Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Provocation
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“I know things have been tough for you lately.”
“What do you want? If you're not here to give me money, get lost.”
“I've taken a liking to the spoils of District 1.”
“Are you saying you're going to kill me and take over District 1?”
“That sounds like too much trouble.”
“Then what is it!”
“You need money, but you have a priceless gem you can't even sell.”
“...”
“I'll give you something you *can* sell. Let's trade for it.”
The large diamond Nova had offered back then was still carefully stored in that safe.
The spoils of District 1 were rumored to be a sapphire, thanks to the previous boss who loved his drink and had a loose tongue.
Since almost no one had seen the real thing, she had planned to sell the diamond she got from Nova and use the money to buy a similar-looking replica to put in the safe instead.
But leaving District 1 to sell a gem in times like these was suicide, and bringing a jeweler in from another district was just as risky. They could be a hitman.
So, just as she was about to have a trusted subordinate sell it, a rumor suddenly spread that the spoils of District 1 were actually a large diamond.
Her subordinates didn't know the safe's combination, but they knew its location behind the picture frame.
Now, unable to trust anyone, she hadn't been able to sell the diamond.
Cue seethed with resentment.
The gang had already shrunk to half its size. Her underlings seemed to be sticking around only to get whatever money Cue had left, not out of any loyalty to protect the gang.
‘I have to get the ransom for Bani. If Eun Haon doesn't pay…’
Cue pulled a small pouch from her pocket and opened it. Inside was a potion of a particularly thick consistency.
***
On the rooftop of a building in District 1 of the Old District.
As the evening sunset slowly spread from the horizon, the Heroes were also carefully monitoring the Villains' movements.
River, who was looking down over the railing, spoke.
“The gangs from the other districts have started to move.”
“Looks like today's the day it finally ends. It's dragged on long enough.”
“Still, it's ending sooner than we first expected.”
River replied to Chaser while operating her band, sending a report to Hero Headquarters.
The rusty door creaked open, and Ghost—Juyeol—also came up to the rooftop.
“Gangs from outside the Old District are here too. I saw a few Awakened Villains moving on their own as well.”
The atmosphere was tense, so he had been out scouting the Villains' situation.
The three of them—Ghost, River, and Chaser—were in District 1.
Hunter and the other Heroes were either tracking down clues on Halo's whereabouts or dealing with Villains who were using the chaos in the Old District to commit crimes.
It was a huge relief that Nova had been quiet during all this.
A change of boss in any of the Old District's sectors was a significant matter for the Heroes.
The boss of District 1 before Cue had been a madman who constantly made bets with citizens' lives as collateral.
He cared little for money or honor and didn't mind that the population of District 1 was dwindling.
When Cue killed him and became the new boss, many were secretly relieved.
“It would be nice if a Villain who can communicate well with Hunter becomes the new boss.”
“As long as the Old District boss doesn't try to expand their territory, it's fine.”
“And no one with Potions.”
“Oh, absolutely not. They're a pain even with the nullification patches.”
River shuddered in agreement with Juyeol.
There had already been sixteen deaths from Potion addiction alone.
If you added the casualties from the fights over stealing and protecting Potions, the number would easily reach triple digits.
Thankfully, the Potion supply had dwindled after Halo disappeared.
If Potions were brought into the major fight that was bound to happen today, the damage could spread to other districts.
Given the unpredictability of the situation, police were also on standby outside the Old District.
[There's a problem with the panel! It needs to be fixed!]
Suddenly, the cheerful voice of an old gentleman came from near Juyeol's feet.
He scowled and nudged the mechanical hamster circling him with the tip of his shoe.
The mechanical hamster rolled to the edge of the railing, then tumbled right back to Juyeol's side.
“Stop kicking it! Don't you feel bad for it?”
“...Does this look alive to you?”
Juyeol asked, bewildered, but River gave him a look as if he'd asked the most obvious question in the world.
“Who said it's alive? It's just cute.”
“What's so cute about it! Why do you like that thing? Dr. Eun made it, didn't she?”
As Chaser showed his distaste, River grumbled, not understanding.
“It's sturdy, cute, and it even protects its owner. What's not to like?”
“Because Dr. Eun made it!”
“What are you talking about? You use the Potion nullification patches just fine.”
