Chapter 342
Chapter 342
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 342
Chapter Title: Redhead
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“Man, that Redhead bastard’s a real clown.”
This was truly laughable.
“So what’s your plan? If Kim Shin-hwa doesn’t play ball, you gonna marry poor Park Kwang-rim or something?”
Kreeee—
The glare bursting from my four eyes began dyeing the inside of Basilissa green. Who got kidnapped doesn’t matter.
To pick a fight with such a low-rent move—aren’t you afraid of the backlash?
And I’m fully intent and capable of hitting back hard at this nonsense.
“Cackle cackle—aren’t you reacting way too predictably, hon?”
“What?”
“I’ll apologize for phrasing it in a misleading way. But hon, Park Kwang-rim wasn’t kidnapped.”
“Aha?”
Tudor, smiling brightly with a pleasant rhythm to her words. Witches gonna witch. The way she says it, even I’m not mad.
At the same time, a few possibilities flashed through my mind.
Not a kidnapping, the compensation is Park Kwang-rim, the client is Redhead, and Tudor’s grinning.
“Roughly get it.”
“Huh? You get it?”
“You’re protecting her? The problem’s probably… Hyun-ah, right?”
Tudor looked at me with sparkling eyes upon hearing my words.
“You skipped right there just by dropping ‘kidnapping’? Still sharp as ever?”
“I know the players’ personalities.”
“Hmm~ This place boring you, hon? Wanna move somewhere else?”
With those words, Tudor extended her hand with elegant poise. Like she’s asking for an escort?
“Ha—”
Come to think of it, Basilissa’s fixers were eyeing me with curiosity.
“Fine.”
At my approval (?), Tudor flashed a sly grin and tugged my hand.
“No need to hold hands.”
“Eeeee~ Lady’s so shy.”
“Cut it out!”
Amid the fixers’ catcalls, I got dragged to Tudor’s office.
* * *
Tudor perched casually on her desk piled with papers, legs crossed, gazing at me.
“Hon, settle up first?”
“Gotta.”
Only after clearing the prior quest could I move on relaxed.
Tudor took the jar holding the [Mermaid’s Egg], eyes widening.
“Unfertilized?”
“Yeah. Unfertilized.”
“Ruins the flavor.”
She flashed a feline grin, tongue flicking out.
“But it’s the [Mermaid’s Egg] as requested. That doesn’t change.”
At my firm statement, Tudor nodded.
“True. But wasn’t there a fertilized one too?”
“Nope.”
“Really?”
Her pupils narrowed threateningly.
“Yeah.”
“Boooring.”
Tudor’s short sigh.
“The client’s just expecting some dubious tonic anyway. Real deal would freak everyone out.”
“Ki-ki, fair point.”
Tudor said that and held up the jar high.
Checking it against the light? She gazed at it like a gem with innocent wonder, then nodded.
“Mun Kyung-jun’ll be happy with this much. It’s what he wanted.”
Mermaid meat becomes an immortality elixir. If it’d been fertilized?
The dying Yeonam Group chairman would’ve leaped up—and the escalating heir war would’ve hit a new phase.
In every sense, this hits just right.
“You backing number three?”
With Mun Kyung-nam (third in line) dead, Mun Kyung-jun (former four) moved to three.
Question: do you want him as chairman?
“Nah.”
“Then why?”
Why help Mun Kyung-jun?
Because among that cunning, wicked, insane sibling trio, he’s the most cautious. Propping him up keeps the stalemate best.
“Dodging the point means it’s not urgent, huh?”
Came to talk Redhead, now veering to Yeonam?
“Ugh—hon, quit jumping ahead. Explaining quests is my fun.”
Tudor swung her fist dramatically.
“Today, confirming my guesses might be more fun, no?”
“Hmm—fine. What’d you guess?”
She said, looking down at me in the chair.
Even sitting together, I’d have to look up—but peering up at desk-perched Tudor’s a chore.
“Overheard recently, but Jeong Hyun-ah’s in bad shape.”
“Yeah. Pissed off someone big-time.”
Honestly, I’d been too busy with my own stuff, half-ignoring it on purpose.
“And Park Kwang-rim’s office is in Redhead’s turf.”
If kidnapping was on the table, it’d have happened ages ago.
“Yeah. Opposition turf.”
Park Kwang-rim’s agency: [Opposition Detectives: Missing Persons, Affairs, Evidence, Fraud, Errands Center]. Short: Opposition Detectives.
“She’s always name-dropped me for business. Redhead and Hyun-ah both knew the connection.”
Tudor nodded with a smile.
“In attacking Redhead, Hyun-ah dragged Park Kwang-rim in?”
“Yep. Nearly died, from what I hear.”
“And Redhead somehow saved her? Rather than use as trade bait—he probably wants payback from me… nah, more like brag about it.”
“Brilliant, wizard. Can you guess Redhead’s demand too?”
My turn to nod.
“If it was just Hyun-ah, Redhead wouldn’t push this hard. Last I saw, balance held.”
I’d beaten on Redhead myself, but that’d been balance-restoring.
“With Yeom Geum-ja’s personality, no team-up with Hyun-ah. Hyun-ah wouldn’t want her either. Black King the perv joining? That’d be flashier mess.”
“Dunno that part.”
“But you know the conclusion. Hyun-ah’s got a weird new friend? Redhead’s crew can’t handle him, so needs a strong new pal.”
“Wow! Nailed it all!”
Clap clap clap— Tudor beamed, applauding gleefully.
I placed hand on chest, bowing slightly in sync.
“No tricks—no hidden mechanisms. What’s that look? But gauging Redhead’s exact ask is tricky. So, what’d he say?”
