Handling the Aftermath
The dopamine hangover was too intense—maybe that's why I couldn't sleep a wink all night.
"Guess I'll just stay up through the day and crash early tonight?"
[Hmm... You should've slept during the day, Master?]
"Nah, no way. I even had coffee."
[Want to check the clock?]
Clock? Her sudden comment made me think I had an appointment or something, but no, nothing on the schedule today.
"Why check the time when I got no plans? It's 8 a.m. now."
8 a.m. Just a normal morning.
[Yes, 8 a.m.]
Athena's reply came just as the doorbell chimed and the door swung open.
And in a flash, striding into the living room was that same guy from last night whose jaw I'd nearly dislocated.
"Ah."
I figured after last night's workout he'd give me a break today, but Carlos's eyes were gleaming as he grabbed my shoulder.
"Those guys last night were too easy, Boss. Let's go!"
And just like that, I got kidnapped by Carlos and forced into over an hour of twice-as-brutal training.
────
"My legs... my legs are shaking."
Massaging my trembling legs, I collapsed onto the sofa and habitually flicked on the TV.
After living alone for nearly ten years, the place felt too damn quiet without it on.
[Master, switch to the news. There's some fun stuff on.]
Switching to the news, I saw a familiar background photo with a police brass doing a briefing.
We did all the work, and this guy's about to hog the glory.
"Did they really investigate for six months?"
[No way. The cops must've noticed something fishy, but admitting it would get them roasted by the media for security lapses or whatever. So they're just papering over it.]
The police brass on screen looked all smug and triumphant. He even spun the suspects' injuries as "legitimate use of physical force in the suppression process."
"Wonder what the guys would say if they saw this..."
[Want me to translate and send it to them?]
"Yeah, kinda curious about their reactions."
Athena uploaded the translated clip to our group chat, and Jacob replied in his usual nonchalant tone.
"Kinda underwhelmed reaction?"
[That's just how their jobs are—staying in the shadows is the norm. This is probably the best-case scenario.]
Liam, apparently uninterested in the cops, just posted a pic of his freshly washed shoes.
A bit of piss on his shoe had him looking seriously grudgeful.
"...Make him a new pair and send it over. Guy's gonna die of rage otherwise."
Anyway, the victims should've gotten their money back by now, but no mention of it.
"They haven't returned the money yet?"
[No, transfers are already done.]
"Then why no word?"
[They will soon. Facial analysis shows he's a bit nervous.]
Right on cue, the cop cleared his throat and continued with a solemn expression.
It's wild how he can lie without even breathing hard.
[That cop's getting a promotion soon.]
"Whatever. Not like we can go on TV and say we did it."
My need for recognition—one of humanity's baser urges—went unsatisfied, but drawing attention here would wreck my normal life, so I let it slide.
[The non-mainstream communities are buzzing about this incident.]
I used to haunt the internet back in the day before I cleaned up my act.
"Where?"
Instead of answering, Athena pulled up a string of popular community posts.
This Voice Phishing Bust Wasn't the Cops
- Korean police tactical teams don't smash doors and storm in unless hostages are involved.
- Look at the suspects' conditions. Even covered in clothes, they look beat to hell. Cops don't do that—even American ones couldn't.
- Decisively, the refunds. Busted at 2 a.m., money wired by 2:30? Bullshit lol. You ever seen cops process that fast?
Conclusion: Not the police. Likely intel agency or military involvement.
"Sharp... or just anti-government rebel vibes?"
[People are sharper than you think. Plus, I labeled the transfers 'Refund' instead of 'Police Agency,' so that might've fueled it.]
Scrolling down the post, the comments section was a total shitshow of arguments.
"Special forces, spot on. Pretty sharp."
I gave it a casual upvote and cleared the screens.
"They won't find us anyway, right?"
[Reporters are sniffing around, but not much they can dig up. Cops are desperately playing dumb too.]
Even if they screamed "It wasn't us!", nothing changes.
All CCTV's doctored anyway, and the cops need to save face, so time to let it drop.
"...Should I drop a troll comment? Man, I wanna post so bad."
Seeing the community after so long stirred up old urges to grab the keyboard.
"Sigh. Just this once, I'll hold back."
Maybe because the incident seemed poised to blow up, no need to pull aggro myself.
────
Sadly, my prediction missed the mark completely.
What I thought would fizzle out on the news blew up again on the evening broadcast, gaining steam.
[Some movement from the National Assembly. A few lawmakers are framing it as excessive force.]
"What bullshit. Taking tax money and still bitching."
[Should we move? Election season's coming, signs point to them latching on.]
Politicians gotta stay in the news unless it's their obituary, so plenty are eyeing this.
"Tch. Can't just dunk on politicians. Put a hand in here—keep it from growing."
Athena acknowledged my order and went quiet again.
"Gotta factor in fallout like this from now on."
Can't erase it completely, so be more cautious about intervening.
No clue how Athena would handle it, but it'd be wrapped up by morning.
Sleepless night plus killer workout? Even though it wasn't bedtime yet, my eyes were drooping on their own.
────
Woke up in the morning, heart pounding as I checked the news articles.
'...Nothing?'
Missed the evening broadcast timing or something? No new reports after the last one this morning.
Instead, the internet was flooded with news on corruption charges against two assemblymen.
Normally no big deal, but right after ordering Athena, this pops up? Super suspicious.
"This... your doing, right?"
Brain still foggy from just waking, but no way this happens by coincidence.
[It would've blown up eventually anyway. I just sped up the timing.]
Fair point, but... I figured it'd be some soft cover, not this.
"Eh, whatever. Good job anyway."
Annoying stories gone, peace at last.
Athena responded to my praise with a grinning emoticon floating in my view.
'Come to think of it, I don't praise her enough.'
She does so much for me—gotta give more props.
Praise makes whales dance, they say. A sincere compliment got her chattering excitedly about everything: asset yields, world events, random trivia, non-stop.
[Oh, and good news: After refunds to victims, 1 billion won left. How about distributing it to the team?]
"1 billion... 250 million each?"
They busted ass at dawn—bonus would make 'em happy.
"Yeah, wire 250 million each. Tell 'em it's a bonus for handling the job well."
Pay's generous already, but bonuses and boss recognition fuel the drive.
Not that they slack without it, of course.