Chapter 48: Hero Association’s Big Announcement

What’s going on here?

When I woke up, there was Lena’s face right in front of mine.

I could feel her breath. The distance between us was barely five centimeters. From that, I could tell that Lena was

breathing 70% through her nose and 30% through her mouth.

Her long hair gently covered the side of her face, flowing down onto the bed like tangled threads.

The ends of her hair lightly tickled my collarbone. If Lua smelled like lime, Lena had the scent of a firm winter pear.

Lena’s long eyelashes fluttered as she stared at me intently. Even her eyelashes, touched by sunlight, had a faint

bluish hue. I asked.

“What is it?”

“I came to offer a reward for growing the Villain Alliance so quickly. Looks like you’ve been tossing and turning all

night.”

“Emma should have been on guard.”

“When I explained my purpose, she let me in. She’s a good girl, easy to talk to.”

“What did you do?”

“I noticed your bones and muscles were misaligned while you slept, so I fixed them properly. Aren’t you grateful?”

“I slept with an eye mask on.”

“I took it off for you. Who picked this out for you? No sense of style. The clothes you usually wear are the same. We

need to go shopping sometime.”

“What’s your purpose?”

“I told you. A reward. Isn’t it time for you to bow down and show your gratitude? Jeo.”

Lena made a displeased expression. It seemed like she really expected me to bow down.

Well, then, don’t crawl into my bed while I’m asleep. Do you have no common sense?

Oh, wait. If she did, she wouldn’t be a villain.

“Ugh. In the morning, I like to have one freshly cooked sunny-side-up egg, two strips of crispy bacon, and a mixed

berry latte. Get it ready.”

Lena mumbled nonsense while lying in my bed.

If she hadn’t been number one…

“Hey! What’s your problem?”

Bam. The door was flung open, and Lua stormed in. Her face was flushed red with excitement.

“You? Did you just call me that? In terms of social position or age, you don’t deserve my respect, kid?”

“Who do you think you are, barging into someone else’s bed like that?!”

Lua marched up and tried to force Lena out of the bed. Before her hand could touch Lena, she muttered softly.

“Left hand up, right hand and right foot behind.”

Lua froze in a figure-skating pose. Then she immediately summoned dark matter, using it to forcibly move her body.

A clever countermeasure. Not a bad idea.

“Get out! Don’t make me say it again!”

“It’s not even your bed, so what do you care?! I’m not leaving until breakfast is served!”

It seemed like they were about to pull each other’s hair out, so I stood up.

With Lua in my left hand and Lena in my right, I grabbed the back of their necks and lifted them.

“Both of you, out.”

I threw Lua and Lena out of the window.

“Slow down.”

I controlled gravity, allowing Lua to land softly on the ground. As she touched down, she glared at Lena, who was

descending next to her.

Lena ignored Lua and casually brushed off the dust from her uniform as if nothing happened.

“What’s going on? Waking Jeo up in the morning is my job. Why are you interfering?”

“You’re the one interfering with my breakfast. Originally, this was supposed to be an important issue to start a war.

I’m only letting you off because you’re Jeo’s subordinate.”

Lua was stunned by Lena’s brazenness.

“I’m the only one who calls him Jeo! Not long ago, you couldn’t even kill him and now you’re acting all friendly!”

“Does the time matter for closeness? It’s the depth that counts.”

This woman doesn’t stop talking.

Lua’s head was starting to heat up.

“The depth of it? I won that one. Just yesterday, Jeo… he pulled me into a hug, and then… squeezed my thighs like

this.”

That was a move to provoke Choi Min-seo. However, without prior warning from Jeong Ui-seok, Lua was quite

flustered at that moment.

“J-Jeo couldn’t hold back and pounced on me once. Hehe.”

In the unfamiliar feeling of unease, Irua was blurting out whatever came to her mind.

But Lena only looked at her with contempt.

“How pitiful. The act of dominating a man isn’t about mixing bodies. In fact, it’s the exact opposite.”

“I-I know! I just meant that it was something you couldn’t do!”

Lena spread open her fan to cover her mouth.

“You know, Lua, I am not the owner of this body. From the very beginning, I never intended to give this body to Jeo,

nor did I ever desire his body.”

“…Then why did you go into Jeo’s room?”

“It’s nothing. I simply helped him sleep better. Jeo needs to lead the Villain Union, so managing his condition is

important.”

Hearing that answer, Irua felt as if she had been struck in the head.

“…You helped Jeo when he was sick? Is that possible?”

“It’s not difficult. Just observe and issue commands based on the opposite of the problem.”

Irua’s shoulders slumped.

She knew that Jeong Yiseok carried a lot of pain.

The pain from injuries sustained during the Dark Kingdom War.

The various side effects from the Apocalypse’s demerits.

She couldn’t fix any of them.

She could bring back the body of the Gluttonous Monster, but in the end, it was Jeong Yiseok himself who had to eat

it while holding back his nausea.

She would’ve liked to accept the abnormalities caused by his anger, but Jeong Yiseok resolved them alone.

Sloth was something anyone could deal with by spending time together.

