That’s How They Became Villains

#56. Serial Disappearance Case

The news that Cheon Yusil had been kidnapped was not made public for three days.

They were manipulating public opinion within the Cheongang Group to prevent social chaos.

This could be considered a fairly correct decision. After all, Cheon Yusil is the head of a local government.

If such a person suddenly disappeared, what would happen?

-Just as it sounds

-> Maybe she got kidnapped?

-> What? Now just anyone gets kidnapped? lol

-> Even if you clean diligently, there’s much more shit being produced than cleaned up, so he probably hit a wall lol

-> Oh really? For real?

-> What’s Cheon Taewoo doing after handing over his position?

-> What? Idk

However, you can cover your eyes with your hands, but you cannot cover the sky.

Net runners, who are already more interested in others’ lives than their own, had started collecting information about Cheon Yusil.

It was only a matter of time before the fact that Cheon Yusil had been kidnapped would spread throughout the city.

“This is the data that Agio analyzed for us. Everyone, applause!”

-Clap clap clap!

The sound of applause echoed through the round table conference hall of Evil-Base.

“Uh… ueh…!!”

Agio blushed with embarrassment and hurriedly returned to her seat.

Current time: 12:15.

In reality, this would have been time to enjoy a leisurely after-lunch break.

During this golden hour, we were gathered in the conference hall discussing how to proceed with our terrorism.

I looked around the conference hall. There were about twenty people in the hall.

If I were to count them one by one, first me, then Nazha, Seok-ho, Seolhwa and Agio.

And on the opposite side, Eltrinde and Laman, Goliath and Grumsch…

“…”

“…”

And there were two unfamiliar faces.

“By the way, Eltrinde. I tried not to pay attention, but who are those two new faces on your side?”

“Ah, these ones?”

Eltrinde stroked a young boy in a wheelchair and chuckled.

“I’ve recently started raising them. They will certainly be helpful, so you can’t just ignore them, can you?”

“What help do they provide?”

“You’ll see in time.”

I let out a ‘hmm…’ sound and looked at the unidentified newcomers.

When our eyes met, the young boy quickly averted his gaze. The woman pushing the wheelchair showed no reaction, as if she had thick skin.

‘…No, anyone can see they’re Mary and Alfred.’

Why are they over there?

And even hiding their faces with high-grade visual trackers.

I had never seen trackers that don’t ping like that, except the ones Nazha made for me but this body is a first-generation enhanced human.

They might be able to deceive Eltrinde’s eyes, but not mine.

My eyes have already become accustomed to Nazha’s visual trackers. Other trackers, no matter how good their performance, still look awkward to me.

It’s similar to how a 30fps monitor screen that looked fine before appears like trash after experiencing a 60fps monitor.

“Well…as long as they don’t get in the way.”

I nodded willingly, thinking it was actually better this way.

Yes, it’s more comfortable to keep them close and watch them. No need to worry.

“Hmm…you give permission quite easily.”

“Do you have a problem with that?”

“No, none. I’m just surprised that you have more humanity than is widely known.”

“Hmph, enough of that, let’s get started. Who are we kidnapping after Cheon Yusil? That’s what we gathered to discuss, right?”

To my question, Eltrinde chuckled.

“Don’t rush. We’ve already identified all the personal information.”

“Already?”

“Yes, take a look at this.”

With a beep sound, a beam shader displaying personal information appeared.

“Name, Anthony Nathan Rothschild. The eldest son of the Rothschild family, one of the Seven Families, and the major shareholder of the military company Nemesis.”

Oh, so this guy appears here?

I nodded with interest while pretending to examine the information.

Anyway, Nazha and Agio will explain the complicated stuff later.

“Where did you get this information?”

“Ah…about that.”

Eltrinde chuckled and gently stroked Mary in his hand.

“Our newcomer put in a lot of effort. What do you think, quite useful, isn’t she?”

“…”

You don’t… intend to hide it?

“…Then, let’s proceed with this agenda.”

I saved the personal file Eltrinde transmitted to my internal device.

Ugh, damn it.

That eerie feeling that I never get used to came over me.

“Damn it! Mary, that bitch!”

A green-haired man dressed in a brilliant golden suit shouted.

His name was Anthony and he was the eldest son of the Rothschild family and Mary’s half-brother.

“In the past, she gave up being human, and now she’s even given up her royal position? How far are you planning to disgrace the family name before you’re satisfied!”

Anthony, seemingly very angry about Mary’s actions, was currently in a limousine heading to Nemesis headquarters.

In an hour, there would be a demonstration of a newly developed suit by Nemesis.

“Young master, we’ll soon be at the rendezvous point.”

“Tsk, I know without you telling me.”

Anthony replied irritably, his anger still not subsiding.

The limousine, which had been moving at a constant speed, came to a stop. With a ‘thunk,’ the door opened, and guards in black suits surrounded Anthony.

Royals make every effort to ensure that no threats arise to their safety.

Even when heading to a single location, they switch cars multiple times to confuse their route.

Though it was routine, it was really bothersome.

