Chapter 134: Mastermind (2)

Translator: Dreamscribe

The Chairman of the 'New Light Truth Church', who had been relaxed and remarkably mild-mannered the entire time. No, the smile vanished from the Vice-Commander's face in an instant. The Vice-Commander's gaze behind his square glasses turned slightly vicious.

He had good reason.

"What the fuck. Why isn't it working."

Because his 'Ability' had just failed to activate. This was the first time anything like this had ever happened. The Vice-Commander, his face now devoid of expression.

Took his hand off the suited man's head.

-Swish.

He stared at his palm. Nothing seemed wrong with it. But his 'Ability' had definitely failed to activate. The suited man, still kneeling there perfectly fine, was proof of that. Why wasn't his 'Ability' activating?

The Vice-Commander slowly placed his hand back on the suited man's head, his brow beginning to furrow.

The suited man flinched and asked.

"Ch-Chairman? What seems to be the matter?"

The Vice-Commander murmured coldly.

"Stay still."

"Ah! Yes, sir!"

With his face full of seriousness, the Vice-Commander activated his 'Ability' once again.

'......Mind Destruction.'

But once again, not a single groan came from the suited man. He was fine. Why? What the hell was happening right now? On top of that, he felt the same strange sensation as when he'd first tried using his 'Ability'.

A feeling like someone was rummaging through his head, like his thoughts were full of static. As if someone was 'interfering' with his use of the Ability.

The Vice-Commander ground his molars together.

'What the hell is this. Why won't my 'Ability' activate?'

Was it because the other person wasn't a comrade who possessed an 'Ability'? No, the Vice-Commander had often used his 'Ability' on ordinary people as well. It made no difference whether they were comrades or ordinary people.

'I haven't even used my Ability these past few days, so why?'

For a moment, as the Vice-Commander let out a long breath, a trace of anxiety crept over him. This was the first time he'd experienced anything like this since coming over to this world. The Vice-Commander stared intently at his hand, then spoke to the suited man.

"Go outside."

"...Yes."

As things turned out, the sudden failure of the Ability had saved the suited man's life, and the Vice-Commander closed his eyes and took a long, deep breath before changing his approach.

'Let's try another Ability, one I Copied.'

He used an Ability other than 'Mind Destruction'. It was the one he'd acquired most recently. The Vice-Commander inhaled once again. This time, however, it was to smell.

The target was the suited woman standing beside him, her long hair tied back in a single ponytail.

Soon, the Vice-Commander could smell numerous scents coming from the woman.

Heavy perfume, cosmetics, sweat, and so on. Of them all, the strongest scent was coffee.

"Looks like you've been living on coffee again today."

"Yes, Chairman. I've had more than five cups. You know coffee is the condition for maintaining my 'Ability'."

"I know. An 'Ability' that lets you go without sleep. I said it was amusing because it isn't all that different from real life."

The woman nodded expressionlessly.

"That's correct."

The Vice-Commander silently looked up at her and felt relieved. It wasn't because of the suited woman. His own 'Ability' had just activated properly. He continued using several of the simpler-feeling 'Abilities'.

Every one of them activated without issue.

'Now they're working just fine again.'

As his anxiety gradually faded, the Vice-Commander reached out a hand. He intended to use the 'Ability' that hadn't activated moments earlier. 'Mind Destruction', which shattered a target's mind and, if they possessed an 'Ability', allowed him to Copy it at the same time.

However, right now, there was no target to use the Ability on.

But the Vice-Commander didn't seem to care as he murmured inwardly.

'Mind Destruction.'

A tingling sensation immediately spread from his fingertips through his entire forearm. The pain he felt now was proof that 'Mind Destruction' was functioning properly. A faint breath escaped the Vice-Commander's nose. It carried relief and reassurance.

Fortunately, his 'Abilities' hadn't disappeared.

'What was that just now.'

But there was no question that, moments earlier, he'd been unable to use his 'Ability' twice. It hadn't been his imagination. Something had definitely interfered with him. Especially that static-like sensation of being obstructed.

"Hmm."

For now, the Vice-Commander filed what had just happened away as something to factor into his calculations and opened his mouth. His usual mild tone had already returned.

"So. Jin Jong-hoon, was it."

"Yes, Chairman. Judging by the article-"

"I know. I read it too."

