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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Silverriver
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A serial killer targeting only Returnee criminals.
Upon hearing Yoo Seol’s words, Kwon Tae-ho sighed deeply and clicked his tongue in annoyance.
“Another vigilante full of hot air, it seems.”
“Vigilante…?”
Unfamiliar with the foreign word, Lee Ha-yeon tilted her head.
“It’s Italian for ‘vigilante group.’ It was a brief social phenomenon, or fad, that was popular around 12 or 13 years ago, in the early days of the Great Transfer.”
“So, if it’s a vigilante group…”
“In the beginning, the authorities and the legal system couldn’t keep up with the situation. The police and the military were no help, so a lot of people rose up, claiming they would fight criminals themselves.”
Outwardly, They made a lot of excuses like maintaining order and peace, but in reality, most vigilante organizations were no different from disorganized gangs.
In the early days, some groups operated relatively responsibly. However, too many cooks spoil the broth, especially without proper rules and structure.
Eventually, as laws and institutions were established and Returnees were integrated into law enforcement, vigilante organizations became subject to regulations and faded into the annals of history.
“Even after that, though, individual vigilantes popped up from time to time. These guys are essentially the same as the maladjusted Returnees we deal with. Idiots who blindly believe in their own power and their self-proclaimed righteousness, placing it above social systems and order.”
“So, their intentions were good, but their methods were wrong.”
“No, their intentions were garbage too. If they want to catch criminals, they should become police officers or Enforcers. A person without qualifications just makes things worse by interfering.”
He spoke as if he had witnessed such situations firsthand. Yoo Seol, aware of Kwon Tae-ho’s past, looked at him with a bitter expression.
“Anyway, vigilante crimes require careful investigation and apprehension. The fact that they’re targeting only Returnee criminals means they possess considerable power.”
“That’s why they requested our cooperation!”
“Yeah, the police waved the white flag, admitting they can’t handle it on their own. Let’s gratefully accept.”
With that, Kwon Tae-ho stood up.
“We’re heading to Seoul Police Headquarters now. Assistant Director, is there any paperwork left to do before we go?”
“The Kim Beom-soo Returnee case is almost wrapped up. Nothing else in particular.”
“Then let’s move. Rookie, you come too. It’ll be good for you to see how a joint investigation works.”
“Yes, sir! I’m ready!”
Kwon Tae-ho nodded and left the office. Yoo Seol, finished with her preparations, followed with Lee Ha-yeon.
“Ha-yeon, are you nervous? This could be a dangerous assignment.”
“Not at all! It’s something I’ll have to face eventually if I want to be an Enforcer! I’m actually excited!”
“Haha, excited, you say…? Enthusiasm is good, but don’t let it lead to mistakes.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Yoo Seol smiled at Ha-yeon’s energetic response. However, a hint of unease lingered in her expression.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has plenty of national Enforcers at their disposal. The fact that they requested our help means…
It likely meant the perpetrator possessed exceptional power, requiring an Enforcer of Kwon Tae-ho’s caliber.
I hope everything goes smoothly…
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A short while later.
The three arrived at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. As they entered the reception area to submit their visitor application, an officer greeted them with a friendly smile.
“Good morning. Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. Could you please state the purpose of your visit?”
“Joint investigation.”
“Joint investigation… And your name?”
“Kwon Tae-ho.”
— Flinch.
The officer’s smile faltered at Kwon Tae-ho’s name. A chilling silence fell over the reception area, where conversations had been buzzing moments before.
“Huh? Eh?”
Ha-yeon was bewildered. In contrast, Kwon Tae-ho and Yoo Seol remained unfazed, as if accustomed to such reactions.
“Kwon Tae-ho? Is that the Enforcer Kwon Tae-ho?”
“What? What’s going on?”
“Officer Kim, why is he here?”
“They said it’s for a joint investigation…? He’s an Enforcer, so…”
“Are you sure? Which lunatic would choose to cooperate with him of all people…?”
The officers began to murmur amongst themselves. Kwon Tae-ho paid them no mind. He didn’t care about his public image.
“Your identification has been confirmed. Please proceed to the conference room on the 4th floor.”
The three received visitor passes and headed straight to the conference room.
Waiting for them were Chief Superintendent So Baek-seok, head of the Criminal Investigation Division, and his staff.
The presence of such high-ranking officials made Kwon Tae-ho and Yoo Seol realize the gravity of the situation. The chief superintendent himself was handling their reception.
Kwon Tae-ho subtly gestured to Yoo Seol.
This is a huge deal. Squeeze them for as much as you can.
Don’t have to tell me twice.
“Thank you for coming all this way. Please, have a seat.”
Case files were already prepared at their seats. Kwon Tae-ho quickly scanned the documents and asked,
“What’s the perpetrator’s estimated power level?”
“We believe they possess abilities at least A-rank or higher. The list of victims on page 3 of the file should give you a better understanding.”
