Chapter 237

〈Chapter 237〉 Part 1, Chapter 11, Section 7

July 19th.

The day of the decisive battle had arrived.

Through the roads of Gwanaksan leading into Yeouido, only one representative from the Association came: Executioner Baek Hee-a, without any escort. Hee-a had requested a one-on-one meeting with me, and I, acknowledging her boldness, began the conversation in a 1:1 setting.

Hee-a’s proposal was something that far exceeded my expectations—a plan so audacious it left me stunned.

* * *

“Special pardon?”

“Yes. First off, you’re criminals who’ve committed crimes.”

Hee-a handed me an enormous list extracted from her watch.

“First, murder charges.”

“You killed Light Blade and the Pine Tree Brigade heroes. Regardless of the reasons, killing is still killing.”

That was something we’d anticipated from the start. Light Blade was already prepared for such an outcome, and the Pine Tree Brigade members were widely regarded as villains deserving punishment.

“Alright.”

I accepted the first charge against me willingly.

“Next, property damage… what?”

“You destroyed the entire Guro district.”

“But Architect fixed everything, didn’t they?”

“Just because it was repaired doesn’t mean the destruction never happened.”

True enough, using demolished buildings as traps to hinder heroes understandably upset the building owners.

“We spent two S-rank cores just restoring Guro…”

“Oh dear, how unfortunate. That’s why you wrecked Guro so thoroughly, huh?”

“…Alright, noted.”

Already starting with bad criminal intent, how much worse could this possibly get? I flipped to the next screen.

“…Kidnapping and imprisonment charges?”

“This is a list of people confirmed or suspected to have been kidnapped by you.”

A small attached list contained dozens of names.

“Heroes abducted during the Seoul Restoration Operation using Hellhounds, actress Cheon Gaeul, the Association’s PR team… disguised as Blue Wind Sect member Soyeon.”

“If you’re talking about the special ability users infiltrated into Yu-Sung’s guild, I’ve already released them all. Cheon Gaeul, I was trying to protect her in Seoul. And as for Soyeon, you know full well she’s a notorious criminal!”

“But you disregarded their consent! We already have testimonies. Especially from Soyeon.”

A video played. Hee-a was interrogating Blue Wind Sect member Soyeon behind a glass wall.

– Please explain in detail what happened in Seoul.

– …In Seoul, I, ugh, huuuh, WAHHHHH!!!

Soyeon cried loudly, unbecoming of her age. Without makeup, she looked rather innocent, though her gaunt face revealed the toll of prison life.

“She’s currently in solitary confinement.”

“Why? Because she’s a dangerous criminal?”

“No. The prisoners kept making a game out of touching her stomach and running away. At her request, she now eats all her meals alone in her cell for better management.”

“Ah…”

Thinking about it, the tattoo Autumn engraved on Soyeon hadn’t faded yet.

“Is that the kind of tattoo that makes someone climax when touched?”

“Additional charge: sexual harassment.”

“Hold on a second.”

I flipped through the screen until I found another related charge further back.

“We already have a sexual harassment charge; what’s this about?”

“That one involves me as the victim.”

Hee-a fidgeted with her ring, her expression darkening.

“You kept trying to seduce me! In the women’s restroom in New Seoul! And then at the VIP quarters of the New Seoul Association!”

“…You don’t look too different right now.”

I gestured around us. Our one-on-one discussion was happening in my penthouse. We sat across from each other on a sofa with a table between us.

“You requested a private meeting?”

“But dragging me here to your room wasn’t your idea?”

“There’s no place more soundproof than here. I guarantee it.”

“So nothing that happens inside will leak out, right? For example…”

Hee-a swallowed hard, raising her head. Her tightly clenched fists resting on her knees suggested immense embarrassment.

“I-I mean, if I were raped here, no one would ever know…”

“I have no intention of raping you. You’re overthinking this completely.”

“It’s hypothetical! Just answer me clearly!”

Clang!

Hee-a slammed her plastic cup onto the table. It was half-filled with deep brown barley tea.

“Depending on whether you’re male or female, there will be an additional crime added!”

“What crime?”

“Intrusion into a women’s restroom! If you’re male, that makes you a serious offender!”

