Siren's Heart (1)
"It's not like we're fighting right now."
But returning the favor for a gift should be fine, right? Shadow Killer, like Jet Stream, commands a force far stronger and vaster than mine when you look at it in terms of sheer power and scale. So I'd decided to call it even by wiping out one of his businesses in exchange for trying to assassinate me and Ji-na. It was still too soon to clash with Shadow Killer head-on.
But unexpectedly, he'd shown up right in front of me, and since it turned into a one-on-one fight, I was able to rip the bastard clean in half. This situation felt similar to that one. Or maybe not exactly similar? With Shadow Killer, there had been rock-solid evidence from the eyewitness who caught him red-handed, but this time it was purely my gut instinct deduction. I still wasn't entirely sure if Jet Stream had really egged on those villains to keep me in check.
"Then just ask him."
At Mark Two's words, me and my clones all turned our eyes to the new recruit bug, Crane, in unison.
"As expected, Fourth Bro's turning into Sherlock Holmes Bro, huh?"
"Huh? What'd you say?"
"Nothing."
I shook my head at Ji-na's puzzled expression and went back to my workout. Watching two mature women sweating it out in those skin-tight workout clothes clinging to their bodies was damn entertaining.
Maybe I should come up with a new villain name for this? Reindeer Holmes? Smoked Sherlock? Hmm, nah. Steel Armor it is.
Interrogating the new A-rank bug, Crane, confirmed it: the villain groups constantly harassing Skull Head Gang were acting on Jet Stream's orders. Exactly as I'd deduced. Want to get good at sleuthing? Read the complete Sherlock Holmes collection. Your deduction skills will skyrocket just like mine.
"Oh, right."
Ji-na, mid-squat, suddenly remembered something and glanced my way.
Hey, why'd you turn around? Show me that ass again!
"Hey, did you get a call from Dad?"
"A call? What call?"
"You didn't get it? Chris Uncle called you too?"
"What are you talking about?"
Ji-na tilted her head like it was the weirdest thing, then explained.
"They're exhibiting the Siren's Heart at the Acardan Museum next week for about three days, and they sent invitations to the upper crust. Dad got one too, obviously. He asked if I was going?"
Siren's Heart?
"What's that?"
"...What? You don't know the Siren's Heart?"
"The hell is it, you otaku?"
"O-otaku?!"
"Ah! I've seen a picture of it, at least."
"Oh yeah? So what is it?"
"Hey! Why am I the otaku?!"
I ignored Ji-na fuming on the side and turned to Elis for the answer.
"The Siren's Heart is literally the heart of a siren."
"Huh? What kinda nonsense is that? Like Darkness of the Shadows or Chaos of Confusion?"
"No, not that... I read about it in a book, but about twenty years ago, a monster called [C. Norend Siren] showed up."
"[C. Norend Siren]?"
What kinda name is that?
Fuck.
Well, I can't talk—my name's Bal Jeong-nam! The Detective!
Anyway, back to the point.
"They say a ton of heroes died trying to take down the siren back then. Civilian casualties were brutal too."
"Huh? Heroes handle monsters, right? Isn't that what the Monster Hunter Association is for?"
"Right. But it came straight into Dark City through the sea, so they couldn't call in the monster hunters. Waiting for them might've meant the end of Dark City."
"...Dark City wiped out? By some puny monster?"
I'd been planning to just listen, but I had to ask. Sure, it had some fancy prefixes, but "siren" made me picture the old illustrations: human woman's face, bird's body, lures sailors with song and eats 'em. Sirens are monsters with insane powers, no doubt. But strong enough to destroy Dark City? Nah.
We've got heroes and villains crawling all over the place. Plus hidden superpowered folks keeping low. All those ability users couldn't take down one siren?
"Huh?"
"What? What're you talking about?"
Elis and Ji-na tilted their heads at my question like I was the weird one.
"Why?"
"'Puny monster'? How can you call a monster a puny monster?"
"Sure, monsters are dangerous. But this is Dark City. With all these superpowered people, does it make sense for one monster to wipe it out?"
"Ugh... you ignorant brute."
"What?"
Ignorant? Me? The master detective who sniffed out Jet Stream with this brain alone!
Who else fits "ignorant" less than me?!
"Head to tail, body length 23 meters."
"Huh?"
"Wingspan at full stretch: 55 meters."
"Uh, wha?"
"Its song can be heard up to 5 kilometers away. Anyone who hears it suffers auditory hallucinations, visual hallucinations, phantom pain—mental breakdown. Prolonged exposure leads to loss of consciousness and involuntary movement toward the siren."
"....."
