Chapter 92 - Hijack

# The Southern Coast of the Republic of Korea

At the southern coast where the seawater rippled, we were pulling our yacht forward.

"Phew... now this is romance."

As the salty breeze struck my face and the strong sea wind fluttered my cape, we crossed the ocean toward our destination.

"Hey, Lee Su-bin. Where on earth did you learn to drive a boat?"

Apparently bored with just standing idly on the yacht, Choi Se-hee approached Su-bin, who was at the helm, and asked.

In response, Su-bin answered as if it were nothing special.

"Where? I just taught myself at home through the internet."

"...? Does that even make sense?"

Since Choi Se-hee spoke in a tone of disbelief, I chimed in from behind.

"Ms. Su-bin can do anything. She even knows how to drive trains and planes."

"....What? Really?"

"Yep."

"No way... ha."

Choi Se-hee clutched her head as if feeling dizzy. Se-hee, Ms. Su-bin lives in a different world from us. Don't try to understand her.

Regardless, as you can see from their casual conversation, the two had become much closer than before.

How this happened is a bit strange, but they bonded while thoroughly interrogating that Han-eun Group researcher we caught and Kim Sun-woo. More specifically, after the previous weapons incident, Seo-eun and Ms. Su-bin, who had accumulated grievances against the Han-eun Group, along with Choi Se-hee, joined forces to torment them thoroughly before handing them over to the association.

How badly did they torment them? Well, let's just say Dr. Kim Sun-woo lost his mind. That's what he gets for conducting human experiments. He should be grateful I didn't kill him.

Anyway. Our current destination is in the sea south of Busan.

Our goal is simple.

"Well... it's starting to come into view."

Through the hazy sea, a massive ship gradually became visible.

A ship with cannons like those used by Vikings in medieval times, and a large white sail proudly displayed, began to appear in our sight.

And what's special about that ship?

"Hey, what the... the ship is... floating?"

That's right.

The ship is floating in the air.

That massive airship is the pirate ship called Alice, a villain's vessel that we're going to hijack today.

*

After the Han-eun Group's massive weapon attacked Seoul, in the original [Stardust!], Seoul was completely devastated, marking the beginning of the story's increasingly dark atmosphere.

And the biggest reason for the darkening mood was, of course, the continuous appearance of powerful villains.

Until then, the villains had all been rather mediocre. Excluding unavoidable disasters, the average villains were all quite manageable.

But from this point on, things changed. The villains that appeared became stronger. Increasingly too much for Stardust to handle.

On top of that, the number of villains kept growing. With well-made villains excelling in both quality and quantity, social chaos was inevitable.

Moreover, unlike before when terrorists mainly focused on Seoul, strong villains began to appear in other regions as well. It was truly the Warring States Period of villains.

In the original story, this led to Stardust gradually becoming exhausted, the mood of the work darkening, and the beginning of a truly bleak tale... but.

With my appearance, things have changed considerably. Stardust has grown stronger faster than in the original, and I plan to step in to persuade or deal with various villains going forward.

And as the first step.

We've come to catch the villain who's going to wreck Busan.

"Wow... what is that?"

Choi Se-hee looked up and clicked her tongue in amazement.

Yes, it's an astonishing sight when you first see it. A massive airship floating in the air, advancing forward.

After admiring the battleship that was cutting through the sky above the sea rather than just cutting through the sea itself, Choi Se-hee turned to me and asked.

"So. What's the plan?"

"First, we beat up the guys up there."

I answered simply. If they can be reformed after a beating, they'll join our side, and if not... well, they'll become fish food.

"Anyway, here, take my hand. Ms. Su-bin, we'll be back soon."

"Okay. I'll wait here, so come back safely."

"Hah, alright. Let's go."

Choi Se-hee swung her fist once to loosen up, then took my hand.

And with that, we teleported up to the airship.

It's time for villain correction.

***

The ones leading that airship and plundering are a group of three called Team Lapis.

Their most distinctive feature is that they all wear motorcycle helmet-like things with rabbit ears.

These guys, who mainly engaged in piracy using a cannon-equipped airship in other countries, make their first appearance in the original story by attacking Busan. At that time, the unprepared Icicle gets beaten up a bit. Of course, things will be different this time.

Anyway, on the massive airship.

With the sea spread out in all directions below, there were three figures.

Roughly in the middle stood a guy wearing a red helmet with rabbit ears, and beside him were guys wearing identical blue and yellow helmets. They were whispering among themselves.

And behind them, we two landed softly.

When a creaking sound came from where we landed, they quickly turned their heads to look in our direction.

"What's that sound? Who's there!"

What they saw was me with my black hat and fluttering cape, and beside me, Choi Se-hee loosening up her fists.

The one in the middle shouted at us.

"Who are you two!"

The guy in the middle shouted as soon as he saw me.

I yawned and told him.

"I'm your boss, you fools."

"What nonsense! Blue! Yellow! Intruders, grab your weapons!"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

With that, the two beside him hurriedly began to gather their weapons.

