That’s How They Became Villains

#42. Ruler of the Underworld -1-

Somewhere on the outskirts of Cheongang South-East District, Laman, the deputy leader of Red Witch, was watching the news while waiting for his subordinates.

(Distorted voice) “Hello, everyone!! Once again today, it’s Agio News that has returned without dying!!”

The world had changed dramatically in less than half a year.

One of the first-generation enhanced humans, who had been shrouded in mystery, appeared, and ENIAC acknowledged their existence.

The Cheongang Group, which had grown rapidly over 10 years, became part of the local government called the 3 Major Cities, and now its CEO was replaced due to consecutive performance declines.

Now there were even madmen who carried out terrorist attacks against Royal Road.

However, all these changing tides didn’t really matter to Laman.

He just needed interesting stories to tell the boss when he woke up; he couldn’t care less about how this damn city was faring.

“Mr. Laman!!”

There was a commotion outside the abandoned factory.

His subordinates had returned.

“Oh my, Mr. Laman!!”

“Why all the fuss? That’s not like you. Catch your breath first and speak slowly.”

Following Laman’s consideration, Goliath, the leader of the thugs, caught his breath and explained what had happened at the casino.

“…”

After hearing the explanation, Laman clenched his rock-like fist. Not only did they fail to collect the protection money, but they were also threatened to bring their leader?

If this had been Laman before the boss died, he would have surely smashed Goliath’s head in but now was the time to be patient.

There was a greater cause more important than reprimanding a subordinate’s failure.

“Did you say a trio in walking suits?”

“Y-yes, sir!”

Grumsch, Goliath’s right-hand man, answered.

Walking suits, huh? Laman couldn’t help but think of the Sewers of Yeongwol.

Only those freaks from the Sewers of Yeongwol would have their regular combatants wearing walking suits, which were difficult to use and expensive.

“Come to think of it, a messenger came not too long ago…”

Laman muttered to himself.

A week ago, a messenger from the Sewers of Yeongwol had visited and said:

To summarize the essentials, it was: “We know your boss is dead. So stop doing unnecessary things and just quietly let us absorb you.”

However, Red Witch was known for its exceptional loyalty to the boss, even among villain alliances.

There was no one in Red Witch whose resolve would be shaken by mere intimidation, not even a show of force but it was a troublesome situation.

The trio in walking suits that Goliath mentioned were probably elite combatants from the Sewers of Yeongwol.

In contrast, the remnants of Red Witch, having lost their boss, were closer to a ragtag group than an organization.

If they clashed, in the worst case, they would be annihilated. Even in the less terrible scenario, they would face the humiliating outcome of having to bow to the Sewers of Yeongwol.

Laman frowned painfully as he thought of the boss’s head kept in an ice box.

“Goliath, make contact.”

Laman finally seemed to have made a decision.

Seeing his determined appearance, all the remnants of Red Witch steeled their resolve.

“Oh yeah, that’s right! Payment confirmed! I’ll set up a broadcast line for you, so feel free to use it as much as you want!”

“Yes~ Thank you,”

-Beep.

Finally, I acquired an Arc broadcast line that I could use freely.

I already had some ideas on how to utilize it.

While trying to suppress the laughter that was leaking out for no reason, I checked the future plans with my Maker colleagues.

“Has there been any contact from the remnants?”

“Uhh…Just now, actually…”

Agio shared an anonymous email with everyone.

It read: “Tomorrow at 10 PM, we’ll be waiting at an abandoned factory in the outskirts of Cheongang South-East District. If you want to talk, come alone.”

“Tomorrow? These bastards must be in quite a hurry.”

“It says to come alone…You’re not actually planning to go alone, are you…?”

I flashed a grin at Agio, who asked with apparent worry.

As if I’d be crazy enough to go there alone.

I felt it when I visited the casino. Having more people is always better.

But perhaps a little show wouldn’t hurt?

“I’ll go alone. Superficially.”

“Superficially?”

Sensing what I meant, Seok-ho snorted.

“You mean that again. Telling us to follow invisibly.”

“Ah, why do you have to spoil it?”

Seok-ho had gotten to know me too well already.

Just then, Nazha, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, asked.

“Sis, our ultimate goal is still recruitment, right?”

“That’s right, sis.”

