◈ Episode 294. I Had Been Overlooking It (3)
The Blue House was in a state of emergency.
Jeong Han-taek.
The president, famous for his gentle demeanor, face contorted.
“Those damn bastards don’t know the meaning of moderation, moderation.”
Just how much have they taken and devoured?
How far have they reached?
Jeong Han-taek resented his own fingers.
Crack!
So much so that resentment turned to fury, he gnashed his teeth.
“If only it weren’t for that damned treaty…!”
The International AAU Treaty.
After the Great Upheaval.
A treaty formed from the belief that Players’ free activities would protect humanity from the erosion of rifts. On the very first page of its clauses, it was clearly stipulated.──────A nation cannot exert influence over a Player.──────Jeong Han-taek had desperately upheld the AAU Treaty.
As I said, wasn’t the Republic of Korea a fortunate nation chosen by Arcana?
Besides, Arcana wasn’t his area of expertise.
It was obvious that interfering would yield no good results.
He didn’t need to look far—the neighboring country was an excellent object lesson.
China, which hadn’t even joined the AAU Treaty and had exerted massive influence, only to be devoured by the Player Liu Aojun Chun. And the Japanese government, which violated the AAU Treaty trying to put a leash on Players, only to lose a crucial pillar called Inazuma.
‘I believed firmly.’
Nam Tae-min, and Lee Ho-yeol, who showed remarkable success following him.
Watching them, Jeong Han-taek felt relieved that his judgment hadn’t been wrong. He believed that trusting and watching over the Players while he himself downed Ssanghwacha was the best course of action.
But…….
“They’re screwing me over this badly?!”
Even in a world overturned by the Great Upheaval.
Those bastards practicing gutter politics.
To think they would stir up such chaos.
Jeong Han-taek reproached himself once more.
“I should have trusted those who were worth trusting.”
He was Jeong Han-taek, who had rolled through the political arena alongside them.
Because he had rubbed shoulders with them.
He hadn’t expected them to cower quietly.
But there are limits.
If it was his fault…….
‘It began with overlooking the fact that they were leeching off Shinhwa.’
Affiliated with Shinhwa Group.
Shinhwa Guild.
Not an ordinary guild.
‘It was a mistake to think of it as a new subsidiary.’
They were simply taking and devouring bribes from the chaebol families.
It had been a mistake to overlook them precisely because it was the unusual Shinhwa Guild.
Jeong Han-taek’s eyes glinted with a cold, pale light.
“I should have rooted them all out then.”
He should have intervened even if it meant violating the AAU Treaty.
Because leaving them unattended had led to this point.
Shinhwa became Inazuma and eventually reached out even to world domination.
As a result.
“To think that Lee Ho-yeol himself would come to me…….”
Jeong Han-taek was so ashamed he couldn’t raise his head.
But even as he hung his head, time flowed on.
A sigh escaped.
“……Hoo.”
He knew it was far too late.
He might be fixing the barn after losing the cow.
Hisagi’s face suddenly flashed through his mind.
‘Perhaps there was a possibility that Lee Ho-yeol would turn his back on South Korea…….’
Wasn’t there the precedent of Hisagi?
The ancient kingdom of Arcana that appeared in reality, Yusara.
It was Hisagi who had cut ties with his wretched homeland and defected to the Kingdom of Yusara. And it was none other than Lee Ho-yeol who wielded influence second only to the king in that very Kingdom of Yusara.
Jeong Han-taek clenched his fist.
“If such a thing happened……. Damn, it’d be grounds for unanimous impeachment.”
Even so, what needed correcting had to be corrected.
It wasn’t something he could avoid just because he wanted to.
He had no choice but to make his will clear to Lee Ho-yeol.
Just as one would declare war on crime.
He had to show that he was declaring war on the rats of Yeouido.
But Jeong Han-taek felt at a loss.
“……Where on earth do I start rooting them out?”
You couldn’t solve the fundamental problem just by weeding out the rats.
Because those sly old foxes were experts at taking bribes.
In the end, he wouldn’t be able to solve it without a Player’s help.
‘Would he know something?’
His head shook of its own accord.
The very picture of integrity.
Regarding Lee Ho-yeol’s actions, he couldn’t help but know.
Even a lunatic rat wouldn’t have demanded a bribe from him, would they?
Jeong Han-taek, agonizing, finally raised his head.
“I must wish for something beyond my station.”
To think he was hoping for Ho-yeol’s help without realizing it.
