Chapter 46 Part 16: Connivance.

***

“No, it can’t be…”

Lee Yeji muttered blankly.

She looked at the screen of her disconnected phone and swallowed.

The words she heard in the last few seconds before the call completely ended swirled in her head.

If it had simply been to hang up for treatment, it would have been one thing.

But she was certain, almost certain, that it wasn’t the case, and there was no time to hesitate.

For a moment, she wondered if those bastards had already made their move.

She quickly moved, thinking it would be better to find out the truth first.

As she headed to the hospital room, she prayed that she was mistaken.

But contrary to her wishes, the situation was bleak.

Kim Aram was not in the hospital room. No one had noticed her disappearance.

“Ah.”

She sighed at the fact that her ominous imagination had become reality.

The hospital was in an uproar.

Security guards, doctors, and nurses were scouring the hospital, but there was no word of finding the missing person.

Principal Rosena, who was filling in for the principal who was away on a schedule, also came and went with a stiff expression.

It seemed they had decided to hide the matter to prevent chaos.

It was clear that if this became known, things would only get bigger, not smaller.

And of course, it was clear that various operations would be underway under the surface.

Probably the academy staff would move or call in other heroes.

Thinking this, Lee Yeji laughed hollowly.

If she were to assign blame, it was her fault.

She couldn’t say it was all her fault, but she had been too complacent to think otherwise.

‘I should have gone with her to the hospital.’

Belated regret surfaced.

Things would be resolved even if she did nothing, but it would be too late by then.

Besides, if they went into hiding, there was nothing she could do.

Kim Aram would suffer just as she had suffered in the underground of the city for the past few years.

At that point, Lee Yeji made a decision.

There was a saying that the one who tied the knot should untie it. If she was the cause of the problem, she had to take care of it herself.

There was no… hesitation.

***

The Trickster tapped the steering wheel of the car pleasantly.

He wasn’t particularly fond of following others’ orders, but it didn’t matter now.

The person he was waiting for now was a VIP among VIPs.

“Oh, my.”

He tried to maintain his composure, despite being overly excited.

It was the first time he had revealed his true self instead of an alter ego, but it was worth the risk.

Before long, someone opened the passenger door and got in.

She closed the door somewhat roughly, fastened her seatbelt, and turned her head to look out the window.

The Trickster looked at her expression for a moment, then suppressed a laugh.

My god, a face that looks like it’s carrying all the unhappiness in the world.

He had already guessed when he received the call, but seeing it in person was surprisingly astonishing.

He thought she was an iron woman who would never be hurt by such things.

“Ah, Miss Yeji. Long time no see.”

“…Yeah.”

“Are you going to give up the high school girl act? I didn’t expect you to make your official debut like this.”

“I never had any intention of making a debut. I… cherished my normal life.”

“Then was there really a need to step in this time?”

Lee Yeji shut her mouth.

The Trickster carefully adjusted the temperature in the car and stared at her expression.

A complex expression, unable to discern a specific emotion.

It was clear that her emotions were genuinely complex, not that she was deliberately hiding them.

A brief silence descended.

And after a few minutes, she opened her mouth.

“I… needed to. Because I knew and still couldn’t stop it.”

“Aha?”

“That’s why I stepped up to handle it myself.”

The Trickster, immediately after hearing those words, lowered his assessment of Lee Yeji.

It was a really childish thought.

And an arrogant one at that.

To think that she had the power to end this situation alone.

Even if she had such power, she couldn’t possibly seal this situation completely.

She could deal with it faster than anyone, but that didn’t necessarily mean it was the best way.

The Trickster decided to offer a little favor.

Let’s show this ignorant student a better path.

Of course, whether she listened was another matter.

“Miss Yeji, asking for my cooperation is not a simple matter. You know that.”

Silence returned instead of an answer.

“Even if you try to dip just the tip of your pinky finger, the moment you do, the swamp will grab your hand and drag you in.”

“…I know that much. And it’s none of your business.”

“Well, you’re right.”

The Trickster ended the conversation at that point and started driving.

A kidnapping at a hospital affiliated with the Academy.

There were only a few forces that would dare to do such a thing without regard for others.

And among those forces, only one would do something without saying anything to the Trickster.

Finally, he knew very well which base that force was using.

The Trickster sneered inwardly.

He didn’t care what was happening behind the scenes, but he didn’t want things to go awry.

Korean society was a bit annoying to operate in because of the damn social status.

Of course, someone had to take care of the cleaning, but it was bothersome to call the cleaner, and he wanted to make a mess. So, as the cleaner, he couldn’t just stand by.

“I will do my best to serve the VIP of VIPs who has graced us with her presence.”

A puzzled expression returned.

The Trickster savored the emotion that contained a strange hostility, then let out a hearty laugh.

“Are you worried that I might lead you into a trap?”

“…I can’t say that’s not the case. I don’t know when and where you’ll use that ability of yours.”

He didn’t say anything else.

He could get rid of a thorn in his side without lifting a finger, so he should be the one welcoming it with open arms.

During a brief silence, the car glided smoothly on the road.

The destination was a factory on the outskirts of Busan.

“By the way, Miss Yeji.”

“…What.”

“Does the Academy know about this?”

The Trickster said this while checking the navigation.

Since the destination was just around the corner, there wasn’t much time left to talk.

“…I didn’t tell them.”

“Acting independently without telling anyone. That’s a bad thing.”

“I know. That’s why… I submitted my resignation.”

“My god.”

Lee Yeji remained silent instead of answering.

She had only submitted her resignation; no one else knew about it.

Her aunt, her homeroom teacher, the vice-principal, or her other friends.

She thought they didn’t need to know the details.

If something happened, she intended to take all the responsibility herself.

Before long, the car arrived near the factory.

A guard appeared, but the Trickster persuaded him with a pre-recorded message.

Lee Yeji immediately got out of the car.

She stood still for a moment, then began to head towards the factory without hesitation.

Naturally, the factory was not an ordinary factory.

The moment she opened the door and entered, many abnormal things appeared.

Equipment covered in dust, even though it was supposed to be a food processing factory.

An entrance that was conspicuously visible as if inviting them in.

…And guards who appeared at some point with guns.

“You’d better be careful if you don’t want holes in your body.”

One of the guards with a rifle muttered softly.

Lee Yeji slowly examined the group instead of answering.

Rifles. Shotguns. People who weren’t holding guns, but had pistols holstered at their waists.

They must have appeared in anticipation of a raid by a typical hero.

And usually, firearms were an effective means against typical heroes.

Unless they had extremely good cognitive abilities, it was difficult to block a bullet fired suddenly.

But instead of raising her hands, she kicked off the ground.

She immediately entered a speed impossible for a human body.

The guards pulled the triggers.

The silenced guns spewed flames continuously, but she narrowed the distance, mixing in appropriate evasive maneuvers.

“What?!”

“This bastard…!”

She struck the chin of the nearest guard.

Before the guard could fall, she kicked another guard in the stomach and lifted the fallen guard to throw him elsewhere.

It might have looked like a haphazard fight, but the guards realized it wasn’t.

From the moment she fought seriously, it was too easy to take a person’s life.

A guard, realizing that she was controlling her strength, gritted his teeth and aimed his shotgun.

He pulled the trigger.

With a bang, a hole was blown in the arrogant brat’s chest.

A direct hit to the heart, an instant kill with no room for argument.

The guard laughed hollowly as he looked at her fallen on the floor.

“Yeah, you should die when you get shot.”

The guard who had mocked her turned around.

With many dead and injured, it was clear that they would have to go into reorganization for a while.