Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Lee Sehee greeted Jung Dahyun with a surprised look when she suddenly called and showed up out of the blue.

"What brings you all the way here? Got something on your mind? Should I grab a bottle of wine?"

"No, I just came because I wanted to ask you something."

"What is it?"

One look at Jung Dahyun's stiff, frozen face, and Lee Sehee understood the situation immediately.

"Things have been tense on your side lately too, haven't they?"

"You already knew?"

"Guess Junho didn't tell you? He only told me. Oh dear, what a predicament."

"......"

In that instant, Lee Sehee felt like she'd seen a ghost, and she hurriedly apologized.

"S-sorry. So stop glaring at me like that. You're going to bore a hole through my face. I'll tell you right now. Okay? Please, just let me talk."

"Spit it out."

Where had my friend gone—the one who used to relish teasing me?

Right now, she was a ghost, no question about it. If I said she'd make a perfect yaksha, that would be the end of me, wouldn't it?

Lee Sehee swallowed a deep sigh and spoke.

"The government and Busan Metropolitan City are about to collide."

"...I figured."

"So the rumors were circulating on your end too?"

"Yeah."

"The government doesn't want this getting out to the general public. The fact that even the National Guard Bureau wasn't informed means they intend to handle it as quietly as possible. It'll probably be just Junho and a very small number of people from the Blue House. You know why, right?"

"I know."

When it came to certain operations, the Blue House was the one place where some degree of secrecy could be maintained.

It was an inevitable consequence of the fact that there were far more public service Hunters with strings attached to guilds, acting as their straws, than there were ones who worked out of genuine conviction.

Actually, something else was circling in Jung Dahyun's mind.

Why had he told Lee Sehee and not her?

"You're thinking '...why,' aren't you?"

"......"

Lee Sehee was a ghost now just as she'd been before. Jung Dahyun affirmed with her silence.

"I'd love to say he secretly told only me, but honestly, it's not special treatment. Junho just wanted our guild not to get entangled with the Mayor of Busan, so he gave me a heads-up. You're clean on that front, Dahyun, so there was no need to tell you. Feel better now?"

"It's not like I was particularly worried."

But she couldn't help the relief that loosened her expression.

"You worried yourself sick and now you're playing it off."

"Have you been under a lot of stress lately?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"Yeah, it seems like a lot has piled up. There's a lot of bite behind your words."

"Aah, this again. I shouldn't be like this."

Lee Sehee furrowed her brow and ruffled her hair. It was a kind of habit—she'd been trying to break it for a long time, but it stubbornly refused to go away.

In the past it had been even worse—bad enough that a "Lee Sehee's Collected Cutting Remarks" actually existed.

"Is it because of the Big Bang Series? The performance is amazing."

"Really? Ah! Junho said he'd bring some to the National Guard Bureau last time. Since you're here, tell me your review."

"Okay."

Lee Sehee listened attentively for a while as Jung Dahyun talked about the Big Bang Series.

Reviews from someone who'd used it on the front lines were bound to be a huge help for product improvement.

Since the Big Bang Series had such high output, it required particular care with power regulation, and a guide for fully controlling its might was essential.

"It's already on the list of things to improve, but let me double-check. Having a friend really is the best, isn't it?"

"And the General Team Leader of Shinseong Guild is the one who didn't set aside a Big Bang Series for that friend."

"Come on, I only put it off because Junho said he'd handle it. Did you really think I'd forget our Jung Dahyun?"

"Still, thank goodness Junho oppa took care of it."

This time, Lee Sehee's expression shifted dramatically. She wondered if she'd misheard just now, but one look at Jung Dahyun's slightly upturned lips told her she hadn't.

"What did you just say? Oppa?"

"Well, I've said everything I came to say, so I'll be going now."

"Wait! Why aren't you answering me?"

"......"

Instead of answering, Jung Dahyun gave a gentle smile. From Lee Sehee's perspective, it was the smile a winner shows a loser.

"I'm leaving."

"Hey! Jung Dahyun!"

* * *

The day Cheon Myeongguk left for Busan had arrived.

A business trip he might not return from alive.

