Chapter 16

“Then, I shall take my leave now.”

I bid farewell to Astra.

Though the matter was strange, it ended well, so it’s time to head back.

“Alright. I’ve already informed the Doctor about your wrist injury, so go see him right away.”

“Thank you.”

Astra, as usual, advised me to visit the Doctor, who is both a villain and a physician in our organization.

After finishing the usual formalities, I stepped out of the office.

‘Well, I think I’ve done everything I needed to today.’

My wrist is throbbing, so it’s best to get it treated quickly. I should go meet the Doctor.

With that thought, I walked down the hallway.

***

Meanwhile, the Hero Association was having a headache because of Maker.

‘We did everything as usual.’

Manipulating public opinion wasn’t something new for the Association.

Anyone with the ability to sway the public or ideas that could destabilize the current system was always a target of their scrutiny.

Villains who could garner sympathy or admiration from the public were all subjected to the Association’s censorship and manipulation of public opinion.

‘What if the foolish citizens start sympathizing with the villains?’

That’s why, whenever a villain who seemed too dangerous appeared, the Hero Association would use public opinion to keep them in check.

And this time, the target was Maker, a newly emerged executive in Eclipse.

From the recent back-to-back terror incidents to the public’s surprisingly non-negative attitude toward him, and now the research lab attack—

The Association felt he was starting to gain influence and decided it was time to put him in his place.

“What the hell is this mess?!”

They tried to manipulate public opinion to paint him as just another ordinary villain, but a certain video spread, and instead, it ended up boosting his reputation.

“Incompetent fools! How is it that none of you can do anything right?!”

The Association President was fuming.

‘…You’re the one who hired them all.’

‘…He only picks those who suck up to him.’

Some executives held back their thoughts, biting their tongues.

“Sigh…”

The Association President, looking frustrated, pulled out a cigarette from his pocket.

“Mr. President, smoking indoors is…”

“Do you think I’d do this if I weren’t so frustrated? Huh? Do you?!”

He lit the cigarette anyway, took a drag, and exhaled.

“Have you found the person who leaked that video?”

The person who single-handedly overturned their carefully crafted public opinion.

“We’ve tried tracking them, but…”

“But?”

“…They seem to be moving through the dark web, so we can’t…”

“Ugh…”

After one last drag, he stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray.

“What the hell are you even good for?!”

The executives fell silent at the President’s outburst.

“Didn’t we have issues with Maker before? What the hell are you all even doing?!”

“…We’re sorry.”

And so, the President’s rant continued.

“Ugh! I’m so frustrated!”

After some time, it seemed the President had vented enough and was much calmer than before.

“…So what I’m saying is! Ahem. Pay more attention! That’s what I mean.”

“Mr. President, we always take your words to heart.”

“…Is that so? Hahaha!”

One executive’s flattery made the President’s anger vanish, and he smiled contentedly.

He went on about how he knew everyone was working hard and that he just wanted them to do even better, etc.

The executives, used to his sudden mood swings, played along and praised him.

“…By the way, what should we do about Maker?”

“What do you mean?”

“His rating, Mr. President.”

At the executive’s words, the President began to ponder.

‘Now that I think about it, it’s about time to assign him a rating.’

Maker had already carried out three terror attacks.

They couldn’t keep delaying his rating forever.

“Then…”

“Then?”

‘…Hmm.’

“Do you have any good suggestions?”

Most of the executives looked at the President with a “here we go again” expression.

***

At the large hospital run by the Hero Association.

“Good work, Ice Queen. Here’s your prescription. Take your medicine on time, and change the bandages every two days.”

“Thank you.”

Ice Queen bowed slightly and left the hospital.

“Ice Queen, are you alright?”

As she stepped out, a man in a black suit greeted her.

He was an employee of the Hero Association who had come to pick her up.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“Your vacation request has been approved. Take a good rest for a few days.”

The man helped Ice Queen into his car.

She got in as if it were routine and deactivated her ability, which had been active the whole time.

*Whoosh~*

“…Phew.”

The mysterious light-blue eyes and hair faded, and Ice Queen became an ordinary black-haired woman.

