Chapter 8: Beasts Need a Good Beating to Listen (2)
Chapter 8: Beasts Need a Good Beating to Listen (2)
Despite what I said, they won't betray me. At least, not as long as I don't sell them out or leak vital information.
To them, I was practically a savior.
I mused on that as I felt the pressure of the ascent weighing on my body.
Ding.
[1st Floor.]
The pressure that had been crushing my frame during the rapid ascent vanished, and the elevator doors slid open.
"Are you finished with your business?"
"Yeah."
The tiger Mutant, whose teeth I’d shattered with a knee strike earlier, spoke to me. It seemed he had been waiting to escort me out.
He’s quite the diligent executive.
"I already told the Branch Manager, but I plan on dropping by often from now on."
"Is that so?"
"So, tell your subordinates to watch their mouths. And tell them to bow the second they see me."
"Yes, ma'am."
Satisfied with his answer, I stepped forward. The tiger in the black suit followed closely behind me like a lost puppy.
I didn't pay it much mind at first, but seeing him hovering right at my heels started to make my blood boil.
"Are you a mob lackey or something? Why are you trailing me like that? If you're going to follow, at least walk in front."
"How could I walk in front of the Mi—I mean, the Chairman? The rear suits me better."
You were going to call me 'Miss' again, weren't you?
I briefly considered driving my knee into his skull again, but the sight of his broken teeth made me reconsider.
If only one fang were broken, he could at least argue it gave him the vibe of a battle-hardened veteran. But with both shattered, he just looked pathetic.
These guys have to lead their own subordinates; looking that miserable might be a bit much.
More importantly...
"What's with this 'Chairman' business?"
"Since you are higher than our Leader, that makes you the Chairman."
"Are you insane?"
Since when was I their Chairman? These beast-type Mutants must have muscles for brains; they’ve clearly lost it.
"A Magical Girl as the Chairman of a World Conquest Secret Society? That’d be a real riot, wouldn't it?"
"World Conquest Secret Society? We are the Purification Volunteer Corps of the Great Barrier. We are a volunteer organization officially recognized by the United Nations."
What the hell was with that bizarre name?
"Last I checked, it was the Otherworld Contamination Treatment Support Association."
"The UN found out it was a front organization and smashed it."
"Great job. Truly."
Come to think of it, a few years ago, the UN had requested support, claiming they’d identified several front organizations. I suppose they got caught back then.
Anyway. The Great Barrier.
"Do you actually cross the Great Barrier?"
"Yes. We have a relevant branch, and we occasionally deliver daily necessities to the residents there."
Hearing that made me think of Dong-hun.
He used to say there were people over there, too. That we needed to reach out and help them. His final cry—a wish to lay down the burden of a Hero and practice true justice.
To think the method to realize his words was in a place as close as this.
"That organization. You actually do volunteer work, right? You mentioned delivering supplies to the people beyond the Great Barrier."
"Yes. Though since it's a front, we don't operate on a massive scale."
"Increase the volume of that work. And put my name on the roster."
"Pardon?"
The tiger looked at me with a bewildered expression.
His massive frame filled my entire field of vision as he leaned in, but the idea didn't feel half bad.
"I'll provide cover so you don't get caught. That means increase the amount of volunteer work you do. If a Hero is involved, the UN will be less suspicious."
I could find a way to handle a single volunteer organization. I already had an idea in mind.
Thud!
"Thank you, Chairman!"
The tiger dropped to his knees and slammed his forehead into the ground with all his might.
When a high A-Rank Mutant performed such an action, the ground vibrated and the metallic floor of the corridor cracked.
It didn't stop there. The shockwave from the impact swept through the hallway, shattering the light fixtures on the ceiling.
"To think the Chairman would personally step forward for the likes of us! I, Raiga, am deeply moved!"
His thunderous shout pierced my ears painfully. And as if that wasn't enough, the moment his yelling stopped, the walls began to crack as if a bomb had gone off.
What the hell is this?
Bee-ee-ee-eep!
