Although a Villain, My Wish is World Peace

In a high-rise building overlooking the heart of Gangnam, the symbol of success, a sculpture-like handsome man was seated.

His eyes curved upwards in a gentle smile, creating an innocent impression. A famous man known to all in South Korea, one who received the love of the entire nation.

But that usually smiling face now lacked even a hint of a smile.

“Yes, that’s what happened.”

Of course he couldn’t muster a smile after being told that the illegal gate he had poured months of effort into had been completely ruined.

Tapping his desk repeatedly, Seol Rok-jin continued speaking:

“I had thought something like this might happen one day. The people guarding that place were really lacking in quality. Someone said even those mediocre guards would be enough to protect that place, if I recall correctly.”

At Seol Rok-jin’s words, Director Cheong’s face turned deathly pale. Well, it had been him who had said those very words.

“I’m, I’m so sorry. I never expected something like this could happen…”

“Even I didn’t expect someone would pick the pocket I had so carefully hidden away. Just because you didn’t know about it doesn’t mean you should have known, Director Cheong.”

At those words, Director Cheong racked his brain desperately. Was that Seol Rok-jin forgiving him? No, Seol Rok-jin wasn’t the type to forgive anyone. Then what was he going on about with this roundabout speech?

“From what I’ve heard, the culprit doesn’t seem to be an exceptional awakener either.”

At Seol Rok-jin’s words, Director Cheong nodded vigorously and continued:

“Despite being B-rank, his talent only allows him to tell convincing lies to some extent. Although he graduated from Babel Academy, he lacked combat prowess and failed to earn any stars. Naturally, he couldn’t become a hunter either.”

“And even a guy like that managed to pluck you clean, didn’t he?”

Director Cheong, who had been gloatingly rambling earlier, immediately closed his mouth with an apologetic expression. It wouldn’t do to speak of the culprit who had raided their storeroom as mediocre.

Seol Rok-jin asked:

“You still haven’t found out anything?”

“No, not a single lead on where the information leak originated.”

“What about that friend who introduced him?”

“I did briefly speak to him before the police took him, but he claims to know nothing. He said that Kang Yi-sin guy approached him first asking for a job.”

“So he introduced him?”

“Yes.”

Beads of cold sweat trickled down Director Cheong’s forehead. Just thinking about how this whole mess had unfolded because of that idiot’s mistake, despite having an enemy right before his eyes, made his teeth grate.

“Did you at least manage the information securely?”

“Yes, of course regarding me, I made sure nothing leaked out. If you’re uncomfortable, shall I send someone to handle it?”

“Sending a hitman after a witness who has already been taken into police custody would be too risky, wouldn’t it?”

At Seol Rok-jin’s words, Director Cheong gulped audibly. That hadn’t been a question, but a command to cleanly dispose of the matter.

“I can handle it. I have a suitable blade for such tasks.”

“I’ll leave it to you then.”

That was how the fate of that guy Im Hyeon-su was sealed. He might think that keeping his mouth shut would earn him a getaway ticket, but what would be sent his way was a one-way trip to the afterlife.

“Then let’s consider the traces left on our side to be erased. The losses I’ve incurred from this incident are no small matter.”

At Seol Rok-jin’s words, Director Cheong inwardly scoffed. What nonsense. It was true that Seol Rok-jin had lost a source of funds, but hadn’t he been actively using this opportunity for image building more than anyone else?

The 9 PM news, various current affairs discussion programs – recently, Seol Rok-jin had been busier than anyone, leaving another stamp of approval in the minds of the public. And yet he was saying such things despite gaining far more than just some measly monetary loss.

But to voice such thoughts out loud would be a death sentence. Director Cheong simply nodded:

“Yes, yes, of course.”

“As for the gates, finding one more would be enough. And the money can always be pulled from elsewhere. But if something like this happens again, I might get really upset.”

“Such an incident! It will never happen again.”

Director Cheong answered as sharply as a blade. It wasn’t just empty words, but a sincere vow. If he were to experience such a blunder twice, his feeble heart might not withstand it.

“Yes, I believe Director Cheong must have learned a lot from this incident.”

Just as he thought everything had been settled, Seol Rok-jin spoke again:

“But you see, I’m someone who believes there are no lessons without a price.”

At those words, Director Cheong’s heart sank to the floor.

“What should I take from Director Cheong to make this a proper lesson?”

Director Cheong’s face turned ghastly pale at Seol Rok-jin’s words. Seol Rok-jin slowly scanned Director Cheong’s body from top to bottom.

“Although you’re a public servant on the outside, it wouldn’t do to have any blemishes when acting as my proxy, would it? If you were missing a finger or an ear, hmm, your gait might become unbalanced.”

Director Cheong immediately fell to his knees.

“Kkkeuk, I’m, I’m so sorry.”

Lowering his head to the floor, he averted his gaze. He would have felt better if he could at least let out a pitiful wail. But Seol Rok-jin’s expression and tone remained unnervingly calm.

“Isn’t it easier if you don’t create reasons to apologize? For Director Cheong, and for me as well. I wouldn’t want to take anything from you either, Director Cheong.”

Tilting his chin up, Seol Rok-jin looked down at the Director Cheong groveling at his feet and spoke:

“Come to think of it, was this the first time Director Cheong made a mistake?”

Director Cheong’s shoulders trembled. He had witnessed firsthand how his predecessors had vanished. He was all too aware of how a single mistake could utterly ruin a person.

