Chapter 98
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: The Mayor and Adaptation
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That evening.
Night had fallen over the city.
The neon signs clashed against the darkness in the city's night.
The living room of the new apartment assigned to the Kurokumo clan.
The fluorescent light hanging from the ceiling reflected off the pristine white walls, dazzling the eyes.
Instead of cheap air fresheners and moldy smells, the scent of fabric softener from freshly laundered curtains tickled the nose.
It was peaceful.
So incredibly peaceful.
Which only made it feel unsettling.
Kurokumo Yuuta stared at the front door with a pale face.
Click.
The front door opened, and the clan members returned from their missions one by one. Their expressions were somewhat dazed, as if their souls had wandered off.
Yuuta clenched his fists.
"Everyone... you're all safe."
He opened his mouth heavily. His voice trembled faintly.
"How... how were the missions? The targets. The numbers. No tough opponents?"
He took a breath and continued, as if resolved.
"Starting tomorrow, I'll join you. As the clan's heir, I can't leave the dirty work only to the adults anymore. I'm prepared to stain my hands with blood too."
Yuuta's solemn declaration cut through the air in the living room.
Silence.
The one who broke the silence was Elder Genji.
"It's strange."
"Pardon? Elder?"
"It's strange, I say. Truly. We're just doing jobs."
Genji's voice was filled with confusion.
"People... they called me 'master.' They bowed deeply before me after seeing my knife skills, begging to become my apprentice."
"Apprentice...? To pass on assassination techniques...?"
"No. How to gut fish."
Genji added.
Next, Yuuta's mother, Shizuka, shoved her smartphone screen in his face.
"Look at this. Already five glowing reviews. 'They listen to requests, quiet and fast. No motorcycle noise.' Of course. We delivered on foot."
The screen showed the delivery app's review page. Five stars shone brightly.
[★★★★★]
Yuuta's eyes widened.
"Is this some kind of code? Five stars meaning five targets eliminated or something?"
"No. Just means the pizza was delicious."
"Not assassination... but pizza delivery."
At that moment, a sweet scent pierced his nose. It was Tsubaki.
She placed a large paper bag on the table. The warmth of freshly baked bread seeped through.
"My body reeks of sweetness. Even after washing, I still smell like sugar."
Tsubaki pulled out a cream bun from the bag. It was modeled after the Kurokumo clan's cursed eyes—black on the outside, white within.
She handed them out to the children one by one.
"Wow! So good!"
"Did you make this, big sis Tsubaki?"
The children's cheers shattered the awkward atmosphere.
Yuuta stared blankly at the scene.
Everyone was acting strange. They didn't look like assassins returning from missions.
Just the faces of ordinary modern people coming home from a hard day's work.
A dazed but somehow comfortable daily life.
"Hey! They said we can start school next week!"
"I went to the playground today! Other kids said my eyes were cool! Like a comic character!"
A child with cream smeared around their mouth boasted proudly.
That sparked it, and the adults began sharing their own bizarre experiences.
"Went to the bank, and the staff didn't even blink at my tattoos. Instead, they asked if I wanted a credit card."
"At the bathhouse, no one paid me any mind. The old man next to me was radiating aura all over."
Their world had flipped.
A city where heroes and villains shot beams at each other in the sky daily like dogs fighting, and giant mechs blocked roads during rush hour.
Even if the family upstairs turned out to be reptilians, Neo Incheon citizens would just grumble, "So that's why the noise was so bad!"
In this godforsaken city, unusual eye colors and moving tattoos barely drew a glance.
The marks that branded the Kurokumo clan as monsters were just too ordinary here—practically lacking individuality.
"What... is Lee Garam's real intention?"
Genji muttered to himself. His deep eyes followed the children's laughter.
"To live normally like this? Us Kurokumo?"
It had to be a trap. A disguise for a bigger plan. Advanced psychological warfare to lower their guard.
But the children's laughter was so pure and clear. One child approached Genji and offered half of their cream bun.
He slowly reached out and took it.
"Neo Incheon. Not bad."
Maybe this was the life they'd dreamed of all their lives.
