I Became the Academy's Kibitz Villain-Chapter 387: Realization Of A Romance (4)

[Things are in chaos.]

While observing the situation inside the hotel from a distance, I couldn’t help but chuckle at the utter mayhem unfolding in the hotel’s first-floor lobby.

[That Gunggi, she’s completely thrilled.]

[It’s because she’s not stepping up as an ability user. She hasn’t committed any crimes, so what’s the big deal?]

The woman who accompanied me to the hotel, Seong Ji-eun, casually pointed toward Yun Hye-ra, who was surrounded by a crowd.

[From the flight’s entry procedure onward, there’s not a single thing they can criticize. Even if they review the CCTV footage, there’s no issue. Handling situations like this without leaving a trail is the specialty of the Brewers.]

[I owe them, it seems.]

[What do you mean, “owe them”? It’s all part of the project. It’s not like she’s doing it because she hates it. This is a rare chance for her to flaunt herself legally in front of people.]

As Seong Ji-eun said, Yun Hye-ra was boldly holding her ground against the reporters rushing toward her, resembling a general valiantly defending their territory.

“Why have you come here on behalf of the Company? Are you from the Secret Society?!”

“The Secret Society? What an odd claim. I have absolutely no connection to any villain organizations.”

“But Gunggi is…”

“Just because someone’s ability is similar, are they treated as the same person? Honestly, I want to sue that Gunggi person for defamation. Someone out there is using a face, appearance, and ability similar to mine. How frustrating. I’m just an innocent American citizen.”

With an unchanging expression, Yun Hye-ra shamelessly distanced herself from Gunggi, leaving the reporters visibly stunned.

“But…you are Gunggi…”

“Do you have any evidence? If you’re making baseless accusations, you’ll have to face legal consequences, Mr. Son Dong-hyun of Haegneul Daily.”

“A-ah, no, I mean… Are you saying you’re not Gunggi?”

“Yes, I’m not Gunggi. To reiterate, I’m just the ‘Red Rider.’ That’s all.”

There was nothing anyone could do.

There was no evidence to definitively prove that Yun Hye-ra was Gunggi.

Even with suspicion at 99%, neither the Korean government nor the Hero Association could dare issue a warrant against an executive of the Company.

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“Alright then, let me ask you, Red Rider Yun Hye-ra of the Company. Are you here to commit a crime?”

“Oh dear, what an aggressive accusation. A crime? I’m simply here to acquire the Phoenix Feather as a representative of the Company.”

“You’re not here as a representative of the Secret Society?”

“Hehe. I’m representing the Company. Please don’t make me repeat myself.”

The Secret Society, Yi Maengmangnyang.

The Korean Hero Association might label it as a “villain organization,” but publicly, it’s merely a large organization of ability users.

“And about the Secret Society—can it truly be called a villain organization? Isn’t it only Korea that officially treats them as such?”

“The Secret Society is nothing more than a terrorist group of ability-using villains operating globally, including in Korea.”

“Exactly. It’s a villain organization, but it has no relation to us.”

“The President of the Company is the Chief of the Secret Society, isn’t she?”

“Oh my, such harsh words. Are you suggesting that the so-called Chief outranks other executives or affiliate chairpersons in our group? That’s completely untrue.”

The Secret Society oversaw numerous organizations, including those that could operate legally without causing external issues.

“Our Company is merely a business-oriented group moving in accordance with capitalism. We’ll do anything profitable. That’s why we’re spreading across the Americas.”

For instance, there’s the massive group known as the Company, based in the U.S.

So, what exactly was this Company?

A colossal group that dominated the electricity, telecommunications, oil, healthcare, transportation, steel, and food industries—not just in the U.S., but across North and South America, effectively ruling the entire American continent.

-If Korea has Haegneul, then the Americas have the Company.

In terms of capital size or the number of people associated with it, the Company boasted an overwhelming scale.

Had Haegneul not had the “Korean Peninsula premium,” it wouldn’t have dared to think of standing shoulder to shoulder with the Company.

-Isn’t the computer manufacturing sector dominated by someone else?

-That company even moved its headquarters to Korea, and a start-up under the Company is now dominating the U.S. market.

-Still, they’ve got experience. That company controls 99% of the computer market.

-As of 2025, it’s almost a 1:1 competition with the Company. They’re rumored to be using alien technology.

As various American companies established branches in Korea and even relocated their headquarters there, the Company expanded by filling the void left by these emptying groups.

There was a rumor that behind the chairpersons of the Company’s subsidiaries was the so-called “real chairperson.”

“Have you ever seen the chairperson yourself? Is that person the same as the Chief of the Secret Society? If you have official documents, bring them.”

Even the presidents or chairpersons of the Company’s subsidiaries rarely met the chairperson directly, though they often encountered the four executives.

The Company governed and managed not only the U.S. but the entire Americas.

Recently, they had even extended their reach to Europe, demonstrating a chillingly expansive approach. In essence, the global economic structure could be said to revolve around Korea’s Haegneul and the Americas’ Company.

“You can’t cover the sky with your palm.”

