Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Wake Up to Deception
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Wake up!
Yesterday had been an absolutely unforgettable day for Yi Bora.
It had started as a fun outing with the orphanage kids.
But it had turned into a complete mess because of the villains' terrorist attack.
She had nearly been left with a regret she'd carry for life.
She would have spent her days blaming herself for being late and failing to save anyone.
If it hadn't been for the Smiling Man, it really would have turned out that way.
Unintentionally, she kept owing him debts.
"You've come."
And so, the next day, Sunday morning.
Yi Bora had come to work on the weekend after receiving a call from the Boss.
In the past, she might have wondered why she was being summoned on a weekend again.
Even villains deserved their weekends off as a basic right.
But now, she actually thought it was a good thing.
She had something she absolutely needed to confirm today.
"You called for me, Boss."
"Sorry to call you in on the weekend. But this is such an urgent matter."
When she mentioned an urgent matter, it was usually some mechanical problem.
If she just didn't bother dealing with machines at all, that might be one thing.
But out of pride as the Boss, she always tried her hand at fixing them.
The problem was that her attempts often made things worse than if she'd left them alone.
"It's so frustrating! Weren't machines made to make life convenient for people? Yet why do they make life more inconvenient the more advanced they get?!"
Whenever she threw a tantrum like that, Yi Bora would smile, thinking that the woman was human after all.
Without those moments, she might have truly felt like she was facing a monster.
"Is the machine acting up again by any chance?"
"Not that."
"Then..."
Could it be go? Was she called on the weekend for a game of go?
"I heard some very interesting things happened yesterday."
"...Ah."
"Villains wreaked havoc across the country, causing massive damage, right?"
Yi Bora had been about to bring it up casually herself, but the Black Woman had beaten her to it.
Was it good luck? Or had she anticipated Yi Bora's actions?
"Boss. Could it be..."
"After all these years together, don't you know me? I rest on weekends too. I don't meddle in what my underlings do, but calling them in on weekends is something I avoid first and foremost."
"..."
"That's why I called you to look into it. From what I see, it looks like those runaway dogs from our house are excitedly biting at anyone they see."
The Black Woman suspected the faction that had split off from the Clan not long ago.
Commonly known as the Evil Brigade.
She was drawing a line, claiming it had nothing to do with her.
"I thought it was an order from you, Boss."
"It's true I want to give those arrogant heroes a smackdown, and it's also true I want to land a blow on the insufferably smug Union. But didn't I tell you? To properly mock and ridicule them, we need those civilians right there."
"..."
"The other villains don't get that. They just rampage around killing and destroying like immature brats. The more they do that, the weaker we get and the stronger the heroes become—they don't realize it."
The picture the Black Woman wanted had been clear from the start.
Make ordinary citizens bone-deep realize the heroes' incompetence.
Those you call heroes are nothing special.
Will they cling to you like sacrificial saviors when danger strikes?
No. When things go south, they'll shake you off and save themselves first.
They're the type to threaten you into praising them if you don't.
Forget heroes. Forget villains. Nothing works.
Only when you accept and acknowledge that will you learn your true masters.
"Anyway. It's confirmed the Evil Brigade pulled off that stunt. Or maybe it was my underlings, but since they've done something like that, I can't consider them under me anymore anyway, so it doesn't matter."
"..."
Yi Bora bit her lip without realizing it.
Actually, she'd heard something from the Union last night.
The villain attacks that happened seemed to be the Clan's doing.
Otherwise, they couldn't have been on such a massive scale.
So hurry and uncover the Clan's weaknesses and pass them here.
Or do whatever it takes to make them rampage even more.
Villains must absolutely be unadulterated evil—no ifs, ands, or buts.
That's how you protect world peace and the people.
Look at the horrific terror they unleashed this weekend!
'But this woman claims she didn't order it.'
The Union insisting the Clan was definitely behind it.
The Clan Boss saying she never gave such an order.
One of them was lying. Or maybe both.
"Monitor the Evil Brigade's movements from now on. Set everything else aside."
"Understood, Boss."
"If needed, move on your own discretion or use people as you see fit."
Permission to use informants freely.
Yi Bora's expression subtly changed for a moment.
