The Villain at the Summit Is Still Just a Woman
"The boss of Vengeance?"
"I thought it was Dark Matter?"
The assembly gathered at Pier 7 stirred with unrest. Even El.Lena, who kept her face hidden behind a folding fan, seemed caught off guard, watching me from above with a steady gaze.
"Shall we stop the chatter and begin the meeting? If you're looking for a seat, this will do. I don't have a hobby of sitting on piles of money."
Thud.
A massive figure descended from the pile and lumbered toward me. "I don't know what kind of scheme you're pulling, but I won't acknowledge it. Even if you are the power behind the throne, a coward hiding behind his subordinate—especially a little brat like that—has no right to participate at Pier 7."
With that, the giant opened his mouth wide. From deep within his belly, he pulled out a massive club. The weapon extended, reaching a good four meters in length, with menacing iron balls attached to both ends.
"I am 'Gangwan,' boss of 'Bulldozer.' You must have heard of me."
"An SS-rank villain. The head of the hardline terrorists who turn everything they touch into steel."
"You know your stuff. I don't know if you gaslit a powerhouse like Dark Matter or seduced her with your dick, but this isn't a place for a pretty boy like you. Don't worry. I'll at least spare your life."
I turned my head toward El.Lena. "I'll ask one thing. Does my display of force here appear as an act of hostility toward you all?"
El.Lena let out a scoff at my words. "A warrior's dance is meant to set the heart ablaze. By all means, show us."
"I'm not very good at controlling my strength. Is it alright if Gangwan dies?"
"You've got a silver tongue to match your looks. I'll take back my mercy. I'll kill you."
Enraged, Gangwan gripped his club tightly. I didn't want to kill an SS-rank villain if I could help it, but I had no choice.
"Transform."
Up a blind alley
The Red Dragon took hold. That was the signal for battle to commence.
"Hmph!"
Gangwan lunged with a speed that belied his massive frame. The iron ball, which could turn a fragile human body into mincemeat with a mere graze, bared its teeth at me. I parried it with a restrained hand-blade, closing the distance in return. Gangwan looked flustered that his brute strength had been checked. I didn't miss the opening and unleashed a flurry of punches into his side.
He took the damage, but immediately rotated his club to defend, knocking me back. As expected, he's sturdy. I couldn't help but let my lips curl upward.
We continued our exchange. The club shot toward me. I met its tip with my fist.
KA-BOOM!
I shattered the iron ball. But at the same time—
"Hmph!"
Gangwan lunged, seizing the opening. He had a trick up his sleeve. The outer layer of my fist had been transmuted into steel. I was in a state where I couldn't defend with a hand-blade. He was capable of using his ability through any weapon he touched.
"Good sense."
Gangwan thrust his hand toward my face. If he turned my brain into steel, it would be my death—his victory. This was the strike he was aiming for. However—
CRACK!
The steel on my fist shattered, and my hand splayed open. He hadn't predicted that far, and a look of bewilderment washed over Gangwan's face.
GRAB!
With both hands now free, I seized his arms.
THUD!
A headbutt. Gangwan sprayed blood. He began to coat his chest in steel to defend himself. It was spreading across his entire body.
A war of attrition is a hassle. But if I used the Red of War, there was a high chance he'd die, so maybe I should give him a chance.
"Apocalypse."
REV■L■TI■N
"Blue of Death."
CAS■SC■ER■L■
I vanished from his field of vision. The next moment, I was standing behind Gangwan. I kicked his back—the only part not yet covered in steel—with all my might.
KA-KA-KA-BOOM!!
Gangwan flew back and slammed into the wall.
"...What was that just now?"
"Was that... teleportation?"
"Where did that scythe come from..."
The leaders murmured. As they said, I was carrying a massive scythe on my back. There was no need to use that yet. I deactivated the Blue of Death.
"...Ugh."
Gangwan stood up, his body swaying as he poured out blood. A tough man, indeed.
"...It's my defeat. I acknowledge it, Zeorgius. Do as you will with my life."
"Ho. You won't beg?"
"I'd rather die by my own hand than do such a thing."
A man with guts. I liked him. "I'll defer it. I didn't come here to fight. So, when does the meeting start? CEO El.Lena."
El.Lena gave me a chilling smile and parted her full lips, which looked like they could swallow a man's soul.
"I don't dislike that kind of spirit, but don't aim it at me, Zeo. As a reward for the good show, I'll let it slide this time."
Hehehe, El.Lena left behind a cold laugh. "Then, everyone, speak your piece. The Galactic Empire, Laniakea. What shall we do about them?"
The six villain leaders spent time discussing the Galactic Empire. They covered everything from analyzing their combat power to establishing rough scenarios. While it might seem strange at first glance for them to keep the Galactic Empire in check, it was only natural when you thought about it.
