Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Villain and Suspicion
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The musty smell of cigarettes and cheap booze unique to the Black Dolphin bar assaulted my nose.
The bartender's special peach iced tea was as delicious as ever today, but even its sweetness barely registered right now. It was because I could feel the villains' disloyal stares prickling at me like needles.
"Grimoire. Our recent operation success rate is 30%. To be precise, 28.7%."
Red Tide tapped on the documents sitting on the table.
"It's weird. It feels like the Hero Association guys are anticipating our moves and preparing in advance."
Eclipse was rifling through another stack of papers.
"Tch, tch. Does that change anything? Should've done better from the start!"
"Come to think of it, every operation you've been part of has gone wrong, kid."
"Pfft! Cough, cough!"
The iced tea I'd been sipping went down the wrong way.
No way—these guys were all ganging up to suspect me?
"Cough, ahem! W-what ridiculous nonsense is that! Why is everyone staring at me like this!"
My voice cracked in panic. My heart started pounding like mad.
No, stay calm! I'm the great villain Grimoire! I can't let something this trivial shake me!
"Kakaka! Th-this body merely... made your half-baked operations a bit more dramatic! Yes, thrilling staging! That's the drama villains need!"
But my excuse fell flat. The villains were still glaring at me with cold eyes.
Eclipse slammed a single sheet of paper down on the table with a sharp thwack.
"Operation 1: Steal Dream Corp's core research data. Target was the underground warehouse in the lab. Grimoire, you were supposed to lure away the guards."
"Yes! Of course! This body perfectly neutralized the security syst—"
"You got caught eating chicken with the guards who ordered late-night food. The alarm went off, and the op failed before it even started."
"Th-that was! A high-level psychological warfare tactic to cut off the enemy's food supply! Hungry guards have reduced combat effectiveness, as you know!"
Thanks to that, the next day's headlines screamed 'Dream Corp Security Breached by a Single Chicken.' Their image tanked, so ultimately, it was this body's victory! ...Probably.
"Operation 2: Steal Hero Association's new weapon. I secured the truck, and you were supposed to open the door from inside."
"Of course! A mission like that is child's play... "
"But you turned on a live broadcast, and it got streamed worldwide. No new weapon stolen—just our faces plastered everywhere."
"Th-that was! A strategy to boldly show our audacity to the world! A little fan service too! Ka, kakaka!"
Still, the broadcast exposed crates stamped with the Dream Corp logo, revealing their shady ties to the Association. They'd been exclusively buying gear from Dream Corp without public bidding—at double the market price, no less. Of course, the K-Association claimed it was a lowly employee's mistake.
"Operation 3: Hack Dream Corp's database. Didn't you brag that it was your specialty?"
"Hmph! Naturally! The moment this body's fingers brush the keyboard..."
"You got distracted playing that game you like—League or whatever—and timed out. Our IP got exposed big time."
"J-just killing time! Hacking's boring work; you need to refresh the brain now and then for efficiency! And! This body was legendary in that game!"
Ironically, the failed hack attempt panicked Dream Corp into hastily moving their illegal servers, exposing their locations. The cops raided and seized evidence of massive money laundering.
Finally, Venom Kiss slithered closer, that viper of a woman.
"Operation 4: Plant bombs in Dream Building. I provided the bombs, and you were supposed to install them, right, Grimoire dear?"
"Y-yes! They were incredibly powerful! An explosion worthy of art! This body was about to deliver an artistic blast perfect for my aesthetic senses!"
"But you overslept and showed up three hours late. And you left the bombs I'd given you at home the night before. Shouting something about 'This body can destroy the world bare-handed!'"
"Th-that...!"
Thanks to me rampaging empty-handed, the building was fine, and the guards just panicked.
In the chaos, some reporter and whistleblower snuck out accounting ledgers and corruption docs, tipping off the press.
If the bombs had really gone off, those key documents would've been ash. Instead, thanks to this body's 'plan,' the evidence survived intact!
It was all part of this Grimoire's big picture! The canvas was just too vast for you to see it all at once!
"Ahem! S-so what! In the end, Dream Corp's stock plummeted, their image hit rock bottom! Black Dolphin's influence grew! All thanks to this body's meticulous calculations! You single-celled villains couldn't grasp such high-level strategy!"
In the end, Dream Corp's stock crashed, they faced prosecution, and Black Dolphin expanded underground.
Yes, this is it! If the results are good, the process doesn't matter!
