Chapter 274

In the Deep Place of the Free City Alliance, Cheong and her group’s hideout rested quietly.

Cheong often sat on the windowsill after finishing a Request, gazing outside as if lost in thought.

The air in the Free City Alliance is so polluted that normal people struggle to breathe, yet strangely, it barely obstructs visibility.

It’s like transparent pollution—though invisible, it’s all the more annoying for it.

Like looking at a street after rain, the air appears clear and clean, but breathing it in can make you cough up blood.

Moreover, despite its invisibility, the pollution doesn’t stop harmful UV rays from penetrating and damaging your skin.

Today, too, Cheong sat on her usual perch—the windowsill—and stared outside.

“I don’t see anything.”

But today, the pollution was unusually thick, blurring the streets beyond recognition.

Sometimes days like this happened, even for those with Object lungs who usually avoided going out.

Cheong wondered how the noble families kept their areas free of pollution. How did they do it?

Various questions popped into Cheong’s mind, only to fade away moments later.

“Cheong, isn’t that uncomfortable? What about installing proper filtration equipment in the Office?”

A Woman sitting on the Sofa, watching TV, spoke while playfully forming a mask shape with her fingers around her mouth.

“Nah, it’s fine. We need to save money,” Cheong replied.

She guessed the woman suggested installing positive pressure equipment to keep the pollution out, but that seemed extravagant after earning so much from their recent noble family job.

Cheong shook her head no and shuffled over to the TV instead.

Since she couldn’t see outside, there wasn’t much else to do.

Truth be told, Cheong didn’t really like the TVs in this neighborhood.

The Free City Alliance had gone crazy embedding Objects into people’s bodies, and now even the TV shows were weird—either extremely vulgar or brutally violent.

For instance, some infomercials showed hosts gutting themselves and replacing organs with Objects, treating it like changing car engines.

Blood-soaked presenters flashed bright smiles, leaving an indelible mark on Cheong’s memory when she first saw it.

One phrase stuck: “Order now!” said while holding a beating heart beside their face.

“Ugh, creepy.”

Just as Cheong braced herself to watch another bizarre program, the door opened, and a Large Man entered the office.

“We’re here!”

Using his four massive hands, he carried a heavy load inside.

With a loud ‘bang,’ the door slammed shut, causing a shelf of grasshopper cans to topple. One hit a ladle and ricocheted off like a pitching machine.

“Eek!”

Cheong yelped as the can struck her head.

The man laughed as he placed the load down.

“Haha, Cheong, your luck’s been bad lately. Maybe you need to visit the Land of Misfortune and get yourself a ‘Fortune Charm’?”

Rubbing her sore head, Cheong responded,

“No thanks. That occult stuff isn’t for me.”

At that moment, she felt someone giggling and staring intently. Turning around, she found nobody but a Fur Ball floating nearby.

Could it be…?

As Cheong locked eyes with the floating fur ball, the Orange Reaper’s closed eyes revealed rolling pupils within.

“So it was you!”

In that instant, Cheong realized why strange luck and magical phenomena had been happening. She sighed.

“You little prankster.”

Mixing gratitude and annoyance, she began squeezing the cheeks of the Orange Reaper.

By the time the Orange Reaper’s cheeks puffed up like balloons, Cheong’s phone buzzed.

“?”

Who could be contacting her so soon after completing a job?

Confused, Cheong picked up her phone.

***

Down a long corridor leading underground in Sehee Research Institute…

I led the Golden Reapers to the underground hot springs.

Like baby ducks, they waddled behind me.

Tump-tump-tump.

We crossed the institute, attracting other Mini Reapers along the way.

Upon arriving at the prepared hot springs, I saw familiar sights: salary-stealing Attached Humans and Mini Reapers lounging around.

A towering Golden Statue stood prominently among them.

The Golden Reapers gleefully dove into the water.

Once submerged, they waved at me, calling out:

“Mom!”

“Mom!”

Other Mini Reapers followed suit, splashing into the water one by one.

The Purple Reaper reacted differently, carefully dipping their toes before fully submerging.

They floated peacefully, enjoying the warmth, even loosening their shadowy attire.

Floating belly-up, they seemed completely relaxed.

‘The Purple Reaper’s Companion would love to know about this habit.’

Turning my head, I noticed a Golden Reaper swimming swiftly.

Some of them never tired, constantly darting through the water.

Lifting one up, I watched as its limbs flailed like swimming motions, slowing down as it left the water.

Hehe.

Repeating this for twenty minutes made the Golden Reaper grab and bite my hand affectionately.

“Sorry, sorry.”

After soothing the upset Reaper, I released it back into the water where it zoomed off like a motorized torpedo.

Surrounded by clingy Golden Reapers, I settled down to watch TV on the installed monitor.

[The Chinese government has denied entry to the Korean Object Association’s attempt to enter the Free City Alliance.]

[This decision might hinder the pursuit of the Golden Horn.]

[The Association seems surprised by China’s sudden refusal.]

News about the Free City Alliance frequently appeared on TV, surprising given Korea’s general disinterest in foreign affairs.

Recalling a Mini Reaper sent there, I remembered the city harbored powerful Objects, though details remained vague.

With the Ice Palace restoration nearing completion, perhaps a visit was necessary.

***

The silently blinking phone.

Cheong slowly approached and checked the message.

[PIG: It’s finished.]

It was from a Technician running a small factory, known only as PIG.

Cheong vaguely remembered something about “Prototype Genius” or similar jargon.

Excited by the news, she donned her outdoor mask and coat.

The Orange Reaper floated above her, landing atop her head and bouncing excitedly.

Dum-dum.

Annoyed, Cheong squashed it like a hat.

“I’m heading to PIG Ahjussi’s workshop.”

Hearing this, the Woman rose, adjusting Cheong’s clothes with a worried look.

“Should I come along? That guy seems suspicious.”

“Relax. You’ve said that every single time, and nothing happened.”

“Still, anyone using that kind of Object Body can’t be sane!”

True, PIG’s body was unusual even by Free City Alliance standards.

A butterfly-winged snail!

Instead of legs, a slug-like mass supported a bald Ahjussi’s torso, complete with a protruding belly. And giant butterfly wings adorned his back.

Practicality zero, aesthetics warped—it screamed insanity.

Most people in this city weren’t exactly sane anyway.

While embedding Objects was strange, their aesthetic choices were stranger.

Instead of beautiful transformations, grotesque forms dominated.

If everyone looked good, Cheong might have liked this city more.

“Anyway, I’ll be back soon.”

With reassurances from her Companions, she stepped into the hazy streets.

***

The alleyways of the city, cloaked in unusually dense smog.

Toxic gases swirled in vibrant colors—yellow, blue, red—like oil paints on water.

Red glimmers flickered amidst the shadows.

From the darkness emerged figures cloaked in Optical Camouflage.

They blended seamlessly with the polluted air, their sharp gazes piercing through the gloom.

[The target has exited the building.]

[Commence operation now.]

With emotionless voices, the red glows dispersed.

Swift and calculated, they moved like predators stalking prey.

And just as they took their positions, the red glimmers faded into the night.