Chapter 129

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 129

Chapter Title: Mayor and Purge

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War had begun.

While Lee Garam merely lounged on his sofa, Neo Incheon had plunged into war against crime on its own.

Kwaaaaang!

Namdong-gu's rundown industrial district.

With a deafening roar, a five-story factory building was uprooted from the ground.

The concrete foundation crumbled, pipes snapped, and the entire structure floated into the air.

"E-earthquake!"

"No, you idiot! The building's flying!"

"W-what the hell! Our hideout's getting dragged away whole...!"

At a single gesture from Kang Jiyeong, the city's metals came alive.

"Sector 7, Sector 12. Underground hideouts confirmed. Deploy capture teams."

The Special Task Force members moved with perfect precision.

Meanwhile, the B-rank villain 'Mudman' desperately turned his body into mud.

He tried to escape through the sewer pipes. A classic getaway method.

Snap-

Kang Jiyeong lightly snapped her fingers.

In that instant, every metal pipe around him—including the sewer he was crawling into—bent and twisted.

Water mains, gas lines, telecom cable conduits.

Hundreds of pipes wove into a steel net, ensnaring the mud clump.

[Aaaagh! Let me go!]

Mudman's scream echoed hollowly within the metal mesh.

He thrashed about, but it was futile. The steel net layered over itself, compressing into a steel box—a mobile prison for a mud-state villain.

"Capture complete. Transport it."

Another location.

Michuhol-gu streets. Villains were fleeing desperately.

"Faster! Step on it!"

"The Special Task Force—Kang Jiyeong's coming!"

"Scatter and run! Some of us might make it!"

The driver villain floored the accelerator.

But—

Thud!

Four vehicles lifted into the air simultaneously. Their wheels spun uselessly in midair.

"What the—! Why's the car...!"

In the rearview mirror, Kang Jiyeong's figure appeared.

As she clenched her fist, dozens of vehicles were drawn toward each other.

Kwajik! Wooduk!

The sounds of metal twisting and compressing rang out in succession.

The vehicles merged into a single mass of scrap metal and crashed to the ground.

A spherical steel orb. The villains were trapped inside, unable to move.

"Ugh... mercy..."

Groans leaked from within, but Kang Jiyeong paid them no mind.

"Capture Team 3, retrieve it. I'm heading to the next sector."

Bupyeong-gu Rodeo Street.

"Haa... haa... They can't have followed us this far, right?"

Three villains ducked into an alley.

But as they rounded the next corner—

Thud!

Rebar buried beneath the asphalt road burst through the surface.

The rebar instantly formed sharp bars, caging them in.

"Eek! No! This can't be happening!"

"We haven't even planned this month's terror op yet!"

"We didn't even hit last month's quota!"

One villain spat fire with his superpower, trying to melt the bars.

Kang Jiyeong gave the bars a slight twist of her hand, and they constricted tighter around the villains.

"Keep resisting. I'll crush you flat."

At her cold warning, the villains fell silent.

All of Neo Incheon was Kang Jiyeong's hunting ground.

Standing in the heart of the city, she slowly spread her arms wide.

Manhole covers exploded open, dragging underground rats one by one into the sunlight.

Those fleeing via subway had the tracks themselves snake around their ankles.

Even flying ability users escaping into the sky had power lines bind their wings in pursuit.

Every metal in the city writhed in response to her will.

Kang Jiyeong, captain of the Special Task Force. A being who fought alongside Neo Incheon.

The entire city was her weapon.

Miserable wails from pathetic villains erupted throughout the city.

A C-rank smuggler, dragged out by Special Task Force members, sniffled and protested his innocence.

"We really don't know anything! Black Knight or White Knight or whatever! We're just ordinary bad guys smuggling to make a living!"

"What were you smuggling?"

"Lately, Insimdang bread's been selling like hotcakes... We were just wholesaling some..."

"Take him away."

A bomb specialist villain being cuffed nearby wailed in distress.

"Terror? We didn't even plan it! We had three idea meetings, fought with the team, and were on the verge of disbanding!"

Even a villain waving a tax bill in protest.

"What kind of law is this! We paid our taxes on time! Check with the tax office! We even got a model taxpayer commendation!"

"Black Knight. Where is he?"

"Who's that!"

"How the hell would we know!"

Their collective cry.

We don't know anything.

We haven't done anything yet.

But Kang Jiyeong's logic was simpler.

"You're villains. And villains harbor the potential to threaten the mayor's life. Therefore, you're under arrest."