“Have you no shame at all, Jeong Han-taek?”
The moment the president gathered his wits—
Beep-beep—!
A mana reaction was detected in the Blue House.
Since the Great Upheaval, responding to the threat of Arcana had been the earnest desire of every government.
The warning delivered through the aide’s radio.
“Mr. President……!”
Though the aide spoke urgently, Jeong Han-taek already had an idea.
Because when he checked his wristwatch, it was exactly the promised time.
“I know.”
And he personally headed for the Blue House entrance to receive Ho-yeol.
Soon, figures revealed themselves from the portal.
But…….
It wasn’t one person?
One, two, three.
They were all even familiar faces.
The moment he confirmed who they were, Jeong Han-taek could set down a weight of worry.
“How can I be so glad to see you……!”
Lee Ho-yeol. And Nam Tae-min and Baek I-seol.
It seemed they would indeed be able to properly exterminate the rats.
*I’m feeling it anew, but…….
I really have no backing, do I, Grandfel.
Starting from the president, of all things.
‘This is really my fate.’
There is a saying to strike while the iron is hot, but I never imagined I’d be suddenly facing the president.
But I understand.
‘Since when have I been delving into corruption?’
No matter how nosy I am, if I touched this side too, twenty-four hours would truly not be enough.
Besides, neither I nor Grandfel is an expert in this area.
That’s why I’m receiving help from these two, isn’t it?
Nam Tae-min and Baek I-seol.
Masters of Gaon and Shinhwa, the top two guilds in South Korea.
“I thought I was going to die from the hassle during that time, Mr. President. Truly!”
The perpetrator may forget, but the victim never does. Especially in Baek I-seol’s case, hadn’t she exchanged much with numerous political figures due to the succubus?
Thanks to that, Baek I-seol exuded the aura of an expert.
“In the age of the Great Upheaval, it’s rare to see apple boxes stuffed with Shin Saimdang bills going back and forth. Because there are items or artifacts—Arcana world bribes that are difficult to trace yet guaranteed in value.”
Well, even the sums are staggering…….
The information flowing from experience was certainly substantial.
Nam Tae-min repeatedly swallowed his admiration at Baek I-seol’s words.
“No way, you exchanged them that meticulously? You guys were no joke, huh? No wonder the media always praises Shinhwa while nitpicking and framing us…….”
“I’ll say it again, this is all in the past.”
“I know. I’m just surprised, that’s all.”
Of course, I swallowed a sigh of relief.
‘Because I stay faithful to my main job, days like this come too.’
Exorcism rituals.
Thanks to that connection with Baek I-seol.
I was effortlessly getting through something that would have been a huge hassle.
If I had come to the Blue House alone, I feel suffocated just imagining it.
‘The conversation wouldn’t have progressed.’
I might have poured nothing but biting remarks at the president.
But Baek I-seol had a concrete list.
That’s where I realized.
Why those who took the bribes insist with nonsensical logic.
Because if the relationship goes bad, everything gets revealed.
In that sense, I came to appreciate Grandfel’s integrity.
I, Lee Ho-yeol.
After awakening as a Player, truly.
‘I have lived looking up at the heavens without a shred of shame.’
Thanks to that.
Without even touching the Ssanghwacha on the table.
I spoke.
“If you didn’t know, it’s incompetence. If you knew and neglected it, you’re an accomplice.”
“……!!!”
A blunt remark that made the listeners’ hearts drop.
This too was due to his pride that could not let a single thing pass carelessly.
As expected, the cleanup is my job.
“However, if there were procedures before that, I understand.”
President Jeong Han-taek. The reason he couldn’t act was the complexly entangled AAU Treaty. How complicated the treaty is, I know well—as the person in overall charge of the AAU Yusara branch.
I’m a workaholic who can’t neglect a single thing, after all.
‘If it were any other excuse, I would have passed judgment on him…….’
Thanks to that, I could generously understand and let it pass.
There was nothing more to talk about at length.
As I said, procedure and treaty are important.
‘I also refuse to maintain a deep relationship.’
Grandfel, you might not know, but popping in and out of the Blue House via portal is quite uncomfortable for a commoner like me.
Thankfully, the President wrapped up the conversation on his own.
“Just as you have trusted me, I will definitely uproot them.”
Jeong Han-taek’s resolution was soon known to all of South Korea.
Breaking news that didn’t stop all night long.
Articles that would chill the guts of those rat bastards.
Literally, they never stopped.
