Second Trial – Interlude (4): The False Saint Exposed

I took a look around the cathedral. A hollow laugh escaped me. The usual pews and confessionals you'd expect in a church like this? All torn out. Instead, the place was crawling with people. But they were all the weak, the sick, or old folks on their last legs. Something felt off. Way too contrived, too out of place.

I approached one of the elderly men staggering nearby. No wonder the constellations were flipping out.

"Hey, you with us?"

"Ugh... Joo Jintae... I trusted you... urgh."

"What happened?"

"Ugh... it was..."

The old man tried to speak but collapsed. His breathing was steady, so probably just passed out. I clicked my tongue and scanned the surroundings. Then I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spotted a heavily pregnant woman. I headed her way. She had that typical look of someone who'd let themselves go—no sympathy points there, even if she were pretty.

"What the hell's going on here?"

"Hngh... please help! Save my baby inside me, I beg you!"

"I asked what happened."

"Sob... over there... Joo Jintae betrayed us."

"Betrayed?"

I glanced around again. Slowly, it clicked. The pieces fit. I needed more details, though. I asked carefully, feigning concern on my face.

"Betrayed how? Isn't Joo Jintae supposed to be a saint?"

"Saint? That guy's human trash! Ahk... We came to this cathedral because he said he'd protect us."

"Here?"

"No, Jungkye-dong Cathedral. The first day, we had food, it was great. I wanted to do anything for the people. But..."

She shook her head, unwilling to imagine the rest. I followed her gaze around the room. Strangely, amid these people, there were a few corpses too. But they didn't look freshly killed today—their bodies were mangled beyond recognition. Something smelled fishy here.

"That bastard Joo Jintae mobilized the youth group and ordered us to work."

"That's normal enough."

"They sent us to a neighboring cathedral for volunteer work. But when we got there, nothing—empty. Then the youth group showed up, beat us, and threatened to kill us unless we handed over our ration coupons and hoarded points!"

Now it made sense. How Jintae had coughed up 10,000 points. With all these people supposedly under his protection, how was he so calm? It should've been impossible. From his perspective, failing to protect his followers would've tanked his reputation. But chilling like that in this mess? Unless he was a total scumbag.

And the root of it? Extortion.

Damn, he's a bigger asshole than I thought. Even Satan would shed a tear.

Wow, this guy's congressional material. What the hell was his math tutor thinking?

Tears streamed down the woman's face as she shook her head, spilling her woes.

"We're abandoned now! Uhhk... Useless to them, so they ditched us!"

"So, nothing left? No items, no points?"

"Yes."

"Hmm, I see."

Now the picture was clear. This was exploitable. I leaned in close to the woman, whispering sweetly. Heaven-sent opportunity.

"I'll help you."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Joo Jintae's been pissing me off. Been waiting for his true colors to show."

"Hic... please, save my baby at least!"

"First, something we gotta do."

I rubbed my hands together. Couldn't let this slip. She eyed me warily.

"What?"

"We need to shatter Joo Jintae's image. Tell everyone what he's really like."

"How?"

I activated the capture system. Good, working fine. I patted her shoulder gently. Even that small kindness made her tremble and sob.

"First, we'll post on Geosilive."

"What's Geosilive?"

"Huh?"

"Heard the name, but they say it's all bullshit?"

"Who said that?"

"Joo Jintae."

I paused. Then burst into hollow laughter.

What? Proletarianization policy wasn't just Man-ho's thing?

These clowns stick together. How are they so alike? I shook my head, clicking my tongue. How'd the neighborhood sink to this level? Bad times or bad people? Blame the people.

"It's not bullshit. You need to post your situation there. I'll show you how."

I quickly taught her. Helped her write the post and capture the current scene to upload. That'd do it. Even in this apocalypse, human nature doesn't change. We were about to inflate a tiny fact into a scandal. Netizens believe what they want to believe. They'd eat up the saint getting torn apart.

"Just hit post?"

"Yeah. People will see it now. Oh, right—at the end, add that you think Joo Jintae's coming to silence you, and you're scared."

"Got it!"

She typed furiously and finished. I checked her post. Perfect. The crying pregnant woman abandoned in the cathedral, the wretched state of the others—all laid bare. She looked up at me with a strained smile, like she'd met Buddha in hell.

"Posted. Thank you so much. What now?"

I smiled warmly. