Storm Warrior - Chapter 335



Only Noblemtl

#335, I will help you

There was a brief pause on the other end of the phone as if someone had heard something shocking, but soon a simple answer was heard.

-… I will convey it as you said.

It seems that he felt that it was inappropriate to ask the reason over the phone rather than through a private phone call.

I hung up the phone without further explanation.

However, Joo Ja-heon, who had a long conversation with me earlier, nodded his head as if he had read my thoughts and said.

“You found what you were looking for. An offer that will satisfy thousands of players.”

“Yeah, I guess we’ll have to do a better job of packaging it, but players probably aren’t that interested in hippocampus yet.”

“You’re not interested…? In today’s world, monopolizing the supply of hippocampus drugs would be like becoming the most powerful person in the world.”

“That’s right. But you probably haven’t even thought about it until now. The main stage of Roco33 was limited to ‘Korea’ as the title suggests, and it disappeared from there quickly. Someone smarter than me might have already figured out its value… They probably don’t know where the seahorse came from or how it’s distributed in the first place.”

When I first saw the real-life hippocampus, I also remembered it as an ‘annoying object’ used by the superhuman military and police NPCs.

I was curious because I had seen the scene of a sword-wielding deer being neutralized in an instant right before my eyes, and because I was still missing one means of survival, and because Cha Yu-ra had told me the secret source.

And if it hadn’t been for my father’s involvement, no matter how great my country was, I would not have known that it was the blood of the Charybdis clan.

“Then… I guess I’ll have to leak information to their radar first.”

“And I will personally show you the taste of the highs and lows of power.”

Joo Ja-heon shook his head with a bitter smile.

“I don’t think the place that will resonate the most is the players.”

“What are you talking about?”

“This is the story of the governments of each country who were thirsty. Han Seong-jun, who already had a great status, now holds the Sea Horse Emperor, so there is no need for another Earth Emperor.”

“Good wording. Earth Emperor… If players start to picture their own faces in the image of the Earth Emperor, then the promotion will be successful.”

Players who want to remain in the world of Loco33 that has become reality.

What would be their ultimate goal in this endless game?

For players, even the seemingly routine ‘farming’ part is just a process to become stronger and more famous.

I can’t know all of their stories, but… isn’t it all about the strong – at least living a life of luxury with a better self-esteem than in the original world?

For veterans who continue to work beyond a certain level, survival is already a problem that has passed.

“… There must be a lot to do. I’ll press the accelerator hard.”

“No, I couldn’t help it because of my mother when I came. I just left the car at the airport.”

Joo Ja-heon made a face of realization and muttered as he started the car.

“… It’s not easy to accept that humans can open portals.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“which…?”

“You still think I’m human.”

“You are a great person. Compared to the villagers who used to treat me like a slave and those ugly bastards.”

“… Don’t say things that don’t have to be said.”

Sigh.

We left our car on the side of a deserted road and took the portal back to the farm.

After ordering the staff in Lanzarote to retrieve the vehicle and dismantle the coordinate device in Rioja, he returned to the United States with Dong-gu.

***

The office of the Director of the Foreign Affairs Coordination Office in the Government Administration and Home Affairs Headquarters building.

… in other words, the room of the Five Kingdoms.

-Chinese Acting President He Chunning made a surprise visit to Pyongyang today and met with Generalissimo Han Sang-cheol. This is the first diplomatic move since the internal changes in the Chinese Communist Party, and the world is paying close attention.

Oh Wang-guk and Gu Chang-soo, who had come as a guest, looked back and forth between the TV screen and each other’s faces, their eyes locked in bewilderment.

“… Are you sure he passed away?”

“Yes… No, that’s right, Seongjun said that too?”

“Then is that gentleman on the screen the chairman’s uncle?”

“Uh, maybe a stand-in? Like Kagemusha.”

“Even the fucking Kagemusha is at the level of a clone?”

The screen clearly showed Han Sang-cheol shaking hands with China’s new leader.

“… That’s right. Huh? That’s right! Maybe it’s Seongjun. There’s a transformation or a magic, right? That magic. It’s not an illusion, but it turns you into a completely different person.”

“I know the chairman’s abilities well. I was fooled even though I worked by his side for several years. But… isn’t that a bit different? Like the image of my late father? It’s so sad.”

“There must be a reason for that. Like the fact that the United States must not collapse right away.”

“If it really were the Chairman, then yes. Anyway… Those who believed that the General had passed away must be quite shocked.”

It was at that moment that Goo Chang-soo was about to express his agreement.

“Changsoo.”

A voice suddenly entered Gu Chang-soo’s head.

‘100 million!’

There was only one person who would speak to him like this.

“Seo, Seongjun?”

“What? Hey, where!”

The Five Kingdoms, unaware of the situation, were startled and looked out the window.

“… No. This kid is just joking-”

When Goo Chang-soo pointed to my head with his index finger and brought it to his lips, Oh Wang-guk, who had been grumbling, opened his eyes wide and nodded.

“I see you were with the Five Kingdoms. That’s good.”

‘Are you by any chance with the Chinese acting president right now?’

“Oh, news? That video is from yesterday. They just pretended it was released today.”

‘Is it really Seongjun?’

『Yes. There was a reason. Even if I don’t explain, you’ll get the idea if you look at the situation from this point on. First, listen to the urgent matter.』

‘yes.’

“I caught some players trying to approach people around me.”

‘What a bunch of big-headed bastards…!’

“I warned you not to do the same thing again, but I can’t guarantee that there’s only one such group. You’re going to have to suffer a lot.”

‘Um… Are you telling me to take good care of my brother, the King of the Kingdom?’

