The Perfect

“Money. The issue is whether you can pay me.”The chairman’s son burst into laughter.“Do you know who I am? I can stack gold bars in front of you right now, so just catch and eliminate him.”“Heartless must be eliminated. You need to stack those gold bars by sunrise tomorrow as promised. If you break the promise, I’ll charge the penalty fee stated in the contract.”“Money isn’t the issue. But by sunrise tomorrow?”“Literally, by sunrise, I’ll have your father’s head on this table.”The chairman’s son smiled with satisfaction at Director Kook’s words.“You’re as confident as they say.”“And incredibly handsome too.”“Hahaha-”“Hahaha-”The two laughed heartily. The onlookers’ faces soured at the collaboration of two money-crazed individuals. Even Clicker, who had worked with Director Kook for years, didn’t look pleased. I approached Clicker, remembering my purpose for being here, to gather information.“Can Director Kook really catch the chairman by sunrise?”“Why? Is there a reason he shouldn’t catch him quickly?”“Yes.”“What?”“Yes?”Clicker looked at me like I was crazy. But if Yangsimless catches the chairman and declares him a normal Heartless before I investigate, it’ll be a problem. He’ll storm into my room… The thought gave me chills. I’d rather catch and eliminate the chairman myself than have Yangsimless mock my novel. Damn, the thought of hunting Heartless made me nauseous. But my resolve quickly crumbled.“This is the Special Department employee here to help me.”Out of nowhere, Yangsimless introduced me to the chairman’s son.“He plans to stick with me for 24 hours, 1,440 minutes, 86,400 seconds.”Damn it.“Is he capable?”“Absolutely not. He’ll just be a nuisance. He’s prone to tripping over himself.”I wanted to trip Yangsimless right then.“Then why bring such a useless person? I don’t want anyone interfering with my father’s execution.”I wanted to trip the chairman’s son too. A son obsessed with killing his father for money could only be matched by someone equally obsessed with money.“Such a minor nuisance won’t affect my work. Incompetent guards swarm like cockroaches, blaming their lack of skill on the environment.”The guards watching us grew more hostile.“I don’t mind the Special Department employee following me.”My eyes also filled with hostility. Who’s following whom?“But the Special Department employee met our target, the chairman, and made strange statements.”“What strange statements?”“He claimed the chairman was different from a normal Heartless. He said the chairman had dementia and became Heartless.”Everyone’s eyes turned to me. I forced an awkward smile. The chairman’s son bared his teeth at me.“Dementia! What nonsense! My sister made that up to claim the will is fake! Who are you to say such things?!”The chairman’s son pointed at me and stood up. I quickly raised my hand.“Restro…”I didn’t have to finish my restroom request. The door suddenly burst open, and the sister intervened.“The doctor confirmed our father’s dementia. You used his dementia to get him to sign the will!”“You damn…”The chairman’s son pointed at his sister. He became a human arrow, making it clear who he was talking to.“Don’t you remember the doctor said it was a misdiagnosis? Huh?!”“No matter how much you paid the doctor, Dr. Choi, our father’s primary physician, knows his condition well. Of course, Dr. Choi won’t return to Korea until the trial to avoid your threats. If the will is invalidated in court, the previous will takes effect. You won’t get a penny.”“That goes for you too! Damn it, I offered you a share, so why are you making a fuss?! A trial? Hmph! You can’t beat me. No matter how much you rely on Dr. Choi…”“If you want, I can turn a blind eye to what you want. If you promise one thing.”The chairman’s son stopped cursing. He glanced around. It was a signal for everyone to leave, but the sister ignored it and spoke first.“Leave our father alone. I’ll take care of him. Don’t harm him, brother.”“……”For the first time, they seemed like real siblings. I thought the brother would accept the sister’s proposal. He only wanted money, but deep down, he probably didn’t want to kill his father. The chairman’s son finally spoke after a long pause.“Can you promise that?”“Yes. Call the lawyer.”“That’s not possible.”A voice interrupted. It was Director Kook, sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed, watching the scene.“Not possible? This is a family matter. You have no right to interfere.”