As instructed, the list contained mostly A or B-rank criminals. Kwon Tae-ho frowned as he reviewed the list.
“Nine victims in total… All recently released from prison.”
“That’s correct. They’re first-generation Returnees apprehended in the early days of the Great Transfer. Some completed their sentences, others were paroled for good behavior.”
“And they’re all subject to public disclosure?”
“Yes. They’re all violent criminals. Their names, ages, addresses, crimes—all the details are publicly available on the local police station or community center websites.”
In South Korea, where abilities were strictly regulated, Returnee criminals were monitored even more closely than sex offenders. For the safety of the general public, information about them was readily accessible to anyone.
Including, of course, the perpetrator.
“Have you discovered anything about the perpetrator?”
“They’re extremely cautious. They’ve expertly exploited CCTV blind spots in every crime. That’s why even the footage we managed to retrieve looks like this.”
The chief superintendent handed over a tablet. Six short video clips, each lasting no more than a dozen seconds, played on the screen.
“Most of the footage is from a distance, and even then, they’re wearing a hood and mask, making identification impossible.”
“Currently, the only clues we have are that the perpetrator is male, approximately 180cm tall, and uses two swords. That’s it.”
“What were the autopsy results from the National Forensic Service? With nine victims, you should have been able to learn something through necromancy.”
“Unfortunately, nothing. The victims’ souls were too damaged to be summoned through necromancy. They likely used weapons with soul-killing abilities with this in mind.”
“A clever criminal, then. And quite skilled.”
“Yes. Probably one of the most cunning I’ve encountered in my 25 years on the force.”
Impeccable countermeasures against not only CCTV but also necromancy. Kwon Tae-ho frowned and asked, just in case,
“What about tracking magic…?”
“There were traces, but they always vanished a short distance from the crime scenes.”
“Nothing captured on nearby CCTV cameras?”
“No. And it’s not teleportation magic. The mana concentration around the scenes was normal, and our wide-area spatial distortion detectors didn’t pick up anything.”
That was to be expected. The entire city of Seoul was a restricted zone for teleportation magic. If the perpetrator had escaped using magic, it would have been detected immediately.
“A ghost, then.”
Yoo Seol, who had been reviewing the files beside him, shook her head. There had been several joint investigations between Kwon Tae-ho’s office and the police, but this was the first time they had encountered a case with absolutely no leads on the perpetrator.
“Not a ghost. They were clearly caught on CCTV. They definitely have a physical form.”
“That’s not what I meant, Enforcer. It’s a Metaphor.”
“The perpetrator isn’t a ghost. But they can disappear like one. They didn’t use teleportation magic. Or they have exceptional cloaking abilities that can fool the wide-area detectors installed throughout Seoul…”
Despite Yoo Seol’s rebuke, Kwon Tae-ho remained lost in thought, muttering the clues to himself. He tapped the table rhythmically with one hand while replaying the short video clips of the perpetrator with the other.
“Um, is it possible they used a superpower to teleport, not magic?”
Yoo Seol shook her head at Ha-yeon’s question.
“Even teleportation using superpowers creates spatial distortions. If there had been any distortion, the detectors would have picked it up.”
“So there’s no way to teleport without spatial distortion…? Currently?”
Yoo Seol pondered Ha-yeon’s question before answering.
“Well, it’s not possible, but if they stopped time and moved, it would appear to others as if they teleported without causing any distortion.”
“So, you’re saying the perpetrator can stop time—?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. The only person on Earth capable of stopping time is the Witch of London. And even if someone else could stop time, she’d know immediately and kill them.”
If the perpetrator could stop time, Kwon Tae-ho wouldn’t stand a chance of catching them. And if they could stop time, there wouldn’t be any CCTV footage in the first place.
“Wait.”
A glint appeared in Kwon Tae-ho’s eyes. He pointed to one of the video clips.
“What’s this guy doing…?”
The video showed the perpetrator casually leaving the scene after committing the crime.
They walked normally down the alley, then suddenly stopped and turned their head 90 degrees to the right. They reached out and touched the empty air behind them, briefly bowing their waist. Then, after taking a few steps, they froze for about 10 seconds.
“This is the longest clip we have of the perpetrator, but we haven’t found anything unusual about it.”
“Was there anything where the perpetrator was looking?”
“Just an ordinary wall. A few flyers for adult entertainment establishments, that’s all.”
Even an elusive criminal has human desires, after all.
The chief superintendent made the joke, but Kwon Tae-ho remained silent, lost in thought.
That movement… what does it mean? Why touch empty air like that…?
Kwon Tae-ho imitated the perpetrator’s movements several times. The action seemed meaningless when viewed solely in the context of the video.
But if he focused on the movement itself…
“Ah.”
Kwon Tae-ho clenched his fist, a thought striking him.
“I think I’ve figured out the perpetrator’s ability.”
“Really? What is it?”
“Before that…”
Kwon Tae-ho stopped the excited chief superintendent and subtly gestured to Yoo Seol. At his signal, Yoo Seol spoke in a calm, composed voice.