Lust, however, had been thoroughly handled by Emma alone after the first accident.

The night pains were also something Jeong Yiseok dealt with by swallowing painkillers Hans had given him.

Irua couldn’t help with any of it.

But Lena seemed to have solved one of them very easily.

No, according to her, she must have observed Jeong Yiseok’s body all night and continuously whispered commands

into him.

It was an act filled with dedication and persistence.

Irua couldn’t help but feel a sense of helplessness rise within her.

The power of the abilities Lena had shown yesterday was impressive. Even though it was only once, Jeong Yiseok had

recommended using the switch from the executives.

‘…I haven’t been able to use it.’

Irua couldn’t deny it.

Lena was undoubtedly a villain as strong as Jeong Yiseok desired.

Not only strength, but she also had wealth and power.

Still, she had thought that her heart was closer to him.

‘If it continues like this…’

Even that would be taken away from her.

A sense of unease washed over Irua.

‘I need to become stronger.’

She hadn’t been able to uncover the memory of Green Nature, so she couldn’t assist Jeong Yiseok.

Seeing him so angry meant it was something crucial.

Jeong Yiseok had also mentioned breaking through limits. Irua had a guess about what that concept was.

‘My Dark Matter level is 8. Since it seems that Lena and Yellow Cloaker evolved from level 10, that’s probably the

original limit.’

She needed to reach at least that point quickly.

Once she broke through her limits, Lena would undoubtedly become strong enough that she wouldn’t be able to

touch her.

Irua clenched her fists in frustration.

The Villain Union had grown in scale, and there was more to manage.

She had left most of it to Lena, allowing her to control the system.

However, if Lena’s authority grew too large, it could become a problem later on. Therefore, before Lena’s abilities

reached level 15 or 20 and evolved, she needed to find a way.

Since that was likely a year away, there was still time.

According to the system, during the second scenario, abilities couldn’t exceed level 10.

The plan needed to be modified more carefully.

The villains needed to infiltrate society, and the heroes had to be annihilated, with Shin Yu-kyung, Ji Se-hwa, Kang

Ye-rin, and the association president all captured alive.

While proceeding with this, I must maintain balance. If the heroes in Korea are completely annihilated, the war with

the Galactic Empire will fall entirely onto the shoulders of the Villain Union.

With the current resources, the burden will increase drastically. The top-tier abilities are on our side, but when

considering the world as a whole, the heroes’ power is far superior. After we defeat the Galactic Empire, if the Villain

Union is attacked by the heroes, leading to its collapse, that would be a complete reversal.

More importantly, during the third scenario, I may not be able to effectively expand my influence. That scenario is

initially designed to be favorable to the heroes.

Shin Yu-kyung and Ji Se-hwa must be handled with more caution, as they have important matters to address.

If we meet on the battlefield like before, I might get so angry that I kill them before hearing the truth.

As I constructed the plan and helped the villains grow, a month passed by quickly.

“How is the situation?”

At my question, Lua reported.

“The influence of the villains has increased globally. In Korea, the villain penetration rate into society is 27%. It has

increased by 11% in a short period. Secret agents are infiltrating various sectors like corporations, the National

Assembly, and the prosecution.”

“What about public opinion?”

“Hero support is at 37%, villain support is at 22%, and neutral is at 41%.”

We are in a time of chaos.

It’s not bad.

“Sujang. He’s appeared. An executive-level villain.”

Deep Dive reported. The large monitor in the hall displayed the scene.

“Hm?”

I furrowed my brows.

It was in front of the Busan City Hall.

“Jeo, should we move?”

“Wait. That executive…”

The media was broadcasting live.

『An executive-level monster from the Galactic Empire has appeared! It calls itself ‘Gladiator Epsilon’ and is

destroying the area!』

“Epsilon?”

I was a bit puzzled.

It was a name I hadn’t heard before.

This guy was also an executive who wasn’t in the original.

Could this be someone appointed as an executive from somewhere else, like Morgon becoming Ursula?

The naming method was a bit different as well.

“Jeo?”

“Let’s watch for a moment. We don’t have information on this one. If we move recklessly without knowing how to

deal with him, we might end up taking damage. Tell Lena the same.”

“Got it.”

I continued watching the broadcast. That’s when it happened.

『Breaking news! The Seoul Hero Association is about to make a major announcement! It’s said to be a significant

announcement that will completely change the hero mechanism!』

Right now?

The Association President must be scheming something.

Two screens were broadcast simultaneously. One showed Executive Epsilon, and the other showed the Hero

Association President holding a press conference.

『Hello, I am the President of the Seoul Hero Association! Facing the unprecedented crisis of the Galactic Empire

and the threat the Villain Union poses to the safety of the citizens, the association has successfully prepared a

decisive measure to overcome the current situation!』

The Dragon King Squad appears on the scene.

Their appearance has changed. Shin Yu-kyung, Ji Se-hwa, and Kang Ye-rin were all wearing tactical, sleek steel

armor.

『The association has successfully increased the power of the heroes through the introduction of new technology.

This is the new hero suit, ‘Deleter!’』

Hmm.

This is getting interesting.