Chapter 17

“If you’re in need of money, should I give you some?”

“I’m not doing this to earn money.”

My money is increasing in real-time even now, so why bother?

“Then what?”

“I just want to try a simple hobby. Since it’s near the slums on the outskirts, I can work at a leisurely pace, right?”

Wanting to run a cafe is definitely a hobby.

I’ve had experience working part-time at cafes before, and I even got certified in the hero world.

‘If I reach a point where I can manage without me, I’d like to open a cafe on my own.’

Anyway, I’m deeply interested in cafe work.

Of course, if you ask if this is my only goal, it’s not.

“And who knows? Maybe some rare talent will emerge from those slums.”

“It’ll be hard to find someone who fits our organization…”

“Well, then I’ll just enjoy my hobby.”

I said it jokingly, but I know.

There’s a huge treasure hidden in those slums.

“Hmm. Well, alright. It’s up to you how you use the reward.”

Astra nods, seemingly accepting it as a hobby despite some doubts.

“But I’ll only provide basic support. If it fails later, I can’t help you.”

“That’s only natural.”

I nodded at her following words.

Honestly, I’m not interested in whether the cafe succeeds.

If I wanted it to succeed, I would’ve set it up in a more bustling area.

‘Instead, I’m confident I’ll bring back talent.’

The first member of my faction and my future personal transport.

***

It’s already been a few days since I asked her about the cafe.

“You called for me?”

While I was resting in my room, Astra summoned me to her office.

“Ah, Maker, you’re here?”

As I entered, she made a peculiar expression.

‘What’s this?’

Seeing her expression, I was puzzled.

If it were about the cafe, she wouldn’t make that face.

And there haven’t been any missions recently that would require high-ranking members to move.

The only thing left is…

“The analysis of the Regeneration Serum is completely finished.”

So that’s it.

The Regeneration Serum.

We raided the research lab and stole the data, thinking it might help restore the Chief.

But judging by her expression, the results weren’t great.

“A bust?”

“A bust indeed. It doesn’t align with the original purpose of this mission.”

The original goal was to heal the Chief.

Since it doesn’t align with that purpose, it means the serum failed.

‘But what does she mean by “a bust”?’

Did they find some other use?

“Sigh… The researchers there did something quite interesting.”

With a heavy expression, Astra placed something on the desk.

When she removed her hand, it was a vial of red liquid.

“The Regeneration Serum. As you know, Maker, it was created with the goal of restoring the human body in any situation.”

She floated her smartphone and showed me a video.

“Here, an ordinary man lost his right thumb and left index and middle fingers in a factory accident.”

A somewhat haggard-looking man.

After drinking the serum, his wounds began to regenerate rapidly.

“Impressive.”

The video ended with the wounds completely healed.

From the video alone, it seemed like a groundbreaking discovery, the only means to heal the Chief.

‘But if that were the case, Astra wouldn’t have added that comment.’

“We did get meaningful results. For ordinary people.”

There’s a catch.

“So it’s ineffective for Ability users?”

In other words, it either doesn’t work or is weak for Ability users.

“Effectiveness… Well, it does have some. But it’s ambiguous to call it a Regeneration Serum now.”

“What do you mean…”

Astra looked at me with serious eyes.

“Ability suppression. That’s the side effect of taking this serum.”

Her following words left me stunned.

‘There’s a serum like that?’

No matter how much I recall the original work, there was no such overpowered serum.

“…Is the suppression permanent?”

“No. It’s not permanent but more like temporary suppression. There was testimony from the Training Room that during the last battle, someone was doused with the serum and couldn’t use their Ability.”

Since there’s no news of the Training Room being unable to use their Ability now, it’s likely not permanent.

But even so, it’s ridiculously overpowered.

No matter how strong an A-rank or even S-rank hero or villain is, if they take the serum, they’ll just be a slightly stronger ordinary person for a while.

“It’s not suitable as a treatment for the Chief.”

“Probably not.”

The Chief’s recovery means returning to his prime, which can’t happen if he loses his Ability.

