NOVEL WEB Chapter 13: Killing Two Birds with One Stone
< Chapter 13: Killing Two Birds with One Stone (2) >
Yu Hwa was taken aback by my sudden proposal and fell into deep thought.
Her mind must be complicated.
To be honest, mine was too.
The future must have changed greatly due to this unexpected encounter with Yu Hwa.
It could be a self-destructive act that destroys my advantage of knowing the story of the novel.
But I’m sure.
This is the best way.
It’s arrogant to think that I can control everything in the future perfectly.
It’s impossible even if I know the future.
Just like a butterfly’s small wing flap can turn into a typhoon on the other side of the earth.
No matter what I prepare the future will surely change in ways I can’t predict.
The doppelganger attack this time is a good example.
The story was completely twisted just by the fact that my ability changed.
This novel has already started to deviate from the original.
And the change will accelerate even more.
That’s why I decided.
Rather than hesitating and fearing the change of the future, I chose to use the best means available in the present.
“…How can I trust your words?”
My encounter with Yu Hwa this time is the best choice for a better future.
That’s what I believe.
“I have no way to prove it. My words could be false, or I could be a doppelganger myself.”
“······.”
Yu Hwa’s eyes narrowed even more.
“So, I have nothing to say but the cliché of asking you to trust me.”
The Behon Guild massacre incident was not reported in the media.
However, it spread among the guilds to some extent by word of mouth.
If Behon Guild fails to handle this incident, their position will be weakened.
“…Is there really a doppelganger in this casino?”
Yu Hwa had no choice but to believe my words as if grasping at straws.
“Yes. There is.”
I happened to find him on my way to the VIP room.
He looked like a kind middle-aged man, but he had the distinctive habits of a doppelganger.
Of course, only I who read the novel could notice those trivial habits.
“…Even if your words are true, how are we going to arrest him? Doppelgangers don’t get caught by any detection or biometric tests.”
Yu Hwa bit her lips in frustration.
“We just need to make him admit that he is a doppelganger with his own mouth.”
“That’s easier said than done.”
“There is a way.”
A way that only I who know the story of the novel can do.
“There’s no way that would work….”
“Five minutes.”
I spread out five fingers.
“I’ll get his confession within five minutes. After that, I’ll leave it to you to deal with the doppelganger.”
“….”
“Are you still doubtful?”
Yu Hwa’s emotionless gaze pierced me.
“So, if you can’t get his confession in five minutes, you’ll act as if this proposal never happened. Is that what you’re saying?”
“That’s right.”
“And you’ll even give me the glory of taking care of him?”
“Yes.”
Yu Hwa’s brow furrowed.
She seemed annoyed by not being able to read my mind.
“We don’t have much time. If we delay any longer, he might leave the casino.”
In the end, Yu Hwa had no choice but to accept my proposal.
As long as everything is set in favor of Behon Guild,
There’s no reason for Yu Hwa to refuse my proposal.
“…The price is really just one ancient artifact that our guild is keeping. Is that enough for you?”
“Yes. That’s enough.”
Silence flowed along with eye contact.
For about five seconds.
“…Fine. I’ll accept your proposal. Nothing to lose. There’s no reason to refuse.”
Yu Hwa answered as if sighing.
“A brilliant choice.”
I thought I had to persuade her a little more, but it was faster than I expected.
She seemed more impatient than I thought.
“Then let’s move on to action right away.”
“How are you going to do it?”
“I’ll leave this room right now, bring him back here, and make him spit out the evidence that he is a doppelganger with his own mouth.”
“…You’ve been talking so easily since earlier.”
“It’s not a difficult thing to do.”
Yu Hwa tilted her head with a suspicious expression.
“Anyway, all you have to do is hide in this room and turn on the recording function of that pen. It’s your specialty, right? Stealth.”
Yu Hwa’s eyes widened slightly.
“I can understand stealth, but… How did you know about the pen?”
“It’s basic.”
I shrugged my shoulders and smirked, then got up from my seat.
“Oh, and please erase our conversation.”
“I was going to erase it anyway if things went well.”
Yu Hwa’s expression changed a little blankly. She seemed too bewildered to maintain her poker face.
“Then, I’ll be back.”
“Yes.”
I left the VIP room.
And I approached a man in the casino.
“Excuse me. Can I have a word with you?”
“Who are you?”
The kind-looking middle-aged man, the doppelganger, looked at me and tilted his head.
I brought my mouth close to his ear and whispered.
“El Perze Enen Dorma.”
“······!”
I recited the secret code of the organization he belonged to.
“The boss is waiting for you.”
The man’s eyes popped out.
Let’s catch a big fish.
* * *
Yu Hwa, who was left alone in the VIP room, was thinking about Kang Seo Yul.
The mysterious man she learned about while investigating Shin Ji Ah.
His past was nothing but ordinary except for the fact that he was an orphan.
‘Is that a normal 20-year-old man?’
Yu Hwa snorted.
His deep eyes seemed to see through her.
His confident and charismatic speech.
His subtle aura of ease.
He was far from ordinary, he was extraordinary.
‘I need to do some more research on him.’
The door of the VIP room opened then.
‘So soon!’
Yu Hwa hid her presence even more.
“Where’s the boss?”
The middle-aged man who came in with Kang Seo Yul scanned the room and asked.
“He’s watching us nearby.”
Yu Hwa’s eyes sharpened.
‘Boss?’
He clearly said that.
That meant that the doppelganger belonged to a group.
“…Hmph. How boss-like.”
It was a sneer that didn’t match his kind appearance.
“So why did you call me?”
Kang Seo Yul looked at the man with a cold expressionless face.
