Chapter 39. Bombs are Not Art
“…You worked hard. Are you hurt anywhere?”
Hae-ryeon comforted the returning team members as she looked at them.
She expected something might happen since the festival was held, but the situation was more serious than anticipated.
To choose that place to test the new weapon.
‘Was I complacent…….’
When rumors spread that a big shot like the Poison King was caught, the crime rate in that area would plummet, even if only temporarily.
It had always been like that.
Sucking up to the strong and trampling the weak was the villains' way.
‘…A new big shot has emerged.’
A big-shot villain comparable to the Poison King.
‘And Mr. Hyeon-yul happened to be there.’
How bewildered must Hyeon-yul be?
He went to have fun, only to get caught up in such an incident.
Although she did say he was like a catnip in the villain world, she never thought he’d get involved in something like this.
Hae-ryeon gathered her throbbing head.
“Nobody got hurt. We’re just tired.”
Shin-woo answered.
Just as he said, fatigue filled his face.
“Understandable. You were harassed all day by new weapons, villains, and even people, right?”
“Speaking of which, Team Leader. We were filmed a lot today, will that be okay?”
Ji-hwan asked.
It was rare for the Black Eagle to reveal themselves in front of people like today.
This mission, considering the festival's scale, involved stepping out in front of people for the purpose of deterring villains.
Although they controlled it, many people pointed their phones at them.
Why wouldn't there be people using powers to secretly film them?
It became even more tiring because they had to use magic to block a considerable number.
He understood it was novel, but did they really want to obstruct them like that?
Ji-hwan couldn't understand.
“The media is naturally blocked, and there won’t be any chatter about today’s events on SNS or other personal broadcasts. And the magic contained in the Smartwatch needs to be changed, so you know to stop by the Magic Engineering Lab, right?”
The perception-lowering magic made them look different from their actual appearance.
Even if filmed, changing their appearance afterwards was enough.
“I know.”
At Ji-hwan’s answer, Hae-ryeon smiled faintly.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Ji-hwan. People who didn't comply with the recommendation to delete videos and photos using 조회수(number of views) as an excuse, people spreading various rumors, etc. Lawsuits will be filed against all of them. Don’t forget we are protected by the Empire's laws.”
“It’s just that this kind of thing hasn’t happened in so long, I was worried what if they spout nonsense again. I get really angry when our team members get hurt.”
Ji-hwan openly frowned.
As famous as the Black Eagle was, there was also much criticism.
There were actually Black Eagles who committed suicide due to numerous slanders.
Because of this, a separate law was created to protect the Black Eagle.
“What……. Was that what kept bothering you, making your expression bad the whole way here? You should have said so earlier. Noona, I may not know much else, but I’m fine with getting cursed at a lot. I’ve received all sorts of threats from villains too?”
Na-yoon looked warmly at Ji-hwan.
She came in through special recruitment as number one in villain reporting rate.
Most things didn't even make her bat an eye.
“Yeah. Do we get cursed at just once or twice? We won’t die from eating that. With such a reliable Team Leader, what’s there to worry about?”
Shin-woo lightly slapped Ji-hwan’s back.
Ji-hwan was the weakest in this aspect.
Because Ji-hwan really liked the Black Eagle.
Love often hurt as much as it was felt.
“I’m fine with this much too. It’s a relief if everyone is okay, but, um. Something’s bothering me.”
After uttering the words, Ji-hwan looked at his team members.
“I think everyone probably feels the same way as me.”
The corners of Ji-hwan’s eyes slowly lifted.
“…We feel the same. Trash-like bastards. Look how they showed up like ghosts as soon as Hyeon-yul said he was playing. I ended up making a kid who was playing… work.”
Shin-woo spoke and slumped in frustration.
“Yeah. That’s the problem.”
Hae-ryeon exhaled.
She heard about Hyeon-yul’s intervention from Shin-woo.
By the time she heard, Hyeon-yul was already involved, so even if she was exasperated, she had to respect what happened on site.
“I’m going to cancel Mr. Hyeon-yul’s leave and change it to work attendance, is everyone okay with that?”
Hae-ryeon looked at her team members.
She didn't know how angry Hyeon-yul must be right now, but she had to appease him with this at least.
“It’s okay. Of course.”
The answers following Na-yoon’s were the same.
He was entrusted with the most important task, what else could it be if not work attendance?
“Okay. I’ll convey this to Mr. Hyeon-yul separately. Then, only Mr. Shin-woo stays, the rest can leave work.”
Hae-ryeon said with a bright smile.
“Team Leader.”
Na-yoon opened her mouth.
“Hm?”
“There’s something I saw that I think I need to tell you.”
“What did you see?”
