Ajusshi, Could You Help Me Out?
"Looks like I've been kidnapped by the villains."
"What?"
Why would the Villain Alliance target Marie? And not just assassinate her, but kidnap her? If they simply wanted her dead, there'd be no need for the hassle of an abduction. Did she have some critical information they absolutely needed to extract? Or were they planning to use her as a hostage to blackmail someone?
If it was the latter—and considering Marie was the one kidnapped—the most likely target for blackmail would be Spica. Of course, it might not be Spica. Marie was sociable enough to have plenty of other hero friends.
Right now, there was no concrete intel to narrow it down.
"Do you know where they're taking her?"
"I'm tracking them as we speak."
How much time had passed? According to Seo Chaerim, they'd parked somewhere and dragged Marie into a building.
"Is that their hideout?"
"Doubt it's their main base. No way they'd take a hero there, no matter what they have planned."
"Send me the location."
"You gonna go rescue her?"
"Obviously."
"That'll blow your cover."
"Huh? Why?"
"Sigh. Think about it. She was on the phone with you when she got nabbed. Then out of nowhere, a werewolf shows up knowing exactly where to go? They'd suspect you first thing."
I'd been too flustered to consider it, but she had a point. It was natural for Jeong Yuseong to worry since the call cut out mid-conversation, but a werewolf swooping in? That screamed suspicious. At minimum, it'd spark rumors of some connection between me—Joker—and him.
So what now? If I couldn't move, maybe Hwang Yerang or the others could step in.
I glanced at Seo Chaerim, and she shook her head, already reading my mind.
"We can't go."
"Why not?"
"It's hero business. Once villains kidnap a hero, it's bound to drag in the Association. We want no part of that."
Irritation flared, but I kept my cool. To them, Marie was a total stranger. And just as I held back to protect my identity, they didn't want the Association sniffing around theirs.
"Don't tell Yerang. She'd help if you asked, but I'd rather she stay out of this."
Hwang Yerang would jump in, no question. But she was already on the Association's radar. Midnight had let it slide due to their friendship, but if I got her tangled up again because of me? That'd be too much to bear.
"I'll help however I can, though."
"...Thanks."
Part of me wanted to bolt there right now, but charging in solo against an unknown number of enemies was suicide. Plus, the identity risk. If they hadn't killed her yet, they probably weren't planning to anytime soon. Better to stay calm, think it through, and act smart.
"First, figure their goal. Intel or bait—one or the other."
"Which do you think?"
"Bait. A mid-level hero like her wouldn't have much valuable info. And this is just my hunch, but every incident they've pulled so far has one thing in common: they grab attention. Hero assaults, downtown terror attacks, then the hospital with all the victims. Sure, their endgame is toppling the Association, but they could've gone direct—hit the HQ or take out execs. Instead, they chose indirect sabotage, eroding public trust. If that's still working, expect something even bigger to draw eyes."
"Like what?"
"Dunno... But factoring in Marie as the kidnap target and Spica being the hottest hero tied to her lately? They're probably gunning for Spica."
We'd reached a similar conclusion. Hers was far more solidly reasoned, though.
"Mark Spica's area first. If she's their mark, they'll contact her. Catch her rushing off somewhere in a panic? Jackpot."
"You even know where she lives?"
"Roughly, yeah. Not pinpoint, but close enough. Even monsters like us can't get too near crowded spots without risking detection."
Heroes might spot them up close, or civilians could cause a panic. Her intel network was insane—I could see why the Alliance was desperate to snag her. Monster control was that valuable. Just intel-gathering was one thing; leading a terror swarm? Catastrophic.
Maybe she was the most dangerous one among us—not Hwang Yerang, not even Diana.
Nothing solid yet, so we brainstormed countermeasures. If Spica was the target, approach her naturally, explain, team up. She wouldn't turn hostile, at least. But we couldn't rule out other angles, so backups too.
"Take Anne if you go."
"Diana? Thought you weren't helping."
"Can't go full in, but assassination's her specialty. Sneaking support? Fine. Just don't expose her."
"Got it. I'll ask her now."
Seo Chaerim had met Marie that first supporters' day; Diana probably wouldn't even recognize her. Asking a stranger for a favor like that felt like a huge imposition, but she agreed readily.
"Can't I just go wipe 'em all out?"
"Marie's the issue. Even if it's not Joker, a werewolf rescue would raise flags. They'd assume werewolf comms or something."
"I see."
"That's why we need plausible deniability. A reason for Joker to get involved without it seeming off."
Maybe I was overthinking, but that caution was how they'd stayed hidden this long. Worst case, Diana goes full sweep if plans failed. Luckily, no need.
Seo Chaerim spotted Spica hurrying off somewhere in a frenzy.
"Guess we nailed it."
"On my way."
"Remember: Spica saves Marie. You stay hidden from her and Marie. No slip-ups."
"Roger."
I headed to my room, stripped, and shifted to werewolf form. Then slipped into the shadows with Diana, unseen, straight to Spica.
Shadow travel felt alien, wondrous—like floating naked in space. The resistance was more deep-sea than void, though.
No fear, just cozy warmth.
Diana's power got us there undetected. I emerged from the shadows; she lurked in mine, tailing me.
Sensing Spica approach, I pretended to loiter.
She spotted me and called out.
"What're you doing out here, ajusshi?"
"Oh, it's you? Thought a hero was coming and was about to bolt. Just passing through."
"Always 'passing through'? Whatever, I'm in a rush—I'll let you go."
"You look dead serious. Something up?"
"Why do you care?"
"Kid who usually charges at me like she wants to eat me alive is suddenly all 'go ahead'? Kinda stands out, don't it?"
Spica was pressed for time, no bandwidth for Joker chit-chat. But for a split second, she wondered: Could he help?
He wasn't some mindless killer. From what she'd seen, he ignored heroes, targeted the Alliance like they had a grudge. Enemy of my enemy... If hunting villains was his thing, maybe team up just this once.
Villains said no heroes, but Joker wasn't one. They'd never expect a hero-werewolf alliance. Keep distance, they couldn't just execute Marie on sight.
She'd been set to charge their trap solo—fat chance against numbers. After hesitating, she spilled her situation to Joker.
"Ajusshi, could you help me out a bit?"