When I discovered my own picture on the blackboard, I immediately developed a few hypotheses.
First, he knows my identity.
But that hypothesis was immediately dismissed.
'I've been revealing my identity as Green Dust a lot lately... but there's almost no chance that even these rookies know about it.'
If you knew my true identity in the first place, you wouldn't attack me, you could just reveal the information.
That could make things a lot more difficult for me.
Second, it's not me, it's Ariel's sasaeng fan.
Of course, the second one didn't seem that likely either.
"These photos... If they were brought to trial, they're serious criminals who could easily face 20 years in prison. They don't seem that clueless, do they?"
If so, that's the third.
This guy doesn't know my identity as Green Dust.
This is a case where the Hunter holds a personal grudge not against serial killer Green Dust, but against the Association's special investigator, Lee Je-Hyeon.
As of now, that's the most likely.
"I've personally incurred a grudge..."
"There are so many things to consider, you can't get a feel for it?"
"You're funny."
I shook my fist at Alice while organizing the data.
It seems that this wasn't data collected over a period of one or two months; most criminals had detailed personal information and current locations.
First, we decided to catch these guys.
"We'll catch everyone we can right now. There's no way anything like identification... would remain. It seems like it was planned for at least a year. Who owns this abandoned factory?"
[There is no current owner. It was an illegal occupation.]
"Trespassing... We have to catch this vicious bastard ASAP. If we leave him alone, there's no telling what he'll do."
The team members continued their work with a bitter smile on their face at the half-joking, half-serious fuss.
The more I looked around the scene, the more worried I became.
Looking at the scene, it seems like no ordinary amount of effort was put into the crime...
I don't think they'll stop right away just because their hideout has been revealed.
"It looks like they've already packed all the important stuff and left."
"Is there no possibility that he will just disappear?"
"No. It'll probably move faster. It might even go berserk."
By now, other wanted criminals and criminals have probably heard about the copycat...
The behavioral pattern will be completely different from before.
If I were the guy, I would try to take them out before they completely disappear.
Sure enough, just as we were busy collecting evidence and clues, Blanche caught the bastard's movements.
[The suspect has been found. He is in a vehicle 10km from the hideout!]
"10km? That's fast! This is at least A-rank... What's your expected destination?"
[Inference is not yet possible.]
"Understood. You may use as much of the quota as you like, so let me know as soon as you confirm it! Tia, come out!"
"yes!"
I transformed Tia into dragon form and immediately got on board.
It's definitely convenient to think of it as a hunter pet that can be used as a dedicated machine.
Moreover, it is much more powerful than it looks, and even has vertical takeoff and landing capabilities.
However, the lack of a saddle is definitely a flaw.
Since it was obvious that I would roll off the swaying back any moment I tried to climb on it, I tied myself tightly to it.
"Fly!"
"Can I not bring the other members?"
"There's no time. We have enough manpower on site anyway. I can guess where we're going."
As expected.
As soon as Tia soared into the night sky, a report came in from Blanche.
[Predicted route identified. Suspect is moving to the black market.]
"I knew it. Maybe because you're a rookie, you're so bold?"
The services offered by the Hunters' Black Market are not limited to black market or criminal brokerage.
They also provide, however clumsily, personal protection and asylum services.
I immediately contacted the servant on site.
"What is everyone doing there?"
Yes, we're currently offering a bounty on copycats. There are quite a few wanted criminals requesting escorts...
"Well then, get out of there quickly. You're getting caught up in this."
[ancient...]
A servant who is slightly flustered but hurriedly follows instructions.
I ended the call and landed on the roof of a building near the black market.
I was a little worried about landing...
Tia surprisingly transformed into a humanoid form and showed off an elegant landing, slowly gliding with me.
"Master, did I do well?"
"Keep your voices low and bow your heads. I'll be there soon."
The black market, which had been bustling for a long time, was so lively that laughter could be heard even outside.
Tia was still worried that the suspect would barge in there...
I was already assuming the worst.
So I decided to just withdraw and watch.
Not long after we arrived, a car driving without its lights on stopped in the distance.
The suspect, who had instantly melted into the darkness, grabbed his equipment and headed somewhere.
'You seem to have a rough idea of how the black market works.'
How long has it been since he infiltrated?
Suddenly, the power went out not only in the black market but also in the nearby buildings.
The electricity to an entire block went out.
As a risky business, Black Market had an emergency generator on hand, but it seemed that it wasn't working.
"What, what is this?"
"Someone turn on the light!"
"Ugh!"
A shrill scream pierced the night air as the people inside the Black Market murmured anxiously in the darkness.
Tia shuddered as the faint sounds of gunfire and explosions leaked out.
I clicked my tongue slightly as I realized that my worst premonition was correct.
