Part 1, Chapter 12-1

After a discussion with Hwanryong.

I gathered the bachelors for a full-fledged sausage party. As it was an operation that would cause significant problems if noticed by others, I excluded the Heroes and only recruited Villains.

“Hey! I can’t possibly miss out on something this fun. Aren’t I one of your executives? But don’t go crushing that Rasputin guy’s *thing* or anything with me.”

“I hadn’t thought that far, but if you wish, I can make it happen.”

“Hey!!”

Jo Deokbae, who said he participated because it seemed fun. (1/99)

“The Azure Syndicate is officially a Hunter Guild, but the ‘Blue Feather’ created by the Guild Leader-nim is not affiliated with the Azure Syndicate. As they are Villains by birth, I believe they are the optimal personnel for this situation.”

“We can allow it as long as they don’t seriously injure anyone, right?”

“Yes. It’ll be a headache if they die for no reason. It might even be better to recover them after they’ve died causing a ruckus.”

Nine members of the Blue Feather who were treated like slaves and haven’t yet regained their minds. (10/99). They are merely Feather A, B, and C, not even executives, nor have they been given aliases, but I plan to use them effectively in the right place.

“Am I going too?”

“Because you’re clearly a Villain to anyone.”

Seohaemugi, an A-rank monstrous human who completed the mission to protect Yeongjongdo. The monstrous human I first created, even adding incantations, was finally ready to play an active role in my operation. Seohaemugi would serve as the leader who would direct the Blue Feather members.

Including Seohaemugi, 11 people. (11/99).

“That’s it for the Azure Syndicate.”

“Aren’t we being mobilized? This is gender discrimination.”

“If you want to get fucked by Rasputin, go right ahead. But if you submit and become an enemy, I won’t revive you. I’ll turn you into a monstrous human later and let you get fucked to your heart’s content.”

“My apologies. We will protect Seoul then. So, please forgive us…”

Gungseong expressed their intention to participate but then voluntarily withdrew.

Other ability users were preparing for their trip to India, so further mobilization was impossible.

“I will assist you from the side.”

Baek Cheongyeong (12/99), the original planner of the operation, expressed his intention to participate.

Everyone was disgusted by his bizarre idea of cutting off Rasputin’s genitals and turning him into a monstrous human, but one person expressed gratitude with a desperate heart.

“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”

“It’s nothing much. I’m just acting for my own benefit, too.”

Gwanggeom Heo Yun-hwan (13/99), the protagonist of the operation, repeatedly bowed deeply to Baek Cheongyeong, the operation’s planner.

For him, a former Hero, Baek Cheongyeong, who came up with such an unimaginable brilliant plan, was no different from Prometheus, who brought fire to human civilization.

“Phoenix-nim. How about mobilizing the Hwanryongdan as well? Coincidentally, they’re all men.”

“I think they’ll all have to cover their faces…”

“They’re an intelligence organization, so their faces are fine. What’s more concerning is their mana patterns.”

“That’s fine. Since they’re all monstrous humans, even if Hwanryong and I just raise their fire or illusion attributes by 1, their mana patterns will change.”

“Oh, I see. Then there won’t be a big problem even if they’re caught on the Association’s radar.”

All the virgin members of the Hwanryongdan were also mobilized. Baek Cheongyeong selected elite troops optimized for infiltration, excluding personnel needed for organizational management, Core production, and information control.

Thus, 11 members of the Hwanryongdan joined. (24/99).

“I’ll go too. I’ve heard Russia is so vast; I’d like to see it for myself.”

The Black Scorpion monstrous human – Shi Huangdi (25/99), who, like Seohaemugi, was a Villain in appearance, expressed his intention to participate. When seen alongside Seohaemugi, their appearance boasted a one-two punch among the high-ranking executives of some tokusatsu show’s villain organization.

“And then there’s me, the overall commander of the operation. I’ll step forward in my monstrous human form if need be, but I won’t directly confront Rasputin.”

“That’s obvious. If Phoenix-nim gets kyung-kyung’d by Rasputin, won’t we all be screwed?”

To be kyung-kyung’d.

It was a code word understood among those participating in this operation, and everyone understood it from the nuance alone, so there was no need to explain it. The only problem was that the target could be the Azure Flame Phoenix, following Anastasia, which would be tantamount to the operation’s failure.

Jo Deokbae, Seohaemugi, Gwanggeom, Baek Cheongyeong, Shi Huangdi.

The special forces, consisting of five so-called “named” individuals and 20 subordinates, possessed overwhelming power capable of overturning an entire nation.

“Then let’s go save the princess. Let’s clearly show them what happens when you mess with the Dark Legion.”

