The number of tools Jihyeon had collected over the past few days while taking down troublemakers was substantial. It was far more than he had anticipated, to the point where even Jihyeon began to feel a sense of revulsion.

  It was proof that almost every member of the criminal organizations was now equipped with them. The spread of the tools had already become uncontrollable. Jihyeon thought it was a near-miracle that they hadn't leaked into the general public yet. He didn't even want to imagine what would happen if a proper distribution network were established.

  Considering that a single tool could devastate an entire district, this was a terrifying prospect. If someone who had completely merged with a tool and lost their sense of self decided to act, they could likely demolish an entire apartment building single-handedly.

  It was a forbidden power that should never be allowed to spread. If it had to be used, it should only be under the strictest supervision—or better yet, banned entirely from the start. However, those actually using these tools felt not a shred of responsibility. It was only natural, given that they were a collection of individuals driven solely by their own desires.

  Only one thing mattered to them: power in the underworld. To achieve that, those using the tools were prepared to sacrifice anything. It didn't matter even if what they built was fragile and destined to crumble. Even the bosses who distributed the tools to their subordinates were already consumed by madness. They were like moths to a flame, obsessed only with what was right in front of them, no longer even fearing death.

  Expecting the power balance of the past was now a luxury. There was no way to stop those who didn't hesitate to do anything for immediate gain.

  Thus, Jihyeon had to roam the entire city. Gang members were wielding violence everywhere. It seemed the organization leaders viewed this situation as an advantage, as they continued to spark incidents throughout the city. As a result, a state of emergency had been declared and schools were closed. Jihyeon now moved about without any restraint, apprehending those causing trouble.

  Yet, there was no end in sight.

  He knew the situation through information, but facing it on the ground was a different feeling entirely. There was no word other than "worst" to describe the sight of people—whom ordinary citizens would never normally need to know about—suddenly emerging into the light and wreaking havoc.

  And it truly was the worst. When just two people with tools fought, the surrounding area was reduced to rubble in an instant. If they fought in groups, turning an urban center into a battlefield was effortless.

  It was a small mercy that the organization of the most powerful Boss followed Jihyeon's advice and banned the use of tools. Jihyeon felt inwardly grateful to the Boss for listening. However, that only served to slightly reduce the number of reported incidents. The fundamental problem remained entirely unresolved.

  Some police officers even argued that they should use the same tools to fight back. But that was impossible. The moment one uses a tool, they must give up being human. No matter how desperate the situation, that was not a choice easily made unless it was the absolute last resort.

  Fortunately, Jihyeon was responding to numerous incidents almost perfectly. While he couldn't bring the damage down to zero, his actions saved many. For now, they were managing to cope. But no one knew how long they could keep this up. It wouldn't be strange if the entire system collapsed at any moment.

  As he processed the cases, Jihyeon cursed the cunning of the distributors. They distributed exactly the amount of tools needed. Furthermore, the tools they circulated were "defective" in a way that "low-grade" didn't even begin to describe. Yet, even with those, they would be able to achieve their objective—a secret purpose known only to them.

  That purpose, which even the man Jihyeon captured didn't know, was certain to bring a disastrous influence upon this world. If only he knew the goal, he might find a way to counter it. But now, it was like walking in the dark without a light. Managing the immediate tasks was already a struggle. Jihyeon couldn't even estimate how much more blood would be spilled. He had inwardly accepted that there was no way to resolve this without sacrifice.

  But the tragic truth did not end there. Through constant contact with the same type of tools, Jihyeon had realized a truth far more sinister than what the captured man knew. That man only had surface-level information.

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  Jihyeon knew. Originally, the tools from that other world possessed the potential for evolution. Depending on the user, their abilities could be developed indefinitely. Jihyeon’s own first tool—the one that granted the ability to access information—was incomplete at first, yet it had evolved to an incomparable level. His other tools had also blossomed into new abilities through various applications.

  However, nothing of the sort could be expected from the bottom-tier products currently being distributed. On the contrary, they were cursed items that completely broke the user. In Jihyeon's own experience, even after he removed the tools, those who had used them multiple times were often mentally shattered beyond the point of being called human.

