novelraw Chapter 168 : Hero Jae-hee (4)
Chapter 168 : Hero Jae-hee (4)
Flames writhed beneath iron spikes that clawed at the sky. They danced, and danced.
Impaled on those spikes, jutting from the fire like thornbushes, hung people. Dangling like fruit. Still breathing.
Some screamed. Some begged for help. Some had given up entirely, their bodies hanging limp.
At the feet of these people, each dying in their own way, lay a small hill of silver cuffs.
Awakening Inhibitors.
The very things the impaled had been transporting, the very things they had intended to fasten onto the wrists of the city’s Awakened.
Now, those same objects burned in the inferno like firewood.
«Hmm-hmm~ hmm-hmm-hmm~»
Before the hill of burning cuffs, someone hummed a little tune.
A woman in a hanbok, her face hidden by a traditional Bride’s Mask.
Chun-hyang, the leader of the Crimson Poverty Front.
Several of the silver cuffs were fastened around her own slender arms. She shook them like bracelets, twirling gracefully in place as if the screams of the burning victims were a sweet Christmas carol.
To her left and right stood figures in an assortment of other traditional masks. They dragged more victims forward and, one by one, hoisted them onto the spikes.
The victims, dressed in the uniforms of the Gate Defense Bureau, struggled until the very end, but it was no use. Soon, new screams joined the orchestra.
«You know,» Chun-hyang said, tilting her head, «I just don’t quite get this world. If it’s going to end anyway, shouldn’t we… I don’t know, be allowed to cut loose?»
She unclasped the cuffs from her arms one by one, tossing them onto the burning hill like kindling.
«Our people are so wonderfully good-natured. Someone says, ‘Let’s all die slowly for the greater good!’ and they just say, ‘Sounds good!’ and meekly accept their shackles.»
Chun-hyang slowly turned to face forward.
«But I am not such a fool. I can’t just stand by and watch someone try to slap a pair of cuffs on my wrists.»
She spread her hands, gesturing to the masked figures beside her.
«We are the Crimson Poverty Front.»
The dozen or so figures in traditional masks simply continued their work in silence. They dragged the next victim forward and impaled them on a spike.
«We condemn the current government for oppressing the New Humanity with false propaganda,» Chun-hyang chirped, her back to the gruesome scene.
«Cease distribution of the cuffs immediately and halt all acts of oppression against the New Humanity. If you do… we will cooperate in granting you the comfortable end you so desire.»
But the government would do no such thing.
Which was why Chun-hyang’s true intent lay in her next words.
«However, if you do not… then at the stroke of midnight on January first, we will begin a war.»
A declaration of war.
«We will open the Gate with our own hands, end this thirty-year-long ‘tutorial,’ purge the Old Humanity, and usher in a new era.»
A low laugh escaped from beneath her mask as she gestured toward the spikes behind her.
«So, Merry Christmas.»
The gesture was as innocent as a child showing off a Christmas tree she’d prepared all winter.
«And a Happy New Year.»
***
The video ended.
“During Operation Christmas Gift, we lost contact with the Gate Defense Bureau staff and military unit that was transporting the Awakening Inhibitors,” Mu-gung reported, looking around at the heroes gathered in the conference room.
“The military sensed something was wrong and raided the site at dawn today. There were no survivors… only a recording.”
Captain Nerd clicked his tongue. “Location?”
“A mountain near Ulsan.”
“They’re popping up all over the damn place, aren’t they…”
Seoul, Chuncheon, the South Sea, Ulsan… The Crimson Poverty Front was truly running wild, appearing here and disappearing there at will.
“Wait, but they’re just one organization, right?” Miss Never asked, bewildered. “Can they really declare war on the entire country?”
“Anyone can declare war,” Mu-gung replied. “Whether that declaration has any actual meaning is another matter entirely.”
Chosen One nodded. “Special orders have come down to all military bases and the 666th Special Operations Unit. They were already on high alert, but now they’re to be especially wary of the Crimson Poverty Front. I’ll be heading out to support them.”
Captain Nerd picked up the thread. “I’ll deploy drones across the country and expand our surveillance network. It’ll be a power drain, but I’m sure the government will cooperate.”
Miss Never grunted and scratched at her eyepatch. “Guess I’ll have to earn my keep for once… Open up the ‘Observatory.’ I’ll monitor the Seoul metropolitan area myself.”
She meant she would conduct reconnaissance from the observatory on the top floor of Hero Tower using her Mystic Eye.
As the heroes found their roles in the unfolding emergency, Jae-hee let out an impressed “Ooh,” then turned to Death-Medic.
“So what do we do?” he asked.
“We’re scrubs, Boy. There’s nothing we can do,” Death-Medic said with a strange little squeak, winking at him. “Go make some popcorn.”
Rain Man nodded. “Everyone will contribute to keeping watch for the Crimson Poverty Front. This will likely be a long fight. Don’t burn yourselves out at the start. Maintain a state of appropriate tension.”
He then gave his instructions to Death-Medic and Jae-hee. “You two will rest, but be prepared to mobilize the moment you’re summoned.”
“Yessir~”
“Yessir~”
Jae-hee and Death-Medic answered in unison.
And with that, the heroes’ meeting was adjourned.
Chosen One, Captain Nerd, and Miss Never rushed out to their respective duties.
Death-Medic yawned widely and headed for the residential floor, calling out, “Gimme a holler if you need a medic~”
Left alone with Rain Man as he organized the files, Jae-hee asked curiously, “What about you, Rain Man bro? Are you going to rest, too?”
“I’m going to meet an informant.”