“Anyway, we’re not the Secret Society. Bring legal grounds and concrete evidence. Of course, if you dare to pursue the Company’s executive with baseless warrants… you’ll have to handle the aftermath yourselves.”

Yun Hye-ra chuckled softly, exerting pressure on those around her.

“After being hit hard once before, you’ve been cautious. But shall we give you another chance to ‘justify’ yourselves?”

“Urgh…!”

In Korea, the Company was treated as virtually equivalent to the Secret Society and was closely monitored. However, the Company ensured that when they entered Korea, they made no foolish moves.

At least on the surface, they remained untouchable, leaving no loose ends to exploit.

Indeed.

If Yun Hye-ra stepped forward not as Gunggi but as an S-class ability user and one of the Company’s executives, there was no legal way to punish her in Korea.

“Let me reiterate, I’m just here to purchase the Phoenix Feather, that is, to participate in the auction. It’s about time I head to my room, so could you step aside?”

“One, just one more question! This will be the last!”

“Sigh. What is it now?”

“Do you have any guesses as to why the Secret Society is interested in the Phoenix Feather?”

“Who knows? I’m not part of the Secret Society, but…”

Yun Hye-ra shrugged with a sly smile.

“Even if it’s the Secret Society, wouldn’t they want to secure as many Phoenix Feathers as possible? Hehe.”

Yun Hye-ra winked as she passed through the reporters and approached the hotel staff to complete the check-in procedure.

“Damn it, this is absurd…! What is the Hero Association doing?! A villain from the Secret Society is walking around in plain sight like this.”

“Hey, watch your words. You might get sued. Neither Haegneul nor the government will protect you.”

“Even if I get sued, I’ll just pay some settlement money…”

“They’ll sue you in the U.S. Can you handle that?”

“Tsk.”

The disgruntled onlookers were left with no choice but to keep quiet.

“A world where villains walk around openly with masks on—what a dystopia! Damn it, what is the Association doing, letting this slide?”

The reporters’ gazes shifted subtly toward the heroes.

“Snow White! What do you think?!”

“About what?”

“An S-class villain is openly staying at the hotel…!”

“If she claims she isn’t, what can we do? Are you suggesting we attack her?”

Facing a barrage of questions, Baek Seol-hee replied to the reporters with a cold expression.

“She said she’s with the Company, so she’s not a villain. If she engages in villainous behavior, record it and send me the footage. I’ll personally arrest her, assuming she’s the Secret Society’s Gunggi.”

“What…!”

“Arresting or detaining someone without evidence is a violation of both international and Korean laws.”

Baek Seol-hee, along with two other S-class ability users, cautiously approached Yun Hye-ra.

“Ms. Yun Hye-ra.”

“Oh my, hello, Snow White. Hello to everyone else, too. Have you had lunch?”

“Keep this in mind. The reason we’re not arresting you isn’t because we lack the power to do so, but because we lack the justification—at least for now.”

“Hehe, so you’ll move as soon as evidence arises?”

“Of course.”

Yun Hye-ra turned her gaze toward Baek Seol-hee, who issued the warning.

Receiving her signal, I ascended to the rooftop of the outdoor parking lot and aimed a heavy sniper rifle at Yun Hye-ra.

[Are you going to fire at full power?]

[Moderately.]

I aimed the rifle at Yun Hye-ra’s lower body—specifically at her ability’s weak point—and pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The gunshot rang out, shocking everyone in the hotel. However, before the bullet could reach Yun Hye-ra’s lower abdomen, it was consumed and disintegrated by the crimson flames that flared up around her.

“Oh my, the Secret Society’s Goblin is attacking me. Isn’t he over there?”

“Tsk, pursue him!!”

Other Hero Association agents spotted me and rushed over, but I immediately vanished into spirit form.

“Damn it, the Goblin disappeared again!”

“Do they take us for fools…? Who wouldn’t see through this staged act?!”

Yes.

This was all a staged performance.

But the truth didn’t matter.

“‘Yun Hye-ra of the Company, attacked by the Secret Society.’”

If Yun Hye-ra were Gunggi, why would the Secret Society’s Goblin target her?

“Sigh, to think the Goblin would target me, a villain meant for execution. How unfortunate. I’m just…”

She smirked.

“…guilty of adding pineapple as a pizza topping.”

“…Such ridiculous lies in such an obvious play…”

“Well, isn’t it? If this is an obvious play, that is.”

I cautiously approached Yun Hye-ra in spirit form and joined her in the elevator.

“Even in Korea, they won’t resort to pinning some strange criminal acts on me.”

Clunk.

The doors closed.

“Surely, the Korean government wouldn’t stoop to staging something as childish as this. Hehe.”

Yun Hye-ra winked at me over her shoulder.

“As if they’d go so far as to stage an attack by a Secret Society hitman to prove that someone from the Society isn’t from the Society. That’d be more childish than an elementary school play~.”

As if speaking to the CCTV, Yun Hye-ra muttered mockingly, as though directing her words at someone else.

“Anyway, I’m not Gunggi.”

The Company.

It was just the Company.