Chapter 65

“Tempest. This arrest operation is your first official mission. Do your best.”

“Yes!”

Shield smiled with satisfaction at Tempest’s booming voice.

‘He’s got the spirit of a rookie.’

Most heroes are like that, but the fresh enthusiasm of a rookie is always refreshing. Shield felt a sense of anticipation for the first time in a while.

At least he thought there would be fewer mistakes.

“According to the report, the target was spotted at the Maze Shopping Mall. So, we’ll infiltrate the mall and arrest him.”

“The Maze Shopping Mall…”

“It’s the one in Yongsan. Have you been there?”

“No, sir!”

“The Maze Shopping Mall has a very complex layout, so it’s easy to get lost without a guide. So, your first task is to find a suitable guide.”

“A guide…you mean?”

“Yes.”

“Do I have to find one myself?”

“Of course, if we want to disguise ourselves as ordinary visitors. If we, as heroes, openly seek a guide, the target will obviously notice and flee. So, you’ll need to infiltrate the mall disguised as a civilian.”

“I-I see.”

“Of course, you won’t be infiltrating alone, so don’t worry too much. Other agents will also infiltrate the mall, so you just focus on apprehending the suspect.”

“Understood!”

As a rookie hero, Tempest’s face isn’t widely known to the public, making him perfect for this mission. Shield maintained a solemn expression but was inwardly worried about whether the rookie would perform well.

After all, he’s just a green rookie.

It’s only natural for a rookie to make mistakes.

And if things go south, it could get really messy.

‘I didn’t tell him, but I’ve sent another disguised hero to infiltrate with him. I’ll just have to trust that they’ll handle it well.’

In other words, Tempest was both the hunter and the bait.

“Let’s move out.”

“Yes!”

As Tempest, Lee Si-woo, left, Shield sighed and looked out the window.

The sky was incredibly clear, refreshing even, but his heart was filled with dark clouds.

‘Quaker…’

That bitter, bitter name.

He sighed as he recalled his former comrade, now his enemy.

‘I am a hero. Villains must be dealt with.’

That is the duty of a hero.

No matter how deeply entangled their past may be, he couldn’t be bound by those ties.

As a hero, and as someone who manages heroes, he couldn’t afford to be swayed by personal emotions.

“I hope things go well…”

His wish lingered in the room before shattering into pieces.

————————–

“Here’s the entrance.”

“The entrance alone is complicated.”

“That’s the Maze Shopping Mall for you.”

The guide smiled obsequiously, rubbing his hands together.

Honestly, he didn’t seem very reliable, but finding a new one would be a hassle, so I decided to use him for now. I gestured toward the inside of the maze-like market with my chin and ordered.

“Lead the way. Our target is the coffee machine.”

“Y-Yes, sir.”

We stepped into the Maze Shopping Mall. The entrance looked like a winding alleyway, resembling a market stall.

“Hey, young man, take a look at these clothes!”

“Cheap, cheap! Buy now, and I’ll throw in this superpower-enhancing bracelet for free!”

“Superpower-enhancing bracelet?”

They sell stuff like that?

“I’ll buy all of those. Common sense says if they could really sell that, would they be doing business here?”

“Hmm.”

Good point.

If someone could make something like that, the government would have recruited them by now.

Just giving one to each hero would help with public safety.

They could even set up a company, mass-produce them, and live comfortably for the rest of their lives.

“Customer! Take a look at this self-defense kitchen knife!”

What the heck is a self-defense kitchen knife?

Wait…that’s not a kitchen knife.

It’s just a sword without a guard.

What do they call that again?

Shirasaya? Arasaka?

I casually browsed the items sold by the shops lining the sides as I followed the mole. Thankfully, the mole didn’t seem interested in causing trouble and quietly led the way.

Of course, I had no way of knowing if this was the right path, but since I was rolling a steel ball in my hand as a subtle warning, he probably wouldn’t try anything funny.

This place wasn’t exactly a lawless zone like the underworld, but it was close enough.