“Do I look male to you?”

My gaze landed on Hee-a’s chest. Hers followed suit to mine. She seemed slightly uncomfortable, quickly drinking her barley tea while glaring at me.

“Your monster form looks male!”

“Ah. That’s true… but Qing Song has a female resident registration number ending in ‘2.’ Just go with it.”

“So Qing Song is female, and Phoenix is male?”

“Since I can choose either form, it’s not really worth worrying about.”

“…Let’s move past this unclear part for now. Next.”

Though Hee-a wanted to press further, countless other heinous crimes remained to discuss.

“Public property damage? Isn’t this the same as the Guro incident?”

“You destroyed the Daejeon research complex while fighting Light Blade.”

“Wait, I feel wronged here. I only broke through the illegally expanded parts. It was Light Blade who split the facility in half!”

“One cannot bring the dead to testify in court.”

I wanted to ask if monsters could serve as witnesses in court but decided against it—it would only reveal Light Blade’s survival and further torment Hee-a’s psyche.

“Then next: trespassing, misappropriation of occupied property, unauthorized departure, damage to state property… Why are there so many?”

“All these are based on the Villain Phoenix’s documented actions. There are likely many unknown offenses as well, but this list contains only the confirmed ones.”

Hee-a consolidated the list and handed it to me. However, she still had quite a few remaining.

“And what’s this for?”

“These belong to the officers and subordinates under your command in the Blue Wind Sect. Though you forced these villains into submission, most of them already have criminal records before becoming villains.”

Lighthouse—murder. I knew he avenged himself on his former mentor who imprisoned him.

Sky Castle—sedition. Essentially the leader of the villain alliance, Sky Castle was the main instigator of the rebellion against New Seoul in Seoul.

Architect—damage to cultural heritage.

“What’s this about? Vandalism or illegal construction?”

“Architect was a pretty famous villain even before Seoul collapsed. Known as the ‘forced restorer of cultural relics,’ they would demolish unauthorized constructions covering cultural sites and restore them using their abilities.”

“…Is that considered villainy?”

“Because they were involved in various legal entanglements.”

“That’s why Sky Castle and Architect received amnesty due to their contributions, right?”

“That’s correct.”

Next, Black Flame Dragon—arson.

“What did this guy set on fire?”

“He carelessly discarded a cigarette butt and burned down a Core refinery. Luckily, it was extinguished early, but unfortunately, the property damage amounted to 2 trillion won.”

“…Well, everyone makes mistakes.”

“Yes, but mistakes are still crimes and must be punished, right?”

Clack.

Hee-a finished her barley tea and cleared away all the lists.

“Even your high-ranking officers are guilty of numerous crimes, and your lower-ranked members are no better. Therefore, the government and the Association cannot simply let such villains run rampant.”

“Are you declaring war on crime? A formal declaration of hostilities? Hmm, what do you plan to do? Launch Phase Two of the Seoul Restoration Operation?”

“No. There’s no need for unnecessary battles. Right?”

“…Right, but isn’t this supposed to be a showdown? What are you planning?”

I suddenly felt uneasy. All the carefully planned strategies I’d spent sleepless nights devising might crumble like a house of cards.

“A fight is still a fight.”

Hee-a was smiling brighter than ever.

“Let’s settle this in court.”

“Ugh.”

Hee-a’s gambit of introducing legal standards into a world dominated by special abilities posed several difficulties and dilemmas.

“Allow me to briefly outline my thoughts.”

* * *

A little later.

After hearing Hee-a’s explanation of the “showdown,” I couldn’t help but ponder deeply.

“So, in short, this is basically a revival of the Pine Tree Brigade?”

“It’s different. The government aims to impose fair sentences on criminals, while the Association seeks to rehabilitate villains into capable special ability users who contribute to world peace.”

Hee-a’s plan was simple yet intricate.

“The reform of the Blue Wind Sect…”

“Yes?”

“Never mind, just talking to myself. Still, impressive that you thought of this. I expected you to just charge in blindly.”

“…I’m not foolish enough to fight despite an obvious power gap.”

Our side undoubtedly has overwhelming strength. Even without Joker Card Light Blade, the existence of ‘Blazing Phoenix’ alone could overwhelm all the heroes.

