In This World, Police Face the Mastermind(7)

Vrooom-

On a day when winter’s chill has subsided somewhat and awkward rain pours down. People looked out the window with cloudy eyes at the sudden sound.

This city is the only one that maintained a small semblance of daily life amidst the chaos that engulfed all of South Korea after the collapse of Mugan, the prison that detained supervillains, following Sai’s appearance.

When I say daily life, I just mean there’s almost no chance of dying by unfortunately getting caught in supervillain conflicts while walking around during the day.

There was no need to close shops out of fear of being killed in an encounter with supervillains.

No one is unaware that just beyond the provincial borders, terrible things happen that make the above examples seem like nothing.

If the entity that has taken over their city leaves, they too would experience such things.

Out of that fear, people closed their eyes to the unreasonableness and violence perpetrated by the criminal who seized the city, and lived in compromise.

To be honest, the acts committed by the criminal called Justice who seized this city weren’t the absolute worst.

That man claimed himself to be a real hero. Perhaps because of that, as long as people praised him and handed over a small amount of money under the pretext of protection fees, he didn’t particularly harm people.

Of course, the moment one crosses his unpredictable standards, they’ll be mercilessly killed even if they’re a child, but that’s fine as long as it’s not oneself.

Those who lived day by day in today’s peace and tomorrow’s danger observed strange visitors coming to this quiet city, except for when Justice’s followers were rampaging.

A small armored vehicle crossing the road. That armored vehicle had a police mark with the words “Special Task Force” attached.

Although they are oppressed by Justice, people aren’t completely unaware of recent events.

They’d heard that the special task force formed by the police, centered around Officer Lee Munsu, was fighting to reclaim Seoul from supervillains. And along with the hero New Hope, they had succeeded in reclaiming parts of the city.

The citizens of this city showed various reactions. While some hoped the special task force would come to their city after hearing the news.

Conversely, those who had committed terrible acts to meet Justice and survive, or his followers, didn’t welcome the appearance of such police officers.

But one thing was certain: this city would now become a battlefield.

Those who recognized this either fled at the sight of armored vehicles entering the city or busily moved to inform Justice of this fact.

Meanwhile. Some people questioned the fact that there was only one armored vehicle casually parked in the middle of the forest of buildings.

Just one armored vehicle when perhaps the entire special task force might not be enough?

With weapons abandoned by the military after their defeat by Sai being secretly distributed, an armored vehicle stopped in the middle of the city without any security is a tasty prey.

If the supervillains hiding in this city and Justice’s followers rush in immediately, they could kill the police inside a mere small armored vehicle in an instant before they can even resist.

Moreover, it would be even simpler since it’s not just supervillains and followers here.

Having already received information about the special task force’s success and foreseeing their arrival in this city, ‘Justice’ had issued an ‘order’ to the citizens to interfere with them.

Those whose survival and that of their families were held hostage have finished preparations to attack as soon as the signal comes down.

Why are they acting this way when they must know that? While those hiding in shadows were eyeing the armored vehicle, suddenly the door of the armored vehicle opened.

And the person who got out of the armored vehicle was the famous police officer that no one in this country wouldn’t know.

He was wearing a thick black protective suit. Looking tired, he came out with light steps as if visiting a local market, not even holding a gun or weapon in his hand.

What he was holding in his hand was something called a megaphone, far from his own protection.

Has he come to issue a warning or declaration? The gazes watching Detective Lee Munsu contained questions as they observed his movements.

He turned on the megaphone with unhurried movements. The driver in the car was keeping watch of the surroundings, but didn’t try to stop him.

Detective Lee Munsu caught his breath for a moment, then opened his mouth to the megaphone.

“[ Hey~ Park Sooya~ Your brother’s here. I thought you’d become a bit more human after getting beaten by your brother, but you’re still acting like this~ And your mom named you Sooya, what’s with this ‘Justice’~ Aren’t you embarrassed~ ]”

“[ Ah well, how would you know what’s embarrassing, a superpower user who got beaten by a non-superpower user police officer~ Right? ]”

A voice like mockery, stretching the ends of words. People who heard those words were shocked.

In this city seized by Justice, there are three things one should never say.

One is denying Justice’s real name.

Words that deny his justice.

And lastly, about how Justice was defeated by Detective Lee Munsu and rolled pathetically on the ground.

Justice hates Detective Lee Munsu and is ranting every day that as soon as his ongoing ‘investigation’ is over, he will attack the police to kill him.

His hatred for Detective Lee Munsu has reached the level of madness.

But the very person responsible for that hatred is mentioning that incident and mocking Justice in Justice’s territory.

Those watching Detective Lee Munsu instinctively sensed what would happen next.

‘Civilians’ who had been trained and taken benefits in preparation for what to do if the police attacked, turned their faces white and looked in the direction of this city’s master.

That was where the broadcasting station building was located.

After Justice came to this city and massacred the interfering police and people, he killed everyone in the broadcasting station building, calling them a fake media outlet deceiving people, and occupied that building.

Since they had connected communications as soon as the armored vehicle appeared, there’s no way that provocation didn’t reach Justice.

And as if to prove that thought correct, a bang! sound like an explosion was heard.

The broadcasting station building shook as if a bomb had fallen. And from that building, something rose up along with smoke.

Detective Lee Munsu, who heard that explosive sound, gave a sardonic smile and got back into the armored vehicle. And then- he started to flee without looking back?

“Eh?!”

One of those preparing to attack exclaimed, pointing at the armored vehicle that started to leave the area without hesitation.

The several-ton armored vehicle escaping urgently, even making a sound like wheels spinning with a screech! as if saying it can’t be caught.

