I Became a Scoundrel of a Chaebol Family-Chapter 459

With trembling hands, Han Chaeyoung flipped through the report, then removed the glasses she had recently purchased due to her worsening eyesight. Letting out a sigh, she rubbed her face.

These days, every report that landed on her desk seemed designed to shake her mental state.

“After administering the Super Serum, the specs rose dramatically, but in an instant, it broke past the critical threshold and melted down.... Not even a full minute passed. There’s no way to make use of it like this.” 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

The S-Type—the one she had protected even at the cost of her colleagues’ lives during Biotech’s recent assault.

Back then, thanks to the S-Type’s performance, they had been able to handle Biotech’s new monsters with relative ease. For a moment, it even seemed like hope had returned. But, as expected, its monstrous energy consumption and its laughably short active time remained fatal flaws.

Even after returning to the lab, no real breakthrough presented itself. As a desperate measure, they experimented with injecting the Super Serum repeatedly, but results were negligible.

The resources of Deep Abyss (the NIS Grand Demon Headquarters) were not infinite.

The key, therefore, was to extend the S-Type’s activity duration.

Ideally, the ultimate goal was to make it capable of permanent physical activity like a standard Grand Demon.

The problem was... that was the hardest problem of all.

Part of her wanted to storm Biotech—or even Militaris—and dissect one of their Knights to see just how they were made.

“...Is the gap with Koryo... impossible to close?”

As a scientist drowning in despair and doubt, a new report arrived on her desk.

“...Phew.”

At least this one contained some good news.

Following Biotech’s invasion, the intelligence agencies that had been operating under the shadows of the chaebols had begun forming tighter links. Han Chaeyoung had proposed to one of them—the CSA—that they collaborate on S-Type and Super Soldier research.

From the beginning, the two organizations had worked together, but their paths diverged at the fork: S-Type versus Super Soldier. Deep Abyss and the CSA had chosen different directions.

Now, Han Chaeyoung was proposing something bigger, longer in scale—a deeper joint project. If it succeeded, they might not reach the level of Militaris’s Knights and mechas... but they might at least contend with their specialized armaments.

Of course, that was only if they measured against the Knights’ officially publicized combat power. Still, that alone would be a leap forward. Until now, Deep Abyss had struggled even against Biotech’s monsters.

“Rachel D. Mond, Director of the CSA Paranormal Research Institute, is coming personally.... That means things must be dire on their side too. For that woman to come herself.”

Han Chaeyoung dug through her memories.

Rachel D. Mond.

She had met the woman about six years ago.

A woman who had abandoned any hope of public recognition or career prestige to work in shadow organizations like Deep Abyss and the CSA—clearly a person of conviction. But she was also a woman with a towering pride.

Her superiority complex was apparent in her speech, her habit of calling people “retards,” and she carried with her a faint trace of racial prejudice.

Still, since she was fundamentally a meritocrat, she and Han Chaeyoung had maintained a decent relationship.

“...It’d be good if this goes well for both sides.”

Letting out heavy sighs, Han Chaeyoung peered into the next report.

That was when she was summoned.

A call from the Director of Deep Abyss himself.

“...”

Just the thought of heading into headquarters, wrapped in layers of paranoid security, was stressful enough to draw out another sigh.

How serious was this one going to be?

++++

“The marking operation you proposed—itself was moderately successful, but the follow-up mission was a complete failure.”

“...”

At those words, spoken by a Director showing only his half-body, Han Chaeyoung bit her lip and lowered her head.

She had heard vague rumors already.

Seeing that Go Muyeol was holding a grand banquet, she had proposed inserting an agent to mark both Muyeol and Minji-ah. The Director had agreed, but had altered the plan: focus on Muyeol, not Minji-ah.

Though the idea had been hers, she was only a researcher in Grand Demon studies, and so she received no follow-up reports. Still, judging from the steadily worsening atmosphere among the intelligence division, and the scraps of gossip she caught, she could guess—the operation had gone spectacularly wrong.

She heard the agent inserted under cover had defected, handing over the entire existing information pipeline as tribute. The intelligence division was in a crisis beyond crises.

“They did manage to extract a large amount of information before the defection, but it was so outrageous the intel division didn’t know what to do with it. In the end, we couldn’t make proper use of it. All our fault, really. We lacked the capacity to accept reality.”

“...I also heard some rumors. That Go Muyeol, the drug-addicted scoundrel, has effectively taken control of Incheon.”

“Yes. In nearly every field.”

“...Honestly, I still can’t understand it. A bastard child thrown away by his own clan—how could he, in a single year, manage to—”

“Do you recall what I told you before?”

“...What was it?”

“That in Koryo Group, blood is what matters most.”

“...Ah.”

The Director had a habit of revealing his grotesque half-body whenever he wished to emphasize a point. This time was no exception.

He swiveled his chair to face Han Chaeyoung directly, displaying the horrifying half-body caked with muscle tissue, wires, and mechanical devices.

“Chairman Go Youngman of Koryo Group is a man for whom blood is more important than anything else. To continue that bloodline, he will not hesitate to employ any inhuman method.”

“...”

“And to «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» cast away such blood once obtained—that is unthinkable. Mere delusion of those who do not understand.”

“But—”

“Go Muyeol is that old man’s one and only eldest grandson. Do you think he would be cast aside?”

“...”

Han Chaeyoung lowered her head.

The Director had said as much when she first made her proposal.

Koryo Group valued blood above all, and Go Muyeol, as the eldest grandson, was the one to watch—not Minji-ah.

And in the end, he was right.

The drugged-out, woman-crazed scoundrel of a young master, whom they had dismissed, had swallowed the entire megacity of Incheon in just a year.