“Now that you mention it, we haven’t discussed the compensation for this joint investigation yet.”
“Right. Let’s get straight to the point. How much do you want?”
Requesting payment was a private Enforcer’s right. There was no reason to object. Kwon Tae-ho was a skilled Enforcer, despite his reputation, so even a high demand was within reason.
However…
“Fifty million.”
“Excuse me? Could you repeat that?”
The amount Yoo Seol proposed far exceeded the chief superintendent’s expectations.
“F-fifty? Fifty million won, you mean? Assistant Director?”
“Yes, fifty million won, no more, no less. I believe that’s a fair price for this case.”
“That’s absurd! Fifty million? That’s unprecedented!”
“Oh? And how much did you have in mind, Chief Superintendent?”
“I’m well aware of Enforcer Kwon’s skills and reputation. But even considering that, I’d say around twenty million…!”
“Twenty million…”
Yoo Seol slowly opened her eyes, which she had kept closed until now. Her crimson irises gleamed sharply, as if piercing the chief superintendent’s thoughts.
“That’s not entirely untrue. But you’re also thinking you could go a bit higher, aren’t you?”
“Even so, thirty million is my limit. Fifty is outrageous.”
“Hmm. That’s not a lie. But I still believe fifty million is reasonable.”
“Could you explain your reasoning?”
“Certainly.”
Yoo Seol opened the file to the page with the list of victims and tapped it with her finger.
“First, the perpetrator’s power level. You said at least A-rank, Chief Superintendent, but in my assessment, it’s likely close to S-rank. As you know, S-rank and above are off the charts, making systematic measurement impossible. Even among S-rank ability users, you can’t know who’s stronger until they fight.”
The chief superintendent immediately understood her point.
“So, you’re asking for hazard pay…?”
“Yes. Moreover, the perpetrator is cautious, but they also harbor a delusional belief in delivering justice for the crimes of others.”
“”
“This type of criminal believes their actions are righteous and just. They won’t hesitate to kill anyone who gets in their way, including not only their intended criminal targets but also those who obstruct their ‘justice.’ And since they’re intelligent and meticulous, Enforcer Kwon will quickly become aware of their existence once he starts investigating. Including myself and trainee Ha-yeon, who work alongside him.”
In other words, the hazard pay wasn’t just for Kwon Tae-ho. It also included Ha-yeon and Yoo Seol herself.
“Furthermore, considering the opportunity cost of taking on this assignment, and the various expenses required for the investigation… fifty million seems like a perfectly reasonable amount.”
Yoo Seol calmly and logically explained her reasoning to the chief superintendent.
However, despite her composed demeanor, her argument was closer to coercion than logic. As the chief superintendent had said, paying fifty million won to a single Enforcer for a joint investigation was practically unheard of.
Nevertheless, Yoo Seol’s near-coercive demand was a declaration that she wouldn’t back down. The chief superintendent massaged his temples and said,
“Alright. Forty million. Let’s settle on forty million. I can’t allocate any more than that from the Criminal Investigation Division’s budget.”
“It might be difficult now, but it’ll be possible if we give you some time. Thirty million upfront, and twenty million upon successful completion. Fifty million total.”
“Twenty million upfront. If you make significant contributions to apprehending the perpetrator, we’ll pay the remaining Thirty million.”
“What exactly constitutes a ‘significant contribution’?”
“If you directly apprehend the perpetrator, we guarantee full payment. Otherwise, we’ll assess the contribution of Enforcer Kwon’s office and determine the final amount through mutual agreement.”
“Hmm…”
Yoo Seol glanced at Kwon Tae-ho.
He had remained silent with his arms crossed throughout their negotiation. He subtly gave Yoo Seol a thumbs-up, hidden from the chief superintendent’s view.
“Alright. We accept. Please transfer the upfront payment as soon as possible.”
“Budget processing takes time, so you’ll have to wait about two days. No complaints?”
“No, that’s fine.”
“Wow…”
Lee Ha-yeon, who had witnessed the whirlwind negotiation, looked utterly dumbfounded.
Fifty million for a single assignment was shocking enough, but Yoo Seol’s ruthless extortion of public funds was even more astounding.
Ha-yeon whispered anxiously,
“Is it okay to be so forceful with the police?”
“It’s our tax money anyway. No need to be shy. They can’t do anything even if they complain. This is what a private Enforcer’s license is for.”
The chief superintendent sighed, having overheard their candid conversation.
“So, Enforcer? What exactly is this ability you’ve figured out?”
“An ability that allows the perpetrator to appear and disappear like a ghost, with a clear physical form captured on CCTV, yet without any spatial distortion, even evading tracking magic.”
“Just tell me what the ability is!”
The chief superintendent slammed his hand on the table.
“The ability to remotely control a doppelganger as if it were their own body, from a distance. In other words…”
Kwon Tae-ho tapped the tablet.
“An Avatar ability.”
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