Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: The Truth Always Makes Hearts Race?
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Lee Bora remembered the orphanage she had been volunteering at.
Yushin remembered that place too.
It had been in pretty decent shape, but this one was on another level entirely.
"Whoa..."
It was called an orphanage, but it felt more like a super-luxurious private educational institution.
This wasn't like the previous one, run by a skeleton staff.
The education was handled by teachers who could be at any private school.
There were plenty of nutritionists on staff, managing perfect meal plans.
The other employees all showed great satisfaction in their work.
'Hahaha. This is... impressive, I guess?'
No one could suspect this facility. It was utterly impossible.
A place providing such perfect treatment was none other than the Union.
After the kids grew up, the Union would take them in, saying they'd handle their futures.
They'd reassure everyone that the kids had settled in and even send updates.
In reality, they were being trained as agents, but no one here had a clue.
The handlers and the agent trainees were kept completely separate.
Everyone except the director just thought it was a great orphanage.
'Hmm. This puts me in a bit of a bind.'
The information from Lee Bora, what Yushin himself knew.
And finally, everything he'd boldly inspected upon arriving here.
Putting it all together, the staff and the kids here were all innocent.
The Union were the bad guys. But the victims would suffer alongside them.
A full-scale investigation of the orphanage would kick off immediately.
Even if everything wrapped up cleanly, Union's support would vanish.
The staff would lose their jobs, and the kids their home.
Righteous work dragging down the unrelated innocent.
If the heroes knew, they might jump up in outrage.
"...Well. Can't be helped, right?"
Luckily, I'm no hero.
I'll feel just a tiny pang of conscience.
The staff are all excellent; they'll find good jobs elsewhere.
Our smelly kids can just go to another orphanage.
Like the one our secretary volunteers at, for example?
It won't be as plush as this, but that's beyond my control!
All I can do is bump up the donations. Hahaha!
"Pardon? What did you just say?"
The only staff member here with a fake identity.
The director, who greeted the higher-ups coming to take the future agents.
You and I have so. So much to talk about.
Yushin smirked inwardly while twisting his face.
"When did I say you could listen in?"
A gruff middle-aged man's voice emerged from his mouth.
Nothing to it. Just use Mana Threads to tweak the vocal cords.
An extremely precise voice modulation no one could suspect.
"Ah. Sorry. I didn't hear a thing."
"Always act like you don't know. Even if you do, pretend you don't. Especially if you don't. Do I have to spell it out? Your visits have been sparse lately—gotten sloppy?"
"I'll correct it. Sorry."
This face's owner was known for a filthy personality.
So a sharp reaction like this was no issue at all.
Pressuring with this vibe kept even suspicions at bay.
The director quietly led Yushin to the orphanage's secret entrance.
A bookshelf in the office. Pulling one book revealed a hidden space.
Inside hung files and photos of children everywhere.
To an outsider, it might look like a child killer's lair.
"Lately, more kids have been awakening Abilities. If things go well, we might hit five this year alone."
"Good news. One or two a year wasn't cutting it."
"Can't be helped. Unlike the old days, heroes now hunt monsters and chase villains right away, so fewer kids lose families and end up alone."
The director said this, then slyly checked Yushin's reaction.
Fearful of harsh words.
Even while discussing a far better world than before.
Then Yushin dropped a line more villainous than any villain.
"Too bad. Order's great, but humans need regular deaths to keep the fear alive. Right?"
"Y-Yes."
Yes? What do you mean yes to that garbage?
Wouldn't anyone dream of a world without need for orphanages?
The Union's true face for "peace" is horrifying.
Yushin clicked his tongue while flashing a vile grin.
"Heard you got one recently? Age? Gender? Ability details?"
"Boy, 12 years old. Parents killed by villains; remaining family refused custody, so he came here at 9. No rough edges, but a bit soft."
"Soft is good. Means he knows how to compromise. Easiest type to handle."
Pretty villainous performance, right? Hahaha!
As Yushin inwardly praised himself.
"Um."
The director, who'd been gauging him, approached cautiously.
"How are things inside the Union?"
"What about?"
"The gentleman from a month ago said the Smiling Man's disguise skills are top-notch, cause for worry. Even the Union Korea Branch letting him infiltrate was because of that."
Ooh. Not bad instincts, getting that close.
But imagining the Smiling Man right here? Never!
"He worried about this facility too. How should we prepare countermeasures?"
"Higher-ups are handling it. Don't draw attention by fretting—could tip someone off. If this place has issues, your head rolls first."
"Of course. Just curious... Sorry. I'll be careful."