“There was an area in the festival zone where the lights suddenly went out.”
“The lights went out?”
“Yes. Isn’t that too strange? The lights came back on quickly, but at the stall meant for proselytizing, besides the words ‘Free Gift’, it was completely empty of people and goods, yet only one person was standing there.”
It was too strange.
What kind of power, what was there, countless questions arose.
“…Could that person have done it? Who could it be?”
Na-yoon wore a heavy expression.
‘It couldn’t be the villain Ji-hwan saw, right?’
Hae-ryeon thought deeply.
From the villains' perspective, they had to call the Black Eagle to keep them in check, but also prevent the opposing villain from achieving their goal.
“During the festival, how many new weapons did Mr. Hyeon-yul destroy?”
“A total of 6.”
Shin-woo answered Hae-ryeon’s question.
“Alright. I’ll look into this.”
Hae-ryeon said brightly.
If the number of weapons didn't match after interrogating the captured villain, it would be clear that someone intervened midway.
“Let’s leave work now.”
Whatever else, leaving work had to be done brightly.
***
‘…It’s gone.’
As soon as Hyeon-yul opened his eyes, he checked the internet news articles first.
Nowhere could he find any news about incidents related to the festival.
‘Is the Black Eagle side blocking everything?’
Even checking SNS or other platforms, there were only comments about how pretty or nice the festival was.
It wasn't just any incident, the Black Eagle had been running rampant, yet there wasn't a single article.
‘As expected, it must be because the Empire is behind the Black Eagle, right?’
Hyeon-yul narrowed his eyes.
It was a fact he already knew, but seeing it through the incident he experienced made him realize anew how strong the Empire was, and what a futile dream the villains trying to topple such an Empire were dreaming.
‘…What is the Empire thinking?’
He was the first case of a villain becoming a Black Eagle.
Since the Empire was the entity that hated villains more than anyone, he thought they might pull some trick on him, but it remained quiet.
If the Empire had the power to block information about numerous people like today, burying someone like him would be simple too.
Hyeon-yul stared blankly at his phone.
‘Did someone exert their power?’
Only a few people could wield such power.
The few beings in the Empire, the nobles.
Although it was just a nominal position in this place without a class system, even a 5-year-old child knew that a few nobles monopolized the wealth.
‘Anyway, it wouldn’t be bad to continue being vigilant.’
The Empire was unlikely to be on his side.
He was the Empire's blemish, a mark of failure resulting from not being able to stop the villains.
At the very least, filming a third-rate documentary to appeal to people's emotions, or using him as a means to make villains look even worse, his background as an experimental subject had many exploitable aspects.
Hyeon-yul dismissed the thoughts and got up from his seat.
His work hours changed starting today.
7 PM to 1 AM.
‘Let’s go look at houses.’
He conveyed his intention to find a house to Hae-ryeon, and heard good news in the process.
―About the festival time, I cancelled the leave processing and processed it as work attendance. All team members know and agreed, so I hope you don’t feel burdened.
Even though destroying the new weapons wasn't particularly difficult, it was processed as work attendance.
Housing and hospital bills were also supported.
Where else could such a good workplace exist?
He might not be able to find one again.
‘I should make sure not to look again. That way……’
Jiiiing.
A call came.
Team Leader Oh Hae-ryeon.
Hyeon-yul looked around, then answered the call.
“Yes, Team Leader.”
<Sorry for contacting you before work. It’s nosy, but I wondered if you were thinking of looking for a house starting today.>
“Yes. Since I have time until work, I plan to look around.”
<Then, would it be alright if I sent someone?>
“Someone?”
<It’s because I know someone. When you think about finding a house, it can be daunting, and there are many fake listings, so it must be bothersome. Since you’re looking anyway, wouldn’t it be nice if the house was good and clean?>
“That… is certainly true.”
This house was one he found before becoming an adult.
Although there was illegal activity involved, it just happened in the process of the landlord showing various considerations to him, who had nowhere to go.
Because minors needed guardians.
What he could do was threaten Yu-jong, the Night Rat, to block information related to himself.
Neither the landlord nor Jeong-min should suffer consequences because of him.
<What kind of house do you want? Even simple is fine. That way it’s easier for you too, Mr. Hyeon-yul.>
“I was thinking about a two-room apartment…….”
<No way, Mr. Hyeon-yul. Be a bit more ambitious.>
“Just bigger than now is fine.”
<As expected, the maximum condition of 18 pyeong would be good. Right? Gets good sunlight, has a mart or various shops nearby, good transportation, and not on a hill. Anyway, I’ll list all the good things first.>
In summary, Hae-ryeon was just saying she would find him a ‘good place’.
“……Is that really okay?”
