Chapter 78
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Infiltrating the Wolf Pack
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"This is it... Permission's been granted..."
As we stepped out of the interrogation room, the captain was staring down at his phone with a dazed expression.
"Permission came through?"
"...Yeah, well... We've got all the info we need, and they say the safety of a future S-Rank hero going undercover is the top priority..."
"Haha..."
It seemed the seeds I'd sown in the past were finally bearing fruit.
A future S-Rank hero.
Not entirely wrong, maybe.
Back then, I was perfectly suited for A-Rank, but objectively speaking, I felt at least ten times stronger now.
Hell, I might even be as strong as an S-Rank hero at this point.
"Now the trick is getting that guy out naturally..."
"Hmm..."
The captain pondered for a moment before spotting a passing officer and jumping in surprise.
"Officer Lee, what's that you're carrying?"
"Oh, Captain. It's just a toy."
"A toy?"
The captain called over the officer who was casually carrying what looked like a menacing dagger.
He took the dagger from Officer Lee and examined it from top to bottom.
It looked no different from a real dagger at first glance.
But the moment he picked it up, it had that telltale lightness of a toy.
"These carrot knife-style toys have been popping up everywhere since that one. I bought one for my nephew."
"Carrot knife? Man, it looks so real."
It really was indistinguishable from the real thing visually.
And oddly enough, it resembled the daggers used by those bookstore raiders.
When the captain pressed the blade with his finger, it sank smoothly into the hilt.
A classic fake knife for magic tricks.
The captain and I locked eyes.
"...This could work, right?"
"...Hey, Officer Lee, grab two more of these."
"Pardon? Oh, yes sir."
We didn't say much, but we were clearly thinking the same thing.
"You're saying we're ambushing the police car?"
"Yeah. Got any reliable buddies or underlings nearby?"
"Sure, but... isn't Big Bro more than enough on your own?"
The driver glanced at me as he spoke.
My title had somehow upgraded to "Big Bro."
It felt a bit weird being called that by this guy, but I let it slide.
Not important anyway.
"I need to get Alex out."
"...Pardon? So you're saying we have to take on the cops by ourselves?"
The driver's eyes went wide.
No matter how reckless a villain was, nobody attacked the police.
That was basically declaring war on the state.
One reason why cops were still mostly regular folks.
"Don't worry, it's all arranged. Here, your weapons."
"Arranged?!"
I handed the bewildered driver a toy dagger with a friendly smile.
His expression turned profoundly strange as he took it.
"Uh, Big Bro."
"Yeah?"
"What the hell is this?"
He stared at me, then the dagger, then back at me.
It was ridiculously light.
Toy dagger, after all. Obviously.
"What."
"You want me to stab with this?"
"Yep."
He held the dagger upright and jabbed it into his palm, still looking utterly confused.
The blade slid smoothly into the hilt.
He let out a hollow chuckle at the sight.
"I couldn't even kill a squirrel with this."
"So you were planning to kill cops?"
"N-No... You said 'ambush' so..."
I scowled, and he shrank back, looking wronged.
"I told you, it's all scripted."
"Wait... Are the cops on the same side as Wolf?!"
His face was pure shock.
To the misunderstanding driver, I laid out the plain truth.
That I was with the cops—and that I'd be deceiving Alex and Bella too.
And ultimately, that I'd dismantle Wolf or at least boot them out of Korea.
Two reasons for spilling it all.
First, this guy in front of me was a victim too—his own crew crushed by Wolf.
He hated them enough to cooperate.
Second, he was scared shitless of me.
Especially after seeing me stand up to Bella—that fear had only grown.
I timed the reveal to exploit that.
As expected, he nodded.
"I wanted to give those Wolf bastards a taste of their own medicine too."
Satisfactory answer.
Even if his hands were shaking.
"Then put on a good show."
"Yes, sir."
Resolve burned in his eyes—he'd make it happen.
Should've told him sooner.
Seeing him grip that toy knife with that look was kinda funny.
