“Actually, it’s been a while since we started dating. We only officially began recently, but I figured I should let you know in advance.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you from Tae-san. You’re practically brothers, right? I’m so envious that you trust each other that much!”
We moved to a nearby café and exchanged light chatter while having various conversations.
Kang Tae-san, an official from the government agency called the Ability Management Bureau, and Park Mi-young, who works a regular office job.
Their connection supposedly started when Tae-san came to investigate a case at the building where her company was located.
“Everyone was scared because there was an ability-related crime happening downstairs, but he came in and calmed everyone down, looking so cool!”
“Hahaha, that’s embarrassing. It wasn’t a big deal. It was just a noisy, simple theft with no major damage or casualties.”
That chance encounter led them to exchange contacts naturally, and thanks to Park Mi-young’s active appeal, they recently ended up dating.
‘He was complaining about being too busy to have time to relax, but he was still managing to do everything.’
Who would’ve thought my friend would succeed in dating first?
Given their history of growing up together, it felt quite complicated for me.
I looked over at my friend, who was grinning with a beautiful woman by his side, with a mix of surprise and admiration.
Even in his tired state, his manly features and well-trained physique were undeniable.
Although he worked in the Crime Investigation Division, I knew his main tasks leaned heavily towards the administrative side since he wasn’t Awakened.
‘Typically, agents like him are paired with Awakened investigators when dispatched. Depending on the scale of the case, their numbers fluctuate.’
For investigations related to ability crimes, having Awakened personnel was essential.
Of course, that didn’t mean the agents were mere sidekicks to the Awakened investigators.
Scene inspection, schedule coordination, location scouting, suspect compiling, and analyzing collected data were all handled by them.
When necessary, their role included seeking advice from key figures, like the ‘Black Magician Ahn Seong-jin’ who’s on a tight leash, so they were high-level personnel that couldn’t just be dismissed as ordinary.
‘Of course, their salary reflects that. In fact, when you think about it, they’re the ideal partner material.’
My gaze shifted to Park Mi-young, who was smiling with her arm linked with Kang Tae-san.
A cute, puppy-faced beauty a few years older than us.
With her petite frame and remarkable physique, it was easy to understand why Tae-san had his arm around her.
‘But…’
While exchanging small talk with them, I cautiously observed Park Mi-young.
Her lively reactions, showing active agreement with the speaker, could easily draw out even the most reticent of personalities, and her natural smile disarmed even the most skeptical.
She truly seemed like an ideal conversational partner.
‘…Something feels off.’
Yeah, it was so ideal that it felt as if I were watching a well-scripted play.
Her personality might be like that naturally, but my intuition—having awakened to the Holy and faintly grasped the world’s causal relations—was screaming that it was more than just that.
‘Ugh, this feels dangerously suspicious.’
It was my only friend introducing me to his first significant other.
Questioning the character in front of me felt like a breach of etiquette, but ignoring it was not an option either.
Kang Tae-san and his Grandmother were now practically his last remaining ties to ‘Han Seong-hyun.’
‘I hope this is just my misplaced suspicion.’
To confirm this, it was best to shake off the unease as fast as I could.
With my daily life consisting of multitasking, casually conversing while covertly analyzing the other person was a walk in the park for me.
“So, what did that guy say back then…”
“Hey! We agreed not to talk about that…”
“Oh! Really? You, darling…”
My persona, weaving light-hearted tales, and my cool-headed self, carefully observing the situation, began to diverge as the surrounding sounds slowly elongated.
In the tranquillity of my mind like a “still lake,” I added “heightened awareness” to meticulously watch the other person.
I focused on the live changes in body movements and expressions, the subtle shifts in eye and mouth muscles, the fine wrinkles hidden by makeup, and even the degree of pupil dilation.
I didn’t possess a convenient ability like mind-reading, but my huge mental status combined with the “insight” I borrowed from Hubert, the owner of a massive conglomerate, yielded an effect that rivaled it.
And the results—
– Origin unknown. Older than she appears. Hiding her true intentions and lying. Received instructions from someone before coming here.
