I Have Returned, but I Cannot Lay down My Gun

Chapter 635

"…Why are you here? I didn’t hear about this."

"How would you know I’m here when you’re nostalgic for the scene but don’t even know how things are going on here? Haha, try figuring it out with your precious NSA connections… Ugh!"

"You little bastard."

Bang!

A loud smack echoed through Incheon Airport, the sound of someone's head being struck.

It was such a thunderous sound that it easily drew attention from those nearby. However, the two involved were unfazed, despite the growing commotion around them.

Olivia Nix Lorelai, the most famous designer in the world at this moment and a close associate of Yujin.

Christopher Lorentina, one of the few EM-class manifestors in the United States, whose past, background, and activities were shrouded in secrecy. He was also a close associate of Yujin.

The sound came from their contact, causing the commotion.

While the surrounding people started to notice, Olivia, who was used to it, sighed, believing that if Lorentina had shown up at this moment, there must have been a reason.

Despite the tremendous force behind the hit—strong enough to bend a thin metal pipe—the only visible mark was a red bruise on the shark's forehead. Olivia casually joined her companions.

After glancing around at the reactions of the people, who were hastily pulling out their phones to contact someone, Olivia noticed something that was slightly different. Judging by how no one seemed to have known the shark was here earlier…

"I bet you snuck in using that trick to erase your presence again. What’s the deal this time?"

"I’ve been in Korea for a while now, about a week or two… On the pretext of tactical exchange, the entire Hammerhead team is here for a long-term deployment. I didn’t tell you, so you wouldn’t have known."

"You think I wouldn’t know you’re in Korea? But how did you know I was here?"

"Just a gut feeling… I didn’t joke around. I got the info from your former workplace. There was a major update regarding EM-class manifestors due to a recent surge of new manifestors… normally, there would have been a consultation too, but you’re always so busy, aren’t you?"

"So, you came directly because our locations overlapped. You’re quite the busy one."

Thud, thud.

However, the destination for these two wasn’t the outside of Incheon International Airport but a café inside. Olivia checked her phone and saw that it would take about 40 minutes for the car to be remotely dispatched, which is why they needed to wait.

Given the location’s nature, there were many people crowding the airport café. As a result, when they entered, they immediately attracted significant attention. But the two of them ignored it and simply sat down at a table.

With a soft hum, Lorentina, using a technique to drastically lower the surrounding noise, added:

"You told the juniors that I’m gunning for them, didn’t you?"

"I know. You greedy bastard. Stop making the ones whose bodies have changed nervous, just buy us something good. You really seem to enjoy making others surprised…"

"If we’re talking about something good, you should buy it, not me. You know how much I get paid, right?"

"That’s why I bought coffee and snacks."

"Thank you."

Gulp!

The hot liquid and the foam layer on top flowed down the shark’s throat as Olivia poked at a carrot cake with a fork, cutting it into small pieces to chew.

She continued:

"The last time we spoke, I didn’t think there was much of an issue… But seeing the way you came to greet me, I guess the juniors were really being pushed to meet me. You’re not saying anything, so it seems like there’s no problem."

"You’re quite good at jumping to conclusions. Unfortunately, you’re right. It’s a little off, though, but can’t I be a little off sometimes?"

"Don’t joke around too much… Anyway, there’s nothing special, right? Anything I need to know?"

"Well, the new juniors have been singing about wanting a snake tail, and now they’ve really got one, so nothing weird there. Just pay attention to Iris. You’ll meet the juniors anyway, right?"

"Going to the Icarus residence in Samsung-dong, damn you."

"Once you drop your things there, you’ll know where the juniors live, just walk 2 kilometers from there."

Naturally, the shark didn’t back down and retorted while Olivia, exhaling deeply in her chair, declared GG.

The creaking sound of the chair filled the space. However, the chair didn’t collapse under Olivia’s weight. It had durable materials, and on top of that, she was relatively light compared to others in her class of manifestors.

Recognizing that continuing the conversation might lead nowhere, Olivia checked the message that the vehicle would be ready in 5 minutes and raised her finger. It was time to leave.

Since the cups and plates had long been emptied, they stood up and left, leaving behind the flustered café staff.

"Iris, that’s the one, right? The one whose body changed?"

"She was an editor. You wouldn’t know since you weren’t at the junior housewarming, but I think you’ve seen the edited footage of that time. You probably know her face by now."

"I see, I think I have an idea. But she… changed like that. Well, it’s not surprising. We’ve both come a long way."

"Yeah, roughly."

Vroom!

At the same time, a green sports car smoothly entered the

inner road where numerous buses were passing by. It was the same vehicle Olivia had hidden in Yujin’s parking lot when she last visited Korea.

The two of them squeezed into the car through the rising door. Once it closed, the car roared to life, pushing against the road as it headed towards Seoul.

In the car, with only the two of them, the conversation continued.

"You said she was an editor? But I can’t figure out how she changed like that. There must have been something that caused her body to change. It couldn’t have just happened suddenly, right?"

"...Now that I think about it, you probably don’t know what that editor friend of mine did recently. I’m not sure why I’m explaining it, but just take a look."

As the automatic driving system steered the car from Incheon to Seoul, Olivia casually glanced at a hologram that appeared before her, showing Iris Beatrice’s YoursSpace channel.

"Well, it looks like there’s such a thing in the world. I guess some people might like it, but I really don’t get it."

