The Crazy Villain Regains His Sanity - Chapter 64

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 64

Jung Ju-ho had arrived at Cheong Wa Dae. His hair looked fuller, and his face had that glossy sheen about it—signs that he was doing well.
If he got a promotion on top of this, it would be Jung Ju-ho’s world entirely.
Maybe his hair would get even thicker?
One blessing after another.

“Da-hyun told me everything. That guy you brought in betrayed you, didn’t he? Don’t take it too hard. Betrayal’s common in this line of work.”
“I’m not troubled by it.”
“Fair enough. You strike me as the type who wouldn’t even blink no matter what happened. That’s something we have in common, actually.”

He launched into war stories about how he’d been betrayed more than ten times himself. Yet for all his boasting, he’d trembled at the slightest provocation.
After rambling for a while, Jung Ju-ho glanced around cautiously, then leaned in toward me.

“But why’d you call me all the way to Cheong Wa Dae? We usually handle everything over the phone.”
“I have a gift for you.”
“A gift? If it’s from you, I can’t possibly refuse. I’m all ears. But what is it?”
“You know the Big Bang Series? I received one from Shinseong Guild, and I’d like to donate it to the National Guard Bureau.”
“Really? I’ve been wanting one myself. Thank you so much. It’s such a valuable gift—you wanted to give it in person, I take it? Heh heh, nobody thinks of me like you do. But wait, were you always this kind of person? I’d have thought you’d just hand it over casually without all this.”
“Well, about that…”

I was about to tell him that Cheon Myeong-guk had told me to call him, when my body suddenly convulsed as if struck by lightning.

“Was it Cheon who asked you to call me?”
“How did you know?”

It was like watching a drama unfold.
In an instant, the vibrant expression on Jung Ju-ho’s face went completely dark.

“Damn it! I’ve been played! I should’ve refused when he asked me to come to Cheong Wa Dae, said my stomach was acting up.”
“Why the sudden change?”
“Never mind. I’m leaving. If Cheon asks, tell him I had a chronic condition flare up and went to the hospital—”

But Jung Ju-ho’s words never made it to action. Cheon Myeong-guk had entered through the only door.
The timing was uncanny—as if he’d been listening outside the whole time.
Cheon Myeong-guk approached us wearing a bright smile, as if greeting an old friend.

“Welcome, Director.”
“Haha, it’s an honor to be called. But, Director, I’m afraid I’ve suddenly had an old chronic condition acting up, so I’ll need to head back.”
“Is it serious?”

Cheon Myeong-guk’s face filled with concern. Jung Ju-ho faltered, caught off guard.

“No, not to that extent…”
“Then you must see a doctor right away. I’ll contact your physician.”
“No, no! There’s no need. A simple visit to a clinic will do the trick. He’s a real expert, you see? We exchange greetings and he’s done with diagnosis and prescription in thirty seconds. I’d prefer to go see him at his hospital right now, if possible.”

Jung Ju-ho was desperately squirming to get out of there.
I considered whether I should give him a recovery potion.
Surely he wasn’t refusing the promotion?
No, impossible. Once the new bureau was established and he became its director, it would be quite the honor for him.
If he became director, I could see him more often too. That would be wonderful.
Yet watching Jung Ju-ho’s eagerness to send me off lightly, I could see his ambition was genuinely limited.
Still, I knew he loved the National Guard Bureau, but his lack of greed was almost excessive.
Observing Jung Ju-ho’s desperation, Cheon Myeong-guk smiled softly.

“Don’t refuse the President’s kindness. I’d recommend you see your personal physician for a checkup before you leave.”
“···My condition wasn’t great, but I’m fine now.”
“Is that so? Good to hear.”
“I’m sorry?”

From where I stood, Jung Ju-ho had swallowed Cheon Myeong-guk’s bait whole.

