Yuseong's Mad Dog Prodigy
69 Part 1 Chapter 5 (3) Eun Yu-ha. The youngest daughter of Yuseong, Korea's top conglomerate. She seemed to have it all—background and looks anyone would envy—but her personality was a total mess. A thunderbolt bitch who rampaged relying only on her pedigree. A psychopath who loved slapping people with wads of cash. A villainess who would've been abandoned long ago without her brothers. The undisputed number one celebrity people wished would get eaten by a monster. After much deliberation on a single word to sum up all those images, people found the perfect label for Eun Yu-ha.
Yuseong's utter fuck-up. That was the public image of Eun Yu-ha.
Of course, it was an image she'd deliberately crafted.
"Who in Korea wouldn't know? That that fuck-up is actually the owner of Yuseong, and all the group presidents are puppets she controls."
Right? And no one knows except me, my trusted aides, Elder Gwanggeom, and that Snow Flower Princess bitch. How did our dear customer figure it out?
Through the screen, Eun Yu-ha's smiling face oozed leisure. But inside, she was probably burning black with rage.
"Yeah, how did I know? Alright, quiz time! I'll give you exactly seven chances on Eun Yu-ha's luck. Guess how I know about you."
Seven times? Are you messing with me right now?
"Of course. Puhuhu."
7. Eun Yu-ha's symbolic number. On the official site, the 16 heroines were numbered by their intro order. Eun Yu-ha was the seventh. Omake number 7. Her secret ability, Puppet Master, let her control mechanical puppets like real people—but only up to seven at once. Eun Jae-min was one of them, Yuseong Group's public face.
Me giving her exactly seven chances was a hint that I knew her ability.
After agonizing, Eun Yu-ha finally spoke.
......Have we met before? Not at the Incheon containers.
"Wrong. 1. I've never met the real Eun Yu-ha even once. Oh, I'll give hints like this each time you miss."
Thanks. But then how would anyone figure out my ability? Even an S-rank like Gwanggeom or Seok Ha-rang might notice, but not that I'm Eun Yu-ha.
"Puhuhu."
That's why I like Eun Yu-ha. Smart enough to multitask running a whole group and seven humans at once. A bona fide genius. Sure, her smarts sometimes led to dumb moves, but among the original heroines, she was top two in intelligence. Even if I just dropped a hint without explaining, she'd infer the truth close to the answer.
Eun Yu-ha clapped her hands.
Then do you work for some intel agency? Honestly, the US or Russia could dig up info on me.
"2. They're not skilled enough, so relax. Your puppets are hard for even 'average' S-ranks to spot."
That Snow Flower Princess and Gwanggeom who noticed were the weird ones.
Uh, then a regressor? Reincarnator?
"Huh?"
I was floored. Why jump to regressor or reincarnator out of nowhere?
"Why'd the topic suddenly go full fantasy? You're not the type to speculate without evidence."
Eun Yu-ha covered her mouth and giggled at my response. I instantly sensed I'd fallen into her trap.
As expected. You know not just my ability, but my personality too. Thanks for the hint. Puhuhu.
Grit. My teeth ground naturally. She'd baited me into spilling info with wild speculation, then mocked me by imitating Phoenix's laugh.
"Ngh."
Thinking back, on her personal route, I'd been toyed with like this countless times. It'd been so long I'd slipped up in surprise. Not that I was dumb. That sly brat was just too sharp.
"3, 4. No more hints now. Just yes or no."
Fine. We'll meet plenty, so we'll learn about each other gradually. Right now, we're busy talking business.
"......."
This bitch.
Why? Wanna keep going? Then come to my place. You know where it is, right?
"...Testing if I know your house based on my reaction? Who wouldn't see that coming?"
Not biting, huh. Hehe.
Eun Yu-ha covered her mouth with her hand.
But you know? If someone didn't know, they'd argue 'How am I supposed to get there if I don't know?' They wouldn't pause and change the subject. Our customer doesn't seem the type to dig triple traps either.
"...Next time someone crashes through your roof onto your bed, I'll know it's me."
Not denying it. Nice. I love how cool our customer is, being so upfront.
"Sorry, but my love's already elsewhere, so I can't accept yours. Find another client."
Oh my. A love money can't buy? Too bad. I was hoping to hire an S-rank mercenary.
"But we're doing some real solid business, right? Ask around. Who else delivers A-rank cores like this?"
Both Eun Yu-ha and I laughed. I'd felt it back in the container convo, but now I was sure. This woman meshed perfectly with Phoenix.
"Alright, let's get down to it."
Back to the deal?
Even the timing to shift topics was perfect. I tapped my smartwatch, bringing up a screen. Eun Yu-ha's eyes rapidly scanned the list.
Cores earned over the two weeks since the Seoul reclamation op. A full tally.
Eun Yu-ha skimmed it, then blinked in confusion, eyes widening.
Less volume this time? Seemed like more before the op. Did the monsters dry up after?
"Nah. We're using some on our end."
Using them?
I knocked on the bathroom wall like it was a door.
"This whole place is piled up from monster cores. Interior's bare-bones, though."
.......
Eun Yu-ha went silent. Her brain was spinning hard. Guessing... yep.
"Right. Cores can restore buildings. Yeah, there's an ability user with that power. So what building? We're mainly fixing residential spots now. For the real refugees left in Seoul. Securing homes for them means we're short on cores."
.......
Eun Yu-ha's face properly twisted. Jackpot. Nailed her.
