Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Right now, Lee Sehee and Jung Dahyun wore the exact same expression.

It was the look I'd seen most often back when I was the Blood Lord. The look you give a lunatic.

"Immunity from arrest…"

"Junho, isn't immunity from arrest something National Assembly members have?"

"That's correct."

Immunity from arrest. Just the word itself—how beautiful was it?

"While working as a public service Hunter and apprehending villains, there were far too many inconveniences. Some of that was thanks to this Team Leader helping me, but… ah, never mind that. There were too many restrictions, and I felt I needed a means to protect myself even if I made a mistake."

"Immunity from arrest isn't unprecedented, but it won't be easy. Granting that to a Level 8 transcendent is the same as issuing a legal license to kill."

Lee Sehee shook her head.

"It would've been easier if you'd pursued personal gain. Money, fame, whatever. But immunity from arrest?"

"You think it'll be difficult?"

"The art of negotiation is push and pull. If circumstances work in your favor, it's not impossible. If your value is high enough and the government is desperate enough."

The simplest method occurred to me, but I erased it.

Meanwhile, Lee Sehee, who had been lost in thought, spoke up.

"Maybe it's a good thing you became a public service Hunter. And maybe 'immunity from arrest' is exactly the right phrase—it cuts straight to the core."

"Why?"

"You're not exactly ordinary, are you? Not in how you think, not in how you fight."

"Right."

I had plenty I wanted to argue, but Jung Dahyun beside me agreed so vehemently that I couldn't get a word in.

"Rather, it's because you belong to a government organization that your actions have been kept at the level of 'excessive suppression.' If you'd been in a guild, there would've been friction again and again. You might even have been arrested. The organization called the government, and a capable man like Director Jung Juho, have been protecting you as much as possible."

So it seemed true—Jung Juho's lament that I was making his hair thinner. Actually, his hair had always been thin so I couldn't tell the difference, but it felt like poking at an open wound, so I stayed quiet.

"So if you want to stay within public authority, the current situation isn't bad—but you can't just stay quiet."

"Level 8."

"Yes. Strong authority and being a low-ranking official can't coexist. You have to choose. Either stay quiet and keep power at arm's length, or reveal yourself and boldly demand what you want."

Things were starting to come together.

When our eyes met, Lee Sehee flashed a refreshing smile.

"If it were up to me, I'd have you quit being a public service Hunter and bring you over with the best treatment possible. But if I did that, my head would get smashed, wouldn't it?"

"I don't smash heads just anytime."

"That's what makes it scarier—I can't figure out your criteria."

Lee Sehee pouted her lips and said,

"The Red Snake joining this operation is a transcendent past his prime. Even if the government pretends otherwise, they're on edge about the issue of possessing a Level 8 transcendent. The reason the Red Snake can throw his weight around is because no successor has appeared, and the government's interests align with that. But if a young transcendent in his twenties shows up here? It's obvious which way the government will choose."

"So you're telling me to make the first move."

"Yes. And while you're at it, act like you don't have much attachment to being a public service Hunter."

"Why?"

"That way they'll get anxious. The government will try to figure out what your demands are and negotiate. Immunity from arrest? Depending on how anxious the government is, it might be possible."

Then Lee Sehee said that my emergence would genuinely draw the attention of the entire world.

"Even setting aside the government, there are multiple options. You could join a major guild, or go independent. As a last resort, you could go abroad. As long as you're not fixated on immunity from arrest, there's plenty you can do."

"Thanks for the advice. This is definitely something I couldn't have come up with on my own."

It was advice only Lee Sehee—versed in the interests of the government and guilds, and the political situations of countries around the world—could give.

"I'm glad it was helpful. If I may offer a bit more—when you do the Level measurement, invite the Shinseong Guild as an observing party. Yunhee is part of the guild too, so we'll be your backing."

"And in return, you get the backing of having me as a potential ally."

"Please forgive this much borrowing authority to throw one's weight around."

Lee Sehee said with a grin. I didn't see it negatively either, so I nodded.

After the meeting ended, I went outside. It had been Jung Dahyun's recommendation, but it was an extremely useful time.

Properly leveraging the skills I had to extract the maximum benefit. Like the method of healing after subduing villains last time, Lee Sehee's advice was impressive.