—[Breaking News] Jeong: “Will eradicate the forces gnawing at the nation.”
—[Breaking News] Jeong: “Cannot forgive the treasonous act of trading dirty money for national security……. Will severely punish without regard to ruling or opposition parties.”
—[Breaking News] Blue House official, “List already obtained……. Confessing will be in your best interest.”
Were his bold words not empty talk?
Strong remarks rarely seen in the political section kept coming.
If he’s going this far, there’s no need for me to step in.
“As long as no stench wafts over.”
The stench, of course, refers to the trace of a demon.
At the Blue House, which I visited unexpectedly, no trace of demons was felt.
If that too is something to be relieved about, then it’s a relief.
No sooner had I thought that.
‘Let’s see.’
It was time for me to be faithful to my duties too.
The office of the King of Yusara.
Sitting before the desk, I gazed at the teacup.
‘You’ve been itching to drink since the Ssanghwacha, haven’t you?’
*Click*— I took a gulp of teabag green tea to quench my thirst.
Now to the main point.
I’ve achieved quite an enormous feat, haven’t I?
Slaying the Great Evil, Envy of the Seven Deadly Sins.
The messages that had chaotically floated before my eyes.
The time has come to admire the spoils of war one by one……!
*Upper floor of the Spacetime Social Club.
Mediocre Transcendents cannot ascend to the upper floor.
Because they had to prove qualifications beyond merely a Transcendent.
“It certainly feels unfamiliar.”
In the past, it had been a place incomparably quieter than the lower floor.
Even though only the four House heads resided on the upper floor.
Yet the upper floor gave off a relatively bustling atmosphere compared to the lower floor.
“Because the ones who died are far from just one or two.”
“To think they fell to mere mongrels of the demon realm.”
“This is rather humiliating to be treated as fellow Transcendents.”
Transcendents.
Because being lumped together wholesale was unpleasant.
Going down to the lower floor was something they utterly loathed.
House Maxima of Gold.
House Yurik of the Forest.
House Cansel of Valor.
House Akamond of Thrill.
The four heads conversed while hiding their inner thoughts.
“The Empire seems to be rising again.”
Today’s main course was the Empire.
It was an Empire that had clearly not long before its collapse. They had been watching each other, eagerly waiting for the chance to seize hegemony over the Arcana continent.
“It must be terribly frustrating to be holed up in your territories, no?”
Almighty as they were.
They couldn’t be well-informed of the Empire’s news from their houses’ territories in the corners of the continent. Because currently, there were no cities or villages on the continent intact enough to serve as channels for rumors.
But they could predict.
“As expected, it can only be the Black Dark Dragon.”
A scoff.
“Claudi? Well, that may be possible.”
Even if it’s Claudi, fallen and left with only a single survivor.
A crumbling Empire.
It should at least have the ability to burn its final flame.
“Actually, those around the Empire are nothing more than demon realm mongrels, are they not? Even toothless Claudi could handle that much.”
“Wouldn’t thinking they can’t even manage that be an insult to Claudi……. At the same time, wouldn’t it be spitting on the faces of our predecessors?”
“Huhu. It’s merely a struggle anyway.”
The reason the four houses do not fear demons?
It was simple.
They were the true masters of the Empire.
Even if they prided themselves on knowing everything about the Arcana continent.
They held information close to being no exaggeration.
Information regarding the demon hierarchy was but one among them.
At that moment.
A scrap of paper fluttered down from the chandelier.
“……An assessment at a time like this?”
「Request for Entry Review to the Spacetime Social Club Upper Floor」
The four houses witnessed the stated achievements.
The heads’ pupils widened.
Because it was clearly specified there.
“Crushing the Great Evil, Envy of the Seven Deadly Sins……?”
True evil, different from the demon realm mongrels.
Evidence that the Great Evil had been miserably hunted.
But it didn’t end there.
“Who on earth achieved such a feat……?”
There are no secrets in spacetime.
Surely the name of the one who left such an absurd achievement would be written.
Soon, the faces of the heads who confirmed the name turned pale.──────Grandfel Claudi Arpheus Romeo──────
House Maxima of Gold.
The head, Ignite Maxima.
His golden pupils shook helplessly.
“S-Spacetime! Something is definitely wrong with this!”
He shouted toward the chandelier.
“It can’t be, I tell you it can’t be…….”
The five stages of accepting one’s fate.
First, denial.
He revealed that emotion intensely.
“Th-that Grandfel! That he is alive……!!”