Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Chapter 7 Murderer (2)
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‘He’s awfully calm.’
For someone caught up in such a sudden, surreal situation, his demeanor was remarkably composed.
He even had the boldness to reach out first.
Yang Jo-cheol assessed the man on the other end of the line while responding coolly.
“May I have your name?”
『Let’s save the introductions for later. It’s better when we’re both sure it’s safe.』
The impression from that first sentence grew even stronger.
Yang Jo-cheol decided not to provoke or rush him.
There was no point in needlessly agitating someone rational enough for a proper conversation.
‘These are people beyond human norms.’
Yang Jo-cheol resolved to handle this man with extra caution.
“That sounds like a good idea.”
『I have a few questions. Mind answering them?』
“Anything within my authority.”
『Gwanak-gu yesterday—that you?』
Yang Jo-cheol’s shoulder twitched for a split second.
But he replied calmly, as if nothing had happened.
“Yes. Were you involved?”
『CCTV, dashcams—cameras everywhere. You don’t know who did it?』
“……A child.”
『You brought guns.』
“Just in case.”
『Not intending to shoot from the start?』
Yang Jo-cheol’s brow furrowed.
It sounded like a sarcastic jab at first glance.
But Yang Jo-cheol read the intent beneath the surface.
‘If they were convinced our goal was to kill, they wouldn’t have called first.’
So that remark was more like pressure to declare their stance clearly.
Yang Jo-cheol spoke in a calm yet firm tone.
“We recognize the risk, but we have no intent to unconditionally execute our own citizens. We exist for national security.”
『Sounds like you’d shoot Players if they threaten national security.』
“Conversely, if they don’t, it means we’d do more than anyone to protect the lives of our Player citizens.”
『Reassuring words. So what about the kid you let slip yesterday? Know his name? Where he lives?』
Yang Jo-cheol’s eyes narrowed slightly.
He pondered the man’s intent in bringing this up.
The child who’d been killing animals was likely a Player.
And this self-proclaimed Player today was concerned about that child.
‘Trying to protect him?’
After a brief thought, Yang Jo-cheol offered the softest tone he could muster.
“I can’t discuss investigation details, but we have no plans to harm the child right now. Do you know where he is?”
『Somewhere you can’t find him easily for the moment.』
“Please believe we’re focusing on protection, not arrest. If you’d reveal your identity……”
『Too many brutal stories I’ve heard to buy that outright.』
“May I ask what you mean?”
『Heard three Players you took in three days ago ended up dead.』
Before the man finished, Yang Jo-cheol’s eyebrow twitched.
Recalling the massacre from three days ago made his jaw clench involuntarily.
But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that day.
Suppressing his agitation as best he could, Yang Jo-cheol mulled over what he’d just heard.
‘I expected rumors to spread among Players.’
Fortunately, the man had said ‘died,’ not ‘killed.’ A crucial difference.
There was room for explanation.
“You’re not saying we did it.”
『Too important to conclude from one side’s story.』
A good sign—he was trying to gauge the situation without prejudice.
Yang Jo-cheol continued calmly.
“It’s hard to say we’re blameless, but we didn’t intervene directly.”
『Other Players?』
The man preempted the answer before Yang Jo-cheol could respond fully.
His reply came a beat late.
“……Yes.”
『Can you prove it?』
“We have all the CCTV footage from the incident.”
『I’d like to see it. Possible?』
“……To build trust, of course we’d provide it. How should we deliver it?”
『Send me the time and place. I’ll pick it up.』
Not revealing his name meant he was wary of exposure.
Yet he’d come himself?
Yang Jo-cheol interpreted the nameless Player’s words.
“You mean leave it at the spot and we withdraw?”
『Planning to anyway?』
No point denying it—he wouldn’t believe them.
『No need to test me when you’re planning to swarm the place.』
As expected, the self-proclaimed Player didn’t trust them yet.
As Yang Jo-cheol pondered how to respond, Han Seok-jun gestured toward him.
‘They’re moving out.’
Location tracking complete—agents heading to the site.
‘5 minutes.’
They’d prepositioned emergency teams nationwide for cases like this.
It wouldn’t take as long as feared.
‘Five minutes is plenty. Need to stall more.’
Yang Jo-cheol nodded at Han Seok-jun and spoke.
“Just confirming your preferred delivery method.”
『Sure. How long to prepare the files?』
“Quite a few procedures for external release.”
『Ah, right—bureaucrat.』
“Thank you for understanding.”
