Having recently suffered a curse attack, Yu-Han decided to seek cooperation to prevent it from happening again.
The place he took Alice to was 'Scavenger,' a specialized corpse-cleanup company.
"Alice. As a cheif, you should know him too.
This is President Namgung Hyeok."
Namgung Hyeok was the very picture of an eccentric—his entire body wrapped in a thick black robe and a crow-shaped gas mask covering his face.
"Hello…?"
"Right, so you're Miss Alice. I've been quite intrigued already.
The woman who tamed that Yu-Han."
Yu-Han immediately bristled at the comment.
"How dare... It's me who's taming this robot!"
"Right, right~ Aren't you a big shot. But President, how exactly do you know this damn bastard?"
At Alice's question, Namgung Hyeok stroked his chin, reminiscing.
"Nothing special. He just did a short part-time gig under me.
That duo was a real handful, let me tell you."
"A duo?"
"Ah, there was one other part-timer.
That guy was impossible in a completely different way from this one…"
Just then, a man in a perfectly tailored suit walked casually through the open door.
Unusually, Yu-Han's eyes were filled with pure irritation and displeasure.
"Pardon the interruption, but I feel a little wronged being called 'as impossible as Yu-Han.'
I've always thrown myself into my work with complete sincerity, you know?
Ah, you must be cheif Alice—the one I've only heard about, the woman currently taming Yu-Han.
My name is Shin Gi-Deok. I currently work as a sanctioner."
Yu-Han looked like he had already given up on arguing every little thing.
Watching Shin Gi-Deok's polished manners and refinement, Alice found herself thinking how nice it would be if Yu-Han could be even a fraction like him.
"But Yu-Han, you're still messing with girls like always, huh?
I saw your duel with Miss Yuna too. Weren't you toying with her a bit too much?"
"Ha, what did I even do?"
"…I'm talking about those mana stickers.
With your actual skill level, you would've won without pulling that kind of cheap stunt. Right?"
Shin Gi-Deok's gentle tone made Yu-Han frown in clear displeasure—like a magician whose trick had just been exposed to the audience.
"Anyway, Yu-Han. I actually have a proposal for you.
President, do you have anything else to discuss?"
"Well, business is done, so take him and go away."
"Thank you. Then…"
Shin Gi-Deok bowed politely, never once losing his composure or courtesy.
***
"Shin Gi-Deok C, what's this proposal you mentioned?"
The moment Alice tried to ask in the empty alley outside the building, Yu-Han gestured for her to keep walking.
"No need to waste breath on a mad man like that."
"What? Are you jealous because he's better than you?"
"It's not a joke.
That guy… is a vicious serial thrill killer.
He murders people who aren't even targets for euthanasia and then uses loopholes to register them afterward."
"What?!"
Alice was stunned, but the man in question, Shin Gi-Deok, simply smiled brightly.
"Yu-Han, calling me 'vicious' is going to give her the wrong idea!
I'm just a decent, law-abiding 'murder enthusiast.'"
Alice was horrified by the insane phrase she had never heard in her life.
"Enjoying murder?! That kind of thing is completely unacceptable!"
"Cheif Alice, you're also trapped by misconceptions and prejudice.
But what's the real difference between enjoying music or movies and enjoying murder?
It's not wrong—it's just different."
"But murder harms society—"
"I always carry out my murders while respecting society and considering sustainability.
My dream is to one day legalize murder through proper, legitimate channels so everyone can enjoy it with a smile.
After that, murderers and non-murderers alike can hold hands and frolic happily together!"
"You're completely insane…!"
"What's insane about it?
Aren't you a murderer yourself, Cheif Alice?"
"…!!"
Alice was rendered speechless by the counter-question.
"As a sanctioner, I assumed you would understand the value of a 'good murder.'"
The moment she was directly called a murderer, Alice stood frozen in shock.
Yu-Han grabbed her shoulder and urged her forward.
"See? I told you there was no point listening to this crazy bastard's nonsense!
…If you've got nothing else to say, we're leaving."
"Ah, I almost forgot the most important part.
Yu-Han, I heard you've been clashing with Lawmaker Kim Je-Hyeon lately."