He wondered if it was really worth going when it meant risking his life, but the fact that he wouldn't let even the slimmest possibility slip away—and his willingness to sacrifice himself to build a justification—was impressive.

Needless to say, Junho didn't sympathize.

"Coming back in one piece is the top priority."

"Thank you for your concern, Transcendent."

"That said, the Mayor of Busan doesn't seem like the type to listen to anyone."

Mayor Yoo Seongsu was the quintessential man who lived off his own self-regard. Judging by his track record, not only was his understanding of Awakened shallow, but he strongly tended to view them as tools for his own ambition.

Looking at what he paraded around as his achievements, the thought "He just got lucky" came unbidden.

Cheon Myeongguk let out a bitter smile.

"Honestly, I feel the same way."

"Then there's no reason to bet on such low odds, is there?"

"It's an effort to avoid bloodshed."

Why are you emphasizing that while looking at me?

Taking responsibility for one's own choices is only natural.

From what I've seen, most people have to taste it for themselves before they figure out whether it's shit or soybean paste. Almost no one reverses course just from hearing what others say. Most only come to their senses after they've insisted on tasting it themselves.

He said he was staking his life on this because he wanted to save as many lives as possible.

"There is no peace without bloodshed."

When each person has their own power and their own ideas, the only way to resolve things is to establish who holds the upper hand and then force it through.

"I'm just trying to spill as little as possible. Sometimes I overdo it."

"Sounds like you're saying that for my benefit."

"Me? Not at all."

"Maybe I'm imagining it. Anyway, the most important thing is your life. Don't sacrifice yourself for others. And take good care of that ring."

Cheon Myeongguk's ability had been proven since my past life. If he went and got himself killed showing off, I might end up having to pair up with some random stranger.

And then the chemistry that had worked so well so far could turn into the worst possible match.

That was one development I had no desire to see.

"I'll take good care of the ring. And thank you for your concern."

"There's no one whose work syncs with mine like Director Cheon. This is what they call a favorite, right? My two favorites are Director Cheon and Director Jung."

"......"

"I mean it."

"...Yes. Thank you for your consideration."

His voice dropped noticeably. What was that? I went to the trouble of calling him my favorite.

"I have more preparations to make, so I'll be going."

Could it be because I said I had two favorites? Director Cheon, you're surprisingly greedy.

* * *

The President burst out laughing when he heard my grumbling.

"To Director Cheon, dealing with you is probably harder than persuading Yoo Seongsu in Busan."

"Oh, surely not."

"This calls for hearing Director Cheon's side of the story too."

Just how well do Cheon Myeongguk and I work together?

The chemistry between Cheon Myeongguk, who resolves each problem with an impassive face, and me, who immediately puts things into action, was superb beyond imagination.

Both Jung Juho and Cheon Myeongguk were so at ease when working with me—was this some kind of superior's mischievous prank?

"Anyway, Director Cheon will be in danger."

"He will be. He's classified as one of my closest aides—Yoo Seongsu won't let Director Cheon walk away when he's come of his own accord. At best, he'll be detained."

"You knew it was a trap and still went?"

"That's why I tried to stop him. But Director Cheon went knowing that even his capture would serve as justification."

"Justification."

It was a similar categorization to what Lee Sehee had told me about experts. Director Cheon's capture would be a process to lend legitimacy to the government's actions.

But walking into a trap of his own accord—if he died in the process, honestly, I'd call it a meaningless death, but there was no need to say that out loud and diminish Cheon Myeongguk's spirit of self-sacrifice.

"Director Cheon has always been one to take the lead on dirty work."

"Understood."

"Hm?"

"Isn't it that you want Director Cheon to get hurt as little as possible? I'll keep an eye out."

The President raised both hands in surrender.

"I can't win against you. That's the right answer. Director Cheon still has a lot of work to do."

"I know. I can read the room too, you know."

Though I had no idea why people around me kept saying I couldn't.

Anyway, the heart of enemy territory.

Bringing him back safely would be no easy feat. Still, he was Level 7—if I made sure he could at least protect himself, he'd manage on his own.

"So what's your plan?"

"I'm going to Busan too."

"When?"

"Right now."

