42
Chapter 42
Looking only at the outcome, Cylo's decision to cut off the internet was the right call.
In fact, that measure greatly contributed to preventing the situation from spreading.
This was because the number of people watching Parang's stream outdoors was relatively low, despite it being a weekday afternoon.
That was because Parang's main demographic of Viewers consisted of Hunters.
Due to the nature of their profession, they mostly stayed indoors on days they did not enter a Gate.
The blistering heat of July also played a part in keeping the Hunters from going outside.
Cutting off the internet under such circumstances meant that it was impossible to affect the outside world even if they tried.
And surprisingly, most of the Hunters watching Parang's broadcast outdoors, meaning inside a Gate, were also unharmed.
Sometimes, Hunters would enter a Gate with significantly lower required stats compared to their own abilities.
These were Hunters who were tired of life-or-death battles or had already made enough money, entering a Gate just to pass the time.
Since running a Gate all day got boring, they usually played Parang's stream like a radio for her nice voice.
These people did not look directly at the Screen. Therefore, they never made eye contact with Brachium.
Thanks to that, they were not afflicted by Open Eyes.
However, Cylo could not do much about the unawakened Viewers who were watching the broadcast outside, such as at work or school.
They tried to control the information in their own way, but it was inevitable that it would catch the attention of the World Government or the Hunter Association.
A cognitive hazard like this had erupted on an internet broadcast aimed at the general public. In a way, it was an expected outcome.
It was certain that this information would leak to both the World Government and the Hunter Association.
However, this much was an outcome expected by Cylo Corporation.
At first glance, having this kind of information leak to the World Government seemed like it would certainly be a fatal blow to Cylo.
But if you rubbed your face and looked at it again? Even from the World Government's perspective, something about it was unappealing.
It was fine that Cylo caused an accident, but of all places, it happened underwater.
To make this public meant they had to announce to the whole World that a terrifying Monster lived in the Deep Sea,
but burying it as it was meant throwing away an opportunity to deal a blow to Cylo.
A dilemma. Calling it a hot potato was the perfect description for the situation.
This was exactly what Cylo was counting on. Even if incidents exploded all day long on the seafloor, they could still pull the wool over people's eyes.
If anything, the real concern was the Hunter Association.
While the World Government showed consistent behavior of throwing people into the sea, those guys at the Association were completely unpredictable.
It was not strange for Cylo's attention to turn toward the Association regarding this situation.
That day, Seo Sunwoo received three cups of Green Tea.
Well, anyway.
The quarantined personnel afflicted by the Status Effect immediately collapsed and fell asleep when the duration ended, then woke up thirty minutes later, stating that they had no memory of it.
They were aware that they had been afflicted by a Status Effect and that it was Open Eyes, but they had completely forgotten their memories of those three minutes.
Additional tests were conducted just in case, but nothing else unusual was found.
At this point, it is safe to say that Cylo has taken all the preventive measures they could regarding the 'Brachium Shock'.
What remained were the post-incident measures.
Now was the time to observe the World's reaction.
#
"Phew...."
Meanwhile, Yoo Parang.
The rare superstar who drove both her fans and haters (literally) crazy peeked her head out of the waters off Pohang City.
"Sss-hooo...."
She let out a sigh filled with many meanings.
The first broadcast accident of her life.
Honestly speaking, she really hated to admit it.
She had let her guard down.
She could have paid a little more attention.
She could have kept checking her surroundings.
She could have done a little better.
She was upset.
It was a broadcast started to inform people of the dangers of the Deep Sea, but it instead put people in danger.
Of course, anyone who watched the series of events unfold would take Parang's side.
Who would have known that an arm stuck in the ground could move?
Who would have ever thought that the thing the hands were holding up was an eye?
How could anyone have known that Brachium would pierce through the Monitor to launch a Mental Attack?
Parang had even handled the aftermath quite well.
She had immediately assessed the situation and disposed of Brachium.
It was just a brief moment of carelessness.
A very small lapse in judgment, one that any person could make, simply led to the worst possible outcome.
Therefore, it could be argued that Parang was not at fault.
However, a Human's thought process does not work that way.
People had suffered damage because of her mistake, and they had almost been seriously injured.
And it was the people who liked her, no less.
