Transformation or Death

A Little Money and a Place to Live Tomorrow is Enough (8)

No response came from November. Perhaps thinking this was implicit agreement, Libra turned back and returned to her desk. After briefly scanning the area, her hand soon held a test tube containing some liquid.

“This is a stronger drug than what you used.”

Inside the test tube was a gold-colored liquid that looked dangerous even at first glance. The liquid, which glowed like phosphorescent material, made one wonder if it was really safe to inject into the human body.

“I’ll give it to you if you want. Of course, it’s not free. I am a merchant, after all. I don’t do business at a loss.”

The liquid in the test tube swirled right in front of November’s eyes. November stared blankly at the liquid swaying like a pendulum, as if hypnotized.

“I’m not asking you to betray the Argo Family or give up organizational information.”

Even as Libra began to make her formal proposal, November maintained silence.

“Why are you doing this, brother… Deny it quickly! Reject that drug and push it away…!”

Jason watched the scene anxiously. If he could have his way, he would have rushed out right now to grab November and run away, but he couldn’t.

He wasn’t confident he could properly explain why he was here. He had already lost a lot of trust from the last incident.

The clear act of betrayal of leaking information to the Watcher. Normally, this would deserve immediate punishment without room for excuses.

The only reason he was alive now was due to the mercy of the First Brother and Boss September.

Most organization members not only didn’t follow him but ignored him and even mocked him, asking why he wasn’t killed. Getting caught at Libra’s hideout in this situation? He didn’t even want to imagine how much criticism he would receive.

Moreover, seeing how the Archer introduced Libra as a doctor, it seemed the Archer had a close relationship with Libra… He had no idea how to explain this relationship.

“…Come to think of it, aren’t I also a traitor?”

He wasn’t in a position to criticize anyone for betrayal.

“Hey comrade. What’s making you so anxious?”

“B-Brother seems about to fall for that villain’s proposal… Of course I’m anxious.”

“Then why don’t you step forward?”

The Archer hit his weak point. If you’re anxious, step forward. Persuade your brother who’s wavering towards evil and return home.

“That’s… Not as easy as it sounds.”

But Jason couldn’t easily shake off his hesitation. November was quite moody. The moment he discovered him here, he would immediately misunderstand. Above all, being very stubborn and rarely listening to others’ words made explanation even more difficult.

No matter how misaligned the organization might be, the fact that it was his home hadn’t changed. Jason didn’t want to abandon the shelter he had finally found.

“Really? You’re no fun. Live with some romance.”

“That’s what I plan to do.”

“Oh? What are you going to do?”

“Romantically…”

Jason glared intensely at November with wide eyes.

“Just trust in my brother!”

“So you’re saying you’ll do nothing. Fine.”

The Archer sighed and went along with his opinion. While quietly suppressing his presence, he observed the wound on Jason’s shoulder. For a decent high-level villain, this would have healed moderately by now. But blood was still dripping from his shoulder.

‘Weak body. Pathetic comrade.’

Tsk, the Archer clicked his tongue internally. The wound showed no signs of healing. For humans, a wound piercing the shoulder is serious. And Jason’s wound was surely serious as well. The Archer was certain.

“Need to settle things quickly with that golden pig…”

He felt quite guilty about accidentally injuring him. That would only be possible after those two finished their conversation.

Both Jason and the Archer waited for November to speak, for different reasons.

“…Now.”

November opened his mouth.

“What… Nonsense?”

“I believed in you, damn it!!!!”

“Hey, shut up!”

There seemed to be strange noises from behind, but November, with blood rushing to his head, couldn’t hear them.

“Why would I take this shit? What are you misunderstanding? I came here for one reason. It was the Boss’s homework. Is your powder empty? Boss probably checked if this drug was poison or something. I don’t know anything about it. You’re talking nonsense, I’ll kill you!”

November pointed and shouted at the top of his lungs.

“I wondered what bullshit you were spouting… You’ve lost your mind! Did you dip your brain in shit? What nonsense!”

Though his tone was ridiculous, the anger contained within was by no means light. November was serious.

November had never used this drug. When Jason left during training due to misusing his ability, he got bored. Perhaps because training was abruptly interrupted. Today, after finishing training, he planned to focus on remembrance.

As part of that, when he was about to go to the room with the money bag to burn it, the Boss caught him and asked him to handle this drug. To go confront Libra about it.

He had a brain freeze at the mention of decreased powder and cut off his words, but thinking about it carefully, it wasn’t that strange.

It all made sense if you thought they had verified what this powder was. If this powder’s contents were poison rather than drugs, it wouldn’t be strange to wage all-out war.

But seeing there was no mention, it must have been drugs as explained, not poison. Just look at Libra’s reaction now.

Yet here was Libra, talking about November using this drug and offering stronger ones while November was still assessing the situation, so he found it utterly ridiculous.

