Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Pierrot's Demise
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Michelle swallowed hard as she recalled what had just happened in the second test.
The moment Pierrot had probed Do-hyun's mind, it was Pierrot who let out a horrific scream instead.
As if he were the one being tortured by mental magic.
But the shocking part wasn't over yet.
Wheeze!
Pierrot had thrashed about wildly before biting his own tongue in a frenzy and killing himself on the spot.
'Mind Overflow? But from a Lv. 7 Psychologist like Pierrot?'
It occasionally happened with inexperienced mental mages who couldn't maintain their own mentality, but that didn't apply to Pierrot.
"...Do you have any idea what Kim did? What did Kim say?"
"...He said he just did his best to defend against the mental magic."
"You expect me to believe simple mental defense caused Mind Overflow in a mental mage like Pierrot? Even a Lv. 8 superhuman couldn't pull that off."
"It's impossible... And we're not even sure Pierrot's suicide was due to Mind Overflow in the first place."
Brigadier General Frankie and Michelle fell into heavy silence, then another person present spoke up.
"At least this test confirmed one thing. Kim isn't your average S-Rank. The odds that Kim and Genocider are the same person just went way up."
He was the CIA's Awakener Division Chief.
Ever since the Great Cataclysm, the CIA's top priority had shifted to Awakener intelligence.
They worked closely with the U.S. military across the globe.
"...He's too dangerous. With the criminal feats he showed in Korea on top of mental abilities like this, he could surpass Devil Rank and become a Satan Rank villain."
The FBI's International Operations Division Chief spoke gravely.
Unlike the CIA, which handled intelligence, the FBI investigated crimes within the U.S.
If Do-hyun turned out to be the villain everyone feared, the FBI would have the biggest mess on their hands.
"Isn't this just suspicion without evidence? Kim lived as an upstanding, law-abiding citizen without a single blemish before awakening. Letting him go based on baseless doubts would cause massive damage to America's national interests."
That was the Awakener Immigration Headquarters Director's view.
Opinions were split based on each agency's stance.
"It's too coincidental to call it baseless suspicion. Someone with those abilities operating as a villain would be..."
"Think of it the other way. If Kim becomes a hero of justice, imagine how many villains he'd take down."
"That's exactly why Immigration lets in anyone, and now we're debating deploying the National Guard to LA and San Francisco. Chicago's already fallen to villains."
"Why blame Immigration for that? Without our efforts, do you think America would be this far ahead in the Awakener race?"
Immigration had sole authority over Awakener visas.
But for high-risk cases like Do-hyun, committees formed with input from the FBI, federal government, military, and more.
The Immigration rep held the most sway, but they couldn't force it if everyone else opposed.
"What's the federal government's stance?"
"The federal stance is always the same. If they're good for America's interests, we welcome them regardless of their past."
"Good for America's interests? Or...!!"
The CIA chief cut in.
"I understand the FBI's concerns, but even if Kim is Genocider, he might not be the villain you're worried about."
"You mean he'd be a Vigilante?"
A villain who only targeted other villains, sparing innocent civilians.
They often enjoyed even greater popularity than heroes.
"Genocider never harmed innocents, did he? All his victims were vile villains."
"A Vigilante is still a villain."
"You know damn well a Vigilante helps the American people far more than those money-grubbing heroes who pick and choose their jobs."
The FBI rep shut his mouth.
Vigilantes did help, after all.
Still, the FBI had to play it safe.
"...Assuming Genocider would be a Vigilante is just speculation, isn't it?"
"We'll verify that in the third test."
Brigadier General Frankie, who had been listening quietly, stepped in.
The third test wasn't just about mission performance.
It thoroughly judged their moral compass and values too.
"We'll prepare a third test to reveal Kim's true nature."
Do-hyun reviewed Pierrot—Little Joker's ability list.
Even a Demi-God Class couldn't absorb everything, so he had to choose carefully.
'Psychologist, as expected. So many useful ones.'
Awakener abilities fell into two broad categories:
Stats and skills.
Stats were objective numbers like stamina, strength, mana, and so on.
Skills were as everyone knew them.
Skills divided into common ones shared by same-class Awakeners and individual unique skills.
'He had a unique skill, just as I thought.'
Do-hyun's eyes gleamed at Little Joker's unique skill.
It exceeded his expectations.
Mind Control (Unique Skill)
Digesting Mind Control!
