Bastard NPC Chapter 13

Chapter 13

“Answer me.”

“Yes.”

“Open your eyes in a pretty way.”

“I can’t make them any prettier than this.”

I shot him a look with my eyes full of irritation, and he casually flipped through the tablet screen, then turned to look at me. He examined me slowly. His gaze brushed over my forehead, eyes, and nose, lingering unusually long on my lips. After a moment, he nodded as if agreeing with himself.

“You’re right.”

He surprisingly seemed to have an eye for things. I nodded in agreement, saying, “That’s true.” Instead of scolding me like everyone else, he gave a slight smile and handed me the tablet. My previously low opinion of him rose just a little.

“You heard about it, right? The news from the Fixford lab.”

On the tablet screen he handed me, there was a photo of a middle-aged man in a white lab coat. Given his mention of the lab, I assumed the man in the picture was likely a researcher.

“I don’t know the details, but I know as much as everyone else.”

“How much do others know?”

“Just that they’re developing weapons, I guess?”

“That’s classified, pretty girl.”

His voice was gentle, but his tone was firm, and the gaze he met me with was chilling. My heart, sensing the danger, pounded and insisted on making its presence known. I quietly lowered my eyes and bit my lip. This was troublesome. 

If he started probing with questions like where, how, or from whom I heard it, it would just get exhausting. What could I say to cover it up?

“This fucker stole confidential information.”

Contrary to my worries, he didn’t seem interested in asking where, how, or from whom I had heard the information. Instead, his thick fingers tapped the picture of the man. 

Letting out a quiet sigh, I nodded and took a closer look at the man. This researcher, who allegedly stole confidential information, seemed to be connected to the recently updated “Fixford Research Lab Infiltration Mission.” 

From the brief overview I had scanned, the mission involved infiltrating the Fixford Research Lab, eliminating the new weapons in development, formatting the research records, and stealing the developer’s notes. Based on the context, the developer’s notes were likely this researcher’s, and the NPC who would pay out the mission reward was probably this researcher too.

I understood that from the perspective of the employer, who had been heavily betrayed, the researcher wouldn’t be seen in a favorable light. But why was he showing this to me? A bad feeling washed over me.

“The information he took out is not a big deal, but it’s a big deal in what this guy is planning in his head.”

“What you want from me, is it to capture this researcher or something like that?”

“Capture him for what? Torture?”

He laughed silently, like someone hearing an absurd statement. I don’t know what kind of thoughts he’s living with in his head, but the tiny bit of favorability I had just a moment ago came crashing down.

“Just do what you’re good at.”

“…..What do you think I’m good at?”

“Kill him.”

It wasn’t the time to be casually discussing favorability ratings. Oh my god. Was that really what he meant?

It was chaos. It was a big deal.

Since meeting this man, I’ve always felt lost, but now I feel like I’m hanging on the edge of a cliff. My head is dizzy.

Capturing him is one thing, but killing is a whole different matter. Of course, if I lined up all the NPCs I’ve killed in this game, I could easily circle the entire city. 

I’m good at games, not just this one, but all games. But that’s all done with a mouse click. The only guns I’ve ever touched in real life were a BB gun and a water gun. Besides, even if they’re NPCs, how could I actually commit murder?

“Why are you so surprised? You don’t need to cut his head off.”

Was he teasing me or reassuring me? I don’t know what his intention was, but to my ears, it sounded like he meant that if I didn’t bring the researcher’s head, he’d cut mine off. 

I let out a deep sigh, feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place. “You’re sighing for no reason,” he scolded. Then he turned on the previously turned-off screen to show me the next photo.

Although everything in front of me was pitch black, the photo was still clear. Dark, intimidating men who looked like gangsters were scanning the surroundings, and the small man surrounded by them was the researcher from earlier. However, the tattoos on the men’s necks looked strangely familiar.

“Wait? Bernard?”

“You know him?”

“Of course I do.”

“Why do you know him?”

The way he was teasing me and trailing off with a suspicious look made me uneasy. It felt like when he tried to pry into my relationship with Ren, as if he was gearing up to say something nonsense, so I quickly shook my head.