Pressure first, ease up next.
Classic bad-guy tactic, probably.
"To let you in a bit, we're using public sentiment."
"Public sentiment...?"
"Not us labeling Smiling Man a villain—we'll make them argue, slander, fight it out. Know Koreans? Toss 'em a bone, they tear into each other. Easier than easy."
Skip details. My jaw hurts explaining.
"Need the recent intake list, by the way."
"Ah, for upper management. Thought it'd be a month out—give me a sec to compile and send."
"No. Taking it myself."
"Pardon?"
"You said it yourself: Smiling Man could disguise as anyone. Even our couriers. Want me to risk it?"
"Ah! Right!"
The director hurried to organize the files, asking for a moment.
Yushin lounged in a chair, enjoying the show.
The Smiling Man is right in front of you, see? Hahaha!
Moments later.
"Here you go."
The director politely handed over the meticulously prepared documents.
Yushin examined each page carefully, then smiled brightly.
Jackpot.
"Ooh. Perfect. Absolutely perfect!"
"...Pardon?"
The sudden polite speech made the director think he'd misheard.
But he soon backed away in horror.
Wooddrk!-
"Wh-what...? Wh-what?!"
The middle-aged face he'd been staring at warped and vanished.
In its place appeared a strikingly handsome young man.
The oddity: those slitted eyes, impossible to tell if smiling or not.
Instilling an eerie discomfort in the viewer...
"Th-the Smiling Man?!"
"Ta-da! Smiling Man takes the stage. Ooh, introducing myself like this makes me want a star or something after! Hahaha!"
Impossible! How did the Smiling Man get here?!
This orphanage had ironclad security, beyond suspicion.
Visitor info from Union was top secret.
How did he time it perfectly?!
'...No. That's not important now!'
The reason for Smiling Man's divisive rep came to mind.
He executed villains. Always with death.
Impossible under Korean law. But what the public craved.
That's how he garnered support.
"Your expression says you're aware you're a villain."
"N-no! I just followed orders! Wasn't my idea! Had to feed my family! And also..."
"Yeah, yeah, got it. Sick parents to care for, struggling siblings. No choice, right?"
Nod nod.
"And even if you refused, someone else would've done it anyway?"
Nod nod nod!-
Got it. Sure. I understand completely.
Everyone has a backstory. Every single one.
Union execs too. You too. Everyone's got one.
"But before tacking on excuses, ever think...?"
"What...?"
"Those backstories you mention? Everyone else has 'em too!"
If you justify and escape with your sob story.
Are others' stories cheaper than yours?
Valuing tales like that seems unfair.
"W-wait! Please, just my life! I know lots—I'll testify! It'll help a ton!"
"Don't worry. This is an orphanage, right? Already smells like kids; no need to add corpse stink!"
That'd be bad for the growing kids' psyches!
"Plenty others will punish you even if I don't! One might be almost here by now! Hahaha!"
"How's it been lately?"
Valkyrie looked at the four cadets before her.
Kang Yuna. Seo Ha-eun. Jin Seo-ah, and Louise.
She continued worriedly.
"Reporters and government folks still hounding you?"
A month ago, they'd revealed everything at the press conference.
Since then, Korea had been abuzz with Smiling Man talk.
Another kind of hero? Or a broken Awakener lost in his own justice?
"We're fine. Seniors at the Academy are looking out for us."
"Good thing. They still have purity and passion at that stage. Hard to keep it up forever."
"Um."
Seo Ha-eun, who'd been listening quietly, raised her hand tentatively.
"No separate contact from the Smiling Man?"
"Told you. He's gone radio silent since a month ago. No calls. See?"
Valkyrie held out her phone to the four cadets.
A string of messages with "Smiling Man" scrolled up.
"Maybe he has reasons?"
"Even so, this is..."
Ding!-
Sudden alert. New message appeared.
"...?"
"...???"
All four cadets stared at Valkyrie.
First to speak: wary Seo Ha-eun.
"Instructor Valkyrie. What's your relationship with the Smiling Man?"
"Relationship?! What the hell is this lunatic up to now?!"
Next: Jin Seo-ah, face screaming absolute no.
"Smiling Man's a swordsman. Sis isn't—so no approval!"
"That bastard's true bloodline ain't going nowhere! Not the point!!"
The highlight: Kang Yuna's question.
"Instructor, you look subtly expectant..."
"Absolutely not!!"
Not my type... Well, not that it isn't, but!
Slit eyes still never crossed my mind!
"Argh!! What mess is he stirring up now!!"