Chapter 50
Anyway, it’s classified, right? (2)
3.
I don’t believe violence solves everything.
The more precious something is to me, the less power violence has over it.
Still — I can agree that violence does solve quite a lot.
Some might accuse me of having a cruel hand, but what can I do? This is the path I’ve lived.
If you don’t kill, you get killed.
That’s how my life has been.
“Still, you were going to produce a masterpiece, right?”
“Boss! Can I play with this?”
“Use it however you want.”
Clatter—!
Peanut started happily playing, using the broken drone’s wing as a wheel.
Peanut’s little black ears fluttered as he rode the wing like a wheel. He was so cute I almost wanted to pop him in my mouth… no, that’s not important right now.
Peanut’s cuteness is deadly. Even here, it steals attention.
“Hey, Jang Wisseon.”
I snapped back to attention and gave Jang Wisseon a pat on the shoulder.
Through a little small talk I learned this guy’s name. It was small talk with a little taste of pain — maybe that’s the best description.
“Just kill me… please….”
“I told you I’ll keep you alive, so stop whining. Wait a little.”
Good thing I’d brought a spare drone.
The bomb had gone off, but luckily the drone tucked away in the inventory didn’t seem affected.
I grinned looking at Jang Wisseon, who was shedding tears of humiliation.
“Do what you’re told and I’ll keep you alive.”
Of course I’d keep him alive. I was planning to abandon him here afterwards.
I was wondering whether to lop off an arm or a leg when—
“Meteor Shower player!”
Deputy Director Choi and Mr. Kim Doyun showed up.
Mr. Kim looked relatively calm, but Deputy Director Choi was completely drained of color. Choi normally keeps a smile on, so for him to look that pale meant he’d been badly shocked.
He scanned the scene, then spoke in a trembling voice.
“How on earth….”
While he was trying to make sense of it, Jang Wisseon — who had been lying on the floor — crawled toward Choi and shouted.
“I’ll cooperate with anything! Please… get me out of this Asura….”
“Asura? What an awful word. Who’s more merciful than me?”
I lightly stepped on the squirming worm-like body of Jang Wisseon, then looked at Deputy Director Choi and said,
“I handled the rest. I left him alive on purpose.”
“…You have another motive?”
“They were trying to kill me — might as well milk them a little. Do you mind if I restart the live stream?”
Deputy Director Choi’s face went even whiter at that.
Even Mr. Kim, who had held his expression calm until now, breathed out,
“…That’s remarkable.”
He said it with his mouth just opening, clearly impressed. This is someone who’s gone crazy for broadcasting.
Deputy Director Choi, with trembling hands, pulled something from his inventory. He always seems prepared — another phone popped out.
“Just a moment, I’ll make a call.”
“Yes, do as you wish.”
It’s strange when you think about it. How are calls and broadcasts possible here with no base station? I should’ve asked Professor Oh Youngpil about it.
Choi stepped back and made a call. He seemed to be trying to keep it quiet, but I could hear the whole conversation.
“Yes. That’s right. Currently… ah… may I proceed like this? Ultimately the responsibility lies with the minister… understood. As soon as we leave the tower, we’ll head straight to headquarters… yes, Mr. Kim Doyun will come too. Understood.”
He was on the phone with the minister.
While Choi was busy, Mr. Kim Doyun quietly came up to me and said in an understated voice,
“I saw it.”
“Saw what?”
“You summoned a massive fireball and smashed it with your fist to make it explode. It was a pattern I’d never seen before — like a fusion of magic and martial arts.”
Sharp eyes. Even from some distance he could see that. Calling him one of Korea’s top-ranked players isn’t an exaggeration — his situational reading is far better than a bunch of mediocre Chinese players.
“I wondered whether even I could cut through it.”
“If it were Mr. Kim Doyun, you could have done it.”
“I don’t doubt Meteor Shower. You are the future of Korea.”
“Suddenly?”
“I respect you.”
What a turn. Even after seeing that scene, he says that?
“For a long time, Korean players have lived a humiliating existence. I don’t think you know what that’s like, Meteor Shower.”
For a moment there was a cold light in his eyes. But it passed quickly, and Mr. Kim spoke softly to me,
“If you need my help, tell me anytime.”
“…Ah, yes.”
I wanted to talk further, but Choi finished his call and returned.
