Ch.549Chapter 21. Blood Pack (9)

There are two main ways to identify a powered individual.

One is to identify them by appearance.

Their face, body type, voice, or other distinctive physical features can serve as clues.

Like removing a mask to see their face.

Or recalling someone similar based on height or build.

Or identifying someone by their unaltered voice.

But these are just external features, and S-rank individuals can easily alter their appearance.

Even I can do that.

Just adding a mole under my eye allows for perfect disguise, so identifying powered individuals who conceal their identity by appearance alone is amateur work.

The real key is identifying their power.

Even if they hide their identity, powered individuals can’t hide their abilities.

Especially if that person’s power is unique and cannot be replicated by others.

Not everyone who uses ice powers is Baek Seol-hee, but the principle is that only Baek Seol-hee has the freezing ability to create an ice bridge connecting islands.

So then.

If someone tries to hide not only their appearance but also their power, can they still fight at full strength?

Yes, they can.

If they use a power different from what’s publicly known, but with the same fundamental structure, they can skillfully conceal their identity while appearing to have a different ability.

“You… who are you?! I’ve never heard of a powered individual like you in Hwalbindang!”

The execution squad member was gripped by fear.

Naturally, he’d be more afraid of an unidentified person who defeated someone stronger than himself—someone who took down an A+ rank worth 5.3 billion won—than of me who just swept away his subordinates.

It’s disappointing, but not necessarily bad.

‘He’s got the concept down perfectly.’

That guy, Black Taejo’s disguised appearance, is the result of my consulting as the Lord of Dark Wings.

“You’ve never heard of me? That’s to be expected.”

Because there’s no such person in Hwalbindang.

“But you don’t need to know.”

Someone stronger than me speaking formally?

They’re merely pretending to be respectful, but in direct conversation, you’d instinctively feel it.

“Without further ado, let me finish this by taking you down as well.”

That the opponent isn’t showing me respect, but simply speaking formally as part of their character, and it’s certainly not genuine respect.

“What, do I look like a pushover?! I’ll prove that Park Jung-woo is no pushover! I may not know about the others, but I’ll definitely expose your identity!!”

Execution squad member Park Jung-woo’s body began to emit mana like an explosion.

“Huaaah…!!”

Appearing to be a physical enhancement type, his muscles pumped up and the parking lot asphalt began to sink beneath him.

“Hmph.”

Black Taejo pointed his umbrella-length golden staff at Park Jung-woo, flicking it lightly with his foot.

“That’s….”

“Who is that?”

Yoon Hye-ra and Hyun Se-rin were completely clueless about Black Taejo’s identity.

“Oppa. Who is that guy? Did you secretly call an S-rank we don’t know about?”

“…It’s someone we know who’s hiding their identity. But really…who is it?”

Even with their appearance concealed, I didn’t expect these two wouldn’t notice.

“It wouldn’t be polite for me to reveal it.”

“……”

Unless you have Ymir-level intuition, you probably wouldn’t realize that this young man is actually the S-rank detector, the kid they once stomped on to confirm their S-rank status.

“See for yourself. You’ll know by the power.”

Of course, even the power itself.

It’s different from Armored Taejo. Different from Armored Taejo.

“Subdue him, Jindo.”

Liquid gold began to flow from the tip of the golden staff Black Taejo was pointing forward.

Soon the gold formed a shape, taking the form of a real Jindo dog.

“What, what…?! Manipulating gold…?! An alchemist? No, no! That’s from Europe…!”

Park Jung-woo, who was about to fight, became confused.

“An ability user who creates animals out of gold…?”

“…A beast tamer who handles animal souls? Someone who breathed the soul of a Jindo dog raised in mana gold?”

The two executives were also confused.

It’s natural they’d be barking up the wrong tree.

Not the kid who would say:

-Hohoho, take the attack of Armored Taejo! Steel Cage!!

“Bite.”

As soon as he gave the short command and pointed his staff forward, the golden Jindo dog made of mana gold leaped and bit Park Jung-woo’s shoulder.

Splaaash!

Red blood splattered.

“Argh!!”

Park Jung-woo, bitten by the golden dog, fell backward from the impact and struggled desperately to shake off the dog.

“Ugh, urgh…! Uooo!!”

Lying on the ground, Park Jung-woo pulled back his leg and kicked upward at the dog’s abdomen with his bulging muscles.

Thud!

With a dull sound, the golden Jindo dog flew into the air and twisted its body like an animal caught by surprise.

“Ugh, urgh, where did you get this rabid dog to attack me—”

“Good work.”

Black Taejo ignored Park Jung-woo and approached me.

“Hey! This isn’t over—”

Chomp.

“Guh, huk—?!”

The golden Jindo dog, after spinning once in midair and landing again, bit Park Jung-woo’s lower region.

With a crunching sound, Park Jung-woo trembled all over, and soon after, he collapsed limply on the ground.

“It’s been a while. Um….”

“Right now, I’m just a passing Ten Immortal. And you?”

“Then I’m a passing, um….”

Black Taejo pointed his golden staff toward the unconscious Park Jung-woo.

