Having entered the game world of "Vampire Detective," I sat down at my computer and opened the messenger app.
Kang Yujin, the genius hacker, communicated with his clients through a dedicated messenger chat that was secure from hacking threats.
Kang Yujin had been operating passively. He never initiated contact with clients unless he was trying to attract new ones, and he only responded to inquiries when clients reached out first.
Kang Yujin was cautious.
He primarily sold information and avoided taking on risky assignments. Even when selling information, he kept her prices relatively low, fearing that charging too much might make clients resentful.
The client who made Kang Yujin most flustered was Moon Ji-Hyeok. Reviewing their chat logs, I noticed he gave perfunctory responses to other clients but treated Moon Ji-Hyeok with utmost politeness, even using honorifics.
"He's a detective. He must be scared."
He even sold information worth over a million won for a mere 300,000 won.
I clicked my tongue in disapproval.
"What a pathetic fool. What's the point of being a genius hacker if you're such a coward?"
I sent a chat message to one of my clients, reporter Han Seong-un:
Taker - Got some good info. Wanna buy?
About five minutes later, Han Seong-un replied. For reference, Kang Yujin's "T Messenger" could also be installed as an app.
Han Seong-un was the son of the chairman of Hankook Ilbo, one of South Korea's most prestigious newspapers. Currently serving as editor-in-chief, he was building up his track record to eventually inherit the chairmanship.
Han Seong-un - ...This is the first time you've contacted me first.
Taker - You gonna buy or what?
Han Seong-un - Your tone seems different too. Are you someone else?
Taker - I need the money urgently. You gonna buy or what?
The reply didn't come immediately. He seemed taken aback by my changed demeanor. I waited patiently.
A paying client. A few minutes won't hurt.
Han Seong-un: Your information has always been reliable.
Han Seong-un: Let's hear it. What kind of information do you have?
Han Seong-un: Just so you know, most run-of-the-mill information won't satisfy me.
Taker: Secret talks between a Member of the National Assembly and a Japanese Senator. How's that?
Han Seong-un: ...You've suddenly brought something huge. But that alone isn't enough.
Han Seong-un: The crucial part is what they discussed during their meeting.
Taker: Economics. The Member of the National Assembly took money.
I sent a concise reply.
The economic relations between South Korea and Japan are currently at their worst. South Korea is experiencing a nationwide boycott of Japanese products, while Japan is taking a defiant, "take it or leave it" stance.
In this current climate, this information is of immense value.
Han Seong-un couldn't possibly be unaware of this. And Hankook Ilbo was large enough to handle the cost.
Han Seong-un: Very well. How much?
Taker: 200 million won.
Han Seong-un: ...That's too expensive. It's excellent intelligence, but I don't think it's worth that much.
Taker: I have solid evidence. Hankook Ilbo could use this to make deals with Members of the National Assembly or whatever else you want. You'd easily get more than double your investment.
Taker: It's about a Member of the National Assembly's treasonous acts. If this gets out, think of the damage to the Assemblyman and their party. 200 million won is a steal.
Taker: Plus, three Korean companies are involved.
Taker: I'm only offering it this cheap because I need the money urgently.
200 million won is a real bargain.
The moment this information becomes public, South Korea will be thrown into turmoil. Using it to blackmail members of the National Assembly or corporations is another option.
I don't need to force my money to grow that way, so I'm just selling it cheap.
To do that properly would require meticulous effort for at least a week, or even several months.
I can't afford to waste that time. Moon Ji-Hyeok must already be a vampire. I don't have time for financial games.
Han Seong-un: ...Understood. Should I deposit the funds into the account you gave me before?
Taker: No, a different account. I'll send you the details. The upfront payment is 100 million won. Please deposit it in installments.
Some time passed.
Han Seong-un: The deposit has been made.
Taker: I'll email you the data. There are also a few photos to confirm its authenticity. Check it and confirm the payment, okay?
A reply came ten minutes later.
Han Seong-un: I've transferred the remaining amount. But how did you get this information?
Taker: Secret. Good work.
How else would a hacker obtain information? By hacking, of course. For the record, this was information from the National Intelligence Service.
Well, Kang Yujin is truly skilled he even hacks American conglomerates. He just didn't touch the U.S. government; as he's too afraid.
