Chapter 59
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: The Tame Cat Smiles (2)
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How much time had passed?
Gradually, the roar of battle began to die down.
While Baek Chang-gi rampaged with a face full of excitement and Kim Ye-eun swung her sword with a scowl of dissatisfaction.
Lee Ji-ah was steadfastly volunteering as a shield, her back turned with anticipation bubbling over.
Si-woo gave a faint smile.
‘She’s solid.’
He turned his head, his gaze dropping to the floor.
Just a few minutes ago, this assassin had been gunning for him.
His expression was still flushed with the ecstasy of certain victory.
….
Si-woo slowly reached out and touched the chunk of ice.
A biting chill emanated from the ice’s surface, pricking his fingertips.
This assassin was the key to their entire operation.
At least, that’s how Si-woo saw it.
They’d thrown in nearly a hundred modified humans to draw attention, hiding an S-grade modified human in the chaos to pull off their first trick.
‘Without my Insight, even that would’ve been dangerous.’
If he hadn’t noticed, it could’ve created a truly disorienting situation for Lee Ji-ah or Baek Chang-gi.
He didn’t think they’d actually lose, but it would’ve been enough to throw them off.
Especially for Lee Ji-ah, who wasn’t used to fighting humans—it could’ve been quite perilous.
But they hadn’t stopped there.
They’d prepared a second trick, and that was this assassin.
The whole plan had led to this moment.
“Hm?”
As he examined the assassin closely, something caught his eye, making it gleam.
‘A watch? No.’
Something resembling an electronic watch was strapped to the assassin’s wrist.
Si-woo didn’t hesitate. He shattered the ice encasing his left hand.
Then he picked up the severed arm and pried the mysterious device off the wrist.
A device about two finger-widths long.
It was shaped just like an electronic watch.
“It’s still active.”
He casually slipped the device into his inner pocket.
He could hand it over to the Americans for a thorough analysis.
But for some reason, his instincts told him he had to keep it.
“CEO!”
Kim Ye-eun came running up from afar, panting heavily.
Dark red blood dripped from the sword in her hand.
And it hummed as if delighted.
Unlike the woman who’d just been venting her frustrations on the modified humans across the battlefield, her face was crumpled in a pout.
“Are you okay? Are you?”
She fussed over Si-woo, inspecting him from every angle.
Then she spotted Lee Ji-ah standing there and furrowed her brow, speaking in a low, sullen tone.
“I could’ve done it.”
“Sure you could’ve.”
Lee Ji-ah tilted her chin up defiantly.
White frost crystals still swirled around her, giving off an aura like a snow spirit.
“It’s true!”
“Yes, I believe you. Why are you so mad, though?”
“Th-that’s…!”
Kim Ye-eun bit her lip, at a loss for words.
She knew it better than anyone.
If it hadn’t been for Lee Ji-ah, Si-woo would’ve been hurt.
She’d rushed over too late; there was no way she could’ve made it in time.
That only made her angrier.
Stomping her feet in frustration, she looked up at Si-woo with aggrieved eyes.
“I killed them all like you ordered, CEO! Good job, right…?”
“Yes, that’s why you were late.”
“Argh! I could’ve made it!”
“Oh, right. Of course.”
“Good work, Ye-eun.”
Unable to stand it any longer, Si-woo stepped in to praise her, and her expression softened instantly.
She grabbed the end of his sleeve with a teary face.
“...I’ll never be late again.”
“Yes, I know.”
At that moment, heavy footsteps approached as Baek Chang-gi arrived.
He swung his arm with a hearty laugh.
“Haha, Han CEO keeps indulging her, so the rabid dog’s getting spoiled rotten.”
“...What?! Rabid dog?”
“Whoops, my bad! Sword Ghost.”
“Gyaak!”
“It’s fine, isn’t it? She’s cute.”
“...What? That rabid dog—no, Sword Ghost—is cute?”
“...Yeah, sure.”
“No way! Where?! Hey, hold on! Put that sword down!”
Kim Ye-eun had already raised her sword and started swinging at Baek Chang-gi, who fled in horror.
She chased him relentlessly, yelling all the while, as he ran for his life.
Then Lee Ji-ah approached and tugged at Si-woo’s sleeve.
She met his eyes with a shy expression.
“Um... what about me?”
“Ji-ah.”
“Y-yes?”
Si-woo raised his hand to her head.
He gently stroked her hair.
“Thank you for protecting me.”
….
“I trusted you.”
Si-woo’s warm words rang in Lee Ji-ah’s ears like the tolling of New Year’s bells.
