Get Famous First (3)
Light City was overflowing with superpowered individuals. So many, in fact, that if someone casually announced they had a superpower, you'd just think, Oh, really? and move on without batting an eye.
This was mostly because the vast majority of superpowers were so weak or useless. Things like repelling insects, levitating tiny specks of dust, or earning a cat's faint affection...
"P-Please, have a seat here first. Fill out this application form. You're A-grade hero Trace, right?"
"That's right."
But heroes were different. Even the lowest rank, a C-grade hero, had to pass rigorous exams to register—written tests on laws and situational judgment, plus practical exams evaluating power utility. Even those with impressive abilities often flunked, which was why hero exam academies existed.
And passing was just the beginning? Starting at C-grade, then B, A, and ultimately S... endlessly competing against other heroes to prove you were superior. Trace was a superstar prospect who'd rocketed to A-grade in just one year.
"Here, all filled out."
Trace slid the completed form forward, then nodded at Kang Jin-ho.
"Follow me."
"...Follow you? But I'm on duty right now..."
"When a hero makes a cooperation request, the police have an obligation to comply. You think I filled out this form for fun?"
Trace fluttered the paper in front of Kang Jin-ho. An Seong-sil, standing nearby, gave an awkward smile.
"S-Sorry, but Officer Kang Jin-ho is a rookie. His trainer's out right now, so it might be tricky for him to go alone with you, Trace."
"Is that so? Then... An Seong-sil? If you come along, that should be fine, right?"
"Well, sure..."
"Let's go. My car's outside."
Trace headed out of the substation first. An Seong-sil watched her go, then muttered under his breath, "Tried to block her... but no dice," before following suit.
"Guess that's that."
Kang Jin-ho bundled up in his jacket and prepared to leave. It was a rough approach, but he'd known Trace would show up eventually. In fact, he'd nudged things that way himself.
And so, Trace, Kang Jin-ho, and An Seong-sil left the substation.
About an hour later.
"Jin-ho~ I'm back..."
Park Eun-young returned late, only to...
"...Haha."
Her eyes glinted oddly as she glared at the empty seats where the two had been, as if seeing something there.
Inside a top-of-the-line sedan complete with chauffeur. Reveling in the plush comfort that put the substation patrol car to shame, Trace crossed her legs and cut straight to the chase.
"That inter-floor noise telepathy case. I heard you solved it, Officer Kang? I've caught a similar guy before myself. Even I had to use my power to barely track him down, so I was pretty shocked to hear a regular cop nailed the perp on-site in one go."
"No, just luck."
"No need to be modest. I looked into it—you nabbed a perp disguised as a cake on your very first day on the job. You were a prodigy back at the police academy, too."
"...Thank you."
"Suits you better."
In truth, this was partly what Kang Jin-ho had aimed for. In the game, Trace's affinity would sometimes spike out of nowhere with lines like, He solved a case like one I handled? So when he'd cracked the apartment telepathy case, he'd hoped she'd come knocking.
Fortunately, she'd shown up at the substation herself.
"Anyway, to the point."
Trace's gaze on Kang Jin-ho mixed curiosity, anticipation, and a hint of suspicion.
"I just need some advice. Not for you to solve it—just the right pointer."
"What kind of advice?"
"A few days ago, I got solid intel on a major drug deal near XX Station. The source was reliable enough that the odds of it being fake were near zero. So I went out myself."
"Hm, with your power, Trace, grabbing the perps should be a piece of cake, right? Hahaha."
An Seong-sil's quip made Trace scowl.
"If it was that easy, would I have come all the way here? To a substation outside my jurisdiction? Begging a regular cop for help?"
"...Fair point."
"Sigh. Anyway, my power reads 'space memory.' I sync my senses to a specific point in space and time, experiencing everything as if I were standing there myself."
Her voice brimmed with pride in her ability. Kang Jin-ho already knew it, of course, but nodded as if hearing for the first time. Trace's power was among the most useful and rare in the info-type category.
"But when I checked XX Station's past myself... nothing."
"No signs of drugs changing hands?"
"Exactly. No shady bag exchanges, no furtive glances, not even anyone using the station lockers. Just... an ordinary day at the station."
Arrogant, yes—but her abilities matched. Trace had never failed a case on her climb to A-grade. This first failure had badly bruised her pride.
"So I thought, maybe that 'hyped-up regular cop instinct' could spot what I missed."
Trace wasn't pinning grand hopes on Kang Jin-ho. But even a tiny clue would suffice. Like when your brain itched for an answer, and a casual remark from someone nearby sparked inspiration.
"Hm..."
Kang Jin-ho picked up on it and pondered. His original plan was to arrive on-site, poke around pretending to investigate, then casually drop an "Aha!" hint. Solve the case, rack up karma, boost his rep.
But now, seeing Trace's low expectations, he switched gears. Solve it right here in the car.
I need fame.
A month of substation life had taught him: scraping by on quota with petty thieves and thefts wouldn't dent 480 million karma in a lifetime. Sitting tight wouldn't cut it. He needed fame to draw big cases his way.
For that, he needed the title: the genius cop who cracks any case.
Once famous, I'll even get chances to befriend the top-ranked hero...
And for that fame, the A-grade hero before him was perfect bait. Pretty, rising star, talented. Time to etch his name in her mind—not with a mild hint, but a jaw-dropping shock.
Decision made, Kang Jin-ho murmured casually, like an afterthought.
"Actually, I think I know who the perp is—without even going to the station."
"Pardon? What was that?"
"I said, I think I know how the crime gang fooled you, Trace."
"Wait—Driver, pull over, please."
Trace called out in a fluster.
Screech!
The sedan halted abruptly, a tense silence falling for a split second.
"You just said you know the perp?"
"Yes. More precisely, I know their method."
"...Ha, okay. Sure."
Stunned by the absurdity, Trace fixed Kang Jin-ho with a piercing glare. Her power let her relive the past. Impressive on its own, but she could share it with up to five others. That's why they were heading to XX Station—to let these two cops experience it and spot her blind spot.
What? Figure it out from a seated chat alone? No site visit, no witness statements—just "drug deal happened but Trace missed it"?
Impossible. If this guy spouted baseless nonsense, she'd boot him and complain to the substation chief.
But if he was a seated genius who could unravel it all...
"So, how'd they pull off the drug deal at the station?"
Even brilliant detectives needed sharp assistants. Trace was one herself.