One of the most versatile unique skills among mental magics. As the name implied, it allowed domination of the target's mind!
Perfect for Do-hyun's goal of becoming America's overlord.
'Of course, it's not full puppet-master control, but with skill proficiency, the applications are endless.'
Raising mental skill proficiency would be easy by devouring mental mage villains.
There weren't many mental mages, but they were often crazies with high villain rates, offering plenty of targets.
"I'll let you know once the third test schedule is set. Feel free to rest easy until then."
"Do I have to stay in my quarters?"
"No. You can roam the base anywhere outside restricted areas. Waikiki's fine if you want."
"I don't like noisy places, so Waikiki's not my thing. How about downtown?"
"Downtown? That's..."
"I came to Hawaii with my parents once before and remember walking around downtown. I've always wanted to revisit if I came back."
Of course, it wasn't nostalgia.
He had a purpose.
Pearl Harbor would happen in a few days.
He planned to prepare for the 'hunt'.
"...Downtown's changed a lot from what you remember."
"Doesn't matter. I'm not a U.S. citizen yet, but if I spot bad villains, I might play hero of justice."
Michelle pondered his quip, then nodded.
"I'll arrange a vehicle."
Downtown.
In Korean, it meant the city center.
But Korean city centers looked nothing like America's.
America's downtowns were typically the most rundown and dangerous areas—even before the Great Cataclysm, and far worse after.
Now, they were no-man's-lands for gangs, drug addicts, and villains: mini Sin Cities within the city.
"We'll wait here on North Kings Street. Radio if you need anything."
"Got it. Thanks. I'll be quick."
Do-hyun had visited Hawaii's downtown before.
It hadn't been safe then, but tourists still wandered.
Now, even the outskirts felt murderously tense.
As he stepped into the street, eyes locked onto him from everywhere.
'Mostly gangs. Some undercover agents posing as them. FBI?'
The military approving his downtown trip was another test.
To gauge his true intentions.
Do-hyun followed the old tourist route he'd mentioned to Michelle.
'Kinda nostalgic. Revisiting family spots when I visit America isn't bad.'
His reminiscing didn't last.
Shadows slunk out.
"Cute baby? What's your business?"
"Here to sell? Ass, organs, life, soul—which? Don't worry, we'll buy 'em all."
Black gangsters.
In the past, you'd lose your wallet at worst.
Now, life was the baseline—soul in the worst case.
"Not here for that. This place holds memories of my dead family."
"Ah, come to meet your dead fam? Good timing. We're pros at killing. We'll send you to 'em. Oh, but first we gotta harvest your organs fresh—gotta wait a sec? Fresher alive."
"Nah, not that. Mind moving? You're ruining my memories."
One black gangster smirked and swung a knuckled fist at Do-hyun.
Thwack-!
"Huh?"
Another behind tilted his head.
Do-hyun was fine—the attacker had collapsed.
White fluid leaked from the fallen man's nostrils.
Do-hyun had somehow turned his brain to mush; it poured out his nose, killing him.
"Holy shit!!"
The one behind fumbled for his gun—too late.
Thwack-!
His vision flashed, and that was it.
Brain matter dribbled from his nose, just like the first.
Regular gangsters, no abilities worth absorbing.
But they weren't useless.
Do-hyun absorbed their memories: which gangs ruled Hawaii's downtown, which villains lurked where.
'...Insane. How many gangsters are there? Hawaii's supposed to be one of America's better spots—what's it like in the mainland cities?'
He hadn't absorbed memories just to scout.
He headed toward villain-heavy streets.
Conveniently near his family's old tourist path, so nostalgia too.
"...Shadow Knight, huh. At least A-Rank. What's your business?"
A hulking white man appeared. Human weapon incarnate.
From the gangsters' memories, Do-hyun recognized him as a top lieutenant ruling downtown gangs.
Unlike the others, he sensed Do-hyun was Awakened and acted cautiously despite his rough look.
"Like I told your pals, I'm here for family memories."
"Motherfucker. Cut the bullshit—what's the real deal? Who sent you?"
"It's true. No trouble, and I'll leave quietly."
Do-hyun shrugged, locked eyes, and activated Mind Control, the unique skill from Little Joker.
"So don't mess with me. Then we can be friends."
"...Friends?"
"Yeah, friends. Buddy."
"Buddy..."
The man's eyes glazed over as he nodded to Do-hyun's words.