Chapter 1

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on January 24, 2025

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*Knock knock.*

“Lady Astra, Maker has arrived.”

The office, exuding a cold atmosphere that reflected its owner’s personality, was where Astra, a woman addressed by her subordinates, sighed softly at the voice outside the door and responded.

“…Let him in.”

A moment later, the door creaked open, and a figure entered.

Dressed in an elegant black uniform, a half-mask covering the upper part of his face, and always wearing a relaxed smile.

“Maker.”

Perhaps having used his ability before arriving, Maker’s golden eyes, which had been glowing, were now hidden behind a smile as he responded to her.

“I’m back, Lady Astra.”

Astra, the secretary of the ‘Chief,’ was a woman who currently handled most of the Chief’s external affairs, as the Chief was largely inactive.

Maker glanced at her for a moment, then smiled and gave a gentlemanly bow.

Astra, feeling a slight chill at his demeanor, rubbed her arms.

“…Isn’t it a bit creepy for you to keep being so polite when we’re both executives?”

“Don’t you always maintain your manners, Lady Astra?”

“It’s a habit for me.”

“It’s a habit for me too.”

“Sigh…”

Feeling slightly frustrated by his unyielding response, Astra sighed.

‘He’s definitely better than the other executives, but…’

Feeling an inexplicable unease, she brushed off the conversation and got to the point.

“So, did you bring the drug?”

“Here it is, safely delivered.”

Maker pulled out a plastic bag filled with white powder from his pocket.

“…So this is the so-called ‘Ability Amplifier.'”

“Yes. Not only does it enhance abilities, but it also induces intense pleasure and addiction, much like regular narcotics.”

The Ability Amplifier.

A drug that had recently started circulating in the slums.

Unlike regular narcotics, it was specifically designed for ability users.

“What a wonderful world we live in. Just because someone was born with an ability, they were once oppressed, and now this kind of thing is being made.”

Perhaps it’s because the ratio of ordinary people to ability users has shifted to almost 6:4?

Maker smiled faintly, sipping tea as if it were nothing.

Astra looked at him incredulously.

“What kind of old man talk is that? Weren’t such discriminations almost nonexistent in our time?”

“It’s just a saying.”

Haha! Watching Maker laugh, Astra sighed deeply.

‘This guy really isn’t sane either.’

Though it was his first mission as an executive, it was still an order to commit murder.

Yet, he completed the task without a second thought and now jokes around, still covered in blood…

‘Even from the start, his reason for joining the organization was strange, but…’

“…Alright. Good job, Maker. As for the reward for this mission… I’ll think about it later.”

Astra waved her hand dismissively, signaling for him to leave.

“Then.”

Maker, like an old-fashioned gentleman, briefly removed his hat and gave a small nod.

Just as Maker was about to open the door and leave.

“Ah.”

Maker, as if remembering something, turned his head to look at Astra.

“Lady Astra. Come to think of it, isn’t there a terrorist attack coming up soon that we discussed earlier?”

“Yes, well. It’s a regular event. It’ll probably start next month. Why?”

Maker spoke as if it were no big deal.

“About that attack. Can I handle it alone?”

“Huh? Why?”

Astra asked, puzzled.

“Just thought it’d be impactful for my debut as a villain.”

I’ll take that as my reward for this mission.

Seeing his resolute attitude despite his smile, Astra pondered for a moment before nodding.

“Do as you please. Just don’t make the organization’s executives look foolish.”

“Understood.”

With that, Maker opened the door and left.

***

Arriving at my assigned room, I threw off the stifling mask and coat and shouted.

“Finally!”

It’s been 20 years since I transmigrated into this novel.

From being a newborn baby, I’ve finally made it this far!

I neatly arranged the scattered coat and mask, loosened my tie, and sat on the sofa.

‘Acting is exhausting.’

But seeing the foundation I’ve built through my acting, all the fatigue seemed to vanish.

‘A reliable organization to protect me, and within it, an executive position that won’t be discarded like a regular member.’

And.

‘Now it’s easier to intervene in the original story.’

After transmigrating, I wasted a lot of time, but just before the original story began, I managed to join. Not bad for a last-minute entry.

I should’ve just monopolized all the elixirs and come here sooner instead of messing around.

“Ah, speaking of elixirs.”

I rummaged through my vest pocket and pulled out a wooden box.

Opening it, I saw a refreshingly fragrant pill.

“Hmm, hmm~”

Humming, I popped the elixir into my mouth, feeling a refreshing sensation spread through my body.

“Ugh… bitter.”

Despite the bitterness, I took a sip of the pre-prepared black tea to wash it down.

After a while, I smiled contentedly at the increased magical power.

‘With this, my magical power should be A-rank? Or maybe close to S.’