It’s a place where the police and heroes rarely reach, so if things go wrong, it’s easy to end up as the guide. People here tend to hush things up if someone gets killed because it’s bad for business.

In this apocalyptic world, someone dying isn’t that special anyway. Even now, people are dying left and right outside, and in Seoul, people die for various reasons.

So—having heroes doesn’t necessarily mean public safety is good.

After walking for a while, the mole suddenly stopped.

“T-This is the place. As far as I know, this is the only shop that sells coffee machines…”

“Ah, are you here to buy a coffee machine?”

“Do you have any good ones?”

“Of course! We have everything from relatively simple models to more complex ones that can brew a deeper flavor!”

“Let’s take a look.”

“Please, this way.”

I followed the shop owner, who had a distinctive goatee, inside.

“You don’t just sell coffee machines here.”

“Coffee machines aren’t exactly high-demand products. As you know, most people just settle for instant coffee, right?

Once shops buy one, they can replace broken parts with a 3D printer, so one purchase is usually enough.”

…Come to think of it, this is a world where you can make almost anything with a 3D printer.

Of course, using it isn’t exactly easy.

You still need blueprints, and you have to know how to make and use them.

So, it’s still considered a skilled job.

“Pick out a good model for home use.”

“How about this one?”

The size is just right, and it doesn’t look bad.

“Can I take a closer look?”

“Of course, of course.”

I picked up the coffee machine and examined it from all angles.

At first glance, there didn’t seem to be any defects. But…what about the inside?

I peeked inside.

Honestly, I wouldn’t know.

I’m not a barista, so how would I know if the inside is okay?

There’s only one way to find out.

“Can you brew a cup of coffee for me?”

“Ah—of course.”

He must be confident.

I watched as the shop owner took out coffee beans and a water bottle from under the counter and loaded them into the machine, waiting for the coffee aroma to fill the shop.

The coffee machine vibrated slightly, making the sound of water flowing, and slowly began dripping coffee from the spout.

Drip, drip—

The pleasant sound and the aroma of coffee filled the shop.

The smell was enough to freshen up the slightly musty atmosphere of the shop.

How would it taste?

“Please, have a taste.”

I took the coffee cup from the owner, brought it to my nose, and inhaled the aroma.

The scent was the familiar coffee aroma.

How about the taste?

I carefully took a sip of the hot coffee.

“…Not bad.”

“Will you take it?”

“Let’s do that. And…where can I get the beans?”

“You can get the beans at a mart in Gangnam, Seoul. They’re expensive, but it’s the easiest place to find them.”

“So, the Maze Shopping Mall doesn’t sell beans?”

“It’s not easy to bring in goods like that here. It’s hard to guarantee a profit.”

I see.

I nodded in understanding and took out my wallet.

Cash is usually more convenient than cards, no matter where you go.

“That’ll be 1.2 million won.”

“Here you go.”

It’s expensive, but this much is manageable.

It was a significant expense, but I decided to put it out of my mind and paid without hesitation.

I could have haggled for a lower price, but I had other questions and wanted to maintain a good relationship.

“By the way, I heard a notorious criminal has been hiding here lately—”

“Ah, that guy. Don’t even mention him. Business has been slow because of him.”

“Have you seen him around?”

“Ah—I don’t know, but I’ve heard he often shows up in the central plaza of the Maze Shopping Mall. If you search around there, you might find him.”

“I see. Thanks for the info.”

“I don’t know why you’re looking for him, but it’s best to avoid the plaza. Lately, it’s become a gathering spot for some shady characters, and the situation isn’t great.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Here, your package is ready.”

I left the shop carrying the cardboard box containing the coffee machine.

For now…today’s schedule ends here.

Tomorrow, I’ll roam the Maze Shopping Mall, gather more information, and look for Park Jung-woo, the attempted terrorist.

And then—I ran into an uncomfortable figure.

“Ah! I told you I don’t have business at the Maze Shopping Mall—!”

Oh boy.

I sighed as I looked at Sang-ah, who was glaring at me with a betrayed expression.