Villains and Monsters are easy to confuse, but they are entirely different existences. Villains are, at the end of the day, humans with abilities who commit evil deeds. Monsters are non-human entities that exist solely to destroy and annihilate humanity. For villains to commit their evil deeds, they need other heroes or citizens. To steal money, you need a central bank that prints it; to commit murder, you need citizens who have grown complacent. It was only natural that villains wouldn't be fond of monsters, who indiscriminately wipe all of that away.
They were entities stealing the pie of 'evil deeds' that belonged solely to them.
The conclusion they reached today was that since the Emperor would be far stronger than the Dragon King Squadron, they would wait for the heroes to be annihilated fighting the Galactic Empire, and then the Villain Alliance would wage war against the Empire. If they didn't stop them, the villains would die anyway as long as they lived on Earth. It was a natural conclusion.
However, since it was impossible to unify all the villains in the world, they decided to first join forces with the villains of Korea. At the center of that meeting was El.Lena. While she seemed to be a bystander, she was steadily leading the entire group according to her own intentions. It was an operation style befitting her title as CEO. And no one dared to defy her.
"We'll wrap up the response to the Galactic Empire at this. Now, let's exchange information as usual."
One leader proposed. This was the primary purpose of Pier 7. To exchange information and personnel to strengthen each villain organization. To extend their reach even further into the world of darkness.
"Zeo. It's your first time at the pier, do you have a gift? It's fine if you don't. I didn't have high expectations."
El.Lena was testing what level of information I would bring. She was likely planning to ignore any information meant to appease a new organization. I didn't intend to give them much help, either. I was only planning to lay the groundwork today.
"The Galactic Empire declared they would invade in 50 days."
"That's right. There are 42 days left now."
"In reality, it's 30 days. In 22 days, 'Pegasus,' one of the Galactic Empire's executives, will drop into Suwon."
"What?"
"What kind of baseless nonsense is that."
"Believe it or not, that's your freedom. But many things will change that day. The stock market, logistics, the flow of politics. It would be best to prepare."
I declared, arms crossed. And so, that day at Pier 7 came to an end. The other executives climbed the stairs, and finally, El.Lena descended from her mountain of money.
"Your spirit is good. But if you want to live long in this business, you need to show more respect. Especially to me."
As she said this, she tapped my forehead with the ribs of her fan. If I didn't keep my wits about me, I felt like I would be sucked into those eyes. SSS. A difference of just one letter created a level that even I couldn't ignore.
"CEO El.Lena."
"Imprudent. Add 'Ma'am' to that."
With that, El.Lena turned her body. Her wispy hair fluttered, defying gravity.
"Isn't it beautiful?" El.Lena looked at the mountain of money. "Exchanging goods with ease. The things created from that simple idea have ruined humans this much. The system of capital, the imaginary numbers of stocks, the magic of loans, the trap of compound interest. All of human malice, murderous intent, and the wisdom of desire are contained within this single sheet of paper."
El.Lena was ecstatic as she picked up a banknote with her long fingers.
"This paper can make us slaves, or it can make us queens. Which one are you, Zeorgius?"
El.Lena brought the banknote to my chest. I lightly emitted heat from my body. Soon, the bill burned up and vanished without a trace.
"I am a warrior."
"Fufu. A good answer."
El.Lena licked her upper lip with her tongue. She gazed intently at the mountain of money and said, "'Burn.'"
WHOOSH!
The mountain of money. Over 200 billion won in banknotes were instantly engulfed in flames. The bright light tickled my vision.
"A great villain once said. What's important isn't the money. It's the message." El.Lena stood before the flames. "Is your message worth anything, Zeo?"
I walked up to her and replied, "The 'Sky Lens' project will fail. If you're a woman, you should take better care of your own body."
"...What did you say?"
The brow of El.Lena, who had been overflowing with composure until now, finally distorted, if only slightly. I turned my body. The spectacular flames, her astonishing ability, the nerve to burn such a massive sum without hesitation, and the message contained within. I acted as if I had no interest in any of it. Expressing my indifference entirely with my back.
"Boss, why are you spacing out?"
Ji Se-hwa jumped in surprise and lifted her head. She looked around. Combatants with bodies modified by all sorts of machinery. Like herself, they were the dregs of society. Garbage with nowhere left to fall. Ji Se-hwa looked at her left hand. She clenched her fist tightly.
"What's wrong? The target is arriving soon!"
"No, it's nothing. Let's go with spirit, you bastards!"
Ji Se-hwa shouted, pulling the throttle of her bike with force. The 4-cylinder engine let out a powerful roar, and speed engulfed her.
'Getting my left arm cut off... what a weird nightmare to have.'
Dismissing it as nothing, she picked up a submachine gun with her left hand.
The Dragon King Squadron, Blue Saber, no. It was three years ago, before she had any connection to the word 'hero.' She was just Ji Se-hwa, the leader of a common street biker gang.