"Don’t act like you’re so different. What I’m seeing here is you suddenly making a fuss about fabric and clothes. That’s a bit more strange to me."

"Hey, what’s wrong with being a designer?"

"Let’s just say it doesn’t suit you."

Of course, the moment the car shook, it was more than enough to reveal their growing discomfort.

After a few seconds, the shaking finally stopped, the automatic driving system just about keeping it within reasonable limits, and the two of them were left trying to catch their breath as the car continued its journey.

"Anyway, the latest video went up yesterday, so it seems there aren’t any major issues with activity. Maybe the juniors have been giving her some extra care. I’ve heard things are chaotic in the U.S."

"I heard there’s a friend locked up in a mental hospital who became an EM-class. Apparently, they broke out and caused a ruckus before getting tranquilized and thrown into solitary confinement. Is that true?"

"Well, I’ve heard something like that. But I haven’t had much time in the U.S. recently. I don’t really know how things are going back home."

"I’m not one to talk, but you should really take it easy. You don’t always have to be running around the world."

"That’s true… that’s why I’m here to see the juniors at the expo."

Olivia sighed again, shaking her head. Meanwhile, the shark, noticing her weariness, placed her hand over Olivia’s and smiled. Olivia, slightly startled, took her hand and let go after a moment, gently pushing it away.

"Gross, you bastard."

"I figured you’d say that."

"Anyway, since I haven’t heard any complaints, it seems like things are fine. Where are the juniors staying? Their own places?"

"Iris is living in a spare room at the juniors’ place as a guest. As for GreenCat, he’s crashing at Dice’s place. It’s like a snake’s nest."

"Sounds chaotic... Well, I don’t think it’s a problem for a few days. I’ll hang out at the juniors' place, and you can enjoy the sea breeze while you run off somewhere."

"Heh, damn owl."

She chuckled.

Not long after, the shark suddenly remembered something and began tapping on the holographic keyboard. After checking a few articles on the internet, she quietly handed them over to Olivia.

The article’s headline, reflected in her yellow eyes, was translated by the automatic system from Korean to English. After a brief moment...

"...What’s this about selling venom?"

"Well, I heard our new junior is producing venom. Honestly, it’s strange for a snake not to have venom. There are four snakes in a nest, but none of them have venom? Statistically, that doesn’t make sense."

"What the hell are you talking about, you crazy bastard..."

The article was about how Iris had started selling her venom. The price per liter was over a million dollars.

After reading that, Olivia sank into the chair, reaching her mental limit.

"Research institutes can obviously do that, but what’s with these perverts asking for personal sales of even a drop? Seriously, what the hell…!"

"Well, with people obsessed with snake tails, I guess it’s not too late to say it now?"

"Ugh..."

"Ugh, I can’t argue with that..."

Meanwhile, Yujin, with a pitiful expression, added something to the young Biyams.

[Hologram Idol Gallery]

[General] Iris Unnie’s Sacred Venom – Like it? Hit Like! Haha

Some random Biyam poking Iris’ cheek to show her fangs in a cute way

Ahhh, hahaha

[All Comments][By Date]

• Lol, hit like, hahaha

• Fact: As long as there are no cuts in your mouth, it’s fine to drink.

  • Who said to make someone drink it, hahaha
  • They’ll drink kimchi soup instead of poison, hahaha
  • Iris Unnie’s venom... Thank you!

• I heard she was a man originally!!! Don’t stand up!!!!!!

  • “Possible”
  • That’s a TS discriminatory comment, please correct it.
  • Hahaha, that’s ridiculous, hahaha

• She’s actually disgustingly beautiful, hahaha

• But wait, if she gets bitten while eating, doesn’t she need to go to the hospital right away?

  • She can control when it comes out.
  • Oh...
  • It can come out when she’s startled or feels danger, but she can also release it voluntarily.

• I didn’t really care about lottery winners before, but now I know what it feels like… I’m so jealous…

  • Gioje, go go
  • Fact: The last observed was Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler
  • So, does that mean it’s around a 30-40 year cycle?
  • Let’s wait for 30 years, let’s go~~~~~~~~
  • Crazy people, hahaha

• So, what’s her venom for? Aphrodisiac?

  • Aphrodisiac? Hahaha
  • Yeah, it’s coagulation venom.
  • If you touch it with your finger, you have to amputate below the elbow, it’s a coagulation type.
  • Hahaha, reality hitting hard, hahaha
  • That’s terrifying, hahaha

• Can she communicate with snakes now? I’m waiting for Iris to go to a snake café and do a live stream, hahaha

  • Snakes are temperamental, so even if they can talk, there’s no guarantee they’ll communicate.
  • People from the same country in-game can’t even communicate properly, hahaha
  • But Iris can break the spine of snakes that act up.

• But isn't the symbol animal of Korea a tiger? Why is she suddenly going for an anaconda?

  • Ask the GM of Earth, hahaha
  • Then why didn’t we get a thick, muscular white tiger? Hahaha
  • But we’ll give you hotteok instead.
  • Ah, I want a muscular chunk of meat gone.

"Internet’s gone crazy..."

"Well, that’s nothing new. Don’t worry about it."

“Whether in the U.S. or Korea, the online world is the same. It’s a fact that there are more people whose brains are located below their necks. Iris, don’t stress too much about it.”

Olivia was speaking, but I only caught half of it.

And so, the day passed with discussions of Iris' venom and the ridiculousness surrounding it. The internet was buzzing, and things were only going to get more hectic with the upcoming expo.