“...You don’t need to bow your head so much. You did nothing wrong. In fact, you were the first to propose the necessary step, even outside your field. That was outstanding work.”

“...Then the reason you called me, Director...?”

“Ah. Regarding this matter, there’s something you need to do.”

He placed a file on his desk.

Han Chaeyoung focused her gaze on it, approached, snatched it up, and quickly retreated to her seat.

Facing him up close was... difficult.

“That defected agent—knows quite a lot.”

“....”

“Three bases may have been exposed. And one of them—”

“—is the one with the S-Type facility.”

“Correct. There are others, but losing that one would be a heavy blow. To hand it over to the enemy would be unthinkable. Yet we can’t just send anyone, can we? The one who designed it is none other than you.”

“...Are you saying... we have to shut down the base?”

“That bloodline has been directly exposed. You know what that means.”

“....”

“Knights could be dispatched.”

“!”

“They’re on a different level than mere monsters. We must act swiftly. I regret to say this, but this dangerous task—you must undertake it.”

Han Chaeyoung closed her eyes tightly, drew in a deep breath, and nodded.

She would have to head to a base that might soon be stormed by Knights and dismantle the S-Type facility.

For a researcher, this was yet another mission that meant staking her life. But it couldn’t be helped. The S-Type facility required delicate, complex dismantling work—only its designer could handle it.

“...Understood. I’ll do it.”

“Good. Thank you.”

“...But then, if I go, who will receive Rachel from the CSA?”

“Who else? It must be someone of your level, who can explain the gravity of the situation, someone cut from the same cloth as you.”

“...Ah.”

Han Chaeyoung’s face twisted faintly.

“The Head of Intelligence will handle it. The responsibility for this failure largely lies with her, after all.”

Was this... the right call?

Well, given the circumstances, there was no other choice.

++++

Exiting the Director’s office, she came face to face with the Head of Intelligence, Han Chaehui.

“...”

“...”

A tall figure with model-like proportions, sculpted features, and cold eyes shadowed by dark circles.

She carried a strikingly similar air to Han Chaeyoung—her twin sister.

Older by a mere one minute. And perhaps because of that, their relationship was not good.

“...”

“...”

They ignored each other even when face-to-face.

Not that they were bitter enemies.

Their relationship was simply that of ordinary sisters. But in such a low mood, speaking could lead to a fight right outside the Director’s office, so it was better to stay silent.

Still, one word.

Her sister, Han Chaehui, spoke to her back.

“...Sorry. Didn’t mean for you to end up cleaning up after me. Be careful. It’s dangerous. Get it done quickly and get out.”

“...”

Han Chaeyoung shot her a brief glare before walking away.

Rachel D. Mond, CSA scientist, scheduled to depart for Korea in three days.

Believed to be effectively leading the research into Super Soldiers and derivative projects involving the Super Serum.

Evidence suggests she has directed CSA–Deep Abyss joint research before.

“...”

I was on standby for a Deep Abyss raid when, out of nowhere, I got a message.

From none other than my soulmate, Anastasia.

Probably they’re trying to strengthen ties between Deep Abyss and CSA, and restart collaborative research.

But if you kill or kidnap Rachel, you can split Deep Abyss and CSA apart.

Delaying their research would be a bonus.

It would make things much easier for us to move.

And it would count as an achievement for me.

I’d like you to handle it.

Ever since I raped her, she’d gotten cheeky, tossing out blunt words like that—but I liked it.

Her soldierly stiffness had its own charm, but a woman like that talking to me this way alone—it stirred my possessiveness.

Rachel?

Never heard of her.

Is she important?

I just told you.

A CSA scientist directing research on the Super Serum.

Of course she’s important.

Still, surprising.

Didn’t think you’d ask me for help this quickly.

Weren’t you the one who said you hated receiving help?

Well, a certain young master I know

A scoundrel driven mad by possessiveness

If I refused to ask and ended up being sold off somewhere,

I thought he’d lose his mind.

So I figured I’d ask and spare myself the trouble.

LOL

Once she opened up, she was actually pretty funny.

A pleasure to hold too.

She might even be worthy of becoming one of my concubines.

(photo)

(photo)

(photo)

This is her.

She’ll probably head straight to Deep Abyss after arrival.

Do what you want.

Just make her disappear.

Oh.

The photos Tasha sent showed Rachel as a blonde beauty with rimless glasses.

I didn’t know where the shot was taken, but she was hugging a thick book to her chest, staring off somewhere, looking like a movie poster.

Since my Tasha asked me,

Of course I’ll grant it as her master.

I’ll make sure she never sets foot on American soil again.

Tasha read the message but didn’t reply.

Her little way of showing rebellion. Cute.

“...But wait. CSA operates in Free America. Why does Tasha keep feeding me info?”

Tasha was from Detroit. Normally, Charlotte should be the one giving me Free America intel. Yet she remained silent, while Tasha kept passing me streams of it.

“Well... can’t expect much from that airhead.”

I pictured Charlotte Sinclair, Free America’s terminal princess-syndrome patient, and accepted it.

She had the pride, but not the brains to do anything organized.

++++

“Mission change.”

I went straight to the intel team and handed over Rachel’s dossier.

“When this woman enters the country, dig into her. Once she heads to what we believe is a Deep Abyss site, that’s our target.”

“...She’s... really pretty.”

“She’s the key scientist leading CSA’s Super Serum research. She must be secured at all costs.”

“...And her body’s pretty incredible too.”

“If we secure Rachel, we can drive a wedge between CSA and Deep Abyss. You understand?”

“Securing her pussy for Master is what’s really important.”

“No—”

These bitches kept twisting my pure intentions.

What the hell had they heard???

Unbelievable.