“An informant?” Jae-hee’s eyes went wide.
Rain Man explained patiently, “Even villains have their networks. I was contacted by one who was active until recently. He claims to have information on the Crimson Poverty Front.”
“Whoa.”
“We might be able to get a tail on them. I’m going to meet him myself.”
Jae-hee pointed a finger at his own chest. “Can I come with you?”
When Rain Man gave him a quizzical look, Jae-hee added with an awkward laugh, “I mean, I’m from the underworld myself, you know? I’ve got some experience on that side of the tracks… I thought I might be of some help if you’re meeting a villain.”
Jae-hee had grown up as a petty thief and had even done a stint in prison not long ago. He was far more familiar with the criminal underworld than he was with this new, respectable life.
He’d asked hoping he could be useful, but Rain Man gently refused.
“I appreciate the thought. But he made it a condition that I come alone.”
“Oh, well, can’t be helped then.”
“Right. I’ll be off.” Having organized the documents, Rain Man left the conference room.
Still, though…
Jae-hee stared blankly at his retreating back, a fresh wave of admiration washing over him as he watched the long hair swaying behind Rain Man.
Damn, Rain Man really rocks that long hair.
He was handsome, too. If he just took off the hood, his already insane popularity would probably explode…
***
Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul.
A back alley.
Standing before the entrance to a commercial building’s basement, Rain Man waited, his hood pulled low.
He didn’t have to wait long.
“Rain Man?”
His contact had arrived.
He was a scrawny man, his body covered in messy tattoos. He approached cautiously, his eyes darting around.
“You’re Rain Man, yeah?”
“I am.”
“I’d like to talk somewhere… safe.”
“Follow me.” Rain Man led the informant into the basement.
Downstairs was a soundproofed recording studio, cluttered with band equipment.
“It’s safe here. This is my… personal space.”
To put the informant at ease, Rain Man led him even deeper into the studio, into a bathroom, and locked the door firmly behind them.
A chair had been placed inside. When Rain Man gestured to it, the informant sat down on trembling legs.
“Y-you’re really gonna protect me, right? And you’ll pay well for the info?”
“If your information is useful, then of course. I swear it on my name as Hunter Rain Man.” Rain Man urged him on. “What is this important information you have for me?”
The man swallowed hard. Even knowing he was in a secure location, he scanned his surroundings, his eyes glistening, before lowering his voice.
“A few months back, my crew got absorbed by the Crimson Poverty Front. We’ve been doing grunt work for them, yeah?”
“…”
“Mostly just hauling ammo, stealing cars, little errands like that. Anyway, we’ve been helping them out behind the scenes. But then…”
The informant paused for dramatic effect.
“I found out something terrifying.”
“And what is that?”
“There’s a mole among you New Five Heroes.”
“…What?”
For the first time, a note of bewilderment entered Rain Man’s otherwise calm, detached voice. “That’s impossible. We are all heroes dedicated to protecting the world. I personally vetted…”
“I’m telling you, I saw it with my own eyes! Information about your deployments is being fed directly to the Crimson Poverty Front in real time!” the informant insisted, licking his lips.
“Haven’t you noticed how often your raids come up empty? Huh? It’s because your intel is leaking.”
“…”
“And that’s not all! They know everything, from the location of Gate Cores to… a few days ago, they knew the exact location of some villain you were about to execute. They hit the transport, busted him out, just like that. Who do you think could get their hands on that kind of high-level intel?”
Rain Man fell silent.
The informant pressed on.
“Someone on your team is feeding them information directly. You have a traitor in your midst!”
“…”
“You’ve got a fox in the henhouse. You’d better watch your back, Rain Man. Whoever it is, they’re thorough enough to fool even a symbol of justice like you…”
“…This is very useful information indeed.” Rain Man let out a sigh and met the informant’s gaze. “Who else knows about this?”
“Just me, of course. Why would I share a score this big? The reward’s got to be huge.”
“I see.” Rain Man nodded gravely. “That’s a relief.”
“Huh? What is?”
“That it’s just you.”
Rain Man’s fingertips pointed toward the informant.
“Disposing of a body is such a hassle.”
The informant didn’t have time to understand.
In the next instant, jets of water from the showerhead tore his body to shreds.
SHRAAAK!
Countless high-pressure water cutters pulverized what had been a human form only moments before, splattering its remains across the bathroom floor.
The crimson staining the tiles was immediately swept away by the deluge, vanishing down the drain.
Throughout the process, not a single drop of water, let alone blood, had splashed onto Rain Man.
Despite having just killed a man, Rain Man calmly approached the bathroom mirror.
He pulled back his hood and removed his sunglasses.
With his bare face revealed, he gathered his long, jet-black hair in his hands. It was long enough to fall well past his waist, and he expertly manipulated the thick mass as if it were a single cord.
Twisting it tightly, he felt the heavy weight shift to the crown of his head.
Carefully, Rain Man coiled his hair, winding it tightly into a solid shape before neatly tucking the ends into the base to secure it.
A solid, unshakeable peak of black hair was complete.
Like a sculptor admiring his work, Rain Man adjusted the hairstyle—a topknot.
He opened a nearby cabinet and took out a manggeon, wrapping it around his forehead and securing the topknot with its strings.
Finally, he inserted a small jade donggot into the knot, completing his grooming.
A completely different person stood coolly in the mirror.
“We let too much riffraff into the organization, and now it’s springing leaks.”
Rain Man—no.
Hong Gil-dong, the Deputy Leader of the Crimson Poverty Front.
He clicked his tongue with a bitter smile.
“How does our leader expect to prepare for the rainy season like this?”