“As it happens, the President was looking for you, Director.”
“Looking for me? What do you mean?”
“He’d like to have a meal with you.”
······

It’s no easy thing for a bureau director to refuse when the President himself suggests dinner.
Sure enough, resignation settled across Jung Ju-ho’s features.

“Let’s go.”
“Ah, understood.”

Jung Ju-ho trailed after Cheon Myeong-guk like a man being led to the slaughter, his shoulders drooping. I watched the scene unfold, then slowly followed.

“It’s a great blessing for South Korea to have a talent like Director Jung Ju-ho.”

“I heard from Cheon here that during the Villain elimination operation, you coordinated three bureaus so each could bring its full capabilities to bear. Only Director Jung possesses the organizational control and flexibility for such a feat—he’s in a class of his own.”
“That achievement has been overstated.”
“No. Director Jung Ju-ho has genuinely delivered major accomplishments while leading the National Guard Bureau, achievements that overshadow the other two.”

It was a curious sight. The man being praised fought desperately to deny the compliments, while those beside him rushed to lavish more praise upon him.

Yet he thrashed about in desperation while the President and Cheon Myeong-guk tightened their noose around him.
Then Cheon Myeong-guk drove in the final wedge.

“It was Director Jung Ju-ho who recruited the Superhuman Choi Jun-ho to the National Guard Bureau.”

Jung Ju-ho tried to deflect the credit in less than a second. But—

“Is that true?”

The President’s question hung in the air. I considered the surrounding context, then nodded.

“Yes.”

Finally, the President laid it bare.

“A new bureau will be established. I’d like you to take charge of it, Director Jung.”

Hadn’t I made that clear already? The President didn’t seem to share the thought. He explained methodically.

“This position requires standing against the growing power of large guilds. At times you’ll need to check them, at times to cooperate. Only Director Jung Ju-ho, who has guided three competing bureaus without friction, strikes me as suited for this role.”
······

I was backed into a corner completely. Now Jung Ju-ho faced only two choices.
[Accept.] and [Accept.]
The President laughed carelessly every day, but watching him dribble past someone as slippery as Jung Ju-ho like this made clear why he’d earned his reputation as a master strategist.
That was when Jung Ju-ho made his final desperate move.

“I believe Choi Jun-ho’s opinion is crucial. It matters what the Superhuman thinks.”

Me? Why am I suddenly involved?

“When the new bureau is established, won’t there be many things we’ll need to do in cooperation with Choi Jun-ho? If Choi Jun-ho feels uncomfortable, I’ll find it difficult to accept as well. So if Choi Jun-ho gives a positive answer, then I’ll accept too!”

It occurred to me that once the new bureau was created, we’d be seeing each other far more often.
I met Jung Ju-ho’s pleading eyes and fell silent in thought.
Was he asking me to say something nice?
Come to think of it, I hadn’t said anything yet.
I wondered if he’d grown lonely without me around lately. The fact that he was actively asking for encouragement suggested as much.

“Of course, Director Jung, if you take on this role, I’d welcome it wholeheartedly. I’m confident you’ll lead far better than the President imagines.”
“······.”

I’d said exactly what he wanted to hear, so why did he look like he’d lost the world?
The President broke into a satisfied smile.

“Since Choi Jun-ho approves as well, there’s no disagreement. I look forward to working with you. From now on, I’ll address you not as Director Jung, but as Director-General Jung.”
“Thank you for the opportunity, Director-General Jung.”
“···I’m grateful. I’ll do my best.”

At Cheon Myeong-guk’s greeting, Jung Ju-ho clenched his teeth hard.
I offered Jung Ju-ho my own words of congratulation.

“I suppose we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”
“That’s precisely the problem······.”

He was being coy while being thrilled about it.

* * *

Once the atmosphere settled, I explained to them what had happened—how I’d been chasing Heart Walker, realized Rig had extended his hand, and collided with Black Hound.

“······.”

