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The Bald Detective and the Glasses Detective were fidgeting so much that I couldn’t help but ask.

“…Why are you going so far to help us?”

“…We got orders from above to provide active support.”

“…?”

Grandpa Kim Seo-hyun’s power in Gyeongju was immense.

The reason he met the mayor of Gyeongju last night was apparently for this.

Turns out, the top of the Gyeongju cartel wasn’t Hwarang Kim Yu-shin, but his father, Kim Seo-hyun.

I thought he was just enjoying a leisurely retirement in Gyeongju, occasionally helping out with Hwarang-related matters… but he was actually the chairman pulling strings from the top.

That’s why the Gyeongju police are bending over backward like this.

“…You don’t need to do that, you must be busy with your own work. We’ll handle it ourselves.”

“Are you sure that’s okay?”

The expressions of the Bald Detective and the Glasses Detective started to brighten.

Judging by their reactions, they must’ve been cursing internally about having to babysit two middle school girls.

I would’ve cursed too.

Anyway, no need for that.

Do your job, officers.

If it were about finding an Apostle of the Satan Church or capturing the leader of the Villain Alliance, we’d accept all the support from police, prosecutors, and fire departments…

But for catching some petty criminal? What kind of support is that?

Even just Hayan and I would be overkill.

We decided to leave the Bald Detective and the Glasses Detective behind and move with Hayan, Kim Manager, and me.

We sent the driver back too.

‘No more playing rich, no need to drag two people around.’

To figure out what happened with the bank incident, we headed to the bank…

‘What the hell.’

There was a reason it didn’t escalate.

As soon as we stepped out, we saw the bank the traitor had tried to rob.

“It’s like a 2-minute walk… Is this guy crazy?”

“…In a way, it’s kind of impressive.”

“Agreed.”

“Let’s go in. The security guard from back then is still on duty.”

Kim Manager turned out to be surprisingly useful.

He didn’t exactly grab the main thread of the investigation for us, but…

He picked up all the side details and dropped little tips for us.

Not a huge help, but a small one.

On the way to the bank, something caught my eye.

A matte Hennessey G90… so pretty.

Should I ask for one?

I can’t drive, so if I just ask for a driver…

Oh no, am I getting too into this rich kid act?

Can’t seem to snap out of it.

Shaking my head, I was about to walk towards the bank when…

“Jang Gil-yong?”

Across the street, I thought I saw the S-Class Hero, the Immortal Jang Gil-yong, leader of the LK Guild.

“…Jang Gil-yong? That Jang Gil-yong? Why would he be here?”

“Are your delusions so bad you’re seeing hallucinations now? What kind of delusion would make Jang Gil-yong appear?”

Is Jang Gil-yong that handsome…? Gyeoul’s becoming quite the lady, huh. I pretended not to hear her muttering.

“Must’ve been a mistake, let’s go in.”

What we heard from the security guard was… shocking.

“So… he got too hot, took off his mask without realizing it, and then panicked and ran?”

“Yeah, I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true. The detectives didn’t believe it either, kept saying there must be another reason… He was sweating buckets, kept saying he was hot, then suddenly ripped off his mask and freaked out.”

Got too hot, took off his mask, and fled when his face was exposed.

So, so shocking.

The more I learn about this traitor, the more it feels like a hidden camera prank.

“…Thank you.”

Seems like there’s nothing useful to get from the bank.

I mean, we already know his name, age, and face.

Why hasn’t this petty criminal active in Gyeongju been caught yet? Is it because of the Villain Alliance or something?

Is the police force so criticized that they want to prove themselves?

“Where to next?”

“The most recent incident was a cash courier for an illegal arcade, so let’s check out the arcade.”

“Alright, but the original arcade is closed. Where’s the other one?”

“…No idea.”

Hayan and I naturally looked at Kim Manager.

“…I’ll find out.”

“Fighting.”

“I’ll treat you to something tasty later.”

Kim Manager asked for some time to find the arcade, so we went to a café and ordered some desserts and drinks.

We’re definitely not slacking off.

We can’t just stand around waiting for Kim Manager on the street, and following him around would just get in the way.

So we had no choice but to go to the café.

Really didn’t want to, really didn’t want to eat, but here we are.

Really.

“This egg tart is good… let’s get another one.”

“Sure. Try the financier too, it’s good.”

By the time we finished all the snacks in the display case, Kim Manager came back right on time.

“Found it?”

“Yes, let’s go.”

Finding the illegal arcade in less than thirty minutes.

Kim Manager’s work skills are improving.

‘Getting more and more competent! I want to scout him.’

We left the café and headed to the arcade.

The building hiding the illegal arcade looked like a place where no one would actually live.

Ding dong-

When we rang the doorbell, a tattooed pig with a cigarette in its mouth came out.

“What the hell are these brats… get lost,”

“Hey, don’t close the door.”

No need to use telekinesis, just pure strength pushed the door open, and the tattooed pig fell over.