Hope it’s PG-rated.
“Meet and talk.”
Sigh escapes.
“Redhead hasn’t decided yet.”
“Seems so. Plans to figure it out chatting with you?”
“That’s what middlemen are for—negotiate it.”
Tudor averted her cat-like eyes playfully.
“Tried, but—Redhead’s too touchy.”
“Worried he’ll pull weird power plays?”
“That’s why he wants face-time. Ignores any middleman talk.”
Another sigh.
Makes sense. Blue Tiger tried arm-wrestling me first when I came for his daughter.
Three Heads of the Triad.
Blue Tiger, Redhead, Black King—soul-bound triplets. Won’t stop till one wipes the others.
“When?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Park Kwang-rim’s fine, right?”
“You fuss over her? Busan trip together—had fun, huh?”
At my double-check, Tudor pouted, lips pursed.
“If it was the neighbor uncle kidnapped, I’d worry if I knew him. Same for you, Tudor—I’d have wrecked the place already.”
Even without me, you’d have trashed it.
“Hmph, sweet talker—”
She said it, but seemed pleased. Lips twitching up.
“Anyway, tomorrow?”
Gotta prep quick.
* * *
Finished with Tudor, back to the starving mansion.
“Hmm, tomorrow’s schedule…”
Mostly fixed pattern now, predictable.
One. Meet Redhead tomorrow, hear demands.
Two. Depends on asks, but to solve, gotta meet Hyun-ah.
Three. Check out Hyun-ah’s new ‘friend’.
Four. Beep, [Feast’s Sacrifice] activates.
Five. Miracle win via love and friendship power.
Simple.
Third part’s the snag?
Shattering Triad balance this fast—not easy foe.
At least cult-level. Or cult-equivalent artifact or grimoire.
Worst case, abyssal entity.
What is it? Spider? Fungus? Bee? Winter? Toad? Or…
Slither—
Something crawling under clothes, unpleasant. Subtle cold touch. Chilling, breath-holding dread.
“Wizard, what’s wrong?”
Jang Hyun-deok in baggy shorts stared wide-eyed.
“Nah, nothing. You though—”
“Yeah?”
“That one mine?”
He emerged from kitchen holding two ice creams, one per hand.
Wrappers off both? Like eating two at once.
“Nope. Both mine.”
Why’s this guy obsessed with two lately? Sick?
“But… caught by you, so gotta yield one?”
“Yeah.”
I took it with solemn dignity (mask hides it anyway), a living god revered by a church of [Filial Piety and Service].
“What’re you staring at?”
“Watching how you eat.”
“Underestimating me.”
One head shake swapped masks in a breath.
“Whoa!”
“No tricks—no hidden mechanisms.”
Clap clap clap— Jang Hyun-deok clapped, ice cream in mouth.
I bowed gracefully and headed to kitchen.
“Sang-hyeon.”
“Yes.”
“Help with work? Need necromancy expert.”
Heo Sang-hyeon smiled wide-eyed.
“If I can.”
“Good. Basement.”
* * *
Two days later.
“Total monster now.”
I clenched and unclenched my left hand, etched with complex ritual. Moves smooth, no lag.
Looks like plain scribble-hand, but truth? Far worse than gem-embedded version.
Heh—my left hand… nah, drop it.
“Guess this is the spot.”
As Redhead requested: old publishing complex in Paju, some abandoned factory.
Vast space, concrete skeleton exposed.
Long deserted, yet fresh wires snaked in—ending at monitor with surveillance cam.
“Ah, but really this… eh, whatever.”
Gamer vibe’s kinda fun—but sigh inevitable.
Feeling like a clown, I waved at the cam per script.
Tsss—
Short static, monitor flickers on.
—Doing well? Kim Shin-hwa.
Redhead’s voice, laced with amusement.
His image on screen.
Nickname-true: well-kept fiery red long hair.
Three-piece striped suit oddly harmonized with rockstar locks.
“Wanted to see my face, but video call? Could’ve just phoned.”
—Phone’s no fun.
He shrugged, laughing silently.
Expected theatrics, but overkill?
Would’ve aced variety PD over underworld boss. Blame [Cthulhu World].
—And am I suicidal? Barriers, hypnosis defense for wizard meet? Cheaper this way.
“Sigh. Fine. Business—let’s cut to it. What’d you wanna talk?”
—Hey.
He’s smiling, but eyes scream feral wariness. Growling tone.
“Yeah.”
—Blue Tiger bro—you killed him, right?
Ah, starting there? Too much improv.
“What’re you on about?”
—No bullshit, you psycho wizard punk. Business? Sure. But you’re not client—you’re the goods.
[System: Penalty trait ‘Feast’s Sacrifice’ effect activates.]
Trait triggered right as Redhead finished.
Simultaneously, Blue Tiger goons poured in every entrance. About 100? Heavily armed.
At their rear, silent Choi Tae-won staring me down.
Frontliner stranger speaks. New Hyun-ah recruit?
No way I’d know him. Head spot: vicious toothy alligator maw.
“Krrhehehehe—fraud wizard punk. Crawled into the trap clueless.”
“Aha, trap?”
I replied, eyeing Redhead’s monitor.
He waved goodbye.
—Kim Shin-hwa. Survive, we’ll meet again.
Monitor off.
Well, on schedule… but one thing to check first.
“Hold up.”
“Hold up?”
Alligator-head drools foul spit, glaring.
“Trap’s a trap, but one question first.”
“Question? Question? Ahh—got it. Yeah, Redhead sold you out. Naive wizard punk.”
“Nah, dude. I see that. But your face. That gator. That a mask?”
“……”