Chapter 2

EP.2 Villain Debut

Do rivers have waves?

I don't really know. Probably not, I guess. But the river now looked as if it had waves.

The day was bright and sunny.

It was a good day, with birds chirping and flowers about to bloom.

Yet, the river looked incredibly cruel.

Both boats were cruise ships.

Something terrible was about to happen to the guests who had come to enjoy themselves.

["Yes, right now, there are bombs attached to both boats. If they go off, everyone on those boats will... leave without saying goodbye to their loved ones."]

The voice of the criminal, broadcast on national television.

This was the first villain-orchestrated broadcast hijacking, something no one had ever succeeded in doing before.

["Who am I, the one who did this? Let me introduce myself. My name is Egoistic. You can just call me Ego. Should I introduce my background? I am S-class villain EnzoDiac and A-class villain Rhino. Yes, I killed them. Why? Because it's fun, of course."]

After saying that, he winked.

Though the other eye was hidden by a half-mask.

["Yes, but am I a murderer? No, I'm not! No, I can't be. Of course, everyone should have a chance to live. That's why I hope an A-class hero, Stardus, will arrive here within 10 minutes. Why? If she doesn't come... oh! Sadly, it looks like there will be two more Titanics today."]

"I will depart immediately. Please open the door to the roof."

"Yes, sir!"

After the employee closed the door and hurried out.

Shinahru quickly changed into her suit.

Wearing a red latex suit and connecting in-ear headphones to her ears.

She ran to the window and leaped out.

[Stardus, this is the operation control room. I will give you the coordinates provided by the A-class villain Egoistic. Southwest...]

The time given by the villain was 10 minutes.

And considering the current location of the villain.

She had more than enough time.

***

"Phew... damn."

The camera used for the broadcast was turned off and stuffed into his pocket.

By now, the broadcast must be showing the situation on the two boats.

The cameras installed in advance must be broadcasting the panic on the two boats live.

"Ah, I really feel like smoking."

Stardus will probably fly here soon.

Her heart raced at the thought of seeing her favorite character, but the idea of her looking at him with murderous intent...

Hmm.

It makes her heart race even more?

Anyway, I hope she will be satisfied with what I've set up.

This isn't just a terrorist act. It's a terrorist act mixed with the prisoner's dilemma.

To do this, I've been attaching bombs to the boats...

Bombs, hiring people, coordinating schedules, and hijacking the broadcast...

It hasn't been easy for me, a regular citizen, to become a terrorist.

I would have been in trouble if I didn't have money.

But I managed to get here through my efforts.

Mr. Ahn, are you watching?

I will implement the story you drew in this world.

There will be some manipulation and alteration...

I checked my appearance again.

Black robe, black pants, black cloak, black hair.

And a gray mask inspired by the Phantom of the Opera, covering half of my face.

Perfect.

The building where I was standing, with a view of the river.

As I looked at the sky from the railing, something started to approach.

Someone was flying towards me, cutting through the air.

The person who flew in with long blonde hair fluttering was the protagonist and hero, Stardus.

She landed on the roof with a thud.

Wow! Hero landing!

Seeing her land so impressively, my heart raced as a fan of the original work.

But, why is she coming towards me?

"Oh! I have the detonator in my hand! Stop!"

I waved the detonator in my right hand, and she slowed her steps.

Eventually, she stopped completely, crossed her arms, and glared at me.

"...Egoistic."

"Yes, that's my name. You remembered?"

"Deactivate the bombs right now. Then I'll just beat you up and arrest you."

"Haha, I won't do that."

Her expression twisted at my words.

...Even when twisted, she is still dazzlingly beautiful.

"Come on, don't frown so much. I clearly said on the broadcast that I would let everyone live."

I said this and smiled at the camera filming us. I made sure our appearance was broadcast just before she arrived.

"Ms. Stardus, I have a lot of interest in you. Yes, a lot."

No matter what I said, she just glared at me, lips pursed. Was she going to listen to what I had to say?

Under her silence, I continued.

"A C-class to A-class rising hero. A character who doesn't compromise with any evil, guided by her own sense of justice and belief. I think she is a symbol of the praise of humanity. Personally, I admire her a lot."

My flattery made her face even sterner. Still beautiful, though.

"Shut up if you're just going to talk nonsense. What do you want to say?"

Hey, I was just trying to praise you on the broadcast that's being aired nationwide.

This way, people will recognize me, Shinahru, more...

Anyway, enough of the fan talk.

It's time for the real show.

"Okay, what I want to say is this. If you open the right bottom drawer in the captain's cabin of both boats, you will find detonators."

"Those detonators are set to blow up the other boat, not your own!"

Stardus's expression twisted as I finished speaking.

Yes, she must understand what I want to say.

I continued, smiling.

"The way for everyone to survive is simple."

"Just don't press the detonator."

"The time limit is 30 minutes. As long as no one presses the detonator button on both boats within that time, everyone will survive."

"But if one boat presses the button, the other boat will go boom... oh."

"Well, the people on the boat that presses the button first will have a '100% chance' of survival. So it's not all bad."

Her face still showed confusion.

Yes, people probably think no one will press the button.

I just smiled and said to her.

"Our justice-loving and humanity-praising Ms. Stardus."

"I hope you realize how evil and selfish humans can be this time."

As I said this, I clapped and shouted.

"The time limit, as I said, is 30 minutes. Good luck, everyone!"

As I finished speaking, the camera filming us turned off.

And it started showing the cabins of the two boats alternately.

"Okay, let's watch this together from the VIP seats here."

She glared at me, but I just showed her the two detonators in my hand.

Behave yourself!

I set up a beam projector on the roof wall and displayed the cabin screens.

Stardus watched the screens with a blank face.

"Do you think people will move as you intended?"

She shot me a question.

Ah, she probably thinks everyone will stay calm and not press the button.

"Well, you'll see."

I just smiled.

As the video started playing on the wall.

Her face hardened as she realized the situation inside the boats.

[Press the button!!!! Those guys will kill us all!!!! We have to press it first to survive!!!]

The chaotic scene of the people.

Why, it's the opposite of what I expected?

Of course.

I had planted agitators there.

When someone shouts to press the button, others will think, "Should I press it too?"

I made them shout that not pressing the button means death, to exploit people's fear.

Hahaha.

[Button!! Button!! Button!! Button!! Button!!]

Watching the unexpected situation, I smiled.

A pro villain, you see.

It's about setting up the stage so everything goes as you intended, right?

So, shall we watch the chaos together?

"Stardus, it's... hehe. Quite different from what you thought, isn't it?"

Ah, I shouldn't laugh.

Why is it so fun to tease?

***

"Helicopter! Is the helicopter ready?"

"Yes! It's set up to move immediately when the boats explode!"

"Phew, is there anything else?"

"Other B-class and lower heroes are also deployed near the Han River!"

"They won't be much help... Ah, there's no solution with Stardus being captured there."

Korean Hero Association Control Center.

In the room where many agents were moving busily, the 50-year-old association president was wiping the sweat from his bald head.

I thought we were having a peaceful period, but why is this happening?

Still wiping his sweat, he muttered, looking at the cabin situation on the screen.

"...But, why are they making such a fuss about pressing the button? Can't they all survive if they just don't press it?"

"...I don't really know, sir."

"Damn..."

[Don't press the button!!!!!]

The situation in the cabin was still chaotic.