“Ugh!”

“…How do you expect to survive in this harsh world being so weak…”

In such a harsh world, even thugs should be stronger…

Feeling pity, I was about to give some advice, but he passed out.

“…Let’s go in.”

“Kill him?”

“No! You can’t just kill people so easily!”

I had to stop Hayan from going dark.

And calm down Kim Manager, who was shocked by my strength.

Busy, busy modern society.

“Fragile Kim Manager, you might get hurt, so stay here.”

“…I’m not so weak I’d get hurt by these amateurs.”

“Kim Manager, you’re pretty amateurish too, getting taken down by Hayan in one second.”

“….”

Teasing Kim Manager, Hayan and I went underground, and the attention started to gather.

“What’s this? Some brats…”

“Wow, honey, look at that. Are they trying to sell girls now?”

“Madam Yoo, are these your girls? Send them to our karaoke bar.”

“Oh, Manager Kim, after getting your business suspended last time, you’re still trying to use minors? Too bad, they’re not mine.”

These criminals… even their words sound criminal.

But I’m not here to punish them.

I’m here to find the traitor.

I’ll leave you guys to the Bald Detective and the Glasses Detective.

“This isn’t a place for kids…”

“We have a lot of money.”

If you’re coming to an illegal arcade, you better come loaded.

The bag I’m carrying is stuffed with 50,000 won bills.

Roughly… about 50 million won.

I opened the bag to show the money inside.

“…Are you some rich kids? Just play around and leave. If you lose your money and start crying for your mom, I’ll kick you out.”

The tattooed thug who stopped us took what seemed like an entrance fee, a wad of cash from the bag.

I’ll win it all back anyway, so I let it slide.

But this is supposed to be an arcade? Just a few slot machines and the rest are games you’d find in a gambling den.

I only know poker.

In times like these, you gotta trust beginner’s luck and try something new.

“How do you play this?”

“Kid, you got money?”

“I brought about 50 million won…”

“With money, you’re a customer. This is called baccarat.”

After a quick explanation from the dealer, I started playing.

Yep.

Lost 10 million won in 10 minutes.

Guess that’s why it’s an illegal arcade. Must be rigged.

Definitely not because I’m stupid.

Really.

Next game, blackjack.

Same thing, lost another 10 million in less than 10 minutes.

At this point, it’s clear this place is a scam.

Why am I the only one losing? This is a scam.

“Hey, Gyeoul… weren’t we here to find the traitor?”

“Yeah, right, I totally forgot.”

Hayan was giving me a suspicious look, but I ignored it.

Sat back down at the baccarat table.

“Is Chunsam not here today?”

“…How do you know Chunsam?”

“Chunsam introduced me.”

“Oh, I see. Chunsam’s off today.”

“Got it.”

My acting seemed to work.

The dealer spilled everything.

Maybe I should become an actor.

“What’s your relationship with Chunsam?”

“Just met on the street.”

“Met on the street? Did you run away from home?”

“Yeah.”

“Tsk tsk… Didn’t your parents teach you lying is bad?”

“Huh?”

It got a bit noisy behind me, so I turned around and saw five or six guys standing there.

“Was my acting that bad?”

“A runaway wouldn’t be this clean, and Chunsam doesn’t know this place.”

“…So my acting was fine. Right?”

“Can’t you read the room? You’re seriously crazy.”

The dealer looked at me like I was nuts.

“Hayan, clean up the back.”

“Got it.”

“Can I kill them?”

“…No.”

“Pfft, you kids are funny.”

“It’s not gonna be funny soon…”

“What?”

Thud—

I grabbed the dealer’s head and slammed it into the table.

“Ugh!”

Told you it wouldn’t be funny.

Blood gushed from his nose, and tears started streaming from his eyes from the pain.

“Where’s Chunsam?”

“Crazy bitches! What are you doing! Subdue them… huh?”

I didn’t bother looking back, but it was obvious.

All the thugs who came to grab us were lying on the ground.

“Where’s Chunsam?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Then you’re gonna get hit.”

Slap—

“Where’s Chunsam?”

“…I don’t know!”

Slap—

“Where’s Chunsam?”

“…Stop it, you’re gonna get killed.”

Slap—

“Where’s Chunsam?”

“I really don’t know!”

Slap—

A few teeth flew out, and his swollen cheek looked like it was about to burst, but he still held back.

More loyal than I thought…

Just as I raised my hand to hit him again.

“I’ll talk! Stop hitting me!”

Slap—

“I said I’ll talk! Why did you…”

“I was just praising your loyalty in my head, but then you caved so quickly, I couldn’t help it…”

By the way, with all this commotion, aren’t the other thugs coming?

All the customers ran away, the dealer’s getting beaten up…

I turned around and saw dozens of thugs already lying on the ground.

‘…Didn’t even hear anything?’

I glanced at Hayan, and she was smiling.

A bright, cute smile, but it was starting to get a little scary.

 

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