Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Rumors of the Villain
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C-Rank Villain 'Cattler' Goes Missing... Evidence of Illegal Animal Experiments Found in Eastern Warehouse
By Reporter Mun Hye-ji
Yesterday afternoon, a warehouse believed to be the hideout of C-Rank Villain 'Cattler' was discovered in the industrial district of Dong-gu, S City. Seized from the scene were illegal animal experimentation equipment, large quantities of unreported drugs, and altered DNA samples. The police stated, "Evidence was found indicating the development of artificial monsters through animal gene manipulation at the warehouse. This constitutes handling of B-Rank or higher hazardous materials."
Our investigation confirms that this villain takedown was carried out not by an official hero, but by a holder of a temporary license. The ability user operating under the moniker 'Great Grimoire' is acting independently, without formal Hero Association training or oversight. (Photo of a girl with horns) Particularly controversial is the handling of the incident. According to eyewitnesses at the scene, 'Great Grimoire' did not preserve the site or report to authorities after the confrontation. Instead, she conducted a personal animal adoption broadcast via SNS platforms. Despite this vigilantism constituting a clear violation of the law, it continues under the Hero Association's tacit approval. Critics argue this convenience-driven approach disregards public safety and legal procedures. Cattler herself was not found at the scene. A report of screams from an alley on the outskirts of Dong-gu came in, but police found no one upon arrival. Only a fake designer bag was left behind. [Related Article: "Unauthorized Ability User Vigilantism—Threat to S City Safety?"
Page 12] (Continued)
Darkness reveals another face of the city.
Beneath S City's glittering skyscrapers, another world breathed in secret.
'The Underground'
The Underground wasn't a specific place. It once referred only to actual subterranean spaces, but now its meaning had expanded to encompass the city's underbelly—all spaces beyond the Hero Association's reach.
Glamorous illegal clubs, sewers housing the castaways, fighting rings hidden in the basements of abandoned buildings, black markets on the city outskirts.
A stationery store by day becomes a secret gambling den by night.
A café in the morning turns into an illegal body-mod clinic after dark.
A ruin on the outside, but inside, a villain lair packed with cutting-edge gear.
Like this, the Underground existed everywhere—and nowhere at all.
Different laws applied there.
A society where not law or rules held sway, but only the logic of power.
The strong dominated, and the weak submitted or hid.
Yet a peculiar balance existed too. Implicit codes among villains, respect for territories, and above all, shared intelligence on heroes.
In S City's Nam-gu nightlife district, in a narrow alley hidden among flashy clubs.
Descending damp, cramped stairs beneath a flickering neon sign led to a rusty iron door. Slapped in the center in crooked handwriting was a mocking sign: "Heroes Prohibited."
The dimly blinking neon spelled out "BLACK DOLPHIN." The dolphin on the sign had long since broken, no longer glowing properly—it looked more like a shark now.
The iron door creaked open.
"Password changed again? What happened?"
"Association informant tried infiltrating yesterday. So we beefed up security. Password changes every month, like I told you."
The bartender replied indifferently while wiping a glass. Unlike his calm voice, the scars peeking from his slightly open shirt collar betrayed he was no ordinary barkeep.
"Keep changing it like this, and even regulars won't recognize the place."
"That's the point. You lot don't pay up anyway. Just rack up tabs. When you paying last month's debt?"
Cigarette smoke and whiskey fumes stung the nose. Under dim lights, villains of various ranks nursed drinks while swapping intel. Whispers, secret deals, and plots hung thick in the air.
One wall of the bar was plastered with bounty posters.
"Heard the new hero list dropped."
As the bartender pinned up a fresh poster, villains' eyes locked on.
The black-and-white print emphasized only the girl's silhouette. And atop her head, distinctive horns stood out clearly.
"That the rumored horned kid?"
A C-Rank Villain at the central table cackled, chugging his beer.
