Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: It's Time to Beat Them
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“…Haa.”
Lee Bora let out a sigh of relief, as if she were thankful for it.
The horrific terrorist attack by the villains that had occurred over the weekend.
It had claimed countless victims across the nation.
Those kids had nearly ended up on that list too.
She'd been shocked just watching from afar—what must it have been like for the ones who were there?
No matter that they were just kids, the terror of death was impartial.
So she worried they might all be trembling in fear, haunted by awful memories.
That even as they forced smiles, darkness might have taken root inside them.
Clutching a bundle of such worries, she stepped into the orphanage.
“Unni!!— ”
“Noonaaa!!— ”
The kids were fine. In fact, they seemed even brighter than before.
“Hahaha! Well now. Being director isn't for just anyone!”
“...Yeah.”
“Who would've thought you'd calm the kids down with some comic-book tale. Man, this is truly impressive.”
From what she gathered, the orphanage director had gone all out.
The villains had shown up, but the heroes had swooped in and crushed them all, cool as can be.
Just like in the hero cartoons or movies the kids watched on TV.
The Smiling Man was so thrilled he was even clapping.
“Hey. Smiling Man. How'd you explain suddenly vanishing that day?”
“Oh, that? I was straight-up honest with the director—I told her I'm the Smiling Man!”
“... .”
At first, it threw her for a loop, but now she was used to it.
It was just meaningless banter he spouted for his own amusement.
No need to take it seriously. No need to play along with a laugh either.
“Hahaha! Ahh, no sweat at all. Yeah, not a worry in the world.”
Right. He'd laugh it off anyway, then give a proper answer.
“I said I got swept up in the fleeing crowds while yelling 'Whoa whoa whoa.' ”
“Ah… .”
“She didn't suspect a thing. Hahaha! Guess hanging around smelly kids has dulled her wits!”
How could anyone suspect him? With that face, who'd figure it out?
She'd already reported the Smiling Man's disguise technique to the Union.
She'd hoped they'd find a countermeasure, but they still hadn't.
He altered not just his expression through his Mana Threads ability, but his muscles and bone structure too.
It wasn't just a change in looks—the whole person transformed.
Unless the Smiling Man revealed it himself, no one could tell.
“Secretary.”
Lee Bora was an infiltration agent who'd undergone special training.
Part of that involved reading the other person's voice, gestures, and such.
To gauge their mood. Their intent when approaching with words.
Mastering that was key to preparing for any contingency.
Lee Bora swallowed hard. Now came the real talk.
“Do you happen to know a hero called Light Dagger?”
“...Light Dagger, you say.”
She answered calmly, playing it cool on the surface.
But in truth, this was the biggest shock of her life right now.
An utterly unexpected name had come from the Smiling Man's mouth.
“Light Dagger. A-Rank hero. There was some buzz recently about his promotion to S-Rank. Ability user who wields flashes of light. And his specialty is… .”
His specialty: blinding the eyes, then closing in fast for a dagger finisher.
A hero who'd stirred some controversy over that method.
Light Dagger had a history of killing villains during captures.
It didn't seem like accidents—more deliberate.
Blind them, then stab the defenseless target with a dagger.
Not an instantly fatal spot. But not a glancing blow either.
A hit meant critical injury. A sure kill.
Yet they didn't die right away—they bled out.
“A hero who makes them watch their own death, inflicting physical and mental torment. That's why the Human Rights Commission slammed him hard. Public sentiment rebelled, though—'They're villains anyway, why bother with their rights?' ”
That was the extent of what she knew as the clan boss's secretary.
Nothing there to freak out over at his question.
But as a Union infiltrator, Lee Bora's perspective was entirely different.
‘No way. Talking about Light Dagger at this timing?’
A-Rank hero Light Dagger had killed civilians in the past.
He claimed they were villain sympathizers.
Other heroes and police present backed him up.
That's how the world knew it. That's what Lee Bora had believed.
Until just a month ago, when she stumbled on the truth of that day.
Those so-called “villain sympathizers” were just protesters who happened to be there.
Worried it'd blow up, the Union pinned the blame on them.
“Threatening protest endangering heroes? Yeah, villain sympathizers.”
They'd bought off the families with money and power, silencing them.
‘There were some who pushed back, sure… .’
But anyone opposing Union interests faced retaliatory reassignments.
Monitors slapped on to keep them from blabbing externally.
All under the excuse of “public trust in heroes.”
Really, it was about preserving the Union's authority.
Anyway. In this mess, the Smiling Man suddenly brings up Light Dagger.
Not coincidence. This was the judge laying out his verdict, all premeditated.
‘Does the Union have an antenna inside? Or another infiltrator like me?’
Or maybe the Smiling Man had already infiltrated the Union himself.
