Chapter 94

〈 Chapter 93 〉 Section 4. How to Approach the Villain (5)

* * *

About two hours before the private jet's departure. 5:00 AM.

In front of the Grand Hotel in Samcheok, Gangwon-do.

"Please take good care of her, Miss 'Crimson.'"

"We should be the ones to ask for your help. Hehe. Please rest assured."

Many people were gathered in the hotel lounge.

The men in black suits were bodyguards hired by October Travel, and some of our organization's agents were also present to provide security.

"We will escort you safely to Yangyang Airport. I hope you have a comfortable journey."

"Hmm. If I can return to my country safely, I will not forget this kindness."

"Let's not talk about kindness in business. Hehe. You won't regret reaching out to us. Shall we go?"

Gonggi pointed to outside the hotel while guiding the chairman.

Already, five limousines were waiting outside the hotel, and Gonggi personally escorted the chairman to the second car.

"Lady, this way, please."

I personally escorted Yuliana.

The other members of the organization, who had no idea I was a goblin, thought I was just an agent called by Gonggi.

"Who are you?"

"At the company, they call me 'Moby Dick.'"

I glanced at my reflection in the glass of the main entrance.

Black suit, black shirt, and a black dolphin mask on my face.

The design clearly evoked a dolphin, and I looked suspicious to anyone who saw me.

No wonder the other members of the organization were giving me looks like, 'Why did Gonggi-sama personally assign this guy to guard Yuliana?'

"Are all the people from your company dressed like that?"

"For now, yes."

"Well, okay. It's a good nickname in English. Lead the way."

"Yes. Shall I take your luggage?"

"This... I'll carry it myself."

Yuliana was holding a large suitcase.

The way she had securely locked it made it obvious that it contained something valuable.

Could the 'First Ancestor's genes' be inside?

I didn't know.

As an organization, our main goal was to protect Yuliana, and personally, the best outcome would be to destroy or burn the First Ancestor's genes.

"Understood. This way, please."

I escorted Yuliana with the demeanor of a secretary, learned from escorting executives.

She got into the car as if it was natural for me to escort her, and I sat in the driver's seat and started the engine.

"Would you please fasten your seatbelt? We might have to make a separate trip to the airport later."

"What about the others...?"

"Chairman Paigegreen said that if necessary, he would take the next international flight. He instructed us to prioritize getting you on the private jet."

"Is that so? Hmm...."

This wasn't a lie.

There was no need for a bodyguard to lie to someone they were protecting.

"I will escort you safely to the airport."

"Hey, how strong are you? You seem... a bit stronger than me."

Did she sense the subtle aura of my magic power?

Yuliana smiled and looked at me from the back seat.

"Are you Korean? Or a foreigner?"

"......"

This woman.

Why was she showing interest in me?

Given her interest in powerful psychics, it was clear she was after psychic genes.

"Maybe A-class? Or higher?"

Just like she had targeted the First Ancestor's genes, was she now targeting mine?

'How can such a girl be a sub-heroine?'

She's the kind of heroine that would make unicorn-inclined readers bleed from their eyes.

She was probably a heroine that the incompetent original author tried to build up as a 'chaotic heroine' for the harem but removed due to poor reception.

­Is a product with the plastic wrap off considered new? Shouldn't it be considered used?

­The words 'used' and 'heroine' cannot coexist, sir.

When following the live stream, someone had posted such a comment.

The author, perhaps sensing something 'wrong' from that comment, had demoted Yuliana to a supporting role, but if the author had insisted on washing her image, Yuliana would have become a leading heroine.

'Whether she's a heroine or a dropout, it doesn't matter to me now.'

Right now, she's just a client, and in my eyes, she's just a target for immediate execution if she steps out of line.

For example, just before the kill.

"We're about to depart. Would you please fasten your seatbelt?"

"What, boring. Not popular with women, huh?"

"I'm married."

"Can't you do it secretly without your wife knowing—ah?!"

As soon as the car in front started moving, I pressed the accelerator.

Vroom.

