Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: What an Uproar!
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Things were in absolute chaos!
For the first time in ages, Bora Lee found herself visiting the orphanage.
"Big sis!!-"
"Sis!!-"
"You'll fall! Don't run!"
She hugged the swarm of rushing children while sighing inwardly.
No exaggeration. The past week had been pure hell for her.
It had started with nothing more than her usual routine report.
"The Clan boss is stepping out? With the Smiling Man?"
"No idea on the destination. We absolutely need to kn— Ahem. No. Just the fact that they're gone is enough. We can't risk exposing ourselves by digging further. Report back when they return."
Extracting intel was important, but getting caught was a hard no.
The Union side knew this too, so they didn't issue any excessive orders.
Anyway, with the boss on vacation, the secretary naturally took hers as well.
It had been ages since she'd had a worry-free day to recharge her stamina.
The next day, just as she was preparing to head to the orphanage...
Ah. A monster appeared. Of all things, an Apocalypse-Class one. On Ulleungdo, no less.
What a tragedy. Ulleungdo was practically a holy land for heroes.
But that was it. There was nothing Bora could do but sigh.
She hoped things would turn out okay and was about to finish getting ready when...
"...Cough, cough!!"
Bora choked on her water and flailed about, coughing her lungs out.
What did they just say? Clan boss? That woman went to Ulleungdo?!
Why? She despised heroes—why go to their holy land?!
That alone was shocking, but the real bombshell was just beginning.
"Pfft!!"
She spat out the water she'd been sipping to calm herself.
The boss suddenly saving people on Ulleungdo was bewildering enough.
But going further—the Smiling Man straight-up saved Ulleungdo?
A guy who hated heroes enough to kill them defended their holy land?
The Smiling Man's Ability was Mana Threads, right? That's what everyone knew.
She'd even reported to the Union that his Ability was definitely Mana Threads!
So what was that? Why was a massive flash bursting from his sword?
And why did that flash neatly cleave the tsunami in half?!
This was bad. Things were about to get extremely noisy through some channel or another...
"What the hell happened?! Purple! The Clan boss and Smiling Man were on Ulleungdo!!"
"Didn't you say the Smiling Man hates heroes?! And that bastard saves a hero holy land?!"
"His Ability! You said Mana Threads! Is he hiding something?! You couldn't even confirm this?!"
She'd expected it, but hearing it firsthand made her head ring.
Less than an hour later, complaints flooded in via secret channels.
How do you even do your job? Are you playing both sides?
You should've at least confirmed his Ability for sure, and so on.
Warnings—not quite warnings—kept coming, demanding she start over from scratch.
But if opportunities like that came easily, anyone could do this job.
Reconfirming the Smiling Man's Ability, of all people.
Any hint of odd intent in her questions would raise suspicions for sure.
'The Smiling Man already seems to suspect my identity to some extent. He's not probing further, just suspicious... If I dig deeper now...'
His suspicions would grow. And if they turned to certainty, things would blow up.
Plus, if he was wary of her, that'd be one thing.
But he'd even saved the orphanage, showing some goodwill.
Handing over fresh intel on someone like that didn't sit right.
She couldn't completely ignore the Union's orders, though.
For now, stick to routine and watch for openings.
Today's schedule was, as mentioned, a long-overdue orphanage visit.
To gather intel, staying out of the Clan was best.
But skipping routine would invite suspicion.
Not just from the Smiling Man—from the Black Woman too, maybe.
"Gotcha, sis!"
"Ah. Caught. Guess that makes sis 'it'?"
"You're weird today. Spacing out all the time, sis!"
"It's just... Mm. Work stuff piling up."
She'd heard people carry resignation letters in their hearts.
But she carried a last will and testament.
Ah. Come to think of it, even that wouldn't do.
Her info could leak somehow, harming the orphanage.
She'd regret it even in death.
"Gotta go now, sis."
"Already? You're super busy?"