“It’s not a family matter. You’re openly conspiring not to eliminate a Heartless. And you’re doing it in front of a Special Department employee. I can’t just stand by and watch.”The sister frowned and looked at me. I gave her an awkward smile, signaling with my eyes that I was just an outsider. I know nothing.“Director Kook. Let’s talk separately later.”The chairman’s son stepped in. Yangsimless chuckled at his words.“The only thing you need to tell me is that the gold bars will be properly placed on this table by tomorrow morning. You know how hefty the penalty is if you break the contract.”The word “penalty” made the chairman’s son clamp his mouth shut. It was clear how large the amount would be. Even when his sister called him, he didn’t meet her eyes. The sister let out a bitter laugh.“He’s giving you what you want. Just spare our father. Is that so hard?”“This is all your fault. If you had said this earlier…”“You’re the one who hired hunters to kill our father!”“Hey! There’s no point in saying that now.”“What’s the problem? Are you scared of him? You’d rather kill our father because you’re scared of him?”The sister pointed at Director Kook. I wanted to explain that her brother had a good eye for people. Instead, Yangsimless stepped in.“Manager Hong, back up the video we just recorded to the server and send it to the necessary people. If I don’t contact you by sunrise tomorrow, expose everything and ruin this family.”“Hey, what video?”“Sometimes you encounter crap like this on the job. The contract states I have the right to record and disclose all work-related activities. Ask your brother.”“Who the hell are you…”“Who am I? The person who will cut off your father’s head.”The sister closed her mouth and looked back at her brother. The chairman’s son signaled to talk later and reassured Yangsimless.“Director Kook, I won’t break the contract. But if you don’t keep your promise by tomorrow morning, I’ll demand the penalty fee. You guaranteed it yourself, right?”“No objections. Since you said that, I’m even more eager to search this house.”His words made the sister step forward.“Search? Why our house?”“Didn’t you hear? Your father is in this house.”The sister looked shocked, glancing between her brother and Yangsimless.“Is that true? How do you know?”“Because I drove him here.”As soon as he finished speaking, the sister ran out. Most of the guards in the room followed her. Outside, it was already dark, but the house was lit up with bright blue lights, making it as bright as day. If the chairman was hiding somewhere in the house, he wouldn’t be able to move. She would search the house all night to find her father before Yangsimless. But why was Yangsimless so relaxed?“This situation has become quite interesting, sir.”“What do you mean?”The chairman’s son, about to leave, turned back.“If your sister finds your father first, she’ll get both him and the inheritance. But if I find him first, you’ll lose both the money and the inheritance.”“Lose the inheritance?”“A Heartless with dementia is a rare case. I’ll send your father’s head to the lab immediately.”“Director Kook.”The chairman’s son forced a smile. His eyes were filled with obvious murderous intent.“You’re sure my father is in this house?”“Yes.”“I hope to see you smiling tomorrow morning.”“Me too.”They exchanged smiles, but it was the opposite of the laughter they shared earlier. After the chairman’s son left, I turned to ask Clicker a question. But he was gone. He was here just a moment ago. Where did he go…“It’s just the two of us now.”Flinch. Yangsimless’s low voice startled me. I looked around instinctively. Three guards stood there, looking confused.“Why? Are you embarrassed to be alone with me?”I was embarrassed. Embarrassed by Yangsimless’s inability to count to five.“What are you talking about? We’re not alone in this room.”I pointed at the guards with my eyes, but Yangsimless scoffed and stood up.“Hmph, do you see anyone else?”“Very, clearly, distinctly.”“Wait in the room. Don’t think about following me.”Bang, the door slammed shut as he left. I stared at the closed door for a long time. That guy has finally lost it.I expected a long night, but I didn’t expect it to be so hard to even see the room assigned to me. I was heading to my assigned room, winding through the corridors to the second floor, when someone intercepted me and led me elsewhere. In a large reception room, someone was waiting for me.“It’s just me. No one else, so come in.”The sister invited me from the doorway. I still checked the room for snipers before entering.“Let me ask you one thing first. Are you doing this for money too?”