A life in the light.
An ordinary life.
A life just living.
Perfect.
Could there be a more perfect self-destruct plan?
No. None. I declare it. Not even if the heavens split.
I gazed fondly at the stack of approval documents on my desk.
[Regarding Temporary Residence and Employment Support for the Kurokumo Clan]
That wasn't just paperwork. It was my political death warrant.
An assassin group from Japan.
Not just any ninjas, but shadow killers boasting centuries of history.
For me, the mayor, to personally vouch for such dangerous folk and provide them shelter and jobs funded by citizens' taxes.
What happens when the press finds out?
Just imagining it makes my lips stretch to my ears.
[Pro-Japan traitor mayor Lee Garam hires Japanese ninja mercenaries with city budget!]
[Public safety second to secret society for eliminating rivals!]
[MIGA? No, NINJA!]
Sensational headlines paraded before my eyes.
Enraged citizen protests. My photo in flames. Plummeting approval ratings. And finally, the impeachment I'd dreamed of passing.
Kya.
I couldn't hold back the laughter and collapsed on the desk, shoulders shaking.
"Kukuku. Hahaha!"
Perfect. Lee Garam. You're a genius.
It'd been two weeks since they settled.
Normally, they'd start showing their true colors by now, right?
Assassins acting like assassins.
Ninjas like ninjas.
Killers like killers.
You can't hide your true nature.
The Kurokumo scattered throughout society would surely cause big and small incidents.
Threatening a convenience store clerk out of assassin instincts, or smashing streets in turf wars with local thugs.
Petty frictions piling up into cracks that shake society itself!
Of course, I, Lee Garam, their guarantor, would shoulder all the blame and nobly perish!
Ah, beautiful. Such a beautiful scenario.
Meow!
Then, Nero, who was rolling on the floor, suddenly jumped up.
Ears perked, it stretched.
"Nero, wanna be a ninja too?"
Probably stimulated by words like 'ninja' or 'assassin.'
Thud—
Nero charged toward the corner of the mayor's office wall.
And leaped!
Tap tap tap—
"Oh?"
The tri-colored furball ignored gravity and climbed the wall.
Bouncing between walls, it was the spitting image of a ninja cat.
It reached the ceiling corner with a smug look.
But.
Meeeooow!?
Sliiiide—
Nero's body suddenly flowed like liquid.
Paws slipped off the wall, belly stretched long, tail wobbled softly.
Splat.
Finally, it poured onto the floor like cat pudding.
Nerooo~
It lay flat for a moment, then pretended to lick its fur in embarrassment.
"Pfft. Nero, trying to be a ninja? You're not a ninja cat—you're capitalism's pig cat."
Meooow!
"Eating ten churus a day, what ninja? Ninjas symbolize endurance, but you're the incarnation of gluttony and sloth."
Meow! Meow!
Nero pawed my leg in protest.
But its fattened belly from daily premium kibble and treats in the Catopia VVIP lounge was undeniable.
Thud.
Suddenly, a stack of documents appeared silently on the desk.
"Mayor. Smiling like an idiot again today."
The cold voice shattered my sweet reverie.
Seria stood beside me before I knew it, tablet PC in hand as always.
"Se, Seria! When did you come in? Knock?"
"3 minutes 17 seconds ago. Knocked three times. You and Nero were too absorbed in ninja cat play to notice. Forcing the ninja path on a cat that eats ten churus daily. Could get reported for animal abuse."
Seria Park, appearing silently to assassinate my morale with icy barbs today too.
Wasn't she the true ninja of the modern age?
"Looking that pleased since morning, must be another dumb delusion."
"Guh. N-no! This isn't a delusion—it's a plan! This time for sure, I...!"
"Yes, yes. Sure. Time to return to reality. Check the report I brought."
"Report? What report?"
"Interim progress on the 'Multicultural Family Settlement Support Program' you specially ordered."
What? Multicultural what...?
When did my Neo Incheon demolition plan turn into such a legit program?
Seria turned the tablet screen toward me.
[Kurokumo Clan Social Adaptation Status]
"What is this."
