episode_0018

Recruitment (1)

“We need a plan.”

“You think about it.”

“What’s your thought?”

Hector and Seohyun responded to my question without any thoughts. Not helpful. But I have Jim, a veteran mercenary who has been through it all.

“…Why are you looking at me?”

“Yes?”

“I’m a mercenary, not a villain.”

Ah, different fields.

“Vivian Choi in Snow Flower… Isn’t it just a matter of turning away?”

“!”

Indeed, a veteran!

“If you engage in villainous activities elsewhere, Snow Flower will go there. If it doesn’t go there, then you’re not the main target, so that’s fine.”

“Good idea?”

“Sounds good.”

It’s a good suggestion. As Jim said, if I commit crimes in a different area, Snow Flower will move there. And if they don’t pursue, it means they haven’t come to F-district to catch me, so there’s no need to worry too much.

“Indeed, a veteran.”

“Indeed, a headhunter.”

“Indeed, a potential villain.”

“…The last one is weird.”

“Well then, let’s make a plan!!”

…

…

…

…

…

“…”

“…”

“…”

(Sigh)

Arthur followed the silent people, leaving the car.

“Hey! Instead of just drinking, give us your opinion too!”

An hour had passed, and no good ideas had come up.

“To be honest, bank robbery was possible because it’s in F-district.”

While the goal was set to reveal themselves in another area, they couldn’t think of a plan on how to do it.

F-district is a relatively recently established area. Originally, it should have been created over a longer period due to population surplus, but it was hastily made due to the influx of refugees from around the world. Consequently, mostly disadvantaged people ended up staying here, and naturally, public order and law enforcement weakened.

Thanks to this, villains with ambiguous abilities mostly debut in the F-district. The ratio of hero deployment is the lowest in F-district.

“Now, tell me honestly. What’s your ability?”

Seohyun asked, resting her chin on her hand.

“…”

“Yeah, I need to know for planning.”

“I’m curious too.”

“Everyone wants to know?”

“Yeah.”

“Of course.”

“Definitely.”

“…Hypnosis”

Arthur hesitated and spoke of his ability.

“Hypnosis?”

“Yeah, hypnosis.”

“…”

Hypnosis, it sounds like an incredible ability, the kind of ability that can do incredible things. But how many people with the ability to hypnotize and manipulate minds are there among A-rank villains or higher?

Zero, not a single one.

What about those with mind manipulation abilities ranked B or lower? There are a few. However, currently, they are all either captured or deceased.

Why is that?

Naturally, they used their abilities in strange ways. The vast majority of those with hypnotic abilities tried to fulfill their strange desires and were thwarted by heroes.

In other words,

“It’s a dog-like ability in perception.”

Honestly, when you think about the ability to hypnotize, what comes to mind first?

Huh? Like what? It’s like, uh? Oh, yeah, something like that?

Bad things come to mind first, right?

Good things don’t come to mind, do they?

“Is there anyone among us who can hypnotize?”

“If you want to check, bang your head on the table.”

It seems like a strong ability, but in reality, it’s a deeply problematic ability, that’s hypnosis.

The most persistent problem with hypnosis is that it can shatter if subjected to a shock. Of course, mine isn’t hypnosis, but

“No, I won’t be affected.”

“I don’t know, I’ll make sure.”

“Huh? No, no, I trust you.”

“Haha, I’ll make sure.”

Arthur got up from his seat and walked towards Hector.

“No!! Be sure!! You’re not a trash who uses hypnosis on friends!! Be sure!!”

As I raised my hand to hit Hector’s head hard against the table, Hector shook his head and hands vigorously and shouted,

“Oh, by the way, what’s Seohyun’s ability?”

Ignoring Arthur’s violent attempt towards Hector, the headhunter asked Seohyun.

Seohyun also debuted as a villain under the name Red Queen. That too, while fighting A-rank heroes.

“I don’t have an ability, just power.”

“? So it’s power.”

“I have a decent plan.”

“What, what is it?”

At the mention of having a plan, Hector turned his head and said,

“We’re going to rob another district’s union bank.”

“Union bank?”

“Well, there are two uncomfortable people, Snow Flower and Vivian Choi.”

“Ah! If we rob the union bank of the district, both of them will be taken care of.”

“That’s right.”

“However… will it work?”

The Union Bank is the largest bank in this Union City.

To say that all the money in this city flows through the Union Bank is not an exaggeration. But opening such a bank requires thorough planning and even with luck, the chances of success are not very high, as was evident from the last time.

“I need a partner.”

“A partner?”

“If I want to operate in a different area, I’ll need more people. Frankly, I’m not confident about operating outside the F district.”

“Got it, then I’ll start by gathering information and making a basic plan.”

“I’ll get ready to move.”

“…And me?”

Seohyun, feeling idle, asked Arthur.

“Will you take care of Alice?”

“Yeah.”

“But don’t cook.”

“…I have to in order to improve my skills.”

“Huh? What did you say? You’re going to set the kitchen on fire again?”

“…I won’t do it.”

“Alright! Then let’s get moving quickly.”

“Boss, I’m sorry, but I might not be able to come to work for a few days.”

The next day, it was my turn to prepare excuses for not coming to work for a few days, but luckily, Seolha brought up the fact that she wouldn’t be able to come to work first.

“It’s okay. The casino business is back to normal now.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Haha, what’s there to apologize for? Do you think a mad hatter will appear in those few days?”

(Thud!)

“Drink!”

A man behind bars threw a water bottle to the woman in chains inside and said.

For three days,

For three days, he only gave her water.

She doesn’t know why she’s being held captive. She was just having dinner with her family at home when the villains attacked, killed everyone, and kidnapped her.