“Headquarters has agreed. However, this case is—”
“Just frame it as a personal lapse — a madman streamer’s stunt, and be done with it.”
“Thank you.”
“No problem. Freedom, after all — that’s Korea for you.”
“We can probably predict the nature of the broadcast, but they won’t acknowledge it.”
Of course they wouldn’t. Would they admit they sent attackers?
So for them it’s nothing more than a flashy streamer’s provocation.
Deputy Director Choi stepped back, and I immediately entered my broadcast data into the filming drone.
Rest in peace to the old filming drone that died honorably and became Peanut’s toy.
[BROADCAST ACCOUNT CONNECTED.]
[SYNCHRONIZING FILMING DRONE.]
[SYNCING INFORMATION TO THE EARBUD LINKED DEVICE!]
[BROADCAST PREPARATIONS COMPLETE.]
I should give something to the viewers who were surprised when the stream cut out.
“Wisseon. You ready?”
“W-what pre…paration?”
“I’m going to give you freedom.”
Freedom from everything that’s been choking you.
“Start broadcast.”
I resumed the stream, and the chat exploded:
What’s going on?
Why is the streamer suddenly wild?
Internet communities went crazy;; people said you were deadㅇㅇㅇ
Are you okay?
Wow you’re alive
MegaGod never dies
Phewhhhh
Really lucky
LOL they posted that you died during those minutes?
Who’s that guy in front? Where did Deputy Director Choi and Kim Doyun go?
I felt like there were more viewers than before. Well, whatever — more people to enjoy my little prank.
“Everyone curious about our new friend? I’ll have him introduce himself. Wisseon, give us a proper intro.”
I patted his back and Jang Wisseon looked up at me trembling.
“If I reveal my identity here… I’ll really be killed when I go back. Okay?”
“You want to go back to your friends right now?”
This isn’t mere trolling. This is a warning: a demonstration of what happens if you mess with me. Up to this point it’s self-defense.
“Wisseon. Who’s the person who has four arms and legs in the morning, two at lunch, and zero at dinner? Hint: surname is Jang.”
I whispered it so softly that Jang Wisseon convulsed like he’d been shocked, shut his eyes tight, and said,
“I’m Jang Wisseon, head of Team 3, Northeast Asia, State Security Protection Bureau of the People’s Republic of China. Our mission was to detain and kill the Meteor Shower player….”
“No, that’s not what I want.”
“…Huh?”
“That. Say that.”
?????????
China?
What’s the State Security Protection Bureau?
??????????????
What the heck happened while the stream was down?
Please explain
Let’s see.
What was the name of that Chinese chairman again? Luo Cheng… something.
While I tried to recall the name, Jang Wisseon bit his lip, crying, and shouted at me in desperation.
“I’ll bark like a dog if you tell me to. Please, just that… please….”
“Someone might think I tortured you.”
It’s hard to be brave. Courage doesn’t come easily.
At times like this, you need to boost courage. The best way to give courage is—
Flare—!
Fire is the best.
I warmed his back where the filming drone couldn’t see, and Jang Wisseon burst into tears and shouted,
“Chairman Luo Chengwei is a bastard! Luo Chengwei is a bastard! Free—”
Ah. So Luo Chengwei is the chairman’s name. But I didn’t ask for the rest of that line…
Gasp
Gasp
hahahahahahahahahaha
??????????
What’s even happening lol
Chat censored that line in that country
?????????
At the same time, the number of reports shot up fast!
I patted the brave Jang Wisseon’s back again, nodding in satisfaction.
“Great political statement. And you know what? Earlier these people attacked me, but actually they turned out to be good guys.”
I glanced at Mr. Kim Doyun and smiled slyly.
“Luckily, these attackers were dealt with by Mr. Kim Doyun. If it weren’t for him, I’d have died, right Kim Doyun?”
Caught off-guard, Mr. Kim hesitated, then nodded and replied,
“…That’s right, more or less.”
Why was I passing the credit to Mr. Kim instead of taking it myself? Simple: it was bothersome.
Still, I wanted to make sure the warning was delivered properly, so I wasn’t done yet.
I moved the filming drone in front of me, looked into the lens and grinned.
“I’m leaving this nice Chinese friend here, so come and pick up his buddies.”
“Wait, that’s a different story—”
“Today’s broadcast is over! Sorry kids, the linked quest continues next time! I’m out!”
