Chapter 36

Speed.

A hero who can’t fully use his abilities due to trauma.

He can still take down criminals and rescue citizens, but… the problem is, when a child is in danger, his trauma prevents him from using his powers properly.

Still, he wasn’t a bad hero.

Sure, he’s a bit of a chatterbox and gets scolded by his colleagues, but deep down, he’s a good person.

…Until he gets killed by Quaker.

That’s why I couldn’t help but look at him with mixed feelings.

I never expected to meet a character destined to die in the original story like this.

“Hahaha, you really didn’t expect to meet me, did you? I can see it on your face! I know that feeling! I felt the same way when I first met Power! Hahahaha!”

He seemed to enjoy my reaction and started firing off words like a machine gun.

“Ah, yes… So, you came to request my help?”

“Exactly! I don’t know the Swamp Area well!”

A request for me, huh.

Depending on what it is, I might have to refuse.

“What kind of request is it? Depending on the details, I might not be able to take it.”

“Ah! It’s not a difficult task! I just need to find someone!”

A person, huh.

Was there such a case around this time?

I racked my brain for any relevant knowledge from the original story, but I couldn’t find any clues.

The original story didn’t have much about the past before the prologue, so it’s natural.

In the end, I could only make some guesses based on the information I had.

For example, maybe the mission Speed is currently on is related to his ‘trauma’?

“Who is this person?”

“Before that, I need a confirmation! This mission is to be carried out in secret.”

“It might be better to seek help from the Crocodile Birds instead of me…”

Though I’m not sure if the Crocodile Birds would agree.

The Swamp Area itself isn’t very friendly with Seoul, after all.

Even Speed would likely just raise suspicion if he wandered around here openly.

He’s a hero in Seoul, not in the Swamp Area.

Even though Speed is a good hero, considering the tension between the Swamp Area and Seoul, it’s bound to be awkward.

“The Crocodile Birds are out of the question!”

“Ah, yes. I thought so.”

That would be the easiest solution, but that’s probably why he came to me.

This is the largest organization here, so any movement would be easily noticed.

It’s almost impossible to move in secret.

“How do you plan to handle the payment?”

“I was thinking of this amount!”

I looked at the smartphone Speed handed me.

Wow.

“You know we only deal in cash here, right?”

It’s not like Seoul where you can pay for everything with a card.

At my words, Speed’s eyes widened, and he jumped up, shouting.

“Ca, cards don’t work here!?”

“As you know, the infrastructure here isn’t that developed.”

“Ah… What a mistake! Then…”

“Let’s settle the payment later.”

He doesn’t seem like the type to skip out on payment, so it should be fine. And if I can build a connection with Speed through this, it wouldn’t be a bad thing for me.

If I build a rapport and ask for a favor at the right time, maybe he can survive Quaker.

And that… would be a big win for me.

“Thank you! How can you be so generous!?”

“Now, please tell me the details of the request. Who was kidnapped?”

“It’s the son of the Kang family. There’s information that he was kidnapped by a group with a grudge against the Kang family and taken to the Swamp Area!”

He answered in a mechanical, staccato manner, as if trying to make it easy to understand, and then looked at me with a burdened expression, waiting for my response.

“By Kang, do you mean Kang Cheol-yong, the congressman?”

…This isn’t the case I know.

Then, separate from that, he must be here on a mission.

Given that he’s here, it’s either before his trauma or they had no one else to send.

“Aha! You know him! Then this will go quickly!”

“First, calm down… Do you know about the power dynamics in the Swamp Area?”

“I know it’s divided into the Crocodile Birds, the Vipers, and the Fishermen!”

“First, the kidnapped person is most likely with the Vipers. The Fishermen don’t usually get involved in such matters, and the Crocodile Birds have no reason to antagonize Congressman Kang.”

“I see!”

“The Vipers are a group of outlaws from the start, so it’s highly likely they’re holding Congressman Kang’s son.”

“That makes sense!”

This guy’s reactions are intense. I looked at Speed, who was shouting until his voice went hoarse, and continued.

“First, Speed, you should wait nearby. I’ll investigate and let you know.”

“But—”

“If you’re noticed, the hostage will only be in more danger.”

“Understood!”

“Have you found a place to stay?”

“I came straight here—”

“I’ll recommend a good hotel. It’s the best service around here, so you’ll be satisfied.”

I immediately wrote down the address of the hotel I stayed at when I first came here and handed it to him.

He took the paper from me, bowed noisily in thanks, and disappeared through the door.

“…Boss. He’s quite a stormy character.”

“Yeah, tell me about it.”

“Interesting guy!”

But still, hmm.

“So, it’s a reconnaissance mission for a while.”

Even though it’s a reconnaissance mission, there’s someone else who will play a key role in this request.

“Mina.”

“You don’t have to say it. You need my ability, right?”

“Of course.”

“Don’t worry. If I can find the right target, I’ll locate him quickly.”

“Oppa, what about me?”

“You… need to watch the office.”

“I want to help too.”

“Watching the office is helping. Someone has to guard the office.”

Unfortunately, Seolhwa’s ability is too dangerous to use unless absolutely necessary, so I can’t involve her in this.

Seolhwa’s ability is too risky.

…And there’s also the risk of her going berserk.

There’s nothing more dangerous than awakening a wild beast’s instincts.

“Alright…”

So, the roles are assigned.

“Shall we go shopping?”

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

“Okay.”

We put on our coats and left the office.

To stock up on supplies for the next few days.

————————-

“Gooood morning!”

“You’re here early.”

“I came because I heard you start business around this time!”

It’s hard to understand him.

“Ah, sorry. I made a mistake!”

“I got the gist, so it’s fine. More importantly, being here at this time means…”

“I forgot to give you the information!”

With that, Speed pulled out his smartphone from his pocket and handed it to me.

On the screen was a photo of a brown-haired boy, around early teens, taken in front of what looked like a school building.

This must be the kidnapped kid.

“But why was he kidnapped?”

“It’s said to be due to a grudge!”

“Well… if it’s Congressman Kang, that makes sense.”

That guy has a lot of skeletons in his closet.

“Boss. We’re ready.”

“Ah, is the young lady coming too?”

“My secretary is the key to this request.”

With Mina’s ability, finding someone isn’t that difficult.

Stealing someone’s vision means gaining information that ordinary people can’t see.

Find a suitable outlaw from the Vipers, steal their vision, and keep switching until we find the kidnapper.

The problem is, we don’t know how long it will take.

“Customer, do you know anything about the kidnappers?”

“Unfortunately, no.”

This means we have too many people to search.

“Really, nothing?”

“…Ah! One thing! The kidnapper caught on CCTV had a cobra tattoo on his arm!”

A cobra tattoo, huh.

So, it’s the Cobra faction.

Those guys are genuine criminals.

“If it’s the Cobra faction, it might take a while to track them down.”

“Please, as quickly as possible…”

“First, Speed, you can stay here or wait at the hotel. We’ll go look around.”

“Isn’t it dangerous!?”

“Well, it’s just me.”

Ever since I took down Salmusa alone, they don’t mess with me.

Salmusa was one of the strongest among the Viper faction leaders.

“Then, we’ll be back.”

“Oppa, take care~”

“Yes! Thank you!”

“Mina, let’s go.”

“Yes, Boss.”

We left the office and headed to where the Cobra faction might be.