wrist.
'When's this guy gonna lift the poison?'
Traveling with Suhyun had let her size him up. He was intriguing—a rare bundle of talents other humans lacked. Unpredictable motives kept things from getting boring. And seeing how he treated Aida and Ethan showed he wasn't utterly vile.
She'd stick around until something more interesting came up, poison or not. If he asked nicely.
All her past suffering deserved a detox by now.
Suhyun ignored her completely.
-How can I trust you?
"Got it."
"Good work. Take a break."
"You think I stole it and won't check? No way."
"Then stick around."
Suhyun unsealed the box, pulling out vials of shimmering liquid and syringes.
"First light, we get this analyzed."
* * *
"It's a narcotic."
"Pardon?"
"Complicated to explain, but..."
Suhyun waved her off. No interest in a chemistry lecture.
"Keep it simple."
"...Simply put, it's a highly addictive drug. Mix of several, some unanalyzable—probably sourced from Cameron Planet."
Lots from Cameron Planet still defied analysis.
"Thanks. Oh, and keep this off the records..."
"Understood."
No researcher would say no to Suhyun. Walking out, he pondered.
'Classic Kim Jong-tae.'
If he'd set up shop just peddling cheap pills, Suhyun wouldn't have bought it.
'Profits from addicting supers?'
Near infinite.
Supers were money trees. Stick a straw in, and no better business existed.
Round up jobless supers, slowly hook the promising ones. Once addicted, it was easy street. Dopes would burn cash for a fix.
Others might shudder at the depravity. Suhyun just took it in stride. He'd seen worse. Now, how to use this intel.
'Time to flush the mudfish out of the pond.'
* * *
A light whistle escaped as Kim Jong-tae changed clothes. Normally, he'd deck out head to toe in luxury, but since opening the center, he kept it modest. To build trust with supers.
"Today's marks... who to reel in..."
Tying his tie, he pondered his next con.
'Oh, gotta background-check Kang In-gyu too.'
Seemed like a solid customer. Merc team desperate post-Dragon Slayer Project. But always test the bridge before crossing.
"Huh!"
Something struck. Vision darkened, body stiffened.
When his eyes opened, he was in a windowless basement.
"Sleep well?"
"You...!"
Recognizing Suhyun, Kim Jong-tae's eyes shook wildly. Dozens of responses raced through his mind.
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