—[Intruder alert. Intruder alert.]
—[Massive power signature detected within the base. All combatants, please arm yourselves and prepare for deployment.]
—[Repeating. Massive power...]
What a mess.
I only came here to pick up a Mutant, and now I was suddenly an intruder. I watched the swarming Mutants and wondered how I should handle this.
* * *
"So, you beat them all up?"
"I didn't have any other choice. That tiger idiot was bleeding profusely from a cracked forehead, and the other Mutants saw that, called me an intruder, and came at me swinging weapons."
Not long after leaving the Branch Manager's office, I found myself back inside, talking to Tentacle Head.
What a joke, especially after that cool exit I made earlier.
"Raiga was right there. Couldn't you have just explained it with words?"
"The tiger idiot tried to stand up to explain and fainted."
Fainting from acute anemia due to blood loss? What kind of Mutant is he? Is he a vegetarian with an iron deficiency or something?
Because of him, I had extra work to do. I made a mental note to break his other fang the next time I saw him.
Who cares about his pathetic display?
Tentacle Head, the manager of the East Asia Branch, let out a sigh—or rather, sprayed some mucus—and stared into space.
"I will notify all branches in advance so this doesn't happen again. So please, Lee Ha-ram, try to restrain yourself."
"Fine. I'm counting on you."
I wasn't keen on this happening every time, either.
If I could convert the Mutants I beat up today into cash, it would probably cover several years of living expenses. This wasn't even a paid gig; what a waste.
The conversation seemed over, so I moved to get up, but another thought struck me, and I sat back down on the sofa.
"I told that tiger earlier, but he might have forgotten everything, so I should tell you too."
"What is it?"
"You guys run something called the Purification Volunteer Corps beyond the Great Barrier, right?"
"Yes. It's an excellent front. It doesn't cost much, and the reputation is decent."
Tentacle Head nodded, his tentacles swaying in all directions as if he were satisfied just thinking about it.
"Put my name in there. In a high-ranking position, if possible."
"...I see you intend to embezzle the operating funds. So that was your goal from the start..."
He lowered his tentacles and stared at me. Why do those things move so flamboyantly?
"I wouldn't mind a salary, but just put my name on it for now. If a Hero is part of it, the UN will pay less attention."
It's all for your sake, you know.
"What are you really up to?"
He stared at me intently as if he couldn't trust me, and in his excitement, a strangely colored mucus sprayed from his tentacles.
Disgusting.
"Even if it's just on the surface, I want that volunteer group to do well."
"I didn't know you were interested in such things."
"It's because of a friend. Volunteer work beyond the Great Barrier was his thing."
How many people would remember a drunken grievance?
He had shouted it at me with such passion. He said it was something that had to be done. That was why it remained so vivid in my memory.
It was ironic. While the Heroes and the UN didn't give a damn, a villainous organization of Mutants was actually doing volunteer work beyond the Great Barrier.
"I think my friend would be happy if your work there goes well."
* * *
I left the base after finishing the conversation.
Since all the combatants had been carried off to the infirmary, there was no one to see me out, but I didn't mind the silence.
I hate noise. When too many sounds tangle together, they start to sound like screams.
Creeeeak. Thud.
The old door of the building I’d just exited closed with a loud groan from its hinges.
A filthy building tucked away in a dark alleyway. Who would ever imagine the branch of a Mutant Society was hidden there?
I looked away from the building and dialed a number on my phone as I walked through the dark alley.
What was his number again? I should have at least written down my contacts.
If the SIM card were intact, I could have recovered the directory, but the fragments of my phone were likely rolling around on my living room floor right now.
After a few wrong numbers and calling complete strangers, my patience was nearing its limit.
"Yes. Hello."
A familiar voice. A stiff tone.
"Hyun-seok, it's Ha-ram. Do you have a minute?"
"If this is about borrowing money, the answer is no, Lee Ha-ram."
How much did I even borrow from him...?
"It's not that. I want to use your influence for something."
"If it's a solicitation for a favor, I'm refusing those."
