I’m Not That Villain

47 – Artificial Ability Factor (1)

“…….”

Ha Taewon sensed that things had gone wrong.

In Seoul, even if someone goes missing, no one looks for them. Even if someone dies, unless an individual searches, it remains undiscovered.

In the midst of this, Yoon Siwoo disappeared. The junior he had arranged to use as a shield if things went wrong.

It means only one thing.

“…Dead?”

Dead.

The one who had ordered the assassination was instead dead.

He places his hand on his forehead. He closes his eyes for a moment, lost in thought.

He ignores the incessant phone calls. He sees the name of the workshop owner but does not look at it.

The one who plotted the assassination is dead.

And the notice from Black Mirror posted around the same time.

The one thought to be dead is alive.

The one who tried to kill is dead.

“…Killed in reverse?”

But Night Owl.

Didn’t they say they sent her?

A famous person. Yes. A very famous person.

Her whereabouts were always elusive, never revealing her true identity…

A person like an urban legend who never failed an assassination.

That is Night Owl.

But her first assassination failure? No. No, that’s not it…

The important thing is that Yoon Siwoo reported to Night Owl that he ‘killed’.

“……”

Night Owl would never betray a client. It would ruin her entire career, tarnishing her spotless record.

Yet, if she did such a thing, it means she killed her and took her phone?

Killed a person like an urban legend? Really?

What the hell… what kind of crazy b*stard is he?

“…A big shot.”

He’s a big shot. It’s like I’ve touched an unbelievable big shot.

Is he really from ‘Eternal’ like the rumors in the Artisan Gallery? If so, this is really bad.

I heard that everyone from there is a monster. Two core technicians from Eternal. And whether the one who left or the one who didn’t…

They are famous for wiping out entire corporations that mess with them.

They are not just simple technicians. Those crazy b*stards have dozens, even hundreds of abilities. And are they just nobodies?

No. They are all big shots. And if even a few of them are sent to me…

The entire Steel Plate Workshop could be overturned.

The difference between a large corporation and a small business. No, the difference is so vast that it can’t even be described…

“Damn it…?!”

Is he really from Eternal? Is that crazy psychopath Black Mirror?

But, but Black Mirror was said to be a man? No, they could easily use a substitute to deceive others.

The fact that they eliminated Night Owl itself means they are not ordinary. Whether they are from Eternal or not, I’m screwed, right?

Damn it!

Why is someone from Eternal doing repair work for cheap?! Why is he doing this here?!

“Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it…”

The nail he was biting broke and blood started to flow. Ha Tae-won nervously slammed the desk.

Bang!!

The fist he slammed down hurt. But even that pain couldn’t swallow up the current confusion.

What should I do? I gave a warning, so… is it over?

No, it can’t be. If he’s from Eternal, it can’t be. They are the ones who wiped out an entire corporation just because they accidentally killed their pet dog.

If he’s one of them, if he’s that crazy psychopath…

The entire Steel Plate Workshop will be ruined.

Including me.

“…I have to, I have to solve this.”

Seek a way. Even if the sky falls, there is a hole to escape through.

No. If you think about it differently. The thing is… the thing is…

Isn’t it strangely late for the incident to happen?

When they were tearing me apart in the public opinion war, and now they send an assassin and just give a warning?

Isn’t it an attitude unbefitting of someone who once replaced an entire company for the loss of a single dog?

…Or.

Is it that something…is still not ready?

“…….?”

Desperately, he continues to piece together his deductions.

The most recently departed key technician from Eternal Workshop. One of the two founding members.

And she has currently disappeared, becoming a hot topic in the Artisan Gallery for a while.

At that time, surely…

I heard she left after relinquishing all rights to ‘Eternal.’

No one knows why she left. But the important thing is that she has nothing now.

Connections? Important. Yes. Important. But if you think about it, isn’t there a reason she isn’t using them?

If she just revealed that she was from Eternal, her recognition would rise quickly, and she wouldn’t have to compete at such a shabby price…

Is she deliberately hiding it?

Could it be…

That there are people targeting her?

“……”

If it were in the past.

When she was at Eternal.

Those who targeted her would have been the ones trembling in fear. But now, what does she have?

Exceptional skills.

That’s all she has…so isn’t she being cautious?

“…Then…”

Night Owl is dead. That fact alone is extremely fatal.

But conversely, if there are opponents targeting her and they end it with just this level of warning…

Doesn’t that mean the opponent is also not at ease?

“…….”

Even the fact that she immediately resumed her livelihood. The opponent is currently not at ease. That means there is a limit to the personnel they can employ.

Now, when there is no foundation, is the right time. If it goes on later…

It might be herself who gets crushed by money.

“…….”

Ha Tae-won picked up the phone. Ignoring everything he heard, he quickly searched for the phone number.

“…Hey. It’s me…”

Let’s handle this here before things get any bigger.

For sure.

“How much workshop funds are left? Check it right now. As soon as possible.”

. . .

He resumed his livelihood again. Having come back from the dead, his fame now resonated loudly.