“No, I’m not.”“That’s both a relief and a shame.”She smiled bitterly.“I thought it would be easier to bribe you with money.”Her words made my eyes turn serious. Damn, I could be bribed easily. Surely she wasn’t giving up already? With Heartless taking priority in all laws, the Special Department’s public integrity laws had also become stricter. The level of punishment was on a different scale compared to other departments.If you received money related to Heartless, suspension was the minimum, along with a fine several times the amount received and thousands of hours of labor. But that was only for Heartless-related matters. I was willing to engage in a deal regarding the hunter. If it meant dealing with Yangsimless, I’d be willing to pay.“Life often goes the opposite of what we expect, and sometimes we meet unexpected allies and receive unforeseen help to solve problems.”“Really?”I nodded vigorously. Of course. Now, go ahead and bribe me again.“Unexpected help. So you’re saying I shouldn’t ask for your help.”“What?”“Actually, when I was in despair recently, I received unexpected help. I understand what you mean.”What does she understand? The chairman’s daughter’s comprehension was severely lacking. I asked urgently.“Did you call me because you’re worried about the hunter?”“Yes. I found out he’s a very dangerous person.”“He’s extremely dangerous.”“And very skilled, right?”I didn’t want to admit that. I averted my gaze, and she spoke firmly.“He won’t kill my father. Never.”“The only way to stop him is to eliminate him first.”She smiled faintly. Seeing her, words slipped out of my mouth.“If that’s true, I can’t just stand by.”“That’s what a Special Department employee would say.”“It’s not because I’m a Special Department employee. I’m saying this because if you mess with Director Kook, innocent people might get hurt. Director Kook is not someone to be underestimated. No matter how many guards you have…”“No matter how many guards, they can’t intentionally kill a hunter.”“Are you saying an unfortunate accident could happen?”“You never know. Hunters dying while trying to catch Heartless isn’t uncommon.”“…I’ll stay in my room tonight in case of an unfortunate accident.”She smiled faintly again and then asked, as if remembering something.“You met my father?”“Oh, that was by chance while walking on the embankment.”“You claimed his condition was different from a normal Heartless.”“I didn’t claim that.”Yangsimless was the one spreading that. But it was different.“Director Kook said your father grabbed you and looked like he was going to kill you but then let you go. Honestly, I was surprised to hear that. Did he change his mind about killing you?”“…I don’t know.”“Or was it just a coincidence?”At the word “coincidence,” I looked around. Could this be a trap set by Yangsimless?“No.”“So your father intentionally let you go. Why do you think that is?”“Maybe he’s more human than a Heartless.”Tears welled up in the chairman’s daughter’s eyes. That must have been the answer she wanted. I quickly added.“It’s just a personal opinion. I might have been mistaken at that moment, or it could have been a coincidence.”I looked around cautiously and added.“I was lucky to survive…”“When I heard your story, I decided I couldn’t let my father die. I saw hope. I was convinced my father was different from Heartless.”“Don’t put too much meaning into my opinion.”“I will insist that my father has dementia, not Heartless. Director Kook says he’ll send my father’s head to the lab, but I won’t let that happen. I’ll stop it somehow.”I could feel she genuinely cared for her father.“But your father will eventually have problems. We need to stop this before it gets worse.”“You said it yourself. My father is different from a normal Heartless. Should we kill him? How can I let someone who talks and smiles in front of me die?”“Your father might kill someone else who talks and smiles.”“……”“A Heartless with dementia is rare. Even if it’s not Director Kook, the government will intervene.”She nodded after a long pause.“I know. My father will eventually die. But I won’t let that person cut my father’s head tonight. If I catch my father, I’ll take him to a controlled place. He doesn’t have much time left. The doctor said he wouldn’t last more than two weeks.”I realized why she had called me.