Chapter 117: The Man Who Knew Too Much

“Honestly, I was quite surprised when you showed up.

You weren’t my prime suspect.

Between Seon Jaeyul, Im Chan, and Hwang Jiyu, why would anyone prioritize a mere guide.

Of course, you had enough motive, but there were far too many people like that.

Jin Se-hyeon was just one of many suspects.”

The Support Agency Director continued speaking leisurely, never once rising from his seat.

There was no tension in his posture, expression, or tone.

It was confidence.

The confidence that even if a high-ranking Esper attacked him, he could deal with it easily.

That must be why he could set a trap like this and wait, knowing someone would come for him.

“Hah.

Feels like I got sucker-punched.

How did you know?”

I removed the mask that had become useless.

There was no reason to hide my face in front of someone already certain of my identity.

Sweat trickled slightly from tension, only to dry quickly as it met the cool air of the room.

This situation was unexpected, yes, but I wasn’t without hidden cards of my own.

Fortunately, Poppy had slipped under the bed and hidden before the director noticed him.

As long as Poppy and I were together, the worst-case scenario could still be avoided.

“I never imagined I’d be alone in a room with you like this.

I expected something more romantic.

Among all the suspects, you were the only one with a body type I happen to like, Jin Se-hyeon.

How could I not recognize you.”

Disgusting bastard.

He hadn’t even tried to hide his filthy thoughts when we first met, and he was still making trashy jokes now.

I wanted to tear his mouth open right then and there, but I held back.

There were things I needed to hear.

There was no benefit to dragging this out, so I threw out the question I’d prepared.

“Then why try to kill me.

Even if it was for your nephew, losing an SS-rank special agent would hurt you the most, wouldn’t it?”

“Haha.

You seem to overestimate your own worth.

Did you really think a mere guide would mean anything special to me?”

“Of course.

If you want to keep your position, every single high-ranking agent matters.”

I hadn’t checked the detailed statistics, but at least from my experience, there hadn’t been a single catastrophic Gate Break since Special Team One of the Second Center began operating.

As results like that piled up, it was only natural that the power of the director overseeing special ability users would grow.

Just look at how many flattering news articles about him had been pouring out lately.

“And what if I had no intention of keeping that position.”

For a moment, I didn’t understand what he meant.

No intention of keeping it.

Why, when he already held such immense power.

Unless there was a position even greater than that.

“…Don’t tell me.”

“Yes.

For example, if someone who controls the nation’s economy offers to raise me to the very top, do you think I’d hesitate over a single guide.”

Ah.

The picture became clear instantly.

This greedy old man had never been satisfied with being the director.

The people who controlled the nation’s economy were Irihyeon’s parents.

The tycoons who had amassed absurd wealth by distributing Gate resources and monster flesh.

To secure their political backing, he had been willing to grant their wishes.

“So what did I do that was bad enough to deserve death.”

“If there’s a sin, it’s that you were too close to Seon Jaeyul.

From our perspective, Jaeyul is an asset we cannot afford to lose.

As long as you were by his side, that became impossible.

Just imagine it.

The wealthiest conglomerate in the country and an SS-rank Esper who protects the lives of the people, both standing behind me.

Who wouldn’t want that.”

Something about this felt strange.

As far as I remembered, Director Han Dong-il had never actually seized political power.

I didn’t know what had caused events to flow this way, but in the end, Han Dong-il would never become president.

Because if he died here, no support would matter anymore.

Either way, I now understood why he had joined Irihyeon’s plan.

To win over Irihyeon’s tycoon parents.

To bind Jaeyul within the frame of “family” and use him.

That was why he had tried to kill me.

Risky as it was, it was a gamble with a tempting payout.

“Too bad.

That plan already seems to be dead.

The one you tried to kill is still alive, and the wrong person ended up dead.”

For the first time, the smile vanished from Han Dong-il’s face.

His jaw muscles bulged as he clenched his teeth.

As I said, I was the winner here.

I survived every filthy scheme thrown at me.

I didn’t know why a loser thought he still had the right to act relaxed.

Without that arrogant expression, he was at least tolerable to look at.

“I admit it.

With Irihyeon gone, even my position is unstable now.

All support has been cut off.

Which is exactly why I can’t forgive you.”

I’d heard everything I needed.

There was no reason to waste more time now that all my questions were answered.

I pulled out a pocket knife and closed the distance, drawing his gaze.

“Hah.

You think you can kill me with a toy like that.

Tsk.

Even if you’re SS-rank, a guide is still just a guide.”

I appreciated him underestimating me like this.

I only needed to touch him once.

No matter how big or strong a man was, subduing a special ability user was far easier than a normal person.

All I had to do was turn his mana into mush.

“We’ll see about that.”

Even as I stepped within arm’s reach, Han Dong-il remained seated, merely watching.

Just a little closer, and I could grab his wrist.

“That’s right.