And her explanation continued.

In summary, while there was some healing effect during the suppression, once the Ability was used again, the healed wounds reappeared with intense pain.

“This issue also appeared in ordinary people.”

In the end, it’s just a shiny piece of trash, solving none of the problems the researchers wanted.

“We’ve brought back a more dangerous serum than expected.”

“…Dangerous indeed.”

But if you consider the serum not for healing but purely for neutralizing Ability users, there’s nothing more dangerous.

“It’s best to dispose of the serum.”

“I agree.”

As powerful as it is, it’s a threat.

To both enemies and us.

‘Just having it will draw aggro.’

“If they know we have this serum, everyone will try to eliminate us.”

Hero Associations worldwide, other villain groups, and individuals in various positions will all try to take us down.

Who wouldn’t want to suppress an Ability that can neutralize any Ability user?

‘Eclipse survives until the mid-to-late stages, but whether we can withstand a global beatdown is uncertain.’

Unless the Chief returns to his prime, it’s unlikely now.

“Let’s not hold onto regrets and dispose of it. It’s better not to have it at all than to risk leaks.”

“I’ll do that.”

After saying she’d discuss the cafe later, Astra focused on her documents.

I bid her farewell and left the room.

“Hmm.”

I took out the “Regeneration Serum” from my pocket.

‘I already know the general manufacturing process from the mission.’

…Maybe it’s okay to use it secretly?

I’ll only use it when things get really dangerous.

***

Two weeks later.

I headed to the cafe Astra prepared.

“Ah, are you Gang Ian?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

As I approached the building, a man called out to me.

Gang Ian is my real name.

Not a fake identity, but my real name and identity when I’m not a villain.

The reason for this is simple.

‘A 21-year-old man with no background suddenly appearing and opening a cafe near the slums with a large sum of money would be too conspicuous.’

I’m not sure how long I’ll run the cafe, but using a fake identity would make it easy to get caught if someone investigates.

It’s better to use my real identity with 21 years of life history, even if there’s some risk of exposure.

At least they won’t be certain that Gang Ian is Maker or has a shady background!

“…So this part is made as a single unit to emphasize overall unity.”

While I was lost in thought, the man led me inside and explained various aspects of the building.

“Nice.”

The interior had a more old-fashioned feel than modern.

It felt like a cafe set inside a giant tree.

‘They put more effort into this than I thought.’

Given the sudden request and short completion time, I thought they’d do a rushed job, but the building showed much more care than expected.

After listening to the man’s explanations for a while.

“Then, I wish you good luck with your business.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

After hearing the general explanations, the man bid farewell and left.

“Oh, all the kitchen tools are here.”

Inside the counter, there was a coffee machine, a refrigerator, and a small kitchen with cooking utensils.

“I was planning to bring someone here to feed, so this is fortunate.”

Now then.

When should I go pick them up?

***

“Haah… Haah… Haah…”

“Found you!”

“Where the hell did you go, you bitch!”

In a place lined with abandoned buildings.

A girl in tattered clothes was hiding, avoiding men in rags.

“Please… work… please…”

Clutching her right wrist with her left hand, the girl muttered.

“Fire, lightning, or control… anything… just come out…”

“Found you, you damn bitch!”

One of the men finally spotted the girl.

Startled, the girl stretched her arm toward the man, but nothing happened.

“Do you know how much we’ve suffered because of you?”

The man grabbed the girl’s arm roughly.

With all her strength, the girl struck the man’s arm away.

“Please… please, just come out…”

“Has she gone mad from fear?”

The man looked at the girl with a baffled expression.

But regardless, his face showed a sinister look directed at the girl.

“Come on, you should come quietly. Okay? If you come quietly now, we’ll treat you nicely.”

“Don’t… don’t come!”

A small pebble flew toward the man.

But the weak throw only angered him more.

“This bitch has lost it!”

The man, now furious, reached for the girl again.

At that moment.

Whoosh—

“…Huh? Where’d she go?”

The girl had vanished without a trace.

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