Chapter 79: Shadows Crossing the World
A day later, I was watching the news on television while eating french fries cooked by Lee Donghyun.
The screen was filled with footage of Lightnova—hailed as a hero who had stopped multiple missiles from reaching the city and defeated Crocus and his entire group.
...Yeah.
Without her current power, she wouldn’t have been able to stop those missiles so easily.
But honestly, even before her recent growth, I was confident she could’ve wiped out Crocus’s group without much trouble.
She’s the protagonist of this story, after all.
There’s no way she’d lose to a bunch of disposable lackeys.
I stuffed another fry into my mouth and chewed slowly.
...Damn, this is really good.
*Gimpo Airport, Seoul*
Alea stepped off the airplane, adjusting her sunglasses as the strong wind caused her white hair to flutter behind her.
Several people followed closely behind her.
"We’ve arrived in Korea. Just as His Excellency ordered, don’t do anything reckless here. Understood?"
Alea spoke calmly, not even turning her head.
At her words, the people behind her responded in unison.
"Yes, Miss Alea!"
They began walking toward the airport terminal.
Their steps were relaxed, composed.
People around them stared.
They were clearly foreigners—Russians.
Their sharp features, tall frames, and striking appearances drew attention instantly.
Men and women alike looked like models.
One of Alea’s male subordinates spoke with a smirk.
"Looks like they’re captivated by our good looks."
"I think so too," one of the female subordinates replied casually.
They walked together, blending confidence with elegance.
At the front, Alea continued forward, sunglasses still on.
She looked like a celebrity rather than a villain.
*France – An Abandoned Building Near the Coast*
Oceanaria was sent flying into a wall with terrifying force.
The impact cracked the concrete instantly.
She collapsed onto the floor.
Her body was bruised and battered.
Her breathing was unstable.
"Hah... Hah..."
She struggled to stand, her legs trembling violently.
"Why... why did you betray me...?"
Her voice was weak, strained, filled with disbelief and suffocating pain.
In front of her stood several figures.
On their shoulders—emblems of the Hero Association.
They were heroes.
"I asked you why you betrayed me!"
Oceanaria screamed, her voice echoing through the abandoned building.
She couldn’t understand.
She truly couldn’t.
One of them stepped forward and spoke coldly.
"You are too fair to be a hero. That is why you must be eliminated."
In unison, they drew their swords.
A green liquid coated the blades.
Poison.
Oceanaria clutched her shoulder, her vision blurring.
"Hah... Hah... Hah..."
With the last of her strength, she activated her power and hurled herself toward the sea near the building.
"Chase her! Don’t let her escape!"
The heroes moved immediately.
But Oceanaria plunged into the ocean.
She created water bubbles around herself, allowing her to breathe underwater.
The strong current grabbed her body.
Realizing how powerful the flow was, she guided it—forcing it toward England.
I have to survive.
I have to report this.
There are traitors among the heroes...
*Korea – A Fruit Market*
I was shopping with Lee Donghyun, buying fruits.
Lee Donghyun was busy negotiating with the fruit seller.
I picked up a red apple, inspecting it.
"This one looks good."
Just as I was focused on the apple—
I noticed someone familiar walking past.
A beautiful woman with white hair.
...I know her.
Alea.
A Russian S-rank villain.
Why is she here?
What’s her objective in Korea?
Are they planning to cause trouble here?
...For now, they haven’t done anything.
So I shouldn’t act yet.
But if they make a move—
I’ll have to intervene first.
Behind Alea were several people.
Her subordinates.
Alea.
Despite being an S-rank villain herself, she served under another S-rank villain—
Boris Medvedev.
They belonged to a massive organization known as HIVE.
In the future, they would take control of Russia—though it would take time.
I didn’t know their purpose for coming to South Korea.
If they dared to stir trouble, I’d have to face them.
Even if I didn’t want to.
My eyes followed them quietly.
They passed by me without suspicion.
...My life is truly complicated.
Whether in my original world or this one—
It’s always messy.
Always difficult.
It’s almost like someone deliberately designed my life to make me suffer.
But even so—
I’ll face it head-on.
A few minutes later, after finishing our shopping, Lee Donghyun and I walked home.
"Hah! That was exhausting! That seller was really hard to negotiate with!"
Lee Donghyun complained.
"Why bother negotiating? I have plenty of money anyway."
After Elvera once used my money for shopping, I checked my bank balance a few days ago.
I was shocked.
No—
It wasn’t just a lot.
It was far more than I expected.
After asking Lee Donghyun about it, I learned the truth.
That money was all embezzled funds from corrupt South Korean officials—stolen through his hacking.
Recruiting Lee Donghyun was absolutely the right decision.
He’s ridiculously useful.
"Well... even so, we should still save money, you know?"
"You’re right—but the amount I have is so large we don’t even need to worry about saving."
As we chatted casually, I accidentally bumped into someone’s shoulder.
I turned around.
...Crap.
It was Alea.
She stopped briefly when I hit her shoulder.
"P-please excuse me, ma’am—"
Alea lowered her sunglasses slightly and glanced at me.
She spoke calmly.
"It’s fine. I was the one not paying attention."
She then continued walking.
I didn’t understand a single word she said.
She spoke in Russian.
But judging by her tone, she was probably apologizing too.
*Alea’s Perspective*
One of Alea’s female subordinates leaned closer and whispered.
"Miss Alea... did you sense it too? That man had a dark aura around him..."
"I did," Alea replied quietly. "That man is a villain."
One of the male subordinates frowned.
"That man? A villain? He looked weak. Probably just a low-class villain."
The woman nodded.
"Yeah, I felt the same."
Alea suddenly cut them off.
"Enough. Do not underestimate the people here."
She continued walking.
"This is not our homeland. We do not know the true strength of the villains in this country."
The subordinates straightened immediately.
"Yes, ma’am!"