“So, let’s play by the rules? What if I refuse to show up in court?”

“It’ll only harm you.”

“…That’s true. Perhaps I should show some leniency after bowing my head, hmm?”

“…”

Despite my cheap provocation, Hee-a remained calm and closed her mouth.

In the end, it was me who raised the white flag.

“Alright. I’ll consider it. Consider it.”

“Do you even have time to think?”

“What do you mean?”

Hee-a smiled confidently, like a chess grandmaster delivering checkmate.

“The person backing the Blue Wind Sect—if ‘backing’ is the right word? Your ally has engaged in quite a bit of illegal activity to assist you.”

“…”

Hee-a was revealing her true colors. Not only targeting me, but also threatening those collaborating with me.

By threatening Eun Yuhwa.

“Chairman of Yu-Sung Corporation… Chairman Eun Ha-su, I just met with them.”

“…Ah, um, sure, okay.”

Eun Yuhwa wouldn’t easily expose weaknesses, but I momentarily panicked that he might have revealed his identity to Hee-a.

“So, things went very smoothly with Chairman Yu-Sung.”

“…?”

“Mother, haven’t you heard yet?”

Hee-a crossed her legs and relaxed.

“They call you ‘Customer,’ don’t they? Hmm, this is their message.”

Hee-a cleared her throat and mimicked an elderly voice.

“‘Now the Customer’s organization belongs to me. I can do whatever I want with it.'”

Hee-a handed me a document. It was a memo from Eun Yuhwa posing as Chairman Eun Ha-su, concise as always, summarizing the conclusions in three lines.

“1. <Blue Wind Sect> will undergo a five-year and five-month probation period according to government judicial rulings.”

“2. <Blue Wind Sect> will officially register with the Korean Association as a hunting organization, commonly known as the ‘Hunter Guild.'”

“3. All monetary damages caused by <Blue Wind Sect> will be covered by Yu-Sung, in exchange for which Yu-Sung will hold priority negotiation rights over any cores acquired by Blue Wind Sect…?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Hee-a extended her hand toward me—the one with the ring I gave her.

“Looking forward to working with you. From now on, you’re just another special ability user under my command.”

“No, wait. Are you asking me to accept this? Let me make a quick phone call… No, wait.”

I threw open the window and spread my wings. Behind me, fiery wings unfolded, causing Hee-a’s eyes to widen.

“…”

“What? Do you still doubt I’m Phoenix after I revealed myself?”

“…No. It’s just, well.”

Hee-a awkwardly waved her hand.

“You’re not planning to burn down New Seoul, are you…?”

“No, I’m not. I just want to have a little ‘chat’ with the party responsible for the trouble.”

Leaving Hee-a in my penthouse, I flew off at top speed.

About three minutes later.

Arriving at New Seoul faster than ever, I stormed into Yu-Sung’s mansion.

“Eun Yuhwa!”

“Welcome, Customer.”

The real chairman of Yu-Sung, Eun Yuhwa, greeted me in a tailored suit.

“I’ve taken care of everyone around. Feel free to speak normally.”

“What were you thinking!”

“Oh dear. Knowing me so well, why do you keep picking fights?”

“…?”

I couldn’t read Eun Yuhwa’s intentions. He grinned broadly.

“Almost all the investments I made before meeting our beloved customer have been donated or sponsored to the Association? It’s astronomical amounts, almost in the trillions. Invested in the Association’s heroes.”

“…Hey, what are you saying?”

“After retirement, I planned to quietly siphon off those people as Yu-Sung assets, but I don’t want to see them retire prematurely due to conflicts with the customer. If they die in open conflict, they’ll all end up as monsters under the customer’s control. In short…”

Eun Yuhwa formed a circle with his thumb and index finger, smirking.

“I’m telling the heroes I’ve invested in not to bid against you. It’s unacceptable for organizations I’ve poured money into, like Blue Wind Sect or the Association, to fight each other. As the largest investor, I can’t allow it. Customer, do you want financial trouble with me?”

“…”

The money god was on the verge of defecting.

I had to negotiate with the money god under the worst possible conditions.