“Please wait just two weeks. My only wish is for my father to die peacefully with his family, not hunted like a monster. Just two weeks. I’m not asking you to break the law. Even if you report it, I’ll hide with my father where no one can find us for two weeks. You understand what I mean, right?”Step back and turn a blind eye. As she said, I could report it, and that would be it. She didn’t have to tell me this. Yet she was asking me.“Is my life the price for this favor?”“If you don’t claim a sense of justice beyond your professional duty, you won’t lose your life.”“……”“No matter how noisy it gets outside tonight, don’t leave your room.”She was considering me in her way, but I couldn’t bring myself to thank her.“I’m a heavy sleeper. But please tell me one thing.”“What is it?”“Was the chairman particularly interested in the environment?”“Other than setting up an environmental fund at the company level, he wasn’t personally interested. Why do you ask?”Never mind. If he wasn’t worried about El Niño… I thought for a moment, then noticed the chairman’s daughter staring at me. I quickly changed the subject.“By the way, does the chairman collect sneakers?”“No.”“Really? He was wearing old limited edition Air Jordans.”“My father?”Yes. I nodded and explained the situation, adding,“He ran really well.”“The doctor said it’s like squeezing out the remaining strength without rest. So he looks healthier, but his lifespan is shorter.”That was a characteristic of Heartless. They exhibited remarkable strength, but it meant they didn’t have long to live. The chairman’s daughter’s eyes filled with deep sadness.“My wish is to have a proper conversation with my father like before. But saving him comes first.”She stared into space for a moment, then gave me some numbers.“If it gets dangerous in your room, go past the kitchen at the end of the building and push the second shelf in the storage room. Then enter the secret code to access the underground bunker. You can hide there.”My conversation with the chairman’s daughter ended, but my journey to my room wasn’t over. Clicker was waiting with a tablet in front of my room and pulled me aside as soon as he saw me.“Sign this.”I looked at the screen he handed me.‘High-Risk Mission Agreement’“It’s a document stating 4K isn’t responsible if you die or get seriously injured. Sign it quickly.”Hearing the friendly summary, I took the touch pen with trembling hands. Clicker smirked but I had no time to respond. This kind of thing is for real danger!“Hurry up.”“……”“Just so you know, no one will help you, so hide on your own. Why did you even come here?”“Because Director Kook threatened me to come.”Clicker looked at me with pity. I know, I pity myself too.“You should have screamed for help at the embankment. You were lucky to survive the chairman’s grip, but now Director Kook is even more determined. Even if the old man let go, you should have screamed since he’s Heartless.”“……”“What?”“You speak as if you saw it yourself.”Flinch. He averted his gaze.“Director Kook described it so vividly.”Damn it. He’s good at descriptions despite his poor spelling? I was envious.“Anyway, scream next time. How did you get away from the chairman?”“I’d like to know too.”“A Heartless with dementia is a rare variant. But the chairman is strange. Did he take some special dementia medication?”Listening to his muttering, I signed the ridiculous document stating no one would be blamed if I died. As soon as I signed, Clicker flipped the screen and handed it back.“Answer a few survey questions.”―Name and contact of the first person to notify upon death.―Keepsake or other items to place next to the urn. (e.g., family photo, meaningful item)―Favorite flowers and food for the altar.“Does 4K check these things?”“No. It’s my personal hobby. Write quickly.”He snapped, but I could see he was embarrassed. He reminded me of a mischievous elementary school student who was actually kind-hearted. He had a cute side.“I have nothing to write.”“Nothing? No one to notify or cherished items?”“No.”“Just like the CEO.”“CEO Na?!”“Director Kook.”I quickly grabbed the tablet and scribbled anything.―President, Blue House―External hard drive: Thorough incineration with the body―Corpse flower, Surströmming“Please take care of it.”“Are you joking?”“Of course not.”“Contact the Blue House upon death? Fine, but corpse flower? Surströmming, what is that?”“I won’t see or eat it after I die. It should be something I never wanted to smell or eat in life.”Clicker took the tablet with a disgusted look. Still, feeling proud that he would comfort me after death, I decided to share some information.