“Why would I use such drugs?! It looks damn suspicious. Anyone who uses that must have their head cracked!”

That was right. Who would trust and use drugs given by an enemy? How would one know what effects it had?

Libra’s narrow vision made them overlook one fact. Not all villains stay faithful to their targeted goals. If it’s a side goal unrelated to their dream, they won’t blindly commit to it.

It seems revenge wasn’t such a grand goal for November. Libra laughed emptily.

“Hah….”

She thought they would surely take the bait after showing such strong hostility.

“As I said before, this is my gift. A sign of goodwill to you who share the same enemy. From what I know, your forces themselves aren’t much. Do you really think you can defeat the Watcher who has awakened Ursa Major? If you’re really unsure, you can test it on your subordinates. This is a precious drug not easily obtained even for millions.”

But Libra continued trying to persuade.

“Why should I care? I’ll figure something out! Anyway, I’ll live longer than that basically human bastard. Isn’t it my victory if he dies naturally? A gentleman’s revenge takes ten years… What was it? Anyway, I’ll get revenge, but it’s not urgent!”

November didn’t know about Han Jae-jung’s terminal condition, he just roughly thought that way. His sorrow over losing his brother was far stronger than his desire for revenge. His hatred and hostility all stemmed from that sorrow.

And greater than that sorrow was his aspiration for his dream.

The challenge of the three beasts sworn when first forming brotherhood.

When Libra came to the Argo Family, November acted rudely out of anger. When September reprimanded him for this, November could remind himself of his heart.

That was precisely why he reduced the time for mourning and increased training. He built his strength not for revenge, but for the challenge.

“Anyway, we don’t need drugs like this! Boss says to return the drug money as drink money. Also, he says we’ll slowly talk next time about the consequences of putting in such drugs without saying anything. There, message delivered. I have nothing more to say, so I’m leaving.”

November turned around after delivering the message one-sidedly.

“Sigh….”

Libra sighed and held her forehead. To think things would turn out like this. It was truly regrettable.

“I have to take action again.”

Clank. The scale on her shoulder tilted. A few gold coins went up on the left scale and chains appeared on the opposite side. The chains were faint like a hologram. When the two scales achieved perfect balance, the gold coins and chains vaporized and disappeared with golden starlight.

“A transaction has been made here.”

The vanished chains spread around November and bound him. Being no ordinary chains, they couldn’t be easily broken even with a villain’s superhuman strength.

“…?! What are you doing!”

“It’s truly regrettable. I had hoped your will would be involved.”

Libra took out a syringe from her breast pocket. She slowly poured the liquid from the test tube she were holding into the syringe.

Of course, she had calculated for cases where the drug wouldn’t be taken voluntarily. It was over the moment any of her organization members came to this laboratory. It didn’t matter if they weren’t an executive, but an executive came – this was fortunate.

She would be able to properly obtain data on this improved drug.

“It seems sad sacrifices will repeat again. How regrettable. Truly regrettable.”

“What the fuck is that….”

“Br-Brother!”

Jason reflexively jumped out. Despite his serious injury, he quickly ran over and tried to undo the chains.

“Tr-traitor bastard! Why are you here…!”

“That’s not important right now! I’ll get you free quickly! Wait!”

He struggled to undo the chains but they wouldn’t budge. In his weakened state from the shoulder wound, Jason wasn’t strong enough to break them.

“You… What happened to your shoulder? Fuck, who did that! Only we can rough up our traitor, dammit!!!”

“Oh… This is quite thick brotherhood.”

Libra leisurely filled the syringe. The carefully tilted test tube emptied as the syringe filled up.

“I won’t forget your sacrifice.”

Thud. Quiet footsteps echoed vastly through the chamber.

“Hey, you! Just run away! Leave this to your brother!”

“How could I do that? Wait. I’ll quickly… Ah!”

Jason took his hands off the chains and stepped back several paces. Then he put his hand on his belt.

“Ability… With this ability…!”

The ability to make one lose their way.

It’s an excellent ability for escape. It’s time to show the results of his training.

But as the name of that power suggests, it prevents one from taking the right path. It was the same now. When it could be used for the most righteous path, the power was at its weakest.

With both his strength and starlight depleted, Jason himself had trouble manifesting it. No matter how much he worked the oar on his belt, the ability wouldn’t manifest.

“This… Damn… Damn…!”

“I said run away?”

“Comrade, move!”

Just then, the Archer’s shout came from behind. Jason reflexively moved aside. Even then, he didn’t take his hand off his belt.

Though the Archer didn’t particularly care for November, he had ties with his comrade. His arrow precisely grazed the connection point of the chains. This was enough. The chains binding November came loose.

“You traitor!”

Also, Libra had gained enough distance. To inject the syringe.

“Too late.”

Crack! His syringe pierced November’s back, and November pushed Jason’s body away to create distance from himself.

November’s starlight blazed with intense light.

Jason’s ability activated.

He lost his way.

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