That was her justification.

Three days later.

City Hall briefing room.

Kang Jiyeong stood at the podium.

Behind her, a large screen summarized the operation's results from the past three days.

Click-click-

Camera flashes exploded nonstop amid shouts.

"Captain Kang Jiyeong! Please explain this indiscriminate purge! Isn't this excessive force!"

"Civilians are suffering damages and inconveniences! Is this legitimate law enforcement by procedure?"

"Without identifying suspects, treating every villain in Neo Incheon as a person of interest is..."

Kang Jiyeong gripped the microphone.

"Quiet."

The noisy room fell instantly silent.

"All measures were necessary."

Her cold voice cut through the briefing room.

"There was an assassination attempt on Mayor Lee Garam's life. This is a declaration of war against Neo Incheon."

At that moment, a hand shot up among the reporters.

It was reporter Moon Hyeji. She stared straight at Kang Jiyeong.

"I have a question, Captain. Preemptively arresting hundreds based solely on 'potential threat' reeks of human rights violations. It contradicts the constitutional presumption of innocence. Even if they're villains, aren't they citizens of Neo Incheon too?"

It was a logically sound point.

All eyes in the room turned to Kang Jiyeong.

But she answered without hesitation.

"Villains are not citizens."

One phrase.

But its impact was enormous.

Gasps and murmurs rippled through the reporters like waves.

"They are beings who can threaten civilian safety and destroy social order at any moment. This assassination attempt proves it."

Reporter Moon Hyeji opened her mouth to counter.

"But evidence that they—"

Kang Jiyeong cut her off.

"And right now, Neo Incheon's top priority is the mayor's safety. The mayor's safety is Neo Incheon's safety. No further opinions will be entertained."

No one could argue further.

The weight of the name 'Mayor Lee Garam' was absolute justification in Neo Incheon now.

Reporter Moon Hyeji bit her lip and lowered her mic.

As the press conference ended and Kang Jiyeong returned to the waiting room, grabbing a water bottle—

Ding-a-ling-

Her personal terminal rang.

The caller ID name.

[Crazy Bitch]

Kang Jiyeong furrowed her brow briefly and pressed accept.

A hysterical shout erupted from the receiver immediately.

[Hey! Kang Jiyeong! You wanna die?!]

The voice of the warden from Mysterious Island Ganghwa-do, K-Alcatraz.

[You think this is a landfill? Stop dumping anyone and everyone on us!]

"Shut up and do your job."

Kang Jiyeong shot back coldly.

[What? Shut up? Hey! You really wanna get wrecked? Want me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to make room for you on Ganghwa-do?]

"We're both on taxpayer salaries anyway. Manage them properly. Escapes are on you."

[You little...! I'll come rip every hair off your head soon!]

"Hanging up."

[Hey! I wasn't done—]

Click.

Kang Jiyeong ended the call abruptly.

She took a sip of water as if nothing had happened.

Her adjutant cautiously approached with a report.

The final results of the three-day operation.

Kang Jiyeong skimmed the report. A satisfied smile curved her lips.

At the very hour the Special Task Force tore through the city's arteries.

The Audit Team's blade silently pierced the heart of corruption.

Neotech headquarters. A particularly gleaming skyscraper amid Songdo Super City's forest of towers.

Inside an elevator ascending to the top, two men stood.

One was Kang Hyunwoo. City Hall Audit Office's grim reaper. The man called 'Undead'.

The other was Yuta Kurokumo. Audit Office newbie. The ninja called 'Ghost'.

City Hall Audit Office's sharpest blades: the Undead-Ghost duo.

"Senior."

Yuta broke the silence first.

A faint unease laced his voice.

"Is this really okay? No prior notice, no warrant... storming in like this..."

Kang Hyunwoo stared blankly at his reflection in the elevator doors.

A flawless face without a single scar, thanks to super-regeneration. His usual bored expression.

"It's fine, newbie."

He replied in a dry tone.

"The mayor's created a fine situation for us."

Ding-

The elevator reached the top.

As the doors opened, an intimidating scene greeted them.

The corridor to the CEO's office.

Four burly men in black suits blocked the way.

Blue sparks danced over their fists. Electric ability users.

The highest caliber of corporate security hires.

"Restricted area. No unauthorized access. State your ID and business, then leave."

"City Hall Audit Office. Here to see CEO Kim Jeong-hoon."

Kang Hyunwoo said stiffly.

"No appointment, no entry. Leave."