“Then how do you plan to recruit them? From what I know, these guys have exceptional loyalty to their boss, and unless we force them to kneel by strength, they’ll never bend their will.”

As expected of the greatest mind in our party. She pinpointed the core issue.

I pulled out a presentation I had prepared in advance, as if I had the solution.

Red Witch is a villain alliance and assassination company that appeared in Chapter 2 of the original work.

Before they bore the name Red Witch, they were just an ordinary cellular organization found anywhere, but when someone unified these ragtag groups, they established themselves as a proper contract company.

And the boss of this contract company is none other than the enhanced human ‘W’, who was called the ‘Toilet Killer’ by fans of the original work.

“Hmm? The boss of Red Witch was that woman?”

Nazha immediately reacted to my explanation.

As expected of the mother of nanomachines, Nazha seemed to know of her existence.

“A female enhanced human who uses fire, do you know her?”

W was once one of the hitmen separately managed by the seven families of Royal Road. That’s why she didn’t have nanomachines implanted in her brain from the enhanced human procedure stage.

If she had nanomachines, there would be restrictions on taking assassination missions.

“Know her? I was her handler for a while. She was so tender-hearted, I tried to persuade her many times not to do assassinations. Looks like she was finally ‘dealt with’ by someone.”

As Nazha said, the boss of Red Witch appeared dead in the original work.

More precisely, she appeared with her head cleanly severed by Athena’s sword, stored in an ice box.

However, enhanced humans never die if only their head remains. They just enter an indefinite sleep state until they are combined with a new body. And here, there’s a point of compromise with the remnants of Red Witch.

“It’s a bit different, sis. The boss of Red Witch isn’t dead.”

“Uhh…? What do you mean…? The news clearly said she died after being stabbed by Athena…”

I shook my head to refute Agio’s question.

“To be precise, her head remains. The remnants probably have it.”

“…Come to think of it, I think I’ve heard that enhanced humans don’t die unless their brain is destroyed.”

“What? Ah!”

Nazha suddenly slapped her knee.

“I see! I get it! Those guys plan to buy a new body from the black market and combine it with that woman’s severed head!”

At that, everyone except me groaned in unison.

“I-is such a thing possible…!?”

“I’m not saying I’ve seen someone survive after getting their head cut off, but theoretically, there’s nothing impossible about it.”

Kim Seok-ho frowned with displeasure.

“Can something like that still be called human?”

“That’s too horrifying…”

I shared this sentiment.

It’s said that the more one behaves differently from humans, the further they stray from being human.

How can someone who survives after being decapitated be considered a normal human?

Even the most formidable monsters roaming the earth would generally die if their heads were cut off.

I looked at Nazha and Seolhwa once each.

“What’s important is that we have the power to fulfill what they want.”

“Hmm…If that’s the case, I don’t mind.”

Nazha nodded as if she understood.

Seolhwa, who had a kind nature, seemed to be contemplating for quite a while. She must be feeling reluctant about the idea of reviving the boss of a villain alliance.

“…If I try my best, can those people be happy?”

Seolhwa asked me but not knowing exactly what to answer, I told her the first thing that came to mind.

“I’m not sure if that person is a worthy individual deserving to live, but they certainly will be happy.”

“…Then I’ll do it.”

“Are you sure?”

Seok-ho asked, seemingly worried about his sister. To that, Seolhwa smiled brightly at her brother, saying “Yes! I’m fine!” as if not to worry him.

…It was an enviable relationship.

“…”

No. I took a deep breath, pounding my numbed chest. This wasn’t my emotion right now.

This bastard. Why does she keep trying to gaslight me?

[Your inner malice questions]

Don’t play innocent, you bitch.

I’m not so starved for affection that I’d envy something like that.

“Uhh…The mood seems to be naturally shifting, so…I’m a bit hesitant to ask…”

Just then, Agio, who had been quiet, raised his hand and spoke.

“Ms. Yu-ha…how did you know that the remnants of Red Witch would be keeping their boss’ head…?”

“…”

I cleared my throat, ahem, and answered confidently.

“What did I say my ability was?”

“Telekinesis and electronic device control…?”

“And?”

“Occasionally seeing the future…?”

“That’s it.”

“Uhh…!!”

I wasn’t lying.