"So... you're saying we couldn't succeed at anything because of you, kid!"
"Th-this body did its best!"
Stone Head—that thick skull. Even after this body explained personally, he still doesn't get it!
"Do not doubt this body, Black Dolphin's warrior, strategist, and brain!"
"...What? You're our strategist? Since when?"
"Kakaka! Naturally, from the moment this body first set foot here! You've all been pawns on this body's chessboard! Hahaha!"
"Chessboard? You don't even know the rules of chess."
"Ch-chess is just a lesser version of go!"
Come to think of it, I don't know go rules either.
"Uh... this body is a master of Othello! No, five-in-a-row... Um, master of jacks!"
The guys all sighed in unison.
"...That's our strategist?"
"Nah, just a chuunibyou kid."
"But the results were weirdly good, right?"
"Just luck."
The villains' expressions remained icy. Only the bear guy was clutching his belly, laughing uproariously.
"Puhaha! Grimoire's the best! Never a dull moment thanks to you! Awesome!"
Is that bear clueless or just plain stupid?
Venom Kiss took another step toward me. Her serpentine eyes bored into mine.
"Could it be... you're actually a hero?"
"W-what nonsense! This body a hero? Absurd! This body is pure evil incarnate!"
"But you waltz in and out of Hero Association like it's your own home."
Eclipse pressed sharply.
"Th-that's because they're intimidated by this body's charisma! They can't block the great Grimoire's path!"
"Now that you mention it, you had a temporary hero license too, right?"
"Th-that was camouflage! Advanced infiltration technique into enemy territory!"
Eclipse delivered his conclusion in a frosty voice.
"No way... you're not really a Hero Association plant, are you, Grimoire?"
"You scum! How dare you insult this body!"
I shot to my feet and slammed the table! If I get kicked out here, it's over! My unlimited tab hideout would be gone!
"I'm on a different level from you third-rate villains! Doubting the great villain Grimoire who will rule the world! Do you truly wish to witness terrifying, evil, horrifying villainy!"
Maybe if I say it strong like this, they'll get scared and apologize...?
"Oh yeah? Then why don't you show us that great villainy of yours, nice and clear? Stop just talking big."
What? Talking big? This body?
Venom Kiss smirked, whispering provocatively. So infuriating!
"How dare you! How dare you doubt this body's villainy? Fine! Watch closely! This body will etch its supreme evil into your pathetic eyeballs!"
My pride was crushed to dust. I couldn't take it! I kicked my chair aside and burst out the bar door. Well, I just nudged the chair. My toes hurt.
"Just watch! You'll witness true evil!!"
S City's nightlife district blazed even brighter at night. Flickering neon signs, pounding club music battering the ears, drunks staggering about, touts hawking their wares.
"Groan... What should I do to make those idiots marvel at this body's greatness?"
I crossed my arms and wandered the streets, deep in thought. Something... truly evil and terrifying! Enough to make them kneel and regret their mistake!
Right! Start with something easy!
I kicked the vending machine in front of me.
"Take this, you symbol of modern convenience!"
Bam!
Clunk! Rumble rumble!
Huh? Two sodas dropped out of the vending machine. Coins even spilled everywhere.
"Wow! Thanks! Free drinks on you!"
A passing couple gleefully scooped up the sodas and bowed to me.
"N-no... This body didn't mean..."
Damn! Off to a bad start!
Next! That trash can on the roadside! Dump its contents everywhere! Ruining the city's aesthetics—a truly vile act!
"Kakaka! One kick from this body, and the city plunges into chaos!"
I swung my leg at the trash can with all my might!
Whoosh! Thud!!
Suddenly, a dark shadow bursting from the alley crashed headfirst into the trash can and toppled. A woman's wallet and cash spilled from the bag he held.
"Th-thief! Catch that guy!"
Patrolling cops happened by and easily nabbed the fallen thief.
"Whoa! If not for that little miss, we'd have lost him! Thanks, kid!"
The cop's words sparked applause and cheers from the crowd.
"Long live the great Grimoire! Our cute little hero!"
"Sign my shirt! Photo together, please!"
"So adorable! Look at those puffed cheeks!"
People swarmed me, smartphones flashing. Camera shutters and lights nonstop.
"Gyaaaah! No! This body isn't a hero! This body will! Dominate! The world! With pure! Evil!!"
I clutched my head and screamed. Why! Why does this body's pure villainy always get misunderstood like this!
This is unfair! Too unfair!