In Chungcheongnam-do, Yesan. A small mountain not far from Zhuo You's residence.
How long had I been waiting at the trailhead?
In the distance, a luxury sedan appeared.
It slid to a stop in front of me, and the door lifted open. The person who stepped out was someone I was glad to see but never expected to meet here.
"Hello."
"It's been a while."
Sato Tsubasa bowed her head.
If anyone saw this, it'd probably blow up social media.
The current Japanese Prime Minister visiting a rural village in Chungcheongnam-do.
"Sorry it took a while. The immigration procedures I mentioned are all complete."
Tsubasa walked around to the other side and opened the door.
Hanamori Saburo, the man who gave us the seed, stepped out.
Unlike when we met last time, he was dressed in a crisp suit.
"Welcome, Grandpa Saburo."
Saburo let out a hearty laugh.
"So you actually honored this old man's stubborn request."
"Of course. I promised you."
When we received the seed, Saburo had said it.
He didn't want to stay in a country he'd lost all attachment to anymore.
So I promised him.
I'd prepare a place for him to settle in Korea.
And Sato Tsubasa agreed to handle the procedures for his move from Japan to Korea on my behalf.
"Right this way."
I guided Saburo into the house.
A nature-friendly thatched cottage built with his tastes in mind.
But it had everything he needed, so there'd be no inconvenience living here.
"This house is too good for me. I only gave you a single seed. I'm not sure I deserve something like this."
"Oh, come on. Even if it weren't for the seed, you're still Camella's friend, Grandpa."
Just as Saburo was about to say something more.
*Whoooosh.*
Smoke billowed from inside the house.
"Stop with the formalities and come in, Saburo. The tea I prepared is getting cold."
Saburo's eyes went wide.
I could guarantee it — there was no better welcome than that.
"Thank you."
He offered one more word of thanks and stepped inside.
I gave a thumbs-up, then walked back outside.
"My election schedule overlapped. I apologize again for the delay."
"Oh, no. Thank you for going out of your way, Prime Minister."
Tsubasa smiled faintly and shook her head.
"Just Tsubasa is fine. I'm still not used to being called Prime Minister."
"Haha... Then I'll go with Lady Tsubasa. But I didn't expect you to come in person. I would have come to pick you up if you'd called."
"I thought about doing that too, but I happened to have an unofficial schedule in Korea. And I wanted to see the Runner again — you're much more famous now than when we first met. I hear there's a term going around these days? The Runner Effect."
"Ugh... That gave me chills."
I knew about it because Cheon Se-yeon told me, but hearing it from someone I knew felt different.
Tsubasa let out a small laugh and opened her bag.
She handed me a folder of documents.
"Just so you know, this isn't the Japanese Prime Minister delivering something to the Runner. This is a small token of gratitude from Sato Tsubasa as an individual, to a close friend and benefactor."
I wondered why she said that.
The first page of the documents had the words "CLASSIFIED DOCUMENT" stamped in huge letters.
"I'll say I found it on the street."
"Good. I'll leave it at that."
I smiled and opened the documents.
Most of it was about certain individuals and criminal organizations.
"These are people making a name for themselves in Japan. They're in Korea now. And this part still needs more confirmation, but—"
Tsubasa took a breath.
"They say the target is the Runner."
"Oh."
I rubbed my chin.
I'd done things that could get me targeted... Well, a lot of things.
I tried to think of who, then gave up.
Too many candidates.
"The target being the Runner is just a rumor floating around the underworld, so it's not 100% reliable. It's still at the possibility stage. After all, not even Japan or major Western agencies know the Runner's identity."
Jin-hyeok let out a thoughtful hum and spoke.
"Actually, it might be *because* they're major agencies that they don't know. Anyone who's had personal contact with me could at least infer it, even if they're not certain."
"That could be the case."
Tsubasa nodded and stared at Jin-hyeok.
Given the stance Jin-hyeok had shown last time, it made perfect sense.
He didn't actively try to reveal his identity, but he didn't desperately hide it either — an odd stance.
If Jin-hyeok had tried to hide it desperately, she probably wouldn't have survived their first meeting.
"Does the Korean government know too?"
"No. But I think the Korean government is already moving. We didn't tell them, but it seems they've already gotten a tip-off."
*Ring ring ring.*
Right as she finished speaking, my phone started blaring.
Jin Yun-ho and Cheon Se-yeon.
Warning me that an unspecified force was targeting me, so be careful.
"Right on time. Thank you for letting me know in advance."
"Not at all."
*Ring!*
Right after, Tsubasa's phone rang.
She furrowed her brow.
"They say all the people in those documents received money from a specific company. The amount is still unknown."
"That reduces the chance of it being a personal grudge."
"Yes, probably."
I smiled.
No one came to mind immediately, but regardless, I'd apparently made someone seriously angry.
Tsubasa stared at Jin-hyeok for a long moment, then let out a dry laugh.
"You're not worried. Not even a little."
It was a bit absurd.
These were criminals who were notorious in their respective countries.
Normally, being targeted by people like this would make anyone anxious.