“Shall I take you home?”

“Please do.”

From the hero Ice Queen to the ordinary Seo Yun-hee, she gazed out at the transparent scenery outside.

“……”

A long silence followed.

“…Personally, I agree with your opinion, Queen.”

The man, who had been silently driving, finally spoke.

“No matter what wrongs they’ve committed, taking private action against them isn’t right.”

“…Is that so?”

Yun-hee fell into thought at his words.

Maker’s actions were indeed extreme.

To say that he would take private action because he didn’t like the legal system—

That was ignoring the rules society had built and was clearly a criminal act.

‘But… what if the law itself is wrong?’

What should be done in that case?

She herself knew very well that the current laws were quite weak.

– Even if a villain kills someone right in front of you, the worst punishment they’ll get is prison, right?

She could somewhat sympathize with his words.

Yun-hee fiddled with the gun in her possession.

The gun she had taken from Maker during the attack.

“…Did Maker have some kind of story?”

“There’s no one in this world without a story.”

He was right.

Whatever his reasons, he was a murderer.

‘Right… he’s a villain I need to catch.’

She touched the gun again.

A gun with no serial number, smooth and polished.

It was a completely different type of gun from the one used to kill the researchers.

‘The sheer number of weapons used is hard to believe it was all done by one person.’

And the lack of any serial numbers.

The more she thought about her battle with Maker, the more it reminded her of the cases she had handled before.

‘So you were the culprit.’

The previous mass killings by villain groups.

Whether he acted alone or had accomplices, it was clear he had at least some involvement.

“…Sigh, this is giving me a headache.”

Lost in thought, she brushed her hair back and sighed.

“Let’s stop by a café nearby. How about something sweet?”

The man, noticing her distress, suggested stopping at a café.

Yun-hee nodded in agreement.

***

“Welcome back, Maker.”

A man dressed entirely in white, from his mask to his clothes, bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle toward me.

“Haha, isn’t it bad to see the Doctor so often?”

“Ah.”

When I chuckled and joked, he finally seemed to realize and looked down at his white coat.

The Doctor.

Our organization’s physician.

And not just any physician—he’s a rare healing-type ability user, highly valued worldwide.

He can heal even severely injured patients to a certain extent.

“Anyway, thanks for the treatment.”

“It’s my duty as the organization’s doctor. Besides, you’re an executive, so there’s no reason not to treat you.”

I moved my bandaged wrist a few times.

“The wrist is immobilized as a precaution. Please avoid any strenuous activity today, and if you feel any pain, don’t hesitate to come see me.”

“Got it. Take care.”

The Doctor bowed again as I left.

I also bowed to him and returned to my room.

“Wearing this mask all day is suffocating.”

Maybe I should try one with better ventilation next time.

Thinking that, I took off my half-mask, loosened a few buttons and my tie, and collapsed onto the sofa.

“I’m so tired…”

No matter how fast I am, flying back and forth in a helicopter for hours, fighting, being chased, and running low on energy—I’m on the verge of passing out.

‘…I can’t keep going like this.’

There’s going to be a lot more long-distance battles in the future. If I’m already like this, it’s going to be a problem.

Is there no way around this?

It’s impossible to fight without getting tired, but at least I want to reduce the fatigue from traveling…

Is there…

a way…

“Zzzzz…”

While pondering, I fell asleep.

***

“What do you mean you want to do what?”

The next morning.

I looked at Astra with sparkling eyes.

And she looked back at me with a baffled expression.

Is my wish that strange?

“I want to open a café.”

When I repeated it, thinking she might not have heard me, her expression became even more bizarre.

“You want to open a café?”

“Yes.”

“As a villain organization executive?”

“Isn’t it possible?”

“Near the slums?”

I looked at her with a “why not?” expression, and she let out a deep sigh.

Her gaze felt like she was looking at a spoiled child or a younger sibling.

She looked both incredulous and utterly confused.

“And you want this as a reward?”

“Yes.”

“…”

I smiled at her.

Don’t worry! I’ll bring back the gemstone, Mom!

Don’t you trust me?

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