Telekinesis Empress
Some called her the Empress of Telekinesis. Others, the Witch of Annihilation. She was a hunter of the Esper class, at the pinnacle even among Hiddens. Third in the Superhuman Club's ranks, the monster who had single-handedly toppled Devil Castle, one of the world's three great clubs.
Her name was Han Seol-ah.
"How the hell is sis...?"
It was Yoo Taejeong's murmur upon recognizing her face. The expressions of a few executives who knew her true identity brightened.
"She's from the club."
"Knew it."
"They're not the type to just sit back and watch."
The Jenix members were nearly in festival mode at the arrival of the club's third-ranked powerhouse. On the other hand, Choi Cheol-ho and Jo Young-min were racking their brains over how to handle this twist.
How the fuck did this happen? She shouldn't have time for this place.
That bitch should be locked in a bloodbath with the alliance right now. How is she here...?
It was an unforeseen reinforcement, hitting them all the harder for it. Especially for Choi Cheol-ho, the impact was visceral—every building at the main headquarters gate had been obliterated.
"This wasn't in the scenario. Did the Evil Alliance lose or something?"
"No way. Even the club can't take down one of the world's top five alliances that easily."
"Then what the hell is that?"
"Looks like she came alone... Let's charge her."
"What?"
"You forgetting? This is our headquarters. They attacked first, so we've got the justification. If we go all out, one empress is—"
Jo Young-min spoke with what he thought was a solid grasp of the situation, dead serious. Choi Cheol-ho spat back in utter disbelief.
"You fucking moron, this is my guild. Not our headquarters."
"Then what do we do?"
"Look at that altitude. Our air defenses got pierced without us even noticing. That woman's no monster—she's beyond that. Even if we win, the HQ gets wiped. We'd just be handing the win to everyone else. Including your shitty guild."
"I'm risking my life here too, don't get stingy—wait, so you're saying we just take the damage and roll out the red carpet?"
"I'm thinking. But if we drag the club into guild beef, we can't avoid clashing with Hansan-do. Why the hell did she show up here?"
As they scrambled for a plan, Choi Muhyeok, who had been staring skyward, slowly rose into the air. Now facing Han Seol-ah directly.
He spoke first.
"Long time no see."
"Yeah. Didn't expect to find you here."
"Got a request. When'd you slip back into the country? Thought you bailed after that Hallasan clash."
"Oh? You knew about that?"
"You weren't exactly subtle."
"Not interested in me, huh?"
"Still cracking those lame jokes, I see. Anyway, enough games. This went too far. It's basically grounds for war now."
Han Seol-ah glanced downward as she replied to Choi Muhyeok.
"Think those clowns have the balls?"
"Of course not, if they had any brains. No one messes with you. But you need to get this: the Superhuman Club stays out of guild disputes in exchange for being exempt from all national laws. Pull this shit, and it's a problem."
"You're right. The club's promise still stands."
"Then why?"
"I'm not here for guild drama. Personal business."
"Personal business?"
"Just wanted to check on my little bro."
"Little bro? Since when do you have a sibling?"
"Call him that, and he is. What's the big deal?"
"Hey, Han Seol-ah. This isn't something you brush off with jokes..."
"Jokes? Forgot who I am after all this time? Let me say it again: I'm just here to see my little bro."
Her smiling face turned icy in an instant. Choi Muhyeok sighed and nodded.
"Fine. Since it's not official club business, I'll buy it. But if you're just visiting family, see him and go. What's with all this?"
"They looked like they were in a bind. That's it."
"That's your reason? You haven't changed a bit. Reckless, scatterbrained, half-mad thought process and all."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Do what you want. But heads up: as mediator here, I'll report everything straight up, no sugarcoating. Even your leader Seo Jin won't wiggle out this time. Got a plan?"
"Yup. Rock solid."
"What's that?"
"You."
"What?"
"You know damn well how this shitshow started. Ask anyone—they're the ones being unreasonable. Jenix took insane losses because of those idiots."
"So?"
"Report it straight, and everyone's happy. You don't think what they did was right, do you?"
"No, but this is just how things roll in this world—always has been."
