The basement of the regional police headquarters carried a peculiar atmosphere. Perhaps it was due to the damp, stuffy scent characteristic of underground floors, or maybe it was the unique heaviness inherent in a building like a police station.

  It was a sensation different from simply entering the basement of any other building. It felt as if a lingering malice, bound here for ages, was floating in the dark air.

  If it were only the first basement floor, one might not feel it to this extent. But this was the third basement floor—a place where people rarely ventured. In fact, there was almost no reason for anyone to visit. Most of the facilities here were those necessary for building maintenance: electricity, water, heating—the essentials that manage the lifeblood of the structure.

  Thus, it might be the worst possible space for doing something. Yet, for that very reason, it was a place where experiments were possible. At this moment, only the footsteps of two people could be heard, heading toward a room chosen for the experiment.

  Seok-young pulled out a key and opened the door. Originally a vacant room, as of today, this place would become the site for a new experiment.

  "I've secured all the permits for now, but do you really think this will work?" Seok-young asked as he turned on the lights in the bare room, brushing dust off a chair before sitting down.

  "We have to try. But if we succeed, it will definitely be a help," Jihyeon replied with a sigh. He wasn't entirely certain of success himself.

  In a sense, a person going on a rampage is essentially being contaminated by the toxicity of the Tools. If that toxicity could be filtered, a person might be able to use a Tool without the risk of rampaging. Of course, that didn't mean there would be no downsides. Jihyeon didn't know much about Tools created with knowledge from the other world.

  However, if he didn't know, he could investigate. For now, making them usable was enough.

  "It won't be perfect, but if this works, even the confiscated Tools will be of help."

  With police casualties increasing day by day, Jihyeon's experiment was, in a sense, like a lifeline dropped from heaven. Of course, the fact that Jihyeon was leading even this hurt the pride of the police. But they couldn't afford to think only of pride. Overcoming the realistic crisis was the priority.

  "Then let's start by preparing furniture and whatever else we need," Jihyeon said with a smile. Seok-young smiled back.

  Although Jihyeon occasionally rubbed Seok-young the wrong way, he was a hero who could be trusted now. He wasn't perfect, but without him, the police would have collapsed long ago.

  "Please pray for a fast and successful result. You know the deal regarding the profits, right?" Jihyeon flashed a sly smile. Seok-young could only manage a bitter laugh.

  Jihyeon had brought up the point that he should have a share of the income regarding this new device. Seok-young had naturally passed this on to the higher-ups, who responded that they would review the proposal. Whether it would go as Jihyeon wanted remained to be seen. But until the device he spoke of was completed, the cooperation would continue.

  "Oh, and please take care of the security matter I mentioned before. Since it involves the pseudo-cult."

  Jihyeon spoke, recalling Min-a’s situation. This was separate from the security for his own family. It was something that could be requested through official channels, but he deliberately chose a path that wouldn't be known to others.

  "Understood. I'll make sure that's handled immediately," Seok-young replied with a nod.

  They were visible again today. They thought they were hiding themselves well enough, but they couldn't escape Min-a's eyes.

  Min-a's mood was heavy as she watched those monitoring her from behind the curtains. The pseudo-cult were people who committed murder without a second thought. Since she had nearly become a victim herself, just imagining it was terrifying.

  But for now, there was no way out. Min-a knew better than anyone that simply cracking down on them wouldn't solve the problem. She was scared.

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  Of course, she knew Jihyeon would protect her. But you never know what might happen in the world. No matter how hard Jihyeon tried, the worst-case scenario might still occur. She hoped it wouldn't, but there were no guarantees.

  Consequently, Min-a hadn't left her house recently unless it was absolutely necessary. With people monitoring even who came and went from her house, doing anything felt impossible.

  But she didn't tell her family. No, she couldn't tell them. Her parents were already overprotective because of the two times she had been kidnapped. While she was grateful, it made life incredibly suffocating. Min-a didn't mind being home, but a young person couldn't stay inside forever.

  If this were known, she would likely never be able to leave the house again. To Min-a, that would be like living in hell.