"Yeah. Super busy, and it's only gonna get worse."
"Hang in there, sis!"
One of the orphanage girls thrust out a tightly clenched fist.
Bora reflexively held out her hand, and a candy dropped into it.
"Eat it. It'll give you strength!"
"...For me?"
"Yup!"
"What about you?"
"I'm good! The magician uncle brought this much snacks and candy and chocolate just the other day!"
"... ."
The "magician uncle" the orphanage kids called.
Right. The Smiling Man. He kept looking out for this place.
At first, she'd thought it was a threat or leverage.
But no. He genuinely cared for the orphanage.
A villain. A Catastrophe-Class one the Union feared.
Suddenly, Bora recalled a report she'd filed with the branch.
She'd thought she was crazy writing that.
For including something so huge based on him saving the orphanage.
The branch had even asked what she meant by it.
She couldn't answer honestly. That would've gotten her suspected first.
She'd kept it vague: something different about him.
But who knew? Recruitment might actually be possible...
Vrrr-!
Her pocket phone buzzed.
Bora's face hardened as she checked the screen.
"... ."
At a glance, spam. But the hidden meaning was anything but.
No-interest loan: code for summoning the infiltrator.
24/7 consultant: someone for direct contact was waiting.
Safe transactions guaranteed: head to the designated spot immediately.
She hadn't expected a direct summons at such a sensitive time.
After goodbyes to the kids and director, Bora headed out.
At the rendezvous point, a surprising face greeted her.
"Purple."
"...Team Leader?"
The manager of Team 7 at the Union Korea Branch.
For reference, Team 7 didn't officially exist.
Simple reason: they handled infiltrators like her.
This guy, who rarely went out, had come all the way here.
"What's this about? If you're exposed, the Branch Chief will chew you out."
Agents like her, and their handlers like him.
They were known only to the Union's core insiders.
People who needed to be cautious, meeting in broad daylight!
"Sorry. But it's urgent."
She checked meticulously for tails several times.
Double- and triple-checked safety before asking,
"What happened?"
"Remember that report you sent?"
"Report?"
She'd sent plenty. Which one?
Bora tilted her head, and the Team Leader continued.
"Villain, Smiling Man."
"...Ah. Yes. I reported on him."
"There, Purple, you added your opinion. That recruitment might be possible."
At the time, it had felt like a stretch.
A biased assessment that could confuse the Union.
Something an infiltrator absolutely shouldn't do.
But he'd saved the orphanage. The kids there.
Even going so far as to take out villains himself, despite being one.
So she'd written it. But she hadn't expected things to turn like this.
"Look, just to be clear. I had zero predictions about the Ulleungdo incident. That report was just..."
"I know. You vaguely sensed something and noted the possibility. That's why upper management didn't take it seriously."
"... ."
"But things have changed. Purple, if what you saw is real, we have reason to act on it."
What did that mean? Before Bora could speak,
"Purple. Can you arrange a meeting with the Smiling Man?"
"Huh?"
A bombshell poured from the Team Leader's mouth.
"Of course, openly setting it up is impossible. It'd blow your cover. Instead, get him to a spot I'll tell you about. I'll handle the rest."
"Wait. Sending the Smiling Man there doesn't even make sense. And if you're thinking of a trap, forget it. He's strong."
"No trap. I really need to talk to him."
This was no ordinary matter. Not using her or setting a trap.
Thinking about it, if she got caught, he'd take the biggest hit.
Yet he was making this offer. There had to be a reason.
"...I can't promise."
"Please."
Bora left first, then the Team Leader stood.
The Union's situation was now incredibly awkward and dire.
But? If the Smiling Man came over to the Union?
It could win back the public's hearts!
"Oh my. Such grand ambitions."
Even if I were switching sides, it wouldn't be to that one.
Why board a sinking ship?
Especially when I'm the one who put the holes in it? Hahaha!
With a silent laugh, the Smiling Man vanished into the shadows.