Brainstorming the Villain Alliance Crash
April 11, 2020, 22:00, Cheonghwa-dan Guro Hideout.
"With that in mind, I'm soliciting good ideas for crashing the Villain Alliance meeting."
At my words, Deok-bae furrowed his brow.
"Why the long face? I asked for opinions."
"Tch."
Deok-bae picked up the billiard ball he'd been playing with and tossed it to Ji-hwa. Ji-hwa beamed, clutching the C-rank Core in his hand.
"Heh heh heh. See? The Captain's the type who listens."
"...I never thought of using Cores for billiards. But you're betting on me right now?"
"Got a problem? It was gonna be your reward anyway."
"No problem here."
Just look at Cheon Ga-eul over there, curled up hugging a pile of Cores.
"Ughhh... This'll awaken me..."
A monster Core wrapped in my mana was safe—no attracting beasts like back in Incheon. I set a round table in the center of the break room and dragged over a chair, sitting down. The others followed suit, grabbing their own seats.
"So, spit out any good ideas. Think about what I said earlier."
"You mean turning the Villain Alliance into a Cheonghwa-dan subsidiary while using them as pawns to clash with the heroes in the Seoul reclamation op... right?"
Cheon Ga-eul stood, her expression uneasy.
"Yeah. Make the Villain Alliance and heroes mutual destroy each other. Then Cheonghwa-dan takes over the weakened Alliance, and we seize Seoul."
I had the plan mapped out in my head already—I'd briefed the subordinates before.
"At tonight's meeting, reveal Cheonghwa-dan's existence and force them to join us. Provoke the villains into fighting without running away."
"How?"
I raised my fist.
"Threats?"
"Crushing them by force isn't ideal. Even villains are human at heart. Unless you turn them all into Kaijin, Phoenix, they'll betray you eventually. Fear's temporary."
"Short-term, it's fine. But your goal's conquering all of south Seoul, right? Eventually, they'll fear you more than monsters and bolt."
I nodded. Fair point.
"Then lure them in? 'Fight for us, get Cores'?"
"Villains aren't mercenaries or hunters. Offer Cores, and they'll gut you for 'em."
"Um..."
Ji-hwa raised his hand, and I gestured for him to speak.
"A whip first, then the carrot isn't bad. Flaunt the Captain's overwhelming power, then highlight the perks of joining as a subsidiary."
"Not bad. Hey, what carrots can we dangle for villains?"
I pondered Ji-hwa's carrot idea.
"Immortality as Kaijin? Wait, not quite—they still die."
"They die if heroes kill 'em?"
Ji-hwa looked spooked, but I shook my head.
"Nah. As long as I recover your Cores, I can revive you. But if I die, all my Kaijin do too."
"I'll guard you forever, Captain!"
Deok-bae clicked his tongue at Ji-hwa's overzealous loyalty.
"Rejected. Who'd become Kaijin wagering their life like that?"
"Hm, safety from monsters then?"
Ga-eul pointed at me.
"You handle the beasts personally, Phoenix, and divvy up the loot with the organization."
"That sounds more hero than villain."
"Do we have to act evil? We're rebuilding Seoul for people, not a villain paradise."
"I said 'conquer,' but yeah, that's the gist."
Villains were a necessary evil, but damn, we lacked manpower. I'd love to mass-produce Kaijin and standoff the Association, but that'd draw global eyes—monsters popping up in Seoul plus an evil org? Perfect bait for worldwide hero aggro.
"Villains disrupt Association ops on their own, while Cheonghwa-dan just looks like regular bad guys... Tricky. I'd trash the writer for a script like this."
"Who picks the hard road over easy?"
"...That wasn't aimed at me, right?"
Deok-bae and Ga-eul avoided my gaze. Ji-hwa seemed lost in thought, pondering deeply.
"Hm? Kim Ji-hwa. Got something?"
"No. Just... crashing in and subjugating the local bosses. Reminds me of that movie."
"Oh yeah, I think I know it too. American flick, right? Late in the hero movie boom."
Ga-eul raised a finger, smirking. I clapped, praising Ji-hwa.
"It exists here too? Wow. They nailed the details."
"...What're you talking about?"
Deok-bae rolled his eyes, out of the loop. Figured.
"Subordinate No. 2, you're ordered to watch it later. Essential viewing for villains—study up."
"As an actor, I respect her, but using it as villain homework... Sigh. Kinda tragic she'd be their textbook."
"Perfect impact for our situation."
We hashed out the plot—entrance, lines, actions, even outfits. Deok-bae stayed mute the whole ten minutes. Useless.
"Alright, concept locked. Heh heh heh. What trick to pull? Pencil trick? Incineration?"
"...Phoenix. You're not planning to kill someone again, right?"
I flinched. Ga-eul's jab hit home.
"Uh, uh. Strong first impression's key, yeah? Big whip crack."
"Not grunts— you'd wipe the whole meeting."
Ga-eul pressed her solar plexus.
