Chapter 115
Chapter 115
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: The Tragedy of London
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Louise urgently summoned the bodyguards and the doctor.
The bodyguards arrived first, and she explained the situation.
No one had noticed any intruder.
It was shocking. Every bodyguard was an Ability Awakener.
Retired heroes, yet they could easily handle villains.
Even these people hadn't detected the Smiling Man entering the ward.
It wasn't because their skills had declined or they'd let their guard down.
Simply... yes. The Smiling Man was overwhelmingly superior.
"S-sorry, miss. We never imagined something like this could happen..."
"I didn't expect it either. It's not your fault. For now, guard my father more securely. Contact the Hero Department and let them know the Smiling Man has appeared in the UK."
"Understood!"
One of the bodyguards made the call, while the rest tightened security around the area.
The British people were well aware of the Smiling Man through the media.
Those he had killed or tried to kill were all people who had betrayed the name of hero.
That Smiling Man had appeared in Count Karrael's ward and done something suspicious.
One might suspect the Count because of it, but not a single person did.
They knew all too well what an excellent man the Count was.
That was the very reason everyone loved Louise.
"Doctor? My father needs a full examination. The Smiling Man... that villain active in Korea..."
Considering what had just happened, the Smiling Man was indeed a villain.
But as her pounding heart settled, the situation came into clearer view.
If he'd truly intended to harm the Count, he could have killed him on the spot.
If it was for blackmail, he would have stated his demands first.
"For now, please run a thorough check on my father. Especially his head. Do everything you can."
"Don't worry. We'll do everything our hospital can."
After finishing with the doctor, another bodyguard approached Louise.
"Miss. I've looked into the situation outside."
"What happened? There was definitely an explosion."
"It was that hospital you visited earlier. An explosion of unknown cause occurred on the floor where the heroes injured while fighting alongside the Count are hospitalized."
"...Casualties?"
"It's severe enough to have collapsed the entire floor. They're still tallying, but... there will be at least dozens."
My God. What in the world is happening?
Louise bit her lip and turned her head.
To the spot where the Smiling Man had stood just moments ago.
He had dared to grab her father and do something bizarre.
And then added those incomprehensible words.
"Do you know zombie movies? In them, can a person once turned into a zombie be turned back? No. It's exactly the same. Miss Louise."
Way too out of left field. Why bring up zombies at that exact moment?
'For now...'
For now, she needed to move faster than anyone else.
UK, Hero Department. Conference Room 1.
"...This is the extent of the damage from the recent explosion of unknown cause. Most casualties were patients, with doctors and nurses also affected. There are unidentified bodies, and some without even bodies recovered have been listed as missing. Our hospitalized heroes are on this list."
The horrific explosion that occurred in London.
The first hypothesis raised was, of course, 'terrorism'.
"The Secret Intelligence Service shared info with us, and it doesn't seem related to terrorism. The US CIA also reports low possibility of terror."
"Terror groups are quiet too. They usually claim responsibility within hours, but they're all just watching each other."
If not terrorism, then a tragic accident?
"The fire department is doing everything they can to investigate. But they haven't found the cause yet. No gas leaks, no other explosives."
"Not terror, not accident. Then the conclusion is clear."
The others nodded in agreement with the Hero Department Minister's words.
Villain. This was undoubtedly the work of villains.
Many aspects were still under investigation, but one thing was certain.
The explosion had started precisely where the heroes were.
It was no coincidence that the epicenter was the heroes' rooms.
"By the way, word from the Capels family."
"The Smiling Man has entered the UK."
"Huh. Nothing from Korea."
"Korea's swamped with the Union incident right now. And that Smiling Man? He can go anywhere he wants."
Maybe even in this conference room.
At the minister's half-joking remark, everyone just coughed awkwardly.
"For now, high possibility it's villains. Smiling Man possibility?"
"Low. Word from Korea is that Korean heroes no longer consider him a villain."
"Wasn't he a villain until recently? And regardless of reason, taking a life is illegal, even for heroes."
