episode_0085
by fnovelpiaThe plan was carried out quite some time later.
In preparation for any eventuality, the Strategic Crisis Response Team declared a special alert, and black suits were on standby around our villa as before.
After obtaining Ruina’s unique past, Ex-Machina locked herself in a new safe room and immediately began gathering information.
It’s room 402 of our villa.
My home was her new home.
Then what happened to Team Leader Jang Se-hee, who didn’t know that Ex-Machina was a secret collaborator?
“I’m pretending to be the CEO. You get it?”
“Of course. Acting is easy.”
Next to me, slowly and steadily moving towards my destination.
Team leader Jang Se-hee, dressed in a neat suit like before, clenched his fists and made a firm statement.
She was now the president of a new agency.
To be exact, it was just acting, but the company itself was a real company that the National Intelligence Service had hastily created.
In your terminology, it’s called a paper company.
Anyway, it took quite some time to create such a solid identity and guarantor.
I could have just gone there on my own, but it was a kind of insurance policy in case something happened.
“By the way, if I actually go there, will it be there?”
It was a natural question for Team Leader Jang Se-hee.
“There will be. For sure.”
However, we had already confirmed through ExMachina’s tracking technology that the Masquerade was in the residence.
It’s just that I can’t tell Team Leader Jang Se-hee about this information, so she’s the only one who doesn’t know about it.
I feel a bit sorry because it seems like I’m bullying someone.
Anyway, this woman is a woman who betrayed me once.
Even now, the tracker/bomb necklace hidden inside the shirt collar was a clear proof of that.
“Eh… … .”
We soon arrived at the address Masquerade had given us.
As expected, Team Leader Jang Se-hee looked at the sight and let out a frustrated voice.
“You live here? That great hero?”
“If the information you provided is correct.”
“Eh… … .”
Before us lay a vast forest and mountains.
This is a remote mountainous area in northern Gyeonggi Province where there is not a single trace of human life.
The address Masquerade had given was definitely pointing inside here.
“Did you come here for nothing… … .”
Team leader Jang Se-hee looked down at his pointy shoes with a dejected expression.
I clearly told you that the road might be rough, but you insisted on wearing heels with your suit…
“Then shall I carry you?”
“Yes, okay!?”
When I turned my back, Team Leader Jang Se-hee was startled and waved his hand.
“Ah, ahhh!! I don’t want to die yet!!”
“Die…? Aaah… … .”
Let’s say you pick her up.
Then, Ruina will notice that I smell like another woman and will immediately try to kill Team Leader Jang Se-hee.
Team leader Jang Se-hee seemed to have already learned like Pavlov’s dog.
“Then let’s go slowly.”
“Haa… … . Yes.”
I climbed up the mountain path at a leisurely pace, following Team Leader Jang Se-hee’s lead.
“By the way… . Why, why is Masquerade… . stuck in a forest like this… . living… .”
Team leader Jang Se-hee asked repeatedly, panting for breath.
It seemed like the strength was doubled because of the heel.
“Well.”
“B, the money I’ve earned… . Ma, there must be a lot… .”
“I’ll just carry you. I’ll make sure to tell Ruina well.”
“Thank you… … .”
Because I just couldn’t stand to listen to her panting.
Soon I ended up cheating on Ruina.
As I looked behind me at Team Leader Jang Se-hee, who was crying, I could feel the pressure of gravity all over my body.
“Ugh!”
Actually, Ruina isn’t exactly that light.
Team Leader Jang Se-hee was tall and a secret agent, so he was much heavier than her.
“I guess he’s in his late 50s… … .”
“Yes?”
“Oh, no. Please, put a little closer.”
“Oh, yes.”
Soon, the weight of Team Leader Jang Se-hee crushed me.
“… … … … .”
And now I can barely hold back the urge to say something about my feelings.
A short hill behind Ruina, different from the two towering peaks.
It was hitting my back right now.
“Hold on tight, I’m gonna move.”
“I really won’t get killed by Ruina, right?”
“Yes, yes. I won’t kill you. I won’t kill you.”