“Th-that's different!”
Juyeol leaned his arms on the railing, his expression a mixture of fatigue and irritation with the whole situation.
The mechanical hamster—nicknamed Ttiyong—that Eun Haon had made by modifying a toaster had, as River said, helped him several times in combat.
It had blocked bullets coming from impossible angles and headbutted Villains launching surprise attacks.
It followed him everywhere he went, and when he returned to his quarters, it perfectly fulfilled its role as a toaster.
It was also bizarrely fascinating how it would find an outlet and charge itself when its battery was low.
For the past few days, it had been saying something was wrong and needed fixing, but there was no one at Hero Headquarters who could repair it.
He'd told it to go back to the lab, but it claimed it couldn't be so far away from its owner.
Juyeol, who had been trying to get rid of the mechanical hamster one way or another, was now just waiting for it to break down and stop working altogether.
Usefulness aside, it was an object that made him uncomfortable.
The way it distractingly followed him around reminded him too much of someone.
Just then, the mechanical hamster, curled into a ball, seemed to detect something. An exclamation mark appeared above it, and it tumbled off the railing.
[A repairman is nearby. I'll go get the panel fixed!]
Juyeol, who had frozen with a dumbfounded expression, blinked.
What did that thing just say? A repairman?
‘...Does that mean Eun Haon is nearby?’
He glanced down from the building, then set off with a look of dismay.
He had to catch it before it found Eun Haon.
After storming out of the lab, how could he let her find out he'd been keeping this mechanical hamster with him all this time?
“Where are you going?”
“I'm going to scout around one more time. Call me if you need me.”
Juyeol hurried out of the building in search of the mechanical hamster.
‘Where did it go?’
The thing rolled surprisingly fast when curled into a ball.
In the time it took him to get down from the rooftop, it had already disappeared from sight.
In the end, his best bet was to scan the ground for any tracks it might have left.
He was passing by a filthy, dry fountain.
“Well, if it isn't Ghost.”
A leisurely voice caught his ear.
Juyeol stopped dead in his tracks, his hand resting on his holster as he turned around.
“Nova. I didn't know you were interested in District 1.”
“I'm not interested in taking over the district. I'm just here for the show.”
Nova, perched gracefully on the edge of the fountain, seemed to exist in a different world from the rest of the chaotic Old District.
“The show? You here to blow up someone else's house again?”
“Do you want an apology from me? You're still alive and kicking, aren't you?”
Juyeol bristled at Nova's shameless attitude.
The guy had completely blown up his safe house, and then, when they ran into each other while chasing Halo, he had viciously picked a fight.
Then he had suddenly calmed down, which coincided with the time Nova started frequenting Eun Haon's lab again.
“...”
His stomach churning, Juyeol started to walk away, issuing a warning.
“Just watch. Don't cause any trouble.”
This was no time to be dealing with Nova. He had to find and retrieve that mechanical hamster.
“I've always wondered. What did you and Eun Haon do in that little rat-hole of a safe house?”
But the words coming from behind him made him turn back to Nova involuntarily.
“...What?”
“I don't imagine it was anything spectacular.”
Nova chuckled and walked toward Juyeol.
“Did you know my darling turns red all the way to her shoulders when she's embarrassed?”
“...”
“Aha. I guess you don't.”
As Juyeol's expression hardened, Nova smiled brightly and continued.
“How about the two moles on her side, lined up like a snake bite?”
“Shut up.”
“Ah. And on her thigh—”
Enraged, Juyeol grabbed Nova by the collar.
“I said, shut up!”
“There's a small mole, and if you press it just so—”
*Thwack!*
Nova's head snapped to the side as he was struck by the grip of a gun.
The moment Nova crumpled to the ground, Juyeol caught sight of his satisfied smile and froze.
A look of unease crept onto Juyeol's fiercely scowling face.
Was he the type to take a hit so meekly? To fall to the ground after just one blow?
Just then, he heard the sound of urgent footsteps, accompanied by a scream-like cry.
“Nova!”
Hearing that voice for the first time in a while, Juyeol felt his spine go rigid.
Haon ran past Juyeol and checked on Nova.
“Nova. Are you okay? What is this all of a sudden—”
Then she looked up, and her eyes met Juyeol's.