Although a Villain, My Wish is World Peace

—What were you planning to do if he didn’t come around?

At Ray’s words, I inwardly answered, ‘Baek Do-san wasn’t on the list to save. Rather, he was on the list to eliminate.’

Originally, Baek Do-san wasn’t a good person. Although he didn’t cross certain lines until meeting Seol Rok-jin, if judged as black or white, he was clearly on the black side, not even gray.

So keeping him alive wouldn’t help in saving this world at all.

If Baek Do-san fell under Seol Rok-jin’s control, the entire South Korean underworld would become Seol Rok-jin’s. Thus, eliminating him was safer than keeping him alive.

So if my ploy hadn’t worked on him, I would have eventually eliminated Baek Do-san by any means necessary later on.

—And yet you’re going to try and save that guy.

‘If this person joins my side, that vast underworld would become my domain.’

Hadn’t I thought before that I would need to delve into the shadows? The importance of gaining favor with the ruler of those shadows went without saying.

If things went well, that is.

Professor Geum, seated in the driver’s seat, seemed carefree to the point of forgetting the situation, even humming a little tune. It didn’t seem very reassuring.

“By the way, is it okay for us to suddenly show up like this?”

“We have no choice, since the deal is happening today.”

While the urgent plan to directly persuade him was fine, there was a serious flaw in this operation.

“I’m the one going, right?”

At my question, Professor Geum’s humming abruptly stopped. A chill ran down my spine.

“I didn’t say that, did I?”

Professor Geum only showed me a suspicious smile in response to my question. Seeing that smile, I grabbed the car door handle and exclaimed:

“I want to get off.”

—Are you insane! You want to get off this speeding vehicle? Your body will be torn to shreds.

“But since I’m going with you, he probably won’t outright kill you.”

“That’s certainly reassuring.”

“Maybe?”

No, it wasn’t reassuring at all. Did this guy even think things through? I knew he was an eccentric, but this was too much to adapt to.

“You’re going as my friend.”

I had never had a friend like this strange middle-aged man with questionable fashion sense. Seeing my scrunched face, Professor Geum added:

“Yeah, even if he thinks you’re a swindler spouting nonsense, he won’t kill you.”

Oh brother.

—It might be better to just abandon him here.

Even Ray said as much upon witnessing this spectacle. That’s right, why was I even here? Letting out an inward sigh, I folded my arms and stared ahead.

But since I was going, I should at least try to properly persuade him once.

Maybe something could change if I went.

That was how the car we were in crossed the Yeongjong Bridge and finally reached Yeongjong Island.

Yeongjong Island, where Incheon International Airport was located, had been a transportation hub both in the past and present. However, not too many people utilized air travel nowadays. The emergence of gates had tightened border security, but occasional attacks by flight monsters were also a factor.

Like the lingering flight monsters unleashed when a maritime gate had breached in the past.

As a result, air travel was now reserved only for critical situations deemed truly necessary.

The car turned right at the airport entrance junction. After exiting the highway and turning onto a small road, the car drove for about ten minutes before coming to a stop.

As I got out of the car, the salty sea breeze grazed my face.

“The deal will take place on Sendo Island.”

Sendo was a small island next to Yeongjong Island. Until the emergence of gates, it had operated as a passenger terminal, but it had since been fully converted into a cargo terminal to manage goods arriving by air and sea cargo.

So what deal was happening here today?

Drugs, specifically the kind targeting awakeners. Unlike ordinary people, awakeners had enhanced physical detoxification abilities. They could even purify the potent mana itself, so naturally, ordinary drugs had no effect on them.

Ah, it wasn’t just drugs that didn’t work. Alcohol and anesthetics were also ineffective. While there were potions that minimized the need for surgery, if an operation was required, they either had to grit through the pain or use special methods to lose consciousness.

Ah, and the same applied to various carcinogenic substances too. Which was why cigarette companies had flourished instead.

In any case, a drug that could affect awakeners, unlike alcohol and ordinary drugs, had been developed. Naturally, those who caught a whiff of the money involved would flock to this place.

“Let’s take that boat over.”

Although we had come without any prior notice to Baek Do-san, it seemed Professor Geum hadn’t arrived completely unprepared, as there was a small boat waiting at the spot he had pointed out.

Having taken a car and then a boat, we arrived at Sendo Island. Just before reaching the island, I noticed the shadowy figures gathered there and forced a smile.

“Haha, Professor Geum’s friends sure are friendly. They’ve already come out to welcome us.”

“Since this is Baek Do-san’s territory, they must have sensed our arrival.”

But to stand there with their shoulders all puffed up like that, didn’t it seem like an ambush?

The moment our boat reached the island, the person standing at the very front stubbed out the cigarette he had been smoking on the ground.

It was Baek Do-san.

Baek Do-san resembled a black panther. Black hair, black eyes, coupled with a sun-tanned bronze complexion.

A man exuding a gangster aura straight out of a noir film. His well-toned physique was clad in a sleek black suit that seemed like an extension of his body.

From the crisp white shirt to the necktie, an outfit that others might scoff at as superficial suited him remarkably well.

Like a grim reaper, one could say.

“I told you not to come.”