Kang Yujin's reason for hacking the NIS was simple: he underestimated them. He was confident he could hack them without getting caught.
I contacted my other clients as well.
I didn't demand the astronomical sums I'd asked Han Seong-un for. Han Seong-un, the heir to Hankook Ilbo, was a special case. For other clients, I requested a minimum of 3 million won, with some cases reaching tens of millions.
I wasn't just dealing with clients here. The information I possessed could be used in other ways.
I opened the computer drawer. Inside were over ten burner phones.
I picked one up and sent a text message to someone:
Taker: Yo! Superstar baseball player Kim Chuyoung!
Taker: This is Johnson.
Taker: Don't ignore this message unless you want to end up dead.
I sent him a collection of gruesome photos I'd scraped together from the dark web images so brutal they would make anyone's stomach churn.
Just over a minute later, I received a reply:
Kim Chuyoung: I don't know who you are, but this is a sick joke. I'm reporting you to the police.
Taker: Report me? You're delusional.
Taker: Counter-sue? You drug-addicted bastard.
There was no reply. Kim Chuyoung must have been panicking. One of South Korea's top professional baseball players, he had actually maintained his position through drug use.
I didn't stop sending photos.
This time, it was Nade, a white English instructor from America. Kim Chuyoung had bought drugs from this guy.
Taker: But you're also having an affair? Isn't it a bit much to sleep with a teammate's wife?
Taker: Your wife's phone number starts with 9598, right?
Kim Chuyoung: What do you want?
Taker: Money, what else? Deposit 30 million won into this account, and nothing will happen.
Kim Chuyoung: How can I trust you?
Taker: Don't trust me if you want. But you're making millions. You really want to risk it all for just these much?
Taker: You seem to be hesitating. Let me help you make up your mind.
Taker: I just sent a text to your wife.
I really did send it.
The message read: "Can't you keep your husband in line, you bitch?" I swear, I typed and sent it without thinking.
Kim Chuyoung: Don't involve my wife.
Kim Chuyoung: I'll deposit the money.
Kim Chuyoung: Please, I'm begging you, don't contact me again.
Taker: ????
After five hours of this bullshit, I'd amassed a total of 300 million won. I'd earned in just five hours what Kang Yujin had carefully accumulated over years.
"To be honest, I was careful too."
Kang Yujin's computer held a trove of deeply incriminating information, so vast it was nearly impossible to navigate. I racked my brain to sift through it, selecting only the most reliable and untraceable pieces.
"Still, 300 million won isn't enough. I need at least a billion."
After a moment of hesitation, I reached for the keyboard again. This time, my target was a dangerous character who appeared in the original story.
Taker - ????
Taker - I know it's late, but please answer.
Taker - It's urgent.
Taker - Urgent!
Taker - Urgent
Taker - ??
Taker - ??
Kang Wookseong - Who are you?
Finally, a reply.
Kang Wookseong is a broker who specializes in money laundering.
I know his secret. Kang Wookseong is a false identity. He's a British expatriate and a vampire.
His true allegiance lies with Cantra, a secret vampire organization based in Europe.
Taker - It's me
Kang Wookseong - Taker wouldn't say that. Did you kill him?
Taker - Kill him? I am Taker.
Taker - This is my real personality.
Taker - I was just pretending to be nice because I didn't know you well enough.
Kang Wookseong - So now you think you know me well?
Taker - Vampire. British. Cantra. Or should I call you Jay? Or Jayden?
Jay was a nickname, while Jayden was his real name.
Kang Wookseong - How did you find out?
Kang Wookseong remained calm, his composure radiating years of experience. I grinned. It was better if my opponent stayed composed. I was about to propose a deal.
Taker - You haven't forgotten my nickname, have you?
Taker - More importantly, let's get down to business.
Taker - I need you to launder 300 million won.
Kang Wookseong - 300 million? That's too much. This isn't something we should discuss over chat.
Kang Wookseong - Laundering that amount using our usual method would take three weeks.
If Kang Yujin, the safety-first type, were here, she would have replied with an immediate "Okay." But I wasn't him.
Taker - I'll come by tomorrow evening. The pawnshop in the Yukseong-dong alley, right?
Kang Wookseong - You're coming in person? You? And you're coming even though you know I'm a vampire?