"Hey. Are you going to ignore me? What if I jump out in the middle?"

"Once we leave Yangyang, enemies will be on our tail. I'll say this three times. Please fasten your seatbelt."

"Hmph... I might have to jump out if something happens. What if I get hurt because of the seatbelt?"

"Understood. If you smash your pretty face into the seat and get a nosebleed, we won't be responsible."

"...Tch. Boring."

With the quiet engine sound, I confirmed that Yuliana had fastened her seatbelt and pressed the accelerator a bit harder.

'Already caught.'

Out the window.

I could feel eyes watching us.

* * *

On the rooftop of another hotel in Samcheok City.

"The thief has left the hotel. Those who came out are Desmond and Yuliana, along with many guards. The exact number is... report ends."

A young man in a hat and mask, Stake, put down his binoculars and spoke into the radio.

[Confirmed. We will depart immediately.]

The sound of an engine could be heard from the radio.

It sounded like a car, or maybe a motorcycle.

Or both.

[Stake. Follow them to Gangneung and keep an eye on the situation. If anything goes wrong, immediately inform the boss to cancel the operation and abandon us.]

"Sir? Why say that from the start?"

[Just nervous.]

The voice from the radio was confident but had a slight tremor.

[Our opponent isn't just Paigegreen. There's also Immortal. Especially... it seems 'Crimson Witch' is with them this time.]

"That cat...?"

[Yes. Fortunately, according to your report, the cat is guarding Desmond Paigegreen. They know that our ultimate target isn't Yuliana but the First Ancestor's genes she stole.]

"So, Desmond has it?"

[It's possible.]

"Hmm... Is Yuliana's suitcase a decoy?"

[For now, yes.]

Stake was hesitant to speak.

Expressing his intuition might just fuel the tension, so he swallowed his unease.

[It's fine. If things go wrong, we'll just take everything. Crimson Witch knows we're here, so they must have hidden the First Ancestor's genes in the safest place.]

"Chief Elder. Should we request support from the 'Council' now? Even if it's the Huolbing Party in action, this time it would be better to have the Council's help..."

[We already have their support. The people involved here and 'my unit' are all acquaintances. The road will be clear, and whatever we do to them will be treated as if it never happened.]

"Does that mean..."

[Listen carefully. This operation must end as an independent action of the Huolbing Party. Absolutely, absolutely, there must be no talk of the Council and us working together. Even if problems arise later, everything will be blamed on us, the Huolbing Party. The Council will have no involvement. Understand?]

"...Understood."

[Good. Good luck.]

"I wish you good luck too, Chief Elder. That... "

Stake took a deep breath and asked cautiously.

"After this operation, would you like to go eat beef near Busan?"

[Beef? Sure. If we successfully steal the First Ancestor's genes, I'll treat you.]

"No, I'll treat you. It's a promise. Please come back safely."

[Of course.]

Click.

The radio went silent.

Stake fiddled with the radio and looked up at the sky.

"The weather is..."

It was an unusually dark and gloomy, gray sky for the early morning.

* * *

"Haa."

Yuliana sighed openly.

The man called Moby Dick, sitting in the driver's seat, drove silently, and there seemed to be no major issues as they left Samcheok.

"Am I being tricked?"

Yuliana asked casually, but Moby Dick didn't respond.

Feeling annoyed, Yuliana kicked the passenger seat backrest with her knee, but the man continued to drive.

"Hey. Are you going to keep ignoring me?"

"It's because I can't answer your questions."

"So, you can answer some questions?"

"Yes."

"Are you married?"

"I told you, I'm married."

"Oh, right."

Married.

For a psychic, who could be at most 25 years old, to be married already?

"Who did you marry? Another psychic? Then your child would be a psychic too, right?"

"I'll refrain from commenting on that."

"Hmm. Did you marry a regular person? Why? If you marry a psychic, your child would be a psychic from the start. Oh, maybe you're the type who wants your child to live a normal life?"

"...I apologize, but from now on, the driving will be more aggressive."