"Fine. I'll go. Pose as Cheonghwa-dan rep. No kills, get the outcome you want."
"Your head's reliable, but..."
I glanced between Deok-bae and Ji-hwa. Sigh escaped me.
"Sending you solo feels risky. I'll handle it myself."
"I back Cheon Ga-eul. No clue what, but she'll nail it better than you."
Deok-bae rebelled. I glared at Ji-hwa.
"Kim Ji-hwa?"
"......."
Ji-hwa couldn't pick sides, waffling as ideas clashed above him. Office politics dilemma.
As I opened my mouth to prod him, Deok-bae cut in.
"2 for, 1 against, 1 abstain. Done."
"Jo Deok-bae? Cheonghwa-dan's no democracy. It's a dictatorship under Phoenix of the Azure Flame."
"Phoenix."
Ga-eul suddenly grabbed my hand.
"Bet with me."
"What bet?"
My ears perked.
"I convince the Alliance to fight the Association—my win. Success means you let me contact my parents after. No point asking to go to Shin Seoul anyway."
"True."
"Fail, and do whatever with me. Even if you slaughter 'em all for subsidiaries, I won't complain."
"...One call for stakes that high?"
Ga-eul gripped tighter—her resolve shone through. I averted my eyes.
"I get you're worried about deaths, but this bet screws me."
"If I fail, I ditch going back to Shin Seoul."
"What?"
Even Deok-bae gawked. I sensed truth in her faint mana flow.
"Turn me Kaijin even. Never set foot in Shin Seoul. So let me go."
"What confidence?"
Ga-eul smirked. Masquerade's face flashed—brimming with pride and ego.
"My acting, my smarts. I've played supporting villains."
"Morning soap."
Deok-bae sniped. Ga-eul shot him a venomous glare.
"Shut that filthy mouth before I sew it with a needle!"
"......Did you have to demo it on me?"
Deok-bae chuckled dryly as Ga-eul relaxed.
"Anyway, no issue. Ji-hwa, DVDs in the break room? Gotta be there."
"Y-yes! 16th floor. Digital files—watch anytime."
"Heard? Review before go-time. No awakening yet, but..."
Ga-eul deep-breathed.
"Acting? I'm tops here. Trust Actress Cheon Ga-eul's 14 years."
"...Fine, whatever."
I raised hands in surrender. Win or lose, I gain. No reason to block.
"But no."
"Why?!"
Ga-eul yelped. I pointed at Deok-bae and Ji-hwa, slashing my throat.
"Can't send those two with you. Better me solo than B- or C-rank non-combat Kaijin."
"That might be tricky."
Ji-hwa spoke with rare conviction.
"Someone from the Alliance pressured me to join. I've been. They treat abilities like Joseon caste—higher rank, superior being. Worse than late Joseon yangban. Non-ability users? Subhuman slaves. Women especially... sex toys."
Ga-eul grimaced.
"You saying that? Lighthouse boy?!"
"Eh? N-no! Misunderstanding—never done it! What power would I even have?!"
Ji-hwa stood, denying vehemently. Ga-eul eyed me suspiciously.
"...You were the trigger?"
"Hah. Believe that?"
I questioned Ji-hwa—orderly.
"Ji-hwa, answer."
"Y-yes! Ask anything!"
"Age?"
"Thirty-two!"
"Girlfriends ever?"
"N-none."
"Sex?"
"......N-none."
I shrugged at Ga-eul triumphantly. Ji-hwa's demon eyes bulged bloodshot. Ga-eul bowed sympathetically.
"Sorry, Ji-hwa. My bad."
"F-fine. *Sniff.* Married to overtime."
Ji-hwa trembled, holding breath—pitiful. A-rank Core later to soothe him.
Soon, he calmed. Gut probably churning.
"...So, sending Captain and Cheon Ga-eul? Bad idea. Both stunning— they'll dismiss on sight. Hundred percent, try overpowering."
"Then she snaps and slaughters 'em."
Deok-bae jabbed at me. I didn't deny.
"What then? No fights wanted. Phoenix, ideas?"
"Asking me now? Sigh... One way."
I ripped off the veil. Hated this most. Ga-eul's eager eyes were hard to ignore.
I pointed Deok-bae at Ji-hwa.
"Ji-hwa. 2m Kaijin like Subordinate No. 2 escorting Cheon Ga-eul? S-rank power. ...Or higher?"
"Threatening enough. Overkill, even. Haneulseong's crew's big, but no S-rank underlings."
Deok-bae tilted head.
"New Kaijin? That S-rank Core from the tentacle frog?"
"Nah. Use what's here."
I stood, glaring at Ga-eul. She flinched back.
"Cheon Ga-eul. Last chance. Truly confident? Betting life and future on your acting?"
"Of course."
Will clear. I tossed veil to Deok-bae, strode to window.
"Big trust here."
My mana writhed. Blue flames rose from human form, mana surging.
"Hated switching."
Azure Flame incinerated the priestess garb, enwrapping my body.