Chapter 24 …..
“I don’t know how to put it — I like plots with twists. You know what I mean, Director Kang.”
Inside the flashiest of the usual VIP rooms — the MVP room — there were five people total.
Me, Ji‑Wongil, Director Kang (Kevin Choi’s close aide), Kevin Choi himself, and the host.
What Director Kang mainly did was this sort of thing.
“Do you mean a drama with a twist?” the host asked.
“That’s right. A drama with a twist.”
If Kevin Choi couldn’t find the Korean words, Director Kang translated for him.
According to the novel’s backstory, Kevin Choi went to the U.S. at sixteen, studied there, and came back right after university — so how could his Korean be that bad?
‘He’s probably just pretending not to know,’ I thought.
When Director Kang translated, Kevin Choi snapped his fingers in delight, then pulled out a tablet PC and held it out to Ji‑Wongil and me.
“This part here. This part. Dis! This was so~ amazing.”
He repeated a portion of the video on the tablet.
And that portion was where blood flowed from my mouth and nose.
It was also the scene of my body writhing in pain.
Watching that, Kevin Choi trembled with excitement.
When they zoomed in on that scene, Ji‑Wongil looked away with a pained expression, but — I did not.
‘Good. If I made a strong impression on Kevin Choi, that’s useful.’
I hadn’t expected him to bite the bait so quickly, not even after just a few days.
I knew Kevin Choi ran this filthy show and filmed it for sale among his corrupt connections, but since this season featured C‑rank monsters I didn’t think he would actually show up in person.
I’d planned that once I survived this, I’d get another offer, and when that came I’d fake negotiations with the higher‑ups and siphon some evidence out.
But now the “higher‑ups” had appeared right in front of me.
“Oh… Mrs. Melinda… Melinda dying like this — my heart is so breaking… But Melinda will go to a good place. Of course, her hide will become a bag.”
When they reached the part where Lamia dies, Kevin Choi put on a mock‑sad face.
Of course his greedy look when mentioning making bags from Lamia skin was the real thing.
Kevin Choi handed the tablet he’d been holding to the host.
“Ah, all the editing and show stuff is actually handled by our MC Dick here.”
At that, the host turned around.
‘The “most beautiful smile in the world (C)” activation time: 10 minutes remaining.’
‘Smile.’
At my command, the host gave a slight grin.
‘Act natural.’
This skill, “The Most Beautiful Smile in the World (C),” was Lamia’s signature mental‑type attack skill.
A skill that beguiles people and lets her control them.
MC Dick, moved under my control, began to handle the tablet naturally for editing.
“All right, let’s talk about the next deal. Ha… we had a hard time getting a new monster lately. But Director Kang here managed to get it. He made the deal! How! ”
Kevin Choi clapped toward Director Kang.
Ji‑Wongil and I followed awkwardly; Director Kang bowed as if used to it.
“So this time we’ll put together a survival show with five hunters using a B‑rank monster.”
“……?”
A survival?
“I have an island. I can’t say exactly where, but it’s an uninhabited island, and we’ll prepare some entertaining traps here and there.”
Insane.
I watched Ji‑Wongil’s hand tremble slightly.
So this bastard wants to set traps all over an uninhabited island and have five hunters compete to the death? Just hearing it made my head spin.
“Of course the island is a bit big so it’ll be a rough walk, but with big penalties come big rewards, right? Entry fee is one billion. For the final three survivors, a reward of ten billion each. And if a single person survives alone, the reward will be three hundred billion.”
Kevin Choi stood and looked down at us, proud.
“Ah, and one thing I want you to know — Miss Julie, Mister Philip.”
It’s Miss Rosie… I swallowed the correction.
Instead, I watched the host who was handling the tablet under my control.
“I was very impressed with your performance today. That’s why I’m offering this… you should consider it an honor?”
Kevin Choi sat on the table between us and eyeballed Ji‑Wongil and me up and down.
Like looking at toys rather than people.
A face like Choi Woojin’s but slightly off in some way.
I opened my mouth as I met that unpleasant gaze.
“Then… should we answer now?”
“Yes, that’s right. If possible, answer yes…”
“Name: Choi Mincheol.”
“What?”
“Hunter registration number XXXXX‑XXXX. That’s you, right?”
“What are you doing…?”
I took the ring off my hand.
They always do a body check before matches, but this ring wouldn’t have been detected.
It was transparent and, from the start, a new‑type item that old checkpoint machines couldn’t register.
A supply item from the Hunter Investigation Team.
Special Handcuffs (A).
As useful as a smart watch among investigation supplies.
“What are you doing— I asked—!”
I sprang up and slammed down on Kevin Choi, who was getting up.
Thwack!
Well, to an A‑rank hunter this attack might feel like a tickle, but it left a slight opening.
Seizing that moment, I slipped the ring‑turned‑cuff item onto his wrist.
The cuffs immediately snapped into place in the exact shape of his wrist; Kevin Mincheol’s face contorted as it locked on.
“I’m placing you under citizen’s arrest. Choi Mincheol.”
‘I wish Team Pi had heard this! I was so cool right now!’
I thought that inwardly and forced myself to suppress the urge to pant proudly.
“What the hell, bitch? You gotta be some cop from the Hunter Investigation Team? Ugh, I hate those bastards. Hey! What are you doing? Get her — catch her!”
Choi Mincheol — Kevin Choi — suddenly spoke fluent Korean and ordered the people around him.
The first to move was the host.
MC Dick.
‘How does anyone get a name like MC Dick…’
I shook my head at the ugly name, then lifted both the tablet MC Dick handed me and the key ring I’d just taken from Kevin Choi’s desk.
That key ring was it.
The gateway to Sun‑and‑Moon A‑space.
‘I knew it from the moment he said he was going to make bags out of Lamia skin.’
He trafficked monsters, used those trafficked monsters to make dangerous goods, and resold them.
Choi Mincheol’s business ran through the huge black‑market distribution network.
And, incidentally, some of that evidence was on the tablet.
MC Dick would have sent all the secret videos on that tablet to Hunter Investigation Team 5’s leader Pi Sowon’s email as I’d instructed him to.
“The evidence is here, and the transport vehicle is here. Shall we go?”
I pointed to the tablet and the key ring.
“Sun and Moon.”
The world went black for a moment.
When it lit up again, there was—
[Police Line]
The Hunter Investigation unit’s support team was there, busily photographing the scene.
Click.
Myself, MC Dick holding the tablet, Ji‑Wongil, and the enraged Choi Mincheol were captured by the support team’s camera.
Later I learned that in the chaos I even flashed a V sign and a bright smile.
Blood marks were clearly visible on my nose and mouth.
But I had no choice.
Status abnormality ‘Unnamed extra in crime novel must die’解除 (removed)!
Quest ‘Expose Choi Mincheol’s crimes! (A)’ completed!
Reward: 7,000 gold granted!
Something like that popped up before my eyes.
I’d just earned seven hundred million won.
‘IYu‑gyeom… sis will buy you beef!’
