Chick 271
by Cristae271
Alex, still wearing handcuffs, finished his bowl of soup and glanced past the detective watching him to check the wall clock.
[“Is that clock correct?”]
Detective Jeon Hyoseung from the Awakened Persons Management Bureau looked back at the clock before replying curtly.
[“Mind your own business.”]
[“Judging by your face, I’m right.”]
When Alex smiled in satisfaction, she scoffed at him.
[“Take a good look. Soon, you won’t be anywhere near a clock.”]
[“So, should I thank you? Is that what you want?”]
Jeon Hyoseung propped her chin on her hand, ignoring his provocation.
Finding her response dull, Alex clicked his tongue as if disappointed.
Well-trained lot—he couldn’t help but worry if the plan was still on track.
[“It’s time to go.”]
Jeon Hyoseung gestured to him.
Clank.
Alex stood, the handcuffs clinking as he followed behind. As he glanced at the clock once more, he forced the thought from his mind.
They would soon be meeting Jin Siwon.
From what he knew, Jin Siwon was a mind-reader. If he didn’t want to be found out, he’d need to wipe his plans from his consciousness completely.
As he stepped outside the door, Alex spotted Interpol agent Daniela tailing him, and a sly grin played at his lips.
It seemed she’d stayed behind to help with the transfer, but she was just the perfect distraction to erase his thoughts.
[“We meet again, Daniela. Did you call Reiji? What did he say? Claimed he didn’t kill your friend?”]
Daniela looked at Alex with cold, detached eyes.
[“I called him. He said he’s on his way to Korea to kill you.”]
Daniela sneered, shoving him toward the lobby.
Alex was now about to be moved to a nearby special containment facility for awakened individuals.
‘Where’s Jin Siwon?’
He swept the lobby with his eyes upon arrival, but Jin Siwon was nowhere to be seen.
‘Don’t tell me the plan’s failed….’
Anxious, Alex gnawed on his thumbnail.
Screeeeech!
The shrill sound of car tires skidding across the road rang out.
Everyone in the lobby turned their gaze through the building’s glass toward the street.
Honk!
Honk! Honk!
Car horns blared all at once.
A large truck veered across the lanes and swept into a right turn, causing cars to collide—the road descended into utter chaos.
“…!”
Daniela’s eyes widened.
The massive truck, having just made a sharp right turn, was now facing the building.
Crash! Crack! Crunch!
Vroooom! Vroooom!
The truck barreled forward, slamming into the patrol car meant to transport Alex, charging toward the building as though intent on plowing straight through.
Vrooooom!
The very instant the truck seemed poised to smash through the revolving door—
Mascot Honghong approached the entrance with a look of boredom.
As he moved, the very air seemed to shift, and in an instant, everyone’s ears felt stuffed.
The truck stopped dead just before shattering the building’s revolving door.
It was as if time itself had come to a halt.
Inside the lobby, there was a stillness as if everyone was holding their breath.
The overwhelming aura that swept the room stood in stark contrast to Honghong’s nonchalant gesture.
No one could say exactly what he had done, but one thing was clear: he had frozen the situation in an instant.
The truck remained utterly stationary.
Right before the revolving door, the massive metal hulk seemed suspended in midair, unable to advance another inch.
An unseen, formless force was holding the truck at bay.
As the realization hit, shocked exclamations escaped the crowd.
[“Damn it!”]
Realizing the plan had failed, Alex dashed toward the truck, but Daniela grabbed him by the scruff of the neck.
[“Let go! Damn it!”]
Alex shrieked and struggled, but Daniela didn’t let up.
“Are you all right?”
Just then, Jin Siwon hurried over to them, holding On Groo—who had an earpiece—in his arms.
“Y-yes, I am… We got him,” Daniela said, pulling Alex closer to her.
Jin Siwon smiled awkwardly and bowed slightly.
“I’m afraid I’m a bit late. I heard there was a bomb, so I had to assess the situation first.”
Thinking he was joking, Daniela started to dismiss it, but then her eyes widened.
“A bomb?!”
“Yes. If not for our Groo, things could have turned dangerous.”
As Jin Siwon smiled gently, On Groo and Mephisto rubbed their noses in self-satisfaction.
Daniela, finding the child adorable, offered a small laugh, then tightened her grip on Alex and asked,
“Team Leader Jin, then what about the others…?”
Her gaze moved toward the truck.