"That's why Hansan-do's all talk. Pillars of the nation, my ass, siding with outdated bullshit laws just because."
Choi Muhyeok blinked at her unexpectedly serious tone.
"You... actually give a shit? Coming from you? Thought you were just a brainless wrecking ball."
"That's basic. Anyway, spin it nice for us. We were comrades once. Superhuman Eleven, remember? Even if it's scattered now. And I saved your ass once, right?"
He chuckled dryly.
"How long you gonna milk that? Fine. I'll wrap this up on my end. But no more. If it escalates, even I can't help."
"Won't escalate. They're already spooked."
With that, the floating buildings scattered like grains of sand. Revealing hundreds of people. They fluttered down like feathers, unharmed. Not a single injury.
Terrifying precision.
Choi Cheol-ho and the Invincible and Gold Lion hunters watching broke into cold sweats again.
"Rumors were true. Dozens of buildings, just like that..."
"And not a single casualty. Insane control."
Choi Muhyeok and Han Seol-ah descended before the tongue-tied group.
"We've met before, right?"
Choi Cheol-ho and Jo Young-min nodded reluctantly.
"No need for intros. Let's resume the stalled talks."
Han Seol-ah's demands: Hands off Jenix businesses. No eyeing the Hidden Yoo Taejeong. Restore everything taken.
Obvious for Jenix. Thunderbolt from clear sky for Gold Lion and Invincible.
They'd poured unimaginable funds into snatching that Hidden—double or triple premiums on most deals. Handing it back meant massive losses.
"That's... unreasonable. And the club meddling in domestic disputes—"
Choi Cheol-ho grumbled. Han Seol-ah waved it off casually.
"Not meddling. Just a hope. No force here—personal wish. But I got a feeling you'll do it. Like getting struck by lightning, your HQ getting trashed in some freak disaster, businesses tanking one by one. My gut's good for that stuff."
Pure threat. But no proof. Just a "feeling."
He turned to Choi Muhyeok, desperate.
"Chairman, that's blatant blackmail."
"Eh."
"She's threatening to kill me! Smash the HQ, ruin businesses—what else is that?"
Han Seol-ah shrugged innocently.
"Just a hunch it'll happen. Never said I'd do it. No plans to. Too busy."
"Same difference!"
"Prove it then."
She whistled mockingly. Choi Cheol-ho's fists clenched, eyes murderous enough to kill. But he held back.
"Fine. We accept all Jenix's original demands. But what about the shit you wrecked? Liability?"
"Tab it."
"What?"
"Put my name on the bill. I'll pay in installments when I got cash."
"This is insane... Chairman, this make any sense? Jenix hired her on purpose."
"Hired? Came as a civilian. Wanna fight her? I ain't interested."
Utter recklessness. They'd heard she was brute force incarnate, but this brainless? Unimaginable.
She waved them off.
"No more bullshit? Clear the road then."
Gravity shoved the barricade hunters aside like the Red Sea parting. She beckoned Yoo Taejeong.
"Little bro, c'mon."
He led the Jenix execs to their vehicles.
Jo Young-min, helpless, grabbed Choi Muhyeok.
"Chairman, you can't let this slide. Club broke the rules. Hansan-do needs to punish—no, crush them."
"Hm."
"Chairman!"
"Forgot what she said?"
"What?"
"Fight her if you want."
"Huh?"
"Personal visit. What more can we do? Can't escalate without proof. She's covering damages too. Settle amicably. That's all I got."
He drove off.
"Fucking moron!"
Choi Cheol-ho gnashed his teeth. They'd been played. Got back exactly what they'd dished to Jenix as big guilds.
The club outranked Gold Lion or Invincible. Hansan-do wouldn't touch it. Handle it yourselves.
Jenix's old weakling shoes, now on them.
"How'd this happen?"
"We got fucked. Pissed away cash on the streets."
"Choi Muhyeok scared? Letting this slide?"
"Club's that intimidating. Fuck. Weaklings get no mercy."
"What now? Cut losses?"
"Quit? Easy for you. You lost nothing."
"What? We funded same."
"Your HQ's fine. Ours is rubble."
"That was... freak accident."
"I'll repay."
"What?"
"Today's shit. Double—no, triple or more."