“How could I not know when I can see? Even a passing dog knows Bernard.”

“Well, that’s a relief.”

“……”

“He’s always on the move, so no one can get close. If I send an armored car, it’ll get hit with a guided missile. If I position a sniper, their head gets blown off.”

He spoke as if he found it pitiful, but if the opponent was Bernard, it made perfect sense that they’d be thoroughly wiped out. Of course, the mercenaries from Fixford had flashy rumors about being special forces or whatever. However, Bernard’s gang was the oldest and the most powerful. 

In other words, I can’t do it. Riley was just a shell, and the real power was in my hands as Seo Hee-won. This was something I could never do.

“Wouldn’t it be possible if you did it yourself?”

When I indirectly conveyed that it was impossible, he smiled coldly.

“I’m not forcing you. I’ll give you the choice.”

It was hard to imagine how this could turn out well.

“One. Bring me that bastard’s head within ten days and you’ll get treated nicely.”

I couldn’t dislike this option any more.

“Two. Hand over that bastard friend of yours and go your own way.”

I frowned and glared at him, but just for a moment. His unexpected words made my expression soften. The “bastard” he was referring to had to be Colin, and now he was asking me to hand him over instead of myself.

“Are you sure you won’t take me?”

“You did nothing wrong, didn’t you? It’s the bastard who covers up what you did who’s wrong.”

In a word, it was a threat that he’ll take the people around me hostage. What the heck, you punk. 

The so-called “choices” were nothing more than a facade; the answer was already decided. Maybe Adam wouldn’t understand, but I had no intention of handing over Colin. 

Even if I did, this wouldn’t be the end. Just like the pointless reward process, giving up Colin was merely a step toward his true goal. He’d use my life as leverage, offering nonsensical choices to guide my answer to his desired one.

“By the way, sir.”

“Stop calling me ‘sir.’ It’s getting me all worked up, like I’m doing something nasty to you.”

“By the way, uncle.”

Theo, who had been staring at me with wide eyes, suddenly laughed out loud like a madman.

“Don’t try to flirt.”

“……”

“My dick’s erect, pretty girl.”

I called him something that wouldn’t turn him on, but I didn’t know there were such perverts around. From what he was saying, it wasn’t sympathy; it was more like lust. 

I recoiled in disgust and tried to back away, but with the sound of a click of his tongue, I was inevitably pulled back to where I was. Seriously, I was holding back because I was scared.

“Anyway, I understand what you’re saying. But as you can see, I had a pretty big head injury yesterday, so there are some memory issues.” 

“So?”

“So, it’s hard to show you the results you’re looking for. I don’t even remember how I pulled the trigger, and the things I did feel as distant as a past life. I’m going through a tough time, you know.”

“Then what should we do? Are you going to hand over Bradley?”

Huh?

I had been muttering in a sad tone, acting all pitiful, sorrowful, and full of stories, but when I looked at him with a surprised expression, I saw him observing me closely.

Bradley was the last name of the three Adam brothers. My pupils shook back and forth helplessly as the investigation net narrowed rapidly. Theo curled his elegant lips. 

“Is that right? Bradley.” 

“Not sure, I know broccoli, but Bradley… not so much.”

“You can’t lie, it’s written all over your face.”

It was an interrogation. I kept my mouth shut, refusing to answer. He chuckled, saying it was good that there were so few useful hackers in situations like this.

“What was his name again? Adam, right?”

This time, my pupils shook for a completely different reason. It was surprising that he pointed to Adam instead of Colin, but someone who doesn’t know the brothers wouldn’t be able to guess. 

Since Adam himself claims to be a genius hacker, from a distance, it would seem like everything Colin did was actually Adam’s doing.

I wasn’t sure if it was a deliberate division of roles, but at least he didn’t know about Colin’s existence, which was a relief. As much as I felt bad for Adam, if one of them had to be sent to prison, it would be better for Adam to go rather than Colin.

But that was the worst-case scenario. I couldn’t send an innocent Adam to a harsh prison just because of me.