Given that my ability consumes a lot of magical power, I can’t be sure, but at least I won’t tire out from taking down a few C-rank villains.

‘Great, perfect.’

Everything felt so good that a smile naturally spread across my face.

Finishing my tidying, I got up from the sofa and approached the desk.

On the desk were various books and blueprints.

Among them, I picked up a notebook lying open.

Inside were scattered sentences.

I took a pen and crossed out the sentence that read, ‘S-rank villain Blue Scope’s explosion attack.’

‘Nice.’

Looking at the crossed-out sentence, I felt a sense of satisfaction.

‘That guy was indiscriminately attacking villain organizations, so I never knew when he might come after me. But as soon as I got a reason, they gave me the mission to take him out.’

Thinking back, it was a good idea to leave some drugs near a few low-ranking members.

‘Who should I take out next? Or should I go for the elixirs? Or…’

As I smiled and pondered my next move.

*Knock knock knock.*

‘Maker, are you there?’

“Just a moment.”

Hearing the voice outside, I tidied the desk, put on my half-mask, and opened the door.

Standing there was a man in a grayish uniform, slightly darker than mine, with his hat pulled low.

“What’s the matter?”

“37 from Research Department 4th Squad! The Doctor said he’s completed the task you requested!”

The man answered loudly to my question.

Though I hadn’t been here long, seeing him nervous because I was an executive gave me a strange thrill.

‘This is why being an executive is worth it!’

“Good job, 37. Tell the Doctor I’ll come by soon.”

“Yes! Understood!”

I suppressed a laugh and watched 37’s retreating figure.

‘By the way, the task I requested… I asked for a wide-spreading smoke screen for a safe escape. Seems like it’s already done.’

Deciding to visit later, I closed the door and returned to my desk.

There was still a lot to plan.

***

Inside a half-burned abandoned building, giving off a strange vibe.

“Wow… what’s all this?”

“Nothing good to see here. Jiji, Jiji.”

In the midst of numerous police officers running around, two women stood out as they conversed.

“Tsk, what a mess.”

A woman with light blue hair and eyes frowned as she analyzed the scene of carnage before her.

Corpses with holes in their bodies, bodies torn apart by explosions, and more.

It looked like a battlefield, with bodies scattered everywhere.

“Grenades, smoke bombs, shotguns, and is this a pistol? And…”

“Too much!”

As the blonde woman running around exclaimed, the traces of the corpses were overwhelming.

The light blue-haired woman nodded at the blonde’s words.

“Likely a gang fight between groups.”

Given the variety of weapons and consumables used, it seemed more than one person was involved.

The firearms had more bullets than a single person could carry, and with the consumables, it seemed impossible for one person to manage.

So, it must have been multiple people, or at least an ability user with psychokinetic powers.

“Hey! Sis! Look over there!”

At the blonde’s call, the light blue-haired woman turned her head.

There, she saw a man tied up, with a hole in his forehead, dead.

Curious about the clean state of the corpse, she approached.

“Is that body identified yet?”

“Huh? Yes, yes! Ice Queen! We just finished the identification! And according to the investigation… it seems to be the villain Blue Scope himself!”

A nervous man handed the identification report to the woman called Ice Queen.

“Hmm. So this is Blue Scope?”

Ice Queen looked at Blue Scope with her light blue eyes.

‘Blue Scope. His villain rank was B, but due to his organization’s loyalty and cohesion, the Association was considering raising him to B+…’

Seeing him dead in such a state was puzzling.

“Did such a guy really die this easily?”

Even if he was recently reported to be under the influence of drugs, he was still B-rank.

“Sis! Come here!”

“What now!”

Lost in thought for a moment, Ice Queen got up and walked towards the direction of the blonde’s voice.

“All the guns are here!”

Following the blonde’s pointing finger, she saw a pile of firearms likely used in the crime.

“Really?”

But why would the perpetrators leave these behind? She picked up a gun to check, and a question arose.

“What the… where’s the serial number?”

The gun she checked had no serial number, which indicated its manufacturing date and location.

The other guns scattered around were the same.

“Custom-made? But they look factory-produced.”

She had seen guns from African or American factories, but never ones with no markings at all. In a world where anyone could easily become a villain, firearms were strictly regulated.

“Not just the guns, but other things too! Like…”

“Serial numbers?”

“Yes! That!”

Soon, she checked fragments of grenades from other corpses.

Again, no serial numbers were visible.

“What are these guys doing?”

There were traces, but no way to identify the perpetrators.

Male or female, individual or group, ability user or not—nothing was clear.

At first glance, it seemed like the work of a perfectionist professional.

But then, they left behind the weapons used to kill multiple villains, as if discarding trash.

Was it confidence?

A statement that you’ll never catch me?