Taming the Black Market Queen
I'd used mental domination on Lisa, but it wasn't strong enough to overhaul her personality like usual.
It was just a subtle suggestion—nothing that would disrupt her daily life.
The left head, which had handled the domination directly, grumbled that it wanted to rip her personality apart and rebuild it from scratch…
Good thing it held back.
Her temperament aside, I didn't want to toss away this rare useful card I'd just acquired.
To check if the suggestion had taken hold, I asked her a few probing questions afterward.
Personal details I hadn't known before, that sort of thing.
Lisa's real name was Jeong Soo-ah, and she was only twenty-four.
She'd seemed young, but this was younger than I'd imagined.
How had someone so young clawed her way to the top of Korea's underworld?
Curious, I dug deeper into her backstory. Apparently, she'd inherited the family business from her grandfather.
Her grandfather, the former Black Market boss, and her father, his successor, had both died suddenly.
Before anyone could properly investigate the cause, young Jeong Soo-ah had stepped up to stabilize the chaos and take over the Black Market.
She was just eighteen at the time.
She'd endured all sorts of hardships at that age, but with loyal retainers like Na Yeon-seong—who'd been around since her grandfather's days—and her own awakening as a hunter, she'd managed to hold it together somehow.
Then, about two years ago, she'd reached S-rank and unified the Black Market's fractured factions.
That let her seize control of nearly sixty percent of the underworld, cementing her position as its undisputed queen.
She'd been steadily expanding her influence to fully dominate Korea's underbelly—until a string of "incidents and accidents" threw everything into disarray.
As she explained all this, staring at me with those sharp eyes, her attitude was barely different from usual, even with the suggestion in place.
Maybe I should've tweaked her personality a bit after all?
I nodded along as she spoke, mulling it over.
The initial suggestion seemed perfect.
Even if nothing looked drastically changed.
At least now, Lisa—no, Jeong Soo-ah—wouldn't betray me first.
I hadn't expected things to play out this way, but it was satisfying.
We exchanged a few more words about what came next, then quietly took our leave.
As we headed out, Jeong Soo-ah handed me a smartphone.
"Use this for contact," she said. It was a top-of-the-line model—far too pricey for just a burner phone.
I accepted it gratefully.
As I fiddled with it, I caught Snow glancing my way.
I shot Jeong Soo-ah a quick look.
She called in Na Yeon-seong, who was waiting outside.
After a brief exchange, he bowed and said, "Please wait just ten minutes," before dashing off.
We settled in to wait leisurely.
Jeong Soo-ah brewed us tea with practiced ease, just like she'd once claimed she did herself.
Watching her now, it clearly wasn't a lie.
Snow seemed quite taken with it.
Exactly ten minutes later, Na Yeon-seong returned, breathing heavily despite trying to hide it.
Poor guy—he could've taken his time; it wouldn't have mattered.
Now Snow had an identical smartphone, and she was thrilled.
She watched her little sister tinkering with hers for a good while, her expression impassive as ever, but her fluttering eyelashes betrayed her excitement.
Good thing she was in human form. If she'd been in her true shape, that lush tail would've been wagging wildly.
For Snow's dignity, I'd pretend not to notice.
We left with Jeong Soo-ah seeing us off.
I politely declined Na Yeon-seong's offer to escort us.
While I was at it, I gave him the same light suggestion as I'd given her.
Now I could rest easy, even in the worst-case scenario.
Na Yeon-seong was A-rank, one step below Jeong Soo-ah, but trickier to handle.
Someone middling-strong like him required delicate calibration—too much pressure, and it could backfire. Unlike with someone just right, like her.
Thanks for the hard work, left head.
[So, what's the plan now? Moving out right away?]
As we left the hotel and started walking, Snow asked.
I glanced at her, her voice echoing familiarly in my mind.
There sat a stunning beauty, eyes glued to the smartphone in her hand.
[You like it, huh?]
[…Ahem. It's quite a fine device. Suli and the children will love it.]
Snow downplayed it as if it didn't faze her, but her gaze never left the screen.
For her dignity, I'd pretend not to notice.
First smartphones always get that reaction.
[…So, what will you do, my lord?]
[Hmm. Still thinking. I'd love to sweep it all up in one go, but that's probably impossible.]
[Ah, yes. From what the young miss said, making a big fuss outside is dangerous, no? Humans—hunters, specifically—would swarm in droves.]
Looks like her little sister had taught her the outside world's common sense along with language.
Silent thanks to her.
[Exactly. Human form or true—either way, if I cut loose big-time, hunters would come running. This country's quick on that front, at least. Can't rampage outside.]
[Hm… But I heard there's no one in this land who could stop me…]
[No hunter matches your rank, Snow. But hunters don't fight one-on-one. Even lower ranks in a prepared raid team are a real threat.]
I recalled the hunters we'd met heading home from the labyrinth before.
Just one S-rank among them—no SA-rank—and they'd still given us trouble.
I'd handle them better now, sure. But a proper raid team was still dangerous.
A 300-strong group with one S-rank had been tough. Outside, I'd face thousands, including multiple S- and SA-ranks.
With Snow, we could escape sans an SS-rank, but it'd cost more than it gained.
No point taking that loss.
[So, real action starts later?]
[Yeah. I'll move slow based on Jeong Soo-ah's intel. Pick off the bottom rung by rung, then swallow the head whole when the gap opens.]
Snow nodded lightly at my calm explanation.