『Then give me a clear timeline.』
“……Two hours should do it.”
『Was gonna hang up if you said more.』
A hint of amusement colored the man’s voice.
‘He’s got guts, no doubt.’
Joking during a call with a powerhouse of state authority.
Yang Jo-cheol found himself intrigued by this faceless Player.
But curiosity would wait.
The man pressed on.
They settled on a time and place right away.
He didn’t stop there, detailing future protocols meticulously.
Yang Jo-cheol repeated each instruction back for confirmation.
Stalling for every second.
『You talked trust, so no funny business like location tracking. See you then.』
“Wait—how do we follow up?”
『Hm……』
The man fell silent briefly.
Then a soft chuckle came through.
Just then, Han Seok-jun signaled again.
‘Almost there.’
Yang Jo-cheol held his breath without realizing it.
『Better to know than not. Give me a direct line to you, Director.』
“Got it.”
He recited his work phone number. A flat voice followed.
『We’re both cautious—fair enough. You swarming with guns yesterday was natural, just like I can’t blindly trust state power.』
“Understood.”
No argument there. Yang Jo-cheol got chills thinking of Players.
Having witnessed that massacre firsthand, it was inevitable.
The man, hearing of deaths, must feel the same.
『Good.』
Understanding didn’t mean unconditional compliance, though.
They had to maintain national security and social order.
Controlling risks and preparing for contingencies was essential.
Securing Player identities was the first step.
Yang Jo-cheol planned to stall a bit more for the arriving agents.
“We’re flexible. We want caution, not oppression.”
No reply came.
“Hello?”
He called out repeatedly, but only silence remained.
Han Seok-jun, who’d taken a silent call, shook his head at him.
“Tch.”
Yang Jo-cheol clicked his tongue, grasping the meaning.
『Director.』
A field agent’s voice came through.
The man had hung up before agents arrived.
“Secure nearby store CCTVs and car dashcams first. He was talking to me until just now—can’t have gone far.”
『Yes, sir.』
The call ended. Yang Jo-cheol gestured to Han Seok-jun, adding,
“Send forensics too. Might be fingerprints.”
“Yes, Director.”
At that point, Yang Jo-cheol thought they’d catch the nameless, faceless Player soon.
But when they reviewed the convenience store CCTV, he realized how naive that was.
In an empty spot, the receiver suddenly slid into view, settling atop the payphone.
Then the ‘1’ dialed three times.
That was all the footage showed before agents arrived.
They’d called from that phone, yet the booth was empty.
Yang Jo-cheol closed his eyes, rubbing his throbbing temple.
Seeing that man’s face would be tougher than expected.
* * *
While his siblings were at school, he changed clothes and stepped out.
He’d even hand-washed to avoid bloodstains.
By the time he finished tidying up, morning was mostly gone.
Now it was 11:50 a.m.
He’d arrived at a large chain cafe in Gangnam.
The meeting spot with Director Yang Jo-cheol.
‘Well, “meeting” isn’t quite right.’
No plans to show himself.
Arriving early, he scanned the area while invisible.
‘One, two, three…… Five catching my eye so far.’
Five people with postures, movements, and gazes subtly off from civilians.
One was from last night, when he’d fled with Nam Gyu.
Five visible to him didn’t rule out more blending in.
Simple reason for picking a crowded spot.
‘They won’t pull guns and threaten here.’
Too many civilians.
Instead of entering, he waited, sweeping the interior.
Ten minutes later, at the appointed time, a man by the window stood abruptly.
He raised both hands high, placed something from his pocket on the table, and sat back down.
Exactly as agreed.
‘That’s Director Yang Jo-cheol.’
Sharp features, solid build. Early-to-mid forties.
Confirming him, he slipped in behind a customer, passing the auto-door.
No need to dawdle.
They’d guess he could vanish.
‘They must’ve checked CCTVs around the payphone.’
After sensing approaching mana in his direction and leaving.
He’d seen some enter nearby stores or talk to parked car owners.
So they’d account for unreal abilities.
Revealing powers while masked posed no issue.
They knew about this insane game.
They could infer causes from surreal events.
By the same logic, them learning he was Kai didn’t matter.
‘The key is they don’t learn I’m Kang Hyun-woo.’
Though unseen, he existed—stepping thud-thud to Director Yang Jo-cheol’s side.
The man flinched, as if hearing the footprints.
He examined him closely, then lightly tapped the table.
Damn System