#149 Dog President

Titan Pipe, who had fallen flat on his back, scrambled to his feet and stood before me in a panic. I wanted to kick him one more time, but I held back. There wasn't time for that.

The bastards who turned this place into a shitshow were prowling the night streets. I had to catch them before they killed more people.

"Drag every fucker who did this here before sunrise. If you don't, you're going to America. Got it?"

"Yes, sir!"

He might not know what "going to America" meant, but Titan Pipe answered anyway. He must have instinctively sensed the rage in my voice meant bad news for him, no matter what.

The real me won't have to step in, right?

This body—Mark Two—was at level 7 body enhancer status, more than enough to handle these criminals. Luckily, they weren't strong enough to force the real deal to show up.

The only worry was whoever orchestrated this mess finally showing their face. But even that wasn't a big deal. Worst case, I could swap positions with the main body using the teleport skill.

Still, better safe than sorry. Prep just in case.

The main body was in the middle of fucking Ji-na right now. Once she passed out, he'd suit up as Steel Armor and stay on standby for summoning.

"I'll search around here too, so call if anything comes up."

"The boss is heading out personally?"

"Yeah."

"Then I'll..."

"No. You stay here and relay any news to me the second it hits. Got it?"

"Understood, boss."

Jungbo tried to follow, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but I left him at the factory. Gotta keep one guy back for real-time intel, right? He's sharp—he'd ping me the instant anything important came in.

I drove around, scanning the area, and called Memory Hunter. Yuna had told me he was leading the investigation into this Steam drug bullshit.

—What now?

"You're on that Steam drug case that's trending, right?"

—...Where'd you hear that? It's top secret.

Top secret? Most heroes already knew. Shouldn't "top secret" mean hiding it from other heroes too?

"I have my ways. Anyway, work with me on this."

—What?

He sounded baffled, even though I'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠proposed teaming up. We had chased kidnappers together once before—when Rachel got nabbed again—and saved those kids. But that was a freak emergency. If word got out that a hero and villain collabed, both sides would be fucked.

Heroes get trashed by peers and civilians: How shit are you that you need a villain's help? Career suicide.

Villains? Unspoken rule: Never ask heroes for help. No matter what. Villains got pride—how could they beg heroes? They followed their own code religiously. Break it, and you're public enemy number one. Other villains handle you themselves.

That's why Memory Hunter was stunned by my pitch.

Me? I don't give a fuck about unspoken rules.

Pride? Who cares? Sure, it's important. But catching the motherfuckers who dared kill over 20 people in my turf—using my men as guinea pigs—that mattered more.

Beating the shit out of my ex-subordinates who went rabid wasn't enough. I needed to drag out the puppet masters and crush them too.

And if villains come for me over breaking the code? Bring it. I'm Steel Armor, you cunts.

Who the hell could kill me? Plus, I still had two superpower creation tickets left. Seventeen level-up tickets too. They try anything, they die.

Like I said before: Catch the rat right, doesn't matter if it's a white cat or black cat. Hero or villain—whoever pisses me off, I catch 'em.

"You in or what?"

—Why the hell should I team up with you? I can handle it without—

"Because I'm gonna crush the bastards who made and spread that Steam shit."

—What? Why you?

"We'll talk details later. I'm busy. I'll call back—think it over till then."

—Hey! Steel Armor! Wait!

I ignored his yelling and hung up. Counted to ten in my head, then called back.

"Thought about it?"

—You bastard!

"Kekekeke!"

Hung up again. This guy's fun to troll.

KYAAAH—!

"Bingo."

A level 10 body enhancer's ears don't miss a scream from afar. Especially in the dead quiet of dawn.

I slammed the brakes and bolted toward the sound.

"Grrr... Hungry... GRRAAAH!"

"GYAAAH!"

"KYAAAH!"

I spotted a familiar bald dome snarling like a beast, attacking some guy, with a woman screaming behind him.

No other baldies? Fuckin' great.

The rest must've scattered when they bolted from the factory. Annoying as hell.

"Hey."

"Grrr...!"

"Down, boy!"

"Grrk?!"

"Help us!"

I ignored the woman's plea and stared down Baldy. He turned, mouth smeared with fresh blood. The guy he was holding had a shoulder soaked red—bitten clean.

