Chapter 152

Kajun, Mr. K.

A hated villain, the Man Behind The Curtain.

He is a type of character that somewhat resembles a hidden antagonist typically found in any game or scenario.

The difference is that unlike other cool appearing antagonists, this guy will truly remain hidden until the very end if left unchecked, merely using the player until he disappears. The only way to capture him is to desperately search for clues and meet the quest’s starting conditions.

He is someone who is aware of his twisted talent and personality and knows how to act accordingly.

What did he say…?

“When the world is engulfed in flames, what is needed is not a firefighter, but an arsonist who evenly spreads the embers to places untouched…” was it?

Anyway, he operates under the belief that for someone as extreme as him to succeed, an extreme situation must be created.

It’s basic to wield the main weapon of Machiavellian schemes without hesitation.

If the conflict is passive, he will forcibly instigate it, if there’s no original sin, he will frame someone, and if he can deceive, he will deceive as much as possible.

Especially when lacking strength and authority, his approach of licking the boots of those who have power to find a breakthrough is something I think has its merits.

…If only he wasn’t targeting and tormenting the protagonist, that is!

“Now, now, has your life on the run been difficult? So dusty… so scratched up… but your beauty hasn’t faded, yet seeing you struggle like this must make your father sad.”

“Uh… Yes, thank you.”

I cautiously received the cold health drink taken from the refrigerator.

Careful not to touch it with my fingers, fearing any bad energy it might carry would transfer to me.

Isn’t that a bit too much?

Try repeating that vile quest and mission filled with penalties if you refuse, after several tens of thousands of hours of gameplay. Even I, who was enjoying it hardcore, suffer so much; I can’t help but imagine other users… Ugh, let’s not talk about it.

Pretending to fidget with the can, I glanced down at my disheveled appearance.

After all, the dust and scratches were from rolling around the corridor just moments ago with the pursuer, and as for my life on the run… Is he mocking my role of secretly working under the name of a hacker?

I keep plunging into video calls with a black silhouette and just the initials K, while facing people only during moments with Edamatsu or in conflict, it’s difficult to read the intentions hidden behind that beaming face.

What does he know and how did he find me…!

Though it’s obvious he’s showing this friendly demeanor because he wants something from me…

“…Ahem, heh heh.”

“……”

Our Mr. K seems to be enjoying himself way too much while looking at me.

The fact that a despised person is happy… makes me realize it’s far more irritating than I expected. I have no desire to witness the scene of the fuse of a bomb that might pull some nonsense in this prime seat.

Squeak…!!

Feeling my mouth dry, I opened the can to wet my throat.

I must look like a captured prey to him, huh?

I wonder how he’s planning to cook me up…

Just let your fantasies run wild for now, and draw your blueprint as you please.

Just once. The moment you reveal your true intentions, the hidden schemes in your dark heart will let me know how this situation flows and the destination you aim for.

Well, it’s pretty obvious you are hoping for a ridiculous mess.

“So… while you’re working in the isolation zone, did you find all the data you wanted? I wish you had something to show for it; I would like to have some fun too.”

“Pff!? Cough, cough… cough!”

That wasn’t meant to be a taunt to turn my insides inside out right away!

Caught off guard by the sudden strike from Kajun, I spat the drink out that had gotten caught in my throat.

Even though I aimed at that obnoxious face, it might have felt refreshing, but my etiquette and common sense didn’t drop that low, so I instinctively turned my head.

Thanks to that, the carpet was stained… oh, well, it’s moss, so perhaps I just gave it some nutrients? Thank goodness I don’t have to worry about damages. Hm.

…What on earth is fortunate about this, damn it!

My heart, my heart hurts…!

“I have no idea what you’re talking about…”

“The unrecoverable data restoration technology… I didn’t realize the biotechnology department researcher had such excellent hobbies. Ah, did you study to handle personal issues without needing the maintenance team? …If not.”

Before I could even finish the obvious excuse, he mercilessly cut me off.

It didn’t really matter whether the other side’s questioning dragged on or if I danced around the answer, as I needed time to gather my thoughts and responses…

The bright light was suddenly obscured, plunging my vision into darkness.

Rising from my seat, Kajun’s shadow, turning away from the light, enveloped the body that had been sitting in a cooperative demeanor during the interview.

Even though I understood it was a performative pressure interview armed with no actual coercion or direct force, the authority of the opponent made me instinctively shrink back.

Having choked earlier, my chest was already tight, and now my heart rate was soaring, making even breathing difficult.

It felt like the air was heavy enough to suffocate me.

The terrifying words of death by asphyxiation circled in my mind. Please, just let me get through this one time. I’m not asking for too much…!

A resolution through force seemed desperate, and negotiations were uncertain.

I had been careful to avoid being exposed to the raw aggression of the adversary, yet it was all in vain.