More people started asking in the comments if he was from the Eternal Workshop…

He thought it was nonsense and didn’t bother to reply. What does it mean to be from the Eternal Workshop? They were catching innocent people.

The changes were not just that simple. The account, which had no inquiries except for repairs.

But now, little by little…

Requests for equipment production started coming in!

“That’s good.”

“It is good, but…”

He pondered slightly.

It was a security issue. He realized that the gap was bigger than he thought. No, even now, wasn’t the truck attacked?

The opponent was clumsy, but if it had been a real ability holder, it could have been a big problem.

A proper security system was needed. Scarlett’s equipment also needed to be upgraded…

When performing the process for making dedicated equipment, he realized that more safety elements than before had to be in place.

Not just when collecting simple weapons, but when making dedicated equipment, he had to stick close for blood collection…

It was like allowing the opponent to get close, just in case. And like Seol Ye-won before, it was better not to think that the opponent would always be kind.

“……?”

He glanced at Renata, who was sitting quietly and blinking. To be honest, he was paying her salary, but…

He felt a bit guilty about exposing her to more danger. If he sent her out for dedicated equipment, she would surely be exposed to more danger…

I’ll handle this. She’s doing well enough as it is.

First, checking the overall security system is a priority.

This time, he watched it over and over again.

It was impossible to suppress the opponent with ordinary firearms. No matter how advanced Scarlett’s gunpowder weapons were…

You saw the main weapon explode with just one accidental ability shot.

No, it won’t work. It won’t. In the end, he had no choice but to start working again.

About Artificial Ability Factors.

Fortunately, I can now leave the overall repair of the dedicated equipment to Scarlett. As data accumulated and she observed me handling the ability-specific equipment during my repair work, she has now become able to roughly imitate me on her own.

Excellent. Excellent. As the overall livelihood revolved around her, I was able to once again embark on the development of artificial ability factors.

During the day, Scarlett took charge of deliveries with Renata.

At night, Scarlett handled all the repairs on her own.

I felt a pang of conscience, thinking I might be overworking Scarlett. I praised her as an assistant, but wasn’t I actually treating her like a slave?

“I’m sorry, Scarlett.”

“It’s okay, Master.”

Scarlett kindly accepted my apology.

“Please use me effectively. I am your assistant, after all.”

Developing artificial ability factors as soon as possible.

That is the key to changing the current situation.

Fortunately, the situation was ripe for exploitation.

Each autonomous district of Seoul. The numerous dedicated equipment pouring in from there.

The equipment entrusted for repair contained various ability factors. Although they were modified…

I could easily restore the original versions.

I extracted various ability factors from them and continued experimenting. I tried to develop ability factors that could exist outside the body or dedicated equipment by inducing chain reactions and subsequent synthesis…

Failure.

Another failure.

Numerous simulations continued to end in failure.

But who am I? Only those who are undeterred by failure are called geniuses.

The continuous development of artificial ability factors gradually progressed. Although failures continued, it was now taking a clear form of a single person.

Ability factors that could not survive outside the owner’s body.

I modified them and integrated them into the dedicated equipment.

And further beyond those two…

A more advanced object was finally born in my hands.

The first artificial ability factor.

The so-called prototype was finally in my hand in the form of a serum.

Despite the failures, the groundwork I had continued as a hobby accumulated and shone.

In the depths I navigated with complete immersion, thanks to Scarlett’s assistance, I was finally able to grasp the result.

“I… really did it.”

A feeling of disbelief, even after accomplishing it myself.

Of course, it wasn’t a finished product. It was only in its initial form. Simply put…

It needed a bit more refinement.

It wasn’t a perfect artificial superpower factor.

It was incomplete. Yes. That’s right. It was a very incomplete product that needed a lot of improvement.

“Is it complete?”

“It’s roughly in shape.”

Lily, who had been watching me, narrowed her eyes. She tapped the glass bottle containing the red liquid with her fingertip.

“It looks like blood.”

“I made it so it could permeate the body. But inside, it’s a highly precise, forced superpower activator, processed down to the cellular level. It’s a liquid that forcibly draws out the potential that might have existed if you had the ‘superpower factor’ that wasn’t originally in your cells.”

“If this is… a mass of artificial superpower factors… can I take it too?”

“You can take it. But since it’s based on my genetic sequence, it will repel in your body. If you’re not careful, you might vomit blood and die.”

“It’s no different from poison.”

“Or it could just slip out of your body along with your excrement. The important thing is that you can’t receive its effects. It was made for me, so it only reacts to me.”

“Are you going to take it as it is?”

Take it.

Yes. It was made to be taken.

But I stared blankly at the ‘prototype’. I had checked all the safety measures, but…

No one knows exactly what effect it will have on the body until it’s taken. This is different from experimenting on animals.

But still.

I decided to trust my genius.

I took out the syringe. I injected it straight into my vein.

The red liquid permeated. The changes it caused in my body.

“……!”

The potential I might have had if I were a superpower holder.

It penetrated deep into my body.