I Need Subordinates (2)
With my arms spread wide, I put on a solemn expression and bellowed,
"Come forth! My servants crawling out from the pits of hell!"
Two men who looked exactly like me appeared before me.
"This body arrives!"
"This body descends!"
It was Mark Four and Mark Five. Every clone except Mark Three, who was back home guarding the place, had mobilized in full force. Not bungshin—clones. Watch the pronunciation.
"You ready, Four?"
"Yeah... of course, One."
"Yeah... you bet, One."
These bastards?
"Hey, I don't have time to play around with you punks. Where's this 'One' shit coming from? Call me Steel Armor, got it?"
"....."
"....."
"Pfft!"
Mark Four and Mark Five shot me cold, dead stares, while Mark Two burst out laughing. This was the fun of the split-personality game.
"Alright, let's move out."
I opened the door with my clones and stepped outside. There stood the baldies, lined up in perfect military formation. Jungbo was at their front.
"Uh...?"
"The boss... there's four of him?"
The subordinates looked flustered at the sight of us four. If I dragged Mark Three along from home, they'd really lose their shit. They probably had no clue that the other three were clones. As far as the baldies knew, my superpower was just body enhancement. Even if I ripped off my mask and showed my real face, they'd probably think I had quadruplet brothers. The common belief in this world was that superpower users only had one ability.
"Jungbo."
"Yes, Boss!"
"I heard some retarded fuckers bared their teeth at us."
"That's right!"
"You know exactly where those bastards are holed up, yeah?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Good. Starting today, we clean 'em out and take their turf."
Woooaaah!
Steel Armor forever!
Skull Head Gang forever!
The subordinates cheered wildly at my declaration. Expanding our turf meant a bigger market. More market meant more customers, which naturally meant more cash flow. In the end, fatter wallets for these baldies—that's why they were so hyped.
Kuhuhu... gonna be fun telling 'em about the pay cut later.
Even if I announced pay cuts, the baldies wouldn't rebel outright. They'd just bitch behind my back. No one had the balls to speak up to my face. I raised my hand, and the cheering horde shut their mouths in unison.
"Before we deal with those pricks, we swing by District 73 first."
District 73. I ruled Districts 72 through 79—seven in total—excluding 73. That one was run by a lanky scarecrow of an A-rank villain named Karinbia. Since we were expanding anyway, I figured I'd clean house on the independents in my own backyard first.
*****
Leading my clones and the horde, I headed into Karinbia's territory in District 73. There I spotted the ruler of District 73 himself, standing outside.
"Well, shit."
"Long time no see, Steel Armor. I've been waiting."
"You were all casual last time, now it's formal?"
He hadn't used polite speech the last time we met, right before I went to beat down Kane. But now? Either his attitude had shifted, or maybe it was because I'd hit S-rank villain status. Whatever.
"Anyway, waiting for me? You seriously just standing out here for that?"
"Yes."
"...Huh. Now that's interesting."
I grinned darkly and glanced back. One of those baldies was a spy, huh?
"I didn't plant any spies."
Karinbia spoke up, as if reading my mind.
"What?"
"If I got caught, it'd just piss you off needlessly."
"You can read my thoughts?"
"No."
"Then how'd you know what I was thinking?"
"You turned around after hearing me, didn't you? Anyone would figure it out."
"Oh."
True.
"Anyway, you knew I'd come. How?"
He pointed at the sky.
"The stars told me."
"Stars?"
I followed his finger upward. Countless stars twinkled.
"Star-related superpower?"
"Yes."
"Hmm..."
He answered honestly. Was it true? Or just to lower my guard?
"Show me. Use it now."
"My superpower?"
"Yeah."
"Understood."
Karinbia nodded and looked skyward. His eyes turned pitch black.
He's using it.
A queasy feeling hit my gut. I fired up Superpower Analyzer right away.
Astrologer?
I'd seen it before when picking Bal Jeong-nam's first power. But I had no clue what it did. It had so many sub-skills it'd take days to test, and the name just didn't grab me, so I skipped it.
Astrologer, huh...