In the end, all participants in the situation I faced were matched up poorly.

Fortune…. relying on cheap prayers or superstitions was not my style, but luck was also one of the established character abilities (Stat), so bad luck could come my way as well.

“Ha….”

The breath that had been stuck finally released itself.

I’m frustrated, but it’s really not to my liking. At this moment, should I resign myself and dance to his schemes…?

“Was your father’s daughter hired for such purposes from the start, or is it a demand from the attackers? They promised to spare you on the condition of re-infiltrating to gather information?”

‘…Huh?’

In that critical moment, the enemy made a misstep.

The blade wielded with his silver tongue cut through a completely unintended target. The very person who delivered the blow might not even be aware of their fatal blunder, still posing triumphantly.

“I’m sorry, but I have no obligation to rescue the other survivors, even if they remain as hostages. I only need to know the truth of the lab… and the connection to you.”

“……”

The pressure weighing on my head and shoulders dissipated, and the sticky air was blown away.

No, that kind of thing didn’t exist in the first place. It was all just my psyche feeling cornered; the reality was much simpler.

A fierce verbal battle—or reconnaissance—between Kajun and me. Or rather, a duel.

A war of words without weapons. …If I rephrase that to sound a bit less grand, perhaps a dynamic keyboard battle?

“…I have no obligations, nor will I respect you. Right.”

Feigning seriousness, I chewed over his words in my mouth.

The weakness he boasted of disregarding was rendered completely useless when he didn’t realize that I, as a test subject, was the very result they were craving. It would be far more threatening to be investigating Zero during this time, but I had received some defensive tools, so I should be able to last a while.

Furthermore, when the Hei Long special forces show up, they’ll just eliminate everyone, and if it comes to it, the doctor will even self-destruct, leaving no survivors—so why this misunderstanding…?

……….

…Oh, damn. I’ve been cutting off all means to prevent such sensitive information from leaking towards Enema, haven’t I!?

Luck does not come to the unprepared. That saying suddenly popped into my mind.

He was ultimately hoping to spin the most plausible scenario to suit his taste using the unfortunate lab situation and me as his cards.

And crucially….

“…Should I even make you aware that you do not have the right to exercise silence? It is clearly stated in the Enema common labor contract…!”

Kajun is, unfortunately, not seasoned enough.

Immaturity, impatience. An underdeveloped fruit, an incomplete villain.

Lacking the skill to cunningly hide his victory conditions while skillfully trapping his prey.

If it were him at the time of the original scenario, he would have already manipulated a mere ordinary person like me with all kinds of persuasion, coaxing, and appropriate threats, leading me to believe cooperating with him would be the right thing to do.

In contrast, his current impatience while fixating on the opportunity so close in front of him, while calling me “Researcher~ Researcher” yet trying to intimidate a small girl into revealing something, seemed rather pitiful.

Thinking back, the closest aide to Edamatsu should have been this guy, but the middle-aged man named Kakubari I met during the contract was someone I had never seen before.

It’s not something to dismiss, considering it’s just a gap of merely one or two years since the prologue.

In the blink of an eye, we could pass the time idly, and Helena, the elite police officer, could turn into the thug mercenary Valentine, easily falling into various incidents and accidents stemming from a turbulent period.

If so, in essence, this would be a clash between a mid-growth hidden boss and a world-conquering strategist who had experienced all kinds of trials….

In that case, how could I lose?

“Just give up and spill everything. If you wish to preserve that lovely body while continuing to work…”

“Oh, dear. Are you crying? I might have pushed you too hard, miss. It’s alright. Just be honest and tell me all the inner workings…!”

As if saying you won’t see good times until you spit out all the gold you have, his hand neared my face. Though I may have strong prejudices, I felt some sort of sinister intent.

Is he intending to lay all that nonsense on me? No way, you idiot.

Slap!!

“!?”

Bowing my head, I had been pondering and simulating, and it seemed he tried to comfort me too late by reaching toward my cheek, but I slapped his hand away with all my strength.

Surprised, he couldn’t help but fumble with his own hand, but realizing it was more of a worthy fight than I thought, I straightened myself.

Just like before, I crossed my legs and leaned my upper body against the backrest. My eyes were wide open, focused straight ahead. I only opened my mouth when speaking, keeping it lightly closed in silence.

The atmosphere I exuded was arrogance; I learned well from Aaron.

Trying to take the victim or innocent scapegoat position against such a person was a mistake.

Instead, the key is to act in a way that makes me look like a surprisingly strong individual he wouldn’t dare to approach.

“…Kajun? Is what you seek the real truth? If not… is it a spark you can ignite even at the enormous cost to Enema?”

“…!!”

Let the game begin. A mental one-on-one where the first to show their bluff loses.