Me?

Watching this, I simply levitated the baseball bats I had brought along using psychokinesis.

And while Se-hee beside me clenched her fists, making sparks fly.

As I watched them prepare to charge at us, I couldn't help but grin.

After all, a good beating is the best medicine for bad guys.

"Attack them all!!!"

With the shouting of the guy in the middle wearing the rabbit helmet as the signal.

All three charged at once, and the fight began.

***

Some time later.

"Now. What did you say earlier?"

I tapped the bat on the floor, facing the three who were kneeling.

"Who did you say was the boss?"

"It's you, Egostic sir!!!"

"Good, good."

How much time had passed?

The villains who had received 'socialization' education from me and Choi Se-hee were showing signs of realizing and repenting their sins. What a beautiful sight!

"Hey, Red."

"Yes, sir!"

The one in the middle wearing the red rabbit helmet answered with a start. Yes. How nice it is when responses are so prompt.

"Good. Now you're in a temporary alliance with our Egostream."

"What?"

"The Villain Alliance, Egostream's second party. Got it or not?"

"Y-yes, I got it!!!"

I swung the bat to elicit the answer I wanted from them.

"....Wow, looking at this, I can't tell who the real villain is."

Choi Se-hee, who had been watching me from behind, clicked her tongue and said.

...Hey, I'm already a villain, you know?

"Anyway, welcome to Egostream!"

I spread my arms and shouted loudly.

First characteristic of villains: After fighting, everyone becomes friends. Although my friends are kneeling before me, they're still my friends.

And so, after hours of my 'socialization,' these Lapis or Rabbit guys completely surrendered mentally and made a deep-seated vow to only commit good terrorism from now on. Effective.

After completing all preparations this way, I contacted Icicle-Lee Seol-ah.

"So, hey. Preparations for the Busan invasion are complete. I'm planning to go bang-bang in front of the city with an airship equipped with cannons, what do you want to do?"

[...An airship? You always bring something extraordinary. When are you planning to do this? Well then... I'll warn the citizens about the air raid to score points... and if I show myself stopping it, my image will improve...]

"And hey, get me a stylish sail. In black."

[What? Well, alright. That much I can do. So...]

After plotting the specific terrorism date and execution plan, I hung up. Good. That's done.

Next... Yes. I turned to the former villains who were still kneeling and watching me nervously.

"You guys wanted to attack Busan, right?"

"What? No!!! We'll quietly go back!!!"

"No, no, that's not it. Instead, let's work together on something."

I said with an even bigger smile.

These rabbit villains trembling at my bright smile.

We should get along well, right?

We're 'partners' now.

So I prepared for terrorism with them.

Roughly, we'd go to Busan with the airship and fire a few cannon shots, and that would be terrorism.

Since it's a rigged game with Icicle anyway, it's nothing special. Just need to make sure it looks good on broadcast.

And so the time of the decisive battle dawned.

***

Downtown Busan.

In that peaceful place, suddenly sirens wailed.

Weee-. Weee-.

And soon, a voice echoed throughout the city.

[Ah, ah. This is an announcement from Yu-seong Corporation. Terrorists are currently attacking Busan! We noticed before the association and are urgently contacting you. Please evacuate immediately!]

Icicle's urgent voice echoed from all electronic devices made by Yu-seong Group.

In the face of this sudden situation, citizens were confused but quickly began to evacuate.

And after some time had passed.

Beyond the sea horizon visible from Haeundae, something massive was flying in.

An enormous ship that seemed impossible to believe was floating in the sky.

Flying proudly over the sea from the south.

Attached to the top of that massive airship was a large black sail.

And on it, EGOSTREAM was written in large letters.

I was standing at the front deck of the ship, arms crossed, my cape fluttering, looking down at Busan visible in the distance.

"Egostic sir! All preparations are complete!"

"Boss! The cannons are also ready!"

"Excellent, gentlemen. Advance the ship faster immediately!"

I shouted as I looked down at the vast city of Busan.

Hmm. It's refreshing to cause terrorism at the seaside rather than in Seoul.

And so, as I faced the sea breeze, I prepared to start the broadcast.

Now, let's begin the show.

***

[Egostream broadcast ON]

[The broadcast is on!!!!!!]

[Oh damn what's with that airship lololol]

[That ship looks so cool lolololol]

[Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick! Mangostick!]

[??Isn't this Busan????]

[Mangostick appears in Busan lololololol]

[Busan gays, get a taste of Seoul-direct mango lolololol]

[Icicle about to skyrocket in popularity]

Upon hearing that Egostic had appeared, Shin Ha-ru, who was about to rush out immediately, read the post and unconsciously rubbed his eyes and looked again.

But no matter how many times he looked, the content stated that Egostic had appeared in Busan, not Seoul.

"The place where terrorism is happening... is not... here?"

Shin Ha-ru unconsciously muttered with dead eyes.

.....Why?