That’s How They Became Villains

#41. Frustrating Woman, Smart Woman, Strange Woman

Around 8 PM, at the detective agency.

Athena’s bombshell statement surprised Yu-jin and Kilos, who opened a hearing.

The subject of the hearing was, of course, Jin Hyun.

What on earth had happened inside the airship to make Athena blurt out, “I’m interested in you!”?

…That was the main topic of debate.

Naturally, Jin Hyun had no answer to Yu-jin and Kilos’ persistent questions because all that had happened on the airship was that they had merely exchanged greetings.

This wasn’t a metaphor; that was literally everything.

Jin Hyun ransacked his brain, wondering if there was something he couldn’t remember.

“Are you Ms. Athena?”

“Yes…”

“Ah, it seems I’ve found the right person. Nice to meet you. I’m a hero from Cheongang called Last.”

“I see…”

There was nothing to ransack. If anything, he only remembered receiving such a cold greeting that he wondered if he’d been snubbed.

“What!? The fact that you flirted with her is so obvious that you have nothing to say!?”

“No…”

“What!? You’re admitting that you seduced Athena while I was gone, and it’s so true you have nothing to say!?”

“If you would just listen…”

However, Yu-jin and Kilos completely misconstrued Jin Hyun’s objections.

“Bwahaha!!”

Han Cheol-ho burst into laughter at that absurd scene.

Jin Hyun was very annoyed with Cheol-ho, who was just laughing instead of helping.

Moreover, Athena, who was the cause of this situation, hadn’t said anything since earlier, which made it even worse.

“Ah, really!! Will you please listen when someone speaks!!”

Finally, unable to endure anymore, Jin Hyun exploded in anger.

Since Jin Hyun was known for being gentle, Yu-jin was startled and gulped.

“I really don’t know! Why is that person acting like this!”

Rare for him, Jin Hyun pointed his finger at someone. The target was, of course, Athena.

“If you have a mouth, please say something!”

“…?”

Athena tilted her head. It was as if she was questioning, ‘Are you talking to me?’

“Yes, I’m talking to you! What’s your reason for suddenly coming here and doing this to me!”

“Did I…do something wrong, Kilos…?”

At that response, Kilos’ eyes widened.

“Athena, I’m asking just in case. What did you mean when you said ‘I’m interested in you’ to that guy sitting over there earlier?”

“…? Interested means I’m interested.”

“Yes, but specifically what kind?”

“Hmm…I want to fight…?”

“Hey.”

Informal speech burst from Kilos’ mouth.

Jin Hyun collapsed onto the sofa, completely exhausted.

The quick-witted Yu-jin quickly sat beside him and tried to flatter him.

“Aww~ Senior, you’re not that upset, right?”

“Little sis, that’s counterproductive.”

“…Shut up. I was actually thinking this was a bit much myself.”

After that brief commotion ended.

The detective agency received a message.

“Ah, who is it now? It’s almost 10 o’clock.”

Yu-jin irritably checked the email.

Hello.

I am Marchina, the casino master of Golden Continue, Cheongang Branch.

The matter at hand is that there was recently a brawl between armed groups inside the casino.

Overhearing their conversation, it seemed that a trio wearing high-priced walking suits was roughing up remnants of a villain alliance called Red Witch.

Although the situation has settled for now, it’s uncertain when they might cause trouble in the casino again.

The hideout of these remnants is said to be in the southeastern outskirts of Cheongang.

They seem to be planning to make contact once more in the near future. Please protect our casino from these ruffians.

I’ve sent an advance payment, so please confirm.

Yu-jin was taken aback by the email’s content.

Seeing Yu-jin’s surprise, Cheol-ho, who had been watching from beside her, came over and checked the same email.

“Let’s see, there was a brawl in the casino between remnants of a villain alliance?”

“Oh, Red Witch is an organization that was dismantled when Athena cut off the leader’s neck recently.”

Kilos, who had somehow squeezed between Cheol-ho and Yu-jin, said.

“The trio in walking suits could possibly be thugs from Yeongwol or the Underworld.”

“Kid, how do you know so much?”

“Despite how I look, I’m the sidekick of an S-class hero, you know?”

Kilos shrugged his small shoulders.

“But, little sis. What part of this message is so shocking?”

Cheol-ho, who had been carefully reviewing the email, asked.

To this, Yu-jin, who was staring intensely at the “recipient” field, wondering if she had seen something wrong, answered.

“This email wasn’t sent to our agency’s official email.”

“What?”

At those words, Cheol-ho hurriedly checked the recipient field.

“This… is your personal email, isn’t it?”

“Yes. And only one person knows about this.”

“Who is that?”

“…Sister Yu-ha.”

-Bang!

