Chapter 927

EP.927 Part 2 Chapter 8-12 The Culprit Is…

<June 25th, 2:00 AM, Daejeon XX Research Lab>

“Hnnngg…”

Security guard Kiwoo stifled a yawn while checking the CCTV monitors like every other night.

Working graveyard shifts at the Daejeon XX Lab to make ends meet while doing another job during the day – this double-job grind was necessary to survive in New Seoul, even though if his daytime gig got exposed, these security gigs wouldn’t be safe either. But without both jobs, living in this city would be impossible.

Every day his expenses kept rising while his salary remained frozen, with no hope of increase.

“…Meanwhile, as the Minimum Wage Committee fiercely debates whether to freeze or decrease this year’s minimum wage, it has been revealed through a citizen’s report that the decision was made by drawing lots…”

“Shit.”

The days when he could buy cheap canned coffee for 150 won were long gone, now costing him 400.

“Damn X-Pulse Era.”

In this age overrun by monsters, people had no choice but to adapt to the new reality.

With magic power and cores overflowing, making nuclear energy obsolete, humanity had to adjust to this transformed world.

At any moment, one’s real estate could be destroyed by monster attacks.

At any time, one’s workplace might vanish due to the magic revolution.

Those who awakened magical abilities became heroes and hunters, basking in glory and wealth.

While those unrelated to magic or cores had to survive on outdated skills and knowledge alone.

Kiwoo, unfortunately, fell into the latter category.

His shop had been demolished by a monster rampage, leaving him squatting in a New Seoul studio apartment, subsisting on instant noodles.

“Sigh, damn it.”

The chilly night air sent shivers down his spine.

Tonight was especially cold, and Kiwoo was barely fighting off the sleep demons creeping up on him.

Thankfully, the CCTV monitoring room allowed legal heating, which ironically made falling asleep all too easy.

This shouldn’t be such a bone-chilling place…

“What is it…?”

Was it the ghost standing behind him trying to get his attention?

Or perhaps an ancestral warning about his moonlighting ways?

“Ahh, what is it…?”

Kiwoo tilted his head at a woman loitering by the main gate.

“What? Why’s there a woman…?”

[Oh come on, what…]

The woman in front of the CCTV monitor appeared to be cursing loudly while holding numerous items in plastic bags.

She kept pounding on the gate, forcing Kiwoo to consider responding, though given the hour, protocol prohibited it.

-Do not admit anyone outside regular hours.

-Not even the president.

Labor rules #1.

Under no circumstances should you open the gate.

“At this hour, who would possibly…!”

Kiwoo quickly scanned the faces of lab residents through his magical gear, wondering if someone had forgotten their card key after bringing in belongings or if it was the newest graduate starting work.

But none matched the profile of a researcher.

Could it be cleaning staff?

Kiwoo wasn’t sure.

BAM BAM BAM!

Her punches grew more aggressive.

She seemed to be yelling at the CCTV, frantically messing with her hair.

Then she set down the plastic bag, pressed her magical gear, and made a call.

[Hello? Yes, yes. No, I followed the delivery order but the gate’s locked.]

Kiwoo realized what had happened upon hearing the apparent delivery person’s complaints.

[What? You’re saying what? This says Daejeon XX Lab. What kind of Kyung-Apt complex? Did you check the delivery address?]

Someone must’ve placed a late-night snack order using their workplace address by mistake.

[Hey, what? Are you asking me to give it to someone inside? I can’t take responsibility for that… Seriously… Damn.]

Does she realize we can hear everything she’s saying?

Kiwoo struggled to suppress his laughter before pressing the external speaker.

“Who’s there?”

“Oh, sorry! There’s been a mix-up with the delivery. So…”

“Understood. I’ll be right out.”

Casually dismissing the woman’s explanation, Kiwoo did a final sweep on the CCTV monitors before grabbing his coat and heading out.

Reaching the entrance within a minute from the guard booth, he gave a slight bow to the sharp-looking woman.

“Hello.”

“Yes, hello. Thank you.”

“…”

The spicy scent hit Kiwoo immediately, identifying the package as tteokbokki and fried snacks – street food.

There were two separate tteokbokki containers labeled “Roze,” confirming it was the trendy variety.

“Here’s your receipt. If we call later, just show this.”

“Um, where exactly did this delivery come from…?”

“It’s written there.”

Turning away, the deliverywoman’s helmet revealed hints of purple hair under the night lights.