Taker - It's not like I'm going there to fight.
Taker - I need the money urgently. And I also have information worth 700 million won. Want to buy it? Cash only, of course.
Kang Wookseong: You're talking too fast. I can't understand you.
Taker: It's nothing special. Just a transaction.
Taker: The Korean Black Cross Society's list of Vampire Hunters.
Taker: This should be worth 700 million, right?
The Black Cross Society is the organization of Vampire Hunters, the vampires' greatest enemies. Kang Wookseong's reason for operating as a broker in Korea is to monitor and gather intelligence on the Korean Vampire Hunters.
Kang Wookseong: Are you talking about all of Korea, not just Seoul?
Taker: Yeah.
Kang Wookseong: Then I'd be willing to pay 1 billion for it, if your information is genuine.
Taker: It's genuine. Verify it tomorrow. Oh, and prepare the 1 billion in cash. No laundering fees, either. You can handle that much service, right?
Kang Wookseong: It's difficult to prepare 1 billion immediately.
Taker: How much do you have on hand?
Kang Wookseong - 400 million. The remaining 600 million will take about three days.
Taker - Then give me the 400 million first.
Kang Wookseong - Understood.
Kang Wookseong - But only if the information is accurate. Otherwise, you're dead.
Taker - Since it's accurate, I'll live.
I closed the messenger app.
In truth, Kang Yujin's computer didn't contain the Korean Black Cross Society's Vampire Hunter list. I'd have to retrieve it tomorrow.
I closed my eyes and reviewed the plan.
No, it wasn't even a plan. If things went as I expected, it would take less than five minutes.
...Should I call a call girl?
I genuinely considered it, then restrained myself.
The next day, I headed to Apgujeong, where the Korean Black Cross Society's headquarters was located.
Found it.
It wasn't hard to find. I already knew the building's location and appearance from watching dramas.
The building stood over ten stories tall. Security guards stood near the entrance, and a keycard was required to enter. From the outside, it appeared to be a typical company with tight security.
Across the street, a large express bus was parked likely a commuter bus.
I openly gazed up at the building from the main entrance before pulling out my "cannon" smartphone. I could feel the security guard's eyes on me.
The building's height doesn't exceed 30 meters. Well, even if it did, it wouldn't matter.
Hacking successful.
You have three minutes to access Kim Seojin's computer.
I hacked into a random computer within the building to infiltrate the Black Cross Society's private network.
Found it. The Korean Black Cross Society's personnel list.
A total of 913 members. Among them, 174 were combatants Vampire Hunters who risked their lives fighting vampires.
Easy.
While checking my smartphone, I headed to the burger joint next door.
Thud.
As I was walking down the street, I bumped shoulders with someone. I looked up from my smartphone and saw a scowling man and another who seemed to be with him.
I recognized them instantly.
Vampire Hunters Park Giju and Jo Juhyeon.
"Tsk. It's rude to be staring at your phone on the street. Pay attention, huh?" Park Giju said gruffly.
I scoffed at them. "You're the ones who should be careful."
"What?"
Ignoring them, I headed toward the burger joint.
"Giju, stop it. You know we're busy."
"We have time to teach this brat some manners."
"No, we don't. Want to write another apology report? The mood at headquarters is already tense because of those mosquito bastards. You want to cause more trouble?"
"Fine. Fine, I get it."
I was about to open the burger joint's door when a notification popped up on my phone:
[Hacking successful.]
[You can control the large express bus for 15 seconds.]
Vroooom! Crash!
Suddenly, a large express bus parked across from the building lurched forward, smashing through the glass doors at the entrance and crashing into the lobby.
I glanced at the building.
Park Giju had taken the full impact. Though the body wasn't visible, blood was steadily pooling on the floor.
Jo Juhyeon had been hit off-center, but he was far from unscathed. Even with immediate medical attention, his injuries were severe enough to leave him permanently disabled.
I told them to be careful.
Eliminating the persistent Park Giju was a victory in itself. He had been one of the Vampire Hunters who relentlessly tormented Moon Ji-Hyeok until the very end, and a high-probability threat to my future plans.
One of my greatest obstacles had just vanished.
This brought me one step closer to my true goal: the Orb of Life.