『Among my aides, he’s the most easygoing. But if you tell the Five Kingdoms, he’ll take care of a few more people.』

‘all right.’

『And… I’ll be there in about an hour, so tell them to prepare for the press conference accordingly.』

‘A press conference?’

Instead of answering Gu Chang-soo’s question, Han Seong-jun asked something else.

“What is your goal?”

‘Goal? Suddenly?’

“I understand why you want to stay here, and what you ultimately want to achieve by staying here.”

‘That too… It’s nothing special. I just eat well and live well. I make a lot of money and have a pretty girlfriend… .’

“Is that only possible here?”

‘Well, for one thing… it seems a lot easier. At least here, there are a lot more things I can enjoy just because I’m a superhuman than in my previous life.’

『I wonder if other players think similarly?』

‘Well, since this is reality now, wouldn’t you rather find peace than be obsessed with rankings? It’s not like you’re risking your life to enjoy PVP… In the end, your goal is to achieve the maximum success you can with the power you have.’

“I see. That’s a sufficient answer.”

‘But why is that?’

“First, tell the Five Kingdoms what I said.”

‘Ah! Yes.’

Goo Chang-soo suddenly turned his gaze to Oh Wang-guk and relayed Han Seong-jun’s words.

“… Then it seems you entered the United States with the farm family. I should tell Yangga and the director to be careful.”

***

After confirming the scene of the Five Kingdoms inserting the cockpot through Goo Chang-soo’s eyes and ears, he cut off the connection.

Even though the King of O was a bit of a jerk, I thought he was definitely a quick-witted guy who understood what was being said.

Anyway, the reason I checked Gu Chang-soo’s thoughts was… because I suddenly felt sorry for the players who were lumped together.

Of course, my thoughts on the subject of cleanup have not changed. I have no regrets about those who have already been eliminated.

However, because of the existence of Gu Chang-soo, who I had a connection with, it was true that if I looked into each player individually, I thought there would be quite a few players who were not much different from him.

“Phew… .”

“What’s so serious?”

Joo Ja-heon, who had been looking out the window with his eyes closed at my sigh, asked with his head still down.

The guy would stay by my side during the day and stay with Aaron at night.

It was only the morning before yesterday that my mother and Aaron arrived, so it’s already been three days since I slept.

So, closing your eyes and looking could be either a nap or training.

“If you’re sleeping, sleep more. If you’re training, focus.”

“Then take a deep breath.”

“Can’t I even breathe as I please? This is my office.”

Even though he says this, I am happy to see Joo Ja-heon becoming more and more shameless in front of me.

Although only Im Tae-seong knew my true identity, the appearance of Ju Ja-heon was not awkward for Gong Ha-gyun and others.

Because my father had used me as a contact for a while before.

“If you want to use that as a campaigning tool, I have no choice but to endure it.”

“It’s a bit subtle. I’m sure I’m sure, but it’s not enough.”

“Is that what you mean?”

“Yeah. If there were a gold bar and a bronze sword in front of you, which would you choose?”

“Is there a diamond set into the bronze sword hilt?”

“no.”

“Then I’ll pick up the gold bars.”

“Yes. It’s such an easy problem. But I think there might be someone who picks up a sword and tries to steal the gold.”

“Now that I think about it, that’s not a bad choice. Then… suggest both.”

“Because the latter is something I cannot give you.”

Of course, the supply rights to the hippocampus are just bait, and I have no intention of using them to drain Maru’s blood, but wouldn’t the other person be tempted if it was something he believed he could give them?

The crafting kits for fraudulent items that even made my eyes roll over, such as [Fragment of the Brilliance of Creation] and [Transcendence Stone with Blessing], were the ultimate rewards that only Marduk could provide.

As in the binary choice problem mentioned earlier, force that can take away any right can always dazzle the player’s reason.

“The other one is talking about the system’s proposal… Is that back to square one?”

I stood up and said under my breath.

“No way. I couldn’t have considered Marduk’s interference from the beginning. After all, the bronze sword would only be seen by those who came to get the gold.”

Obviously, a better proposal is the one that follows the previous one.

In other words, Marduk’s interference will happen at the point when my purpose has already been achieved.

The purpose of my bait was to gather players in one place – that was it.

“… … Then what is the problem?”

“I think it’s only natural that they’d be fooled by any bait… If you think about it, most of the people who want to stay here are similar to Gu Chang-soo. Of course, there might be some differences in personality, but that’s all relative.”

Before I knew it, Joo Ja-heon was looking at me with bewildered eyes.

“… … .”

“Why? It’s just like that.”

“You’re wasting my precious time.”

Joo Ja-heon closed his eyes again and turned his head to the window.

“It must have been a meaningful time for you to realize that you still have compassion for your friend.”

“… So. Are you planning to show mercy?”

“no?”

“That feels more perverted. I’d rather not feel pity.”

“I guess so?”

Joo Ja-heon did not respond any further.

I quietly left the office to let the guy continue with his sleep or training.

And a little later, the briefing room of the Republic of Korea Government Administration and Home Affairs Headquarters.

I stood in front of reporters, receiving numerous camera flashes.

“… … I believe that the role of the water purification headquarters ended a long time ago. The dissolution of the water purification headquarters is a matter for the President to decide, but I will now step down from my position as head of the headquarters.”

Pavabavabat!

The shutter sound grew louder and the reporters’ questions poured in.

“Have you decided on your next move?”

“Please tell us about your future plans!”

Since it was originally a place where I was going to just say what I wanted to say, I continued speaking while looking at the broadcast camera.

“I plan to continue what I was doing. And if there’s any danger in the world, I’ll let you know. Um… and. To the players. I’ll help you settle in. Or… I’ll help you return.”

A question mark appeared in the reporters’ eyes.