The Villains, intending to kidnap the princess, operated in the shadows, but some Heroes stepped up to divert attention.

“I didn’t know the Executor would use such a strategy.”

“It’s all to help you, Gwanggeom ahjussi. You absolutely have to marry Rusalka at Gwanghwamun now, you know?”

“If I can save Rusalka, that much is nothing.”

Executor Baek Hee-ah provided the best support she could, selecting the optimal personnel for visual distraction.

In other words, Operation: Hope They Get Along.

For the harmony between Heroes and Hunters (former Villains), Baek Hee-ah put forth a brilliant plan.

* * *

July 20, 2020, 11 PM, Gyeongbu Expressway.

“Hmm…”

Lee Seung-hyung, unable to hide his discomfort, fell into anxiety inside the van driving on the Gyeongbu Expressway at night.

“Uh, um, viewers? Do you happen to know where I’m going?”

Lee Seung-hyung’s broadcast opening, which he hadn’t done in a long time, felt quite awkward, but he explained the situation for the viewers he would greet through his smart watch live broadcast.

“The situation I’m in right now is… I was called out suddenly from sleep for an advertisement shoot, you see? Yes, there was an order from Executor-nim…”

Lee Seung-hyung pointed to the blindfold covering his eyes.

“They suddenly put this on me and just put me in the car. So I don’t even know where I’m going right now. Yes. Even S-rank ability users have to follow Executor-nim’s orders. Haha…”

Would the viewers who watched this video find Lee Seung-hyung’s suffering amusing, or would they curse Baek Hee-ah for giving an unreasonable order? Probably the former would be the majority, and Lee Seung-hyung had been told by the cameraman to thoroughly make a fool of himself.

“Actually, a few other people besides me have also been kidnapped here. Uh, so.”

“Keo-heo-heong, Pu-hoo…”

“…….”

Lee Seung-hyung pointed with his thumb to the back seat where snoring sounds were coming from. There, a middle-aged man and an old man – Wusa and Pungbaek – were deep in sleep, their chairs fully reclined, not even caring about their blindfolds.

“…The sunbae-nim are telling me to handle the broadcast myself and keep sleeping, and as for the others…”

Lee Seung-hyung’s hand pointed to the two men sitting in front of him. The combination of a gentleman insisting on wearing a fedora even in midsummer and a blonde middle-aged man in traditional Korean everyday attire was bizarre beyond words.

“…The Mayor of Seoul, Ryu Cheon-seong-nim, and Architect….”

“James Lee.”

The cameraman told Seung-hyung the name, as he seemed to have forgotten it. Seung-hyung was flustered, having caused a blunder right from the start, but Architect waved his hand from behind his chair as if to say it was fine.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m called by my alias so much more than my real name anyway, it feels like my own name. Isn’t that right, Haneulseong?”

“Uh, that, that name…”

Architect had mentioned Ryu Cheon-seong’s alias from his Villain days. With one broadcast blunder after another, Lee Seung-hyung didn’t know what to do.

“What’s the big deal? Everyone who knows, knows. I received a special pardon, so there’s no problem. I am Haneulseong Ryu Cheon-seong. I’m currently serving as the interim Mayor of Seoul.”

“No, if you suddenly introduce yourself like this…”

Lee Seung-hyung was restless, as if sitting on a bed of thorns, not knowing what to do. The comment section exploded with Ryu Cheon-seong’s bold coming out, but unfortunately for Lee Seung-hyung, the broadcast continued.

“So, Seong, can’t we really drink alcohol while we’re going?”

“My dear man. I’m going on business. You can’t drink alcohol during an overseas business trip.”

“Anyway, if you break down alcohol with mana… Tsk. You’re really strict.”

“What can I do? Heo-heo-heo. I have to uphold my public position. Surely no one would chug bottles of makgeolli next to someone on a business trip! Eu-heo-heo!”

Ryu Cheon-seong let out a hearty guffaw. That laughter passed by Lee Seung-hyung and provoked the white-haired old gentleman sitting in the very back.

Kkaddeuk.

Pungbaek was clearly sleeping, but he was grinding his teeth. The makgeolli he always carried like a gourd bottle on his hip was neatly stored away, its cap not even opened.

“Um… Mayor Ryu-nim. Are you really not going to tell us where we’re going?”

“What would change if I told you? Anyway, once we get on the plane… Hmm, I’ve spoiled it.”

“Plane? Wait, just a moment.”

Wusa, who had been pretending to sleep, was startled and threw off his blindfold.

“Sunbae-nim! By, by broadcast rules, you have to wear your blindfold until we arrive-“

“You shut up! Hey, Haneulseong! What do you mean, a plane?! Weren’t we going to Gangwon-do or Gaeseong to catch monsters?!”

