Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Powerless
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A lot had changed in Sector 5 in the three days since its owner changed.
Two-Shot raised the protection fees in Sector 5 to match those of Sector 3 and forbade the residents from even setting foot in Eun Haon's territory.
He placed mechanical mantises at every path leading to other sectors, making it impossible to sneak through.
Residents traveling between Sector 3 and 5 had to take long detours, and those who commuted to Sector 1 for academies and hospitals were also in a difficult position.
Overnight, people lost their educational opportunities and had to urgently find new hospitals.
The building that once housed Weaver's office was now filled with Two-Shot's luxury items.
The very man who had been the most scathing critic of Cue's private exhibitions, calling them a waste of time, had now created an exhibition hall solely for his own collection.
Two-Shot's attention was focused solely on that place.
As soon as he took Sector 5, he invited villains from outside the old district to his exhibition hall for a party.
He boasted all night that he would soon take Eun Haon's territory as well, making him the master of the entire old district.
Parties were held yesterday and the day before, while he paid no mind to the roads and buildings destroyed during the takeover of Sector 5.
There was no way Hero Headquarters was unaware of Two-Shot's actions.
“In just three days, we've received about twenty reports from Sector 5.”
River said, pointing to the screen in the conference room.
“The villains who came to enjoy Two-Shot's parties are making an even bigger mess of Sector 5.”
“So he's using Sector 5 as his personal party room?”
Chaser grimaced with a look of contempt, and River agreed in a weary tone.
“Looks like it. There's another party scheduled for today.”
“Two-Shot doesn't care about Sector 5. Not that it would be much different even if he did.”
“Running Sector 3 alone was his limit.”
As the seated heroes added their comments, Juyeol, who had been silent, ground his teeth.
“We're just going to let that bastard be?”
If Headquarters gave the word, he looked ready to go and shoot Two-Shot in the forehead right then and there.
“A guy like Rusty lasted a long time, so Two-Shot is... well...”
Finder continued, his expression displeased.
“And we can't interfere in a turf war just because we don't like the new boss.”
“It's not about the turf war, it's about him harboring a terrorist. And the fact that he attacked Ghost and me during the fight.”
Chaser retorted, and Boulder nodded in agreement.
“Aren't Potions made there too? We have more than enough reason to take down Two-Shot right now.”
“That's what I'm saying. If we strike Two-Shot today, no one would think we broke the rules. Even Two-Shot wouldn't have a leg to stand on.”
As Juyeol voiced his strong agreement, Hunter, who had been quietly flipping through a report, spoke calmly.
“Right. We have enough reason. It's not that we aren't doing it, it's that we can't.”
“But why in the world—”
“Because we had to relocate Headquarters so suddenly with nothing, the engineering team is only now getting the essential equipment. We also have staff who quit after the building collapsed.”
“...”
“Even so, the strategy team is searching for infiltration routes with drones. It seems they have nothing to report, as the mechanical mantises keep destroying them.”
Juyeol's expression darkened.
The problem was Two-Shot's new ally, Bae Anjae.
He wasn't confident they could properly counter his deadly mechanical mantises and magic-like technology.
Just a few days ago, that wouldn't have been a major concern. After all, the heroes had their own collaborator with abilities similar to Bae Anjae's.
‘If only Eun Haon hadn't lost her powers.’
River muttered to herself as she looked at Juyeol's tense face.
Having inspected Sector 1 herself, she had thought it would be fine if Eun Haon became the ruler of the entire old district.
As long as Juyeol was at Hero Headquarters, she was sure Haon would actively help them.
“There's no one else with that kind of ability, is there?”
River asked wistfully, and Bell replied firmly.
“River, I know what you're thinking, but it's actually a relief that Dr. Eun can no longer use that unknown power.”
“A relief? She helped us when Headquarters collapsed. She would have helped us deal with Two-Shot and the Potions, too!”
“Dr. Eun may have turned over a new leaf, but if you think about it, not much has changed. When she met Nova, she was on the villains' side. Isn't she on the heroes' side now just because she likes Ghost?”
“That's...!”
“Getting attached to people quickly is one of your strengths, but we don't know what will happen if Dr. Eun loses interest in Ghost.”
“Bell is right.”
Hunter's agreement made River's expression fall.
Hunter checked the time and then stood up, a gesture to end the meeting.
“However, being the most suspicious is my job. And for the past few months, Eun Haon has consistently been an ally to Headquarters, so Bell, you can relax a little.”
