Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Two Faces
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“Hahh— Hahh— Hahh—.”
With each ragged breath, her silver hair fluttered.
Kim Cha-yoon, the president of Cha-yoon Enterprise, was in front of a full-length wall mirror, repeatedly lifting and lowering dumbbells in both hands.
“Ma’am.”
Cha-yoon set the dumbbells down and sat on a bench, looking up at the wall mirror positioned before her.
Beside her, Dantallion stood in a neat posture, holding a towel.
“So, what happened?”
“As expected, they refused.”
“Hmm, just as I thought. You conveyed my message about Furen, correct?”
“Yes, and her reaction was also as expected. The seed has most certainly been planted.”
“Well, I didn’t expect it to work on the first try.”
Cha-yoon accepted the towel Dantallion offered her.
“Their species has a familistic culture that values community beliefs, so they're incredibly tight-knit. Use that to your advantage and keep pushing.”
Cha-yoon shot a sidelong glance at Dantallion.
“If she continues to refuse… we'll turn her power against her.”
“Understood.”
After wiping away her sweat, Cha-yoon handed the towel back to Dantallion.
“…There won't be any other variables this time, will there?”
“Ah… Yes, ma'am! I'm certain of it this time!”
“Hmph… If it weren't for that damned pirate crew….”
According to the original plan, Sharin and Furen should have been scouted by the company as soon as they arrived on Earth.
But Sara of the Shark Tooth Pirates interfered, and things got strangely twisted.
The Shark Tooth Pirates’ ship, the ‘Beherit,’ was equipped with a cloaking technology similar to the protective coloration of a sea creature, making it impossible to detect on radar.
Sara attempted to negotiate with Shin-ju using the Bluerobic hostages, and that’s when things started to go awry.
With the U.C.I.D. already deeply involved, Cha-yoon Enterprise had missed its window to make a move.
A glint appeared in Cha-yoon’s narrow eyes.
“Furen, at the very least, must be recruited to our company. It's the only way we'll survive the transitional period before the new era arrives.”
“Yes! I'll keep that in mind. Ah, and one more thing, ma'am.”
Dantallion paused for a moment before continuing.
“The Negoti-alien, Park Shin-ju, and Investigator Enri Tankobichi just boarded a flight to the United States.”
“Hmph, how cute. I like his initiative. Contact the Bio Vanguard mercenaries in the US. In fact, just keeping that Park Shin-ju fellow tied up in America would be a huge gain for us.”
“Now, go.”
Creaak— Thud.
Dantallion paused at the door to catch his breath before stepping out into the hallway.
*Step, step, step.*
A moment later, a woman in a suit appeared in the distance.
“Sir.”
“Yes, Java-Tamao. What is it?”
Java-Tamao, a former pirate and current A-Class mercenary, walked toward Dantallion.
“I've just finished calculating Furen Tankobichi's power levels.”
At her words, a barely perceptible smile touched Dantallion's lips.
“Excellent. Lead the way.”
A passenger plane landed on the runway.
“Ughhh—.”
Shin-ju stretched as he deplaned.
Behind him, Enri followed, gazing at the distant mountains.
The two had arrived in LA to find Kai, the active idol and Dark Elf from Bluerobic who had helped summon the Planet Destroyer to Earth.
“It's been a while.”
“Hyaawn~ It sure has.”
Next to the yawning Shin-ju, Enri looked around as if overcome with nostalgia.
Like Shin-ju, she had experience being on assignment at the U.C.I.D. headquarters in LA.
That was why she had been teamed up with Shin-ju for this trip to America.
Shin-ju and Enri took a pre-arranged taxi to the US U.C.I.D. headquarters.
“It hasn't changed a bit, has it?”
As always, the scale of the U.S. U.C.I.D. headquarters was immense.
Shin-ju’s eyes widened.
There were countless aliens he had never seen before in his life.
They naturally mingled with various other species, carrying out their duties as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
“Hey! Investigator Park Shin-ju, over here!”
In the distance, a detective in a white dress shirt and striped tie was waving his hand high in the air.
A friendly face with a short crew cut.
As a Korean-American, he exuded the classic vibe of an American police officer.
“Haha, long time no see. How've you been?”
Shin-ju shook his hand and then pulled him into a tight hug.
“How've I been... I'm barely surviving, you punk!”
Despite his grumbling tone, his face was lit up with a welcoming smile.
“It's been a while, Jason Kim. Have you been well?”
Enri, who had been watching their happy reunion, extended her hand for a handshake.
“Well, well, look who it is!”
The detective called Jason Kim took Enri's outstretched hand with both of his.
“Gah! As expected, your grip is no joke. Haha!”
He joked, laughing.
Jason Kim.
He had joined the Korean U.C.I.D. at the same time as Park Shin-ju and was the ace of aces, having graduated at the top of his class from the police academy.
Six years ago, after arresting the Titan-class Dragonkin criminal ‘Restprime’ on assignment in LA with Shin-ju and Enri, he had settled down in America and established himself as a U.C.I.D. officer.
The full story of that incident was this:
Shin-ju had discovered that mercenaries from Bio Vanguard were controlling the Dragonkin by holding his young children hostage.
Jason Kim, having received this information, met with Restprime personally and, with his unique cheerfulness and human charm, persistently persuaded him, ultimately succeeding in arresting the Titan-class Dragonkin without any casualties.
Since then, Jason Kim's fame as LA's ‘Negoti-alien’ had soared, and he was treated as a hero.