“Actually, this is a secret, Secretary.”
The Smiling Man sidled up close and whispered.
“I'm thinking of killing that hero, Light Dagger!”
“...!”
Here we go again. The Smiling Man's hero-slaying spree.
She'd thought he'd paused after Holy Knight.
Saving people—had that changed him?
No. He was still the grim reaper targeting heroes.
“... .”
Normally, she'd brush it off with “I see” and report straight to the Union.
This was huge. The Smiling Man had never once named a target before.
Not unless the boss ordered it. Otherwise, he handled it solo.
He'd never told anyone, “I'm gonna kill this one.”
And now he was spilling it right in front of her.
The old Lee Bora might've rejoiced—finally gaining his trust.
“Hm? Secretary, your face looks weird all of a sudden?”
“Oh. Just… worried the kids might hear.”
“Oh come on, ridiculous worry. Hahaha!”
But not now. No, it had to be different.
For starters, he'd brought it up first.
To her of all people. About a hero.
Like probing for info only someone deep in the Union would know.
‘It felt exactly like he was certain I'm from the Union and testing me.’
Chills ran down her spine, but she wasn't shaking like before.
Truth was, ever since that day—the day he'd saved the orphanage from villains.
She'd wondered if maybe the Smiling Man already knew her true identity.
A somewhat frightening hunch she'd been harboring.
A ghostly figure more elusive than the clan boss himself.
Clearly anti-hero, yet no ordinary villain.
A man full of secrets. And those with many secrets excel at unearthing others'.
He might've dug into her background with those skills and already knew everything.
‘And… .’
Yeah. Truth be told, this was the clincher for Lee Bora.
A few days ago, she'd learned where the weekend terrorist attack began.
He hadn't led it himself, but his influence was undeniable.
The Union. Yeah, that Union.
She'd known they had issues, but still believed they stood for justice.
No more. They'd crossed a line they shouldn't have.
Especially one Lee Bora could never forgive.
The kids had nearly gotten hurt. No—nearly died.
So what if it wasn't her orphanage? What difference did that make?
She didn't know. Next time, it could be her kids there.
And the Smiling Man might not be around.
Lucky? No. It wasn't luck.
‘He just... helped out.’
He punished un-heroic, vicious heroes.
He saved true heroes and their aspiring cadets.
He wouldn't stand for innocent civilians dying before his eyes.
Not a hero, sure. But not a villain either.
That contradiction was shaking Lee Bora to her core.
“By the way, Secretary.”
Whether her insides churned or not.
The Smiling Man couldn't care less.
“Anything else you know about the hero Light Dagger?”
“If it's his weakness you're after… .”
“Oh, weakness? Nah, don't need that. Not interested. Something more fun would be nice, though. Hahaha!”
He didn't want the target's weakness. Just “fun” info.
That confirmed it for Lee Bora. He knew her identity.
This might even be his last chance for her.
“...How about this, Smiling Man.”
“Ooh! As expected! Our secretary's got the goods—some premium intel, huh?”
“Info on why Light Dagger has to die.”
“Ooh, way heavier than I expected. Reason a hero deserves death? That's huge intel. Even for you, Secretary, getting that kinda thing must be tough, right?”
True. Tough didn't cover it—near impossible.
Even mobilizing informants and antennas, some areas were off-limits.
And the info she was about to offer was from exactly there.
“No need for more tests, Smiling Man.”
“Tests? What're you talking about?”
“You know exactly. I have... another identity too.”
If she ever had to confess under torture someday, it'd be agonizing.
Monsters grilling her for the truth.
Compared to that nightmare, this was downright pleasant.
So her voice stayed calmer than ever.
“...I'm with the Union.”
Lee Bora confessed it all, plainly and in detail.
She might die by the Smiling Man's hand. She'd considered that.
Yet strangely, the man beside her didn't terrify her.
“Secretary.”
Having heard every truth at last, the Smiling Man spoke.
“Does the boss know this?”
“No. She doesn't. But I'll tell her today—”
“Don't.”
“Pardon?”
The Smiling Man gazed at her with an odd smile.
“There's a time for everything. Lies. Truths. Trust me—if you spill now, you'll die, Secretary. Painfully.”
“But… .”
“Act normal for now. No worries. I'll play dumb too.”
Stretching as he stood, he offered his hand.
Without thinking, Lee Bora took it.
“In exchange, one proposal.”
“Proposal?”
“Be my partner.”
Partner? His... partner?
“I need some things. Was gonna ask a hero I know, but he's too straight-laced—no talent for that stuff. Man, if extracting Union intel is this hard, are they even S-Ranks? Hahahaha!”
“...???”
What the hell? The Smiling Man had ties to an S-Rank hero?
Lee Bora grew ever more afraid of just what she was dealing with.