– Key Traits: Extraordinary acting skills, cold situational judgment, excellent mental abilities, average physical abilities.
– Trust Level: 11%.
The result I had dared to hope for stared back at me.
A trust level scraped the floor and an analysis that barely emerged because of it.
With such a number, it was safe to say that betrayal was practically guaranteed.
‘…I suspected as much.’
I forced myself to maintain calm and managed to keep my smile intact, showing no hint of instability.
Until I clearly determined the other party’s objective, signaling any suspicion would be a foolish move.
And just to be sure, I decided to analyze Kang Tae-san as well for comparison purposes.
– Belongs to the Republic of Korea Ability Management Bureau’s Crime Investigation Division. Joined with excellent grades through unwavering will and constant effort. He harbors a strong hatred towards ability crimes due to the deaths of those he considered family. Very excited to introduce his first partner to his friend. Even after eating an entire chicken, he still feels hungry.
– Key Traits: Unyielding belief, relentless spirit, devoted family love, excellent combat skills, extraordinary mental abilities, outstanding physical capabilities.
– Trust Level: 94%.
‘…As expected, his skill shows no peculiarities. That means…’
Everything about the woman using the name Park Mi-young was a lie, from her name, age, and job to her intended approach.
“Ah, excuse me. I need to go to the restroom for a bit.”
“Okay, go ahead. But I’m feeling a bit peckish. Are you okay with just dessert? Should I order another honey bread?”
“Really? Darling, wouldn’t one be too little? How about we just order one of everything?”
“…Should I? Then…”
I stood up and headed toward the restroom while my expression turned cold at the affectionate voices drifting from behind.
Kang Tae-san, who had been like family since elementary school, was an incredible guy.
Unlike my average self, he excelled in both academics and sports, never letting anyone bully him just because he lost his parents.
He took care of me, who had turned into a recluse after the incident, and, through relentless efforts, became a top-notch talent in the Ability Management Bureau.
‘But…’
In fact, the majority of my quiet, peaceful life as ‘Han Seong-hyun’ could be attributed to him.
If it weren’t for Kang Tae-san, my daily life would have crumbled before even obtaining my ‘avatar.’
‘…Did he dare to touch that?’
That was practically a symbol of my shattered humanity.
He was the one who knew my past better than anyone and the only personal connection tied directly to that past; one of the reasons I desperately strive to uphold my morality and not lose sight of my former self.
Thinking that might be tarnished by someone’s foul intentions stirred a boiling rage within me.
Swish—
Inside a restroom stall, I pulled out my smartphone using “Spatial Dimension Storage.”
Not the contact I used in regular life, but a burner phone specifically prepared for handling shady dealings.
In fact, I used this thing far more than my regular phone.
‘Let’s see… What are those guys up to?’
I sent a few lines of instructions to Jin So-Ran, the agent representing Heinz II, and immediately tossed the burner back into the spatial dimension.
Then, I casually washed my hands at the sink while staring at my reflection in the mirror—especially those piercing eyes.
The vampire-led blood alliance had already established absolute dominance over Korea’s underbelly.
While they were cautious not to draw unnecessary attention from various agencies by excessively expanding their influence, their indirect power was enough to exert real control.
“Hey, you’re back? I ordered a lot of food. Maybe it’s because I’ve been working overtime lately, but I’m still hungry no matter how much I eat.”
“Why the surprise? You think I don’t know you can eat a lot?”
“Right? Ugh, what am I going to do with my greedy Tae-san?”
“Haha! It’s because I have a high metabolic rate…”
And as the owner of that blood alliance, I.
Am aware of everything happening in the darkness of Korea.
*
“It’s great to see your face after so long. Let’s try to meet up like this more often. Let’s get some fresh air.”
“I had a great time today. If you ever feel like it, just let me know. I have a pretty junior who I think would pair nicely with you, and I’ll introduce her next time.”
“Hahaha, I’m fine for now. I still prefer natural encounters.”
“Oh come on. You might end up alone for life at this rate.”
“Let me be! I’m only in my early twenties!”
“Hmm… I suppose that’s a point. Alright then, if you feel like it, just say so. Drive safe.”
