The Siren Bluff
I rode my motorcycle hard, never letting the car carrying the Demonic Human out of my sight. It eventually stopped in front of an abandoned factory. The Demonic Human stepped inside. This place was completely isolated. Calling the police now would be pointless—they’d never make it in time.
I pulled out my phone and set a police siren alert to trigger in one minute. It was the only card I had left.
Creak— I eased the factory door open and slipped inside. The moment I entered, I saw Cha Jiyun’s secretary using a sword to hypnotize her. They were so fixated on her that they hadn’t noticed me at all.
Skill 3 - Stops the actions of Demonic Humans harboring demonic energy. - LV1. (Higher skill levels increase the duration of the effect.)
Conditions met. Skill can now be activated. Proceed?
[YES]
I activated the skill on the secretary who was hypnotizing Cha Jiyun. In an instant, the hypnosis broke and his movements were completely sealed.
I didn’t waste the opening.
Archimedes' Gauntlet (Growth Type)
1. Enables attacks that ignore a Demonic Human’s defense. (2 uses remaining)
Warning: Exhaustion state will occur 3 hours after use.
I triggered the gauntlet’s effect and reached out toward the Demonic Human who had attacked the auction house. The secretary had copied Urbashi’s skill, so the gauntlet wouldn’t be enough to kill him. I had to eliminate the one I could finish off first.
Boom—
The Demonic Human’s head exploded and disintegrated on the spot.
“.....”
The secretary stared at me, his eyes burning with murderous intent. I had used my only real offensive option—the copied version of Urbashi’s punch. After that, I had nothing left. If he charged me now, I was dead.
But for some reason he didn’t approach. He watched me with tense, wary eyes. We stayed locked in a standoff. The moment I made even the slightest movement, he flinched. It was the reaction of someone who sensed a real threat.
That was strange. I had no more attacks left. Yet the deadlock continued.
Then—
Waaaaail—
The siren I had set began to blare right outside. The secretary glanced toward the entrance and swallowed hard. His expression turned visibly anxious. Still, he refused to move carelessly, keeping his eyes fixed on me.
Only then did I understand why he was reacting so strongly to my every twitch. He must have judged my strength after watching me kill the other Demonic Human in a single strike. Even though I couldn’t actually use that skill anymore, the bluff was working.
This was my chance.
“You still want to do this?” I called out. “The police are already on their way. Hunters will probably be with them too.”
Of course no one was actually coming. But just as I expected, the secretary didn’t dare approach. If he attacked right now I would die, but he absolutely wouldn’t take that risk.
While his attention was on the siren, I slowly edged toward the chair where Cha Jiyun was tied. I moved as quietly as possible, careful not to alert him.
“The Hunters will be here any minute. Still think it’s a good idea to fight me?”
His murderous gaze raked over me. He glared fiercely but couldn’t bring himself to charge.
Waaaaail—
The siren grew louder and louder. I had set it to increase in volume over time. Forcing down my pounding heart, I kept my expression completely relaxed, as if the situation didn’t faze me in the slightest.
“.........”
He simply stared, unable to close the distance.
The siren grew even louder.
“...Haa. Can’t be helped.”
The secretary let out a long sigh and shook his head, apparently giving up on fighting me. His eyes shifted toward Cha Jiyun. He clearly planned to grab her and run.
But—
“!!!”
His eyes widened in shock. I was already standing directly in front of the chair where Cha Jiyun was bound. As expected, he couldn’t rush me.
The siren wailed closer and closer. The secretary ground his teeth.
“I’ll back off for today. I won’t forget your face.”
With those final words, he fled the abandoned factory.
“Wow. Fuck.”
My legs gave out and I collapsed on the spot. One wrong move and my head would have been rolling across the floor. The moment the tension broke, all strength left my body.
“....”
I glanced back at Cha Jiyun. She hadn’t seen that pathetic display, right? It was pretty embarrassing.
When I turned, I found her desperately trying to hold back laughter.
Go ahead and laugh, then.
But the amusement only lasted a moment. Her eyes began to drift shut again.
“Is your mind still hazy?”
“...Yes. It’s still a bit foggy.”
“That’s normal after they messed with your consciousness using hypnosis. You’ll feel better after some proper rest.”
“.......But.”
“I’ll call an ambulance, so don’t worry.”
“..Thank y—”
Her eyelids closed before she could finish speaking.
Cha Jiyun opened her eyes. A white ceiling filled her vision. She looked down at her hand and saw an IV drip attached.
“...I made it out safely.”
She breathed a sigh of relief.
“Jiyun! You’re awake!”
She turned her head. Jeong Hayeon was sitting beside the bed.
“...Yeah.”
Cha Jiyun’s gaze moved to the fruit basket placed next to her friend.
“...You didn’t have to bring anything.”
“What are you talking about? Of course I had to bring something when visiting my sick friend.”
Jeong Hayeon smiled brightly.
“I heard what happened. You were attacked by a Demonic Human too.”
The newspapers were already flooded with headlines about how Cha Jiyun, daughter of the Samhwa Group chairman, had been targeted by a Demonic Human.
“But Jiyun.”
“...What?”
“Who saved you? I heard you were kidnapped.”
“.....Wasn’t it in the article?”
“No, it wasn’t mentioned. They said the person who reported it had already left the scene, so they couldn’t identify them.”
Cha Jiyun tilted her head in confusion. Nam Doyun had destroyed the Demonic Human and saved her. That should have been in the report. Yet the reporter had already disappeared?
Was there some unavoidable reason? Something that meant his identity couldn’t be revealed?
“...Hayeon.”
“Yeah? What is it?”
“..I want to be alone for a while. Could you step out?”
“Ah… sure!”
Jeong Hayeon left the hospital room.
“Secretary Kim. Are you outsi—ah.”
She bit her lip hard. She had instinctively called for him. She had spent a full ten years by his side. Cha Jiyun had believed he was someone she could trust completely.
But he had never been loyal. The entire time he stood next to her, he had been scheming to take over the Samhwa Group.
A profound emptiness washed over her. Losing someone she had trusted for ten years left a far larger void than she had expected.
Samhwa Information Department — We have looked into the matter you requested.
Cha Jiyun had ordered the Samhwa Information Department to investigate anyone whose movements overlapped with the missing persons from the Oriental Guild.
Cha Jiyun — Did you find anything?
Samhwa Information Department — Yes. There was only one person whose movements overlapped. It was Secretary Kim.
Cha Jiyun — So that means…
Samhwa Information Department — Yes. It appears Secretary Kim is the prime suspect behind the disappearances.
“.....Haa.”
Cha Jiyun let out a deep sigh. It was exactly as she had suspected. The one who had kidnapped or killed the people from the Oriental Guild’s intelligence division was Secretary Kim.
She clenched her teeth. Why hadn’t she suspected him sooner? If she had believed his words back then and never opened the VIP room door… But it was a meaningless thought. Given the information she had at the time, it had been the best decision possible. That much was certain.
Even so, a corner of her heart ached with guilt.
“....”
She pressed her eyes shut tightly. How could she possibly repay him?
Cha Jiyun picked up her phone.
She had to prepare a gift that would truly surprise him.