However, he always felt indebted to Shin-ju.
He believed that Shin-ju was the real hero.
Without Shin-ju, he would have been nothing more than a mouthful for that Dragonkin.
“Haha, I had a feeling you'd be coming too, Enri. This brings back old memories.”
“It does. That was quite an experience for me, too.”
Enri also recalled the time she had raided the Bio Vanguard mercenaries with Shin-ju.
At the time, she had created a legend by defeating twenty of them at once with her incredible fighting skills.
Afterward, her contributions were recognized, and she was awarded a police baton made from a Dragonkin’s bone by the US U.C.I.D.'s police chief, a Dragonkin named ‘Gawagos.’
“To be honest, your skills are on an American scale, Enri. Don't you feel a bit constrained in that small country of Korea? Haha.”
“Even I find the Dragonkin a bit much.”
“Well, to be honest, me too. It's a miracle I'm still alive.”
“Alright, alright, let's catch up later.”
“Anyway, did you look into that thing I asked you about?”
At Shin-ju's question, Jason nodded and gestured for him to follow.
From his desk drawer, he pulled out a neatly organized file.
Jason made as if to hand over the file willingly, but then…
Just as Shin-ju reached for it, he sharply pulled back the hand holding the file.
Shin-ju’s eyes widened as if to say, *what gives?*
Jason’s gaze sharpened.
“Hey, you. Are you messing with Kim Cha-yoon?”
Shin-ju spread his hands as if to say, *so what if I am?*
“…Why? Am I messing with something I shouldn't be?”
“Tsk— Hey, hey, this isn't good.”
“Don't worry, I'll make sure you don't get caught up in it.”
“That's not what I'm talking about, man.”
Jason glanced around before lowering his voice.
“You know the leader of Bio Vanguard, M.I.X, is behind her, don't you?”
“I know, I know. That's *why* I'm doing this.”
“Don't cause any trouble. Just grab the idol and disappear quietly. Got it?”
Shin-ju scowled at his nagging.
“Sheesh, I get it already.”
Jason handed the file to Shin-ju with excruciating slowness.
“Ah, just give it here, you bastard!”
Shin-ju snatched the file from the teasing Jason.
Jason sighed as he watched him.
“Sigh… You're not going to live to a ripe old age, that's for sure.”
Shin-ju briefly scanned the edge of the file and grinned.
“Thanks. This should speed things up.”
“You're going to start investigating right away?”
“Yeah. Once things are mostly wrapped up, let's grab a drink before I head back to Korea.”
“Alright. Just please don't make a huge mess.”
Jason turned to the departing Enri with a bright smile.
“Ah! Well then, Enri, you be careful too, and please take good care of my friend. Haha.”
Enri smiled sweetly and gave Jason a small wave.
“Of course~ You have a good rest of your day, Jason.”
A room cafe in America.
It was a unique cafe decorated with various large and small steampunk-style gears.
The sound of turning gears and a swinging pendulum created a pleasant white noise.
Meanwhile, Shin-ju and Enri sat facing each other, reviewing the files they had just received from Jason.
“Haaah... Enri, there's one thing I overlooked.”
Enri, who had been sipping her coffee through a straw, looked up.
“Yes? What is it?”
“The fact that idols are also good actors.”
Shin-ju scanned Kai's profile.
It was certainly an unusual career path.
In Korea, it was common for celebrities to debut as singers and later transition into acting, but Kai’s case was the reverse: he debuted as an actor and then became a singer.
Shin-ju, who usually paid no attention to celebrities, had never imagined Kai might have been an actor.
“Tsk, so it was all just an act?”
Shin-ju clicked his tongue, recalling Kai’s shy and innocent face.
He felt like a fool for being pleased by his words.
It was highly likely that Aila’s demeanor had also been an act.
In other words, Kim Cha-yoon had already anticipated Park Shin-ju’s actions.
For Shin-ju, who instinctively analyzed a person's tone, expression, and subtle movements, their acting skills had produced the opposite effect on his investigation.
Then again, what couldn't a major corporation figure out with its connections…
Shin-ju felt a sour taste in his mouth from the fact that he had been played right into Cha-yoon’s hands.
“Shin-ju, take a look at this.”
Enri handed him a file.
Shin-ju narrowed his eyes as he examined it.
“Well, what do you know.”
Shin-ju let out a short, derisive laugh.
“This kid's got more guts than he looks.”
Shin-ju tapped the file with his finger.
“Hyaa... So he was even being sponsored by Bio Vanguard?”
Enri replied nonchalantly.
“Well, it's not entirely out of the question. Ah... In a way, I guess it makes sense...?”
Enri passed another file to Shin-ju.
“And that 'American performance'... it wasn't the kind of public concert we were thinking of.”
Shin-ju took the file, his lips twisting.
Inside the file he held, a large poster image took center stage.
They say trends come back around.
It had a dark red, retro design, like something out of a classic mafia movie.
Recently, cities in every country had been trying hard to shed the cold, eerie feel of a futuristic metropolis.
The trend was to evoke an analog sensibility while remaining modern, combining retro elements that tickled the nostalgia of the past with the "newtro" style that added the sensibilities of modern people.
In the center of the poster, a pretty alien was singing into a microphone with a sensual expression and pose.
Shin-ju’s mouth twitched, as if something was still bothering him.
“Hmm, an underground performance for underworld bigwigs….”