Chapter 146: The Hero (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 146: The Hero (6)
Less than a day after the video is uploaded to the internet, the short-haired detective is brought in.
Having become my cellmate of sorts in the cage across from mine, the detective glares at me. However, after catching the gazes of Lee Yu-na and Anna, who are guarding the front of my cell, she trembles and casts her eyes down.
Just what kind of look are you two giving her?
I can’t see their faces since their backs are turned to me, but then Lee Yu-na turns around with a soft smile.
"It’s a shame."
"Huh? What is?"
"These bars. It would have been better if they weren't here."
Lee Yu-na reaches through the bars and strokes my hand as she speaks.
Um... you’re talking about my cell, not the one over there, right?
"You’re right, it is a shame."
Anna also gives a pure smile and reaches in to take my other hand.
It’s scary, so could you please stop leaving out the subject of your sentences?
By the next day, people connected to this incident begin to be brought in by the dozens. Normally, they would have been released after questioning, but the authorities must have judged the matter to be severe enough to lock everyone up for the time being. These are the people who didn't directly execute the plan but were behind the scenes—like Anna Gyeom’s Clan Leader and her backers.
"Anna Gyeom! Where is Anna Gyeom?! That damn bitch! I raised her, I doted on her, and she dares to stab me in the back?! Fuck! Let go of me!"
The Clan Leader, her powers suppressed by handcuffs, is dragged into a cell by the police. Since this was a temporary holding facility, there wasn't much space to begin with. With me occupying one entire room, the other room is packed and bustling with people.
And then, our main guest arrives.
"I’ll walk on my own, so let go!"
Han Byeong-sin tries to shake them off, but the police pay him no mind, grabbing his arm and dragging him along. Han Byeong-sin, who had been throwing a fit, suddenly spots me. His face twists into a demonic expression as he breaks free from the police and charges toward me.
"Jeong Yeon-woo...! Gack!"
Yoon A-young, who had just swapped shifts, grabs him by the throat and slams him into the floor.
Ouch, that’s gotta hurt.
As I watch him with a look of mock pity, Han Byeong-sin, face pressed against the floor, screams at me.
"You son of a bitch! How dare you frame me?! My grandmother won't let you get away with this!"
He must be really flustered.
While I’m snickering at him, the woman who was being dragged in alongside him also breaks free and rushes toward me, only to be pinned to the ground by Kwon Ye-jin.
Ye-jin, I told you not to kill them.
Im Jin-ah, sprawled on the floor in the exact same pose as Han Byeong-sin, crawls toward me.
"Yeon-woo, I really have nothing to do with this. I’m telling you, I didn't know that bastard was doing those things!"
"I said I didn't do it!! It’s a frame-up!"
Even while pinned by Kwon Ye-jin, Im Jin-ah desperately drags her body, trying to get closer to my bars.
"You’ve investigated it, so you know, right? I’m really not involved."
"I told you I’d come find you, but I didn't expect you to come find me instead."
As I look down and speak, Im Jin-ah’s face, which had been confused, suddenly turns ashen.
"Then... that one million won was really you...?"
"I enjoyed the broadcast. Whether it’s the truth or a lie, figure it out yourself."
"Wait, that’s—let go! Just a second! Let me talk, Yeon-woo! Yeon-woo! I have nothing to do with this!"
Han Byeong-sin and Im Jin-ah are locked in the overcrowded cell across from me. While people are moved back and forth to the interrogation room, the two of them cling to the bars and constantly try to talk to me, but Yoon A-young, looking annoyed, shuts them up with soundproofing magic.
Watching the two of them move their mouths in silence is actually quite entertaining.
But soundproofing magic is fairly high-level; when did Yoon A-young learn that?
She really is a flawless all-rounder with no weaknesses.
Once Han Byeong-sin finally runs out of steam and falls silent, Yoon A-young lifts the magic.
"I feel bad that only the Senior and I are eating."
"It’s fine. I am technically an inmate right now, after all."
Kwon Ye-jin, who is snacking on some chocolate, speaks with an apologetic look. Since I’ve come this far, I shouldn't do anything that could be used against me. They’re giving me decent delivery food for meals anyway, so I’m eating quite contentedly.
