Chapter 52: Special Criminal Containment Facility (3)
He didn't know how long it had been since he'd felt such intense emotions.
He wanted to keep feeling them if he wished, but Hyeon-yul knew it was dangerous.
It wasn't the direction Jeong-min desired, and it would be the path to becoming the monster he despised.
“……Ha. Haha! Hahaha!”
The Poison King clutched his hand and laughed.
He laughed loudly, as if he had gone mad.
“Do you think I’ll give up on you because of this? Do you think I’ll let you go because of this!”
‘Now he seems human.’
Hyeon-yul observed the Poison King, who was openly displaying his emotions.
“I’ll capture you, analyze you piece by piece! How you were made! What kind of power you possess…!”
‘It wasn’t you either.’
The creation of himself wasn’t related to the Poison King.
He had just confirmed that.
Then, who could it be?
Who the hell was the bastard that made him?
He had searched so hard, yet couldn't find them.
Hyeon-yul emerged from his thoughts and sneered at the Poison King's actions.
“I didn’t know you were also good at acting.”
Just as the dripping blood seemed to lessen, the severed finger was regenerating.
“You regenerate too?”
At Hyeon-yul’s words, the Poison King flinched visibly.
The Poison King hid his finger further.
“This isn’t easy, you know. No one is without secrets, but you certainly have many. I’m also curious about what’s inside that head of yours.”
Hyeon-yul didn't probe further.
He wouldn't tell him anyway.
Hyeon-yul turned around.
“Where are you going? Come back here! We’re not done talking yet!”
“It’s troublesome if you get lonely this easily.”
“……Ha.”
Words failed the Poison King as rage surged up to his throat.
“But don’t worry. I’ll come again.”
Hyeon-yul smirked mockingly.
“…I apologize! I will ensure such negligence never happens again!”
When Hyeon-yul came outside, he could see the Prison Warden bowing his head to Hae-ryeon.
“What are you talking about?”
Hae-ryeon gripped the Prison Warden’s shoulder.
Squeeze.
He could see the force being applied.
“I won’t let this slide with just an apology. You must have severely underestimated me.”
Hae-ryeon pressed down, preventing the Prison Warden from raising his head.
Wouldn't seeing that face make her even angrier?
“Or perhaps you underestimated the Black Eagles. Whatever the reason, you should prepare to lose your job.”
Trying to get away with just an apology.
How serious was this incident?
If they hadn’t come.
If they had arrived a little later.
Not only could the Poison King, whom Hyeon-yul had captured, have been released, but all the villains here could have been set free.
“…W-Wait a moment. You can’t do that. Anything but that!”
The Prison Warden freaked out but couldn't lift his head.
He didn't know how she was so strong.
“What we expected from you is to manage the captured villains well. Do you know how many Black Eagles died capturing these villains? If you can’t even do that one thing, why should you keep that position?”
A Prison Warden who didn’t understand the meaning of the Black Eagles’ lives and blood was unnecessary.
Hae-ryeon removed her hand.
She looked at the Prison Warden with an expression that said she wanted to spit on him right away.
“This… This is a clear abuse of authority!”
The Prison Warden raised his voice and lifted his head.
Hadn’t he apologized?
Even after apologizing, she was trying to take away his livelihood.
Just how far was she planning to interfere, being merely a Black Eagle Team Leader?
In the first place, that couldn't possibly be allowed.
Position-wise, he was higher.
“Whether it’s an abuse of authority or not, I’ll show you.”
Hae-ryeon stepped closer, patted his shoulder, and warned him.
Her cold face changed the moment she turned her head to look at Hyeon-yul.
A smile touched her lips.
“You’re back?”
“Yes. I’m back.”
Hyeon-yul replied, looking at the Prison Warden.
‘Team Leader can even replace the Prison Warden?’
He knew the Black Eagles’ status was high, but he wondered if even that was possible.
‘What is it?’
Just as Hyeon-yul felt curious, Hae-ryeon walked past and remarked casually.
“I told you I could cover up a lot of things.”
‘…Was it true?’
Hyeon-yul followed Hae-ryeon without saying anything.
It felt like a fierce wave had crashed over them, but Hyeon-yul quite liked the ensuing silence.
It had been noisy with constant chatter until then.
“It seems management has failed.”
Hyeon-yul mentioned the situation around the Poison King he had just witnessed.
“How badly?”
Hae-ryeon handed Hyeon-yul protective gear.
It was good to have, even if just formality.
“It looks like he could escape in about a week.”