“If it gets dangerous, go past the kitchen at the end of the building and push the second shelf in the storage room. There’s an underground bunker. I was told to hide there.”I also gave him the password, but Clicker just said, “Huh?” and started examining the house layout on the tablet. He kept tilting his head. Strange. I heard him mutter.“What’s wrong?”“There’s been something off about this house from the beginning, especially the electrical system…”He pointed to a spot on the tablet but quickly pulled it back.“Never mind. I’m not sharing with a Special Department employee.”Who asked to see it? I regretted telling him about the bunker. As I turned to leave, the power went out. I thought I heard a distant pop, but it was too faint to identify. The lights came back on a few seconds later.“Maybe the fuse blew.”“Or a bomb went off.”Clicker gave me a disdainful look.“Are you that scared?”“Yes.”Who knows if it’s a real bomb? I added urgently.“The lights went out and came back on. Something must have happened. The guards watching us are gone too.”“The guards have been searching the garden since earlier. They’re desperate to find the chairman before Director Kook.”Or to kill Director Kook. But before I could voice my suspicion, Clicker spoke first.“The power outage was probably due to an overload. With all those lights in the garden… Oh? The garden lights are off?”Clicker tilted his head again. It seemed like a habit, but it wasn’t cute at all. I almost tilted my head too. The bright blue light that made it look like daytime was gone, and the garden was engulfed in darkness. A sense of foreboding washed over me. Wait, isn’t this similar to the situation at the safe house when we went after the E-class Heartless? Yangsimless had cut the power then.“Did Director Kook do this?”“No. He said the safety lights should be on to make it easier for the guards to catch the chairman. Director Kook would ensure the best conditions for them so he could mock and crush them when he won.”I reflected again. What kind of person did I mess with?“So the one who cut the power…”Clicker stopped talking and tilted his head again. Then he ran off without a word. Goodbye, I hope you bring corpse flowers and surströmming to my memorial. But that’s for the distant future. I had no intention of dying tonight.Determined, I opened the door and quickly scanned the room without turning on the lights. Learning from the safe house failure, I planned to stay locked in the room tonight. I would endure here even if I became a ghost haunting this house. Let’s see, hiding places: bathroom, closet, under the bed…“Gah!”I gasped and stepped back. What is that?! Something glowing outside the window was watching me. …Damn it.“Director Kook, what are you doing there?!”“Can you see me?”See you? You’re standing there in that glowing outfit, how could I not? Why are you wearing a glowing outfit like a human alarm clock? The lime-green fluorescent clothes were blinding in the dark.“I’m not blind, of course I can see you.”“You can see me clearly in this darkness, why?”What is this lunatic talking about? It’s glowing. Your shirt is glowing.“Director Kook, why are you outside my room?”“Just passing by.”In that outfit?“No matter how fast I pass by, you can see me clearly?”I felt it was best not to answer yes. Instinct told me so. I used the best method: changing the subject.“Did you find the chairman?”“There’s still a long time until sunrise, why find him now?”“Right.”“……”“Are you going to stay there?”Of course, he would. He needed to hear me scream if I was in danger. Come to think of it, the guards would come to kill him, and I might get shot too.“Mr. Han Jemyung.”He called my name seriously.“Why are you so interested in me?”I almost cursed, forgetting I shouldn’t make him an enemy.“Director Kook.”“Or are you wary that I’ll discover your secret?”“S-secret? I-I don’t have any.”My calmness made his eyes narrow.“Your voice is trembling.”“…My phone is vibrating.”I took out my phone from my inner jacket pocket, and his eyes gleamed sharply.“Did you want to tell me your left nipple is sensitive?”“……”When I kept my mouth shut, Yangsimless looked at me like a pervert. Better to be mistaken for a pervert than have my novel discovered. Even if it was discovered, I’d still be called a pervert. I tried changing the subject again.“Why did you turn off the safety lights outside?”Clicker said it wasn’t his doing, but I still had doubts.“Why would I do that? I need to watch those idiots fail to catch a Heartless under the safety lights.”So the guards turned them off? To deal with Yangsimless before catching the chairman? I stepped back from the window, preparing for flying bullets. Surely they wouldn’t miss such a glowing target.