Chapter 200. Nam Daeun
"Hoo, why isn't the guy who went to the bathroom coming back?"
"You can just play with us, oppa. Here, have another drink."
"Hold on, hold on. Unnie, call the manager."
Park Mingyu, who was drinking with women, started to feel something was off when Lee Hoyeon didn't return after an hour.
He called the manager through the intercom, and the manager entered the room shortly.
"Yes, you called for me?"
"Manager Kim. My guest went to the bathroom and hasn't come back. Check on him."
"He left the building a while ago..."
"What?"
Park Mingyu shot up from his seat.
After coming all this way, he ran off?
'Was he really that nervous because it was his first time?'
It happened with first-timers sometimes, but in Park Mingyu's experience, once they drank, they usually loosened up and had fun.
Ding-ding—
As Park Mingyu scowled, his smartwatch rang.
It was a call from the Buyer Guild's manager.
"I'm in the middle of entertaining—why is he calling now?"
Even if the guest ran away, he'd clearly told them not to call during work.
Irritated, he answered the call.
- G-Guild Master! This is bad! It's in the news!
"News?"
The manager's voice sounded frantic.
While keeping the call connected, Park Mingyu checked the internet.
At the top of the trending search terms were [Buyer Guild], [Park Mingyu drugs], [Buyer Guild drug trafficking].
"...What the hell. Drugs?"
"The drug dealers we used to work with have exposed everything! They turned themselves in and submitted all the evidence—we can't stop it!"
"Son of a bitch...."
Park Mingyu gritted his teeth.
"Oppa, what's wrong?"
"Shut up. Tell the manager I'll pay later."
"What about the bill, oppa!"
Park Mingyu dashed out of the building and headed to the Buyer Guild.
'It's still okay. I can cut off the tail and escape.'
He just had to sacrifice a few guild members involved in the drug trade.
With his image so far, a tearful public apology might help mitigate the damage.
At least he wouldn't fall into ruin.
"I won't fall like this..."
He was just starting to rise to the surface—he couldn't let it end now.
While planning his next move, Park Mingyu ran into the Buyer Guild building.
*
Tap tap.
Heels echoed inside the dark building.
"Huh? Did the boss call a lady in?"
"Why would he bring a woman..."
Dozens of men inside paused and looked at the mysterious blonde woman entering the workspace.
"Miss, you must be lost. Want a drink?"
"Though once you drink it, you won't be getting back up."
Puhahaha!
The men laughed and kept working while throwing lewd comments.
Then a burly man approached Scarlett.
"I don't sense any mana... She really might just be some girl."
"Deokgu, subdue her and drug her. I'll have her after work."
"Yes, sir."
"...I can't believe people selling drugs don't even recognize my face. What a dangerous country."
Tsk.
Scarlett shook her head and subtly activated her mana.
A level of mana these low-tier dealers couldn't comprehend.
"What's this crazy bitch saying—?!"
As the man called Deokgu raised his fist, shadowy hands slithered out from the shadows of everyone in the room.
Like hawks snatching fish, the black hands pierced the men's throats simultaneously.
Crunch—shhk—
In seconds, the place turned into a bloodbath, with only a few seemingly higher-ups left alive.
"Ugh. Aah... Aaaaah...."
The man called "Boss" gaped as Deokgu stood bleeding.
It was understandable—dozens had collapsed in moments.
Calmly, Scarlett gathered her mana and questioned him.
"Choose. Turn yourself in or..."
"I'll surrender! Please, just spare my life..."
Thud—thud—
Blood streamed from the man's forehead as he bowed repeatedly, but Scarlett didn't flinch.
She'd seen far worse in her line of work.
"Buyer Guild... You worked with them, right?"
"Y-Yes. But I don't know anything. We just did small trades. That's all, I swear..."
"I don't care about that. Take all the records of your dealings with Buyer Guild and turn yourself in. Immediately."
"Yes, I understand..."
Brushing dust from her clothes, Scarlett stepped out of the building.
"Hoo. Where else do you find talent like me."
Who else works this hard for a boss that doesn't even pay?
With one job finished, Scarlett returned to Lee Hoyeon with a light heart.
Ten minutes later, news spread online that a group of drug offenders had surrendered at the local precinct.
Ironblood Hospital, hospital room.
I was speaking with Scarlett.
"Are you sure about that?"
"Yes. If I edit it well, it'll be fine. Honestly, if you speak up first, it might look more suspicious."
