I’m Not That Villain

9 – Supernatural Ability (3)

Supernatural Ability Factor.

I have finished preparing to handle it. Now, I dusted off my hands while looking at the old equipment running smoothly.

The second-floor remodeling team also withdrew. Although it was an empty house without a single piece of furniture, it was now registered under my fake name.

Not long until the first opening.

First, I have to make the promised item!

I first checked the security facilities. There were surveillance cameras all over the workshop, and amusingly, even automatic turrets were installed.

“Is this…a gun?”

“If you press the button, you can control it remotely. It’s a remote turret that every upper-class person in Seoul has.”

Scary…Seoul…

But you know, even with this, we can’t completely stop those with special abilities.

If they turn into robbers, it’s tricky. Why? Because those with special abilities can casually deflect handgun bullets due to their enhanced physical abilities, and it takes at least an assault rifle bullet for them to say ‘Ouch’ and lower their heads.

There’s a reason why Seoul was plundered by the test subjects. The government tried to turn them into military weapons, and that’s one of the reasons.

“Even with this, it’s just a stalling tactic against those with special abilities.”

“They are not that common. And those who would rob an unknown workshop are even rarer.”

“…That sounds somewhat comforting, yet not.”

Well, with this, I can at least boldly fend off ordinary robbers.

As long as they don’t have special abilities, my workshop won’t be turned into a mess! I nodded in satisfaction at that thought.

I tried controlling the remote turret once. It wasn’t that difficult to handle. With simple operations, I could accurately pierce the can on the screen.

Bang!

Wow! The smell of gunpowder! And the sound of a gunshot that I’ve never heard before!

They said everyone had fired a gun before the conscription system changed to a volunteer system, but isn’t that an old story?

The gun I handled for the first time in my life felt heavy even though I saw it through the screen.

Is this…the charm of firearms?

There’s so much to study! This is truly a man’s dream! Wow! And here, no one will sanction me even if I make something related to firearms!

A lawless city…isn’t it awesome?

“…You seem to be having dangerous thoughts.”

“Where can you find a person as good as me?”

“……”

Day by day, Cha Seo-yoon’s gaze towards me grew colder. I wonder why. I really don’t understand.

Anyway, I glanced around the workshop that had finished all the remodeling. Honestly, the space was somewhat cramped, and the equipment inside was nothing special…

Hmm. Nice.

After all, having something that is ‘mine’ always has a special feeling.

I went into the basement that had been converted into a storage room. And I looked at the various materials piled up inside.

All of them were brought by Renata. The materials were all different. Cha Seo-yoon glanced at me and asked.

“But…why do you need so many materials?”

“Ah. You don’t know this part? Well. This is definitely a ‘technical’ issue.”

Knowing something new is always a joy.

I raised my nose high, eager to flaunt my vast knowledge.

“So, what would be the general steps in developing specialized equipment, Charamon?”

“…I’d prefer if you didn’t call me that…”

“Oh, talking back?”

Cha Seo-yoon sighed. She lowered her mask and, as if it were the most natural thing, put an e-cigarette in her mouth.

“We start by extracting the ability factor.”

“Excellent. Excellent. We extract the ability factor from the blood, remove impurities, and isolate only the ability factor. What’s next?”

“I believe it’s stored and cultured in the ability factor storage unit.”

“Wow, you’re an expert! That’s right! As expected of Charamon!”

“…So please stop calling me that…”

“And then?”

“You don’t even listen to me.”

She exhaled smoke.

“Next, I believe the ability factor is modified…”

“Correct. And there’s a reason why the ability factor modifier is expensive. Even those old models have various functions, so they’re worth it. If I go into detail, it would be endless… Let’s just gloss over it… The reason for the variety of materials is here.”

I touched one of the sorted materials. Renata was truly to my liking. She was clumsy and spilled things a few times during delivery, but she sorted and filled everything separately.

Though I was a bit uneasy, as a business partner, she was definitely satisfactory. There were no issues with the quantity either.

“Each ability factor is unique, and there are specific materials that suit them. You need to mix the ability factor with materials that have a high compatibility rate to create an amazing product. But you see, there’s no set rule for this. The ability factor itself is so inconsistent that we can’t precisely understand its components.”