Just then, men wearing cheetah and gorilla masks climbed out of the driver and passenger seats.
And behind them, more mercenaries in masks one by one emerged.
[“What the hell is up with that freak mascot?!”]
[“Fucking monster!”]
Each of the newcomers spat curses, but the mascot replied listlessly,
[- Watch your language. Not good for raising children, you know.]
Finally, a man in a rabbit mask stepped out as well.
A dozen mercenaries began drawing their weapons.
“Those animal masks and finger tattoos…”
Daniela muttered under her breath.
“They’re Obsidian. Be careful.”
Obsidian.
International mercenaries willing to take on even illegal contracts, each and every one an elite rivaling A- or S-rank.
Tension thickened in the lobby all at once.
The Bureau’s security staff and employees ushered civilians upstairs and leveled their guns.
Gorilla Mask, Brady, struck his long spear against the floor and looked around.
So, the only high-level awakened people here are Jin Siwon and Daniela?
And…
His gaze shifted toward Mascot Honghong.
Though dressed in that ugly suit, he didn’t look to be an easy opponent.
The truck they’d brought was protected by multiple shields and enchanted artifacts.
For someone to stop it so easily meant…
[“S-rank, perhaps?”]
[- Why? Feeling the urge to run away?]
Brady gave a thin smile at the sarcastic comment.
[“I heard Korea doesn’t just have one S-rank. Guess even the ugly mascots are top-tier.”]
The most famous S-rank in Korea was On Joorim, naturally.
But surely On Joorim wouldn’t be parading around in that clownish getup.
Brady, relishing the anticipation of battle, grinned from ear to ear.
[“Well, as long as you’re not On Joorim, I’d say it’s worth a shot.”]
- …!
Honghong’s shoulders gave a visible flinch.
Stealing a glance back, he saw Groo staring blankly, mouth agape.
With a sigh of relief at Groo’s vacant expression, Joorim composed himself and turned coolly toward Gorilla Mask.
As the fight loomed, Jin Siwon turned Groo away and held him protectively, stepping back.
[“Daniela. Looks like this is goodbye.”]
Watching the scene, Alex taunted her with a snicker.
Now that Obsidian was here, no one from the Bureau could stop them.
But Daniela responded with a scornful laugh, as if she’d heard something amusing.
[“Is that really what you think?”]
Alex couldn’t make sense of her unshakable confidence.
[“Don’t waste lives on bravado. Just hand me over to Obsidian and spare everyone else.”]
[“Bravado?”]
Daniela scoffed and continued,
[“The very person inside that ridiculous mascot suit is—”]
- …?!
Honghong’s gaze darted swiftly toward Daniela, who was about to reveal his identity.
In that brief moment of distraction, Gorilla Mask gripped his spear and made his move.
‘Now!’
At the same instant, all the mercenaries snapped into formation.
Every one of them aimed their weapons to impale Honghong on the spot.
Daniela, startled, fell silent, and Honghong returned his eyes forward.
The spear’s tip hovered just at the end of his nose—a breath away from catastrophe.
Everyone watched tensely, holding their breath—until—
[“Stop.”]
Swish—
At someone’s command, a thin black cloth swept before Obsidian like a veil.
The curtain grew and transformed into the immense figure of a Grim Reaper.
What blocked Obsidian’s view was none other than the Reaper’s black cloak.
The very presence of the Reaper pressed down on the air itself.
“This is…”
Brady’s voice trembled.
So overwhelming was the pressure, every mercenary looked upward.
The skull’s eye sockets, dark as the abyss, stared down at them with indifference.
[“If you don’t wish to die, you would do well not to move.”]
A man’s deep voice echoed through the silent lobby.
Yet some of Obsidian, sensing danger, tried to take a step—
Thud!
And collapsed to the floor at once.
As one after another who moved fell to the ground, the rest of Obsidian froze, paralyzed.
Watching this, the man in the rabbit mask at the rear stepped forward.
[“I did say not to move, didn’t I? The place you stand now is a domain of death.”]
He removed his rabbit mask with a smile in his voice.
“How was that, On-chan? Decent timing?”
If you were going to show up, you could’ve done it earlier, Joorim sighed, shaking his head.
Meanwhile, Daniela recognized the rabbit mask’s true identity and gasped his name.
“…Reiji?”
Reiji flashed a sly grin.
“Nice to see you, Daniela. I hear you’ve been looking for me.”