Chapter 76

〈 Chapter 76 〉 Part 1, Chapter 5 (9)

Soyeon Kang. A non-special ability staff member of the Association and at the same time a sub-officer who assists Director Yu Yinghuo. The evaluations of Soyeon Kang, who takes good care of the socially inexperienced director, were quite favorable.

“Everything was just pretending to be a kind person for easier control by the Association over various countries.”

“Why?”

Lee Giseong asked. The other heroes inside the lab also looked perplexed.

Phoenix gathered the captured heroes here after rescuing them along with others. The locations where they were kidnapped were easily divulged by Soyeon Kang. Soyeon Kang’s fingers were bent unnaturally.

“Even the President of South Korea knows about the existence of the Cube, so how could the Association’s headquarters not know?”

Phoenix shrugged while stepping on Soyeon Kang’s fingers. Secretly, Soyeon Kang was fidgeting with her fingers.

“Guh, Guh!”

“This auntie is trying to draw a sigil with blood?”

She attempted to sketch some sort of sigil using the blood flowing from her hand, but Phoenix’s gaze vigilantly monitored every move Soyeon made.

Phoenix explained to Lee Giseong while burning away Soyeon Kang’s magic power once more.

“There are those within the Association who seek influence over various countries, even though it claims to be an international organization. Soyeon Kang is someone sent by the Association to dominate this country, intending to make Sun Icheol a puppet president.”

“So, Miss Kang is actually Cheongsong?”

“Huh? What’s Cheongsong?”

Phoenix tilted her head in confusion. Lee Giseong quickly pointed at Soyeon Kang.

“A special ability user who creates the ‘Pine Tree Unit’. He’s Sun Icheol’s confidant.”

“Oh, right? Some old name, probably. Anyway, this woman is a mole planted by the Association in Korea and was set up as an unofficial power broker.”

Phoenix continued while burning Soyeon Kang’s magic again.

“But at some point, she started playing both sides—Association and government—because secretly, she found a Cube that no one knew about. Isn’t that right? When we told her to find it, she really did, but when it came time to report, it felt too precious to give up.”

“……!”

Soyeon Kang’s pupils trembled violently. It shocked her that a mere villain knew about the existence of the Cube, which was classified as top-secret within the Association.

And even more shocking was that Phoenix realized Soyeon had a separate Cube unknown to both the Association and the government.

Unable to hold her gaze steady, Phoenix leaned closer to Soyeon Kang.

“Why? Did you think no one would notice when you stole it during the Busan Dimensional Gate operation?”

How did the tattooist—or rather, Cheongsong—end up with the Cube?

Phoenix didn’t know the exact location of the Cube stolen by Soyeon Kang but was aware of the circumstances surrounding its theft.

“February 10th, 2012. The day the Dimensional Gate opened in Busan, and the Water Demon Dragon appeared. Remember?”

“That day…?”

Lee Giseong seemed to recall something and was surprised. Phoenix clapped her hands in agreement.

“Yes! The day Seoha Rang used her ultimate technique for the first time! She froze the Water Demon Dragon’s wave breath, making a dazzling debut. And you were cleaning up the aftermath of the Dimensional Gate incident, right?”

“Kruuugh…”

Soyeon closed her eyes. Though gagged and unable to speak, the heroes understood that her silence was an admission of guilt. One hero questioned.

“If you found such a dangerous object, wasn’t it natural to report it to the Association?”

Phoenix wrinkled her nose.

“Maybe if you were a justice-filled hero like you guys, but would someone like this lady with ulterior motives think that way? If you had a blank check that could realize any miracle?”

“You should’ve reported it anyway! Such a dangerous item should’ve been sealed!!”

The hero argued passionately, but Soyeon simply closed her eyes. Phoenix replied with a sympathetic look.

“What can you do? People think differently. Honestly, the person who finds the Cube might use it for world peace, or someone like this lady might use it for selfish desires, or even someone else might try to destroy the world.”

The heroes tried to deny it, but the evidence increasingly supported Phoenix’s claims. Lee Giseong appealed to Soyeon Kang.

“Director! Please explain! Why did you do such a thing?!”