  "Sigh... how long do I have to live like this?"

  Min-a let out a sigh. Discovering the cult members had been a fluke—she had just happened to see them while drawing the curtains to look outside. Jihyeon told her he would deal with them soon, but no one knew when that "soon" would be.

  "Urgh..."

  Min-a kneaded a plush doll in her room as if unable to hide her irritation. The precious doll she had since childhood often bore the brunt of her stress in times like these. It had become quite grimy because of it, but Min-a loved it all the same.

  The thing that saved her from her annoyance was a message from Jihyeon.

  "Ah... so people will be stationed here."

  Min-a let out a sigh of relief. Although the entire cult wouldn't be eradicated, the fact that Jihyeon was making an effort for her again made her heart flutter. Of course, this felt a bit cowardly—relying on personal connections for safety. Min-a felt a bit of guilt about it.

  However, it was also true that if the cult targeted her, she couldn't protect herself through official means. Min-a prayed fervently that this would be the last time. She wanted more than anything to live a life that no longer intertwined with the pseudo-cult.

  "Sigh... so when will the guards arrive?"

  The schedule wasn't set. Still, thinking that she would be able to breathe a little easier from then on, Min-a smiled slightly.

  To the Salesman, sales were a part of life. If she saw someone who looked dissatisfied while walking around, she would strike up a conversation. Then, it was just a matter of handing over a decent Tool for a reasonable price.

  Payment was basically cash, but recently she had started taking loans and cards as well. The existence of various payment methods meant money could be harvested in various ways. In this manner, the Salesman sold Tools to many people. What they did with the Tools didn't matter much.

  She just had to sell them and earn money. For her younger brother, she had no choice. The problems arising from this became meaningless in the face of the reality that her brother might die at any moment.

  Of course, this wasn't easy work either. Selling a product is a process built on trust. But the Salesman did not easily reveal herself to others. It wasn't just because of the mask and sunglasses.

  She kept a Tool that neutralized CCTVs active almost constantly. It was a minimum defensive measure to protect herself. Including the voice modulation, the Salesman did her best to hide her identity.

  However, such efforts sometimes brought about negative results. People being terrified when they heard her voice was part of that. Nevertheless, the Salesman had become something of an urban legend because of it, and she didn't view that fact entirely negatively.

  Fear can sometimes be helpful in selling products—especially products like Tools that could ruin one's life. Inducing someone to choose a Tool to resolve their twisted desires was no simple task. Doing it without revealing one's face required even more effort. She had experienced much trial and error at first, but now, the Salesman was starting to achieve high results.

  Perhaps it was due to her talent. The Salesman instinctively felt who would buy a product. And when she spoke to them, they invariably bought a Tool. It might have been due to her experience in dealing with people for a long time.

  The Salesman had done various types of business before. Even before selling Tools, she had experienced everything from multi-level marketing to street stalls. That experience had made her who she was today.

  But that wasn't all. The Tool implanted in her had made her even more perfect.

  Today, the Salesman carefully spotted a target and began tracking him. The target this time was none other than a man who had committed adultery. He wanted to hide his affair and maintain a peaceful life with his wife. But it seemed his wife had already caught on.

  The man didn't seem to know what to do. For a man like him, there were several Tools she could recommend. But the man would surely be sensitive about money. Spending money where it shouldn't be spent while not spending it where it should is never a good thing.

  Conversely, the Salesman thought that if she could agitate his desires well, she could sell him something quite expensive. The man wanted to continue his current life without attracting the attention of others. Fortunately, they had no children, so he could just get a divorce, but he didn't seem to want that either.

  The Tool to be provided for such a man was already decided. Whether he would buy it or not depended on the Salesman's silver tongue. Fortunately, she was more confident in that than anyone else.

  She followed him quietly, waiting for the man to be alone. And when he was, the Salesman approached him cautiously.

  Not long after, the Salesman wore a satisfied smile along with the signed documents. He had paid in a lump sum, and since she had given him the Tool, there was nothing more to worry about.

  And that evening, the man became the protagonist of the news. The charge was attempted murder.