Today, my predictions were spot on, but there was no need for something like this to be correct.
"It's S-class."
"Uh... Then, what should I do?"
"It's okay. I've already roughly figured out his abilities. If I can't catch him now, it'll be even harder in the future."
Thanks to Blanche showing me the CCTV footage from the Black Market, I was able to see the moment the emergency generator was destroyed.
At that time, the characteristics of the ability were also identified.
I gave Tia some orders and went down to the bottom of the building.
The black market, which had been noisy just a moment ago, was now eerily quiet.
As I stepped into the dark shadows, my feet clacked unpleasantly.
Arriving at the center of the ruined shopping district, I could hear a low, modulated mechanical sound.
"Special Investigator... It's not your turn yet."
"What, was I last? Or is the investigation still underway?"
"!"
As if he had hit the nail on the head, I felt a tremble in the darkness.
Just as the guy in front was about to charge forward.
A golden glow spread from behind me.
Tia, who had been waiting in the rear, demonstrated her abilities.
Whoa!
The darkness recedes in an instant thanks to the considerable amount of light.
I grumbled under my breath, thinking that the guy was finally being helpful.
"Jang Ha-da, in charge of charm. Self-luminous? That's quite an amazing ability."
"Ugh!"
But the effect was sufficient.
The fake green dust wearing a gas mask was staring straight at me.
Like Tiamat's black hair, his ability is to utilize shadows.
So, before the attack, they attacked the generator first.
In the dark, it is virtually invincible, but in the light, it is severely weakened.
"Fake Green Dust. You are under emergency arrest for murder, impersonation, and unauthorized occupation..."
"Don't make me laugh!"
The guy reacted more violently than I expected and rushed at me.
It seems like he knows that even if he runs away, he will get shot anyway.
I fired without hesitation, but the shadow rose up like a shield and defended me.
Even though it is weakened as expected from an S-class weapon, it seems to be able to block pistol bullets.
'You're really good at running while wearing a gas mask!'
While inwardly admiring himself, he drew his dagger and charged into close combat.
He pretended to stab me with a knife, then kicked me in the front.
The pose wasn't very clean because the paint was mixed, but it was quite powerful.
Besides, the guy over there is a little bigger than me.
Phew!
But that's also from the perspective of the average person.
My body held up fine even after being hit by the guy's front kick.
"Oh, did you adjust the strength?"
"Ugh!"
Pot!
A man who panics and distances himself as the blade passes before his eyes.
I again restrained my opponent with pistol shots.
A very aggrieved voice came from over there.
"That special investigator is a hunter? So you're just like them!"
"What, you're treating me like these trash with something like this..."
Pabat!
An attack that was even more fierce than before flew in.
The bastard swung his dagger a few times, then dropped the knife and tried to strike the torso with his fist.
An S-class hunter's fist is no worse than a sword.
Besides, this guy seemed more accustomed to punching.
I took it without difficulty and countered with the Green Dust Dagger.
The bastard's body shook greatly with short, concise cutting and stabbing movements.
The Green Dust dagger has a completely different feel from ordinary weapons.
"Ugh! That, that's not yours!"
"If it's not mine, then whose is it, you piece of shit?"
Unable to hold back my laughter any longer, I kicked the guy hard and scattered green dust.
As the green sparks swirled and reflected a golden light, the opponent's movements, which had been struggling to keep his body still, completely stopped.
Immediately afterwards, the Geiger counter hanging from the bastard's waist began to emit its characteristically unpleasant noise.
Crackle, crackle, crackle...
"Wasn't that a model? Indeed. Geiger counters are readily available, so making a model would have been more cumbersome."
Just as I was preparing to chase.
A deranged voice leaked out from behind the bastard's gas mask.
"The special investigator... is Green Dust?"
"Junior, when fighting a master, don't just throw your body in. You'll get in trouble if you do."
Let's have some fun over here or not.
He took off his gas mask very slowly.
It's like he just took off his gas mask at the moment it was most needed.
Just as I was about to say something after seeing that, the bastard's face was finally revealed.
"... uh?"
Just as they recognized me, this side also recognized them.
It's not a face we see often, but it's a face that I definitely remember.
It was a face I couldn't forget even if I wanted to.
"...Why are you here?"
"..."
"Hey, you shouldn't be here!"
"Oh, my lord? Why are you doing this?"
While Tia was behind him, unable to keep track of what was happening.
He, who could be said to be the biggest victim of the Big Dipper incident, finally opened his mouth.
"It's been a while. It's the first time since my father's funeral."
"..."
Six years ago, during the Big Dipper incident, the last family member left behind by the witness.
The son of the witness who died unjustly appeared before me.
I had no choice but to stand there in silence for a long time, unable to say anything.