Then—
"Yep. So for future deals, I want bulk food and relief supplies. Enough to feed at least 60,000. Right? Can't do it without government and association eyes. That's a key negotiation point this time."
Public service.
Eun Yu-ha cut me off. I nodded with a benevolent smile. Before I could speak, she continued.
You're making the government and New Seoul acknowledge those urban legend refugees in Seoul. But that needs concessions. Cores all go to me, so not that. So instead....
Eun Yu-ha laughed in disbelief.
You're selling 60,000 Seoulites' lives to blackmail the government!
"...Half right? Puhuhu."
No matter how sharp Eun Yu-ha was, she didn't know about the Cube. So she hadn't even considered the possibility of controlling monsters. That's why Seon Ui-cheol's envoy accident stayed at that level. Villain alliance protecting 10 heroes and 60,000 refugees. And fire-attribute monsters surrounding them everywhere.
Yeah. Might as well go full enemy for now. We were temporarily becoming foes.
"...60,000 living underground in Dongjak? You expect us to believe that now?"
Jang Hu-jeong's hand trembled. An urban legend taboo in New Seoul had spilled from the enemy's mouth. 'People still live in Seoul, hiding underground from monsters.'
This was leagues beyond small villain gangs squatting buildings like bandits. Most New Seoul residents were exiles from Seoul, their families, friends, lovers lost to silence there. Which meant among Dongjak's 60,000 might be their buried hopes.
Haneulseong drummed the table leisurely.
"Yeah. There were more originally. Water wasn't an issue—Han River right there. Food was the problem..."
Haneulseong glanced at Kim Ji-hwa. The demon-eyed scout adjusted his sunglasses and took over.
"We raided every food warehouse dodging monster eyes. Supermarts, department stores, even hole-in-the-wall convenience stores. But... mostly expired stuff in the end, and monsters got to some too."
Kim Ji-hwa smiled sadly. Just Guro alone was a survival game. If human food from monster corpses wasn't possible, people vanishing meant mystery meat in bowls the next day.
"Architect James Lee saved a whopping 60,000 refugees. They'd hidden underground till now, but judged Seoul too risky with dimension gates and such."
Phantom spoke up.
"Our villain alliance decided to protect them. You know better than us what Seoul's like now? Those fire monsters rampaging in Guro and Gangnam."
"...We call it 'volcano erupted.' We do."
Yoo Yeong-ho scratched his cheek. Abnormally spawned fire monsters. Some tiny like canaries, not monstrous—but all shared one trait.
No cores.
The monsters occupying Guro and Gangnam were fierce and strong, but after all that effort, no rewards—just burned up in flames. So the association redefined them.
Mana beasts—demonic beasts.
"Yes. Those mystery monsters still hunt in Gangnam and Guro. So we're making Yeouido and Dongjak our last bastion. But."
Kim Ji-hwa pointed at the map on the table. A route linking Dongjak and Anyang lengthwise.
"Monsters don't leave Guro or Gangnam, so we can pass between. Like how you came here."
"Gwanak Mountain."
The envoy had chosen the mountain path from Anyang to Yeouido. The slope Black Flame Dragon carved and Snow Flower Princess solidified.
Haneulseong traced the map with a finger.
"Black Flame Dragon's remnants linger. Didn't you feel it coming from Anyang? Meet any dangerous monsters?"
"...Some D-ranks on Gwanak side."
Jang Hu-jeong nodded.
"I get it. As public servants, we must protect Seoul's 60,000 citizens. But realistically, we lack the force to evacuate them all now."
"That's why we're telling you. Just know 60,000 citizens are still in Seoul. We'll handle surviving the rest."
"...You saying you're building a kingdom in Seoul now?"
"Puhaha!"
Haneulseong burst into booming laughter. His pot-lid hand slammed the table.
"Kingdom? You think we're going back to Joseon era? Man, even living primitive here, we're 21st-century folks. Citizens of the Republic of Korea under President Seon Ui-cheol. Right?"
"That's true."
"Exactly. But here's the thing."
Haneulseong's gaze shifted to the Executioner.
"Realistically, association and government can't save Seoul's citizens yet. So we'll guard here for now. Act as vigilantes so Seoul residents survive safely."
"......."
Yoo Yeong-ho ground his teeth. Though not under his command, heroes getting played by Seoul's monsters and villains was undeniable. Without villain interference, Seoul would've been reclaimed by now.
That was New Seoul's growing consensus.
"If not for that Flame Giant and the S-rank..."
Yoo Yeong-ho bit his lip, growling. Haneulseong spread his arms, head tilted up.
"They're unknowns to us too. If they were ours, they'd have smashed heroes in Gangnam ages ago. Why let us get caught with that power?"
That was the issue. If alliance members, why act solo in Guro and Gwanak?
"Truly unknowns? Expecting us to buy that?"
"Believe or not, your call. We wanna know their identity too."
Villain and envoy gazes clashed. Haneulseong leaned forward, arms on table.
"We're most curious about them. Attacking heroes means not fellow villains? Ally up, avoid hero arrests at least. Right? And—"
"We can protect 60,000 Seoul citizens too. ...Though what happens to them is anyone's guess. Heh."
Pretty words, but villains weren't heroes saving with goodwill and duty.
Jang Hu-jeong slammed the table, standing.
"Blackmailing with 60,000 Seoul lives now?"
"Lives we saved. So."
Haneulseong grinned ferociously.
"If we toss 'em again, what's the problem? As you said, we're villains."