“Whoever turned them off, the guards disappearing in droves left me bored.”He turned his head to the side, staring at something in the dark.“But there might be something more interesting to watch.”“What do you mean?”“What would you do with that body?”What’s wrong with my body? Sensitive nipples? Instead of snapping back, I gave an awkward smile. His grudge was too strong to provoke further. Choosing peace, Yangsimless advised me.“You were planning to hide under the bed, in the closet, or the bathroom anyway. Stay put until sunrise. I said, stay put.”He disappeared. I wanted to run to the bunker instead of following his orders. But alone, I was too scared to even step into the hallway. The surroundings were quiet. The building’s interior had blue safety lights, but outside was pitch dark. Where were all the guards? Was Yangsimless lying about leaving and watching me get attacked?I had many questions, but fear came first. I decided to hide. I opened the closet. Too empty. They’d search the closet first in an emergency, so I gave up. I turned away from the bathroom for the same reason when I heard a familiar sound in the distance.Bang! Bang! Bang!Gunshots? I pressed myself against the wall and crouched by the bedpost. Soon, the safety lights in the garden lit up brightly again. There was noise outside. Did they find the chairman? Bang, another gunshot. I quickly ducked and pushed my head under the bed. At the same time, I jumped back up.Thud! I hit my head on the bed but didn’t feel the pain as I frantically crawled out from under the bed. There was something under the bed. To be precise, it was a person. What, who is that?! I was too shocked to even curse. I backed away in a panic until I hit a cabinet, then stopped and stared at the bed.But despite my commotion, there was no reaction from under the bed. It was definitely a person. Someone was lying under the bed. …Could it be a corpse?! Chills ran down my spine. I swallowed and lowered my head to the floor. It took a lot of courage to look under the bed.In horror movies, the moment you check under the bed, you either meet a monster’s eyes or a hand reaches out, and you die within five minutes. I waited six minutes just in case, then looked under the bed. The first thing I saw was a human figure.Someone was lying under the bed. I couldn’t see the face, but it wasn’t a corpse. The side was moving slightly with breaths. Who sleeps under a bed? Oh, Air Jordan sneakers. The person under the bed was wearing the shoes I saw earlier. Oh, it’s the chairman.Oh, damn it! I stood up and looked around. Why is the chairman sleeping under the bed assigned to me?! Who should I tell? The guards? Yangsimless? I couldn’t decide. One thing was clear.My plan to stay hidden in the room was ruined. As if to confirm my decision, gunshots rang out again outside. I decided to head to the bunker. I ran out into the hallway and headed to the place the chairman’s daughter mentioned. There was no one inside the house to stop me. The hallways, a few reception rooms, and the foyer lounge, all lit by safety lights, were empty.But I had no time to worry about that. I quickly found the kitchen and stood in front of the shelf that seemed to be the entrance to the bunker. I found the door, entered the code, and went down. A long hallway stretched ahead. I ran for what felt like a long time. Another door appeared. I tried to push it open, but it didn’t budge. What? I pushed harder. It didn’t move. I pushed again.“Ugh.”I grunted as I pushed, but it didn’t budge. Should I pull? No. Was there a secret mechanism like pulling a book from a shelf? Nothing but dust. Was it locked from the inside? I started knocking. Open the door! Someone’s here! Open up! Clunk. The whole wall seemed to shake, then slowly opened. A man in his thirties with glasses appeared from the darkness.“Were you knocking?”He looked around cautiously.“Where are the others? Is there a Heartless?”“I don’t know.”“What do you mean you don’t know? The safety lights went out and Heartless appeared, so everyone evacuated to the bunker. Then you knocked… Hey.”He called to me as I backed away. I pointed at his arm with my chin.“There’s blood.”“There’s an injured person inside. You’re not Heartless, right?”“No, I’m not.”“Then come in quickly. We need to close the bunker before Heartless comes. Hurry.”He urged, but I didn’t move. Looking around anxiously, he gestured again.“Hurry inside…”He stopped talking when he saw my eyes. He stared for a while, then asked strangely.