The footage from when I was in the room with Park Mingyu.
I was going to release it first, but Scarlett disagreed.
"...You think so?"
"It'd be better if the room's manager exposed Park Mingyu. Since he's a regular, we can spin it like—'He brought other shady people, but Lee Hoyeon was the only clean one.' That kind of story."
"Still, I'm a little nervous. What if people lump me in with him?"
If I assert my innocence first, I could avoid that.
"Aren't you kinda like him, though?"
"...."
It's nice that we're close and she helps out—but Scarlett knows how to hit where it hurts.
It's just teasing, but I'm honestly still uneasy.
Noticing my anxious face, Scarlett sighed deeply.
"Sigh, you're misunderstanding something big."
"Misunderstanding?"
"Once people form an impression, it doesn't change easily. If they think highly of you, they'll spin everything in a good way. If they think poorly, even good deeds look suspicious."
"Hmm. That's true."
I guess it's time I reap the rewards of all that image-building I've done.
Maybe I've been underestimating myself.
I'm Lee Hoyeon.
The guy who stopped a terrorist attack, top of the academy, a genius mage.
I'm kinda good at everything.
"Also..."
"Yeah?"
Was there something else?
I waited for Scarlett's next words.
"Even if you were a former host club ace, if you cry and apologize, everyone will forgive you. With your face. You only use it to seduce girls—that's the problem. But in PR, a handsome face is a huge blessing."
"...Alright. Let's go with your plan."
I glanced at the mirror nearby.
A face even I found handsome.
The kind of face that makes people say, 'No, I'm sorry too,' just from an apology.
...Can't argue with logic.
Watching Park Mingyu's public apology, I spoke.
- To those affected by this incident and to the public...
"He's actually pretty good at apologizing."
Of course, with the evidence I have, it's all meaningless—but on apology alone, even I'd believe him.
"Just a pathetic last gasp. We have way too many weapons."
"Hmm. Scarlett, what if we ask Daeun what she wants?"
"Daeun?"
"Yeah. Once we release the footage, Park Mingyu is socially done. But her opinion matters."
After all, this whole revenge was for Nam Daeun—maybe it's right to let her start it.
"...You have a point. I'll ask her."
*
"No."
"What?"
Scarlett widened her eyes at Nam Daeun's unexpected response.
It was the first time she'd seen her express her will so clearly.
"Sorry...."
Nam Daeun seemed surprised by her own blunt reply and apologized.
"It's fine, Daeun. Hoyeon-nim told me to do whatever you wanted. Just say what's on your mind."
Nam Daeun hesitated, wondering if she should say it.
But she'd been thinking this since the start—so she finally spoke.
"I want to talk to Uncle Mingyu. I want to ask him why—why he did that to Dahee and me... I think I need to know to move on."
"...."
Talking to Park Mingyu.
It wasn't impossible.
Just annoying.
Especially for Scarlett.
The original plan was to corner him slowly with threats.
Then deal with him in front of Nam Daeun—or let her finish it herself.
That was the new plan she and Lee Hoyeon made.
People in a corner get desperate.
They can't stay calm and lose control.
Which makes them easier to manipulate.
But if they go with Nam Daeun's wish, things get complicated.
If everything's revealed and he hits rock bottom, no real conversation will be possible.
Because his life will already be over.
But if they talk before releasing the info, he still has cards to play.
From Scarlett's perspective, that was a huge pain.
"...Is that not okay?"
"No. I'll tell Hoyeon-nim."
Sigh.
Scarlett sighed inwardly.
She wanted to kill Park Mingyu herself—but she couldn't ignore Nam Daeun's trembling eyes.
'I've gotten too soft.'
Scarlett started to wonder if she was going too easy lately.
"A proper conversation with Park Mingyu... I'll arrange it."
"...Thank you."
Bow.
Nam Daeun bowed deeply in gratitude.
She knew how hard and troublesome her request was.
Watching the back of her bowed head, Scarlett spoke.
"Thank Hoyeon-nim. I'm just following orders."
"Hoyeon... Yes. I'll be sure to thank him."
Nam Daeun felt truly grateful to Lee Hoyeon.
None of this would've been possible without him.
After Scarlett disappeared, Nam Daeun clenched her fists.
"...Uncle Mingyu."
It wasn't about forgiving him.
It was quite the opposite.
She still remembered his warmth from when they first met.
That kind smile still lingered in her heart.
Nam Daeun wanted to cut him off completely.