He took the black van ahead to the rendezvous point.
I waited for Alex in front of the police car.
A little later, the captain and Officer Lee approached, gripping Alex's arms.
We all boarded the police transport van.
Alex eyed me anxiously, but I gave a faint smile and nodded.
Sensing something from my demeanor, Alex smiled faintly back and nodded along.
Don't worry.
You're getting out.
Every cop in this van wanted Alex to escape.
Riding along: me, Officer Lee driving, the captain, and Alex.
The captain and I flanked Alex's sides.
A lot for escorting one guy, but then again, he was a Wolf exec.
The van cruised through the city, then veered onto a quiet mountain road.
"...You're gonna rot in prison for life."
"..."
"...Captain, no talking to the prisoner."
"Oh, right..."
For a second, the captain's painfully awkward acting chilled the air—I worried we'd blow it.
But Alex just pitied him as some weird kook and looked away.
Officer Lee even warned the captain not to speak again.
After a long drive, the van slowed to a stop.
"Captain, let's step out for a sec."
"Huh? Oh..."
Midway up the secluded mountain road.
A familiar black van blocked the path.
Officer Lee and the captain got out to protest, and a few black-clad men stepped out from the van.
Daggers in hand.
"Those guys..."
Alex spotted the black van and the armed men, flashing a smile.
Then he grinned at me.
"Haha! This is it!"
"Come on, let's go."
I led Alex outside.
The men with menacing toy daggers closed in and stabbed the captain and Officer Lee mercilessly.
"Argh! Gahhh!"
"Wh-Who the hell are you?! Ngh..."
The captain clutched his "stabbed" gut dramatically, rolling on the ground.
If not for Officer Lee's realistic performance, we'd have been made.
Just... fall down when stabbed, man...
Alex whistled at the scene.
Dopamine overload from the escape, probably.
He didn't notice the captain's stiff acting or the late, off-color fake blood.
After a quick glance at their "demise," eager to bolt, he followed my lead into the black van.
My driver was at the wheel.
"Alright, let's go see Bella."
Alex's lips curved in a big smile.
Directed at me too, of course.
Knock knock.
"It's open."
Bella hadn't locked the door properly this time either.
"...What the... Huh?"
She glared coldly at me entering, then sprang from the sofa upon seeing Alex behind me.
"Alex...?"
"Bella!"
They embraced like long-lost family.
Alex's hands still cuffed, so it was mostly her hugging him.
I knew they weren't dating.
I'd gotten plenty of intel from Alex.
More like family, really.
From the same orphanage, specifically.
Abandoned kids who leaned on each other growing up.
Like most villains, they had their share of painful history.
Didn't excuse them, though.
Lots of folks survived harsher shit and still lived decent lives.
They caught up on each other for about ten minutes before Bella finally looked at me.
"...Can't deny it now. You actually pulled it off."
"Easy."
I answered nonchalantly.
Truly was, from my position.
"Fine, I admit it. You're a real Wolf member now."
"Bella, you sure?"
"Yeah. He busted you out, and his skills are at least A-Rank. Perfect fit."
"A-Rank?"
Alex eyed me suspiciously.
I stepped close and ripped off his cuffs.
Easy with a bit of internal energy.
"...Whoa."
Alex smiled, clearly impressed.
"Yeah, gotta admit it."
[Hidden Quest Cleared.]
[Infiltrate Wolf.]
[Gained Bella's Trust.]
[Weapon Technique level greatly increases.]
[Weapon Technique has reached LV.7.]
I smiled at the cleared quest, and Bella and Alex mirrored me.
A bit of misunderstanding there, but hey, it worked out.
"Take your time. Get a cool wolf tattoo etched on."
She tossed me a card as she spoke.
"Spend it however."
I snatched the fast-flying card with two fingers.
No shortage of cash, but free money was free money.
I nodded, pocketed the card, and headed out.
Pondering where to stick the wolf tattoo sticker.