“Doppelganger. It’s a new mission.”
“A new mission? What about the military academy?”
“That’s on hold for now.”
Yu Hwa’s expression turned to horror. The doppelganger was trying to infiltrate the military academy.
“Hmm. Well, fine. I guess you have a plan.”
The man scratched his neck.
“Have you already decided who I’m going to change my appearance to?”
“Hmm.”
With that, silence flowed.
Kang Seo Yul didn’t say anything more, and the man didn’t ask anything more either.
That’s when it happened.
“Excuse me. Isn’t this enough evidence?”
Kang Seo Yul casually said.
“…What are you talking about?”
“Ah.”
Yu Hwa came to her senses.
She was so focused on the conversation that she forgot her purpose.
“I’m sorry. I was spacing out.”
Yu Hwa released her stealth and walked out.
“…Yu Hwa? Why are you here?”
The man’s pupils trembled.
“Why? Because I fooled you, that’s why.”
Kang Seo Yul shrugged his shoulders and stepped back a few steps.
“As promised, I’ll leave the rest to you.”
“…Thank you.”
Yu Hwa’s face twisted like a demon as she glared at the doppelganger.
“You bastard. You’re screwed.”
With a harsh curse, Yu Hwa’s figure disappeared.
* * *
The doppelganger was easily subdued by Yu Hwa.
He had no combat ability compared to Yu Hwa, so there was no way he could block her attacks.
“Is he still alive?”
I asked, looking at the doppelganger who was captured like a rag.
“Of course.”
Yu Hwa looked at me with a subtle expression.
“Can I ask you one thing?”
“Go ahead.”
“How did you trick him?”
Since we talked about the boss earlier, it would be hard to hide it.
I can’t help it.
“I lured him with the name of the organization he belongs to.”
“The organization he belongs to?”
“Yes. You must know it too, right? The ‘Saviors of Truth’.”
Yu Hwa’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Are you saying that the doppelganger is affiliated with the Saviors of Truth?”
“Yes.”
“How did you….”
She must be wondering how I knew such top-secret information.
“I have a bit of an exceptional information network.”
I smiled leisurely.
“Well, no matter how exceptional you are, that’s too….”
“Anyway, I kept my promise. Then you too. You know, right?”
“Oh, yes. Of course. I’ll prepare to transfer it right away.”
Good.
One ancient artifact was acquired.
“That was a clean job. Please hurry up as much as you can. Oh, and one more thing.”
I glanced down at the doppelganger.
“As I said before, please keep it a secret that I helped you with this case.”
“…Are you sure that’s okay?”
I nodded silently.
“Then I’ll leave the rest to you.”
And then I turned around and waved my hand.
“Hey, wait!”
“See you again.”
Ignoring Yu Hwa’s voice, I left the VIP room.
“Hurry up! Before the other broadcasters come!”
“Yes!”
People who looked like broadcasters passed by me at the entrance of the casino.
* * *
Wednesday, 02:30 a.m.
―Breaking news. Today at 11:23 p.m. We have received news that the villain ‘Doppelganger’, who was shrouded in mystery, has been arrested.
Yu Hwa, who returned to the guild, was watching the news with a drained expression.
“Guild master. You did a great job.”
“Yes. I did. The reporters are always the same.”
Yu Hwa replied weakly to Kim Shin Woo, her secretary.
“…I’d rather fight consecutive disaster-level monsters than this.”
“Haha.”
Kim Shin Woo gave a bitter laugh.
“But thanks to this incident, the brand reputation of Behon Guild has risen greatly. It’s all thanks to your foresight, guild master. How did you find the doppelganger there?”
“My foresight?”
Yu Hwa let out a hollow laugh.
She just happened to stop by the casino.
“Why do you say that?”
“Never mind.”
Today’s incident was a secret between Kang Seo Yul and Yu Hwa.
“I have a favor to ask you.”
“Yes. Please tell me.”
“The cadet Kang Seo Yul who appeared in the report on Shin Ji Ah that you gave me last time. Do you remember him?”
“Yes.”
“Can you investigate his past a little more in detail?”
Kim Shin Woo tilted his head.
“Wasn’t it confirmed that he had no problem by the testimony of Instructor Pi Jin Ho?”
“I just have a hunch about him.”
“Ah! I see! I understand.”
“Thank you. Then you can go home and rest for today. You can come to work in the afternoon.”
“Yes. I understand. Please rest well, guild master.”
The secretary left the guild master’s office with those words.
“…I want to rest, but I still have work to do.”
Yu Hwa sighed deeply and got up from her seat.
Then she headed to the warehouse, which was the core of the guild.
She was going to take out the ancient artifact that she promised to give to Kang Seo Yul.
‘By the way, what is he going to do with an antique-like ancient artifact?’
He was a man full of mysteries from beginning to end.
* * *
Wednesday, 6:30 a.m.
Knock knock knock-
I woke up from my sleep by the sound of someone knocking on the door.
I was so tired, who was it?
Knock knock-
I rubbed my sleepy eyes and walked like a zombie toward the door.
“Who is it?”
I opened the door while yawning.
“You’re very peaceful, aren’t you? I’ve been harassed by reporters, preparing this all night, and I couldn’t get a wink of sleep.”
Yu Hwa was smiling fiercely. She looked exhausted.
“What are you doing here at this hour?”
“Didn’t you ask me to prepare it as soon as possible?”
Yu Hwa handed me a metal suitcase.
“…Don’t tell me this.”
Already?
“Yes. My motto is to do things swiftly and sharply.”
Yu Hwa crossed her arms and smirked.
“The ancient artifact you requested. The Gauntlet of the Fierce Tiger.”