"This is thanks to you, Dahyun. It was a worthwhile meeting."

"I'm glad. That it was helpful. Um, if it's not rude of me, may I ask a favor too?"

"Yes."

"Next time we meet, please feel free to call me casually too."

"…"

"D-Dahyun. Like this."

So the casual speech had been bothering her?

Not understanding what she meant, I looked at Jung Dahyun's face, and what I saw was an expression of surprise at her own words.

"You're only casual with Sehee, so I felt like I was the only one being stiff. There's no other meaning to it. Well then, I'll be going. See you tomorrow."

Jung Dahyun disappeared before I could even try to stop her.

* * *

"After we catch Berserker and the Puppeteer, I'll do the Level measurement."

Jung Juho wasn't surprised by my words.

"…Because of the Red Snake?"

"There's no more need to hide it, and I want to receive proper treatment commensurate with my ability."

"Treatment—I'll try to accommodate as much as I can. What is it you want?"

I considered mentioning immunity from arrest, but judging by Lee Sehee's reaction, Jung Juho would foam at the mouth, so I held my tongue.

"I'll reveal it after the Level measurement."

"You're making me more curious. Well, you really are a strange one. At your age, you'd think you'd be crazy about money or women, but no. I'm already getting a headache wondering what to give you. Well, the ones agonizing won't be me—it'll be the negotiators, so I can just enjoy watching."

Would he really smile when I revealed immunity from arrest?

Hm, honestly I still didn't understand why Lee Sehee and Jung Dahyun were so surprised. It seemed like the perfect authority for me.

Anyway, since Jung Juho's reaction might be serious, I decided not to reveal it.

The reserve force's role in catching Berserker and the Puppeteer was simple.

Maintain an encirclement in rotation in coordination with the existing villain response team. And substitute in when the main force suffered heavy damage or something went wrong.

The two's area of activity was southern Gyeonggi and the Incheon region.

At first they moved between the two areas, but after the encirclement was established, they were slowly driven back and compressed into Incheon, and a week later, we succeeded in herding the two into Namdong District.

More precisely, it would be accurate to say the two of them moved there on their own.

"Berserker and the Puppeteer have appeared."

"Main force encountered the Puppeteer! Combat has begun."

The Puppeteer is a Level 7 villain, but rather than combat power, they're famous for being unkillable.

The main stage of this battle was the confrontation between Kim Younghwan and Berserker. But can he even fight properly with his arm broken? That wasn't the kind of wound that heals easily.

A short while later, news of their clash came up as well.

"Minister Kim Younghwan has encountered Berserker! Combat has begun."

"Everyone hold your positions. We wait for the results, then move. And Choi Junho."

Jung Juho, who had been giving orders, called me aside.

"Yes."

"Since you're a Black Agent, I'll give you the authority to move independently. Judge the situation and act accordingly. Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because it's unexpected."

"I'm giving it because if I hold you back, the sacrifices will only grow. Rampage as much as you like—just bring me those bastards' heads."

"Understood."

For now, I chose to hold my position.

"Aren't you going?"

"Right now I'd only get in the way, so I'll watch the situation and then move."

"…I figured you'd rush in first thinking you'd lose the chance. This is unexpected."

Instead of answering, I just smiled.

Jung Juho knows my goal is Berserker. Since Kim Younghwan has engaged him, he must think Berserker will be defeated.

But the Berserker I know—the outcome of this fight will be different from expectations.

Before long, an anomaly began to unfold.

* * *

Kim Younghwan, finally encountering Berserker, didn't doubt his own victory in the slightest.

The man was, after all, only around Level 7 and a madman to boot. The injury to his hand was irritating, but a minor variable.

'You bastard—once this mission is over, I'll kill you.'

He burned with hostility toward Choi Junho, who had mouthed off to him so brazenly.

He'd already torn him apart and killed him thousands of times in his imagination.

But even those thoughts came to a halt the moment his sword first clashed with Berserker's. A monstrous strength beyond imagination traveled up the blade and into his arm.

That resulted in the wound he'd barely sealed bursting open.

"Krrgh!"

Even setting that aside, Berserker's skill was on another dimension.

The world had misjudged Berserker.

