Ch.545Chapter 21. Blood Pack (5)

-At 4 PM today, a large fire broke out at the Haeguneul Plastic Surgery building near Gangnam Station in Seoul….

-Property damage is estimated to be at least several billion won, and if a thorough investigation is conducted, it could be several times that amount….

-The government and the association have formed a joint investigation team to determine whether the fire was caused by supernatural abilities….

Was it because it was a major fire in the heart of Gangnam, Seoul?

Or was it because Haeguneul suffered damage?

News of the plastic surgery clinic fire spread widely, even making the 9 o’clock news.

Is this really such a big deal?

If you’re wondering that, know that ordinary people, gossip lovers, and those in the know are all showing interest.

Ordinary people are interested in the fact that despite being a major fire, no one died.

Gossip enthusiasts are interested in the fact that this clinic was famous for most accurately replicating Do Ji-hwan’s face.

And those in the know, especially influential figures at Haeguneul, can’t help but be interested in the fact that they were “attacked.”

[Ah, this is the Tavern Owner. The Haeguneul chairman who came to Sejong Island has left. It seems he’s heading to Busan for an emergency meeting.]

“What’s the topic?”

[The arson at the plastic surgery clinic, along with the disappearance of one of the Choi family members.]

“Thanks for the information.”

I was directly communicating with her, the Tavern Owner on Sejong Island, to track Haeguneul’s movements.

[You’ve already caused quite a stir. Are you really planning to escalate things further?]

“Of course. It’s finally reaching the point where I think ‘it might be okay to proceed.'”

[Why?]

“The World Cup is right around the corner.”

A global event is just ahead.

What if something terrible happens in Korea during this time, something so horrific and unpleasant to all humanity?

“What if the World Cup gets postponed due to unfortunate incidents in Korea, or they say it will be held in China or Japan instead?”

[Wouldn’t that make them try harder to prevent such unfortunate incidents?]

“If they can’t prevent it, they’ll cover it up. The government will cover it up, and Haeguneul will suffer in silence.”

[Okay. So we start stirring public opinion as soon as incidents occur?]

“Could you call it ‘raising public awareness’ rather than stirring?”

Stirring means fabricating truth and spreading lies, but we’re righteous villains exposing hidden truths.

[Got it. But be careful. The government and Haeguneul aren’t the only ones who want to cover up incidents that damage national prestige.]

“I know. That’s why…”

I slightly lifted my clothes to show the Tavern Owner during our video call.

“I’m impersonating Hwalbindang.”

[…….]

The Tavern Owner hung up with an incredulous laugh.

2 minutes and 52 seconds.

The call ended just before the 3-minute mark, but we both gathered all the information we needed.

“So that’s what she says.”

I deliberately shared my conversation with the Tavern Owner to the man behind me, the plastic surgeon—”Choi Woo-sik.”

“So, which Choi family are you from?”

“…….”

He was shocked when he saw Yoon Hye-ra, but after realizing we were deliberately leaking information, he’s been sitting in his chair as calmly as possible.

“What? Do you think the emergency meeting Haeguneul called after learning of your disappearance is to rescue you? Do you think they can save you?”

Though he’s tied up, he’s showing a very different demeanor from when he was cowering in fear earlier.

“Really?”

“…No matter how powerful an S-class villain like the Goblin is, even with extraordinary abilities, there’s no match against sheer numbers.”

Choi Woo-sik leaned back—pretending to be relaxed.

“Many people will come looking for me. I handle everything in this area, so quite a few people would be inconvenienced if I disappeared.”

“That’s only natural. When drug enforcement agencies disrupt distribution networks, drug users are naturally inconvenienced.”

“…But what if there are S-class individuals among those people?”

“Who?”

“I don’t feel like telling you. Hehe.”

Choi Woo-sik provoked me with a sinister smile.

“Didn’t you come here knowing everything? Then figure it out yourself.”

“I don’t care whether [Yacha] comes, or [Bathory] comes, or both.”

“……!”

As soon as I mentioned these two aliases, Choi Woo-sik’s expression hardened.

“Even if the [Count of Romania] joins them, it makes no difference. It would be interesting, wouldn’t it? Three S-class villains submerged side by side in the waters off Ganghwa Island.”

“You, you guys really…all of them…!”

“Of course.”

This is when the knowledge from the original work combined with the Syndicate’s information is most helpful.

“Those who create totems using Korean blood to produce supernatural beings, the woman who showers in Korean blood, and the man who drinks Korean blood like a beverage—they’re all enemies of the Syndicate.”

Who would want the blood secured through Haeguneul’s plastic surgery clinic?

“The reason we’ve left them alone until now isn’t because we’ve overlooked their evil deeds. It’s simply because we had to deal with more urgent matters first.”

Who on earth would want Korean blood, especially blood that’s been mixed and starting to decay in kimchi containers?

“The era of playing games with Korean blood for profit is over.”

Foreigners, mostly S-class villains connected to Haeguneul.

“You will make a confession of conscience in front of everyone. You will publicly declare all the evil deeds you’ve committed.”