I followed behind Cheon Myeongguk and headed down to Busan.

* * *

Upon arriving in Busan, Cheon Myeongguk habitually looked around.

It was a city worthy of being South Korea's second-largest. Yet there was only a controlled liveliness to it—the entire city felt rigid.

"They're preparing for war."

It pretended to be ordinary daily life, but the air of battle readiness lay over every corner of the city.

Awakened wandering around each building blurred the line between Hunter and villain, and the movements of the citizens were cowed.

'This isn't good.'

Yoo Seongsu claimed to have raised Busan's economy up himself, but from Cheon Myeongguk's view, that was far from the truth.

It was riddled with corruption and self-serving displays—closer to one last flash before the end. Whether he liked it or not, Yoo Seongsu's rule had to come to a close.

Meanwhile, the car he was in drew closer to Busan City Hall. The closer it got, the more sharply he felt the hostility.

He had left the Reaper Guild and handled affairs in key government posts, but it had been a long time since he'd felt hostility like this.

Their ultimate goal was regime change, so he'd assumed it would stay at a moderate level—but he hadn't expected it to be this blatant.

Just then, the car arrived at the entrance to Busan City Hall.

"We'll escort you."

Hunters surrounded Cheon Myeongguk as he stepped out of the car. They called it guidance and an escort, but in reality it was closer to being dragged along.

"Let's go."

Upon reaching the entrance of City Hall, Hunters armed with firearms and blades stood guard. Before entering, they inspected his belongings.

"Weapons and artifacts must be surrendered."

Cheon Myeongguk held out a single dagger and a recovery potion from inside his coat. He thought that would be the end of it, but one of the Hunters pointed at his ring.

"What about that ring? I can sense Force from it."

"It's a wedding ring. Do I need to surrender this too?"

"Anything with Force must be surrendered."

"It's my wife's ring—she's far away."

The Hunter hesitated, then nodded.

"...You won't be able to do anything with it, so I'll look the other way."

For the record, his faraway wife was in the United States. It wasn't a lie.

After the body search, he went inside. When he arrived at the mayor's office, Yoo Seongsu and over a dozen Hunters were waiting in a room decorated every bit as lavishly as the Blue House.

"Well now, if it isn't Director Cheon, famous for doing his job well. What a welcome sight."

"It's been a while, Mayor."

"It has. Though it's better for our relationship if we don't meet often. But looking at how things are flowing now, it seems hard for this to stay a good relationship, doesn't it?"

"......"

Cheon Myeongguk neither confirmed nor denied it.

"Now then, shall we hear why you've come all this way?"

"Further resistance is meaningless. I urge you to admit what you can of the suspicions now and turn yourself in. I'll show you the utmost leniency."

Yoo Seongsu, who had been listening, burst out laughing. Cheon Myeongguk didn't change expression and watched calmly.

"Don't tell me you came all this way just to say that? Hm? To persuade me?"

"That's right."

"Such confidence. Truly remarkable! So in the end, you'll take everything without conceding a single thing?"

"As I said a moment ago, the utmost leniency—"

"Enough. What's the source of that confidence? I'm genuinely curious."

"Choi Junho."

"Don't tell me you're showing that confidence on the strength of one transcendent?"

At those words, Cheon Myeongguk realized why the situation had no choice but to unfold this way.

Yoo Seongsu had no idea just how much power the Transcendent held.

Evaluating everything by Level, he was clearly thinking of it as merely going from Level 6 to 7, and from 7 to 8.

And he especially had no idea what a colossal disaster Choi Junho was.

If he himself were the Mayor of Busan, he would have been flat on his stomach by now.

"...Mayor, you're underestimating the Transcendent's power."

"Of course he's frightening. But what are you going to do with him? There are over a thousand Awakened in this City Hall alone right now. No matter how strong a transcendent is, he's still human in the end."

In front of Choi Junho, the most that would do is pile up more corpses.

"So you intend to go all the way?"

"I can't do that. I'm a merciful mayor. So I'll give you a chance. A chance to persuade the citizens of Busan."

"A chance, you say..."