The lead guard said threateningly.

Kang Hyunwoo nodded toward them.

"You handle it. Having a junior makes this convenient."

Yuta sighed lightly.

"Understood, senior."

The next instant, Yuta's body blurred into afterimages.

Before the guards could react, Yuta was already behind them.

Shuuuk-

Four shuriken flew from his hand.

The shuriken didn't target the guards' bodies.

Thuk.

They embedded precisely into the guards' shadows on the floor.

Kurokumo clan's secret technique: Shadow Bind.

"...!"

"Ugh...! My body!"

"Damn it, I can't move!"

The guards' bodies froze solid. Not a finger could twitch.

"Cleared."

Only then did Kang Hyunwoo saunter forward.

"Good work."

A tense atmosphere already hung in the CEO's office.

Neotech's CEO Kim sat pale on the sofa, with the legal team chief standing rigidly beside him.

Bang!

As the door opened and Kang Hyunwoo and Yuta entered, CEO Kim shot to his feet.

"What is this rudeness! Release the guards and get out!"

One legal team member stepped forward.

"Unauthorized illegal trespass. Leave immediately or face legal action..."

Kang Hyunwoo ignored them lightly.

He scanned the room once before speaking.

"We got a tip you hired the Black Knight. Here to verify."

CEO Kim's face filled with shock.

"R-ridiculous! What nonsense is this! We're not involved at all!"

The legal chief shouted furiously.

"Audit? We refuse! Interfering with business on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠baseless suspicion is clear abuse of power! Follow proper procedure!"

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠legal chief declared confidently. Legally, he was a hundred times right.

That was when.

The legal chief's eyes met Yuta's, who stood quietly by the door.

Yuta's pupils glowed strangely.

Black irises spun backward, emanating red energy—the Reverse Eye.

The Kurokumo clan's illusion technique, said to steal souls.

"Gasp!"

The legal chief unwittingly gulped and staggered back.

A chill like body hair standing on end.

He shut his mouth.

Kang Hyunwoo seized the opening.

"Desperate refusal looks suspicious. Can I interpret this as hiding the assassin?"

"...What?"

"Harboring a suspect in the mayor's assassination attempt and obstructing investigation. Justification's solid."

CEO Kim and the legal team's faces drained white.

"N-no! It can't be!"

Kang Hyunwoo said calmly.

"Do you know how furious Neo Incheon citizens are right now? One leak to the press—'Neotech Black Knight Cover-Up Suspicions'—and your stock's toilet paper by morning. Angry MIGA fan clubs might even make you vanish."

He picked up documents from the table.

"If you're clean, stay put. Audit starts now."

They couldn't resist.

They dared not.

Lee Garam's name stood above any law in Neo Incheon now.

The audit proceeded swiftly.

Yuta ghosted around the room, tapping walls and floors.

"Senior."

Yuta pointed to a section of wall behind the CEO's desk.

"The sound's different here."

He pushed the wall with his palm, revealing a hidden panel and a massive safe.

All color fled CEO Kim's face.

"N-no, that's! Just personal! Emergency cash, purely personal!"

Kang Hyunwoo had the safe opened without a word.

Slice-

Yuta's slash severed the door.

Inside were bundles of cash and stacks of double ledgers.

"Please! We're innocent! Not even a speck related to the assassination! I swear!"

Kang Hyunwoo impassively flipped through the documents as the CEO knelt and begged.

"I know."

CEO Kim's face briefly brightened.

"Your ledgers' embezzlement, breach of trust, kickbacks, tax evasion—none relate to the Black Knight, right?"

"Th-then we're...!"

"But discovered violations must be handled."

The CEO's face turned ashen again.

"H-how much... penalty..."

As the CEO asked in a trembling voice, Yuta interjected smoothly from beside him.

"The mayor decides that."

Yuta smiled faintly.

"Perhaps, in the spirit of corporate social responsibility, a voluntary donation might earn his leniency."

Over three days, the Audit Team carved out 15 corrupt corporations.

Results were always successful.

In the end, the companies tearfully pledged hundreds of billions in 'voluntary' donations.

After all audits, in the car back to City Hall.

"Senior."

Yuta asked from the driver's seat.

"The companies really had no Black Knight ties... Is pushing this far right?"

"We don't judge right or wrong."

Kang Hyunwoo gazed at the cityscape flashing by outside the window.

He looked down at the final report in his hand.

"No ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Black Knight found, but the city coffers are fuller."