Jin Jong-hoon, whom the Vice-Commander had sent out, had been caught by the police. And with his brain wrecked, no less. Meanwhile, the victim had been transported to the hospital unharmed.

"Hmm- looks like something went wrong right before the job."

However, no one besides Jin Jong-hoon and the victim had been found at the scene. The police seemed confused, but the Vice-Commander smiled with certainty.

'Someone messed with Jin Jong-hoon.'

After all, the Landmine planted by the Vice-Commander was what had wrecked Jin Jong-hoon's brain.

'He must've ended up in a situation where he had no choice but to spill everything. Maybe he was tied up and threatened.'

Whoever had messed with Jin Jong-hoon probably hadn't been alone. At least three people. Who could they have been? Other comrades who possessed 'Abilities'?

'No, that would be too out of nowhere. It doesn't make much sense that they found his location either. It's more likely to be someone connected to the Human Trafficking side.'

Whether it was drugs or anything else, there was always a process. Distribution, sales, Money Laundering, and so on and so forth. The Vice-Commander guessed that someone involved somewhere along that process had betrayed them.

Soon, the Vice-Commander rose from the sofa and put on the worship robe hanging on the wall.

"Jin Jong-hoon. What a shame. He was a pretty useful guy. Both in the Mercenary Corps and here."

He added inwardly as well.

'It's also a shame I never got to Copy his 'Ability'.'

The suited woman held out her tablet and replied.

"What should we do."

"Well- we'll have to keep an even lower profile. For the time being, restrict all movement as much as possible."

"Understood. We even moved after we became a public issue, and now something else has happened. What a nuisance."

"It's fine. The 'New Light Truth Church' is still going strong. Suspend the businesses for now and prioritize gathering believers. And finding our comrades."

"Yes."

The Vice-Commander, ready to leave, suddenly paused. For some reason, he found himself recalling his days in the Mercenary Corps. More precisely, he remembered the Commander who had led the Corps.

"What would the Commander have done at a time like this?"

"Problems or whatever, he'd have just bulldozed straight ahead. Everything would've gotten smashed to pieces."

"Probably. But he never did crazy shit for no reason. Everything was part of his calculations."

"Were you jealous."

"Jealous. Maybe? The Commander was an insane genius. Brains or brawn."

"They said he started out cleaning in the Mercenary Corps too. Started with mopping."

"I know. The Commander told me himself. That's what makes him even crazier. You could call him an anomaly."

"Do you miss him."

The Vice-Commander smiled faintly, shrugged, and answered.

"Rather than missing him, sometimes I wonder what it would've been like if the Commander were in this world too- something like that."

"Wouldn't he be the number one priority for elimination."

"Priority zero."

Meanwhile.

Kang Jae-ha, who was at Leon Entertainment, was also thinking about the Vice-Commander. No, perhaps it would be more accurate to say he was sensing him.

'So the Vice-Commander used an 'Ability'.'

Jae-ha had used Interference on the Vice-Commander for fun. About twice. After all, Interference could be placed on a target even if he didn't know their name or where they were, as long as Kang Jae-ha understood the target well enough.

Additionally, Jae-ha could sense whenever a target he'd placed Interference on used an 'Ability'.

This, too, was one of Interference's unique effects, if you could call it that.

Not only did it interfere with the target's 'Ability', it also allowed Jae-ha to perceive the moment the Ability was blocked.

'He must've been at least a little surprised that he couldn't use his 'Ability', huh?'

It was one hell of an amusing prank. Jae-ha wanted to use Interference on the Vice-Commander like this often, but doing it too frequently could arouse needless suspicion.

'I can probably do it once in a while, right when he's about to forget about it.'

What to call it, the true mastermind's little prank?

Kang Jae-ha smiled faintly and rose from his seat. He was heading to see 'Kisera', who should be in the practice room. Before that, Kang Jae-ha activated Sensing first.

He'd already done it that morning, but he intended to use Sensing whenever it crossed his mind.

First, whether there were any new Subordinates within 30m.

'None.'

No Subordinates were picked up by Sensing. Next was searching for anyone connected to the 'New Light Truth Church'. Jae-ha stepped out of Team 4 and abruptly stopped. A red human-shaped figure that hadn't been there that morning was now spreading across his radar.