"It flies through the skies with talons strong enough to lift a 30-meter building. Well, Mr. Bal Jeong-nam?"
"Yes..."
"Can a siren destroy Dark City single-handedly? Yes or no?"
"Yes..."
"Correct. Now do you get how disastrously complacent that 'puny monster' line was?"
"Yes, Teacher Ji-na."
Damn, who knew sirens were such freaks? I figured since it was a siren, it'd be smaller than me. A beast like that could absolutely level Dark City. Especially since it flies—slashing hero air power big time. Not many fliers among heroes.
"Anyway, back on track. So the Siren's Heart is the heart from that monster siren, right?"
"Yep."
Elis nodded.
"They pulled it from the siren's corpse, and it was dump-truck sized. But over time, it hardened like stone, and a master jeweler carved it up. That's how the Siren's Heart was born—the one Big Sis mentioned."
"Huh? So the Siren's Heart is a gemstone?"
"Yes."
"And the Acardan Museum has been storing it, and now they're exhibiting it for three days?"
"Right."
That didn't add up.
"Something that valuable, why store it at the Acardan Museum?"
"...You're really clueless."
This bitch?
"The Acardan Museum is run by the Hero Association, dummy. You didn't know that?"
"Oh, yeah?"
I thought it was something bigger.
"Anyway, you going?"
"Dunno. You?"
"Uh, dunno? Well... if you ask me to take you, maybe."
"Like I'd ask you to take me. You got an invite."
"Hmph!"
Cute tsundere Ji-na again.
"I wanna go too..."
Unlike me dithering, Elis looked eager. But sorry, she couldn't come. Even with dye and a new hairstyle, family might spot her. And invites went to the elite—high chance of Gwen family showing.
"Sorry, Elis. I'd love to bring you, but I can't."
"Huh? Oh, no, it's fine. I just wanted to see it with my own eyes. Not like I have to go."
Sweet Elis shook her head frantically at my apology.
Perfect.
Decision made: Steal the Siren's Heart and give it to Elis.
"Rare gem like that? Of course I'll go."
"Yeah? Then I'll specially escort you. You'd get lost alone for sure."
"What am I, a kid? How would I get lost?"
"Whatever! Just know I'll be dragging you around!"
Ears red, Ji-na yelled and dove back into her workout. Elis and I exchanged glances, chuckled, and resumed ours.
Siren's Heart, huh... Wonder if I can catch a glimpse of Mom and Dad's other sides there?
Acardan Museum. Something fun was bound to go down there.
In a lavish room, a man and woman pored over a pamphlet. Four elegant red envelopes lay on the table before them.
"Honey, this is the Siren's Heart, right?"
"Yep. They say A-rank heroes on guard duty, plus two S-ranks sticking around all three days. Not gonna be easy."
"That's what makes it burn so bright!"
"Heh heh. Blood pumping?"
"You bet!"
Bal Ji-woon, watching his wife clench her fists, smiled. Over thirty years together, and she was still stunningly beautiful and lovable. If she wanted the stars, he'd bankrupt himself to pluck them down.
Publicly, Bal Ji-woon and Stephanie Yu were Sanctuary Corp's chairman and vice-president. But they harbored a secret: infamous master thief villains High Fog and Hazel Fox.
"Alright, then we prep thoroughly this time."
Bal Ji-woon grinned. This job's difficulty was way above average. Stealing from chaebols, museums, jewelers? Minimal ability users, and the two of them could handle any. But this? A-rank heroes patrolling, two rare S-ranks on-site for three days straight. Perilous. He knew it well.
Yet they were going for the Siren's Heart. Why?
"Haa... so pretty."
Because his wife wanted it!
"Let's check our gear first. Gather more intel, see what we need."
"Yep!"
"...Can't hold back anymore. Babe, to the bed."
"W-wait a sec!"
Aroused by her adorable reply, Bal Ji-woon grabbed his wife's wrist and headed to bed. Soon, lewd moans echoed from atop the sheets.
A true chip off the old block for Bal Jeong-nam's dad.
I left recruiting minions to the clones. Or rather, since it's all me, "left" doesn't fit. Anyway, while clones scouted underlings, I slipped into Jet Stream's turf nightly, unleashing Gravity Dominator on his businesses. Yuna spilled locations easy—worth keeping her at Hero Association.
Also banged Yuna and Elis, groped Ji-na to boost affection. One body couldn't juggle it all. Cloning superpower's a gem.
A week flew by in that frenzy.
"All set?"
"Yeah."
"Have a safe trip."
Suited up, I headed to Acardan Museum with gown-clad Ji-na.