“Why, why me?”

Why is she being treated like this?

She lived an ordinary life. Yet, she wasn’t ordinary. Nevertheless, she lived an ordinary, peaceful, and happy life with her family.

“Hello, little one?”

“!”

At a moment when she was despairing about her situation, she turned her head at the sudden sound of a man’s voice.

…

Dressed in a military uniform on her left, wearing a silk hat and a monocle, Arthur, the Mad Hatter, was looking at her with his chin in his hand.

“…Who are you?”

She asked weakly.

“Me? Just a bored person looking for someone to have tea with.”

Arthur poured tea from the teapot into the cup on the saucer that had suddenly appeared in his hand.

“One cup?”

…

The woman looked blankly at Arthur, who was offering her the cup.

“Drink it. It’s good tea.”

“Are you the one who imprisoned me?”

“Haha, I think there’s a misunderstanding. I’m just looking for someone to have a cup of tea with. There happens to be one seat left at the tea party.”

“…”

“Why are you trapped here?”

“I don’t know.”

“Hmm.”

The man in front of me took a sip of the tea he had poured himself.

“Kid, what’s your purpose?”

“Yes?”

“What is the purpose of life?”

“…Do you think I would have such thoughts while being trapped here?”

“Haha! Fair enough.”

(Tap!)

Arthur laughed and flicked his finger.

(Bang!)

At that moment, the shackle that had been binding her feet broke with a small explosion.

“…”

“Come on, drink quickly. It won’t taste good when it gets cold.”

Arthur handed her a newly produced cup.

“…”

(Swish)

The woman, seemingly less guarded, accepted the cup.

“…”

But she only looked at the tea without drinking it.

“Kid, why do people commit sins?”

The woman, about to drink the tea, looked startled as she glanced at Arthur.

“…”

“Why do people make laws for themselves and then break them?”

“…I don’t know.”

“The answer is because humans are inherently evil.”

“…”

“There’s much debate. Some say humans are born good. No, humans are not inherently good or evil from birth.”

“I’ve heard of it. The theory of innate goodness and the theory of innate evil.”

“Yeah, I believe in the theory of innate evil.”

“…Okay.”

The woman replied and took a sip of the tea.

“…Delicious.”

She murmured softly after tasting the tea.

“The organization that kidnapped you is a human trafficking organization. They kidnap people to sell them or harvest their organs for sale.”

“…”

“Why are humans so special that they can dominate over other species? Because of high intelligence? Advancement in science and culture? No, it’s because of their inherent evil. No other animal besides humans slaughters its own kind, just because they look different or have a different skin color.”

“…”

“Fundamentally, humans have evolved to live better than others, to stand above others, and to oppress others, all under the guise of civilization.”

“However, very special individuals, those who have lived for others, those who help others, have created society, and within that framework, humans suppress and hide their own evil. And we are living in such a society, appearing human on the outside but hiding something inhuman within.”

“So?”

The woman, energized after having a drink, looked directly at Arthur.

“What do you want to say?”

“Human beings are wicked, but everyone hides it and lives with it. However, those who reveal such wickedness and engage in despicable acts deserve to die.”

“… ”

“I said it grandiosely, but what I want to say is this: ‘revenge.’”

“… ”

“Do you want revenge?”

“… ”

“Do you want to take revenge on those who imprisoned you? Do you want to take revenge on those who killed your family? Do you want to leave here?”

“… Yes.”

“Good.”

(Click)

“What are you?!”

As men entered the basement through the open door, they shouted upon seeing Arthur sitting next to the woman.

“Just a moment.”

One man, taken aback by Arthur’s presence, said, “Mad Hatter?”

“… ”

“… ”

“… ”

At the mention of “Mad Hatter,” the people froze.

“It seems there are little rats hiding in my territory.”

Arthur tipped his hat in greeting.

“Fire!!”

(Bang! Bang!)

The men, startled, reached for their guns.

(Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew!)

Soon, bullets pierced through the men’s jugulars, causing them to fall to the side.

“……”

“Kid, do you want revenge?”

Arthur stood up and spoke.

“Forgiveness is God’s gift, but revenge is the devil’s gift.”

“…”

(Slap!)

The woman took Arthur’s hand.

(Snap)

Then she rose and looked at Arthur.

“For revenge, even the devil will do.”

“Alright, kid, what’s your name?”

“Glynda Ozbun, and I’m not a kid. I’m almost an adult.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

(Snap)

Beyond the iron bars, a man wearing a black suit and a skull-shaped half-mask revealed himself.

(Bang)

And the gun with a silencer in his hand was aimed at the lock.

“Oh, it’s okay.”

Arthur raised his hand to stop the person trying to shoot the lock.

(Click!)

(Bang! Clang!)

As Arthur flicked his finger, the lock opened with a small explosion sound.

“…Shall we go? Little miss?”

Arthur politely pointed outside with his hand and asked Grenda.

(Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew!)

On the building stairs, the headhunter accurately hit the heads of the organization members coming down the stairs with a silenced pistol.

(Thud!)

“Hmm~~♪”

Arthur hummed as he walked up the stairs that the headhunter had cleaned after avoiding the bodies.

…

Grenda quietly followed him, looking at Arthur like that.

(Gasp!)

“Oops!”

Grenda was surprised when the fallen body moved.

?

Arthur turned around to look at Grenda.

“Oh, they move occasionally. Postmortem rigidity.”

…

Grenda looked at Arthur, who was familiar with the sight of the bodies lying down.

“You’re a villain, right?”

“Haha, not just a villain.”

?

“I’m a villain who will help you get revenge.”