Silence descended over the room. In that grave atmosphere, I reflected a little. Perhaps I should have captured him. But Black Hound was no pushover either, and it wasn’t easy. If I’d had the All Poisons Immunity, the odds would’ve been much higher. I hoped Berserker would unlock it soon.

“Black Hound, you say? Ha. What business would such a figure have in this small nation?”
“It suggests the Big Bang Series holds considerable strategic value.”
“I’ve heard rumors of the Big Bang Series’s impressive power.”
“It appears League is deeply interested in that technology.”
“So much so that Black Hound came in person.”

The atmosphere seemed quite grave. I felt more clearly now that League was being treated with far greater seriousness than I’d realized, and that Black Hound was indeed a formidable Villain.

“This likely ties to Japan as well.”

There were reports that League forces were currently running rampant in Japan.
That Argos irritated me. What if I were to annihilate League’s forces in Japan?
If I could show those bastards a thing or two, I’d gladly bear the annoyance of making a trip to Japan.
But the President shook his head at my words.

“Japan probably won’t accept it.”
“Even while dealing with the League?”

The atmosphere had been good the whole time the delegation was here.

“It’s a form of posturing. Even in hardship, there’s room to endure. And if relations between our nations are good, it’s only because neither of us can project direct force. We’ll gratefully accept information about the League, but nothing more than that.”

If you think about it the other way, it’s easy to understand.
Is it a problem when Japan’s Superhumans come to help?
I don’t see what the issue is myself.

“I see.”
“But Japan may think differently, so we should put out a feeler. Don’t hold your breath, though.”
“Understood.”
“In any case, we can rest easy. That Black Hound didn’t cower and flee from our Choi Jun-ho without dropping his tail.”

He cracked a smile, as if trying to lighten the mood.

“If I see him again, I’ll kill him.”
“Good. Well then, let’s leave it at that regarding the League.”

The President shifted his attention to Jung Ju-ho, changing the subject.

“Director Jung—or should I say, Director Jung now that you’ve become part of the family—you ought to know the truth.”
“Pardon?”
“Cheon Myeong-guk.”

Cheon Myeong-guk began whispering something in Jung Ju-ho’s ear.
In the meantime, I accepted the documents the President handed me.

“Documents on the Busan mayor.”

I began reading the contents, and I noticed Jung Ju-ho’s expression visibly harden as he received the facts from Cheon Myeong-guk.

……

As I examined the documents, I felt a sense of dissonance. Yu Seong-su’s alleged crimes were listed, but there were gaps throughout. This document wasn’t complete. My instinct reacted for one reason alone.

“This isn’t the final draft.”
“You read carefully. I’d call that the skeleton—we’re still in the process of compiling it. Since the entire city of Busan is essentially Yu Seong-su’s support base, it’ll take more time.”

The President paused for a moment and looked at me. He seemed to have something he wanted to say, but it was clearly a difficult subject to broach.
I glanced sideways and saw Cheon Myeong-guk desperately signaling with his eyes to the President, but the man himself ignored it.

“If you have something to say, feel free to speak plainly.”
“Right, I should be direct. Politics has given me a habit of polishing language, you see.”

The President smiled lightly, as if making a joke.

“If it becomes clear that Yu Seong-su and those around him have definitely committed crimes… could you eliminate them all for me?”
“Mr. President!”

Cheon Myeong-guk raised his voice, a rare occurrence. Jung Ju-ho, suddenly drawn into the situation, squeezed his eyes shut.
Despite Cheon Myeong-guk’s objection, the President made his position clear.

“They deliberately cultivated Villains for their own profit. Not only did they use it to finance their politics, but they’re causing serious damage to other nations. Even if we arrest them and pursue legal proceedings, we can’t punish them properly. In the end, light sentences will fall, and seeing how we handle this, countless people will lose faith in us.”

The President spoke to Cheon Myeong-guk so definitively that he could no longer object.
The President’s gaze turned back to me.

“Can you do it?”
“It’s a very simple matter.”
“I’ll trust you, then.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————