Lee Giseong expressed his deep sorrow. He had received support from Soyeon Kang numerous times on the battlefield, saving countless civilians.

A bit hysterical but always smiling, she was the kind of woman who, if not so devoted to the director, would have been pursued by many male heroes.

“This is a betrayal of Director Yu!”

“Guh!!”

Soyeon Kang shook her head vigorously. Despite the gag causing saliva to dribble down, she strongly denied it.

Suddenly, something crossed the minds of the heroes. Phoenix clicked her tongue and wagged her finger.

“Love? That wouldn’t work. This woman couldn’t influence ‘Commander’ even with tattoos. So, she tried to win his heart. Until she became S-Rank herself and could freely use the Cube, she needed Sun Icheol and Yu Yinghuo as buffers.”

“Guh, Guh!”

“Oh, keep squirming.”

As Soyeon Kang struggled violently, Phoenix stomped hard on her back, knocking her unconscious from the impact that likely shattered her ribs.

“Huh?”

Phoenix shook Soyeon with her foot, but there was no response.

“……”

After a moment of silence, Phoenix stepped aside and gestured to the other heroes.

“…Let’s settle your situation first. What will you do now?”

“What are you asking us to do in this situation?”

Lee Giseong glared at Phoenix through gritted teeth.

“While the Association collaborates with the government to mentally dominate heroes, what do you expect us to do? You want us to either join the Pine Tree Unit or run and hide forever?”

“There’s a good option, though.”

Phoenix gestured cutting her throat. Simultaneously, the heroes’ expressions darkened. Their gazes fell on the unconscious Soyeon Kang.

Phoenix brought up the unspoken truth.

“Silence her permanently. Forever. Murder.”

“Are you telling us to kill Team Leader Kang?!”

“Or you’ll become part of the Pine Tree Unit otherwise.”

The heroes remained silent, trapped in a difficult situation where neither choice was easy.

“Unless… all of you go to Seoul-”

“I.”

Lee Giseong raised his hand first.

“…I choose to escape.”

Surprisingly, the other heroes were taken aback by Lee Giseong’s declaration. Phoenix lounged casually on the research table.

“May I ask why?”

“I don’t want to become part of the Pine Tree Unit and kill innocent people. But I can’t kill Team Leader Kang either.”

“Join the Villains? We’re hiring experienced personnel all the time.”

“I’d rather seek asylum abroad than live as a villain.”

Impressed by Lee Giseong’s strong resolve, Phoenix twiddled her fingers. Observing the surroundings, it seemed the other heroes felt similarly.

“Do nothing and leave like lambs to be chased forever? Both the Association and the government will hunt you.”

“Yes. I’m prepared. …Since the moment I was kidnapped by Hellhound, I already considered myself dead.”

“No, that’s… sigh.”

Phoenix sighed and tapped her smartwatch.

“Fine. Since you’ve helped me get this far, let me repay you. I’ll ensure you can continue as heroes without interference from the government or the Association.”

* * *

30 Minutes Later…

Phoenix sat upright at a secluded mountain trail rest area, waiting patiently like a priest awaiting divine guidance.

Clunk, Clunk.

A military truck ascended the mountain road. Without turning on its headlights, a towering man descended from the driver’s seat and approached Phoenix.

“What brings our beloved sucker out here so late, all the way to Daejeon?”

The man, president of the Black Market, greeted Phoenix with open arms. His eyes sparkled with golden stars. Phoenix stood up with a gentle smile.

“I came to ask for employment assistance.”

“Huh? Does our dear sucker need a position somewhere?”

The president scanned the surroundings. Sensing the figures hiding below the mountain path, he folded his arms.

“If you’re thinking of laundering these villains into my network, forget it. With their magical patterns registered in databases, they’d get caught at checkpoints instantly. Unless they’re newly awakened within the last month.”

“Not necessary. I’m giving these people to you as gifts.”

Phoenix smiled and gestured. Hesitant figures gradually emerged into the rest area.

“……Hooh.”

The president stroked his chin and grinned, his mechanical eye rapidly analyzing the identities of the 11 heroes. His beastly grin widened.

“Is this some kind of double slap to both the government and the Association?”