“Eek!!?”
I was just joking a little about the heaviness.
Team Leader Jang Se-hee’s whole body felt cold, which was immediately felt on her back and arms.
It seemed to her that the existence of Ruina had now become a complete PTSD.
* * *
It wasn’t difficult to find the Masquerade’s home in this vast and wide nature.
There was only one unnaturally empty space on the satellite map, and a natural waterfall nearby.
The address that Masquerade had written there also pointed to that exact place.
So that means.
“This is the Masquerade’s home.”
“There is an empty space like this in the mountains… … .”
Team leader Jang Se-hee got off my back and looked around the flat, open space in nature.
This unnatural space was believed to have been created by the Masquerade itself.
If you look at the satellite map photos from each year, you can see that this vacant lot was created at some point.
And in the corner of the vacant lot there was a small, shabby house.
Likewise, it was something that was suddenly erected at some point.
“I don’t think there’s any at home.”
Team leader Jang Se-hee reported while peeking into the shabby interior of the house.
There was no sign of life inside the house.
However, there was no indication that he had actually gone out of the forest.
“Then that’s the only place it is.”
I walked forward with steady steps, confident.
A little further into the forest.
Now, as we were making our way through the great outdoors, which was still green even though it was completely winter,
“The sound of pouring water?”
Team Leader Jang Se-hee pricked up his ears and looked around.
Well, I have no choice but to fly.
Because there’s a waterfall beyond here.
“It’s over there.”
He then pointed to the waterfall that appeared.
“Why are you in a waterfall in this weather… … .”
Team leader Jang Se-hee grabbed my body with both arms and started shivering for no reason.
In the direction we looked, still wearing the helmet mask and white rider suit.
There was a masked hero sitting on a flat rock at the bottom of a waterfall.
“Hmm! I was wondering when you’d come, and you’re finally here!”
The Masquerade’s noisy voice could be heard, easily overcoming the roar of the waterfall.
Soon he relaxed his posture and approached us with brisk steps.
His whole body was dripping with cold water that you could feel just by getting close to him.
“Who is this woman?”
“This is the president of our agency.”
“Wow. Did the CEO come in person? I’m sorry!”
“Well, an agency needs to be involved in teaming up heroes.”
Team leader Jang Se-hee immediately started acting plausibly.
“Then, you can just send an official letter to our agency.”
“That, that, so we’re new! We’re collaborating with top-tier heroes like Masquerade, so of course I have to come!”
“Hmm! Is that so? Then I have nothing to say!”
Even a little research would reveal that it was an obvious lie, but fortunately, Masquerade was optimistic.
At times like this, I think it was a blessing that I had that stubborn personality.
“By the way, Masquerade. Aren’t you cold with the water dripping down?”
“This much is nothing! There is nothing like this for me!”
“Ahahaha… … .”
He was truly a passionate person, like an old-generation hero.
Actually, it’s only been 4 years since I debuted…
“Why are you talking while standing? Why don’t you go in!”
Thanks to the good deeds of the Masquerade, we are back in the open space again.
“Is it because of training that you created such a large open space?”
“Hmm! I have to move my body every day! By the way, how did you know I made this empty lot?”
“Even if you look at it roughly, it doesn’t seem like it was made naturally… … .”
If it had been formed naturally, at least the shape of the empty space would not have been so pretty and circular.
Mother Nature is a mischievous creature who will run off to any direction if left alone.
“Then come in! I’m sorry in advance that I can’t treat you well!”
“Okay… … Hmm?”
A masked hero opens the door to a shabby house that looks like a shack and enters.
I tilted my head as I looked at his back.
“It was definitely dripping just a moment ago?”
For some reason, the Masquerade who had just entered the house was wearing a helmet and suit that were all dry and stiff.
There’s no way I could have dried my clothes without knowing it…
“Handler? Aren’t you going in?”
“Ah, I have to go in.”
Team Leader Jang Se-hee seemed oblivious to even the slightest change in the Masquerade.
“What the heck…?”
If you’re really curious later, you’ll have no choice but to ask directly.
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