But Jin-hyeok wasn't just unworried — he seemed to be thinking, "Oh, really?" and leaving it at that.
"If I got hit without knowing, I might be a bit surprised, but thanks to you, Lady Tsubasa, that won't happen."
"Haha..."
She'd forgotten for a moment.
That the man in front of her was the one who'd single-handedly brought down Sugihara and turned Japan upside down.
"Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease."
With the alarm still ringing, Tsubasa sighed.
"I should go. If I disappear any longer, there'll be chaos. By the way, I told him he could get out and say hello."
Tsubasa walked to the driver's seat and tapped the window.
A familiar face appeared through the lowering window.
"Huh?"
Must be some kind of day today.
One surprise appearance after another.
"Yo!"
Japan's official rank 7 player, Matsuna Hiyori, waved at me.
"Hiyori, long time no see."
I wondered if she came without any security, but the driver's seat held a trustworthy friend.
Tsubasa, who'd been standing to the side, spoke up.
"The Japanese cabinet decided to have me stand by for now, but knowing the Runner is being targeted, I couldn't just sit still. So I personally asked for help from someone who felt the same way."
Hiyori chuckled and curled her lips.
"I can't promise you'll sleep easy, since I don't know how many are coming or when or where they'll strike. But I'll definitely cut down the numbers."
I gave her a thumbs-up.
That's more than enough.
"Alright, I'll drop the Prime Minister off and come back. See you later."
Hiyori waved and rolled up the window.
Probably because she was handling security solo, she seemed calmer than usual.
"I'll see you again."
"Take care."
We shook hands, and Sato Tsubasa climbed into the back seat.
I watched the sedan quickly disappear into the distance.
"Hmm. A contract killing."
No one said the word "kill," but they wouldn't have paid money just to have someone come play nice with the Runner.
Given their flashy records, this was probably the right call.
"I wonder who."
I smiled.
I'm very sorry they're angry, but I can only hope.
That they don't do something they'll regret.
---
* * *
Meanwhile, on a ridge about five kilometers from Seopangyo.
A group carrying large bags climbed the stairs.
"This is it."
Arriving at the pre-determined altitude, they unpacked their bags.
One by one, various striking equipment revealed itself.
After some time spent assembling with skilled hands, five mini-missile launchers were set up in the center of the ridge.
"The target?"
"They say he hasn't left the house in days."
"Is it definitely the Runner?"
"They say it's a推测."
The man shrugged at the answer.
Honestly, even if the person inside wasn't the Runner, it didn't matter.
The mission the man and his unit had received was to blow that mansion to dust without a trace.
That was mission complete.
"But I hope it's the Runner. It'd make a good record."
"Agreed. The competition in the industry is fierce these days. It'll be excellent publicity."
The man pulled out a radio.
"This is Head. Attack preparations complete. Alpha, Delta, are you ready?"
*Crackle.* This is Delta, ready.
Alpha, ready.
The unit's name was Los Silencios.
A special forces unit under a massive Colombian cartel, specializing in assassinations and attacks on key facilities.
El Colmillo, the leader of Los Silencios, surveyed the city around the mountain.
No gunshots. No screams.
'Peaceful.'
He curled his lips.
Thanks to that, the job was very easy.
Because they were so steeped in peace, they'd never imagine it.
That missiles would rain down on that mansion.
"37.382 North, 127.075 East. Confirming coordinates."
Alpha confirmed.
Delta confirmed.
Colmillo stepped back and raised his hand to the button.
"Fire."
*KWWWAAAAAA!!*
Fifteen missiles shot up simultaneously from three directions.
Missiles launched from different points all flew toward one place.
The house in Seopangyo — Eugene Jin's house, which had just finished remodeling.
---
* * *
Seopangyo, Jin-hyeok's house.
Bella, who'd climbed onto the roof, picked up a banana peel lying around.
There were always traces left wherever the Kkanmo Duo passed.
They didn't drop them on purpose.
Even what was left now was just a few peels they'd unknowingly dropped.
*Chirp chirp chirp chirp.*
Bella, who'd been cleaning the roof, tilted her head.
A chirping sound coming from somewhere.
As she got closer, she found a small nest built there.
Inside, baby sparrows were opening their beaks.
She sat quietly and watched them for a moment, expressionless.
*Swoosh.*
Bella stood up and walked to the center of the roof.
Then she alternately stared at the objects flying in from three directions.
"Unidentified explosives confirmed. Remaining distance: 3,271 meters. Final impact point confirmed. Classifying as an attack on this location."
Bella stopped and watched the approaching missiles.
Her master, Eugene Jin, had never given her a specific goal or mission.
He only told her to live freely, doing whatever she wanted.
So she established her own mission.
To maintain this mansion in its current state.
"Remaining distance: 2,991 meters. Entering interception range."
Light from magical engineering flowed from Bella's left arm.
In an instant, it transformed — her arm became a long railgun.
Bella dropped to one knee and aimed the railgun.
"Engaging."
Before her voice even scattered into the air.
Fire erupted from the railgun's muzzle.
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T/N:
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