“How did you know?”“Hearing that question again.”My words were almost a sigh. The world was in chaos with Heartless, and everyday life was disrupted. All systems had changed to catch Heartless. People were adapting well, complying with strict checks without complaint. This method reduced the accident rate. No one wanted new variants to disrupt life again. So having a severely infected Heartless that spoke and acted normally standing in front of me, smiling under the safety lights, was a nightmare.“Again?”The glasses man pulled a gun from his waistband.“Where did you hear it? When?”When I didn’t answer, he aimed the gun at my head. But he soon lowered it.“Maybe I’ll start with your legs.”Grinning, his face twisted demonically. That was the characteristic of variant Heartless. They were good at acting human. But they couldn’t change their eyes.“I’ll say just two words.”He tilted his head. I took it as permission and took a deep breath.“Director Kook, help!”“……”“Director Kook! Hel—”“Shut up.”“Please!”Would you shut up in this situation? I shouted the remaining words and looked confidently at the entrance. Yangsimless would come now that I said what he wanted, right? Even if he’s crazy, he’s invincible and can take you down in no time. I smirked, thinking of Heartless’s future. A moment later, Heartless also smirked at me.“No one’s coming. Keep going?”I felt slightly humiliated but shouted three more times. Still, no one appeared. Not even a worker or guard.“Wonder why no one’s coming?”“No.”He sneered. I really didn’t want to know. I didn’t want to hear the cliché horror movie line, “Everyone else is dead.” I just wanted to know where Yangsimless was. I shouted as he wanted, but he wasn’t here when it mattered. Damn worthless guy. But there was no time to curse him. The variant Heartless moved his gun.“Go inside.”“Why?”“Unless you want to die here.”“Let’s go.”I led the way. Inside was a large underground area. It looked like a neat laboratory. If not for the red blood splattered on the white walls and ceiling, I could have leisurely explored. But there was a lot of blood. Through the opaque glass walls, I saw bodies on the floor. Blood flowed under the walls, staining the hallway. Most bodies wore lab coats. Why was there such a large lab under a rich person’s house?“The rich experimented on humans like lab rats. We were all unjustly captured and woke up as Heartless. But we were different from normal Heartless. Was the Heartless you saw like us?”“The same.”“When, where did you see it?”Instead of answering, I looked around again. The area beyond the glass walls was a mess. Everything was overturned and scattered on the floor.“I want to know what happened to those who left here. Hey.”I didn’t turn at his call. I looked at the nearest body. There was a reason for the amount of blood. The fingers were cut off, and the face was mutilated beyond recognition. There were three reasons to kill someone like that. First, sadistic personality disorder. Second, holding a grudge. Third, needing information.“You tortured the researchers but didn’t get what you wanted.”No response. I looked over to see the variant Heartless smiling at me. I could see he was contemplating. To kill me or not. The decision wavered in his hand. But I knew he wouldn’t shoot. He must think I had something he wanted. He was looking for his comrades. Where they were, what happened to them. What would he gain from knowing that?“They deserve it. They took healthy people and turned them into Heartless. If you were held captive for over a year and used as a test subject, you’d either go mad and kill yourself or become Heartless and wait for revenge.”The cause of Heartless is still unknown. Some say it’s a new mental illness, others blame environmental pollution, or it’s a genetic mutation caused by excessive stress in modern society. There are many theories, but no definitive answer. If they could create Heartless, it could lead to discovering the cause and a cure.“I’m looking for the pill they used to turn us into Heartless. They must have hidden it somewhere. Some Heartless escaped from here. I need to find them. Tell me where you saw them.”“Six months ago, the safety test for new polymer glass was approved.”“What are you talking about?”“Before that, it was illegal to use glass in bunkers. But six months ago, the new material law passed, allowing stylish glass doors and walls in bunkers. Factories didn’t immediately start using it due to production limits, and it hit the market a month or two later.”I pointed to a black box with a blinking red light in the ceiling corner.