“Since when have I ever listened to you verbatim?”

In response to Baek Do-san’s words, Professor Geum nonchalantly retorted. I had to admire how steady his hands were.

“And you even brought some useless baggage.”

Baek Do-san’s sharp gaze swept over my face. But I couldn’t show any sign of cowering here. I defiantly raised my head.

“Hello.”

“Honestly.”

At my greeting, Baek Do-san let out a mocking laugh, as if finding this entire situation preposterous. Well, it was understandable. For his important friend to bring some random fortune-teller at a crucial time like this.

But you see.

I was an exceptionally capable fortune-teller among fortune-tellers.

With this type, persuasion was useless – actions spoke louder. If I mindlessly ran my mouth, he might just slice off my tongue without hesitation.

“It would be better to postpone or cancel the deal happening here today.”

“Why should I do that?”

“Information has been leaked.”

“Oh, this is quite interesting. Information has been leaked, you say?”

At my words, the corners of Baek Do-san’s mouth twisted. His eyes seemed to burn with the intent to tear me apart on the spot.

—That seems, seems dangerous.

Cold sweat trickled down my back from the killing intent he was emanating.

“Can you prove those words?”

At Baek Do-san’s question, the sound of someone gulping audibly could be heard. It was Professor Geum. Waving his hand dismissively, Professor Geum said:

“Just ignore me and continue your discussion.”

Honestly, he really had a knack for shattering the atmosphere. But thanks to that, the tension diffused slightly. Straddling my legs, I spoke.

“Yes. There is a traitor among you.”

At my words, a crease formed between Baek Do-san’s brows.

“Hah.”

Letting out a short, scoffing breath, Baek Do-san growled:

“What nonsense is this…”

“That person is the traitor.”

Before Baek Do-san could fly into a rage, I quickly pointed my finger at a particular man. One of Seol Rok-jin’s underlings, nicknamed ‘King’ due to the large mole on his nose.

“What? Absolutely not, Boss! Why would I…”

“That guy is the traitor?”

Even if a longtime comrade was suddenly accused of betrayal, it would be hard to believe. There was no choice but to instill that belief.

“It’s not entirely implausible, but it might have been for love. Perhaps he started running his mouth because a new lover became curious about his work. And the information he divulged likely grew more detailed over time.”

At my words, the man King, no, Kim Hong-deok, began turning deathly pale.

“At first, the information he passed might not have been much. At most, patrol schedules or the names of VIP clients frequenting related establishments. But after passing that initial information, he must have been blackmailed, right? With threats that the Boss would find out about his betrayal, and things wouldn’t go well for him.”

That was how Kim Hong-deok had fallen into the quagmire. For reference, the woman who had seduced Kim Hong-deok was sent by Seol Rok-jin. A woman possessing the talent of ‘Allure’ was a pawn directly groomed by Seol Rok-jin for such purposes.

The naive Kim Hong-deok would have been helpless against her.

—How do you know all this?

‘He was the type to spill his life story whenever he got drunk. I must have heard it hundreds of times.’

Suddenly, Kim Hong-deok fell to his knees right there and cried out:

“I’m, I’m so sorry, Boss! I, I must have lost my mind.”

Upon witnessing that scene, Baek Do-san let out a mocking laugh.

“You’re going to regret this.”

Only now did he seem to believe my words were the truth. I provokingly met Baek Do-san’s gaze, and he narrowed his eyes at me, muttering:

“I thought our professor had brought some random conman, but you’re the real deal.”

Murmuring those words, Baek Do-san addressed his subordinates:

“Boys, bury that friend over there.”

“Yes, Boss!”

“No, Boss please! Please give me one more chance!”

The life of Kim Hong-deok, who could have lived comfortably as Seol Rok-jin’s underling calling him ‘Brother’, ended right there. Without sparing him a single glance despite his desperate pleas, Baek Do-san spoke to me.

“You, the fortune-teller, let’s talk.”

Finally, I could now properly set the stage. As I started walking ahead following Baek Do-san, it happened.

“Professor, where are you going?”

Professor Geum, who had been trying to slink away unnoticed, ended up being included as well.

The place we were led to was a container inside some kind of fishing area. The pungent smell of fish stung my nose, but no one dared to complain.

At Baek Do-san’s gesture, his subordinate retrieved plastic chairs and a table from the corner, setting up a seating area.

“Now get out.”

At Baek Do-san’s curt command, the subordinate bowed his head and exited, leaving only Baek Do-san, Professor Geum, and me.

“You really are a seer.”

Saying that, Baek Do-san let out a snickering laugh.

“Or just a skilled conman.”

It seemed his suspicions toward me hadn’t completely disappeared. Well, true seers weren’t exactly common occurrences.

“Anyway, it doesn’t matter. The fact is, you came here to help me today, and I owe you a debt of gratitude. So tell me now, what was originally supposed to happen today?”

The stage was set.

Now it was my turn to seize control of this stage and guide it in the direction I desired.

I placed my hands on the table.

“Representative Seol Rok-jin was supposed to come here today.”

At my words, Baek Do-san’s eyes coolly glared at me.

“His target is you, Mr. Baek Do-san.”