Chapter 177: Collaborator (2)

Unlike the man who laughed loudly as if amused, Ho-cheol's expression was more openly displeased than ever before.

As expected, he was a guy he didn't even want to associate with.

He was once one of the executives of the New World Trait Liberation Society, and now he was the leader of one of the three splinter factions.

Furthermore, he was also the one who had recently been monitoring Ho-cheol and had gotten on his nerves the most by offering to revive his loved ones.

He was clearly an 'evil' that brought chaos to this society, but at least he was much better than the trash who would plant a bomb in the heart of a ten-year-old kid and threaten them.

To deal with such vile people and save the kid's life, he could endure this much displeasure.

Of course, he couldn't help but become a little edgy.

Ho-cheol said with his arms crossed.

“You’ve been peeping all along, so I won’t explain.”

The executive, who had been smiling all along, widened his eyes as if surprised.

His white eyes, with no pupils visible, grew even larger.

“To think you were aware of it.”

“Of course I was.”

Ho-cheol clicked his tongue.

“No matter how advanced a technique is, once you’ve been hit by it, you can usually figure it out. So are you going to do it or not?”

Perhaps wary of the fact that he had instantly destroyed one of the other factions, he had felt a gaze on him from time to time since his return from the Battleground.

It was just that he had endured it to some extent since it wasn't a 24-hour surveillance.

The executive smiled again and answered.

“Libenter! In fact, I would like to ask you!”

The executive raised his fist high and swung his body around.

He was as excited as a five-year-old who had just gotten the toy he wanted.

“A collaboration with the idol I’ve always admired. To others, it would look like a hero and his sidekick! Like Batman and Robin!”

His introduction as a personal fan of Ho-cheol was by no means an exaggeration or a mockery.

He couldn't hide his excitement, and even his elation.

He turned his head sharply and asked Ho-cheol.

“What you want is my technique, right?”

“Yes. Your Trait, phase shift. If you can manipulate space like that, you should be able to safely remove the bomb in her heart.”

Although its range was not very wide, he also had the proficiency to create a completely separate space.

And removing a single bomb would be a simple task.

“Of course!”

“And one more thing.”

If it was just a Trait that could safely remove a bomb, it wouldn't be impossible to find one if Ho-cheol mobilized his connections.

But this executive had a unique quality.

“I'm going to enter their headquarters through you.”

He was also planning to make full use of his position of being able to 'legally' enter that research lab.

If he were to just barge in, those guys might brand the boy as a traitor and detonate the bomb immediately.

He had to create a situation where they would think, ‘Ho-cheol was chasing the executive, and happened to find this place.’

“I’m going to pin it all on you.”

It was a statement that could have been a little unpleasant, but the executive didn't care at all.

In fact, that appearance was closer to the Ho-cheol of his villain days who had captivated him.

“What kind of situation do you want? I'll do my best to match the direction!”

Ho-cheol explained the script he had already thought of.

As the explanation continued, the executive's expression changed as if he was amused.

He had thought it would just be Ho-cheol tagging along as a member of his party to an official meeting.

This was much more flashy and violent.

A scale that perfectly suited his taste.

“Excellent!”

Yet Ho-cheol clicked his tongue, looking at the delighted executive.

What's he so excited about?

He turned his head and helped the boy, who was still on the floor, to his feet.

“You stay out of it and in a safe place. I’ll get your sister, or whatever she is, out. Don't run away thinking it’s over this time.”

The boy said firmly.

“I’m the older brother.”

“Right. Whatever.”

The New World Trait Liberation Society.

Among the three splinter factions, the faction that sought to achieve ‘transcendence’ through the superposition of Traits.

As if to prove the proverb, "The darkest place is under the candlestick," their headquarters was located within a stone's throw of the Hero Association.

After sending the boy to a safe place, only Ho-cheol and the executive headed to the research lab.

The executive chattered on about information he hadn't even been asked about.

“Have you heard of a Trait transition?”

“The theory that if one’s proficiency in a single Trait reaches its limit, one awakens a new Trait?”