“…….”

Ryu Cheon-seong avoided his gaze. Then he turned his head, cleared his throat towards the cameraman, and explained to the viewers.

“Only I know our destination. Others just need to bring their passports, but as a public official on an overseas business trip, I know in advance. Just in case, I’d like to say it’s not special treatment. This trip was officially arranged in consultation with the Hero Association, and it’s natural for other Heroes not to know.”

That’s what was publicly known. Seung-hyung was dumbfounded by Ryu Cheon-seong’s audacity in brazenly spouting lies in front of the camera. The cameraman, who had been filming Ryu Cheon-seong, turned the camera to Lee Seung-hyung.

“Seung-hyung-ssi. How do you feel about now having to attend to these four individuals?”

“…I have to attend to them?”

Seung-hyung was dumbfounded, as if he’d never heard of it before.

“No, well, you can see the seats right now, can’t you?”

Seung-hyung pointed to the front and back seats. Pungbaek and Wusa, who had actively fought on the Hero side during the Seoul Reclamation Operation, and Haneulseong, who had blocked them on Gangnam Boulevard. Although Architect hadn’t appeared on the front lines, the people sitting in this van had been enemies, pointing swords at each other just four months ago.

Ppi-ri-ri.

A call rang on Seung-hyung’s smart watch. Seung-hyung fumbled with his hand to answer the call, and beyond the screen, the Executor, wearing a white beret, appeared.

“Ah, Executor-nim.”

[Wusa, put your blindfold back on.]

“Yes….”

Wusa, who had been scanning beyond the tinted window, obediently put on his blindfold at the Executor’s command. Thanks to their mana, they had sensed which direction the car was moving, but the idea of taking a ‘plane’ was utterly incomprehensible.

“It seems like we’re heading north right now, is that correct?”

[Yes. That’s right. Then I’ll give you your mission now. Ah, this is a live broadcast, isn’t it? Hello, fellow citizens. This is Executor Baek Hee-ah.]

As a single, delicate black lily bloomed in the sweaty field of men, peace descended upon the live broadcast’s comment section, which had been like a battlefield.

[Everyone must be confused. For showing you this situation live without any warning. But I believe that our ability users will be able to overcome this challenge by sufficiently combining their strengths.]

Baek Hee-ah placed one hand on her chest and gently bowed her head.

[Then, in about 10 minutes, the broadcast will be temporarily paused until we reach our destination. Please understand that Yuseong’s… new product will be introduced as an advertisement. This broadcast is sponsored by Yuseong Group. …Haa.]

Baek Hee-ah, who had been speaking formally in a stiff voice, let out a deep sigh. At this unintentional slip-up, Seung-hyung fussed to change the subject.

“Uh, viewers? Please stay tuned and wait for 10 minutes. I will be giving Yuseong’s new product as a gift to ten people chosen by lottery from those who leave comments. I don’t know what it is, but the mission is… where are we going? Mayor-nim. Would you like to give the viewers a hint?”

The camera turned to Ryu Cheon-seong. Ryu Cheon-seong once again placed his fedora on his chest in greeting, then pointed to the sky with a gentle voice.

“We’ll be going somewhere very close by plane. It’s a country where the weather is cold, but people are full of warmth. Actually, the reason we’re going is none other than for me to represent us in giving our thanks to a Hero of the Round Table who was once on that land. …Hehe, I wonder if that’s enough of a hint?”

Ryu Cheon-seong subtly spread three fingers. The comment section began to explode once again, and Lee Seung-hyung turned pale.

“Uh, um, but what exactly is Yuseong’s new product? Is it a TV? A laptop?”

“It’s a new smart watch. The manufacturing cost per unit is 1 billion won.”

“…….”

Lee Seung-hyung covered his face with both hands. With that, the broadcast was temporarily paused.

10 minutes later.

The broadcast resumed at Incheon International Airport.

“Hello everyone! I’m Eun Yuha, the apple of Yuseong Group’s eye! Ugh, it’s so gloomy here. It seems like a pretty face is needed for the broadcast!”

Eun Yuha, who had a private jet waiting, greeted the six men with open arms. Behind Eun Yuha, female androids in flight attendant uniforms were bowing.

“In that sense, we have X-roids here to help you with your journey! From now on, when you travel to Incheon, X-roid flight attendants will assist you. Hoho.”

“…….”

The cameraman lifted his slipping sunglasses with a finger. In the moonlight, his pupils and whites of his eyes were reversed.

A moment later.

The private jet provided by Eun Yuha sped down Incheon International Airport’s runway and took off for Russia.