Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Even with a Time Limit, It's Fine Because I'm a Genius
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This was the second time activating Perusal on a person.
However, it might as well have been the first.
The first test subject had been Professor Lee Tae-jin.
He was practically a superhuman with an unfathomably profound realm, so there was no way he'd suffer any side effects.
[Activate trait 'Perusal.']
But this time, I used it without hesitation.
"Everything this guy knows about the glowing tattoos."
I narrowed the scope to minimize the mana cost.
[When the medium is a living being, the trait's effect is reduced.]
[The more resistant the medium, the less information can be read.]
Tzzzzzt—
Moments later, more mana than expected drained out all at once, making me stagger.
A fierce headache hit, and unfamiliar information began flooding in chaotically.
"Ugh."
I sat on the floor, pressing my temples hard while checking on Scarface's condition.
He convulsed violently for a bit before going limp—plop.
His chest was rising and falling, so he seemed fine, no threat to his life.
Was this a pass, then?
I'd expected him to be crippled at least, but the aftereffects weren't that bad.
Good thing.
Now I could use it without worry going forward.
"Anyway."
Once the stabbing headache faded, I started sorting through the info I'd gained.
As expected, Scarface was just a low-level thug, so the quantity and quality of information were poor.
But there was definitely some mysterious organization.
An unknown force even I wasn't aware of.
Scarface didn't know the exact name either; they were just called Pawns.
It was clear he'd received the raw material for the glowing tattoos—called "Booster," a transparent liquid—from a burly man in a black mask.
The meeting spot was a two-story manor on a low hill in Nice, a southern French city.
It was imprinted via syringe injection into the skin, and the activation condition was the user's "will."
I learned they were experimenting on thugs like these.
That was all the useful info.
At this point, I gave up and stood.
It was bigger than I'd thought, and stepping into this murky territory left me uneasy.
"Are you all right?"
Just then, urgent footsteps approached, followed by Reina's voice.
I set aside my questions and greeted her calmly.
"Yeah, as you can see, they weren't that tough…"
"That's a relief. But the situation is quite serious. You felt it too, didn't you, Ha-yul? Those tattoos."
"Ah, that…"
But Reina was another eyewitness, so I couldn't hide everything.
"Not that. We need to report this right away. Power that defies logic…"
"Hang on. Calm down first."
I cut her off and met her eyes.
Then continued gravely.
"What happened today must not leak outside. Absolutely."
"Pardon?"
Reina looked stunned for a moment, but I raised a finger to signal I wasn't done.
Then I explained, embellishing a bit.
The thugs were just a side branch; there was a separate force behind them.
They were elusive and sneaky, so the moment we launched an official investigation,
they'd vanish without a trace. I laid it on thick.
I skipped tricky parts like the info's source.
"So you're saying we should bury this?"
"No. We'll keep investigating. We have to root them out somehow. We can decide about reporting later."
"…"
Reina narrowed her eyes in thought before nodding.
"Understood. If that's your will, I'll follow."
"Good choice. Trust me, and I'll handle…"
"But."
…But?
"Investigating alone is out of the question. I'll join you, so know that."
"Huh?"
What the…
"Excuse me. Saintess? Don't decide so rashly. Let me…"
The conversation veered off, so I hurried to continue.
But Reina was firm.
"We're already in this together, aren't we? Now that I know, I can't sit idle."
"Why not? Sitting idle is great."
"Not for me. Anyway, if you keep refusing, I'll move on my own."
Tsk.
She was the type to follow through.
If she poked around and caused trouble, that'd be worse.
No choice.
I'd have to keep her close.
"Fine. But…"
I took a step back and laid out some ground rules.
I made it clear I held the reins on the investigation.
She'd follow any decisions I made.
No questions about anything suspicious during the process, etc.
I added a bunch of details, but the gist was simple.
If you're joining, shut up and follow.
I came on strong from the start.
"Understood. Let's do it that way."
Reina didn't seem to mind and extended her hand.
Well, positively, it meant gaining a powerful ally, so I shook it more readily than before.
But then.
"Just answer one thing."
The grip tightened suddenly.
Reina's eyes, now deadly serious, bored into mine.
I realized refusal wasn't an option and nodded.
She asked.
