Chapter 9 - A Familiar Face

* * *

“The Poison King...?”

Hyeonyul, the one who had actually received the recruitment offer, was perfectly calm. If anything, his reaction suggested he had no idea who that was.

“You don't know who the Poison King is...?”

Haeryeon was taken aback.

“Working there doesn't mean I would know. I was only an employee.”

His job had been to kill villains. When the president told him to kill someone, he checked whether they were an ordinary civilian, then simply killed them. The dead had nothing to say, and perhaps the thought that some of them might have experimented on him had made him even less interested.

‘Will she think I'm incompetent because I don't know the Poison King?’

Hyeonyul looked at Haeryeon. Ignorance was as much a sin as incompetence.

“Oh, that makes sense, then. It could be embarrassing to announce, ‘I'm the Poison King,’ couldn't it?”

Haeryeon brushed it off and burst out laughing. Now that she thought about it, it was pretty funny.

“If you tell me, I'll make certain I know it next time.”

Hyeonyul bowed his head, presenting his face so it would be easy to hit. Haeryeon froze in mid-laugh.

“... Were you beaten for not knowing things?”

“Yes.”

“You were?”

“I can put up with that much to avoid being fired.”

“The same Hyeonyul who brought in Shin Daeho's head?”

“That was because Shin Daeho crossed a line I couldn't tolerate.”

Haeryeon swept her hair back. How was she supposed to respond to this?

“I'd like you never to do that again. If you don't know, ask. If you don't understand, ask. No one on our team is so unreasonable that they'd hit you instead of explaining something that simple.”

“... Understood.”

Hyeonyul raised his head as he answered. Strangely, he felt as though his judgment was growing clouded.

“The Poison King is the nickname of a major villain who's killed countless people with poison.”

“Did he enjoy killing people by coating business cards with poison?”

Was that how she had recognized him? Hyeonyul asked.

“That's right. He became famous for killing corporate owners and their families, one after another, that way. We don't know his real name. You might even have seen him before.”

“Then where did Shin Daeho stand?”

The Poison King's subordinate had definitely called Shin Daeho trash. But Shin Daeho had been a corporate chairman. He had even been on the wanted list.

“Shin Daeho was a major player too.”

“He was that important? That bastard?”

“I can see why you wouldn't think so, since he didn't have any special abilities. But he was well connected, wasn't he?”

“Yes. I saw all sorts of villains. A great many of them.”

“We considered him a major player because he was in contact with so many major villains. That's why he didn't have a nickname. He was just Shin Daeho.”

They couldn't exactly call Shin Daeho the King of Connections just because he was well connected. That would have been more of a compliment.

“Even with a bounty on his head, he kept slipping away, probably thanks to those connections. He'd change his company's brand name in a flash, too.”

Listening to Haeryeon, Hyeonyul came to understand the situation. Shin Daeho had escaped countless times, shedding his tail like a lizard, and Hyeonyul had brought them his head.

‘So I'd actually accomplished something pretty big?’

Only now did Hyeonyul understand why he had qualified for special recruitment despite having worked at a villain-run company.

“Oh, we've been talking for a while, but we're also investigating the company Shin Daeho ran. I should tell you about that too, considering you're the one who brought us this valuable information.”

Haeryeon grinned. With Hyeonyul's arrival, everything was flowing smoothly, as though a blocked dam had opened up, and it put her in a good mood.

“Team Leader.”

“Yes?”

“I have a proposal.”

“... You're not suggesting what I think you are?”

Haeryeon's eyes narrowed. She had assumed he would naturally reject the Poison King's recruitment offer. But given the direction of this conversation, what he was about to say was obvious.

“I am.”

“Hyeonyul. This is the Black Eagles. We don't assign that sort of work in the first place. If a separate investigation is needed, the managers will handle it, not you. I want you to understand there's a reason the two organizations are kept clearly separate.”

His words had told Haeryeon that he had been treated not as a person, but as a means to an end. All the more reason she couldn't allow him to be used as a tool.