And the object that flew from the broadcasting station landed on the spot where the vehicle had been, one beat late.

“LEE!! MUNSU!!!!”

Justice started to chase after Detective Lee Munsu and the police officers, making a beast-like sound.

Seeing Justice starting to run at full power, those who had finished preparing for the attack sensed that their planned attack had been shattered from the start.

The original plan of the supervillains gathered around Justice was to have citizens lead the attack when the police crossed the forest of buildings to capture Justice, interfering with New Hope.

And when the police were in confusion, they would attack and massacre the police first.

But that plan was broken from the very beginning due to Detective Lee Munsu’s provocation. Isn’t the man who could be called the final target at the very front, chasing the police?

“LEE MUNSUUUU!!!!”

While those who had been preparing expressed their dismay at the operation’s failure.

Justice was running like a beast that had lost its reason.

No, not “like a beast,” but in a state no different from a beast?

His enemy, who not only insulted him and denied his justice but also gave him the greatest humiliation.

How could he endure seeing such a man appear boldly in his territory and insult him?

That was all he thought before losing his reason, and it continues to the present.

He chases the armored vehicle and police cars for dear life. As soon as they left the area he ruled, the police officer holding the machine gun of the armored vehicle started shooting at Justice.

He is a type with strong strength and speed compared to ordinary superpower users, but weak in durability, so he’s in danger if hit by bullets.

Even amidst losing his reason, he seemed to recognize the threat of death, as Justice approached while avoiding bullets, running at an incredible speed.

Even so, he was getting closer and closer to the car running at full power. When Justice was about a palm’s distance away from reaching the armored vehicle where Lee Munsu would be.

Suddenly, Detective Lee Munsu opened the rear door of the armored vehicle.

Holding a rifle, he was looking at Justice with an annoyed expression. It was like the expression one would have when stepping on trash fallen on the street.

Seeing Lee Munsu like that, Justice fueled his anger even more. Detective Lee Munsu shouldered the rifle in his hand and fired it straight at Justice.

Justice naturally avoided the bullets and then tried to enter through the open rear door to kill Detective Lee Munsu and all the annoying police officers at once.

Whether it was reason or instinct, Justice momentarily felt a sense of crisis at the unseen presence of New Hope and shrunk his body.

The fact that he could make judgments even in a state where he lost reason due to anger might be because of his previous experience with Detective Lee Munsu.

He had been caught in his trap, shot once, and when a strange syringe was injected into that wound, his power disappeared.

He’s not particularly smart, so his ability to perceive danger isn’t good either.

But from his experience of being imprisoned in Mugan where there were superpower users stronger than him, and his experience with Detective Lee Munsu, he gained some intelligence to be afraid in the face of danger, albeit slightly.

But now, that experience rather became poison to him.

Immediately after, the armored vehicle hit the brakes with a screech! Justice was also surprised by the mysterious sight of the huge armored vehicle suddenly stopping and stiffened his body.

“Wh-what?!”

In that brief moment when he stiffened his body. Justice’s body was practically dragged into the armored vehicle with its rear door open.

Before he could come to his senses, Detective Lee Munsu shot his shoulder and leg.

Before Justice could scream in pain, the police officers who were inside with him stabbed a syringe containing a familiar white liquid into Justice’s wounds.

“N-no!”

Justice struggled, looking at the syringe stabbed into his wound, but the neutralization drug had already been injected into his body through the wound.

With his ability gone, his strength wasn’t at a level that could shake off the arm of a trained police officer.

“I-impossible! I had prepared! This time I was supposed to win! My justice! I was going to kill all of you bastards and establish real justice! Don’t interfere! Let me go!! Don’t stop meeee!!!!!”

What on earth is this! Justice truly couldn’t believe the current situation.

He had already received news about the neutralization drug and had prepared for it, but Justice gritted his teeth, wondering why he ended up like this.

And he realized.

He ended up like this entirely because he left his stronghold, where he had completed all preparations and even set traps for New Hope, after falling for Detective Lee Munsu’s provocation.

“LEE, MUNSUUUU!!!!”

With that three-inch tongue! With lies! With lies! The evil that deceives and ridicules him!

But it’s okay. It’s still okay.

Justice somehow suppressed his reason that was about to burn from hatred and anger, fixed his gaze on the floor, and laughed.

Due to that cunning person’s scheme, he’s caught like this, but his subordinates, though not as good as him, are strong ones that the police can’t dare to face.

Such guys would be rushing to save him. In just a few seconds, they would also arrive here.

He thought that New Hope wouldn’t be able to do anything since he had set traps to interfere with her by drawing in civilians, but—

“Fortunately. You’ve succeeded in the operation, Detective!”

What arrived at the stopped armored vehicle wasn’t his subordinate but New Hope. New Hope looked clean except for a very slight dust on her face.

If there was one peculiar thing, it might be that behind her, people with familiar faces were unconscious, bound in iron chains?

Seeing New Hope like that, Justice once again realized his mistake.

Those boasted traps and civilians are far away from here, aren’t they? And what chased all the way here, far from his territory, was none other than Justice himself.

“Ugh, aaaaaargh!!!!”

Justice realized how pathetic his action was and thrashed about in frustration. But Lee Munsu looked down at such a Justice pathetically and said:

“How did you not change at all even after going to prison? You idiot.”

Justice tried to rebel and get angry at those words. But Lee Munsu lightly kicked his chin.

With that clean strike, Justice felt his consciousness slipping away.

“I don’t know what you investigated about Sai. But you’ll have to spill everything you know, bastard.”

With those final words, Justice lost consciousness.