As time passed and night deepened, our meeting naturally drew to a close.
I bid farewell to the two standing beside me and made my way to the parking lot where I had left my car.
I could roughly guess why Kang Tae-san had called me this time.
While he might have wanted to introduce me to his first girlfriend, he likely had a greater desire to help me form new connections, despite my agoraphobia and tendency to stay cooped up at home.
‘Looks like he also asked Park Mi-young separately.’
Did he request that she set me up with a good woman among his acquaintances?
Contrary to his intentions, my social engagements were rampant—not to mention worldwide… I had connections with many women, making his consideration unnecessary.
‘Of course, that doesn’t imply it had anything to do with romance.’
I licked my lips and took a seat in the driver’s seat of my almost new foreign car, pulling out my smartphone.
To check a message I received from one of the ‘women’ I had connections with.
“…Let’s see.”
About an hour had passed since I’d issued my orders.
There wasn’t much preliminary information provided.
In the first place, everything from Park Mi-young’s name to her job and residence had been a lie.
‘Alright, all finished up.’
Yet I received thoroughly organized reports within that hour.
Talented people prioritized the orders from Heinz without regard for time or circumstance, so it made sense.
With a stern expression, I calmly read the content of the report.
“…Hah! So this was it.”
As I grasped the full context of the events, I gently closed my eyes.
To organize how to move forward.
My fingers tapped rhythmically against the steering wheel, creating small sounds.
‘Well, I don’t really have a plan.’
But for a moment, I opened my eyes again, started the car, and smoothly pressed the accelerator.
Swoosh—The luxurious vehicle glided through the night, cutting through the darkness.
Regardless of the reasons, there was only one judgment for those who had crossed me.
*
Due to the activities of the unofficial transcendent Hahoe Mask, Phantom, and the recent vigilantism of the blood alliance, violent crime in Korea had drastically decreased.
However, their domain was limited to ‘violent crimes’ threatening public safety; they couldn’t crack down on every crime.
As long as human desires weren’t entirely suppressed, those who commit crimes would not disappear.
It was almost as if a law existed preserving criminals—while one side was oppressed, the other side grew more rampant.
With harsh sanctions continuing, the violent criminals facing tough lives seemed to have shifted their focus, now thriving in the realms of fraud, threats, and embezzlement—fields that were hard to prove and even harder to catch in the act.
“How’s the work progressing?”
Among those who actively utilized this situation were some of the established elites already entrenched in society.
In the luxurious office of Daeryong Group, the 30th largest corporation in Korea.
An elderly man dressed in an elegant suit and glasses spoke nonchalantly, as the head of the strategic planning department, holding a tablet, bowed respectfully and replied.
“Personnel acquisition is proceeding smoothly. I’ve tangled the orders a few times to avoid being traced, and we’re also ready to cut ties at any moment if needed.”
It wasn’t hard to recruit extremists who held grievances against society but were too terrified of the executioners to act.
After all, what they desired were primitive pleasures like money and destruction.
If their desires were fulfilled, they could temporarily be treated as weapons, making it sufficient just to handle them, even briefly.
Even a minor bit of unsettling misfortune could effectively hamstring competitors.
‘If domestic activities are too dangerous, we can just send them overseas.’
It was a group that had grown by any means necessary.
The true mark of a businessman is maximizing profits by using every available method according to the situation.
As the chairman adjusted his glasses and smirked, the strategic planning department head continued his report.
Followed by details regarding money laundering, various corruptions, and finally the last item.
“…We’re also steadily progressing with embedding our people in various institutions, starting with the Chunjong Construction line. However, again, there are no significant developments.”
“Hmm, good. There’s no need to rush with that, just make sure to proceed diligently. It could be a dagger in the dark if things go south.”
Just as the report was concluding.
Without prior warning, an unexpected variable emerged, causing the strategic planning officer’s eyes to flicker momentarily while stealing a glance at the tablet.
“…Chairman, urgent news. Chunjong Construction…”
They remained unaware.
That the seemingly insignificant events would cause the Shadow King, who ruled the depths of Korea, to reveal his fangs to them.
