Chapter 21

A few months later, inside an abandoned building.

The people analyzing the corpse inside stood up abruptly and greeted when they saw a woman approaching.

“Ice Queen, you’re here!”

“No need to welcome me so enthusiastically.”

Seeing them bowing respectfully, she shook her head with a tired expression.

“Who’s the victim this time?”

“Yes, the victim this time is the B+ rank villain, Toxin!”

Ice Queen asked a man about the victim, and the man answered her question clearly.

“Since you called me, it must be his doing again, right?”

“Yes, the cause of death is different from before, but considering the unmarked gun you mentioned and the disappearance of some items around, it seems to be Maker’s work again!”

The man handed over an unmarked pistol. It was clear that Maker was behind it.

“*Sigh*…”

Ice Queen let out a sigh and approached the corpse.

“B+ rank villain, Toxin…”

This time, the dead villain was Toxin, a B+ rank villain who had stepped into the higher ranks.

‘A high-ranking ability user who can create various types of poison.’

Although he hadn’t developed a lethal poison yet, considering the danger of his ability, he was given a B+ rank.

And now, such a villain was lying dead with his eyes rolled back and his tongue sticking out. His entire neck was bruised.

“*Sigh*. Another different way to die.”

She had seen various types of corpses in Maker’s villain hunts over the past month.

From poisoning to beating, drowning, burning, and now strangulation.

‘It’s like he’s conducting experiments with these killings.’

Despite the different methods, the reason they could identify the culprit was due to the characteristic of his ability—objects around him disappearing like dust.

The unmarked gun used and discarded this time was an example of that.

“…There’s nothing more to find here.”

But that was it.

With no traces left except the gun, they couldn’t figure out anything other than the fact that the culprit was Maker.

“…Is that so? Sorry for calling you here for nothing.”

“No, it’s fine. For now, I’m temporarily his ‘handler,’ so it’s good to come even for small clues.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

“Please don’t bow too much. I’m not just saying it, I truly mean it.”

With a slightly frustrated heart, she walked out and wandered aimlessly.

‘Just how many people has he killed so far?’

Ice Queen was frustrated with the investigation that ended without progress.

Even though the victims were all villains and irredeemable trash, this wasn’t right.

No matter what, he killed people.

Whatever his purpose or intention, he was a murderer.

‘What is he thinking?’

Some kind of experiment? Or…

-…This is why I hate heroes.

Could there be another meaning?

Maybe it’s the organization’s orders.

“*Sigh*…”

I don’t know…

Feeling frustrated with the situation of just chasing his tail without being able to do anything, Ice Queen let out a deep sigh.

‘I have to solve this too…’

When she turned on her smartphone, the videos on the screen showed Maker killing villains in various ways.

-Yeah!

-That trash got what he deserved!!

-As expected of Maker!!

And those videos were spreading all over the internet.

“Where is he even getting these videos from?”

The problem wasn’t just that people were dying after he committed murders.

Whenever Maker killed villains and the Association used the news for media play, an anonymous user would inevitably appear and start spreading the videos.

As a result, fans of Maker sprouted like mushrooms, and the current situation was one of praising the anonymous uploader.

Even if the Association banned the videos or photos a few hours later, the materials had already spread enough to be meaningless.

Ice Queen had a headache.

‘Because he operates on the dark web, tracking him isn’t easy.’

Every time the Association released articles slandering Maker, videos would be released as if to counter them.

‘It doesn’t seem like Maker himself is doing it…’

Given his tendencies so far, he wouldn’t have taken the initiative to release the videos.

It was more likely that his organization handled it without his knowledge, or it could be a completely different third party.

But Eclipse had no reason to promote Maker.

‘Then naturally, it means a third party hacked the CCTV and leaked the information…’

But why…?

Why does my head hurt so much whenever I get involved with Maker? Ice Queen let out a deep sigh.

***

“Here I come.”

“Bring it on.”

Inside Eclipse’s training ground.

Ahn Yeri and Gayeon were sparring with each other.

*Whoosh-*

With Ahn Yeri’s permission, Gayeon manipulated the ground and quickly approached her.

With increased speed, she swung her sword toward Ahn Yeri’s neck.

*Whoosh-!*

“Y-you’re too murderous…”

Ahn Yeri dodged lightly as she spoke.

Gayeon, unfazed, used her ability.

*Whoom-*

In an instant, she teleported to Ahn Yeri’s blind spot.

*Clang-*

“T-targeting the back is…typical of teleportation users…too predictable.”