“Ah. Yes.”
Before Bell could finish her awkward reply, Juyeol shot to his feet.
“I'm leaving first.”
Then, without hesitation, he stormed out of the conference room.
“He did that yesterday, too. What's with him? Did he hide some treasure somewhere?”
Finder asked, looking strangely at the spot where Juyeol had been.
River, who knew where Juyeol had been staying lately, answered reluctantly.
“I don't know about treasure, but he is hiding something.”
* * *
Arriving at the penthouse, Juyeol hurriedly passed through the antechamber leading to the living room.
‘I wonder if she's eaten.’
Then he saw Haon sitting blankly on the sofa, and his heart sank.
Haon was sitting in the exact same spot as when he had left the penthouse.
She was staring into space, her presence so faint it felt like she could disappear at any moment.
“Haon.”
Juyeol hid his anxiety as he approached the sofa.
“Have you been like this the whole time without eating? You should have gone down to the cafe and called someone.”
“Nova is busy.”
When Haon opened her mouth, a cracked voice came out.
He instinctively reached for her red, swollen eyes, but changed direction and took her hand to pull her up.
“There's Chacha, too.”
He tried to sound casual as he led her to the kitchen and sat her down. Haon listlessly rested her cheek on the table.
“Chacha and Elder Solmae are busy too. Because of what happened to me.”
“...”
Juyeol handed her a glass of warm water, and Haon's upper body straightened slightly.
He acted nonchalantly, wanting Haon to feel like nothing serious had happened, as much as possible.
He hoped she would think that, regardless of the actual severity, it wasn't a huge deal.
But seeing her exhausted face and hearing her desolate voice made it hard to keep his composure.
Seeing her go beyond mere dejection and practically dig herself into a hole made him want to fuss over her and carry her around tucked under his arm like a helmet, just as Chacha had said.
Since the owner of Sector 5 changed, one day, then two, passed, and Haon still couldn't use Mana Engineering.
Her phone, which she had called the most crucial piece of equipment for Mana Engineering, was unresponsive, and Blue, the bluebird that always flew around her, had not appeared.
Fortunately, the things she had previously made with Mana Engineering were still functioning normally, and the AI software was fine.
However, she couldn't change their settings or fix any errors. She couldn't repair the broken mechanical hamsters and cranes either.
She also couldn't perform the 'restructuring of matter,' the very foundation of Mana Engineering.
As if unable to believe what had happened to her, Haon had called desperately for Blue for days until her voice grew hoarse.
Then she had struggled, insisting she had to meet Bae Anjae, before crying so much he worried she would dehydrate completely.
He didn't know what was in the 5th-floor lab, but she had locked herself in there—a place he couldn't enter—and cried for a long time.
Since before he left for Headquarters today, she had been silent and just sitting there blankly, a state that seemed to continue.
Juyeol looked down at Haon's wrist.
“Does it still hurt?”
“A radio wave combined with mana is constantly circulating inside my wrist.”
“...”
“I understand the principle. It must be set to conflict with any other mana.”
Haon's small shoulders slumped as she spoke in a monotone.
“But I don't know how to remove it without Mana Engineering.”
Towards the end, her voice grew thick with unshed tears, but her expression remained bleak.
“Without Mana Engineering, I'm... completely usele—”
“Stop.”
Juyeol covered Haon's mouth with his large hand, playfully chiding her to hide his own pity.
“What are you talking about, 'useless'? Are you a tin hamster? A toaster?”
“...”
“Geez, crybaby. We just have to find a way. We can find one.”
Haon silently shed tears, leaning her forehead against Juyeol's stomach.
“Take this chance to get some rest. Dealing with villains is Headquarters' job, so leave it to us.”
Juyeol tried to ignore the ache in his chest that grew as his shirt became damp, and added.
“You've already saved your own world. You've done more than enough.”
“Hic...”
Haon, who had been crying quietly, finally buried herself in Juyeol's arms and sobbed.
He patted her thin, bony back, his expression hardening. The pathetic trembling he felt in his arms made him angry and resentful.
The fact that he had been the bait to steal Haon's powers made his blood boil.
Even when Haon was intimidated or crying, her confidence and faith in her Mana Engineering abilities had always been unwavering.
And now, she was muttering that she was 'broken,' just as Bae Anjae had said.
‘Bae Anjae.’
Juyeol chewed on the name of the man who had made Haon powerless.
He resolved to infiltrate Two-Shot's territory once more, either by pressuring Hunter or even by himself.