“Yes. In the case of this faction, that theory is their basis.”

Of course, like perpetual motion or superconductors, it was just a theory.

No one had yet proven it.

It was literally a theory from a dream.

“But since that didn’t work, they got cocky and tried to create a human with multiple traits from the beginning.”

“Just in time, a perfect test sub…”

The executive, who was about to say test subject, shut his mouth.

He had said that last time, and Ho-cheol had gotten furious.

“Her appearance must have felt like a blessing from God to them.”

It was not an easy task to artificially implant multiple traits into a human.

The success rate was just over 1%.

And every time one was added, the probability was so abysmal that only 1% of that 1% would succeed.

To them, the appearance of Ji-an, who could grant a Trait through a Trait, was like a ray of light.

So much so that they had hidden their identity and actively supported her.

“Speaking of God, it reminds me.”

Ho-cheol recalled Black Oskopf and asked.

“Do you know anything about that talking monster?”

“A talking monster?”

At the executive who asked back, Ho-cheol clicked his tongue.

A reaction as if he didn't know.

Of course, it would be foolish to believe that completely.

Even if he knew, just by feigning ignorance like that, he could extract information from this side.

Although he was excited and said various things because he was a fan, if you looked closely, it was all information that would not harm him at all.

“If you have no intention of telling me, then forget it.”

“No, I really don’t know!”

Just as they were approaching the research lab, the executive suddenly stopped.

“Come to think of it, no matter if I’m from a different faction, it hurts my heart to sell out a colleague. As expected, betrayal is not the right thing to do.”

Ho-cheol's brows narrowed.

Colleague?

The act of selling them out had ended the moment he had given the USB containing the related information.

He was not so foolish as to not know that.

And to bring this up now, not at the beginning, was also transparent.

“Just get to the point.”

“As expected.”

The executive grinned.

Even among his subordinates, there were none who understood his intentions so quickly and accurately.

As expected, Ho-cheol was the best.

“There’s one condition.”

He raised his hand and spread his three fingers.

“If we succeed in today's work, it will be three months. For three months, you will not chase our Society.”

Ho-cheol scoffed as if it was ridiculous.

I thought he was cooperating meekly, but was that his true intention?

The reason he was saying that now was probably because he was worried that if he had said it from the beginning, I would have refused and looked for an alternative.

It was too late to look for another alternative now.

“Is a verbal promise enough?”

Couldn't he just give his word and then backstab him?

Right now, Ho-cheol had just requested his cooperation, but their relationship was clearly that of enemies.

The expression ‘betrayal’ was even too good.

Because betrayal required mutual trust to be established first.

There was not even a speck of trust between the two.

Yet the executive nodded his head firmly.

“Yes. I can trust a promise. If you were a villain, you would lie as needed, but we are not villains. Just a dangerous research organization. Isn't that right?”

The other two factions had committed illegal acts left and right, so it would not have been strange for them to be labeled as villains, but not them.

In the first place, their relationship had soured even though they had not known of each other's existence, and that was a disaster brought on by the executive's excessive fanboyism.

“So you’re saying I’ll keep my promise to you because you’re not villains?”

“Yes. You are an extraordinary person who will cross the fence of the law at any time according to your own standards and beliefs. Such a being never breaks a promise once made, so a promise would be more meaningful than the law.”

Ho-cheol clicked his tongue.

He would never commit murder.

That was not because he was refraining from it because it was forbidden by law.

He was just acting according to his beliefs.

The same went for lying.

Unless it was a white lie for the sake of the other person, he had to keep his promises.

If he broke it for his own gain, it would be an act that would shake the very foundation of his beliefs.

And after that, he would not be able to be proud of himself.

For Ho-cheol, who had already committed a great sin once, this self-affirmation was an essential process.

After thinking for a moment, he said shortly.

“One month. No more than that.”

“Excellent. That alone is something to be grateful for.”

Of course, Ho-cheol was thinking something completely different on the inside.

In the first place, that first three months was a number he had just thrown out.