Then she murmured,
[Good. I was worried you'd charge off now. Starting to miss Suli and the kids…]
She couldn't hide her smile.
Her eyes drifted back to the phone.
If she had ears or a tail right now, they'd be thrashing uncontrollably.
Again, for her dignity—
Wait, no. I hadn't said a word.
She knows I'm onto her embarrassment, but stop poking my arm already.
Durability's still abnormally high compared to other stats.
Ah, it just went up again.
Back home, Snow eagerly fiddled with her phone.
She got help from her little sister on tricky bits.
Glad she's enjoying it.
For reference, Suli and the kids played with mine.
I've used them plenty as a human—no big deal—so I let them have it.
Fox, snake, and pig… er, rabbit too.
The three little ones huddled around the screen—adorable.
Her little sister was clutching her mouth, eyes welling up.
I get it.
Gonna take a photo?
Hold up—not that photos are bad, but…
Video. Gotta capture every bit of cuteness.
Don't miss a second. I trust you.
I had her send over the videos and pics for safekeeping.
Uploaded them to the new phone too.
I'll rewatch whenever I'm bored.
"So, bro—what'd you and sis get up to? Trying to make Suli a little sister?"
Her sudden question left me speechless for a beat.
"…Work."
"Monsters doing work? What kind?"
Thinking I'd bullshitted her, she snorted derisively, then smirked lewdly.
"Oh, embarrassed? You can be honest. I'm an adult now."
"…Told you, work. Met some folks I owe a favor from before."
I paused, weighing how much to tell her.
She misinterpreted my silence and giggled.
"No need to make up stories. I get it. Wouldn't mind another cute niece~."
Her knowing smirk and nod left me at a loss.
She used to be so quiet and proper…
Hunter life ruined her.
She's gone feral.
Not that I hate it, but… it's irritating.
Especially her elbow jabbing my side, prodding me to spill.
Where'd that dutiful girl from my memories go?
Heartbreaking.
"…Work, again. Can't give details, but it's underworld stuff."
I sighed amid her teasing.
She tilted her head at my flat tone.
"Underworld? Like the Black Market?"
"You know it?"
"I'm an S-rank hunter. Better than civilians or most others. Raid mates block the gritty details, but I know enough."
I nodded.
She's a full-fledged S-rank; no way she's stayed innocent.
She probably knows the hunter world's dark side better than me.
Suddenly, her bright demeanor hit different.
Her "I'm an adult now" echoed anew.
"So, what's the deal? Big trouble?"
"…Hunters from Japan and China are infiltrating. Aiming to seize the underworld first, then dominate Korea's hunters entirely."
Stripping it to essentials, surprise flickered across her face.
"For real?"
"Straight from a source. Solid intel."
"……."
She clamped her mouth shut.
Her eyes darted as she thought. I waited.
"…Association or government?"
"Too dirty for them to touch."
"…Yeah, figures."
She nodded, then made a strange face—recalling someone, no doubt.
I could guess who. Ironically, Jeong Soo-ah had triggered the same thought in me.
"…How'd you get tangled in this?"
"Did some business before. Lost gear disposal."
She glared at my casual reply.
She'd caught the "lost gear" hint.
I shrugged innocently.
She sighed softly, dropping it.
"…Fine, I get how. So, how deep you going?"
"Good pay. I'll act as long as it doesn't bite us."
"…You won't listen if I say stop. Same as always."
I nodded.
She sighed again, watching me.
"Need help?"
"Watch Suli and the kids. Snow and I'll handle it."
Her gaze slid to Snow.
Ignoring our talk—or too absorbed—Snow stared endlessly at her phone. Normally, she'd meet eyes.
Silence fell between us.
"…Ahem! Yeah, you two should be fine. SA and SS-rank monsters, even if you don't look it."
"Wanna see the labyrinth sometime?"
"Hmm? Curious… but you're offering too easily. What's the catch?"
"…Nothing."
I averted my eyes from her stare.
“She’d seen through my ploy to regain my ‘big brother’ authority by revealing my true form.”
Sharp as ever…
"…Anyway, got it. Won't pry… but…"
She trailed off.
Why the pause?
I watched. She hesitated, then spoke softly.
"…Promise you'll come back this time."
"No worries. Leaving the kids with you, right?"
"Says the guy who might not return without nieces."
"…Busted."
She raised a fist quietly.
I surrendered meekly.
"Relax. I'll come back safe."
"…I'll hold you to it. No huge messes."
I fell silent at her quiet addendum.
Opponents being who they were, quiet resolution seemed unlikely.
Japan's twins or China's SA-rank? Manageable. But Wang Feng at the end? Different story.
"…Can't promise that."
She frowned at my pause.
I looked away innocently.
She launched into nagging. I fled to the kids.
With them around, even she held back.
Or forgot nagging entirely, rolling on the floor with them.
Sibling thing?
We share tastes.
No—Suli's fluff is mine.
Make do with To Soon-i's squish.
No begging.
Give up.
Sibling spat nearly erupted—but Snow arrived at To Soon-i's "Hweeeeng!" wail, ending it before start.
We got scolded together after.
Fine, wrong to fight in front of kids.
But kneeling with hands up? Overkill.
Dad dignity shattered.
Sister snickered beside me.
Pot, kettle.
Snow was strongest here, anyway.
(She dove back into phone trance with the kids post-scolding.)
Happy sight makes me glad too.