I know. If I turn on the news, it's always about some politician or businessman who got caught trying to bribe you.
"What are friends for?"
"A person who borrows money and doesn't pay it back is called an enemy, not a friend."
"...I didn't borrow that much. Anyway, just listen to what I have to say."
"Make it quick. You've already wasted enough of my time."
So stiff.
Instead of his stiff head, I kicked a stiff pebble at my feet and continued.
"There's a volunteer organization called the Purification Volunteer Corps beyond the Great Barrier, right?"
"One moment."
Tap. Tap.
The sound of typing on a keyboard came through the phone.
If he didn't have it memorized, I guess it wasn't a very large organization.
"Confirmed. A volunteer group authorized by the Union. Is there a problem with this organization?"
"No, I just want you to help them out with their work."
"I refuse any action that benefits a specific organization."
Yeah, I knew you'd say that.
"Even if it's Dong-hun's request?"
"..."
I could clearly feel the person on the other end of the line freeze.
Even over the phone, I could sense the sharp intake of breath and the sudden tension. He was close to Dong-hun too, so he must have felt something about his death.
I felt a bit guilty using Dong-hun's name, but I comforted myself by saying it was to carry on his legacy.
"Do you know what the last thing Dong-hun was working on was?"
"I don't."
"It was volunteer work for the people living outside the Great Barrier. And that organization is one that does exactly that."
In reality, it was a front for a World Conquest Secret Society, but they were actually doing volunteer work, so it wasn't a complete lie.
"He told me that we need people to help those beyond the Great Barrier. So, after the funeral, I went looking for a volunteer group."
"I see."
Still no significant reaction. Stiff bastard.
"I'm done with my piece. You do whatever your heart tells you."
"I will consider it positively."
'Positively,' huh? That's a pretty good answer for Hyun-seok.
"Thanks. I'll let you get back to work then."
Just as I was about to hang up.
"The Hero attacks happening lately."
My hand stopped before it could hit the end call button.
"Lee Ha-ram. Is it your doing?"
A sudden question.
In what sense was he asking this?
Was it a question between friends, even though he already knew? Or was he simply testing me? If my answer was delayed, he would surely be suspicious.
I racked my brain quickly, but no clear answer emerged. My head wasn't that great to begin with.
"No. Why would I do something like that?"
And so.
I denied it with a cheerful voice. That it wasn't my doing.
"Is that so?"
His voice remained flat, devoid of emotion. What did he read from my answer?
A brief silence followed.
"Then pay back the money you borrowed as soon as possible. I'm hanging up."
Click.
I stared down at the disconnected call, a flurry of thoughts crossing my mind.
Was that a warning? Or was he just worried about me? How much does the Management Bureau suspect right now?
The United Nations. The Hero Management Bureau.
Park Hyun-seok, the Representative of the Korea Branch.
Why did he ask me that?
Was it to let me know that he was simply doing his job regardless of the Bureau? Or was it to catch me, as a Representative should?
I didn't know. Hyun-seok was always hard to read, even back when he was active.
Lost in thought, I eventually emerged from the alleyway.
The honking of cars.
The noisy flow of the crowd.
I’d only walked for a few minutes, yet the atmosphere had completely shifted.
If the people walking these streets knew that a terrifying Mutant stronghold was only minutes away from this bustling district, how would they react?
Fear? Panic? Confusion? Heroism?
It was a meaningless thought.
To them, Mutants were stories that had nothing to do with their lives.
At most, they’d be shocked and call the police, fully believing that the Mutants would be subjugated by Heroes.
Just then, a Hero flashed past my eyes.
A woman in a skin-tight riding suit with a weapon strapped to her back, racing through the streets on a motorcycle—likely a technology-type Hero.
Today's prey.
I summoned my Pry Bar, making sure no one noticed, and leaped onto a nearby building.
My blackened body melted into the night, concealing my form.
Then, I kicked off the rooftop and soared into the dark night sky, pursuing her.
To do what must be done.