The Kidnapped Hero (1) — Club's Abduction
A short time later. In the meeting room at the 7th Squad Base.
The squad members sat around the large table amid a heavy, oppressive atmosphere.
Check, the vice-captain of the 7th Squad. Spade, the combat specialist. Coco, the dispatched member affiliated with headquarters' Intelligence Division. Apple, the administrative officer. And... Rahe, the captain of the 7th Squad.
Originally, the 7th Squad included Club as well, plus one more member, making a total of seven—the entire roster. And all of them were Awakeners.
"It looks like everyone's here who can be. Right, Check?"
"Yes, Captain. Everyone except Aria, who's on dispatch to headquarters, and Club, who's gone missing."
Check responded in her clear, precise voice. Rahe, seated at the head of the table, nodded and neatly tapped the stack of reports in her hand to straighten them.
Her long black hair gleamed with a smooth, lustrous sheen. Tall like a model, with a slender yet voluptuous figure and ample bosom—she was a woman so flawless that "beautiful" didn't suffice; she embodied "perfection." With mature eyes that remained calm in any situation, she was the captain leading the 7th Squad, the Ice Witch who struck fear into countless villains.
Young in her twenties, she had been appointed captain of the vital 7th Squad—defenders of the capital region—after her dazzling achievements in the Great Catastrophe three years prior made even the higher-ups take notice. And indeed, her past performance during that "Great Catastrophe" was no fluke. In the three years since her appointment, most major and minor villain organizations in her jurisdiction, S City, had been crushed.
To allies, she was a reliable pillar without enemies. To villains facing her as foes, this earned her the moniker "Witch." That was the reason.
Her impeccable personality had always garnered rave reviews from superiors. But this incident threatened to shatter that reputation.
A subordinate kidnapped by a villain.
In this era, vicious villains still lurked in abundance, and heroes often suffered severe injuries or death clashing with them. But under Rahe's command, such tragedies had never occurred.
This was an unprecedented anomaly.
...With the peaceful times reducing our numbers... and new villain groups emerging, I couldn't keep tabs on everything...
...Sigh... really...
She had no desire to make excuses, but self-reflection demanded cold honesty. Amid the personnel shortages inversely proportional to the mounting workload, she'd been swamped. Spade and Club were subordinates she could trust with missions based on their skills. Even if she could turn back time, she'd have issued the same orders. It was the best choice. The optimal plan.
And unfortunately, the enemy's response had surpassed the 7th Squad's "best."
That was all there was to it.
Just that... yet her heart grew unbearably heavy.
"You've all received the reports. Apple, before we dive in, could you give a quick briefing?"
"Yes, Captain Rahe."
Apple stood, taking the reports from Rahe—ones she'd co-authored with Spade. They detailed the day's incident at the department store and the circumstances of Club's disappearance.
"Everything," though limited to their perspectives, since all cameras and records had been destroyed—likely the villain's doing—leaving only their testimonies.
"As you all know, at ■:■■ today, a villain terror threat was announced—"
"—That's the full report. Thank you."
As Apple's briefing concluded, sighs rippled through the room.
No one blamed Spade, who had been on-site yet failed to protect Club, but Spade—feeling some responsibility—sat rigidly, fists clenched.
"...Spade, ease up on those shoulders. From what I heard, it couldn't be helped."
Check, the vice-captain, spoke first to chide her gently. Unlike her formal tone with Captain Rahe earlier, this carried a strange dialect and accent. The mixed Hong Kong-Korean had picked up an odd twang in casual speech, no one knew from where.
Check wasn't wrong. Per Apple's report, Club had acted alone, breaking position to confront the villain one-on-one, and circumstantial evidence suggested she'd lost and been taken.
This was Club's fault for defying her senior Spade's orders. Given Club's usual arrogance, it wasn't hard to imagine her charging ahead blindly.
"I've been meaning to drill that into her, but I slacked off blaming busyness. My fault too."
As Check encouraged Spade, Coco—seated beside her—chimed in supportively. With ash-gray hair and a sly, sharp-eyed look, she handled Club's training due to ability synergies.
"That kid was treated like an ace back home, and she's young. I figured she'd get a harsh lesson eventually, but not like this."
"Can't be helped. Still, she's improved a ton since day one, right?"
"And look where that got us. ...I straight-up taught her stubbornness on-site shortens your lifespan."
Seeming to feel responsible as trainer, Coco grumbled regretfully. She looked ready to say more, but Captain Rahe spoke, silencing Check and Coco.
"Scoldings later. From the report, Club's unauthorized actions bear the most fault. But Spade failed to control her, so you're responsible too. Understood, Spade?"
"...Yes, Captain."
"And you, Apple. Charging into a building held by a villain? You could have judged more coolly. We nearly had another victim."
"I'm sorry..."
Per the report, Apple's systems had crashed, blocking internal scans, so she'd impulsively entered. Spade had spotted and protected her—otherwise, Apple might have joined Club as a hostage. With no combat prowess, her escape was a miracle. In that light, Club—who could defend herself—being taken might be the lesser evil.
"Also, we need to reassess Villain No. 13. Reports said he'd lost all powers."
"Club's previous report mentioned it. Maybe he regained some."
Previously, at the department store, he'd fled without facing Club head-on. This time, he'd beaten their pincer but lost to Club one-on-one... or so it seemed. Time to raise his threat level from the arbitrary "No. 13."
"Spade, since you engaged him, write a detailed report. Specify his capabilities..."
The meeting continued. Mere situation assessment and policy-setting for now—no rescues yet. The 7th Squad would focus on locating the villain group Abyss, even considering aid from other units. Worries, concerns, and mixed emotions swirled as the discussion pressed on.
The meeting had shifted from Club to a rising villain group. A comrade's kidnapping was dire, but the 7th Squad faced a threat demanding full force. Rahe had left S City today for a headquarters briefing on it.
Everyone, especially Captain Rahe, fretted over Club but swallowed it to address this priority.
............What is it?
Something... feels off.
Throughout, Spade couldn't shake her stony expression.
Of course, she worried for junior Club and felt responsible. But more than that...
The report she'd co-written with Apple, the briefing—everything felt profoundly wrong.
The department store terror, contact with No. 13, the sequence of events... Not entirely false, but laced with uncanny inconsistencies.
Something was off. Something fundamentally distorted.
...Why?
No matter how she pondered, the reason eluded her. Why she felt this way...
Why? Why? It just... didn't make sense...
And watching such Spade through her round glasses was Apple, with dark, sinister eyes appraising her like prey.