Chapter Seven


    Recognizing a fake face was not a difficult task. The unique toxin could not deceive my intuition.


    In my past life, I tore off the facial skin along with the fake face of a person who was using it.


    At that time, I thought he was a dishonest person using a fake face, and I had the perception that it was okay to kill someone who was dishonest.


    Nowadays, I no longer had that madness, but when I see people hiding their faces, they were most likely viins. In the first ce, using a fake face itself was illegal, so there was no reason to hesitate. Sometimes, there were big viins who didnt use it, but those people could be caught then.


    Looking at the surprised expression of the viin who was exposed because of me, I immediately broke his arms and legs. I carefully controlled my strength so that only the bones would break and that it wouldnt cause any fatal injuries as Jung Da-hyun ordered.


    Ugh!


    Viin arrest in progress. Please step back!


    While Jung Da-hyun was shouting to the citizens, I sat down in front of the struggling guy.


    Where is your hideout?


    ...!


    I twisted his little finger joint.


    Ah!


    I will break one for every time you dont answer. Where is it?


    Dangsan 1-dong...


    Okay, next is...


    In the midst of the excruciating pain of his shattered bones, the guy started to spill information. Every time he hesitated, I broke his bones, and he no longer hesitated and gave me all the necessary information.


    What made a viinpliant was not being understanding of them. It was about making them perceive themselves as weak in the ruthless world of survival of the fittest. To remind them that they could be shattered into pieces like insects if they let their guard down for even a moment.


    This was my first attempt, but I controlled my strength delicately enough that his life would not be in danger. Instead, he would have to live with the consequences of this for the rest of his life.


    When I stood up, Jung Da-hyun approached me with a worried expression. For some reason, her face looked even prettier.


    Mr. Junho, what exactly...


    I found out where their hideout is. Lets go.


    We have to report to our superiors and get support first.


    I nodded and met eyes with Jung Da-hyun.


    But its toote for that. Once those guys find out theirrade is captured, theyll abandon the hideout. We have to act fast.


    ...


    I want to catch as many viins as possible. Isnt that your goal too, Miss Dahyun?


    Various emotions flickered across Jung Da-hyuns face for a moment. After a brief moment of hesitation, she nodded her head in determination.


    Okay. Lets do this as quickly as possible.


    Ill lead the way.


    After handing over the viin to the btedly dispatched government hunters, we headed towards the hideout.


    ***


    Jung Da-hyun, wearing the hat that Choi Jun-ho had given her, followed him closely.


    It was a fascinating experience. She never thought that when she became a government hunter, she would raid a viins hideout like this.


    At first, she joined the National Security Agency to catch viins, but the reality was different from her expectations. Instead of proactively catching viins, she was more like a firefighter who dealt with the aftermath of their actions.


    Even if she achieved results, the upper management would dislike it. To them, what was important was the procedure and the achievement of the Sangmyeong Habok (*the governments system of reward and punishment).


    This was why its difficult to arrest viins. It was making things difficult for Jung Da-hyun.


    In that sense, Choi Jun-ho was truly an amazing person. Even after just bing government hunter, he pushed forward with a bulldozer-like momentum.


    It was hard to see him as an ordinary person when he could recognize a fake face, extract necessary information on the spot, and make on-the-spot judgments that didnt give viins time to prepare.


    Above all, his ruthless treatment of viins was not like that of a government hunter. It reminded one of the worst and most heinous viins, who crushed even other viins like bugs.


    <em>But he caught the viin.</em>


    Its not the knife thats important, but the purpose of the knife. She feared what kind of disaster would strike if she let this man, who had reached level 7, loose in the world.


    Meanwhile, the two arrived at a viins hideout in Dangsan 1-dong. It was an old pubmonly found in alleys.


    Were going in.


    Yes.


    The two entered the pub. Even though it was daytime, there were three people inside.


    Choi Jun-ho, who had been leading the way, reached out his hand.


    <em>Crack!</em>


    Ahh!


    What, what is it!


    An attack!


    The others tried to prepare, but Choi Jun-ho closed the distance like he was stepping through space and extended his hand. The two, caught in hisndmine Gift, copsed with their shoulders caved in.


    Watching from a distance, Jung Da-hyun, who was about to lend a hand, asked, Dont we have to ask them about the password?


    Since were going to put them all in jail anyway, theres no need to do that, replied Choi Jun-ho.


    I see.