Shin Gi-Deok had brought up the one topic Yu-Han couldn't just walk away from.
"…Choose your words carefully. If you spout bullshit, I'll kill you."
"Relax, Yu-Han. It seems Lawmaker Kim Je-Hyeon also finds this war of attrition with you quite tiresome.
You want to wrap things up quickly too, don't you? I'll mediate for you."
Alice was sure Yu-Han would refuse, but his answer surprised her.
"Fine. Let's hear it."
"Shall I connect the call right here, then?"
Shin Gi-Deok activated his hologram device and placed a video call.
Lawmaker Kim Je-Hyeon's face filled the screen.
[What is it, Shin Gi-Deok? Wait… why are those Cheong-Am bastards standing next to you?!]
"Lawmaker, you've been having a rough time lately because of the friction with Thanatics and Cheong-Wa Tower, haven't you?
It seems Yu-Han is also tired of fighting."
[Hah…! A settlement?! The damage this guy has caused me—]
Before Lawmaker Kim Je-Hyeon could explode, Yu-Han cut in.
"Hmph. I only killed a few of your replaceable protesters.
Everything besides that was legitimate self-defense after you attacked me first."
[You arrogant little—! …But you do have a point.
Still, isn't it too late to just say 'let's make up' and call it even?]
At Kim Je-Hyeon's words, Shin Gi-Deok smiled and made his suggestion.
"In cases like this, why not grow closer by working on something where your interests align?
For example… disposing of Lawmaker Shin Man-Soo."
At the name Lawmaker Shin Man-Soo, Kim Je-Hyeon's eyebrow twitched.
[So that's what you meant…? Fine. Yu-Han, if you handle Shin Man-Soo, I won't touch you.
I'll pay a proper reward, of course.
Naturally, you'll also have to promise not to interfere with me afterward.]
"I never cared what you do in this country anyway.
So let's end this stupid feud here."
[I agree.]
The call ended.
Shin Gi-Deok smiled, slipped the hologram device back into his inner pocket, and said,
"Actually, I already have the plan and the manpower ready to eliminate Shin Man-Soo.
If you're okay with it, we can move right now."
"I hate wasting time, so let's do it quick."
"…I'll send you the rendezvous point via message. See you later, then.
Cheif Alice? It was a truly meaningful meeting."
Shin Gi-Deok gave a polite farewell and left.
Alice stared at Yu-Han with eyes full of despair.
"You saw what Kim Je-Hyeon has done! And you're just going to call a truce and let him go?!"
"Of course. It's beneficial."
"But that man is going to keep making countless people suffer…!"
"So? I'm a sanctioner, not some apostle of justice."
"You said you were a good person… Was that a lie?"
"You're really an idiot for believing that.
There's no way someone who kills people can be a 'good person.'"
Yu-Han turned his back and started walking away, calling over his shoulder,
"Don't tell the others.
Especially not Kim Ga-Eun. She'll just tag along uselessly again."
Alice stood there, blankly watching Yu-Han's retreating figure.
***
About thirty minutes later, Yu-Han appeared in the plaza near the 'Shin Man-Soo Building.'
Two other people were already waiting with Shin Gi-Deok.
Every single one of them was a familiar face.
"Great. Looks like only people I have long-standing grudges with are gathered here again."
"That's because you keep making enemies, you idiot…"
The sanctioner known as 'Poison Moth,' Yang Su-Hyeon.
A familiar face, but it had been a while since they'd met on the job.
And the burly man next to her was Kim Yong-Soo, Lead Manager of Seo-An-Dang.
He and Yu-Han had never been on good terms either.
"…Shin Gi-Deok C. You brought Poison Moth and even that bastard Yu-Han? Are you trying to start a war?"
"Lead Manager Kim, I just hired extra hands in case of emergencies. If Plan A succeeds, we can avoid unnecessary fighting.
Of course, you'll be paid either way."
"You must have money to burn…"
"I'm the type who enjoys sharing with others.
And on a festival day, you have to spend big, right?
After all… today will become the day of my father, Shin Man-Soo's death…!"
Shin Gi-Deok laughed cheerfully and strode into the building...