Teamwork (2)
Around the time Kang Hyuk was secretly suppressing his murderous intent, Red Skull was stealing glances at him.
They call him Chugoe, but he doesn't look the part at all. Even though his mask hides most of his features, that jawline and those eyes belong to a remarkably handsome man...
Red Skull couldn't help but feel suspicious. From what he knew, Chugoe was a notoriously hideous villain. Rumor had it he became a villain solely because of his face, so how could he look like this?
...Well, whatever.
A moment later, Red Skull shrugged it off. It didn't matter what Chugoe actually looked like. All that mattered was completing this job. If they pulled this off, he wouldn't have to worry about money for a very long time.
"Now that everyone is here, I'll explain the plan. As you all know, we are going to kidnap a B-class Hero. This is our target."
Red Skull pulled out a tablet. On the screen was a photo of a woman in clerical robes, deep in prayer.
Name: Ellen (The Saintess)
Rank: B-class Hero
Specialty: S-class Healing Abilities (Instant regeneration, limb regrowth, cardiac resuscitation)
Combat Capability: None (F-class equivalent)
"Saintess Ellen. She's a girl capable of instantly healing even the most fatal wounds. She's ranked B-class only because she has zero combat capabilities, but in terms of sheer utility, her power is easily S-class."
"A woman like that must have a massive security detail," Fox pointed out.
"You're absolutely right. Over a hundred guards keep her under tight, round-the-clock security."
"..."
Rector and Fox stared at Red Skull as if he had lost his mind. Over a hundred guards? How were they supposed to break through that kind of defense with just the four of them?
"Heh, there's no need to worry. Do you really think I'd propose this without a plan?"
"You'd better explain it properly," Fox snapped. "Otherwise, I'm walking out of here right now."
"Calm down, Fox." Red Skull chuckled and stole another glance at Chugoe.
Unlike Rector and Fox, Chugoe looked completely unbothered. Anyone else would have paled at the mention of over a hundred guards, yet he remained perfectly calm.
Was Chugoe always this strong? I heard his primary weapon is a machine gun, but I don't know much about his actual combat record.
Red Skull gave Chugoe a long look before speaking again. His explanation was simple. Once a year, Saintess Ellen went to the slums to do volunteer medical work. During this time, her security detail became incredibly lax. The reason was to avoid intimidating the impoverished residents with a heavy armed presence.
"We will use this window of opportunity to kidnap Ellen. Everyone's role is critical here. Read this."
Red Skull handed each of them a thick folder. Inside were maps of the slums, their individual assignments, and communication codes.
"You have two hours to memorize everything in there. Once you're done, I'll hand out the necessary gear."
Location: The Slums (Annual Volunteer Site)
Objective: Subdue and extract the target without alerting the main security force.
Key Directives: Memorize the escape routes, coordinate via encrypted radio codes, and gather at the designated abandoned factory post-extraction.
"Hey, wait a second," Fox interrupted. "There's one major detail missing from these papers."
"What's missing?"
"Where we're supposed to deliver Ellen after we grab her."
Red Skull stiffened slightly at Fox's question. After a brief pause, he shrugged. "You don't need to know that. Once you bring Ellen back to this factory, your job is done."
"Done? Just like that?"
"Yes. You take your twenty million won and go home. What happens after that is none of your business," Red Skull said coldly.
In truth, Red Skull had organized this kidnapping because a powerful figure had commissioned him directly. The client had promised a staggering one billion won for Ellen's capture. Red Skull intended to keep the vast majority of that sum for himself. His plan was to bring Ellen to this abandoned factory, pay the others their twenty million won, and immediately disband the team. Delivering Ellen to the client was something he could easily do alone.
"None of our business? We're working together, so why are you keeping secrets? Don't you guys agree?" Fox had no intention of backing down. She turned to Rector and Chugoe. "Think about it, guys. We're kidnapping a B-class Hero. Honestly, twenty million won is a joke of a payout for this kind of risk."