    And its not difficult to find a hidden location if you already know the whereabouts.


    Choi Jun-ho looked around where the bar master had been and touched a few things, revealing a passage leading underground.


    How did he manage to find this? It was impressive.


    Theres something I need to do before we go.


    What Choi Jun-hos did was to break the viins limbs as he stepped forward.


    Is it really necessary to go this far?


    We cant let them escape like this.


    ...


    Though she tried to stop him, Choi Jun-hos method was the most certain.


    In the past, it would have been an unthinkable action and would be considered as going too far, but why was she so drawn to that unhesitating hand?


    Choi Jun-hos firm principle toward the viins dug deep into Jung Da-hyuns heart.


    Then lets go.


    Without hesitation, Choi Jun-ho moved forward and Jung Da-hyun followed behind.


    ***


    Viins were fundamentally a social evil, like pests that existed in the world without any benefits. I needed to eliminate them one by one so that they wouldnt be an obstacle to the ordinary life that I was pursuing.


    Viins operating within the city parasitize various rights of the city and suck up the blood of the people.


    Viins, politicians, entrepreneurs, and hunters were no strangers to coboration. The biggest source of ie for them was narcotics and the ck market.


    Among them, narcotics had an unending demand due to awakened individuals.


    Those who handle Force were beings where senses were more important than any other profession. There were those who used drugs for greater power, and it had resulted in consistent demand.


    These drugs not only had an addictive effect but they could also take away human nature.


    Beforepletely losing my mind, I secretly took narcotics to forget the pain of my gift running wild. I killed those who were trying to bargain with drugs, and those who were trying to restrain me. I was so familiar with these drug dealers because I sought them like a beast to forget the pain.


    These guys had to be quick, as they immediately cut off their tails and hid their tracks when exposed.


    This is a drug called Prun.


    I said to Jung Da-hyun, who was following behind me.


    If its Prun...


    Jung Da-hyuns expression became serious.


    We arrived at the end of the underground passage. As I reached out towards the firmly closed door and tore it apart, there were over twenty people inside the spacious area.


    Who are you?


    Instead of answering, I reached out my hand. The advantage of this particr gift was that it could exert its full power with just one touch. It rendered the person touched in a state of incapacity by causing an intense explosion of their Force.


    The disadvantage was that I had to make contact, but thats not a big problem for me.


    Kkeuaak!


    As two people fell instantly, they each grabbed their weapons.


    <em>Bang! Bang! Bang!</em>


    Amidst the echoing gunshots, Jung Da-hyun and I began to fight against the viins.


    The viins level wasnt particrly high. Most of them were at level 1, barely reaching level 2.


    With her intuition, Jung Da-hyun incapacitated the viins with her sword, while I twisted their limbs to prevent them from endangering her life.


    <em>Snap!</em>


    Ugh!


    When they finally subdued thest viin, silence fell. I turned my gaze to Jung Da-hyun.


    Mr. Jun-ho.


    Thank you for your hard work, Officer.


    Before that, I approached the viins that Jung Da-hyun had subdued and broke their ankles.


    <em>Crack!</em>


    Aaaah!


    I want to say that your methods are too harsh, but...I wont object. Ill request support.


    Should we ask the special team?


    Thats the way to go.


    Instead of that, it would be better if you went directly to the Director.


    Why?


    This is rted to viins and drugs. Do you think these drugs can be circted solely based on their abilities?


    There must be an insider.


    Can you trust Team Leader Wang in that aspect?


    Wang Ju-yeol was the leader of the special team.


    This person was a typical example of someone who pursued office politics and individual achievements in thepany. He was a useless specimen who didnt show much enthusiasm even though he was in charge of a special team that should be focusing on the arrest of viins. I could sense it after a few days, something that Jung Da-hyun couldnt feel.


    I cant. Alright.


    Jung Da-hyun shook her head and directly contacted Jung Ju-ho, while I searched around and discovered the area where a gift had appeared.


    Its a barrier.


    As I disrupted the flow of force with thendmine Gift, the barrier was released and the safe was revealed.


    <em>Click.</em>


    Inside the safe, there were piles of drugs, cash, and a ledger.


    I didnt hesitate and took the ledger.


    I unfolded the ledger and looked at the names inside. Wang Ju-yeols name was also there.


    If an ordinary government hunter had this ledger, what would they do with it? Government hunters eat away at the rot of the country and protect the safety of citizens. Naturally, those listed in this ledger were social evils who had taken drugs.