"A middle-schooler at best calling herself a hero? Association's a joke. Resorting to kids now? No talent left? Bet she'd bawl if I flicked her forehead."
"Great Grimoire... Weird name. Sounds like a villain moniker."
"Don't underestimate her lightly. You know what happened to Cattler? That kid took her on and poof—vanished without a trace."
A B-Rank Villain beside him warned in a low voice.
Murmurs filled the bar like whiskey rippling in glasses.
"Just a C-Rank cat dealer, right? Big deal."
"Cattler wasn't your average C-Rank. That woman controlled dozens of enhanced cats perfectly. Each one had D-Rank Villain-level combat power. She was rated C only 'cause she stuck to petty crimes."
Another villain chimed in.
"Rumor has it the kid's a multi-ability user. Physical enhancement's basic, plus animal control. And... something extra special. Word is she restored Cattler's cats to normal in seconds and turned 'em to her side."
The table's mood shifted subtly. Multi-ability users were rare, and one outside Hero Association control spelled danger for both sides.
"Abilities like that... Our org could use her well."
"Joke's on you. A justice-burning kid joining us? Looks like your typical hero wannabe."
"You never know. Most S-Rank Villains started as heroes."
A chilling aura emanated from an A-Rank Villain's voice.
"Being born with power is fate. How you use it is choice. Kids are easy to manipulate. Especially ones with special powers."
"This can't be real!!! "
I am a king. A ruler. A villain among villains on the cusp of world conquest.
So why was this absurdity befalling me?
"This is unethical pricing! Murderous prices! 700,000 won? 700,000?! That's nearly double last year's model!"
Flail-flail-
I thrashed wildly on the bed.
The latest Nintendo catalog I'd just received flaunted prices more evil than any villain.
"Price nearly doubled from last model! Why so expensive?! Gold-plated? Diamond buttons? Ridiculous! This has Atari written all over it—a conspiracy!"
I snatched the catalog, confirming the numbers again. They stabbed at my eyes, crystal clear.
And game packs at 90,000 won each! At least five games tempting my collector's itch...
"I see through it all! Nintendo's been infiltrated by Atari! Like... like Hydra infiltrating SHIELD in the Avengers! Atari didn't really go bust—they infiltrated game companies worldwide, puppeteering the industry from the shadows!"
This was obvious truth! Just look at recent games—so blatant! Modern titles cram in weird, forced PC elements that never existed before!
Back when Atari ruled, games had zero unnecessary political crap! Proof positive!
"Their plan's plain as day! A genius villain like me sees right through it! They're sabotaging modern games' fun for retro revenge, jacking prices to kill gaming altogether!"
Thud-!
In my fervent Atari conspiracy rant on the bed, I rolled right off onto the floor.
"Gyaak!"
Everlin approached at the commotion.
"What happened, Master?"
"What happened? Look at this catalog! It's eviler than any villain!"
I crumpled it in rage and flung it to the floor. Everlin picked it up, folded it neatly, and tossed it in the trash.
"How can it be this pricey? Why? Why?!"
Everlin explained calmly, like an economics professor.
"Price hike due to cutting-edge high-end processors and premium chipsets, global supply chain chaos causing semiconductor shortages, depreciation of the won against the yen, and above all... strategic pricing factoring in rising consumer purchasing power."
I shot up from the floor. That last bit especially irked me.
"Consumer purchasing power? My allowance can't handle it!"
Who were these 'consumers' they factored in? S City finance sharks? Lotus Mall VIPs?
"Master, surely you're not thinking of dipping into villainy funds for a game console? That'd be embezzlement."
"I-I'd never! Villainy funds are sacred!"
I flustered a bit. The thought had crossed my mind, briefly.
But true villains never squander public funds on personal whims!
"Then double my allowance! A world-conquering villain with pocket change? It lacks dignity!"
Squeak?
Darkness and White King emerged at my words, glaring at 'pocket change' in protest.
