He doesn’t notice.
Even as Jinseong’s hair penetrates deep into his body.
Even as that invasive hair moves through his bloodstream.
Even as the hair gradually takes the shape of a living organism.
He fails to perceive the truth.
The hair transforms into a parasite.
A Spirometra erinaceieuropaei larva, to be precise.
This parasite, infamous for sparganosis, starts to spread throughout the man’s body.
Since the human is not its final host, it wanders aimlessly in search of a place to settle down.
After much wandering, it finally finds suitable locations:
One moves upwards, heading toward the brain.
One heads downwards, toward the testicles.
Another moves toward the heart, the midpoint between the brain and the testicles.
Thus, the three spargana have identified their targets and begin to make their way there, all in preparation to become time bombs within the man’s body.
That fraudster will never even dream of what awaits him.
That his life is essentially already over.
Spargana can only be removed through surgery.
Even then, certain areas—such as the brain and the testicles—present particularly complex challenges. While there might be some hope for the testicles, thanks to special abilities, brain surgery comes with unpredictable risks and could easily lead to death.
Of course, these concerns apply to “ordinary” spargana.
As for the parasites infesting the scammer’s body—created through Jinseong’s magic—the situation worsens if any attempt is made to use special abilities to remove them. The result? A fatal explosion.
And if left untreated?
The spargana that settles in the testicles will cause excruciating pain, condemning the man to a life filled with the agony of hell. The one in the heart will act as a time bomb, eventually snatching away his life. The one in the brain will damage various regions, preventing normal daily activities. He may suffer from seizures, partial or complete paralysis, and could fall into a coma. Physical symptoms may arise in various parts of his body, and mental issues could also develop.
If the parasite in the brain moves to more specific regions such as the frontal lobe or cerebellum, it could prove especially effective. Such damage might be mistaken for drug or alcohol addiction, sparing the real cause any suspicion. The associated symptoms—walking difficulties, motor impairments, speech disorders—resemble those often seen among addicts in America, enough that no one would question it as they ruin the scammer’s life.
Though a detailed medical examination might reveal the issue…
How easy would that be in the U.S., where exorbitant healthcare costs often drive people to choose death over treatment?
Even if one suspects something amiss, the cost alone would make diagnosis difficult. And even if the diagnosis is made, removal remains impossible.
Should the scammer seek help in China instead? Jinseong has already considered that scenario.
“From one origin, how could there be no trace? Even a single strand can trace a connection and lead us to the source.”
The hair inside the scammer acts as Jinseong’s personal GPS, capable of locating the man whenever desired.
For now, Jinseong has only implanted the hair due to a lack of other materials. But once resources are gathered, Jinseong plans to either locate the man or use magic from afar.
What resource, you ask?
A material brought from the scammer’s homeland, flooding America through a mix of Chinese and Mexican cartels—magic powder, known as fentanyl.
A devastating drug spreading like wildfire, earning the nickname “China White.”
Fentanyl, a powerful opioid analgesic, subjects its users to brutal side effects. Its intense pain relief is followed by excruciating withdrawal symptoms, transforming ordinary sensations into unbearable agony. The heart rate, airflow, even the touch of lips can feel like torture. One addict described the experience: “When the effects of fentanyl wore off, I felt as though I was submerged in boiling oil. My flesh was frying, and my body writhed in inescapable pain.”
Jinseong plans to bestow this torment on the audacious scammer, turning his everyday life into an unbearable struggle. And should the man ignorantly return to China for medical help, Jinseong ensures a life-ending devastation.
China is stringent about drug offenses, though enforcement can relax among influential figures. But for this scammer, entangled in gambling addiction, fraud, and infested by the parasitic sparganum, good treatment is unlikely. Even worse, given the high probability of brain damage, the man will be treated poorly in a nation less accommodating to disabled people. Fate, therefore, will likely end with imprisonment and death.
Thus, the scammer is destined for ruin.
For swindling through mystical means.
And for meddling with someone connected to Jinseong.
That ruin, though unnoticed, begins now, step by excruciating step.
Seeds of destruction have been planted in ways undetected, ready to sprout over time.
And it begins.
“Excuse me, this is the police. Is this the person?”
The scammer will meet his reckoning from this moment onward.
As the parasites take their positions when the man enters the police station, Jinseong observes.
The scarecrow collapses as the police arrive, but one part remains attached—between the legs, in the groin. The vine, acting as makeshift underwear, constricts painfully around the scammer’s testicles, delivering intense agony. The man breaks into a cold sweat, doubling over in pain, and struggles to walk, emitting cries of distress.
The sight elicits laughter from onlookers and mockery from the crowd, further humiliating the scammer. His odd behavior may soon become viral content, ensuring social ostracism.
As people laugh at the sight, Jinseong watches with a smirk, while Rise remains unamused.
After the commotion at the bar, they return to their lodging. Two separate rooms, by Rise’s request, due to her bashfulness. Despite her excitement for a romantic atmosphere, she opts for separate rooms, driven more by instinct than reason.
Though it ruins any dramatic tension, the decision reflects her timid nature. The idea of asking for a shared room still makes her cheeks burn with embarrassment.
This minor disappointment lingers with Rise, especially after the promising evening at the bar.
But what can be done?
The events at the bar were beyond anyone’s control, unforeseen and unstoppable.
Rise pushes the disappointment aside and plans for tomorrow, imagining herself in a white dress and hat, visiting a pristine farm.
But as it turns out, plans have a way of going awry.
“WHAT?! You mean to tell me that the farm was sold before I even arrived? We can’t get the raw materials anymore?! You’ve got to be kidding me!”
Sometimes, when things start going wrong, they keep getting worse.
