Chapter 48 : The Hunter and the Hunted

‘Anyway, the article is already buried, and after digging through the internet, no one is poking into my personal details. Hmph, let’s go home.’

She headed home quietly.

Because she was mistakenly seen as a show-off, she felt piercing gazes on her back.

It was a relief but also strangely sorrowful.

Meanwhile, in a huge research lab on the outskirts of Gyodam City.

The place was thoroughly secured with high iron fences all around.

Inside, a man was tracking the traces of Jeongodaegeol.

The colorful flasks bubbling with bubbles, the cages where lab rats squeaked, and shelves filled with scientific theory books made the eyes dizzy.

This was a research lab corner inside Abelus’ laboratory.

In a dark room without lights, the quiet sound of keyboard tapping echoed softly.

Abelus’ computer screen glowed blue on his silver-rimmed glasses.

“Something interesting showed up on the camera.

A machine human with tentacles, a bakery café, a farm…Seems like the same person.”

They had released the weakest chimera onto the farm.

It wasn’t to get revenge or to profit by ruining someone else’s farm.

As always, it was to observe the chimera’s combat ability.

Why the farm?

Simply because it was close to the lab, and the chimera wasn’t valuable enough to bother experimenting far away.

But on the camera installed in one chimera’s eye, the silhouette of a person in white clothes was captured.

Abelus knew about the Hero App.

Born in a rural village, he awakened his abilities just before adulthood.

It was a rare case of latent potential manifesting without any special trigger.

Among his peers, someone awakened abilities around the same time.

That person wanted to be a hero and told Abelus about the Hero App when he learned of Abelus’ awakening.

They naturally assumed Abelus also wanted to be a hero.

Naively.

Abelus, who only used the Hero App to earn money, also possessed a genius mind.

Rumors of a bright rural kid reached the ears of Kaiser, CEO of company J.

After meeting him and revealing his abilities by chance, he walked the path of a villain.

Currently, Abelus was more focused on researching the secrets of ability users than using his own powers.

Additionally, he was involved in creating chimeras.

Members who do not steadily complete missions are removed, so he couldn’t currently access the Hero App.

But one thing was clear.

Heroes assigned to missions appeared in areas with continuous damage.

Based on testimonies from gangsters interrogated in the basement, Abelus steadily tracked traces of the machine human in white clothes.

His private lab’s whiteboard was plastered with articles about the ‘Hero in White Clothes.’

Also, images of the hero in white caught on cameras implanted in monsters’ eyes.

Since the transformed hero wasn’t properly caught on camera, facial features were indistinguishable.

All that was clear was the very common blonde hair and white transformation suit.

The gangster’s words were true.

Though the quality was poor, the hero, presumed female, kept releasing attacks below their legs.

There was even a suspicious object bouncing and punching between their thighs.

Probably a woman?

Even if it was a man, it didn’t matter.

Above all, Abelus wanted to uncover the secret behind that mysterious ability.

‘They’re active. If I’m lucky, I might meet them soon.’

Elation filled Abelus’ face.

He turned his swivel chair toward the wall and pulled back a curtain.

On the wall, a statue of a knight clad in medieval silver armor stood stiffly.

An incongruous golden choker hung on the knight’s neck.

The choker was hammered thin from gold, embedded with a large red diamond.

Even in the dark space with the lights off, it shone brilliantly.

It was presumed to be one of the sacred relics of the goddess Enraka, legendary in Gyodam City.

It wasn’t Abelus’ property but belonged to company J, kept for research.

‘It’s no ordinary item.

It didn’t react to humans, but as soon as it was placed on a monster’s neck, it strangled and exploded.’

He wanted to see this choker awaken.

The hero in white was probably a hero who awakens objects.

The video made this clearer.

If they analyzed her, or his, blood, they might unlock the secret of the choker kept locked away.

‘Even if not, they’re clearly a tremendous ability. My whole body is tingling after a long time. The blood must be very clear and red, right?’

Imagining it made his lower body heat up.

Since it was still unclear if the hero in white was male or female, he resisted masturbating for now.

If he did it thinking of a man, he’d probably curse later.

He decided to keep setting traps.

For the hero in white.

For the next hero who would become his collection.

Iris, having returned home, washed her tired body with warm water.

After drying her hair with a dryer, she checked her phone and unconsciously lifted the corner of her mouth.

There was a message from Laika.

She smiled slyly while covering her mouth, then slapped her cheek in surprise at her own reaction.

‘What the hell? Why do I like him? Get a grip! He’s the enemy I have to take down.’

Thinking of the ruthless villain as a potential lover and getting excited meant failing as a hero.

She rubbed her lips with her fingers, straightened her face, and calmly read Laika’s message.

“Iris. What are you doing?”

A typical greeting message sent between people flirting made the corner of her mouth slowly lift again.

Yeah, just enjoying the feeling, that’s all.

Lying down with her head on the sofa armrest, Iris typed quickly.

“I’m at home.”

“Oh, I wondered if you got home safely. Was I too sudden today? Your father must have been surprised.”

“It was inappropriate at the hospital. They kept saying it wasn’t right there…!”

Exchanging messages made her really feel like they were flirting.

Talking via text, Laika seemed quite kind.

Was it because things had progressed?

After sending a resentful message, she got a reply shortly after.

“If not here… then somewhere else?”

“Oh my, oh my, am I crazy? Being so naughty!”

Iris stomped her feet wildly on the sofa.

She tried to stay cool but controlling her feelings while messaging a handsome guy was no easy task.

Where should they meet?

As she had worried earlier, she couldn’t invite him to her studio apartment.

Laika’s place was only accessible if he invited her…

Or a hotel.

Honestly, she wanted to go to Laika’s house rather than a hotel.

The chance to enter a villain’s home was rare.

She might get some info.

‘Since I can’t invite first, I have to lead him to invite.’

For now, she decided to play hard to get.

Maybe if she played coy and guided things properly, he’d invite her home.

Laika clearly was eager to be with her.

With a smile on her face, Iris typed a message out loud.

“Well, even if somewhere else…I still have a long way to go before discharge.”

“If I want to be discharged, I can do it immediately. I just have to say I’ll recuperate at home… My home is more comfortable than the VIP ward anyway.”

“If you hang out with Laika, you’ll stand out.”

“Nope. Not many people are interested in me.”

“Tsk, that can’t be true.”

“It is.”

Sending a playful message, Iris bit her lip hard.

What am I doing flirting with a villain?

It’s going to be a painful relationship.

Inside, two selves clashed.

One wanted to forget reality and just enjoy flirting with the handsome Laika.

The other burned with a sense of justice as a hero.

After repeatedly comforting herself that this was just part of the mission, she tapped her phone screen again.

“Laika’s father came to the ward today. The ward is no good. Any place where others can see is no good either.”

“Hmm, I see…”

Self, come out as you wish.

Invite me home.

Iris didn’t reply and anxiously bit her thumb.

After a moment, a ding sounded with a message from Laika.

“Okay. Then how about my place?”

“Okay… good…”

She typed then deleted the message.

My place?

Could he be living with his father?

That would raise the difficulty.

Not sure if he was an ability user, but Kaiser was definitely a villain.

She didn’t want to pull off a big event at the house where Kaiser lived with Laika.

No matter how hidden from others, it was nerve-wracking having a villain’s skill being copied.

She wanted somewhere less risky.

“My place? Do you live with your parents?”

“No, I’m independent. How old do you think I am? I live alone.”

Luckily, it seemed he didn’t live with Kaiser.

As Iris sighed in relief, messages came one after another.

“Rugang view^^”