"Why'd you turn into a rabid dog, baldy? Huh?"

"Grrr... Steel... Armor... heh heh heh!"

"Oh? Laughing?"

"Right now... grrk... I could... kill you! GRRAAAH!"

"Well, well?"

He let out a freakish howl and charged on all fours, closing 10 meters in a blink, lunging for my thigh.

Steel Skin.

I activated the skill and shoved my leg in his face.

CRUNCH—!

He chomped down like it was candy.

"Gek?"

He realized something was off. When he opened wide, shattered teeth rained out.

Superpower or not, bite steel and your teeth shatter.

I grabbed his head.

"Why'd you go dog on humans? IQ drop or what?"

"H-how... I got stronger...!"

"This fuck thinks he's the universe's strongest after some easy kills. And you."

I hoisted him up. His feet dangled.

"Dogs don't bite their masters!"

WHAM—!

"GHAK?!"

Headbutted him. Steel Skin still on—he basically rammed a metal bar. Lights out.

I tossed the unconscious mutt aside and approached the injured guy and the trembling, teary woman.

"You okay?"

"Who... eek?!"

"S-Steel Armor!"

They recognized me instantly. Guess they didn't clock me as Steel Armor when begging earlier.

"Hurt bad? Can't walk?"

"N-no, sir."

"Cool, no hospital ride from me then."

"Pardon? Oh... ngh!"

The guy winced—shoulder's bite was throbbing.

I pulled my wallet from my suit pocket and handed him cash. About 30 grand.

"Cover your hospital bill."

"Huh? Uh..."

They freaked. Never expected a villain to pay medicals.

I shoved the money into the woman's hand—didn't wanna touch the guy's.

"That mutt was my subordinate ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠till a few hours ago. Call it compensation. And keep your mouths shut about this. Got it? Leak it... you know what happens."

"Yes, sir! We know!"

"To the grave!"

"Good. Now fuck off to the hospital. I'll handle him."

I loaded the passed-out dog-baldy into the car. Little more patrolling, then interrogation.

While sweeping District 80, Jungbo called—I headed straight back to the factory. My ass-kicking must've lit a fire; Titan Pipe and the crew nabbed the other dog-baldies. Killed three, captured two.

Tied 'em up in Titan Pipe's hideout for questioning.

"Alright, my old subordinates. Spill why you killed your bros and civilians. Be honest, and I'll send you off painless."

"B-boss... grrr... I must've lost it! Please spare me!"

"Mercy! Grrr...!"

"Dogs or humans? Still growling?"

Acting like dogs? Time to treat 'em like it. I'm Dog President Kang Hyung-wook—no, Steel Hyung-wook.

"You dog cunts!"

"Ghek?!"

"Yelp?!"

"Aaaagh!"

Slapped cheeks first. Then thighs, guts, shoulders—beat till my palms burned.

Truth? I'm not Steel Hyung-wook. I'm Steel Nakamura.

Forehead smack!

Discipline session dragged on. Hit sore spots extra. They squirmed like possessed squid.

"Ready to talk nice now?"

"Grr..."

"Grr?"

"Woof! I'll talk! Everything!"

The dog-whiner shut up when I glared and spilled it all. About damn time—quit wasting mine.

"Spit it. Why betray me? Why kill people? I said betrayal means death."

Never said that. But every villain org executes traitors—common knowledge.

"W-well..."

"No quick answer? Not broken in yet? Forehead smack."

"N-no! I'll talk! It was... I wanted... to kill."

This makgeolli talk?

"Just killed 'cause you felt like it? All those people? Fine, now I wanna kill you. Die."

"N-not that! The drug hit, and murder urge exploded! Couldn't hold back!"

"Yes! Drug gave sudden power too!"

"True!"

"Hm."

Desperate eyes—no lies. My hunch was right.

They rambled more on why, but nothing useful.

"Got it."

No more intel. I turned to leave.

"Boss!"

"Spare us!"

"We never meant to betray! Boss! Boooooss!"

The dog-baldy trio wailed desperately. Didn't look back.

"What about them?"

"Lock 'em up. Oh, wait."

Hadn't checked their powers. If body enhancers, I'd ship to America myself for XP.

Activated Superpower Analyzer on them—

"...Huh?"

I bugged my eyes out.

No superpowers...?