Using people meant overlooking any suspicious moves too.
Perfect. Now she could meet Union contacts directly.
Pretending to gather info, she had something crucial to confirm.
Who exactly was lying to her?
Which side should she align with now?
"Then, I'll be off for a bit."
"Moving already? I called you today because it's urgent, but that doesn't mean you have to rush off right away. Weekends were made for resting."
"..."
What an odd thing. Yi Bora gave an awkward smile.
The Union hounded her for info every single day.
Yet the villains apologized for calling her on the weekend and told her to rest.
After leaving the Clan, Yi Bora immediately used a secret route.
She'd worried about suspicion before, but not this time.
It had come straight from the Boss's mouth.
She could use people, so she had an excuse for contact.
She sped up. She wanted to make contact as soon as possible.
"...Purple?"
Sundays were for receiving info from antennas placed elsewhere.
Upon arriving at the designated spot, sure enough, someone from Team 7 was waiting.
"What are you doing?! What if you get caught?!"
"It's urgent. I want immediate contact with upper command."
"Showing up out of nowhere with this nonsense! Do you think we're playing house?!"
"I'm sorry. But it really is urgent."
Yi Bora was the sole antenna attached to the Clan Boss.
Her current actions were definitely wrong, but she couldn't be brushed off.
In the end, Yi Bora was guided to a hidden Union safehouse.
Along with word that Team 7's leader would arrive soon if she went there.
Yi Bora nodded and headed to the location provided.
It was her first time there. She'd heard it was a place hardly used anymore.
Guiding her to a place like this—they must greatly suspect tails.
Or perhaps they suspected her betrayal.
"...Huh?"
She had just arrived at the safehouse and was about to enter.
Voices of people talking inside drifted out.
This was strange. She'd been told it was unused.
So why were there voices inside?
Hearing what you shouldn't always made life complicated.
Yi Bora recalled that and tried to slip away quickly.
But her physical abilities were nearly on par with a hero's.
And crucially, the next words completely pinned her in place.
"...How's the Evil Brigade reacting? As we expected?"
"Perfect. They charged in without a second thought."
"Good. If the damage grows just a bit more, we can bury all topics under this incident. Don't forget—this event isn't just the Evil Brigade; frame it as 'villains' overall and have it reported daily. Pass that to each broadcaster."
"But a lot of reporters are still covering the Holy Knight incident..."
"Then just get rid of those guys first. Say they got taken out by villains, and it's done."
Yi Bora realized her body was trembling.
Right now. What am I... What am I hearing right now?
What? They made the Evil Brigade move?
This is a Union safehouse. No one but Union knows about it.
No reason for villains to come here and have that conversation.
That means those guys are Union members.
Who the hell are they? Not Team 7's leader or the branch chief by their voices.
'As far as I remember, no one in the Korea Branch has that tone. At least, they're not Korea Branch people.'
Suddenly, instinct told her she shouldn't be here.
Yi Bora fled the safehouse like she was running away.
But another worry grabbed her ankle.
By now, word that she wanted contact must have reached the team leader.
If she vanished after that, she'd raise suspicions.
She had to go back. But going back wouldn't make the problem disappear.
If the team leader found out she'd heard that conversation?
Something terrifying she didn't even want to imagine would happen.
She might even be labeled a traitor and eliminated.
'The orphanage kids nearly died to villains—not to mention all those other people. Plenty actually did. But it wasn't just villain crime; there were instigators behind it? And with high probability, it was the Union who orchestrated it?'
Her hands shook. From shock, betrayal, and rage.
Though she was just a mere agent, not even a hero.
The biggest reason was to keep getting support for the orphanage.
Still, she had a sense of duty to act for the world and its people.
And now, that was being utterly denied and crumbling apart.
How far had the Union rotted?
...No. Maybe it had been rotten from the very beginning.
Meanwhile.
"Hmm."
The man from Team 7 who had told Yi Bora about the safehouse.
He glanced in the direction she'd disappeared for a moment.
"This should do it."
He flashed a very satisfied, bright smile.
Then he fiddled with his face here and there.
Crack! Crunch!!
A moment later, his appearance had completely changed.
His true identity was none other than the Smiling Man.