Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: The Reason I Hate You
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You're really going to do it. You're seriously trying to recruit him.
Lee Bo-ra caught her breath as she looked at the meeting location in her hand.
She had expected them to suggest some extremely quiet and secretive spot.
But if they did that, it would only make her side suspicious.
Instead, they were handing over a weakness on the Union side.
They wouldn't pull any stunts in a place crowded with civilians.
It was a way to build that kind of trust and show genuine intent for dialogue.
'...That's probably how they chose this location.'
The Korea Branch really wanted to meet the Smiling Man through her.
In that case, she had one job: arrange the meeting.
And make it look like a coincidence, without revealing her identity.
'This isn't easy at all...!'
It was too dangerous. One slip, and everything could be exposed.
It wouldn't just endanger her—it would be a massive blow to the Union.
Think of all the effort she'd put in to get this far.
This could mean throwing away a vital intelligence asset herself.
Yet the branch had chosen to meet the Smiling Man directly.
It was crucial proof of how desperate and anxious they were.
'The Ulleungdo incident must have been the tipping point.'
A villain that powerful might actually be recruitable.
A villain who, instead of harming civilians, was receiving positive attention from them.
It would be a hundred times better to bring him over to their side.
That seemed to be the Union's judgment, as they opened a channel for dialogue.
"Hmm..."
To avoid suspicion, it had to seem coincidental, but she needed to be there too.
The two of them would happen to go to the convenience store in Yeouido Han River Park, and she would run into them by chance.
She would act hostile, taking civilians hostage to escape.
Then the Smiling Man would rein in his companion and agree to talk, just once.
That was the ideal scenario both Lee Bo-ra and the Union wanted.
Honestly, there probably wasn't a crazier plan in the world.
To conduct business in front of civilians, right in a villain's face.
If heroes heard about it, they'd vehemently oppose it as insane.
But the opponent was the Union.
An organization made for heroes, but not the same as heroes.
They were the type who could stomach sacrificing a few pawns for the greater good if necessary.
'I have no choice but to trust the Smiling Man.'
It was absurd even to her, but he was the one person she could trust.
He'd saved the orphanage. He visited occasionally, bringing gifts and smiles for the kids.
He'd saved Ulleungdo from a massive tsunami and never harmed civilians.
She knew villains and trust could never coexist.
But with what she'd seen and experienced, her heart kept leaning that way.
Deep down, Lee Bo-ra hoped the Smiling Man would be recruited too.
It would be easier to repay his kindness as an ally than an enemy.
The problem was how to get the Smiling Man there without raising suspicion...
"Are you there?"
"Y-yes! Boss!"
First things first: she couldn't get caught as an infiltrating spy.
No room for error. The Black Woman was dangerous enough.
The moment her identity was exposed, she wouldn't die peacefully.
"Did you need me?"
"Come here. I called you for this."
The Black Woman held out her phone with a click of her tongue.
The screen was filled with various internet articles.
At the sight, Lee Bo-ra felt a brief surge of emotion.
It reminded her of the week she'd spent teaching her this.
The boss, who could never get friendly with gadgets, had finally grown!
"Movies featuring heroes' exploits: at least three announced..."
"This is exactly why I hate heroes. They couldn't even save the civilians they love so much, blaming the weather, and their brilliant response is movies? Not even funny."
People fall for that stuff easily—better not say it.
Knowing when to hold back unnecessary words was a secretary's skill.
Flattery was bad, but no need to ruin the boss's mood either.
"The Union seems pretty desperate."
"They would be. The precious Ulleungdo they cherish was ravaged by monsters. And who saved it? The villains they look down on. Idiots. Treating their abilities like circus tricks to chase popularity—that's why they end up like this."
That popularity chase had backfired spectacularly.
The Black Woman crushing monsters with a few gestures.
The Smiling Man slicing a tsunami in half with one swing of his sword, or so they said.
"Back then, I didn't know why he suggested saving Ulleungdo, but now I get it. That man is serious about screwing over the Union. I like it."
What? The entire Ulleungdo incident wasn't the boss's decision?
The Smiling Man had pushed for it until she agreed?
Incredible. She hadn't realized his influence was this strong.
He'd seemed oddly close to the boss, but she thought that was it!