Every movement of his lips felt like his voice echoing in her mind.
‘...Ahh.’
How long had she longed to hear those words?
How much had she doubted herself?
Even with her power, she could never act like Kim Ye-eun or shine like her.
All she had was her diligent lease contract fulfillment.
She’d settled for the satisfaction of being useful to Si-woo that way.
Doing what Kim Ye-eun couldn’t.
Providing steady revenue to the CEO.
She thought that was her best role.
But even when she reawakened, it was Si-woo who helped her, and when she blossomed, it was again his aid.
And when she failed to protect him properly, she got scolded by Kim Ye-eun.
I should’ve been first.
I knew first.
Then Lee Chae-i joined, expanding the business, and she felt her position threatened.
Being the quiet earner was no longer uniquely hers.
And amid all that, Si-woo finally asked for her help.
Yearning for his praise, she gave her all in raiding the Villain Alliance facility.
‘The CEO has collapsed!’
At the mission’s end, the news hit: Han Si-woo had fallen.
That day, it felt like her world crumbled.
She raced madly to the hospital and faced his pale face.
Seeing him barely breathing, coughing endlessly as if he might die any moment, tore her heart apart.
Why?
Why couldn’t I act like Kim Ye-eun?
She lashed out her self-directed rage at her.
Pathetically.
When really, she despised herself the most.
‘I’m the ugliest. I’m...’
“Don’t cry.”
Was her mind too tangled?
Tears had welled up in her eyes before she knew it.
Si-woo gently wiped them away with his thumb.
“You’ll ruin your pretty face.”
And he spoke warmly again.
Why does this man never hate me, not even once?
Even when he gets hurt because of me, insulted because of me, humiliated because of me.
“Come on, let’s go.”
She took his smiling, extended hand.
Feeling its warmth, she followed where he led.
“Man, that was close. Thought I was gonna die.”
“Tch...!”
“By the way, Ji-ah, today’s the best I’ve seen you look so far, you know?”
“...Pardon?”
“Ha, what a sight. Spectacular.”
Baek Chang-gi looked around at the scattered ice chunks and clicked his tongue in amazement.
They filled the world like an exhibition of battle-scarred sculptures.
“And you’ve got power like this.”
….
“If someone disrespects the one managing me, hit ‘em back tenfold. Disrespecting Han CEO is disrespecting all of us.”
“...Yes.”
“How great is that? You were on fire today.”
…….
Lee Ji-ah offered only a faint smile instead of a reply.
Baek Chang-gi shrugged at her, then approached Si-woo.
“Han CEO. This is worse than we thought.”
“Yes, I know.”
“They can mass-produce these things. No wonder the Americans are tearing their hair out. It’s a modified human army.”
Si-woo nodded.
The Villain Alliance wasn’t just larger than expected—they were far more organized.
They had a clear chain of command.
Today’s plan targeting Si-woo proved it.
And they’d keep coming for him.
‘This is just the beginning.’
That’s when it happened.
Du-du-du-du-du-!
A deafening roar split the sky as dozens of helicopters approached.
“Jeez. Why do the military and cops always show up so damn late?”
Baek Chang-gi sneered.
Whether they were late or Si-woo’s group had finished too quickly was anyone’s guess.
Ku-gu-gu-gung-
The U.S. military’s latest armored vehicles surrounded the limousine and came to a halt.
Fully geared special forces poured out, taking up defensive positions.
Attack helicopters circled overhead, scanning the area.
Colonel Michael leaped from the lead vehicle.
“Mr. Han! Are you alright?!”
He rushed over, pale-faced.
The VIP they’d promised state-guest treatment had been ambushed right after leaving the city.
This was a disgrace not just to the AHB, but to America itself.
“You’re quick for once.”
Si-woo brushed the dust from his clothes and spoke coldly.
Michael, who had no excuse even with ten mouths, could only bow his head.
“I’m truly sorry. They feinted attacks elsewhere to draw us off….”
He trailed off as he surveyed the surroundings, words failing him.
“This is… what….”
Michael’s eyes widened.
The road was utterly destroyed, littered with hundreds of corpses and ice sculptures.
He recognized it instantly.
The bodies and ice statues strewn about.
The chill blanketing the area showed the assault involved at least hundreds.
‘And all modified humans.’
The residual mana waves from the corpses were familiar.
At least B-grade or higher horde.
Mixed in were some S-grade equivalents, now rolling like trash on the ground.
‘And they cleared it… with just three people?’