“A router connected to a self-generator. They don’t use those anymore. It’s from 5-6 years ago. This bunker was built a while ago, but it was converted into a lab only a few months ago. So, your story is nonsense.”He wiped the smile off his face and aimed his gun.“So?”So… I took a deep breath.“Director Kook, help!”“……”“Director Kook, help me, you bastard!”I was out of breath. Even cursing didn’t bring him. He must really be gone. I explained the situation to my opponent.“I had dreams of being an actor.”“You’re not funny.”Good. I wasn’t trying to be.“You’re as annoying as a hunter. I caught one like you to get some answers, but he just babbled nonsense. It was exhausting.”“A hunter?”“A young one. Had all sorts of gadgets, looking around. When I talked to him, he was just like you. Are you a hunter too?”“What happened to that hunter?”“I killed him.”He pulled out a sharp knife and approached me.“Get close and stab like this… Ugh!”The variant Heartless screamed and fell forward. Behind him stood Clicker, holding a metal chair he had smashed over the Heartless’s head. His eyes were unfocused and blurry.“Damn, why are you here?”His slurred speech sounded drugged, but he gritted his teeth and looked around. He didn’t forget to kick the gun away and approached me.“Hide behind me.”“Are you hurt?”I saw his side soaked in blood, but he ignored it and gestured for me to hide behind him.“Quickly.”He told me to hide behind him, but he needed to check behind himself first. Two men, who had been there for who knows how long, stood at the far end of the hallway, grinning. Their white patient gowns and weapons were stained with red blood. Clicker staggered to my side.“Run. I can handle this.”* * *The first thing Seungjae did on-site was survey the terrain. He walked diligently, comparing the building layout with what he saw. He checked and recorded electrical systems, voltage, and other facilities, looking for anything unusual.The chairman’s house received electricity from a state-of-the-art private power plant nearby. It used enough power for a small city, lighting up the vast grounds with blue safety lights and still having power to spare. But when Seungjae entered the data, the program calculated that the high-capacity batteries in the house were undercharged.This meant the house was using more power than its maximum capacity. There were more places using electricity. He delved into the layout. The guards’ gazes grew sharper due to Director Kook’s antics, but he didn’t care. He had to uncover the oddities, even if it meant dying. Otherwise, Director Kook would haunt him to hell with his grudge.Then the Special Department employee mentioned the bunker. Bunker? Seungjae examined various layouts and found something odd. The reported bunker size was small. But that couldn’t be. A palace-like house should have a palace-like bunker. The bunker report showed a modification notice from two months ago.It stated that due to ground subsidence risk, they were doing repairs and reducing the size. The original bunker size matched the missing power. Just then, the power went out. The Special Department employee looked around, suspecting Director Kook. A common reaction for those who had been fooled by him.But Seungjae thought Director Kook had no reason to interfere this time. The explosion sound was also strange. He told the Special Department employee it wasn’t, but it was definitely an explosion. Someone had tampered with the distant power plant.The mansion had emergency power. So he decided to investigate the bunker. If the power from the plant was cut, the bunker door would be easier to open. He was curious about what was inside. He considered informing Director Kook but didn’t want to disturb him, likely enjoying the chaos. His actions were being recorded anyway.Even if he died, 4K could find out where and how. He had no intention of dying. He had faced Heartless countless times and had survival skills. But he hadn’t anticipated encountering a new type of Heartless. That was his mistake. A hunter should be prepared for any situation.The ones he met in the secret lab under the chairman’s mansion easily deceived him and injected drugs. The wound in his side wasn’t deep, and the bleeding stopped, but the drugs made him dizzy and unable to think clearly. Seungjae didn’t give them the answers they wanted. He didn’t know what they wanted. He gave random, strange answers to extract information from them.