"Louise Capels, who first reported him, says something similar. He's suspicious, sure, but denies he's the perpetrator here."
Count Karrael had been one of the most respected heroes during his active days.
His daughter Louise had been an exemplary girl even back when preparing her debut.
It wasn't for nothing that so many UK heroes adored her.
"Anyway, push the investigation full throttle. Especially the missing heroes. We need to find them. If no bodies, at least personal effects for the families."
"Understood."
Once the meeting ended, the minister led the others out of the conference room.
One of them spotted Louise waiting ahead and approached.
"Miss Louise."
"What was the outcome?"
"Confirmed so far: not terror, not accident. Hero Department thinks villains. Are you really sure it wasn't the Smiling Man?"
"..."
Honestly? She didn't know. That was the most fitting answer.
He wasn't a villain, but not a hero either.
An unpredictable man. Best not to assume anything rashly.
"...I think the possibility is low."
But her instincts told her otherwise. No matter what, it wasn't the Smiling Man.
If he'd wanted to harm, he'd had multiple chances.
Even for such an eccentric guy, this was too irrational.
"Then why did the Smiling Man come here? Why threaten the Count's body...?"
The Hero Department staff dry-washed his face in utter confusion.
At that moment, a commotion began spreading from up ahead.
"What's going on?"
"I'll check."
A moment later.
"Miss Louise! They've been found!"
"Found?"
"The heroes who went missing during the hospital explosion! Fortunately, they're all alive!"
Alive? From that explosion. Even from the presumed epicenter?
Not entirely impossible. Heroes had incredibly tough bodies.
With abilities on top, even more was possible.
They might have sensed the change just before the blast and reacted.
"Rescue teams have been dispatched to the discovery site. If they rescue the heroes safely, we can get details from them about what happened."
Rescue teams and heroes rushed urgently to the target location.
Considering when it was reported, they'd been left there at least a day.
They were alive, but hadn't fully withstood the impact.
If they hadn't searched every nook and cranny, they would have died.
"Three survivors total! All heroes! Watch for shock emergencies!"
They advanced by hand or Ability, shifting the collapsed debris.
No heavy equipment. This wasn't body recovery. It was survivor rescue.
"Here!"
"Stretcher ready! Clear this debris first!"
Heroes buried amid the rubble of the collapsed building came into view.
Already patients, now with additional injuries.
Time was critical. They couldn't lose them in vain.
"Response? Any voice?"
"Reacted at initial discovery, but nothing now! Hey! Stay with us!"
The rescuers desperately tried to rouse the heroes' consciousness.
"..."
Fortunately, the hero came to. He slowly opened his eyes.
"Good! You're safe now. We'll transport you soon. Easy now! Easy!"
Rescue teams and Hero Department staff were gathered around.
Not too many, but supporting heroes were visible here and there.
"..."
The rescued hero suddenly activated his Ability.
"Huh?"
"Calm down! Could be shock! Calm down! You're safe now!"
"..."
He didn't listen. The rescuers called out to the heroes.
Probably mental shock; they needed to calm him.
A waiting hero with mental stabilization Ability stepped forward.
And used his Ability instead of sedatives...
"...Huh?"
Something was off. He was definitely using his Ability.
Why wasn't this person's brain responding at all?
In a state like this shock, it should be even easier to calm?
"Wait, this...!"
Not a mental issue losing control of actions.
The brain wasn't functioning. Yet he was still moving.
"Everyone, evacuate NOW!!"
With those final words, the area was engulfed in massive flames.
It swallowed dozens of rescuers and everyone else on site.
"Gah!"
One hero barely escaped and rolled on the ground.
But a brutish hand grabbed him.
"Y-you, why..."
His eyes had lost focus. Like the eyes of a rotten fish.
Stab!-
"Gurk!"
Another rescued hero plunged rebar into his captured comrade.
A wound opened, blood flowed, and he dug into the flesh with his hand.
"Aaaagh! Stop! It huuuurts!!"
He screamed at first, but even that grew quieter.
It didn't take long for him to lose focus and himself in the same way.