“……What?”
Hae-ryeon stopped putting on her gear and stared with surprised eyes.
The situation was more serious than she thought.
Much more serious.
Hae-ryeon’s gaze turned to the Prison Warden.
She should have punched him.
‘……That crazy bastard.’
Hae-ryeon let out a long breath.
“It doesn’t seem like a technical issue, but rather a lack of continuous management. Did you perhaps hear anything related to this?”
Hyeon-yul asked Hae-ryeon.
Hadn’t she just spoken with the Prison Warden?
“It seems they were too scared of the Poison King to look directly. They just kept receiving reports. That’s exactly how he sounded.”
“So, an incident occurred, and they all got scared and ended up completely neglecting it?”
“Something like that. When we said we were coming, they couldn’t refuse, so they arranged for only us to go inside. They know better than anyone that this current equipment can’t handle the Poison King’s poison, right?”
“It’s a good method. Covering up a problem with another problem is often the most efficient way. However, it’s puzzling that they thought a Team Leader-level operative would die so easily.”
“Their judgment was clouded by the immediate crisis. People are like that. They often do things you’d think, ‘Would they really do that?’. Even if it wasn’t me, this incident is severe enough to cost them their jobs if discovered. Everyone could have died.”
Hae-ryeon grinned, then put on her gear.
“Is it being handled?”
Just in case, he had threatened the Poison King not to get out.
He didn't know if he'd keep his word, but he thought it was better than doing nothing.
“Handled?”
Hae-ryeon reacted as if asking what he meant, then quickly smiled.
Was Hyeon-yul seeing this as an extension of their duties?
“This isn’t our job, Mr. Hyeon-yul. We need to distinguish our duties properly.”
“I don’t want the Poison King getting out.”
He considered the Poison King like a trophy.
A splendid decoration that glittered when occasionally observed.
“I feel the same way, but they’re quite arrogant here. I wonder why we should help them, yet we must prevent the Poison King’s escape. It’s a bit complicated.”
Hae-ryeon fiddled with her hair.
She had already been ignored once, no, multiple times.
“Is that so?”
“What do you think, Mr. Hyeon-yul?”
“It’s probably better if I don’t say. You might feel offended.”
Hae-ryeon felt awkward at Hyeon-yul’s response.
‘Is the answer… kill them?’
Hae-ryeon didn’t ask further.
As she moved forward, her expression slowly hardened.
Traces of melting came into view one by one.
Even the questions she had intended to ask Hyeon-yul vanished along with the unfolding situation.
‘……This is the power the Poison King possesses?’
Many high-profile figures had been captured until now, but none had created a situation like this.
Even if they weren't reliable now, the prison guards selected were also strong individuals.
‘This…….’
Hae-ryeon stared blankly.
Half of the specially constructed facility had melted from the poison.
The deeper she went inside, the worse the phenomenon became.
Even the glass walls, meant to be bulletproof and block all sorts of abilities, had mostly melted, barely maintaining their shape.
The poison in the air was so thick that it felt like a miracle that even the tank was intact.
She felt a burning sensation inside, and anger surged.
‘They just left it like this…?’
If the Poison King had escaped, the rage he would have shown seemed to unfold before her eyes.
The most horrific event in history would likely occur.
—Honestly, sometimes I wonder if the Poison King was holding back on us. With that power, it would be more than enough to annihilate this entire area.
Ju-hyeon’s voice came to mind, and she couldn't help but agree with those words.
Hae-ryeon slowly looked at Hyeon-yul.
What he had captured.
What kind of deed he had done.
She too felt it viscerally.
“Team Leader. Are you alright?”
At Hyeon-yul’s quiet voice, Hae-ryeon couldn't help but reaffirm her resolve.
Absolutely.
Absolutely, Hyeon-yul must never become a villain again.
“Were you affected by the poison?”
Hyeon-yul approached, and Hae-ryeon shook her head.
“No. The poison is strong, but it’s bearable.”
“I’ll ask instead. It doesn’t affect me at all.”
“……Ha.”
A hollow laugh was heard.
It was the Poison King’s voice.
Quite sweet, unlike his ruined face.
“……How absurd.”
The Poison King stared at Hyeon-yul.
—But don’t worry. I’ll come again.
To think he actually came back.
How should he interpret this?
‘This is nuts, really.’
It was hard to predict because he didn't know how he would approach.
“Are you happy to see me again?”
At Hyeon-yul’s question, Hae-ryeon looked over in surprise.
Hyeon-yul’s usually stiff tone had changed.
