Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: The True Nature of the Elusive Supernatural Ability (1)
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Judging by the sighting locations and times... something's starting to come into focus."
Ha Si-yoon nodded as if utterly convinced, then flung open the laptop he'd placed on the table beyond the sofa.
He searched for something briefly,
then showed Ji-woo and Do-hwa a map displayed on the screen.
"Seven days ago, sightings were at a subway station in downtown S City and the airport in B City.
And six days ago, one near a hamburger joint by that subway station, and another in a residential neighborhood close to the airport."
He captured screenshots of the map and displayed them side by side,
marking dots where 'Trickster' Chae-ryeong had been spotted.
"And... if you connect the closest dots, you get lines like this."
Using the pen tool to draw lines between the nearest points,
several lines branched out from a single spot, resembling tree branches growing outward.
"It looks just like drawing a movement path on a game map."
"That's how it looks to you, Ji-woo."
It resembled the map from an RPG game with portals and such.
Si-yoon added dates and times atop the lines and dots.
"No matter how I think about it, it doesn't make sense for someone to zip around to places that far apart in such a short time, right?
But when you group the sightings by proximity, a consistent pattern emerges."
Starting from what was presumed to be her hideout—a café on the outskirts of S City where she was first spotted—
the lines split off in three different directions.
"One thing's for sure: she started here.
And the further out in time, the more they spread in separate directions."
Two lines stretched far out,
while one looped endlessly around central S City.
"It's impossible for one person to be sighted in multiple places at once.
It's got to be one of two things.
Either two or three people disguised themselves to look like one person and moved around,
or just like the reports say, she created clones and sent them to different spots."
"Ooh...!"
The two women nodded at Si-yoon's highly plausible deduction.
"The Union must be looking into this too, right? Sending investigators or something."
"From what I heard, they dispatch teams steadily as tips come in."
It would be arrogant to assume the Hero Union—professionals at this—hadn't considered a hypothesis even he, untrained in deduction or investigation, could piece together.
Si-yoon felt a bit proud of himself for figuring it out,
but he didn't let it go to his head.
What mattered was reaching 'Trickster' Chae-ryeong before they did.
"Anyway... the others have too few leads and are way too dangerous.
The Union will probably prioritize tracking this one too."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In front of a fast-food joint in downtown S City.
"Hello!"
"Right on time. And dressed just as instructed."
A-Rank Hero 'Ignition' Yoon Do-hwa and 'Ice Queen' Seol Lu-mi.
The two had gathered in the middle of the city, not in their hero suits but in ordinary civilian clothes.
The reason they met somewhere other than the scene?
To carry out a mission assigned by the Union.
"We'll proceed with the mission assuming you've both reviewed all the provided intel."
Lu-mi brushed her silver hair behind her ear and pointed to photos capturing the villains' appearances.
"Excluding the Leader with no info, out of the remaining four executive-level villains,
we'll prioritize tracking Villain 'Trickster'."
"What about starting with the more violent ones?"
"Orders from above: prioritize villains who can be subdued quickly."
Orders to take down easy marks first, not the violent ones with high destructive power likely to cause mass casualties.
As Do-hwa pointed out, for a Hero Union prioritizing civilian safety,
taking out the more violent villains first made more sense.
Even Lu-mi, who had relayed the orders to Do-hwa,
wasn't oblivious to how off they seemed.
But orders from above were to be followed.
The principle was to execute first, question later if something felt wrong.
"Plus, I personally spotted 'Trickster' myself."
Just days ago, while searching for her trail,
Lu-mi had encountered a woman in a café on the outskirts of S City who looked strikingly similar.
She'd been leisurely sipping coffee,
chatting casually with what seemed to be the café's owner.
Back then, the orders were to locate hideouts, not engage villains,
and without certainty it was 'Trickster', Lu-mi hadn't attacked.
"I've just sent you a map via terminal. Please check it."
"Got it."
Do-hwa opened the file from Lu-mi's terminal and reviewed it.
'This... looks almost identical to the map path Master drew yesterday.'
The map Lu-mi sent had lines marking presumed movement paths,
nearly matching what Si-yoon had sketched for her.
"This is the estimated movement route for 'Trickster' based on reports and intel.
Starting from where we are now, we'll trace that line and investigate her trail."
The line Lu-mi indicated was a circular one skirting the edge of S City.
The two set off along it, hunting for traces left by Villain 'Trickster'.
"Let's get going, then."
The pair climbed into a compact car.
Lu-mi in the driver's seat shifted gears and turned the key.
- Vroooom—
The car roared to life with a powerful engine growl.
"First stop: the café where I encountered 'Trickster'.
Should take about ten minutes, so familiarize yourself with the surrounding roads and building layouts on the map."
Lu-mi issued one-sided directives like a commanding officer.
Do-hwa didn't care for her stiff attitude.
'Who does she think she is, my superior? Acting all rigid.'
But Do-hwa didn't voice any complaints or displeasure toward Lu-mi.
If this mission with her went sideways,
it would jeopardize her real objective in carrying it out.
[Do-hwa]:
As you predicted, Master, we're heading to that café now.
[Master♥]:
OK. I'll be waiting.
If Do-hwa and Lu-mi had been assigned to track a different executive first, things would've played out differently.
But fortunately, it matched Si-yoon's prediction: they were prioritizing Trickster.
His hunch that they'd go for the easiest and quickest target first had panned out.
Plus, the café wasn't far from the hideout,
so if things went as planned, he could get there in no time.
Had it not, Do-hwa could've handled the mission solo without issue,
just gathering intel as she went.
About ten minutes later, they arrived at the café on the outskirts of S City.
"We're here."
The café appeared to be operating normally, lights on without a care.
"If you spot a woman with black hair and red eyes,
I'll instantly freeze and subdue her with my ability right there.
Ignition, you scout for any potential ambushes first."
Do-hwa exited the car first per Lu-mi's orders and casually scanned the café's surroundings.
A few civilians passed by now and then,
but her eyes caught no suspicious devices or lurkers.
Except for the young man and woman at the bus stop beside the café.
[Master♥]:
Ji-woo and I are sitting at the bus stop near the café.
[Do-hwa]:
Once I head inside, I'll call—then follow me in.
Ji-woo fiddling with a handheld game console and Si-yoon checking his phone at the bus stop.
Do-hwa snuck a glance at them and sent the text.
She nodded toward Lu-mi waiting beyond the car window,
signaling it was safe to enter.
- Ding~
"Welcome."
The small bell on the door chimed brightly alongside a greeting voice.
As Do-hwa and Lu-mi turned toward the counter,
they saw a woman with long black hair cascading down past her waist and vivid red eyes.
'Definitely... looks like Trickster.'
The instant Do-hwa tried to confirm by studying the woman's face—
- Kraaaackkkk!
A sharp sound echoed through the shop,
and the presumed Trickster was instantly encased in a massive block of ice.
"Subdued."
The Villain 'Trickster' frozen solid without a chance to react or even speak,
completely immobilized.
She had been taken down in a flash by Lu-mi's ability 'Freezing'.
Or at least, that's how it appeared.
- Ssssssssss—
"Hee hee hee hee hee...♥"