Even if you’re inexperienced, I should face you properly.”

Suddenly, Han Dong-il raised one hand.

In it was a small remote, like a signaling device.

“Do you know how many Espers are in this building.

Fifty.

All on standby.”

Beep.

He pressed a button on the remote with his thumb.

“I summoned them the moment you entered.

They’re waiting at the front entrance.

And now they’ll come in.”

I thought he was answering my questions, but in truth, he’d been stalling for time.

Carefully answering each one.

I didn’t hesitate.

I grabbed his wrist and ripped the remote from his hand.

Even if agents stormed in, I’d kill this bastard first.

“Dare an Omega try to overpower me.”

He truly thought little of me.

Instead of using his ability, Han Dong-il wrapped his large hand around my neck.

The force was brutal, as if he meant to snap my neck instantly.

I had no intention of dying, so I immediately began twisting his mana.

“W-what are you—urk.

You little—aaagh!”

Good.

My neck wasn’t broken.

Judging by how much mana he still had, he must’ve been indulging himself well.

That made the effect even better.

As I sent his mana flowing in chaotic directions, agonized groans poured from his mouth.

“I told you not to underestimate people.

Killing an old man like you is nothing.

We’re out of time, so let’s end it here.”

“W-wait—aaagh!”

I eased up slightly, giving him just enough room to breathe.

“Oh right.

Want to hear something funny.”

No matter how urgent things were, this had to be said.

“I didn’t kill Irihyeon.

Now you’ll never find the real culprit.”

He must’ve been shocked.

He likely believed that my visit today proved I was the murderer.

“K-kgh…

Did you think I didn’t know.

I only just realized who the culprit really—gkh!”

Blood spilled from the director’s mouth mid-sentence.

He knew who killed Irihyeon.

How.

How did he figure that out just now.

“Who.

Who is it.”

I hurriedly stopped my attack and demanded an answer.

But Han Dong-il only groaned in pain, wearing a hateful smile.

As I hesitated between forcing an answer and killing him outright, I heard a sound I shouldn’t have.

“Ang!”

Poppy.

He was supposed to be hiding under the bed.

Had the agents arrived already.

“Ang, ang!”

“…What.

Everyone dangerous is gone.”

Poppy said there were no dangerous people nearby.

No—gone.

I didn’t know what that meant, but it seemed the people Han Dong-il was waiting for weren’t coming.

Now that I thought about it, it was strange.

If agents had really been waiting outside, they should’ve arrived by now.

But no one came.

“Looks like even your precious backup isn’t coming.”

I mockingly pressed the button on the remote over and over.

No one was coming to save him.

I hadn’t checked myself, but if it was Poppy saying it, I could trust it.

“…H-how could this—ghk!”

“Then give up already.”

He clearly couldn’t believe it.

Not a single one of the fifty guards he trusted had appeared.

I didn’t know what had happened, but now I could deal with him with a bit more ease.

“I’m sorry—cough.

I’m sorry.

Please, just this once.

I’ll give you anything you want.”

Only now did he realize things weren’t going his way.

For the first time, genuine desperation spilled from Han Dong-il’s mouth.

It felt like a weight finally lifted from my chest.

This was it.

The completion of perfect revenge.

Now I just needed to hear who killed Irihyeon.

“So who was it.”

“Th-that…

You already kn—”

Death was right at his doorstep.

Fear flickered in his clouded eyes.

At this rate, he seemed like he’d answer everything, but he was speaking so slowly it was maddening.

Thud.

A dull severing sound rang out.

The man who had been begging me disappeared.

No—more precisely, only his head disappeared.

Blood poured from the headless body.

When I came back to my senses, I saw red stains around Poppy’s mouth.

“What are you doing…?”

Why now.

Why would Poppy do this.

As I stared at him in a daze, his mouth opened wide again, swallowing the rest of Han Dong-il’s body whole.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he stuck out his tongue and licked the blood clean from his mouth.

This time, I had meant to kill him with my own hands.

And once again, I failed.

Worse still, I never got to hear who really killed Irihyeon.

“Ang!”

“I didn’t tell you to kill him, did I.”

Poppy dodged the issue with utter nonsense.

Is he going through puberty or something.

Why is he acting like this all of a sudden.

Missing the last words was painfully frustrating.

Was he about to say the culprit was someone I knew.

He died leaving behind even bigger questions.

But no matter how empty it felt, I couldn’t revive someone whose head was gone.

Escaping came first.

“…Fine.

Let’s go.

Ah, wait.”

After erasing my traces and preparing to leave, I turned toward the front door instead.

Why hadn’t anyone come to help Han Dong-il.

I opened the door slightly and peeked out.

That’s when I understood what Poppy meant by “everyone dangerous is gone.”

The corridor was littered with bodies piled like a mountain.

The way they’d been butchered was identical to Irihyeon’s death.

My first thought was that it had to be the same culprit.

What…

What on earth is happening.