Should she say a bit of slyness was mixed in?
“Would it amuse you if I said yes?”
“No.”
“You were sarcastic earlier, what is it this time?”
The Poison King, conscious of Hae-ryeon, was considerably reserved in his speech.
She was one of the Black Eagle Team Leaders.
Was there any reason to reveal his intentions?
“Both earlier, and now, I came to work.”
It was a vague answer, but the Poison King read Hae-ryeon’s expression.
She didn’t seem to know about what happened earlier.
Seeing him hiding things just like himself, a smile inadvertently emerged.
‘Right, the choice of cutting off a finger isn’t something a Black Eagle would do.’
The Poison King spoke with a more relaxed expression than before.
“Go ahead, try.”
“It seems you’re willing to answer after all. Please ask what you want to know, Team Leader.”
Hyeon-yul pointed at the Poison King with his finger.
As for himself, he had already roughly obtained what he wanted to know and desired through their earlier conversation.
“By any chance, did something happen earlier?”
Hae-ryeon asked, lowering her voice.
“Yes. Something did.”
“What happened?”
“Like last time, he urged me to become a villain.”
As soon as Hyeon-yul’s words fell, Hae-ryeon glared fiercely at the Poison King.
Being double-crossed so openly made the Poison King’s eyebrows twitch.
“…Wouldn’t this be problematic?”
“He threatened me just like this a moment ago.”
Hyeon-yul said without batting an eye.
It wasn’t incorrect, nor was it a lie.
He had merely omitted various details.
Hyeon-yul looked at the Poison King.
What the Poison King wanted was him.
The one who needed to make a good impression was also the Poison King.
He was curious just how far he would go.
“Isn’t one time enough for you?”
At Hae-ryeon’s warning, the Poison King let it go in one ear and out the other, looking at Hyeon-yul.
The more he looked, the more coveted he became.
“When something fantastic exists right before your eyes, touching it only once is foolish.”
“You can still say that, looking like that?”
“Hey. You seem to be mistaken about something, once a villain, always a villain until death. Just changing appearances doesn’t change anything.”
The Poison King sneered at Hae-ryeon.
Foolish.
Seeing her lost in hope, the anger he had suppressed felt like it was rising.
“Do you think that guy will change? Don’t be mistaken. A cloth once dyed black never becomes pure white.”
“Even for an analogy, that’s a huge leap. Shut up and tell me who’s behind you.”
“I don’t see why I should tell you that.”
The Poison King raised the corners of his eyes.
He hadn't expected her to ask so boldly.
Just how low was her intelligence?
The Poison King, about to mock her heartily, slowly thought and stroked his chin with his finger.
“…Ah. There is something I should tell you.”
“Don’t try any tricks.”
Hae-ryeon surveyed the surroundings, calculating various things in her head.
She could handle this situation.
The problem was to what extent, and how appropriately.
“Hey, tricks? You wouldn’t know how upset I get hearing such words.”
“Are you being leisurely because you think no one can stop you?”
“Of course not. It’s just that there’s a new weapon I was continuously managing, and it’s already been several weeks, you see.”
At the vibration from her wrist, Hae-ryeon glanced down.
It was an emergency mission.
Absolutely terrible timing.
“So, what will happen to it?”
The Poison King’s eyes slowly closed.
Hae-ryeon looked at him and operated her smartwatch.
An emergency situation appeared in text.
<Poison is currently spreading centered around the T-11 area of the capital region. Detection results indicate the poison appears to be the recently acquired ‘New Weapon’.>
New Weapon.
Seeing those words, Hae-ryeon’s pupils trembled.
‘……Then, the guy Mr. Ji-hwan saw, and Ms. Na-yoon saw, is the Poison King’s subordinate?’
Hae-ryeon bit her lip hard.
At least 14 or more New Weapons had disappeared.
Was this all intentional?
“Oh dear, it seems it’s already happened.”
The Poison King’s lips curled upwards at Hae-ryeon’s stiffening expression.
Even if that experiment subject was here, he was just one person.
What could he do?
There was no way a single person could stop countless poisons.
The experiment subject was welcome, but he had to pay dearly for touching him.
“How many will die? Hmm, maybe a few million? If you release me, that number could drastically decrease. Quite, not a bad offer, is it?”
The Poison King thought he had gained the upper hand.
It was a poison he created.
They probably couldn't even detoxify it yet.
What would they do now?
The Poison King glanced sideways at Hyeon-yul.
He was mocking him.
Quite openly.