“…….”

“Choose. Will you repent, reflect, and reveal the truth voluntarily, or will you be forced to do so?”

“…Wh-what.”

“Have you ever heard of ‘reformation’?”

I took out my goblin club, went behind Choi Woo-sik who was tied to the chair, and held the club over his head.

“Choi Woo-sik, the blood trafficker who collected Korean blood to sell abroad, will disappear, and only Choi Woo-sik who has realized the error of his ways and awakened to justice will remain.”

“Mind control…!”

“Yes. You’ll be brainwashed with ‘justice’ installed in your brain. That doesn’t change even for someone with Haeguneul bloodlines.”

“…Kuh, hehehe…!”

Choi Woo-sik started laughing as if he’d lost his mind.

“Go ahead and kill me! Come on, kill me! If I suddenly change, do you think the world will just stand by?!”

“Do you have something to rely on?”

“I won’t tell you! Go ahead, brainwash me! If you brainwash me, at least 300 people in Seoul will commit suicide? Kuhehe…! What is it? Secret! Hahaha!”

“I know about that too.”

Creeeeak.

The door opened.

“Huh….”

“Are you done talking?”

As soon as Choi Woo-sik saw the white-haired woman entering—wearing a tight black tee and black jeans, having removed her white coat—he gulped.

“Y-you are….”

“You know me?”

“Fenrir…!”

“That’s right.”

Hyun Se-rin sat on the edge of the table, crossed her legs, and drew a dagger from the scabbard at her waist.

“You must have had quite a few people asking to look like me. You had fun with that, didn’t you?”

“…….”

“Was it just fun? Under the guise of plastic surgery, you put them under general anesthesia and did all sorts of vile things, right?”

“N-no, I didn’t!!”

Choi Woo-sik screamed with veins bulging in his neck.

“I, I don’t do such filthy things!!”

“Oh, really? That’s fortunate, I suppose? If you had, I would have immediately sliced your neck and other parts thin.”

“…….”

Though she was speaking to Choi Woo-sik, I felt a chill run down my spine.

“Alright. Then let me ask you. That supernatural ability engraved on your body—if you don’t renew it regularly, you’re immediately deemed ‘dead,’ right?”

“……!”

Riiip.

Hyun Se-rin used the tip of her dagger to tear Choi Woo-sik’s clothes from his shoulder down.

“Death if a person dies. Death if Haeguneul capital is embezzled. Death if they think you’ve leaked confidential information by attaching yourself to people outside Haeguneul. You’re dead as a member of Haeguneul. Correct?”

“Kuh, kuhh…!”

“But there are two types of death. One is when Haeguneul internally declares you dead.”

Riiip.

“In this case, the secrets you hold are transferred to other Haeguneul members. However.”

The tip of the dagger, glowing white as it tears the clothes apart, slowly moves down below Choi Woo-sik’s navel.

“If you’re killed by someone other than a Haeguneul member, all the ‘blackmail material’ you possess will be exposed to the world. What do you call it again…?”

“Pandora’s Box.”

“Right. You call it Pandora’s Box. That’s hilarious, really.”

Choi Woo-sik’s body trembles.

The dagger sliced through to his belt in one go, splitting the top of his pants hanging at his waist.

“What information is in your box? The people who bought blood? Or those who sold their blood for money? Or perhaps…”

“Pre-surgery photos.”

“……!”

Choi Woo-sik instantly turned pale.

“If you’re killed by someone, the pre-surgery photos of those recorded in Haeguneul Plastic Surgery’s server will be uploaded immediately.”

“They’ll be uploaded as new photos on the social media of people trying to live with their past erased. Wow, it would be chaos. All those plastic surgery patients having their past photos exposed. Especially the photos of them lying on the operating table.”

“You, you guys…!”

“If you were counting on that, I’m sorry. …Ugh, really. Oh, seriously. What kind of place is this to put a seal?”

Just before Hyun Se-rin’s blade approached Choi Woo-sik’s groin, she stopped the dagger.

Below Choi Woo-sik’s abs.

“Disgusting.”

“You should be grateful it’s not on your backside.”

“Ugh, I really hate this. Do you guys feel pride for Haeguneul every time you see this inscription when you go to the bathroom?”

“At least it’s not the national flag.”

Just below where his underwear would cover, on his pubic bone, Haeguneul’s seal was faintly glimmering.

“D-don’t touch it! The moment you touch this, the original faces of all those idiots who got plastic surgery to look like you will be exposed on the internet!”

A truly terrifying threat.

“Th-there are children of high-ranking government officials among them!”

“Oh, really?”

Hyun Se-rin reached into her back pocket and pulled something out.

“We came prepared with ways to deal with all of that, which is why we captured you.”

“Wh-what is that…?”

“Nothing special.”

Something gold was glittering in Hyun Se-rin’s hand.

“Mr. Choi Woo-sik.”

“W-why are you suddenly using my name…!”

“By any chance, do you like pork cutlets?”

A golden knife and tongs gleamed.