Chapter 39
Countdown (1)
The trial had ended, leaving the courtroom silent.
Only two people remained in the hushed space.
‘Was this still not enough?’
Rachel bit her lip tightly.
She had anticipated that he wasn’t an ordinary opponent, which was why she had prepared so thoroughly.
Yet she hadn’t expected him to involve someone from the Scottish faction.
On a global scale, the difference in power might have been large, but within England, an invisible clash between the Adams family and the Highlanders was unfolding.
London, in particular, was a symbolic place where players had formed a historic alliance.
To the players, it was as sacred as Mecca or Jerusalem.
‘That must be why Father couldn’t act too aggressively.’
It made sense.
One couldn’t burn down the house while trying to swat a flea.
Yet watching him slip away right before her eyes filled her with rage.
Now that the establishment of the community was almost certain, meddling with Se-hyun had become far more difficult.
Of course, she could push for a conflict between communities to force a resolution…
‘…But that would only escalate today’s incident.’
The problem was the faction Se-hyun had allied with.
Chances were, it would only give the Highlander side an excuse.
In any case, she had once again been played by him—down to every detail.
“Let’s go back.”
Abe straightened his clothes and stood up.
“You are meant to lead the family. You shouldn’t get caught up in trivial matters.”
“…Trivial?”
“Once you sit in the head of the family’s seat, such things become meaningless. So…”
“I still have things to do.”
Rachel spoke firmly.
Abe looked into her eyes, realized her intent, and couldn’t believe it.
“…You intend to give up the headship over something so minor?”
“How can you expect me to take care of ten things when I can’t even handle this one?”
“….”
Abe couldn’t argue.
To submit to a single individual was certainly embarrassing.
‘…But still, there’s no reason to get so worked up over it.’
The Foundation was not a weak organization that trembled at individual power.
Except for a handful of out-players, most recognized the Foundation as the governing authority.
Sure, today’s events might slightly tarnish the Foundation’s reputation.
But Abe, deep down, was secretly pleased.
‘Much better than before.’
Her son, who had once given up everything in disillusionment, was finally burning with resolve.
‘Much better than when he ran away from the family ten years ago.’
If he could gain a successor even at the cost of the Foundation’s reputation, it was a worthwhile trade.
Bang—!
Rachel struck the table and stood.
It seemed a decision had been made in her heart.
“How much time remains until the order takes effect?”
“You wouldn’t…!”
Abe’s eyes widened as he realized what his son intended.
Rachel was going to mobilize them.
“…This is not a sword for such a small matter.”
Setting aside his uneasy feelings, Rachel’s figure walked away.
Clink—!
Se-hyun and In-ha’s champagne glasses met.
Baker, already somewhat drunk, was playing a gentle tune on his trumpet.
The dim lights, champagne, and the balance between harmony and dissonance created a surprisingly sweet atmosphere in Baker’s office.
In-ha spoke quietly.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help this time.”
“What do you mean? Without you, the application wouldn’t have even gone through.”
Indeed, without In-ha, the idea of creating a community would have been impossible.
Even if they used the shortcut of donations, minimum requirements still had to be met.
Se-hyun didn’t want a community that existed only in name.
‘I’m a creator, not a fighter.’
Se-hyun knew his limits.
He was a master in creation, but not in combat. He lacked that talent.
Yet a community required combat-capable members.
Se-hyun considered no one more suitable than In-ha.
He had proven his versatility alongside Seong-cheol and already had a solid track record.
In the worst case, they could have borrowed Seong-cheol and his team’s names.
But that was no longer necessary; Se-hyun’s objection was accepted, and the trial’s outcome was as follows:
-
The objection by plaintiff Nam Se-hyun is accepted, and after the order takes effect, the community’s establishment will be automatically approved.
Everything went according to plan.
The community was officially established, and their opponent had even been dealt a blow.
It couldn’t have been more perfect.
“Thanks to the young Asian, our Highlanders found a breakthrough too! Haha!”
Baker approached, wrapping an arm around Se-hyun’s neck.
“Hey, step back.”
The sharp scent of whiskey made Se-hyun grimace.
“I’ve rolled through hell trying to humble those self-proclaimed gentlemen. Ten years ago, it wasn’t this bad, but now they’re all about government and rules…”
Baker rambled on. His emotions from past frustrations had evidently built up.
Eventually, they just humored him—nodding, patting his shoulder, refilling his glass.
The three enjoyed a relaxed time in their own ways.
Then Baker chuckled.
“…But don’t let your guard down too much.”
“Huh?”
Se-hyun frowned. Officially, the community had been approved, so what could go wrong?
“You think the judgment is all that matters? It has to take effect. Haven’t you heard about the sneaky conditions those crafty English added?”
Conditions?
Se-hyun recalled the judgment:
-
The community’s establishment will be automatically approved after the order takes effect.
“After the order takes effect… so before that…”
It felt like a slap to the back of his head.
“These English, pretending to be gentlemen in front, commit all sorts of mischief behind your back.”
“…You’re right. I was careless.”