“Then do you intend to let the Poison King get away?”

“I don't know what you've misunderstood, Hyeonyul, but I'm saying I don't see you as a tool. I'm not saying I'll give up on the Poison King.”

Haeryeon made that clear.

But Hyeonyul didn't believe her. He had heard those same words countless times at his previous company. He simply couldn't understand. She had agreed to uncover what was happening inside the Black Eagles, so why did she see the Poison King matter differently?

‘Either way, she's using me just the same, isn't she?’

He had made the proposal knowing the Black Eagles could never give up on the Poison King. But with Haeryeon looking so resolute, what could he do?

‘I should back off this once.’

No one wanted to play the bad guy. Villains were simply the ones who did it without hesitation. How much more reluctant must Haeryeon be? She was a team leader in the Black Eagles.

“I fully understand your position, Team Leader.”

“Hyeonyul, this isn't about understanding my position. It's dangerous.”

“I know. But if I approach the Poison King, it will be easier to determine whether the villains have reached inside the Black Eagles. And if we capture him, wouldn't we save countless lives?”

‘Seriously, how hard did his previous company work him to make him this committed to eliminating villains?’

Haeryeon couldn't help hesitating. It had only been two days since Hyeonyul joined. He was still on probation.

“There's enough internal opposition that they even held another vote. Under these circumstances, they won't look kindly on you contacting the Poison King.”

“I know they might consider me a spy. If they find out, that is.”

Hyeonyul's smile widened.

Hah. Haeryeon let out an incredulous laugh. He meant it would be fine as long as he wasn't caught.

“So I should keep my mouth shut?”

“I think we'll start seeing moves to force me out from within soon anyway. I'm in something of a hurry myself. I don't want to be fired from this place.”

‘All he's missing is a tail. What a sly one.’

Haeryeon suppressed a laugh. Was this what they called boldness?

BZZZZZ

The smartwatches on Haeryeon's and Hyeonyul's wrists sounded an alert at the same time. Haeryeon let out a long breath. She had meant to tell him they had extracted the secondary location from the man they captured last time.

“What's happening?”

Haeryeon answered the call.

<‘Poison gas’ is leaking from somewhere in the city's ‘corporate district.’ It's too potent for us to approach. It has reached the surrounding shops as well. Please neutralize it as quickly as possible.>

“Poison has spread...?”

At those words, Hyeonyul looked strangely pleased.

‘Is this good timing or bad timing?’

Haeryeon couldn't tell. Who had poison resistance?

‘Nayun might be our best option?’

Nayun was a sniper, a role made possible by her rare eyes. Since she could provide support from a distance, she could remain relatively safe from the poison.

“Send me a sample of the poison. I'll make an antidote right away.”

<We've already sent it. It'll arrive in five minutes.>

“Understood.”

Haeryeon furrowed her brow. Now it was her turn. She was an alchemist, after all.

“Given the circumstances, it seems the Poison King sent it.”

“It does. What perfect timing.”

Haeryeon shrugged, and Hyeonyul continued.

“Poison doesn't affect me.”

“Wait, Hyeonyul. Rushing isn't good either.”

Haeryeon operated her smartwatch. She needed to check with the other teams.

“Hi, it's me. Do you have anyone with poison resistance available... Oh, they're out on another mission? Yes, yes. Understood.”

Haeryeon pressed her lips together, then contacted another team. But no matter how many calls she made, the answer was the same.

‘Damn it. Why are we so short-staffed?’

She let out a long breath.

“Hyeonyul.”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

“Until a decision comes down, you're not to confront the Poison King. No dangerous behavior, either. Don't forget you're still on probation.”

When Hyeonyul looked as though he had no idea what she meant, Haeryeon kindly explained.

“The mission matters, but I mean you should take care of yourself. Do you understand?”

“...”

A subtle change came over Hyeonyul's expression. He seemed unsure how to answer. Realizing their conversation was somehow missing the mark, Haeryeon offered the most effective reassurance.

“You won't be fired over this. Ever.”

