The Villain’s Recipe - Chapter 12.1
Cain agreed with Helena’s opinion as well.
“Come to think of it, it’s about time.”
“Right, if he held out that long without a guide, that’s enough. Isn’t it about time for his brain to start melting?”
Helena still teased her own hair and twisted the corners of her lips. Judging by the look of it, she seemed intent on stirring something up. It wasn’t difficult for Cain, who possessed a naturally prickly personality, to read Helena’s thoughts. In fact, what he was currently thinking was quite similar to hers, anyway.
‘I don’t want to live at Zero’s beck and call for the rest of my life.’
However, neither of them voiced that thought out loud. The moment those words slipped out, they became a weakness. Therefore, Helena acted just as she always did. Exchanging trivial conversations with Cain, she waited for Zero’s leader, Baek Seok-gyol, in the old bunker.
How much time had passed like that? Just like always, Baek Seok-gyo arrived later than the two of them.
Bang.
Ma Jin-cheol politely opened the door, and Baek Seok-gyol stepped inside. He was wearing his usual black hoodie, but something felt a bit different. And Helena keenly noticed that difference.
‘What’s with his bangs?’
A portion of the messy hair that used to hang low and cover his eyes had been cut. Yet, the height was uneven, and it was a complete mess. It would be hard to cut it that badly even on purpose. Was the rumor that he had gone crazy true after all? If not, such an appearance couldn’t be explained.
‘Is he to the point where he can’t even pay attention to his own body?’
Glancing sideways, she saw Cain looking at Helena as well. It seemed he had spotted the same thing.
“How have you been?”
As always, Baek Seok-gyol brought only Ma Jin-cheol, who handled his transport. Unlike the two of them, who had each brought about ten subordinates.
“Hello~!”
Helena waved at Ma Jin-cheol, who was bowing politely. She had stopped playing with her hair before she even realized it.
“It’s been a while.”
“It’s been a while since we last met.”
Unlike Ma Jin-cheol, who was trying his best to make conversation, Baek Seok-gyol was quiet as always. He sat down casually on a protruding pipe nearby. Even though it was a gathering of villains whom others called wicked, they didn’t do anything particularly grand. They simply talked about the shifting global trends and their recent status; that was all.
“I heard a new S-class gate opened in the US this time. Did you hear?”
“I heard. They seem intent on clearing it somehow. Did Zero know about it, too?”
“Yes, we’ve already acquired the intelligence.”
Although the words were directed at Baek Seok-gyol, it was Ma Jin-cheol who answered. That twisted Helena’s insides. For a moment, she silently glared at Baek Seok-gyol. Meanwhile, the one who spoke up again was Cain.
“I managed to secure some weapons from the US this time. Anyone need any?”
“What kind?”
Helena turned her gaze away with a sigh.
“I’ll give you a catalog.”
At Cain’s flick of his hand, one of the men standing behind him rushed forward and handed catalogs to the three of them.
“Are you starting to sell weapons in earnest now?”
“I always sell them.”
“You didn’t have catalogs before, did you?”
At Helena’s question, Cain shrugged.
“The variety increased, so I figured I needed to make one.”
“What is this, did you even draw a logo? Ridiculous.”
“I’m going to stamp it on the weapons from now on, too.”
Cain and Helena exchanged trivial banter. Ma Jin-cheol accepted the catalog and tucked it away, but he didn’t flip it open. Helena was the same way. There was no need to blurt out right here and now what kind of weapons or how many they intended to buy.
Drip.
A water droplet began to fall from the moisture-laden ceiling of the bunker.
Drip.
At the repeatedly falling water droplet, Cain clicked his tongue.
“This place is safe, but it’s way too old.”
The bunker where they gathered was a submarine resting in the middle of the ocean. Cain had dragged a retired submarine whose lifespan had ended all the way out here. And he was using it as their meeting place.
“It is old.”
Helena’s gaze passed over Cain and reached Baek Seok-gyol. And at that exact moment, a black shadow dropped down from the ceiling alongside a water droplet.
“Kihik!”
Accompanied by a bizarre laugh, the shadow lunged toward Baek Seok-gyol. Lightning struck with a white flash. Enhanced by the gloomy weather, the heightened ability slammed straight ahead.
Crash!