The fact that he had accepted the new proposal of one month without even a moment's thought was proof of that.

He had probably thought that about a month would be enough.

For the next month, he would leave the New World Trait Liberation Society alone.

But that was just his story.

It was a separate matter to nag the dean or the head of the Legal Department to track them.

I have to mobilize all the connections around me with all my might and catch their tail.

The villain's intuition was constantly ringing alarm bells.

That one month was surely the final time limit to prepare something fatal.

They were each hiding their inner thoughts and running for their own purposes.

“Now. We’ve arrived. From now on, let’s move according to the plan.”

“Right.”

Ho-cheol said shortly and put on the mask from his pocket.

“Oh. Ooh!”

The executive trembled with excitement.

The villain Jeong Ho-cheol, for a fan of that era, it was the best scene that could not be resisted.

“What a fuss.”

And he put on the hood he had taken from the Battleground.

His body instantly turned transparent.

The research lab was busy with the arrival of an unexpected guest.

Although he was from a different faction, he was the leader of one.

No matter how separated they were now, the foundation of their grand goal of transcendence was the same.

Even the executive, whose role was usually to greet guests, could not go out first this time.

There was such a thing as rank.

That's why the chief of the research lab had appeared and greeted the guest, the executive.

Although he was now the head of each faction, before the factions had split, the guest's rank had been higher.

Therefore, the lab chief maintained a somewhat humble attitude.

“You’ve had a long journey.”

“I apologize for the sudden visit.”

Since the two of them had been on speaking terms to some extent before the factions had split, they exchanged greetings smoothly and entered.

“But what brings you here in person all of a sudden?”

Of course, it was inevitable that there was a hint of discomfort.

“I heard that the faction that was researching monster transcendence was recently half-destroyed.”

Since the monster transcendence faction had been an outsider even among the three factions, the lab chief's tone was rather gloating.

“Yes. Well, wasn't it a foreseeable future from the moment they started doing business among those vulgar hunters who only care about money?”

The executive also nodded his head in agreement.

But he soon added in a worried tone.

“I’m not particularly sorry either. However, isn't it possible that information related to us has leaked out? So I've come to take some countermeasures in advance.”

“I see.”

Of course, it was an important matter, but was it to the extent that the head of a faction would come in person?

Although the lab chief was a little puzzled, he did not go out of his way to reveal his inner thoughts.

“Then shall we share the related information?”

“Excellent.”

As they were heading inside, the executive stealthily brought it up.

“By any chance, how far have you come on the path to transcendence?”

The lab chief answered as if he had been waiting.

“We have finally gotten on the right track.”

His voice was full of pride.

“Especially since we have reached a situation where we can completely replicate the old test subjects that relied on external traits with just our technology, I believe it’s only a matter of time until transcendence.”

“Hoo. Excellent.”

At the pure admiration, without any other emotion mixed in, the lab chief's shoulders rose even higher.

“Thank you.”

“By any chance, can I also see those test subjects?”

“Ah. Uh.”

For a moment, the lab chief hesitated.

Why all of a sudden?

“It’s not for a great reason. In any case, if a being that has reached transcendence were to come out of those test subjects, wouldn't it be good for me to make a good impression in advance?”

After hearing the explanation, he quickly relaxed his expression.

It wasn't about the research content, but just looking at the test subjects.

And in any case, weren't they a family that had once eaten from the same pot, with the same goal of transcendence?

“Understood. Let’s go.”

And so, as they were heading to the isolation facility where the test subjects were staying.

Kuung—

Suddenly, the entire research lab shook.

The two of them staggered greatly at the strong shock, as if there had been an earthquake.

“What’s this all of a sudden?”

At the same time as the flustered lab chief's shout, his phone rang loudly.

When he pressed the call button, an urgent shout came through.

“An intruder! It's an intruder!”

“Good grief.”

The executive covered his mouth with one hand.

His voice was filled with bewilderment.

“It seems I've been followed.”

Of course, the lips hidden under his palm were raised high in a grin.