Chapter 51
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: The Mayor and the Hostage
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"Release that woman and take me hostage instead."
Silence.
Every grand declaration is inevitably followed by silence.
Or perhaps everyone was just too dumbfounded to speak.
Either way, it didn't matter.
The outcome would be the same regardless.
All eyes turned to me, Lee Garam.
This was the weight of a protagonist. The aura of the lead. The privilege of standing at the center of the narrative.
On the stage of this bank, I had ascended from an extra in the crowd to the spotlight-stealing lead actor in one fell swoop.
"Is that... really the mayor?"
"Oh my god, why is the mayor here of all places...?"
"That's him from TV! Mayor Lee Garam!"
Citizens who had been hiding behind sofas, under counters, and pillars began peeking out one by one.
In the midst of this extraordinary event, they encountered an even greater anomaly. Was the mayor's appearance a bigger deal than the bank robbery?
"M-Mayor! No! It's dangerous!"
The textbook hero, brimming with a sense of justice and pure-heartedness.
Polaris's round green eyes blinked.
No, don't make that face. It'll ruin my performance.
"Miss Polaris. I'm fine. Creating a Neo Incheon where citizens can live without worry—that is my reason for being as mayor."
For the greater good, minor sacrifices are inevitable.
And here, that minor sacrifice was, of course, Hania's good heart.
Trivial compared to my golden vacation time. Utterly so.
"A hero's duty isn't just to exterminate villains. It's to protect people's smiles, their everyday lives. That is the true mission of a hero, wouldn't you say?"
"But that doesn't mean you have to put yourself in danger...!"
And honestly, a cold sweat was trickling down my back.
What if this justice-driven young lady suddenly awakened and unleashed a finisher like 'Starlight Burst!' sweeping away these third-rate villains in an instant?
My vacation plans would be scrapped before they even began.
Her top-tier potential was a hindrance at times like this. Growth has to pick its moments.
Time to play my trump card. The one line to disarm this pure-hearted hero in a single blow.
"You don't have to shoulder everything alone."
I gazed at her with a gentle smile.
"Even the greatest hero can't control every situation perfectly. Sometimes you have to step back, see the bigger picture, and choose the second-best—or even third-best—option."
Her green eyes wavered.
"If you force yourself to take them down now? The hostages could get hurt. Or worse, you might end up in danger yourself. But if I go with them? At the very least, everyone here is safe immediately. Isn't the cost-benefit clear?"
I took another step forward and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm counting on you, Miss Sia. You're the only one I can trust. Please protect the citizens. And..."
I paused, adopting a meaningful expression.
"Come rescue me. That's a promise."
Her eyes shook once more, then she slowly nodded as if resolved.
The rising starlight faded away gently.
"...Understood, Mayor. I'll stake my life on keeping the citizens safe. And I will... I absolutely will rescue you."
Perfect! That was pure charisma!
The inner film crew was on their feet applauding. Lee Garam Academy Award for Best Actor—locked in!
First obstacle cleared.
Time to move to the next phase.
I turned to face the dazed leader Sniffer and his merry band of friends.
The villains stared at me in utter bewilderment.
The sudden arrival of an unplanned big shot must have shocked them pretty good.
I approached Sniffer, who was holding the hostage.
The distance between us: about three meters.
A bit farther than social distancing, but psychologically still close.
"Wh-what do you want?! Think being mayor makes you special? W-we just need the money!"
"D-don't hesitate. We don't have time."
"No... we were just gonna rob the bank, not kidnap the mayor..."
Sniffer shouted in panic.
Third-rate villains indeed. Guts too small.
How could they accomplish anything big like this?
Guess I'll have to personally help expand their business.
"Friend, you still haven't grasped the situation."
I chuckled and took another step toward him.
Like a merciful shepherd guiding a lost lamb.
"By now, the bank's surrounded by police and the Special Task Force. Murder drones in the sky, snipers on the rooftops. What do you think happens if you try to leave now?"
"......"
"You'll get shot on sight or arrested and spend the rest of your lives rotting on Mystic Island Fortress."
Mystic Island Fortress.
At the name, the villains' shoulders twitched.
K-Alcatraz. K-Impel Down. The supervillain prison you enter alive but never leave.
"I hear the Wi-Fi barely works there. Horrifying, isn't it? No cat short videos for the rest of your life."
I clicked my tongue and gave them a look of pity.
"But if you take me hostage, things change."
I met their eyes squarely, speaking sweetly like a devil's whisper.
