episode_0095

“Enough playing around.”

Dorothy’s laboratory. Dorothy, who had arrived riding 13, dismounted him and pulled a nearby chair to sit down comfortably.

Despite thoroughly enjoying herself urging him on playfully, she wore a composed expression as if nothing had happened.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff had returned to work. Compared to the idle 13, the Chief of Staff was always busy.

“So, what are you going to do now?”

“Now?”

“You must have heard from the Boss, haven’t you? About the Villain Alliance.”

“Ah, that,” 13 said, his expression troubled.

He had heard about the new directive issued by the Alliance. He also clearly understood their intentions.

“What can I do? If they say to do it, I have to do it.”

“…The level is different from before. If they’re Boss-level, they must be monsters who survived the ‘Great Calamity’, right?”

The worst villain crime in the past. A large-scale villain terror that had engulfed the entire nation and greatly shaken history.

The war-like days that lasted for about ten years, involving not only individual Awakened ones but also overseas mafias, inflicted tremendous shock and wounds not only on this country but also on the entire world.

Those who survived such a war, where people next to you could die at any moment, now held important positions on the Hero side.

Rahye was also one of the Heroes who survived that war. Moreover, she was a Hero called a ‘Hero’ who had achieved remarkable feats, so much that her name was widely known.

Though 13 had claimed to be the strongest and worst in the past, it was uncertain whether he could win against Rahye even if he regained his strength.

Furthermore, how far 13’s underhanded tricks would work against her, an experienced opponent, was also unknown.

“Honestly, I think it’s better not to stir up a hornet’s nest.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“You don’t know?”

“…Are you telling me to back off?”

Dorothy nodded in affirmation.

“You’ve done well enough already. More than enough. I was the one who provided you with the brainwashing serum and tools, but honestly, I thought they wouldn’t be of much use. An enemy isn’t just going to gobble up a serum handed to them. I never imagined a Hero would give a villain a chance to administer the serum while sharing a meal or something.”

But 13 had done well. Better than Dorothy expected.

Originally, 13’s style was to push forward with brute force, so she thought this approach wouldn’t suit him.

However, 13 turned out to be more underhanded and sinister than she thought, and it seemed that trapping opponents this way actually suited his aptitude better.

Contrary to Dorothy’s expectations, her invention seemed to fit 13 perfectly.

“…I don’t really feel like I’m being complimented.”

“It is a compliment. Be happier. I’m saying you’re villain-like.”

At any rate, thanks to his good performance, the 7th Division was almost completely subdued.

Honestly, this much was enough.

It was practically the same as having almost an entire Hero unit responsible for S City’s public safety in his grasp.

Even brainwashing just one person among them would have provided plenty of opportunities, but in the current state, he could become the monarch ruling S City’s underworld.

Even if the Villain Alliance tried to harm them, there were ways to counterattack and defeat them by leveraging the power of the 7th Division Heroes.

“The Alliance will probably want our organization to be disbanded, but there’s no need to grant them that wish. Let’s break away from the Alliance with this opportunity. While it might have been impossible before, now, we could set up a suitable hideout in S City and… gradually continue our activities.”

So, what Dorothy was trying to say was:

“Give up on Rahye. No, even if you’re going to deal with her someday, there’s no need for it to be now.”

The Villain Alliance had issued a directive to subdue Rahye and completely subjugate the 7th Division. The report’s contents must have been carefully handled, but somehow it gave the impression that they also knew about the trump card, ‘brainwashing’.

Furthermore, the deadline for the directive was one week. It was too urgent. Moreover, some time had passed since the directive was issued, leaving only about three days.

Considering that Rahye, as the Captain, was often away from the 7th Division’s base, it was truly tight. Desk-based administration had its limits. Otherwise, they might have intentionally issued the directive that way, hoping for failure.

Dorothy had no intention of underestimating 13. She honestly admitted that the current situation was very favorable. All the members of the 7th Division had been brainwashed, and Rahye was the only target left.

However, precisely because she was the last one, he had to be cautious. The Captain-nim of the 7th Division would by no means be an easy opponent like the others so far.

13 had asked the brainwashed members of the 7th Division various things about Rahye.

The more he asked to gather information, the more the only word that came out was ‘desperate’. When Check said that even if she had ten copies of herself, she couldn’t beat one Rahye, he wondered what kind of joke that was. Hadn’t 13 seen Check’s combat power with his own eyes?

He would be able to get Rahye in his grasp someday. By carefully planning the strategy and choosing a method with minimal risk.

Therefore, it would be wise not to comply with the Villain Alliance’s demands. There was no need to follow such a foolish directive that seemed to push him to his death.

Dorothy’s advice was wise. Dorothy’s concerns were well-founded.