“The government and the Association can’t touch you. What? Don’t you have the guts? You wanted to create a PMC, right?”

The president’s grin stretched ear-to-ear. He immediately pointed the heroes toward the back of the truck.

“Hey. Get in.”

“Who are you to suddenly-”

Lee Giseong asked irritably but stopped upon seeing the president’s hand signal—a star drawn with his fingers. Just that gesture was enough for the heroes to gauge the president’s background.

They climbed into the back of the truck. Phoenix lifted the unconscious woman onto her shoulder.

Vroom.

The magical engine roared as it started. The president lowered the window slightly and offered Phoenix a ride.

“Dear sucker, why not come along? After such a big gift, shouldn’t I treat you to breakfast? On me.”

“BREAKFAST’S fine, but let’s catch up over tea sometime.”

The president winked with his left eye. Phoenix cleanly ignored it and tossed the unconscious woman into the truck.

“Don’t forget to monitor her.”

“Understood.”

The heroes glared at the woman, Soyeon Kang. Lee Giseong threw a mini-Phoenix perched on his palm toward Soyeon. The mini-Phoenix gently landed on her palm,

Peck.

And pecked her knuckle. No blood flowed, but the flame trailed from its beak and burned away Soyeon’s remaining magic power.

Like Prometheus having his liver pecked by eagles for stealing fire, Soyeon would have her magic gnawed away by the mini-Phoenix forever.

“Excuse me?”

Phoenix tapped the window near the driver’s seat. The president’s face visible through the window seemed unusually sullen.

“Is there anything else, customer?”

His voice was frosty. Phoenix knocked lightly on the window with a smile.

“I only drink tea with humans, not machines.”

Smirk. Phoenix transformed into flames and disappeared. The president frowned deeply and pressed the accelerator.

“We’ll see about that.”

* * *

“So…”

I returned to the lab and took a deep breath. Although I accidentally knocked Soyeon unconscious and couldn’t learn the Cube’s location, there’s still a way to find nearby Cubes.

‘It feels like opening a boss room door.’

Though technically the boss came to me, the tension and excitement are pretty much the same.

“Time to return to the original goal, huh?”

I closed my eyes briefly, then opened them.

WHOOSH!

The magic power I had suppressed for half a day surged and spread throughout the entire building. Like breaking a dam holding back a flood, it surged wildly through my body.

BOOOOM—

The overflowing magic power swept through the underground laboratory like a sonar.

“Where could it be?”

Click. I sensed a sudden interruption in the flow of magic.

“Got it!”

I clenched my right hand and thrust it downward.

KABOOM! The tiles shattered. The entire research building shook as if hit by an earthquake. The floor beneath me cracked and collapsed.

First floor, second floor. Level by level, I descended deeper underground until reaching the secret facility hidden beneath.

“Cough, cough!”

The secret facility on the fifth basement floor. Where Soyeon Kang secretly hid the Cube. Surprisingly, it was directly beneath her own lab, contrary to expectations.

‘Thought it was hidden elsewhere.’

Normally, I’d have to wake Soyeon and unlock all the passwords, but that’s unnecessary.

“I should’ve checked here first.”

I plunged my fingers into the massive concrete sphere buried in the ground.

‘Treasure found.’

The magic power flowing from my fingertips reached the center of the sphere. A repulsive sensation emanated from the core of the roughly 2-meter radius orb.

‘No time to waste.’

I plunged my hand into the sphere and ignited flames. Explosions tore through the cracks, shattering the orb, and I extended my arm further to cause more explosions.

Shiver.

‘I found it.’

At the end of my fingertips, I felt the loathsome magical energy and grabbed the object firmly. A tiny cube, no bigger than rock sugar.

This was the second Cube I obtained since coming to this world. Carefully, I stuffed it into my pocket.

“Well, it’s about time for the boss signal.”

I raised my head toward the ceiling, gathering my full magical power.

GROOOONG.

Of course. Classy people don’t exist. Greater vibrations rocked the earth compared to when I broke through the underground.

And,

□□□□□□!!!

A colossal beam of light pierced through the underground, aiming straight for my forehead.