"What are you trying to say?" Red Skull growled.
"Look, Red Skull. I'm not stupid. This is a subcontracted job. I want you to be honest and tell us who commissioned this and for how much. Then we can renegotiate our shares."
As Fox crossed her arms and shot him a sharp glare, Red Skull felt a surge of panic. Even if they're only D-class, a villain is still a villain. She clearly had no intention of letting a money matter slide. Red Skull bit his lip. After a tense silence, he finally spoke, acting as if he had no other choice.
"Fine. I'll be straight with you. A powerful figure approached me directly for this job. The total payout is five hundred million won."
"Five... five hundred million?!" Fox shrieked, utterly dumbfounded. "You thieving bastard! You're getting five hundred million, and you were only going to give us a measly twenty million each?"
Rector, standing beside her, also looked thoroughly displeased. "Red Skull. Are you mocking us?"
"What do you mean, mocking you? I'm the only one who could have organized this. I took the commission, and I drew up the plans. Naturally, I deserve the lion's share."
"Even so, twenty million is absurd. You expect to pocket four hundred and forty million all for yourself? Don't make me laugh!" Rector growled.
Red Skull felt his irritation spike. These greedy villain bastards...!
"Fine. I'll pay you fifty million won each."
Red Skull decided to make a concession. After all, he had already successfully lied that the one billion won payout was only five hundred million. Even if he shaved off a bit more, he would still make an absolute fortune.
"Fifty million? We should get at least a hundred million each!" Fox demanded.
"Seventy million. That is my absolute limit," Red Skull countered firmly. "To be frank, there are plenty of other villains who would jump at this job if you walk. You know that as well as I do."
Rector and Fox clicked their tongues. They knew he wasn't entirely wrong.
"...Chugoe, what do you think?" Red Skull suddenly asked, turning to him.
Chugoe had been quietly observing the situation with his arms crossed. "I'm fine with seventy million."
"Glad to hear it."
"But Red Skull," Chugoe added. "Did the client really offer five hundred million?"
"...Why do you ask?" Red Skull frowned. Had this guy somehow figured out that the actual reward was one billion won?
...Five hundred million! This is hit-the-jackpot territory!
Contrary to Red Skull's anxious thoughts, Chugoe—or rather, Kang Hyuk—was inwardly cheering.
Initially, his plan had been to slaughter all of them right here before they even set out. After all, his goal wasn't to make money by kidnapping Ellen, but to level up by wiping out these villains.
But if there was a client offering five hundred million won (or potentially even more), the game changed entirely.
What if I let them kidnap Ellen first, then kill Rector and Fox? After that, I can blackmail Red Skull, take his place, and deliver Ellen to the client myself...
If he played his cards right, he could rake in a massive fortune and harvest a mountain of experience points. It was the ultimate win-win scenario.
"It's nothing," Kang Hyuk replied smoothly. "I was just admiring your business acumen."
"Thanks."
"Anyway, seventy million is plenty for me. What about you two?" Kang Hyuk asked, turning to Rector and Fox.
Though they still looked reluctant, the two eventually nodded. Since one member of the team had already agreed, they realized they couldn't push for any more.
"Good. That settles it then. We move in two hours, so make sure you memorize those documents thoroughly."
Red Skull lit a cigarette and walked out of the abandoned factory. Kang Hyuk immediately began committing the documents to memory. Now that his plans had shifted, completing the mission successfully was his top priority.
The documents were exceptionally well-organized, allowing Kang Hyuk to quickly grasp his exact role in the operation.
"...Hey."
Just then, Fox approached him. Kang Hyuk looked up.
"What is it?"
"I have a proposal for you."
"A proposal?"
"Yeah. Come a bit closer..."
Fox gestured with her hand. Kang Hyuk stepped toward her. Once he was close enough, she whispered in a hushed voice, "Chugoe. No matter how I look at it, seventy million is way too cheap. What do you say we try negotiating again?"