However, 13 quickly shook his head in denial. Dorothy frowned in annoyance.

“13.”

“I understand what you’re saying. Dorothy’s words are wise. But I can’t do that.”

Because the Boss wouldn’t want that, 13 said.

“The purpose of our organization, the Boss’s wish, isn’t just to maintain this organization and barely survive… that’s not all of it. You know that too, Dorothy.”

“…….”

“For the greater picture the Boss envisions, the Villain Alliance is necessary. We still need to be affiliated with them for now. So, for now, let’s just comply.”

13’s words made sense. However, Dorothy’s expression was still full of dissatisfaction.

13 gently tapped Dorothy’s head with his hand. Dorothy slapped his hand away, annoyed.

“Don’t worry too much. I’m confident I’ll do well. I’ve already started the work.”

“…Shut up. You’re stupid, so you’ll probably mess up again. This time, you’re really going to die.”

“Say something nice for a change. They say words become seeds [a proverb meaning words have power and can come true].”

“I’m telling you in advance to ward off bad luck.”

He thought it was just ordinary curses, but it seemed she was showing some consideration after all.

Anyway, since Dorothy was worrying in her own way, he felt grateful.

The conversation was over. Further discussion wouldn’t change the conclusion. Perhaps thinking that, Dorothy no longer tried to persuade him.

“I’ll improve the brainwashing devices. And the brainwashing serums and tools too. …Make sure to capture that woman.”

“Roger. Let’s get Rahye in our grasp and give the damned Villain Alliance a huge middle finger. I’ll just completely ravage them.”

“…I’m afraid you might actually do it, not just as a figure of speech.”

When 13 held out his fist, Dorothy, with a sigh, bumped her small fist against his.

From this point on, the curtain opened for the true climax, the final phase of the 7th Division subjugation operation.

* * *

‘……?’

Rahye’s eyelids fluttered, feeling strangely heavy, then she slowly opened her eyes and sat up.

The familiar Captain’s office. It seemed she had fallen asleep, slumped over her desk.

Next to her was an empty coffee cup.

Checking the time, about an hour had passed since she last remembered. Perhaps she was a little tired. It seemed she had fallen asleep while working.

Mmm…

She lightly stretched her body. Her head felt a bit heavy, but her condition wasn’t bad. Her body felt strangely light.

‘That’s unusual. Falling asleep while working.’

Even after drinking coffee. Was it a lack of caffeine? It wouldn’t be good to increase the amount….

‘Speaking of which, a strange dream.’

Rahye absently reflected on the dream’s content, thinking she had had a somewhat strange dream.

The content itself was blurry and almost forgotten. It felt enveloped in a hazy mist.

Suddenly, she felt as if she had seen Apple in her dream. Was it because Apple was the last person she saw before falling asleep?

But what was the dream about? It was clearly a strange dream.

…Hmm. Well, there’s no need to worry about it. It was just a dream.

Just as she thought that, *knock knock* came a knock at the door.

When Rahye answered, Apple opened the door and entered.

“Excuse me, Captain-nim Rahye. I came to get the cup.”

“Ah, thank you, Apple. I enjoyed it again this time.”

She handed the empty cup to Apple, who approached with a tray.

Thump…

‘Oh…?’

But as she handed over the cup, Rahye felt a strange sensation pass through her for a moment.

“Captain-nim Rahye? Is something wrong?”

“…No. It’s nothing. Just a somewhat strange feeling….”

“A strange feeling?”

Rahye waved her hand, denying it to the puzzled Apple.

What was it? Somehow, looking at Apple’s face, a peculiar feeling came over her as Apple came closer.

Then, suddenly understanding the cause, Rahye asked.

“Apple, do you usually wear perfume?”

“Perfume? No. I don’t use any special one….”

“Is that so? It’s nothing. It just seemed like you smelled good.”

That’s right. A smell. It was a smell. The smell she caught when Apple came close was what made Rahye feel strange.

When she smelled it, how to describe it? It was like a jolt, a tingling sensation running across her skin.

Strangely… it made her feel excited….

‘Ah, my nipples got hard.’

Was it because she had just woken up? Or was it because Apple came close? She felt her body reacting strangely. Rahye felt a little troubled.

At any rate, it wasn’t something to worry about. However, lest this reaction be discovered, Rahye quickly sent Apple out and resumed the work she had stopped.

Apple, who had taken the cup and exited the Captain’s office, paused to look at the closed office door before heading to the pantry.

As far as she could tell, there seemed to be no major problems. Rahye didn’t seem to have realized that Apple had entered and exited the Captain’s office while she was asleep after drinking the brainwashing serum mixed with sugar, nor that Apple had implanted several suggestions and brainwashed her.

To report this fact quickly, Apple immediately sent a message to 13….