When that happens, a person shrinks back. They lose their confidence and become intimidated.
There is no one who can shamelessly and confidently say, 'I did make a mistake, but it wasn't that big of a deal, right?'
No matter how many years she had lived since her reincarnation, this kind of emotion was not something easily experienced.
A single mistake of hers had almost brought irreversible chaos to society.
Because regardless of being a reincarnator, it was not an emotion a Human could experience while living an ordinary life.
Depression, disappointment, and guilt.
These were the emotions Parang was feeling.
Falling into depression is like entering deep water; if you don't swim out, you'll sink deeper and deeper.
Down, and down.
There is a reason why depression is compared to sinking.
What pulled Parang out as she fell deeper and deeper was a single text message.
It was a text from Xiao.
- Parang.
- I just received the Skeleton from Cylo. I tried a Dive into it beforehand.
- The situation is pretty serious. It would be best if you looked at it as soon as possible.
- I think it's best to look at it right away tomorrow. What do you think?
That text snapped Parang right out of it.
Right. She couldn't afford to break down over something like this.
Those who reached the pinnacle of humanity and became gods were dead, and the World was now in danger. With almost a hundred percent certainty.
And Parang had the ability to save the World in its time of crisis.
Sometimes, the fact that you 'can' do something is synonymous with the duty that you 'must' do it.
Saving the World was exactly that kind of thing.
Therefore, Parang had a duty to save the World.
What good would it do if she just sat down and gave up here?
However, turning a blind eye to her own mistakes also didn't suit Parang's nature.
Whether it was a mistake or carelessness. She was undeniably in the wrong, after all.
In that case, couldn't she just take responsibility for her mistakes and apologize?
Only then did her mind feel a little cleared.
Why was she even agonizing over something like this?
She briskly stepped out of the water and stood proudly on the Pier.
Then, she tap-tapped a reply on her Cellphone.
- Got it. Then let's gather at my house tomorrow. All of Oceanus. I think it would be much better to watch it together.
On August 4th, Parang had to meet Seo Sunwoo.
The fact that he insisted on calling Parang out, who could contact Cylo's key personnel at any time, meant that there was still something only Seo Sunwoo could offer or ask for. With a high probability, it was related to the Hunter Association.
After that, she had to choose whether or not to accept the invitation sent by the World Government.
Whichever side she chose, the more information she had, the better.
Thus, the Dive into Alexandra Carmen's memories was decided for August 3rd.
#
Meanwhile, at a Hunter Association Branch somewhere in the World.
"Please leave it there."
"Ah, yes."
Another Document was placed on the desk of the woman sitting in a plush-looking chair, reviewing a Document.
The man who set the Document down bowed his head once before striding out of the office.
Red eyes and long black hair.
The Association President, Natsuko, turned her eyes to the Document the man had left behind.
It was confidential information from Cylo Corporation.
Natsuko was evaluated as lacking a bit in strategy compared to her overwhelming combat prowess, but she was not foolish enough to rely on just Seo Sunwoo for all information regarding Cylo.
She had deployed people she was certain were on her side to secretly siphon information from Cylo as a double-check.
Of course, it was not as detailed or high-quality as the information Seo Sunwoo brought her.
It was vague, blurry, and of low quality.
Therefore, this information was for verification purposes.
To cross-reference with the information Seo Sunwoo brought to roughly determine its authenticity.
And eventually.
As Natsuko carefully scanned the Document, she finally spotted a name that caught her eye.
'Yoo Parang....'
Her crimson eyes stared at the name.
'An Undersea Hunter.'
It seemed she needed to look into this once.
#
And, the next day.
August 3rd, Saturday.
The six members of Oceanus gathered at the Water Tank prepared in Parang's house.
Xiao looked down at the Skeleton in her hands.
The strongest Druid on Earth. The woman who became a god. It belonged to Alexandra Carmen.
"Its condition is worse than expected. We can only view memories up to three hours before her death."
Xiao said as she looked around at everyone.
"...Are you ready? I'm telling you this in advance because I'm worried, but you better brace yourselves."
A Silence mixed with tension hung in the air. Just what had she seen to act like this?
"...Hooo."
She let out a nervous sigh and cast her Skill.
"Dive."
Splash!
Soon, everyone's consciousness was drawn into Alexandra's memories.