Even if their image seemed polite, without it, they were no different from gangsters.
“…When does the order take effect?”
“6 a.m.”
At dawn, when the cocks crow and mail carriers begin their rounds.
The procedure would only be complete once he personally received the official notice from the Foundation.
“So, if he doesn’t receive it…”
“It’s all canceled. Haha…”
“….”
Se-hyun’s expression hardened, but Baker laughed jokingly.
“Hahaha! Look at that face. Just kidding, kidding!”
He patted Se-hyun’s back as if mocking him.
“No one would openly sabotage us now. And if they did, other communities wouldn’t stand by.”
That seemed reasonable.
Yet Se-hyun couldn’t fully treat it as a joke.
Rachel was ruthless.
She had come all the way to England just to block Se-hyun’s community application.
She wouldn’t let things go easily.
“Relax your face, okay? Think of it as an old drunk’s joke.”
Unaware of Se-hyun’s feelings, Baker poured himself whiskey.
But before even filling half the glass, the bottle ran out.
“Ah, already empty… I sent someone for more ages ago, why hasn’t it arrived?”
Baker pressed the bottle’s mouth to catch every last drop.
Se-hyun couldn’t help but chuckle, his tension easing.
After all, if someone so seasoned in London spoke this way, what was there to worry about?
“One bottle won’t last the night, young Asian.”
Just as he was about to stand…
Knock, knock, knock—!
“My Gosh, Speak of the Devil.”
The staggered walk to the door looked almost zombie-like.
Se-hyun was about to chuckle.
Bang—!!
“What…!”
The shot shattered the atmosphere.
Se-hyun and In-ha jumped to their feet.
Baker stepped back urgently.
“Run, young Asian! They’re here!”
“Huh? Who…!”
“This way!”
Baker lowered the emergency ladder to the roof, sending Se-hyun and In-ha up.
Bang—!
After covering them with suppressive fire, he climbed up himself.
Bang—!
The front door was smashed, and the intruders began pursuing them.
Se-hyun grabbed In-ha’s hand and glanced back.
They were a group in tuxedos, masked, with monocles.
“Damned gentlemen!”
Baker spat the words as he ran.
Se-hyun recognized them—an out-player group operating in London, much like Chester’s group.
They weren’t attacking out of personal grudge; their employer was obvious.
“In-ha, ahead!”
In-ha stopped abruptly, pointing.
Another group blocked their path.
Baker laughed wryly.
“Ha, I’ll have to take back that joke about this being nothing.”
He gripped his nearly empty revolver.
Se-hyun checked his pocket watch, preparing to activate his abilities if necessary.
Baker grabbed Se-hyun’s wrist.
“If you’re going to use your ability, don’t.”
“…Huh?”
“You don’t know their target? It’s you.”
Any half-hearted resistance was meaningless.
They intended to eliminate Se-hyun here, with In-ha and Baker as witnesses.
“Then I’ll handle it here.”
“Huh? Are you insane…!”
“Insane is all of us dying here together. You think this is all of them?”
London was practically the Adams family’s backyard.
Even with ten or twenty minutes left, surviving six hours was impossible.
“If you die, what do you think will happen?”
If Se-hyun died and the community application failed, all of Baker’s efforts would be wasted.
If only one could survive, it had to be Se-hyun.
“…Don’t say that.”
Despite knowing, Se-hyun gritted his teeth.
-
Leave this to me. You’re the only one who can make the artifact.
-
You must survive, Nam Se-hyun. Protect the teacher.
-
Stay with the teacher till the end. Please.
Many had sent similar messages in previous lives.
He didn’t want to relive that awful feeling again.
Bang—!
Baker’s shot decisively cut off hesitation.
One bullet pierced two gentlemen simultaneously.
Thunk—
Se-hyun took the signal, grabbed In-ha’s wrist, and ran through the open path.
“Yes, that’s it, young Asian.”
Baker grimaced as he checked his magazine.
“…Tch. Arriving a day late, of course.”
He could make only six [Zeroing Shot] bullets per day.
Only three remained in the chamber.
No matter how strong the enemy, a single bullet could kill, but in a swarm, [Zeroing Shot]’s weakness became clear.
Bang—!
“You’ll have to play with me a little longer.”
He fired at one trying to pursue Se-hyun.
Only then did all the gentlemen begin to approach Baker.
‘Alright, let’s be honest. Who do I really want dead?’
The grudge accumulated from rolling around London with those gentlemen ran deep.
The job might be a factor, but they likely aimed for Baker too.
Clang—! Bang—!
He barely dodged the blades from a staff and fired one of his remaining two bullets.
Flap—
Baker’s coat billowed, obscuring their vision.
Bang—!
He pulled the last trigger.
But resistance ended there.
Thud—!
A blade he hadn’t seen pierced his abdomen.
Baker’s white shirt was stained red.
Click, click—!!
The trigger yielded only an empty chamber.
“Ugh… damn it.”
Screech—
His faint laughter darkened along with the clouds blocking the moonlight.