"You're not here without reason… Why are you chasing the tattoos?"
"…"
It was a loaded question, packed with implications.
It assumed my reason for being here was the tattoos.
So, honestly…
This time, without a shred of deception, I answered straight.
"I'm… No, I'm chasing traces of someone."
"An important person?"
"…Yes. Someone precious."
That was it.
Not who, but what they meant to me.
…
[Reina's favorability has increased.]
[Acquire 2 SP.]
I stared blankly at the message, then ow…
I suddenly noticed blood wasn't flowing to my right hand.
"Hand…"
"Ah. Sorry."
Reina hastily released the hand she'd been crushing.
Her face slightly flushed, she glanced around and pointed at the bearded guy and Scarface sprawled on the floor.
"…What about these guys?"
"Ah. That."
I pulled out my phone with my throbbing hand.
They'd committed plenty of crimes, so I had no intention of letting them off easy—and the perfect person for cleanup came to mind.
"I know a thug. No, a broker. I'll ask him."
"A thug you know?"
"A broker."
"What's the difference?"
"Not much. But he gets things done reliably. In my view…"
She could be surprisingly sharp at times.
I chuckled wryly, checked my messages, and found the number.
*Ahem.*
I lowered my voice and called.
After a few rings, a raspy voice came through.
-Hey, who is this? Terminal Guy?
"Doing well?"
-Me? Same old. Got a lot of mouths to feed, always busy. But why the call? Coming to the hunting grounds?
Viper sounded subtly excited.
He'd made a killing thanks to an Irregular before, so he had expectations.
But today's business wasn't hunting.
"You handle disposals?"
-Goods? I take most anything, long as it's not too big. How big we talking?
"Not big."
-Big? How big.
How big?
I pondered how to describe it, then just said it straight.
"Yeongdeungpo."
-Yeongdeungpo? What about it.
"Exactly that. I'd like you to take over Yeongdeungpo, Viper."
* * *
There's an old saying: befriend the right person, and you can become prime minister.
Old sayings are never wrong.
"Puhahaha, what a stroke of luck."
Viper rushed over the moment he heard.
In just over 30 minutes, he rolled in with fifty-odd underlings and stormed the Capital…
Now he was in a back room, facing the bearded guy for "talks."
Something about a legitimate succession agreement between bosses.
It was dirty money anyway, soaked in others' blood and pus—I didn't want it. So I just said one thing.
"50%."
Use the Capital's funds to repay ill-gotten interest, liquidate the rest.
Deposit 50% to me.
…Did I lowball it?
Anyway, he's reliable, so he'll handle it.
Reina was waiting at a nearby cafe, so wearing my incognito mask wasn't an issue.
Thus, the "Flashy Crew" disbanded with this incident.
Criminals to the police, innocents home.
Scarface held for now—Viper's side would keep him.
Sending him to the cops felt off somehow.
Timeline: until my Nice trip.
Next week, the Youth Exploration Club's destination was Italy—perfect to hitch a ride.
I'd investigate in free time; different country but close, easy portal hop.
Once wrapped up, I bid Viper farewell.
He came running out, lining up his goons.
"I'll contact you once it's sorted. Boys, pay respects. This is the VIP of Viper Gang."
"Take care, Big Bro Terminal!"
What was this?
Suddenly all buddy-buddy, but I gave them commemorative advice.
"Live clean, no crimes."
Outside, it was past 5 p.m. already.
I'd aimed for 6, but…
Tsk.
No way I'd make it rushing now, so I texted.
Unavoidable circumstances, but I'd broken the promise—sent a long apology.
Whatever Joo Ah-rin said, yeah yeah…
I could take double curses with a smile.
[…Got it. I just remembered now too, so don't worry.]
But what was this?
For real?
Joo Ah-rin forgetting our meetup felt fishy, so I was about to ask again.
[But can I ask one thing?]
She beat me to it, so I figured I'd hear her out.
[What.]
But then, radio silence.
No reply even after returning to Taehak with Reina and hitting the dorm.
Finally, as I lay in bed, my phone buzzed.
[Never mind. Just keep it (Keep). I'll ask next time.]
What a letdown.
Crossing to write "keep" in English was so her.
I smirked and replied.
[Okay]