Anthony sighed deeply and walked to where the next limousine was parked.

The next limousine was parked in a very crooked place.

All the lights around were turned off, so the only sources of light were the car’s headlights and neon signs.

“Ugh…just my luck. Who parked the car in such a place?”

“It’s for your safety, young master.”

“That damn safety, safety…People living in places like this couldn’t even touch someone like me anyway.”

Anthony grumbled as he got into the limousine and the black-suited guards got into the limousine one after another.

“What? Why are you getting in?”

As Anthony expressed his confusion, the limousine door closed behind him with a thud.

“We will depart.”

With a cold voice, the limousine began to move.

“Hey, you all! Don’t you answer? I’m asking you!”

“…”

An unusually deep silence filled the car and Anthony sensed something was wrong.

‘Did I take too many drugs yesterday and now I’m seeing things?’

To hide his anxiety, Anthony took out a Zippo lighter and a cigarette from his pocket.

A crisp ting sound echoed as the lid opened.

Soon after, the musty smell of tobacco spread inside the limousine.

“Cough cough!”

One of the guards coughed as soon as he inhaled the cigarette smoke.

At this, a burly guard beside him snatched the cigarette from Anthony’s hand.

“…What is this behavior?”

“You should think about your health, young master. Aren’t you the eldest son?”

“What…? Who do you think you’re talking to like that…!!”

“Hehe.”

When Anthony got upset, laughter was heard inside the car.

“Who is it? Who just laughed?”

Anthony jumped up from his seat and looked around.

But as if the source of laughter wasn’t just one person, it started to increase gradually, with sounds of ‘kekeke’ and ‘hahaha.’

“Kyahahahahaha!!!”

Eventually, all the guards began to laugh, each holding their stomachs.

By this point, Anthony would have realized that this wasn’t a hallucination due to drug use.

“What…what is this…”

Towards the terrified Anthony, two villains sitting in the driver’s seat turned their heads.

“It’s been a while, Anthony.”

“Do people often tell you that you’re oblivious?”

It was Eltrinde and First.

-You said you formed an alliance with the Red Witch. You said there would be bigger and more fun entertainment waiting. So why is there no news?

-> Are you crazy? Waiting for terrorists?

-> I still can’t forget the dopamine from the airship terror

-> Don’t you watch the news? Cheongang is in a state of emergency because of that woman

-> Why should I care? I don’t live in Cheongang

Jin Hyun gritted his teeth as he peeked over Yu-jin’s shoulder at the community she was browsing.

Martial law had been declared in Cheongang due to the expose broadcast by Jin Hyun and Chae Yu-ha.

There were concerns that safety nanomachines would no longer function properly.

This meant that all enhanced humans living in Cheongang were now considered high-risk surveillance targets.

Because of this, in Cheongang currently, enhanced humans were prohibited from going outside their buildings except during specific time periods.

Despite all the effort, in the public eye, enhanced humans without safety nanomachines still seemed to be viewed only as walking killing machines.

Thanks to this, the detective agency was closed for a while.

Jin Hyun, Yu-jin, and Cheol-ho were stuck in the agency all day, just looking at their phones.

“Ah, I’m bored. Is there nothing to do?”

Yu-jin said languidly as she tossed her phone onto the sofa.

At that, Cheol-ho opened his eyes wide and got up from his chair.

“It’s 4 o’clock. Let’s go outside for a bit.”

“What for? We can’t go far in just one hour anyway. Just stay here.”

“If we keep staying like this, I feel like I’ll go crazy. If you don’t want to, I’ll go by myself.”

Cheol-ho went outside the agency.

Left alone with Yu-jin, Jin Hyun couldn’t hide his awkwardness.

In fact, the cause of martial law being declared in Cheongang was Jin Hyun.

If he had been someone who knew how to speak more carefully, things wouldn’t have gotten this complicated.

“Why are you brooding, senior?”

Noticing his mood, Yu-jin asked while pressing his cheek with her foot.

“You’re not arrogantly thinking that this whole situation is your fault, are you?”

-Flinch.

Jin Hyun was visibly startled.

Jin Hyun has a foolishly honest nature. There was no way he could hide his emotions.

“Sigh, this senior. Your martyr syndrome is acting up again.”

Yu-jin poked Jin Hyun’s nose with her foot.

“How is this your fault? After all your hard work, it’s those people who still can’t let go of their prejudices who are strange.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“If you have time to say sorry, try calling Yu-ha unnie. Tell her to come over. For some reason, she doesn’t answer my calls.”

Just then, Cheol-ho, who had gone outside, rushed back into the agency.

“Sis! Turn on the news quickly!”

“Huh, why?”

Yu-jin was confused by the sudden request.

From outside the window, along with sounds like fireworks going off, a familiar voice was heard.

“Hello everyone!”

-Ding!

An alert came to Jin Hyun’s phone.

“I am First from the villain alliance, Maker!”

A news screen appeared on the TV.

You haven’t forgotten our promise, have you?

And an anonymous text message on his phone.

“…The expected has arrived.”

Jin Hyun’s hands trembled.