“…Huh. Is this some superpowered daughter doing deliveries?”

Kiwoo chuckled to himself while carrying the street food back to the guard booth.

“Heh, this should last me until lunch tomorrow. With the leftover money…”

Considering his pocket situation, he nodded to himself.

“One more week of work. Then I can leave this hellhole…”

Clasping his hands together, Kiwoo prayed toward the monitors.

Unaware that four figures were moving in the CCTV blind spot.

* * *

“Hmm, operation successful.”

Of course, it was Cheon Gaeul’s plan.

Disguising a delivery person with spicy rice cakes and fried snacks to distract the guard while infiltrators snuck in – flawless execution.

“Is this level of security acceptable?”

“Maybe they don’t pay for overtime meals?”

The objective was simply to have Cheon Gaeul draw the guard away, but fortunately, the guard returned with the food.

He’d unknowingly received his last meal at this Daejeon XX Lab.

Though he wouldn’t die, losing his job was inevitable since the facility was scheduled to explode tonight.

“Everyone gather.”

I assembled the three who came with me.

Nuri, Raon, Yuna.

Each wore tight latex suits that clearly outlined their figures despite the darkness.

“Ah, bro.”

“Yeah?”

“Bro, are you gay?”

“What the hell?”

I smacked Nuri’s head.

“I accept lesbians but I’m not gay!”

“Are you sure you’re not crazy?”

“Technically, aren’t you bisexual?”

“Nope. I like women regardless of my own gender. Just women!”

“So isn’t that reverse bisexual?”

“How about reverse-bi?”

“Isn’t this whole situation ridiculous??”

Though lacking tension, we’d been beyond that point since entering.

“What’s with these phallic tight pants?”

“Showing off my Phoenix core. Cool, right? Tight fit.”

“Don’t stand there erect!”

“It’s not erection, it’s default state.”

“…”

This was the female staff lounge, free from CCTV.

“Didn’t you know intruders need to minimize body silhouette?”

“Pfft, ask anyone – ninety-nine out of hundred would say hard-core!”

“And the one?”

“Chewy-gay.”

“Tch.”

I pointed to my reflection in the mirror.

“Looking good, ain’t I?”

“Seriously, do we need these latex outfits?”

“Absolutely. We’re sneaking around quietly.”

My mirrored image showed a black latex-clad figure with glowing white slit eyes peeking out from a full-face mask.

No use hiding it.

I’m the culprit.

“Call me Hanjawa-san.”

“Ugh, bro. Really…”

“Or how about Mermaid?”

“Isn’t it Haenam?”

“Close enough. Let’s move on.”

Knock knock.

The three quickly hid while I carefully retrieved something from my latex suit.

Creak.

“Yawn…”

A female researcher entered, heavy dark circles under her eyes, collapsing onto the sofa without checking her surroundings.

“Hnnn… This damn overtime… Hmm?”

Naturally, my figure appeared on her magical gear.

“What, Eep! Ack!!”

I swiftly covered her mouth with a prepared handkerchief, applying firm pressure to prevent breathing.

The door was already closed.

No chance of screams escaping.

“Shhhh…”

I put the researcher to sleep.

Then quickly stripped her clothes off.

“Oi, Bro!”

“What?”

“We can handle undressing!”

“Don’t worry. She’s a villain.”

Politeness is unnecessary with villains, even when dealing with women.

“All researchers here are villains.”

“Really?”

“Yep.”

Big data doesn’t lie.

“All permanent staff are villains, temps are normal people.”

“…”

“How do we tell them apart?”

“Who among the late-night workers is temporary?”

It was 2 AM.

I pulled out her official ID from her gown.

“This is the master key, keep it safe.”

“6th rank? Looks younger than me…”

“Yeah, surprisingly young for a 6th rank. All due to Sun Icheol’s parachuting.”

I placed the handkerchief next to the unconscious woman and took down a hanger from the lounge.

“Special recruitment for magic users.”

“…”

“The experiments here involve human testing.”

Extracting magic power from human bodies.

Plus various other illegal experiments that never see the light of day.

Because anyone revealing them becomes the next test subject.

“This facility runs on our tax money for human experimentation.”

“…”

“Originally intended to extract magic power from certain individuals. Then modified further underground by Architect Cheongsong.”

“From whom exactly?”

“There exists beings whose rampant magic power must be extracted.”

This facility.

Actually extracts corrupted magic power from Guro Hyunwan to power New Seoul’s streetlights.