Squeak-squeak-squeak!
'What's wrong with a rat's tail?'
'Ours are cool and useful!'
'That's ratist!'
The two rats bobbed heads indignantly.
"Yooou...! No backtalk! I remember you ignoring my rat raid order last time! Don't anger me further!"
Everlin shook her head firmly too.
"Apologies, Master. Better to keep allowance fixed. Excessive wealth at a young age risks bad habits."
"What? I'll get bad habits? That's perfect! I'm an evil villain! And when have I ever been naughty?"
"Like last week at the rest stop claw machines, monopolizing every plushie dispenser..."
"Th-that was testing Bear Claw's power!"
"Or two weeks ago, ordering 30 donuts at once..."
"That was for my minions! Darkness and White King love donuts!"
Of course, the rats ate one each, and I scarfed the rest. But intent matters!
"Game console's... y'know... for world conquest sims! Strategic training gear!"
Anyway, experience told me Everlin's stubbornness was unbreakable. Time for a pivot.
"Fine then... Attack Japan!"
"Pardon?"
Everlin's eyebrow twitched faintly—a rare sight. Her expressions were like solar eclipses: astronomical rarities.
"Seize the game companies! Order price drops!"
I spilled my grand plan. Perfect! Owning the companies means free consoles, early access to unreleased games, cheats galore! Even horned characters everywhere!
"Every game protag gets horns! Buff villain monsters, make bosses unbeatable even at Lv. 99! Instills fear of villains in players! Ka-kak! True evil!"
Everlin coughed, barely stifling a laugh.
"You're laughing?!"
Mocking my brilliant scheme!
"Master, international conflict seems premature now. Rather than nations, start with smaller targets?"
Sure, attacking Japan needs an army, weapons, war declaration... Details! A country to conquer anyway—why not early?
"Hmph! Then steal me a console!"
I gazed up expectantly. Everlin overcomes any obstacle—a perfect maid! Snagging one console? Easy.
"Theft's illegal and unbecoming a villain's dignity... How about a treat to lift your spirits?"
Everlin fetched a prepared tray from beside my bed.
"Today's special: dark chocolate and hazelnut cookies."
Homemade chocolate cookies arrayed neatly. Evening snack time. Everlin's treats had magic to soothe my rage.
Then genius struck!
"Right! Great idea! Sell Everlin's premium snacks—make bank fast!"
"Master?"
"Collect all my treats, open a luxury snack brokerage..."
Calculations raced. Her cookies? 5,000 won each retail. Four daily, weekly...
The chocolate's aroma teased—sweet-bitter chocolate, nutty hazelnut, crisp-outside-soft-inside perfection seduced me.
'Resist... A great villain can't falter here—how fight heroes?'
Deep breath.
One, two, three...
Nom nom nom nom!
Four, five...
"Huh?"
Chocolate smudges on fingers. Sweetness in mouth. Empty plate.
"Ah, aah! My plan... failed again..."
I swore I resisted? Poured all willpower?
"Five seconds this time. Self-control improving."
"Don't underestimate me! No snacks for a week!"
Squeak-squeak-!
Darkness and White King scoffed from the sofa, watching TV—like it'd never happen, not even if heavens fell.
"You two help too! Minions aid villain master's selfish funding!"
Squeak?
Rats sighed at each other, then sprang to action.
Darkness fetched a 100-won coin from somewhere, heading to the piggy bank. White King rummaged a drawer, rolling over a long-lost 500-won piece.
Ding-
Rats shoving coins in—loyal minions incarnate!
"Master, isn't there something more important than game consoles? Like world conquest plans..."
World conquest? Right—my true goal!
I sprang up.
"Yes! Back to villainy! Games? Conquer the world, then seize the companies!"
Right. I'm a villain. One with grand world conquest! Petty game obsessions don't suit me!
Exhaling, I eyed the piggy bank. Its life extended—for now.