"We're going to broadcast it. A no-holds-barred debate between the Busan City Council, including the Mayor of Busan, and the Director of the Awakened Security Office as the Blue House envoy. How about it?"

So he meant to make a spectacle of him.

Cheon Myeongguk nodded under Yoo Seongsu's sinisterly gleaming gaze.

"I accept."

"Good. What a splendid decision."

An hour later, Cheon Myeongguk was seated in the Busan City Council.

In the chamber sat Yoo Seongsu and the ten Busan City Council members who served as his aides.

The original forty-seven council members had been replaced when Yoo Seongsu was elected, unilaterally supplanted by ten appointees. Those mocking this called them Yoo's Ten Eunuchs, heaping scorn on them.

But there was no denying they were Yoo Seongsu's strongest personal guard force within Busan.

"We will now begin the no-holds-barred debate between the Director of the Blue House Awakened Security Office and Busan Metropolitan City."

The moderator's announcement marked the start of the debate. Cheon Myeongguk saw the broadcast cameras rolling and clicked his tongue inwardly.

The other side had prepared thoroughly as well. Their intent was clearly to highlight the conflict and rally their supporters. It was a dirty trick, and he knew it—yet he had no choice but to be drawn in.

The first to obtain the right to speak and rise from his seat was a burly, grim-looking middle-aged man with a close-shaved head.

He was Kwak Dowoon—younger brother of the Whale Guild master, Busan's largest guild, and Yoo Seongsu's right-hand man.

"I am Kwak Dowoon, Chairman of the Busan City Council. I'd like to ask why the government has persistently ignored Busan Metropolitan City's requests and now presses us so harshly."

"The government has never pressed Busan Metropolitan City."

"Never pressed us? Wasn't it the government that rejected every single one of Busan Metropolitan City's requests for support?"

"That was allocated according to incident ratios—"

"There you go! So the government decides those ratios however it pleases, doesn't it?"

Kwak Dowoon's words grew rougher. At that, the other council members raised their voices as well, pressing down on Cheon Myeongguk.

"......"

Cheon Myeongguk shut his mouth. In this atmosphere, where they were being pushed through one-sidedly without any data made public, what would refuting them with concrete evidence accomplish? Would they even be convinced? They'd brought him here to put him on display in the first place.

Thinking that way, his efforts felt pointless.

From the very start, the other side had intended to see this through to the end.

Should he hold back to avoid bloodshed, or should he tell the citizens the truth?

The former would let negotiations continue, but the latter meant catastrophe.

While Cheon Myeongguk agonized, the city council members began talking among themselves. They raised their voices about the government's unfair treatment, its one-sided extortion, its discrimination.

Eventually they didn't even wait for answers—they simply reached their own conclusions.

"Since there's no answer, we'll take it as an admission that the government has been discriminating against Busan all along."

"I......"

It was then, when Cheon Myeongguk could no longer hold back and was about to speak.

The ring on his finger glimmered, and particles of light formed the shape of a figure.

A moment later, when the light faded completely, the face that appeared before them was a familiar one. It was Choi Junho's gift—Transfer.

Only then did Cheon Myeongguk realize why he had been given the ring. His eyes went wide.

"Choi Junho, the transcendent."

"Director, if there's no discrimination, why couldn't you just say so?"

Choi Junho flashed a smirk, but Cheon Myeongguk's heart dropped.

It's over. We're all dead now.

"Why the hell are you here?"

He couldn't fathom why that lunatic Kwak Dowoon was poking a real lunatic.

Choi Junho grins wide. Why could he already see what was about to unfold? Had he gained some gift for seeing the future?

"Especially that one—he really rubs me the wrong way."

"How dare you......"

Kwak Dowoon, who had been flaring up, could no longer continue. Choi Junho had drawn Nuri like lightning and unleashed the blade storm. Caught in the fiercely howling Force, Kwak Dowoon was torn to shreds without even leaving a corpse behind.

Splat.

Blood and chunks of flesh sprayed in every direction.

Choi Junho's eyes met Gu Sangsi's—one of the Ten Eunuchs now gone. He smiled brightly.

"Now then, let's start the game. A game where anyone who can't answer my question dies, one by one. A game that's fun for me alone."