Only one person was colored red, location: the first-floor lobby.

Kang Jae-ha immediately realized who had appeared on his radar.

'It's CEO Han Tae-sung.'

Later.

'Murder Is a Qualification Too', which had been released last week as part of the 'One-Act Drama Project', was still red-hot.

《'Murder Is a Qualification Too' Holds Firm at No. 1 for a Full Week / Photo》

《Netflix's 'One-Act Drama Project' Is a Smash Hit! Oh Jong-man, An Ji-hee, and More Receive Rave Reviews for Their Acting!》

Not only was it ranked No. 1 in Netflix's own rankings, it had also been named the hottest drama by the media. On top of that, it was being mentioned endlessly in both long-form and short-form content across YouTube, online communities, and social media.

《[Star Pick] Writer-Actor Oh Jong-man Has Done It, Why Audiences Are Hooked on 'Murder Is a Qualification Too'》

The fresh shock of learning that Oh Jong-man, who had been at the center of controversy, was actually the writer more than doubled the attention it drew, and the work itself was high quality as well. The fact that there wasn't a weak link among the performances of An Ji-hee and the other actors also played a part.

The 'One-Act Drama Project' was a massive hit.

Naturally, an enormous amount of attention and Casting Offers poured in for Oh Jong-man, the key figure behind the nuclear-bomb-level success.

《Oh Jong-man Sweeps Up Variety Shows and Talk Shows!》

Of course, he didn't accept every Casting Offer. Because Oh Jong-man only handled the schedules picked out by Kang Jae-ha. No, by General Manager Kim Ha-jae.

In any case, Oh Jong-man, who had once been treated like a criminal, rose to star status overnight.

Sure, there were still people who cursed him, but they were a minority. Few enough to ignore.

Next, 'The Noble Man and Woman', the second title released from the 'One-Act Drama Project' starting this week and starring Yoon Da-yeon, likewise.

-omgggggg 'The Noble Man and Woman' is insanely good too

-Why the hell doesn't Yoon Da-yeon age ㅋㅋㅋㅋ she's fucking gorgeous

-She's fucking good at acting too

-Yoon Da-yeon was always good at acting yeah

-Looks like Yoon Da-yeon is getting a second prime after becoming washed-up ㅋㅋㅋㅋ isn't this a first?? Someone becoming washed-up and then blowing up again

Quickly drew the full attention of the media and the public. There was undoubtedly some spillover from 'Murder Is a Qualification Too', but Yoon Da-yeon herself had plenty of buzz as well, so the momentum was strong.

On top of that, Choi Ri-na's momentum soared through the roof.

More precisely, the songs she'd made did.

[1(-)] Murder Impulse?/Kim Hyun-a('Murder Is a Qualification Too' OST Part 1)

[2(-1)] CCCCCC!/ Purple Lime

[3(↑1)] My Page/ Seriel(Seriel)

.

.

.

[6(↓1)] Nyxtra/ Seriel(Seriel)

Three songs made by Choi Ri-na were currently ranked within the top 10 across various music platforms. The main OST for 'Murder Is a Qualification Too', recently released by Netflix Korea, sat at No. 1, while Seriel's songs held the No. 3 and No. 6 spots.

With things looking like this, the stature of Choi Ri-na, the faceless Music Director and Composer, was soaring, and she and Kang Jae-ha were raking in money hand over fist.

Then, a few days later. Monday afternoon, February 15, after the weekend.

A filming crew could be seen set up in a park with a stream running in front of it. Director Kwon Sung-min stood out as he relayed various instructions to the key staff. Meaning, this was the filming location for 'Condensation: Euphoria'.

Around then, An Ji-hee was inside a van.

Wearing a white long padded coat, An Ji-hee sat alone inside the van, looking as though she was waiting for someone.

"......"

Soon, with a rrrk!, the van's side door slid open, and a cold-eyed man climbed in. Kang Jae-ha in a long coat, or rather.

"Ms. An Ji-hee."

"Ah, yes."

General Manager Kim Ha-jae. Jae-ha, in his disguise, spoke bluntly to the wide-eyed An Ji-hee.

"Following Yoon Da-yeon and Ms. Moon Ji-a, why don't you become another face of 'MEG'."

Because naturally, An Ji-hee had to be brought into the 'MEG' fold too.

*****

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