    Since theyve already consumed drugs and their humanity had been eroded, its better to eliminate them all than consider the cost of rehabilitation.


    Jung Da-hyun looked at me with a puzzled expression as I gathered the ledger.


    Mr. Jun-ho, why?


    It would be better for us to gather this and present it to the director.


    Why?


    As long as there are aplices within, the probability of this ledger disappearing at the intermediate stage is high. Team Leader Wangs name is also on this. In a situation rted to internal personnel, do you think the entire countrys national security will move to crack down on drugs?


    Well...


    Jung Da-hyuns expression was confused. She became a government hunter with a sense of mission to arrest viins, but not everyone was like her. Among the government hunters, there were those who were more viinous than the viins, and there were more who worked for their own career than for their mission.


    To achieve clear results, my answer was to share information and act only with trustworthy people.


    Our choice is for ordinary citizens who live ordinary lives.


    ...


    Think simply. Arresting viins and cracking down on drug cartels is what we have to do as government hunters.


    Even if someone had to ignore the procedure a little and pass through the situation, its all right as long as the result was good.


    Is this the best option in Mr. Jun-hos opinion?


    I think its a very ordinary and reasonable conclusion.


    ...


    Jung Da-hyun was shaking. She showed emotional changes several times. She was uncertain whether to prioritize her own sense of what was right and fair, or to stick to her established principles even if the process deviated from them. Additionally, she was struggling to reconcile the oues that were revealed with the methods that were used.


    After long contemtion, she nodded her head.


    I understand. Lets do it.


    ***


    Arresting more than 20 viins and destroying the drug supply route.


    It was an achievement that Jung Da-hyun and I achieved together.


    After bing a government hunter and achieving sess shortly thereafter, the way people around saw us changed quite a bit. It was officially known that I was Level 5, and now I was recognized within the organization because of the achievements.


    In the midst of that, there was talk of excessive suppression, as the viins became disabled, but it was a term that I honestly couldnt understand. I had paid a lot of attention to adjusting my strength carefully so that they wouldnt suffer any harm, so it was something I didnt really understand.


    How can their thought process flow like that?


    Jung Da-hyun, who heard my muttering, said with a bewildered expression.


    Isnt it the right thing to say since you have definitely subdued the viins?


    On the other hand, we didnt follow any of the special team policies.


    Reporting on the scene immediately, requesting reinforcements, and waiting for the decision of the superiors. None of these procedures were followed in this incident.


    I knew this fact, and Jung Da-hyun also knew that if all those procedures had been followed, we wouldnt have achieved these results.


    Most of all, I believed in something.


    Thats why being a government hunter is good.


    Why?


    Because you wont get fired for doing this kind of thing.


    ...


    Watching Jung Da-hyuns speechless expression was one of the fun points.


    Jung Da-hyun! Choi Jun-ho!


    At that moment, Wang Ju-yeol, who came out of the chiefs office, shouted.


    A chilling atmosphere swept over the room.


    Do you have something to say?


    Do you want to hear it from my own mouth?


    Yes, I would like to hear it.


    This bastard...


    Wang Ju-yeol made an expression as if his face was about to burst. I didnt say anything and just quietly watched him.


    It was definitely a familiar face.


    In my previous life, after my Gift activated and I became crazy, there were hardly any faces that I remembered.


    Mostly, I remembered the guys who I either killed with my own hands or thought should be killed.


    As far as my impressions we, this guys face didnt really stand out in my memory.


    Then, there was a face that passed by me fleetingly.


    An older face than now, with a more chubby build.


    I remembered the appearance of a government hunter who was struggling with his subordinates, who hade to kill me, saying that he would kill me if he could catch me by throwing useless subordinates as bait, iming that he had built the encirclementwork as his own work.


    I appeared to him when I was exhausted from the hunters bitter pursuit for three days and nights.


    At best, I was like an ant to him at the time.


    By the way, at that time, I was more ferocious than usual because I had been starving for three days and nights.


    I couldnt even tell the difference between being crazy and being ferocious because I was in a crazy state to begin with.


    In the end, the face of the person who lost all of his subordinates and fled before being caught by me and had his head burst open was right in front of me.


    It was Wang Ju-yeol.


    Oh, I remember now.


    What?


    Theres something like that.


    It seems that Wang Ju-yeol would not be cooperative with my n to live a normal life as a government hunter.


    Then I just had to get rid of him.