Ahn Yeri blocked it easily.

Gayeon didn’t stop and increased her speed.

*Clang- Clang! Clang!*

Using psychokinesis to throw rocks at Ahn Yeri while attempting close combat with her swordsmanship.

But.

“…Swordsmanship won’t work on me.”

*Thud!*

Ahn Yeri lightly kicked Gayeon and pushed her away.

“Y-you need to think more…your brain’s too stiff, kid.”

“Hmph.”

Gayeon snorted lightly at the advice.

She used her ability again.

*Whoom-*

Once again, she teleported behind Ahn Yeri.

Ahn Yeri, as if predicting it, turned her waist to swing her sword.

“The same trick…”

“This time it’s different.”

*Whoosh-*

Just before Ahn Yeri swung her sword, Gayeon activated her ability to slightly lift the ground she was standing on.

And without hesitation, she did a somersault in the air to land in front of Ahn Yeri.

At the moment when Ahn Yeri was delayed in retracting her sword,

*Whoosh-*

Gayeon used her ability to control the wind, disrupting Ahn Yeri’s vision and increasing the speed of her swinging sword.

Additionally, she used psychokinesis to fix Ahn Yeri’s sword, preventing her from quickly retrieving her weapon.

“It’s my win.”

She was confident of her victory.

*Clang!*

“Nope.”

Until Ahn Yeri quickly discarded her weapon and blocked the attack by slapping the side of the sword with her palm.

“That’s cheating.”

Gayeon’s cheeks puffed up.

Ahn Yeri, flustered, scratched her head.

“U-uh? What? Did I do something wrong…?”

“We agreed to only use swords. You used another weapon.”

“T-this is a defensive tool…”

“That’s cheating.”

“A-and that move just now…can be done bare-handed…it’s a technique…”

“That’s cheating.”

As Ahn Yeri tried to explain, Gayeon puffed her cheeks even more.

“Miss Gayeon, you can’t bully Yeri like that.”

At the sound of a man’s voice, the girl and woman turned their heads toward the direction of the voice.

“Oppa.”

Seeing him, Gayeon tossed her sword aside and ran over.

“Have you been training well?”

“Yes.”

As she proudly spoke, Maker chuckled and patted her head.

“O-oh, Maker…you’re here…?”

“Yes, I’m back, Yeri. Is the training going well?”

Maker took off his hat and dusted it off.

Having just returned from a mission, dried blood fell like dust as he shook his hat.

“Y-yes, it is.”

“I can do more than just teleport now. I’ve learned close combat too.”

I’ve gotten much stronger.

Ahn Yeri nodded as if agreeing with her words.

Even Ahn Yeri herself felt that Gayeon had grown a lot compared to when they first started.

“Then, from your perspective, Yeri, do you think she’s ready for missions now?”

Maker’s question carried subtle expectations.

Ahn Yeri pondered for a moment.

‘I can’t say her combat is efficient…but she has a good sense of catching people off guard, and she’s gradually getting used to using her abilities. She still tends to separate her abilities from herself, though…’

But that will be resolved with experience.

Ultimately, Ahn Yeri thought that Gayeon wouldn’t be beaten up anywhere now.

“…Yes. If it’s not a solo mission…but a mission with two or more people…she should be fine…”

“Then that’s settled.”

Maker smiled at Ahn Yeri’s words and looked down at Gayeon, who was staring at him intently, and extended his hand.

“Miss Gayeon, let’s go have some fun with terrorism.”

“Okay.”

Without hesitation, Gayeon nodded and took his hand.

***

“Are all the preparations done?”

“Yes.”

In Astra’s office.

I came here to get the final approval for the terrorism mission.

‘Gayeon’s training seems to have reached the basics.’

I’ve also finished testing the performance of the materials I obtained from the research lab.

“This terrorism mission will be quite fun for you.”

“…I don’t have a taste for enjoying terrorism.”

This time, I planned to use some interesting materials I got from the research lab.

‘Your requested legacy. I’ll put it to good use.’

I smirked.

Astra looked at me as if I was ridiculous.

“Well…do your best. If this terrorism mission is successful, I plan to hand over the command rights for future terrorism missions to you.”

“Meaning…?”

“You won’t need to get approval for every terrorism mission from now on.”

Of course, important parts will still require reports, right?

Astra smiled as she looked at me.

“How does that sound?”

“I like it.”

I was already planning to work hard, but now I had even more reason to give my all for this terrorism mission.

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