“Yes, the first, the first time.”

“As a generous superior, I should be able to overlook my subordinate’s first transgression, I suppose.”

Gulping audibly, Director Cheong swallowed his saliva. Could he really be forgiven just like that?

“But I can’t simply let you off either. I would like to meet that friend of yours directly.”

“That friend, you mean…”

“I heard you know someone acquainted with the one who raided my gate.”

At those words, Director Cheong’s face turned ashen.

“You, you mean Jeong Ho-san? Touching the guild would be a bit…”

“No, not that friend, but the other one hospitalized.”

“Han…”

Director Cheong desperately racked his brain, but he couldn’t recall the name. Seeing Director Cheong’s pitiful state, Seol Rok-jin looked at him with disdain and continued for him.

“Han Jo-hee.”

“Ah, yes! That guy.”

“I’m curious about how well he knows the person who raided our gate.”

Capturing the culprit behind this incident would be ideal, but the culprit had erased all traces and vanished. But if there was someone who had known that guy previously, they might know something.

Even if not, shouldn’t he take something from that guy too?

“It would be good if I could meet that friend before the Yeongjong Island incident.”

With a faint smile, Seol Rok-jin showed Director Cheong a refreshing grin.

* * *

‘Come to think of it, I wonder how the Baek Do-san situation turned out.’

The Yeongjong Island incident would be unfolding soon. If Baek Do-san fell under Seol Rok-jin’s control, it would become quite a headache. I hope he at least heeded my advice and abandoned the Yeongjong deal or postponed the transaction date, but who knows.

Even if I raided Seol Rok-jin’s gate, the damage I inflicted on him would be negligible. If Seol Rok-jin acquired Baek Do-san, it would be as if nothing had happened.

With that in mind, I figured I should check up on the situation once.

After leaving the motel, I headed directly there.

“You, you’re…”

The guard who had fallen for my lie last time pointed at me in recognition.

“Have you been well?”

I greeted him casually, but the guard’s expression remained sour.

“What did Professor Geum say?”

“Go in.”

Although he seemed displeased with me, the guard still opened the path, so it seemed Professor Geum hadn’t blacklisted me, fortunately.

I followed the same corridor from before, entering Professor Geum’s workshop. The moment I opened the door and entered, Professor Geum, who had been fiddling with his phone, gruffly greeted me.

“What brings you here again after going off like you wouldn’t be back?”

I suppose that could pass for a greeting.

Shrugging my shoulders, I asked Professor Geum:

“I was just passing by and got curious if the advice I gave you last time was of any use.”

At my words, Professor Geum let out a grunting noise. From his expression, it seemed things hadn’t gone smoothly.

“I did convey your words. But that Baek Do-san friend is unexpectedly stubborn, you see.”

“So he still intends to go through with that deal?”

“Yeah.”

Professor Geum didn’t seem to find it strange that I knew about that deal. Well, since I was supposed to be a seer of the future, he probably thought it was only natural for me to know.

“He outright said how could he believe in such nonsense as foresight. That only a fool like me would believe it, and honestly, if I had a bit more strength, I would have split that bastard’s head right in half.”

It seemed I had properly riled up Professor Geum’s temper, as he was gritting his teeth and cursing Baek Do-san right in front of me.

Baek Do-san was indeed the type who didn’t easily believe in intangible things. A self-made man who had risen through his bare fists, so to speak.

“Well, if that’s the case, there’s nothing to be done.”

Saying that, I immediately made a move to leave.

“Wa, wait! You’re just going to leave it at that?”

“Yes.”

Professor Geum had a flustered expression.

Ray also went into an uproar.

—Didn’t you come here to try and save that Baek Do-san guy?

“My friend said there would be huge trouble if that guy falls under Representative Seol’s control.”

“Yes, it would lead to quite a big mess for South Korea.”

“And you’re just going to leave it at that?”

“There’s nothing I can do to stop it if he doesn’t cooperate. Well, if you were willing to cooperate, that would be different.”

Baek Do-san was a major figure in the underworld. If I went to him now trying to help, and he decided to bury me, he could easily do so.

—Well, I can’t expect any help if it wouldn’t be safe for me.

‘At least not in my current state. Besides, I have to consider his perspective too. I’ve suddenly appeared telling him he’s in danger, so the more proactively I approach, the more suspicious I would seem.’

So this was just a bluff. To make him become desperate enough to seek my aid.

Professor Geum took the bait I had dangled.

“You need cooperation?”

“If he were to ask me for help, that would be different. But right now, he hasn’t. If I just show up saying I’ve seen the future where he’s in danger, wouldn’t Baek Do-san simply lop off my head instead? I’d rather avoid that.”

At my words, Professor Geum’s face turned pale.

“Then if you just leave like this…”

I casually threw out my words.

“That’s why Professor Geum should also flee while you can? Once Seol Rok-jin brainwashes that guy, you won’t be able to recognize friend or foe anymore.”

“But you still have to say you’ll help!”

“Why should I? He’s not even someone I know.”

“There will be chaos, you said! South Korea will be ruined, you said!”

“Well, that may be so, but I have confidence I can somehow handle it myself.”

“I don’t have any such confidence!”

Professor Geum exclaimed.

“So please, if I provide that cooperation you mentioned, would you go with me?”

At those words, I forcibly pulled down the corners of my mouth and spoke:

“Ah, really. Just what would you be able to provide?”