“Understood. I'll act accordingly.”

Had he really understood? Hyeonyul answered with a broad smile, but something about it unsettled Haeryeon. It was far too radiant to suit him.

* * *

Haeryeon had said he wouldn't be fired as long as he didn't do anything dangerous. Hyeonyul was quite pleased to have a clear condition.

‘That's what I'm best at.’

He simply worked efficiently; he didn't do anything dangerous. That was essential if he wanted a long life.

‘Now I just need to adjust to this place...’

Honestly, the atmosphere here was different from his previous companies, making it rather hard to adjust. Even accounting for the fact that it had only been two days, the mountain he had to climb was fairly high.

Sometimes they deliberately took the difficult route when efficiency would have sufficed, and he didn't understand why they stuck together so closely when they were strangers to one another anyway. The unfamiliar policy of a probationary period was curious too.

‘... No. I must have known about it once.’

He knew what he had done in the past, but after suffering as a test subject, the countless drugs had wiped out most of his memories. He also knew his way of thinking had become strangely twisted.

He was still undergoing rehabilitation at the hospital, and some of his symptoms were being suppressed with medication. Yesterday, he had even bought a book to try to bridge the disconnect. It was titled 「101 Ways to Make Workplace Life Run Smoothly.」

Hyeonyul checked the time. 12:32 p.m. They had been delayed while Nayun gathered various supplies before departure.

“... Are you listening?”

Only when Nayun's words bored into his ears did Hyeonyul snap out of his thoughts and nod.

“I'm a good shot up close, but I'm good at long range too.”

Nayun was effortlessly carrying a bag bigger than she was. Packed with ammunition and weapons, it looked heavier than Hyeonyul's bag. But she said it was fine because it had a weight-reduction spell on it.

“If it weren't for the poison, this would be my chance to show you what I can do. What a shame!”

“Then please show me next time.”

“Will you really go on a mission with me next time? Sometimes I go with other teams too, but people tend to avoid going with me. I don't know why.”

Hyeonyul immediately knew why. Nayun talked far too much. After traveling by eagle, he had walked along listening to her constant chatter. How did she have so much to say? He had never seen her mouth take a break.

As they passed a convenience store, Hyeonyul stopped.

“Put it on.”

“What? We're not in the affected area yet.”

Nayun checked her smartwatch. They weren't within the area where the poison had spread.

“It's spread.”

At that, Nayun immediately put on her gas mask, and Hyeonyul put his on too. Sinu had suggested that even though poison didn't affect him, it might be better to keep up appearances. It was a good idea.

“Then I'll head up to the roof of that building from here.”

Reaching the poison-affected area meant the mission was now underway. Nayun pointed to a tall building nearby.

“There probably won't be anyone alive, but if you find someone, contact me. I'll join you right away.”

“Understood.”

Hyeonyul answered and walked farther into the city.

“... Hah.”

He let out a long breath. He even felt liberated. He hadn't done anything yet, but he was already tired.

Hyeonyul forced his eyes to focus as his vision threatened to blur, then looked around. Normally, he would have expected a colorless, odorless poison, but this one was thick as fog.

He surveyed the area using the map on his smartwatch. It floated above the watch like a projected image, making it easy to read.

He lost count of the corpses with blackened faces he passed. A child in a stroller and a parent cradling their child were all dead, their bodies stained black. It was because of the poison spread throughout the area.

Hyeonyul walked on calmly, listening to his surroundings. How far had he gone? There was something there. A barrier, perhaps.

Before touching it, he cautiously sent his eyes over that way. There were people inside. He didn't know what they were doing in a place filled with poison. The mission summary had been mostly question marks, so he hadn't bothered reading it.

Among the many people, one looked particularly familiar.

‘... Where did I see him?’

Hyeonyul thought for a moment.

[“Ah, good work. You can go now. I need to talk to our guest.”]

Along with Shin Daeho's voice, he remembered the man who had looked at him.

‘Oh.’

Hyeonyul suppressed a smile.

‘Now I remember.’