While we’re chatting amongst ourselves, Han Byeong-sin glares at us from the other side.
"You seem awfully relaxed, don't you?"
What kind of trouble is he trying to stir up now?
Han Byeong-sin cackles.
"Do you really think you’re going to win?"
"Won't I? There are so many witnesses and so much evidence."
In truth, a trial isn't even necessary. What I had planned from the start was a media war. Now that the video has spread, the ones under the most pressure from the public aren't Han Byeong-sin, but the police. The police who were hostile toward me have no choice but to take action to appease the angry public.
"Aha—witnesses. They are important. Very important."
Han Byeong-sin nods, lingering on the word 'witness.'
"Hey, Byeong-sin. Han Byeong-sin."
"Don't call me a loser, you piece of shit."
"The name doesn't matter. You contacted the outside while receiving your delivery food, didn't you?"
"... ... No way! Are you trying to frame me again?!"
Who would believe him when he’s so visibly flustered? I smile as I watch Han Byeong-sin shift his eyes around, trying to play it cool.
"You guys really never deviate from my expectations. Well, I suppose what a cornered rat does is always the same."
"What are you talking about?"
While Han Byeong-sin scowls, Yoon A-young’s smartphone rings.
"Yes. Yes, I understand. No, it’s difficult to hand him the phone, so I’ll put it on speaker. Everyone can hear the call, so please watch your language."
After speaking politely, Yoon A-young switches to speakerphone.
"Yeon-yu-jjang~ Did you miss me~~?"
Song Ha-el’s bright voice rings out from the phone. Her voice, which doesn't fit the heavy atmosphere at all, makes everyone look up and stare.
"Ha-el Nuna, it’s been a while."
"Haah~ Even your muffled voice sounds good. I’ll have to dote on you when you get back."
"Yes, please do. Did the job go well?"
As I ask, a shouting voice comes through the phone: "Stay still, you bastards!"
"Can't you see I'm on the phone with Yeon-yu-jjang?!"
The sound of a blow that sounds painful even just to hear, followed by Song Ha-el’s shout away from the receiver, makes the surroundings fall silent. The other end of the call goes quiet, and everyone here just looks at each other and shuts their mouths.
"Aiyee~ These kids are so persistent, they just won't die~ Ehehe, was it noisy?"
"... ..."
Song Ha-el speaks those chilling words in a voice laced with aegyo. While everyone else remains silent, I speak up quietly.
"You know you shouldn't kill them, right?"
"Yeah, yeah. I only half-killed them. Or was it... I left them a quarter alive? Your mouth still works, right? Hey, say something."
"P-please... save me..."
The sobbing voice of some poor woman comes through, and Song Ha-el speaks again in a bright tone.
"Ah, she’s safe too. Pretty boy, come over here."
No one can keep up with her "my-way" pace, but everyone in the vicinity is focused on the call. Myself, Yoon A-young, Kwon Ye-jin, the bastards in the cell, and even the nearby police officers—everyone listens in silence.
Soon, the terrified voice of a man comes through the smartphone.
"H-hello? Hero Jeong Yeon-woo?"
"Yes, Mr. Park Cheong-woo. I’m glad you’re safe."
"Thank you! I really thought I was going to die. I’m so glad I kept wearing the jacket you complimented. When I was on my way to work..."
Park Cheong-woo is as talkative as ever. I’m glad I didn't retrieve the beacon I’d attached to his jacket when we met, just in case. As Park Cheong-woo excitedly recounts Song Ha-el’s exploits, seemingly ready to tell his entire life story, Han Byeong-sin sits across from me with a blank expression.
Or rather, it’s hard to tell if he’s blank or just trembling uncontrollably.
"Anyway, I’m gonna go raid their hideout, see ya later~"
Song Ha-el speaks brightly and hangs up.
"Master, everyone else is safe too."
Kwon Ye-jin says, showing me a text message.
"Oh, and there’s one more text. Clan Leader Lee Ru-da sent it."
[See you after your vacation.]
It’s a short sentence, but it’s terrifying. It makes sense that she’d be angry, considering that because of one C-rank hero, everyone from the Clan Leader to the heroes of Square Garden is running themselves ragged.