'Re—regroup…'

"The old snake is scheming."

Berserker persistently latched onto the retreating Kim Younghwan. At first they were evenly matched, but after a hundred or so exchanges, Kim Younghwan—his injury drastically worsened—finally lost his grip on his sword.

"How dull. Is this the Red Snake who once ran wild across all of South Korea?"

"Berserker, you bastard—you were hiding your strength…!"

"Everyone keeps an ace or two up their sleeve. The Red Snake overestimated his own skill by a few notches."

Kim Younghwan ground his teeth. Berserker's skill was beyond expectations, but if not for the clash a few days ago, he wouldn't have lost so futilely.

"Choi Junho—if not for that bastard!"

He knew there was already plenty of talk about his decline from old age, so Kim Younghwan had hidden the fact of his injury and used a recovery potion—but the Force of that persistently relentless man had slowed his recovery.

Berserker, listening, lit up his eyes.

"Choi Junho? You mean the Head Breaker."

"Die!"

Kim Younghwan gripped his sword with his relatively intact left hand and charged, but Berserker lightly flicked him aside. Long ago, when he'd become Level 8 and endlessly sought mastery to fully wield that strength, an aged transcendent was no great threat.

Soon after, sword strikes incomparably fiercer than before rained down on Kim Younghwan.

"W-wait!"

Kim Younghwan, now completely overwhelmed, hastily opened his mouth, but Berserker's sword didn't stop.

Shhk!

A hole was punched through his side, but that was a medal of victory. In exchange, Kim Younghwan's throat was cut.

Watching the headless corpse collapse, Berserker muttered calmly.

"Dull—unbefitting of your reputation."

For him, old and decrepit, there was no such thing as shining talent. He'd thought a Level 8 transcendent might offer a bit more inspiration, but it only whetted his appetite.

To witness a star's moment was truly a difficult thing.

With Kim Younghwan dead, the encirclement rapidly unraveled.

A short while later, the Puppeteer appeared where Berserker was.

"Impressive. Even if he was old, to think you'd kill the Red Snake."

"It was nothing. He was overrated."

"Kikiki, you're the only one who'd say that. Are you going to hunt the Head Breaker now too?"

Berserker shook his head.

"To savor the delicacy, I need to prepare as well. I plan to heal my wounds and then go find him."

The Head Breaker, known to be Level 7.

Berserker's mind was instead filled with curiosity about him.

How could a Level 7 have wounded Kim Younghwan?

Because of that, the duel had been dull, but his anticipation for the Head Breaker was soaring endlessly.

"Then I'll go take care of some business."

"Is that corpse useless?"

"His prime passed long ago—even if I enhanced him, he'd break quickly. Young, fresh ones or well-trained bodies are better. Like yours."

At the Puppeteer's glinting gaze, Berserker answered calmly.

"If you want to die, come at me."

"Kikiki, I can't do that. I don't want to die yet. My join date is coming up soon, so until then I need to collect as many puppets as I can. You go finish your business and come back."

"Where will you go?"

"I'm heading to southern Gyeonggi. The big guilds' fools are still hunting out there. I'll make them pay the price for being blinded by money. Kikiki!"

The Puppeteer, licking their lips as they looked over the list of hunting teams their puppets had collected, left the spot.

Berserker, watching them go, stanched his wounds and departed as well.

* * *

By the time I arrived, Kim Younghwan was dead.

"Didn't even get to run—just died. And I was going to finish him with my own hands."

I'd never had any intention of saving Kim Younghwan. By the time I arrived, his head was already gone. It would've been less painful than dying by my hand. For Kim Younghwan, it was a blessed death.

After a glance at the corpse, I started tracking Berserker—then stopped.

The location tracker I'd given Yunhee was sending a signal.

"…"

I focused on the Force embedded in the location tracker Yunhee carried.

Pinpointing an exact location with an ordinary location tracker is difficult, but the one I'd given her was special.

A sharp pain pricked at the corners of my eyes, and with a sensation of my whole body churning, Force covered my eyes. A gift that let me chase the Force I'd embedded and keep it within my sight.

Clairvoyance.

I can see Yunhee, carrying the location tracker.

And the swarming puppets. Yunhee was in danger.

I set off straight for where Yunhee was.