“…….”

“So it’s best to stock up on various materials like this. Fill them up in advance, and when you use the specialized equipment, compare and match them to find the best fit. My warehouse is small, but the Black Chain Workshop’s warehouse was huge. There were hundreds of materials inside, and the quantity… I can’t even describe it. So it was easy to sneak some out.”

I put the metal back into the drawer. The large sorting drawer I bought was very satisfying.

It might be a bit tricky to clean, but… If I make a lot of money later, I can hire a cleaner! Of course, I have no intention of increasing the workshop staff.

I didn’t want to deal with human relationships at my workplace. My workshop is solely mine. No one can enter…!

“Anyway, the key point is that each person has materials that suit them, and you need to use those materials when making alloys with the ability factor.”

“…What if the compatibility rate is high with a soft metal? That would lower the durability.”

“Sharp question. But you see, that’s a company secret. To be precise, you have to trust the artisan’s ‘skill.’ Finding the right ratio and making sturdy equipment even with soft materials… Isn’t that what makes an artisan?”

Of course, I’m still an aspiring artisan.

But even someone like me might become a top-tier artisan someday.

Even the top of the top acknowledged me.

For now, the story ends here. It’s time to move. I looked at her and smiled sinisterly.

“Now… first, roll up your sleeve… It won’t hurt… It will be over soon…!”

“…Strange way of speaking.”

Cha Seo-yoon rolled up her sleeve. I took out a disposable syringe to extract blood.

Let’s make it!

Cha Raemong’s exclusive weapon!

. . .

The Black Chain Workshop.

Among the enormous organization, the one at the top questioned.

To the secretary.

With eyes wide open.

Even trembling hands and feet.

“…Is Seo-jun Lee, the apprentice trainee… currently missing?”

“It has been confirmed that he is currently fleeing from the enforcement agency.”

“Why?! What did that guy do?!”

“…It has been confirmed that he sold illegal weapons. The enforcement agency is currently tracking the traces, but it seems there is no significant news…”

“No way!!!”

“Yes?”

The owner of the Black Chain Workshop.

Kang Tae-sang screamed.

Others are fine. I didn’t care about them from the beginning. The ones below were just scum.

They were just replaceable personnel.

But not him. How much effort did I put in, how much did I carve out…!

“Not him!!”

When I first saw him, it felt like a mountain of gold had descended before my eyes.

So I kept him. To train his habits.

A genius is arrogant.

I knew it better than anyone because I was a genius too. But that arrogance, you see, was not an easy kind of confidence to handle.

That’s why I kept him down. Made him learn humility, and prepared a stage for him to learn others’ skills.

For the future. To completely use him as my tool, I kept honing and polishing him.

He gathered artisans from all over the place and gave them a tour just for that one thing.

He provided a stage where he could naturally, without question, improve his skills.

There is only one reason for this. So that he would regard him as a mentor. So that he would look up to him and follow him.

So that… so that…

He could control him easily! So that he could use him to rake in money!

Kang Tae-sang knew better than anyone else.

That guy is a genius.

A genius with innate talent that cannot be compared to himself!

“Wh-why…!? Why did you make illegal weapons…?!”

“…It seems it was because the apprentice’s salary we set was too low.”

Of course, that was how it was decided. He didn’t give him any special treatment either.

No.

He treated him even more harshly.

He believed that one learns humility through hardship. People, you see. They only learn to bow their heads when they face difficulties.

So he made him live the same lowly life as others, intending to personally lift him up later.

When he was struggling with hardships, worn out by life…

To become a benefactor incomparable to anyone else.

But did it get twisted like this?

No. He cannot lose that guy.

Even if he brought all the apprentices in the workshop, they couldn’t compare to him! Why did I go through all that trouble! I went out of my way to find him! I secretly talked to him several times to plant non-existent illusions in him!

All for the future! For the moment when he grows up, and through him… for him to create a weapon that would turn the world upside down!

“Find him! Find him somehow! Contact the famous problem solver office nearby immediately!”

“What?”

“He is mine!”

Kang Tae-sang panted.

“I can’t hand him over to anyone…! If it comes to this, I’ll rather find him and imprison him…! So that he can make weapons only for me…!”