I had anticipated that the Hanseong Group would target those who wouldn't be arrested by the police, so I had asked Lee Ru-da for help. Using every hero except those currently raiding dungeons... if you calculated that in money, wouldn't it cost billions of won?
The Hanseong Group moved quickly, and thanks to that, not only were more crimes added to the list, but the villains were caught red-handed.
By the way, this will also be leaked to the internet, so good luck blocking it.
Let’s see if you can manipulate the media this time.
In the quieted atmosphere, I look at Han Byeong-sin, whose face has turned white, and speak.
"That’s a shame, isn't it?"
When I give him a thin smile, Han Byeong-sin begins to bang on the bars and scream like a madman. However, Yoon A-young, having anticipated this, casts soundproofing magic so his voice cannot be heard.
Enjoying the sight of the people around him grimacing, I engage in a pleasant conversation with the two girls.
Three days after Jeong Yeon-woo was detained, he walks out of the police station with his handcuffs removed.
He is surrounded by the members of Black Unicorn, and as he steps out with a confident stride, the crowd erupts. Amidst the chaotic mix of reporters' questions and cheers, Jeong Yeon-woo stops in his tracks, looking flustered.
Faced with a crowd that exceeded his expectations, he gives an awkward smile and a wave. Meanwhile, one of the reporters crouches in front of him, holding a box filled with microphones from various news outlets.
"It must be tiring for you. I’ll hold them while you speak."
When Jeong Yeon-woo takes the box from her hands and speaks with a gentle smile, the reporter stares blankly before blushing and stepping back.
"It’s unfortunate that things escalated to this point due to personal malice. You have all seen how terrifying one person’s malice can be, and how many people it can hurt."
Everyone watching the news is captivated by his virtuous, heroic appearance and listens intently to his words. Without mentioning how much he himself had suffered or struggled, his words about how such malice must disappear sounded like a congratulatory address or a formal speech.
With a final bow and a word of thanks to those who believed in him, Jeong Yeon-woo leaves the scene with the members of Black Unicorn.
"Master, shouldn't you eat some tofu or something?"
Once they are inside the van prepared by the clan, Kwon Ye-jin, who had been maintaining a serious expression outside, speaks with a mischievous grin.
"It’s not like I was actually in prison. It’s been a while, everyone."
As Jeong Yeon-woo greets the staff members dedicated to Black Unicorn, they all smile warmly and welcome him.
"Welcome back, Leader."
"I prepared some tofu crackers just in case, would you like some?"
The van carrying the happily chatting group slowly pulls away from the entrance where the crowd has gathered. The people watch them go with regret, and the reporters quickly prepare to pack up.
From the roof of a nearby building, Moon Yoo-jeong looks down at the receding van with calm eyes.
"Haa—it didn't go according to plan."
A man perched on the railing speaks with a sigh. Baek Seo-woo, whose eyes are so narrow it’s hard to tell if they’re open or closed, shrugs his shoulders in disappointment.
Moon Yoo-jeong answers with her usual composed face.
"Because Yeon-woo is a much greater existence than we thought."
"Yeah, I’ll admit that. I never imagined this. I worked so hard; couldn't he have struggled just a little bit? He escaped so perfectly it’s almost annoying. Ah, you worked hard too, didn't you, Yoo-jeong? Using the grandson of the Hanseong Group and pulling strings in China."
"I did nothing. A corrupt human simply dug his own grave. And Yeon-woo merely proved that he is the one most suited for 'The Hero'."
As Moon Yoo-jeong speaks calmly, Baek Seo-woo nods.
"Yes, no one could be more suited. Excellent resourcefulness, and the spirit to resist injustice even if it means using the methods of a villain. He lacks nothing. It’s just a shame he didn't rely on us this time; we might have been able to bring him over then."
"If it’s Yeon-woo, he will eventually come to 'The Hero'."
Baek Seo-woo glances at Moon Yoo-jeong, who displays a fanatical level of faith, and stands up. After watching the street where the van disappeared for a moment, the two of them vanish into thin air, leaving no trace that anyone had ever been on the rooftop.