"This is fun. Very fun. Heh heh heh."
She only laughed like that when playing Go.
Knowing the Black Woman so well, Lee Bo-ra was shocked again.
Then, something nagging caught her eye.
'...Huh?'
Did she see wrong? No. She saw right. Definitely...
Compared to before Ulleungdo, the Black Woman's appearance had changed slightly?
'Just a tiny bit, but she looks younger? No, more youthful?'
Strike while the iron is hot, they say—video creators are going wild.
Even crap like this gets tens of thousands of views. Should I make one?
Shin Jae-gon, a second-year at Hero Academy, pondered while watching YouXTube.
He'd dreamed of becoming a great hero with beauties on both arms.
Pictured himself in front of cameras daily, comments flooded with praise.
But reality was constant frustration with his mediocre ability.
He feared he might not even make C-Rank.
Hell, he wasn't sure he could become a hero at all.
So Shin Jae-gon sought a new path to survival.
And recently, that effort finally paid off.
"I'm here."
"Whoa! You're here?!"
He pocketed his phone and jumped up.
Acting like a vassal welcoming the king.
"Hey, got any e-cig liquid left?"
"Yeah, but is that okay? Instructors will flip if they catch you."
"No way. They're too busy watching me."
It had to be. He might really be a king.
Kim Woo-jun, same second-year at the academy.
But only the year matched—everything else was worlds apart.
Ability level. Family background. No comparison.
Especially Kim Woo-jun's father was a Union executive.
On par with top government officials, or higher.
And not some acquaintance—family, his dad!
An unbeatable backup no one could touch!
"Hey, Shin Jae-gon."
"Yeah? What?"
"Lend me your ability."
"My ability? Sure, why not—you know."
Shin Jae-gon's ability induced hallucinations in others.
Versatile in many ways.
But it had fatal flaws for him.
Required physical contact to activate.
Contact couldn't break to maintain the effect.
And his physical stats were only slightly above average.
He couldn't meet the conditions to sustain it.
"Don't worry. It's perfect for you."
"Can I ask what for?"
"For some fun."
"Fun?"
Kim Woo-jun made an obscenely obvious gesture.
Shin Jae-gon got it instantly. A girl.
Great ability, great family—but twisted personality.
Kim Woo-jun had to have what he wanted.
Especially girls. No compromise.
No matter who she was with, if he liked her, he stole her.
"What about the one you're with now?"
"Getting boring. She played hard to get at first, saying her boyfriend was better, but now she's all over me. Suddenly nauseating."
"..."
Breaking up happy couples.
Stealing the girl and making her his.
Dumping her when bored, hunting the next.
This had happened at least six times already.
Without his father, he'd have been done for multiple times.
"This time, something different."
"Different?"
"Same old is boring. Girls falling instantly when I flirt—tired of it."
"..."
That's because your dad's a Union exec.
Girls switching for the perks.
Of course, Shin Jae-gon couldn't say that.
"First, have my way big time. Then grab dirt to control her."
"Wait. Woo-jun, that's risky, right?"
Stealing girls wasn't a big deal before.
They came willingly.
But talking about his ability, "have my way"—
The implication was crystal clear!
"If she spreads it, we're both expelled! Socially ruined too..."
"No chance. Just film from start to finish. She gonna ruin her life over a little scandal? Go ahead. Or use your ability to make her the seducing gold-digger first?"
The Kim family had the power and connections.
Not just Union—government ties too.
"You in or not?"
Not really a question.
Pure pressure to say yes now.
"Got it. I'm in."
He'd already decided to be the guy's lackey—might as well go all in.
Better a noble's dog than a street mutt.
Bonus: get a girl out of it.
"So, who's the target this time..."
"You know. Our year. The childhood sweetheart couple?"
"Them? You said she wasn't your type."
"Exactly."
Exactly why touch them?
"They love each other so much—wanna break 'em. Her face when she cheats on her boyfriend. His when he finds out. Curious, right?"
"..."
"Ah. Already excited."
Jung Ye-bin was heading to the library.
Then she spotted a familiar face sitting by the flower bed.
'The storage clerk? What's he doing?'
He sat on the bench, plucking petals one by one.
Muttering something in a tiny voice.