"I'm not just any mayor. I'm the beloved mayor with approval ratings over 50%. Kidnap me? City Council has no choice but to negotiate. They'll meet your demands and secure a safe escape route. Otherwise, they'll face unstoppable backlash."
Logical explanation. An irresistible offer.
I tossed a spark of greed into their hearts.
Sniffer's eyes wavered. He exchanged glances with his crew.
"Let the hostages go. Take me instead. The choice is yours: a one-way ticket to Fortress Island, or the lottery jackpot of a lifetime."
At my final words, Sniffer hesitated, then roughly shoved the hostage aside and approached me.
"...Damn it! Mr. Mayor, you're coming with us!"
Just as planned.
I hid a satisfied smile and let them lead me meekly.
The other gang members grabbed the money bags and scurried after us.
The bank doors opened, and dozens of camera flashes exploded. Exactly as expected.
"If you value Mayor Lee Garam's life, clear the perimeter now!"
The police had no choice but to open a path.
I climbed obediently into their prepped rusty van.
"Go! Hurry!"
The van sped off.
I gazed at the receding bank through the window with a triumphant smile.
Liberation from labor.
Vacation begins.
"Hey! You! Keep your head down and stay quiet!"
Sniffer growled, jamming his gun barrel into the back of my head.
Still hasn't caught on.
"Friend, shouting like that will strain your throat. Want some water? Oh, right, you don't have any. Poor preparation. Basic kidnapper etiquette, no? Stock up on bottled water and snacks for the hostage. That way, you can keep the hostage in good condition even if negotiations drag on."
"Wh-what...?"
"And that gun. Pressing it so close risks an accidental discharge. If the van shakes? My head flies off—not the end of the world for me, but you'll get slapped with murder charges on top of kidnapping. You'll end up somewhere worse than Fortress Island. Death penalty might even make a comeback."
At my words, Sniffer's hand twitched, and the barrel eased away slightly.
"Now, to business. What's my ransom? Escape route? Demanding a helicopter, or a speedboat? Spill your plan. I'll refine it to make it more realistic."
"No, why is the hostage planning our heist?! Just shut up and stay captured!"
*
Inside the rattling van.
How long had we been driving?
"Hey, hey! Check the news! It's chaos out there!"
A burly villain in the passenger seat gawked at his smartphone.
The screen showed a live broadcast of the bank from earlier.
The anchor's excited voice blared out.
[Breaking news! In a shocking development, Neo Incheon Mayor Lee Garam has volunteered as a hostage to save citizens during a bank robbery by the C-Rank villain group 'Black Hound'!]
Next came an interview clip of a female bank teller sobbing her eyes out. The smeared mascara added authenticity.
[The mayor... sob... took my place... sob... Thank you... so much!]
Another citizen's interview followed.
[When the mayor stepped forward, I got chills. It was like something out of a movie. 'Let the citizens go, take me instead'... Ah, we're so lucky to have him as our mayor.]
Groooan. That's right. A hero. Yes, a hero through and through.
Finally, the screen showed Polaris standing in front of the bank. Unlike her usual confident demeanor, her eyes were red and puffy.
[Miss Polaris, what was the scene like?]
[The mayor... he was so brave. When I was at a loss because of the hostages, he stepped up without hesitation. That was the true hero I've always dreamed of being.]
Her voice trembled. She was clearly fighting back tears, visible even on screen.
[The mayor must have been scared too, but he comforted me, saying 'I'm fine, protect the citizens'... sob...]
[What are your plans going forward?]
[I'm... I'm a hero. Protecting citizens is my duty. But today, a citizen protected me. The mayor did what I should have...]
Her voice grew firmer. Polaris's glow brightened a shade.
[So now it's my turn. The mayor trusted me, so I have to repay that. No matter what, even if it costs my life... I'll bring the mayor back safely!]
The villains watching the news turned the van into pandemonium.
"Didn't we kidnap someone too big? Can we handle this?"
"Citywide emergency manhunt! Special Task Force Captain might get deployed too?"
"Captain? Kang Jiyeong?? We're all dead... Sniffer, this is all your fault!!"
Classic third-rate villain infighting. A delightful sight.
"Shut up! All of you!"
Leader Sniffer bellowed.
"Water's already spilled! Since it's come to this, we go big! Contact City Hall! Demand 100 billion for ransom!"
Oh.
100 billion.
Not a bad sum. They value me pretty highly.
City Council will tread carefully to avoid accusations of bowing to terrorists.
The higher the ransom, the longer the negotiations drag—and my vacation extends accordingly.
Mmm. At least a week. No, ten days of rest.
"First, rendezvous with the others! Then we replan!"