Classic streamer timing
No finish the quest first!!!
hahahahaha
Living like you please lol
Are you leaving from here? You’re leaving from here? You’re leaving from here?
Show Peanut before you gooooo!
With a chorus of viewers’ complaints,
[BROADCAST HAS ENDED!]
The emergency broadcast was over.
Content ingested for free, very satisfying.
Today’s stream was explosive.
4.
After the short live stream I looked down at Jang Wisseon and nodded in satisfaction.
“Truth always wins. Wisseon, straighten your shoulders. You won.”
“Please… take me to a safe zone. I want to apply for asylum…”
“You said you loved your country, right? I like patriots. Maybe your comrades will come for you soon?”
Officials were surely watching my broadcast.
Someone who failed an operation and then publicly humiliated himself on live TV wouldn’t be left alone.
Jang Wisseon’s speech shifted from honorific to casual as if he’d glimpsed his future. He cried out in a desperate voice.
“Then why… did you spare me…?”
I snorted and replied,
“You need a reason?”
“…What?”
“That’s right. You can’t kill yourself. I’ll only do this much.”
Crackle—!
I crushed his jaw, then thoroughly shattered his hands and feet.
“Aaaagh!”
It sounded like the air was leaking out. He wouldn’t be able to chew food properly — he couldn’t bite his tongue either.
I tapped his head lightly with my fist.
“If you try to send someone else to hell, you should be prepared to fall into hell yourself. Right?”
“Ugh… ughhh… ughhhh…”
“Time to go. Thanks for the entertainment, Wisseon. Thanks for the video.”
I left those words and stood up. I stretched lightly and approached Deputy Director Choi and Mr. Doyun.
Oh right — he was a well-trained assassin player on their side. Maybe I should let Choi interrogate him to squeeze some info.
“Deputy Director Choi, would you like to interrogate him now?”
“No need. It’s impossible to extract anything meaningful. The State Security Protection Bureau’s field forces don’t even appear in their organization charts.”
“Really?”
“Think of them as a loose network. Except for the desk-bound bosses, there’s nothing to pull from these people.”
That sounded like they’d already tried several times. As an intelligence-like agency, they were thorough in that respect.
Choi exhaled softly and then asked me quietly,
“Are you really leaving him like that? China could learn something about your combat power.”
“That’s why I left him.”
“…I see. But if your intention was just to warn them, could you not have declared it on the broadcast?”
“Nah, that’d be boring. This way’s better for content.”
If my strength became public knowledge, I couldn’t easily make certain types of content — like content about righteous punishment or raw-power demonstrations. We’ve got a big raid planned; no need to raise my profile prematurely.
Choi, perceptive as he was, seemed to read my thoughts quickly.
“Understood. So you’ll leave now?”
“That’s the plan. Oh, Doyun — if you’ve got time, how about gukbap and soju?”
“Fine by me.”
“And you, Deputy Director Choi?”
“Unfortunately I have to go back to headquarters.”
Looks like Choi’s the only one who’ll get chewed up because of today. Poor guy — maybe I’ll send him some tonic later.
Hmm, drinking alone with Doyun might be awkward. Maybe I should call Inseop?
Vvvvvv—!
Vvvvvv!
Just as I was thinking over who to drink with, I got a message.
OurBro: the trial just ended.
OurBro: what is this article????????? You got attacked by China?
OurBro: (link)
OurBro: Get home now.
OurBro: No, I’m heading to the West Gate of Seoul. Wait there!
Why the commotion?
Curious, I opened the link to the portal site and couldn’t help but laugh.
“Heh. Already?”
The portal was already full of breaking headlines:
“BREAKING: Meteor Shower player allegedly attacked by China at the 3rd-floor Goliath Basin?”
“Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Issues Emergency Statement: ‘The claims of a certain streamer are a staged fabrication. We have never acted hostile toward a neighboring country’s players.’”
“What’s the truth of the incident?”
“The streamer revealed the attackers live on his stream.”
“Unusually, no replay has been uploaded, but clips are rapidly spreading.”
“What is the State Security Protection Bureau?”
“The Abilities Management Division has made no comment yet.”
“A new phase in Korea-China tensions.”
The news was plastered with stories about me, and suddenly I was at the center of a storm.
It’s only been five minutes since I ended the broadcast,
…is this real?