Jin Hyun stood up from his seat and approached Yu-jin.

“Tell me in detail.”

“This… is the email written on the card I secretly gave Sister Yu-ha, telling her to contact me if anything happened.”

“Really?”

“Why would I lie about something like this! Oh, what should I do? I hope nothing happened to her…”

“Have you tried texting her?”

“I’ve been trying constantly since earlier, but there’s no read receipt.”

Jin Hyun and Cheol-ho’s expressions grew serious.

At this time, Athena was drinking warm tea in a corner of the reception room. Slurp.

“Everyone seems…so enthusiastic…”

Athena, who was in a good mood after drinking tea, mumbled with a relaxed expression.

“Is there…anything I can help with…?”

At those words, the gazes of the four people looking at the email all turned to one place.

Around 9 PM, Evil Base.

Agio, who had finally gained freedom after shedding her long-held skin, was feeling the emotion of happiness for the first time in a long while.

No safety lock that she didn’t know was installed. No hitman threatening her life. No wanted code.

Instead, there was a channel where she could freely upload videos, sock puppet accounts essential for manipulating public opinion, and numerous data acquisition routes.

“Hehehe…”

Agio laughed mischievously as she turned on the internet while Nazha was watching that scene with interested eyes.

[Fucking hell what a mess] [139]

[As soon as they become CEO, they start persecuting Non-Origin lol] [23]

[Another win today] [105]

[The fact is that Cheon Yusil hasn’t said anything yet] [355]

[Sometimes I can understand terrorists] [59]

[God] [7]

[Author: Anonymous5149]

[Title: God] [(Photo of Cheon Taewoo and Cheon Yusil side by side) Idiot]

[Boom Up: 3174, Boom Down: 55]

[PlasticModelLover: Quietly rising boom ups]

[Anonymous666: Boom up lololol]

[A.G.O1111: If this isn’t manipulation, I’ve pressed boom up five hundred times]

[Anonymous455: Look at how no one’s commenting for fear of getting sued lol]

[Anonymous3874: This bastard just called them an idiot]

[Anonymous550: Stating facts can constitute defamation, gay] ㄴ[Anonymous5149: Oh shit]

[Author: CheonFanatic]

[Title: The fact is that Cheon Yusil hasn’t said anything yet]

[(GIF of shareholders’ meeting) From the atmosphere, it was already a confirmed situation that Cheon Yusil would become CEO And while they were at it, those daughter-loving bastards who hold Cheongang stocks wanted to pretend to be young by discussing topics that are currently buzzing in the city But no chance, they pretended to listen but immediately let it go in one ear and out the other lol]

[Boom Up: 756, Boom Down: 894]

[A.G.O222: Your mom]

ㄴ[CheonFanatic: The fact is that my words are facts lol]

ㄴ[A.G.O222: Your mom]

[Anonymous113: Why does this post have so many boom downs? It’s not really wrong, is it?]

ㄴ[CheonFanatic: Kids these days don’t read long texts]

ㄴ[A.G.O333: Your mom]

[Author: MutualFollowWithSaintLady]

[Title: Another win today]

[(GIF of Chae Yu-ha crying that not all enhanced humans are bad) Should I… worship?]

[Boom Up: 4055, Boom Down: 3]

[A.G.O444: Hey where did my boom up go]

ㄴ[Anonymous987: Why is this person in every post? Using macros?]

[PleaseFollowBack: Ah… is it you again?]

[Anonymous3: Who is this person who keeps showing their face in this gallery whenever they’re bored]

ㄴ[MutualFollowWithSaintLady: This person?]

ㄴ[Anonymous666: Is the Saint Lady your friend?]

ㄴ[AthenaLegStrapCrushed: This is the Non-Origin Gallery owner, show some respect]

“Khuhuhu…!! Yes…!! Keep fighting until Cheongang splits in half…!!”

“Wow…”

A sigh escaped from Nazha’s mouth as she quietly watched the scene.

Honestly, until now, she had been a bit curious about why Yu-ha was being so nice to Agio.

Of course, during the airship terror incident, Agio had been responsible for First’s broadcast script and various other video productions.

However, even adding all that up, there was something a bit lacking to meet Nazha’s standards but seeing this now, she felt remorseful that she had been too arrogant all this time.

The sight of her with more than a dozen windows open on the same screen, moving her hands without pause…was almost divine.

While Agio, free from restraints, was holed up in her room accelerating her public opinion manipulation, the Yu-ha, Seok-ho, and Seolhwa trio were standing at the main entrance of the Evil Base, sniffling.

Said they would open it…no, said they would open it…What are they doing that’s taking so long to open up…

Chae Yu-ha vowed that next time she went out, she would definitely get a spare key.