I rubbed my eyes.
Something was wrong.
The report's contents differed greatly—very greatly—from what I'd expected.
"Kurokumo Genji. Currently the ace of Shinpo-dong's live fish market. Foodies flock from across the nation for his filleting shows; TV appearances pouring in. Shinpo merchants considering him honorary ambassador."
In the photo, Elder Genji, white headband on, glared majestically at a tuna. Chefs surrounded him with eyes of respect.
What! Where's the anti-Japan sentiment!
"Kurokumo Shizuka. Tops Pizza Heaven delivery satisfaction. Nicknamed 'The Silent Speedster'; fan club forming in local communities. Last week, subdued a KFC villain raiding the shop, got special bonus."
The next photo showed Shizuka in red uniform, pizza box in one hand, villain's collar in the other.
"Kurokumo Tsubaki. Specially hired as bakery lab quality control chief. Uses clan poison arts to detect even trace spoilage; zero food waste. Her system boosted Insim Bakery's net profit significantly.
Eh?
Wait, what?
"Hold on. Hold on."
I raised my hand to halt Seria's report.
"...How? Where's the social unrest? Clashes with locals? Rising crime?"
"None."
Seria replied flatly.
"On the contrary, crime in their settlement area dropped noticeably. Dawn delivery workers doubled as patrols; petty thieves all moved elsewhere."
"Impossible."
"Very possible, Mayor. They're turning into Neo Incheon's most diligent, capable workers. All thanks to your foresight."
Seria's lip twitched upward faintly. Mockery. 100%.
"N-no way! This is camouflage. Prep for bigger crimes! I'll check myself!"
"Where to?"
"The field, obviously! Unmask the Kurokumo's true nature!"
"Sigh... Slacking off again today."
"Papers later! Neo Incheon's safety first!"
I bolted from the office.
This was a conspiracy. The Kurokumo were fooling me for sure.
Playing good citizens while plotting heinous crimes behind the scenes.
I'll rip off their hypocritical masks!
Absolutely not fleeing Seria's paperwork hell!
A quiet abandoned park on the city outskirts.
The Kurokumo clan's training ground for their youths.
I spied on them from behind bushes.
Dozens of young ninjas moved in perfect unison.
Shing—
Sharp blades sliced the air.
Whoosh—
Shurikens whistled, embedding precisely in tree targets.
Thuk! Thuk! Thuk!
Throwing stars flew in sequence, lining up straight.
'Heh, finally showing their true colors.'
Yes. This is it.
This brutal atmosphere. Those fearsome killing arts.
True nature can't be hidden.
Those keen blades and silent steps. That's their real face.
Pretending to adapt to society, but deep down, bloodthirsty killers.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
Hope remains. They could still cause chaos.
Right then.
♪ Takedown~ Takedown~ ♪
Cheerful idol music blasted from speakers.
Eh?
'Idol music for ninja training?'
But the real chaos was just beginning.
"Alright! Training ends here! Time for challenge video!"
"Wooo!"
The kids who'd been honing murder skills moments ago formed ranks perfectly.
A girl fixed her smartphone on a tripod and hit record.
Then the blade dance began.
Eh?
I couldn't close my mouth.
What kind of scene was this?
K-pop ninjas?
K-NINJA?
Such a thing existed?
But they were serious.
No, beyond serious—passionate.
Dance over, the kids giggled and crowded the phone.
"Was that a bit off?"
"Nah! Perfect! Got groove!"
"Yeah! Upload now! Add hashtag '#ILoveMayor' too!"
Then they named Kurokumo secret arts after K-pop songs, debating how to make assassinations hipper.
Warning alarms blared in my head.
My perfect scenario was derailing again.
Hallyu.
The cultural tsunami transcending borders, ideologies, even assassin identities.
How did I overlook it?
Ear blades? Basically Kedehun's disciple anyway.
Definitely similar. Dancing while slaying demons (blood ghosts) is alike.
Anyway, the irresistible force turning centuries-old killers into fervent fan clubs in weeks.
Thus, my plan teetered on collapse before Hallyu's waves.