“A passing dog trader, I’d say.”

The golden Jindo dog disappeared into the staff he pointed, as if being sucked in.

Park Jung-woo, pinned underneath, lay unconscious with his eyes rolled back, his pants gradually turning red.

“Did you kill him?”

“Of course not. I haven’t even confirmed if he’s someone who should be killed yet.”

He kills those who deserve to be killed.

Though he said it jokingly, there was sincerity in his voice.

“…What’s with this guy? Where did you find such a hitman? Huh? Is it okay to do this without telling the executives?”

“……”

Yoon Hye-ra poked my side with her finger, and Hyun Se-rin frowned in thought.

“Hmm….”

Black Taejo, or rather the dog trader, receiving their gazes, merely played with his bangs that fell in front of his mask, clearly watching for my cues.

“You didn’t tell them?”

“The information I know is exactly what’s shared with the executives. I did tell them. But they just don’t recognize it.”

“Hmm…. Then, since you seem uncomfortable, I should reveal my identity. If they’re people ‘big brother’ brought, I think it’s okay for me to reveal myself.”

“You don’t know them?”

“……”

The dog trader also looked at Yoon Hye-ra and Hyun Se-rin alternately, then silently stared at me.

Fidgeting with his fingers on the staff, he was probably rolling his eyes inside the mask, trying to figure out their identities with all sorts of imagination.

This is normal.

It’s strange to immediately recognize Yoon Hye-ra and Hyun Se-rin as Black Flame Phoenix and Fenrir, and it’s unusual to see Black Taejo and think of Armored Taejo.

“Introductions are good, but perhaps not here.”

“Seems that way. Looks like more are coming. What do you want to do? Take down more? Or clear them all out?”

“We’re leaving. We’ve achieved our goal.”

Those who messed with Haeguneul Plastic Surgery are strong enough to subdue the execution squad.

“Just letting them know that Haeguneul’s enemy has an S-rank will make the client seeking the blood bag come forward themselves.”

“…I see. You mean the person with fire under their feet will step up?”

“Yes. Just like how some urgent people come to receive packages themselves if they think they might be stolen.”

Just by subtly informing Haeguneul of this information, the next scenario will unfold on its own.

Beeeeeep!

The villain alert sounded simultaneously from the Taegeuk Watches of the fallen execution squad.

This is probably a notification from Haeguneul-related people to “officialize” the villain attack, and soon many people will rush here.

“Let’s change location.”

“Are we just leaving?”

“…If you’re going to set a fire, would you engrave this message for me?”

I scratched a pattern on the parking lot floor with my Goblin Club, and seeing the pattern, Yoon Hye-ra grinned and flicked her finger downward.

“Leave it to me. Art is my specialty, you know?”

“Setting fires is art?”

Hyun Se-rin chided as she pulled down her hat, and I indicated the direction we were about to run to the dog trader with my eyes while wrapping my body with magical power.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, big brother.”

Whoosh!

Hyun Se-rin and the dog trader ran ahead first, and I carried Yoon Hye-ra like a princess, exploding magical power beneath my feet.

“Run.”

“If fireworks go off before we run, I’m not responsible?”

And Yoon Hye-ra very naturally put one arm around my neck, pointing her other hand down through my armpit and flicked her finger.

“Kaboom!”

The moment a short sound of an incendiary bullet exploding came from Yoon Hye-ra’s fingertip.

BOOM!!!

A massive flame erupted from the black van we had arrived in, causing an explosion.

And that explosion.

BOOM, BOOM, BOOOOM!!

Spread to all vehicles parked in the public parking lot, causing a chain reaction of explosions.

* * *

[Breaking news. …Hero Association’s special forces were attacked by villains during an operation. A charred mark in the shape of a ‘Hahoe mask,’ symbolizing Hwalbindang, was found at the fire scene, and one of the special forces members is in critical condition after being…]

“Nice to meet you. Let me introduce myself again. I’m the Hwalbindang impersonator, passing Ten Immortal, Goblin.”

And.

“This is the Syndicate executive Black Flame Phoenix Yoon Hye-ra, and this is Fenrir Hyun Se-rin.”

I introduced our executives to Taejo.

“And this is Armored Taejo.”

“Bullshit.”

“Stop lying, oppa. Where did you find a guy who looks like that kid and gave him plastic surgery? Oh, did Korea succeed in developing clones? He really looks a lot like Taejo.”

Taejo had removed his mask.

“It would be more convincing to say he’s an Armored Taejo clone created by Goblin with his club. How could this be that immature elementary school kid?”

“Well.”

Taejo raised his hand with a slightly tearful, awkward smile.

“Actually, I am a clone of Armored Taejo created by Goblin.”

“Good. It’s nice that you’re telling the truth.”

“That’s a lie.”

“……”

“I really am Armored Taejo.”

“You’re saying this guy is really the same kid who got beaten by me in an S-rank battle three years ago and said ‘My grandfather is the president, Taejo-rubingbong’…?”

“……”

“Big brother, should I just say I’m an S-rank clone you created with your ability?”

Taejo’s eyes were serious.