I couldn't read his intentions yet, but he didn't seem hostile. If he knew I'd roll up with this many goons, he'd have prepped. My senses weren't picking up any threats anyway. Time to dig for more info.
"What'd you do?"
"Asked the stars if I'd die today or not."
"And? What'd they say?"
"It depends on your choice."
"Hmm... Keep using it."
"Understood."
His eyes blackened again. I made him do it four more times.
After five uses, I had the full breakdown. Astrologer was insane. Downside: only works at night when stars are visible. But you could ask the stars questions and get answers. Like his earlier one: "Do I die today?" Stars: "Yeah, you're toast." Follow-up: "How?" Stars: "Plane crashes into your house." It worked on others too—not just the user. Definitely top-tier.
Fuuuck.
If I'd known, I'd have snatched it!
Nah? Might kill the fun.
I thrive on impulse and chaos, not planning. Knowing your future? Sounds boring as hell.
"So."
Analysis done, I spoke up.
"Why wait out here for me?"
"I'll follow you."
"...Huh?"
Total curveball.
"Become my subordinate?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"It's how I don't die today."
"Stars tell you that too?"
"No."
"Then?"
"At least as your subordinate, I won't die by your hand."
"....."
That sealed it. Astrologer? Piece of shit power.
Am I nuts? Kill people? I don't do murder.
I never planned to kill Karinbia anyway. No-Kill Rule was... on? Wait.
It's off? Oh, forgot to toggle it last time.
No-Kill Rule ON!
Anyway, back on track—I had zero intent to kill him. Just bug-ify the guy and claim District 73. Killing? Scary shit!
Stars said his fate hinged on my choice, but since I wasn't killing, their prediction flopped. Proves Astrologer sucks.
Good call skipping it.
Karinbia made the smart play, though. I don't kill my own. Unless they betray me. Hell, I'm the nice boss who avenges his crew when they get jumped.
"What about your men?"
"Bringing them all under you—no, under Steel Armor, sir."
"Some'll push back."
"They won't dare."
"Why not?"
"Or they'll die."
"Oh ho?"
Killing intent flickered in his eyes—not at me, but his own men. He meant business. Skinny guy, but tough as nails. Makes sense for an A-rank.
Was gonna recruit more anyway.
Perfect timing.
"Fine."
"Thank you, Boss."
"Follow me."
"Where to?"
"Gotta test your skills."
"Bring my men?"
"Later. Today, just you. Hope you're not all talk."
"I'm not."
"Good. Let's go."
"Yes."
He nodded back at his hidden crew in the building, then fell in behind me.
*****
Watching Karinbia fight, my eyes went wide.
"Fuck me."
Astrologer was no trash power.
"Falling Star."
Whoosh!
"Gaaahhh!"
"So goddamn cool."
Overpowered as hell. Under Jungbo's guidance, me and Karinbia headed to District 80. That was ruled by Crane, an A-rank with stilt legs like a heron. Normal form: solid 175cm guy. Powered up? Freakish. Doubled in height, feathers sprouting from arms and body. Legs stretched to 2m. True to his name—crane as fuck.
Spotting me with my horde, Crane raged out, transformed, and started soccer-kicking parked cars like cannonballs. Flying vehicles hit harder than bullets.
"Karinbia?"
"Yes, Boss."
Situation flipped 180 the second he stepped up.
"Falling Star."
His only combat skill, but the effect? Chef's kiss. Starlight energy plummeted from the sky, smashing Crane. Mystical glow lingered like a shattered star. Same rank, but Karinbia dominated. Attack range was just different. Crane's cars got intercepted mid-air and exploded. Bullets, magic wands—useless against it.
"Guh! Damn you, Karinbia! That's your big move? Sucking up to Steel Armor?!"
Crane vented at us from afar. Can't win ranged? Go melee. But with me next to Karinbia, he hesitated. I was the guy who crushed White Knight with raw power. Charging me? Suicide.
He ducked into a building for time, but Falling Star punched right through.
"Falling Star."
"GRRAAAHH!"
Overwhelmed by relentless ranged barrage, Crane crumpled. Fight over.
"It's done, Boss."
"....."
My first recruit, Karinbia, bowed his head to me.