  The man Jihyeon had captured seemed to think the tools merely turned users into husks, but in reality, they were far worse. They were comparable to the most dangerous of narcotics. It was only natural that his rage toward the distributors burned brightly.

  But now was a time for coldness. Knowing that anger wouldn't solve everything, Jihyeon tried his best to maintain his composure.

  "Another full haul today. Honestly..."

  Jihyeon sighed as he looked at the plastic bag full of tools. Now, even youths who weren't formal members of the organizations were caught in the madness of the tools. Some organizations even used equipment to control these kids, using them as disposable pawns. Normally, children should have the chance to reflect on their mistakes and grow. But they were being stripped of even that opportunity.

  "It's the worst. The distributor isn't being caught... and the arrest teams come up empty every time," Seok-young sighed. Despite distributing wanted posters based on a composite sketch created with Jihyeon's help, the 'salesperson' distributing the tools could not be caught. It was likely because they were using a tool to neutralize CCTVs. Jihyeon considered various possibilities based on his own experiences.

  "We probably won't catch them easily. Not at this rate."

  Jihyeon felt a sense of defeat. No matter how hard he tried, could he overcome this situation? He hadn't expected a war of attrition on this scale. If things continued to escalate, he feared it would become something even his abilities couldn't handle. No matter how perfect his information network was, who could know where and when something would happen? He could only react after the fact.

  "For now, it's mostly inter-gang conflict, so it's manageable. But once it starts spreading to civilians, no one will be able to stop it," Seok-young said, feeling their helplessness. Neither the police nor the military had a clear solution. Unlike the criminals, the state couldn't treat police officers and soldiers as expendable. Even if the state crossed the line and used the collected tools, it was doubtful they could resolve the situation given the issues of control.

  "If the state crosses the line, it might be possible, but that would surely be the worst-case scenario..." Jihyeon sighed. In many ways, it seemed the situation couldn't get any worse.

  "I'm not usually one for self-pity, but I really want to vent to someone," Seok-young said with a bitter smile. It was the reaction of someone who was already exhausted.

  "I agree," Jihyeon said with his own bitter smile. Still, he didn't intend to just sit and complain. He felt he had to squeeze out every bit of energy he had left and brainstorm more ideas.

  "It's an attack!"

  The scream from outside sharpened their senses once more. Though caught off guard by the unexpected event, both men immediately ran outside.

  The outside was chaotic. The captured man frowned at the noise. He couldn't imagine who would be crazy enough to do this. Attacking a police station was madness. No matter how much one used a tool, things would change once the police decided to pour out their full firepower.

  However, that wasn't his concern. What mattered more was the purpose behind this attack. And just as the man suspected, the Reaper had arrived.

  "You've come," the man said with a smirk, looking at So-young standing before him. Normally, his tool should have activated and turned him into a husk long ago. Since that hadn't happened, punishment had to be dealt to the one who failed.

  "You disappointed me. But that's not all. I could overlook you disappointing me, but you must take responsibility for disappointing them," So-young said in a cold voice. The man laughed loudly at her words. It wasn't a laugh of mockery toward her, but rather an expression of relief. He had already anticipated his death the moment his information was taken.

  The tool he possessed was minor, but it had already been seized. And simultaneously, all the information he had was taken by Jihyeon. Since he had caused significant damage to their business, even death wouldn't be enough to take full responsibility.

  "Aren't you a bit late? If you wanted to kill someone like me, you should have come sooner," the man said, exuding an air of resignation.

  "I had to do the paperwork for your disposal. Punishing a sin that cannot be repaid with death requires more attention than you'd think," So-young said as she pulled something out. It was an object that looked like a small box.

  "Normally, this isn't a grade of tool you would be allowed to use. But for you, it’s the perfect punishment. Use it well."

  So-young easily neutralized the cell door and stepped inside.

  "Then, I'll leave the rest to you."

  The man laughed again. So-young unhesitatingly pressed the tool against his neck. A short while later, So-young stepped back out. Amidst the external commotion, the man would meet an end fitting for him. It would surely lead to something "interesting."

  However, So-young did not leave immediately. Or rather, she couldn't.

  "Oh my?"

  Standing in front of So-young was Jihyeon.