Chapter 34

“Boss. Here’s the work.”

After finishing my hunter job and returning, Mina quietly handed me a notebook.

No computer, no A4 paper, so this notebook was a last resort.

Inside, the requests were neatly written in round handwriting.

“Three people came.”

Three at once?

It’s only my second day open, and more came than I expected.

Maybe word got out about catching Salmusa.

I sat slouched on the sofa, reading the notebook.

“Finding a colleague’s body, checking a camp in the Gray Forest, and searching for a missing person.”

“I gathered as much info as I could.”

“Yeah?”

“The first client lost their colleague near a shopping mall northeast of the Gray Forest. They got into a fight with some outlaws there, and the colleague was sacrificed.”

“Then we should check the mall.”

“Next request is to check a camp…”

“There’s an old camp that hasn’t been used in a while. The Crocodile Bird plans to reinstall it. They requested us because the camp is close to the info you provided.”

They could handle it themselves, but they still came to me?

Well, from my perspective, this kind of push isn’t bad.

They save manpower, and I get paid.

Let’s take this request.

The last request is a missing person…

“The last request doesn’t have much info.”

“Well…they suddenly disappeared while talking. I wrote it down, but…you probably don’t need to worry about it.”

Suddenly disappeared?

Why?

I looked at her with a questioning gaze, and Mina shrugged.

“No idea. They said something urgent came up…”

A telepathy user, maybe?

…Well, not my concern.

“So, two real requests. I’ll jump on them tomorrow. Tell the clients to come back in two days.”

“Got it, Boss.”

“By the way, where’s Seolhwa?”

“Over there.”

I turned my head in the direction Mina pointed.

“Hmm…”

“Where did she get that?”

“They were selling it at the market.”

Who knew Rubik’s Cubes still existed in this world.

I smiled, watching Seolhwa struggle with the old, scratched-up cube.

Seeing someone who grew up in hardship peacefully struggling with a Rubik’s Cube…if that doesn’t make you smile, you’re a psychopath.

Or not.

“By the way, Uncle. How was today’s haul?”

“Did pretty well.”

“That’s good. The household budget’s been tight lately…”

“Ugh. If it weren’t for that damn Salmusa…”

Thanks to the boss’s consideration, the repair costs were somehow covered, but the delayed opening messed up the schedule, which hit the household hard.

I had planned to promote and adjust the schedule, but everything got pushed back. I had to rush to the Gray Forest to grab anything profitable and check on the vipers…

With the schedule completely ruined, I’ve been running around non-stop for days.

That’s why I haven’t had time to sit down and solve my worries.

…Sigh.

If I’m not Quaker, what on earth am I possessed by?

My abilities are similar, so I was sure it was the final boss possession.

But maybe I’m just a civilian who looks similar?

Or a relative?

…Or a clone?

No, that’s too far.

That can’t be.

This world doesn’t have that level of technology…or does it?

In the original, there was a scene where they secretly mass-produced heroes using hero genes.

Anyway, I need to figure out this body’s past.

The problem is where to look.

I can’t go back to the prison where my possession started, and there’s too little to go on for a separate investigation.

Kwon…whatever, the second boss of the Crocodile Bird seems to know something, but it’s awkward to ask.

With no way to get info, I can’t even make a plan.

So, I’ll just set it aside for now.

If I’m not Quaker, Quaker will make a move, clash with the heroes, and bring chaos to Seoul.

When that happens, I’ll find a way to get info.

Quaker’s terror will destroy the checkpoints and security offices leading into Seoul.

The heroes will stop it from being completely destroyed, but…it’ll still be one of the few chances to enter Seoul’s underworld.

Actually, with connections, entering the underworld isn’t hard…

But the connections are the problem.

The vipers are connected to the underworld.

Since I’m on bad terms with the vipers, I can’t get those connections. So, I’ll have to wait.

The problem is, I don’t know if it’ll take months or years…

Ah, whatever.

No point worrying about it now. I should just make a plan.

“Boss. Are you heading out tomorrow?”

“Yep. It’s a landmark first request, so I need to handle it quickly and accurately. That way, we’ll build trust and…gain some recognition.”

The first step is always the most important.

“Got it, Boss. I’ll update the clients when they come.”

“How?”

“Boss. Did you forget my ability?”

Ah.

“That’s a way.”

Once the vision link is set, distance isn’t an issue, so real-time updates are possible.

She was the brains in the original, so she’s smart.

“Mina, that’s a good idea. Thanks to you, things will be smoother.”

At my words, Mina looked at me with expectant eyes and tilted her head.

What?

What is it?

“Praise me more.”

…Still a kid, huh.

“Thanks to you, the business will run smoother. It’s all thanks to you.”

“A bit more.”

…What should I say?

She keeps asking for praise, and I don’t know what to say.

I racked my brain to meet Mina’s demand for praise.

Your face is as pretty as your…that’s not it.

Ah, whatever.

“…You’re really smart.”

Not sure if she liked it or not.

I looked down at Mina’s head, now closer, and raised my hand to place it on her head.

Then, I gently patted her head.

“…”

This feels like petting a dog.

How long did I pat her? A purple head entered my vision.

“Oppa, me too!”

“Sure, sure.”

I started patting Seolhwa’s head with my other hand.

But how long do I have to do this?

I checked the mood and eventually stopped patting. Mina looked up at me with a pout.

“Why’d you stop?”

“My arm’s tired.”

“Oppa, more.”

“Don’t overwork my exhausted mind and body.”

I just want to rest.

As I openly showed my fatigue, Mina reluctantly said.

“Fine, then.”

“Oppa, are you going to sleep?”

“I need some rest.”

“What about dinner…”

“I’m not hungry, so you two eat.”

Right now, I just need sleep.

“Goodnight?”

“I’ll tidy up.”

“Thanks…”

I went upstairs with my stuff.

———————

“Speed, you good?”

“Yes! Leave it to me! There’s no avoiding it forever!”

“Sigh…of all times, why now…”

The operations officer sighed, pressing her temples with her fingers.

Seeing her, Speed thumped his chest and shouted.

“I got it! Leave it to the speedy and accurate Speed!”

“Please, slow down.”

“Ahem. Got it!”

“It’s a mission to find someone.”

“Finding people is my specialty! I’m known as the God of Missing Persons, you know!”

His words came out like fast-forward, incomprehensible to anyone who hadn’t talked to him long. The operations officer sighed.

“Please.”

“Ah, yes. Got it.”

“It’s not a hard mission. The trail clearly leads to the swamp, and the missing person is likely held in the vipers’ tunnels.”

“Any, other, info?”

“Sadly, no.”

“Got it! Leave it to me! I’ll rescue them for sure!”

His confident shout made the operations officer, Lee Yeji, chuckle and turn away.

“This might be a long mission, so make sure to pack supplies.”

“Yep!”

As soon as he answered, a gust of wind hit the operations officer’s face. Her long hair flew wildly.

“I told you not to run inside…sigh. That impatience never changes.”

She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.

‘This mission, please succeed…’

The mission to rescue the son of Congressman Kang Gil-soo.

A lot was riding on it.

‘Speed…please bring him back.’

A sigh filled with worry drifted through the office and disappeared.