<Why wouldn’t it be? I’ll pass it on like this.>
“Really…?”
<Of course.>
Hyeon-yul stared blankly ahead, holding his phone.
‘How is this happening…?’
He couldn't understand.
All the villains who scouted him only made empty promises; they never acted directly.
Houses were the same.
They didn't even care how he lived.
Hyeon-yul was confused.
‘Are they telling me I’m doing well? Or telling me to do better?’
Or was it a reward for meeting expectations?
Suspicion crept in slowly.
<Ah, by any chance, nothing happened yesterday, right? For instance, like the Poison King coming to find you again last time.>
“Nothing happened.”
Didn't he warn Yu-jong again just in case such a thing happened?
By now, along with the Crimson Witch, he must be searching for where the Poison King got his information.
<Then that’s fine. See you later. If you think you’ll be tired, it might be good to sleep beforehand.>
“Team Leader.”
<Hm?>
“I saw that no news articles related to yesterday’s festival were published.”
<Ah, ah, I thought it might indeed be surprising for Mr. Hyeon-yul to see. It’s nothing special, just acting according to the guidelines passed down by the government to protect the Black Eagle. We are public servants after all, right?>
“Does that protect me too?”
<Of course. Aren’t you a Black Eagle too, Mr. Hyeon-yul?>
‘Does it mean they’ll protect me to the end as long as I wear the guise of a Black Eagle?’
Then what would happen if he took off the Black Eagle guise?
Hyeon-yul was most curious about that point, but didn't ask.
“Thank you for letting me know.”
<Not at all. See you later.>
“Understood.”
Hyeon-yul lowered his phone and looked ahead with a stiff expression.
If he weren't a Black Eagle, what would they do with him, a successful experimental subject?
―…The Black Eagle won’t be able to give you what you want. That place, unlike your thoughts, is not a righteous place.
Suddenly, the nonsense the Poison King spouted echoed unpleasantly in his mind.
***
The process of finding a house was incredibly simple.
He rode in the car of the person Hae-ryeon sent, looked at a house, snooped around here and there, then got back in the car and went to another house, repeating this action several times.
The repetitive action wasn't boring.
Whichever house he looked at, it felt like stepping into a world that seemed forever unreachable, making it feel unreal.
Among them, he found one house he liked.
No matter where he looked, there wouldn't be a place he liked more than here.
Knock, knock.
Hyeon-yul knocked on the door and waited briefly.
It was a slightly better house than the one he lived in.
As soon as the grandmother opened the door, Hyeon-yul bowed his waist.
She was the landlord.
“Elder. I will be moving to another house soon. I stopped by beforehand in case I’m busy then.”
“I told you, you can stay as long as you want and just leave whenever you want, did you come all this way just to tell me that?”
The grandmother retorted bluntly.
“Yes. Because that’s the right thing to do.”
Hyeon-yul smiled lightly at those words.
She was the person who provided him a place to stay when he was at his lowest.
It was right to offer greetings.
“Nonsense. Have you eaten?”
“I have to go to work soon.”
The grandmother looked at Hyeon-yul.
“You’ve grown a lot.”
“I grew up thanks to you.”
“Don’t come back here after leaving. Now that you’re all grown up, I won’t take you in even if you cry.”
“I will do that.”
“Wait, wait a moment.”
The grandmother went inside.
No matter how long it took, Hyeon-yul intended to wait.
He had grown up as much as the time passed, and the grandmother’s hair had turned a little whiter.
“Take it.”
The grandmother’s voice, tossing it indifferently just like back then, was the same.
Hyeon-yul took the black plastic bag the grandmother offered.
“Elder, stay healthy.”
“Okay.”
The grandmother went straight inside after replying, and Hyeon-yul also turned around, holding the plastic bag.
His relationship with the landlord wasn't deep, yet not light either.
After renting out the house, she never came to see him, nor did she contact him.
If the rent was late, it was late; she never said anything.
Hyeon-yul looked inside the plastic bag.
It was full of the snacks that were in a corner of the room when he first moved in.
Hyeon-yul let out a small laugh.
The world had screwed him over, but if the reason he didn't turn crooked despite that was because of Jeong-min and these snacks, would anyone believe it?
Hyeon-yul entered the alley and quietly disappeared.
***
“…Damn, it’s ridiculously hard to break.”
The man controlling the game character on his phone frowned deeply.
Tok, tok.
“Doggy.”
Hyeon-yul naturally called out to Yu-jong.
“…Yes, yes!”
Yu-jong stood up so urgently that he almost dropped his phone.
As soon as he realized it was the mad dog, Yu-jong became extremely tense.
He even felt resentment asking why he came so quickly.
“Did you find where Asan is?”
Hyeon-yul asked quietly.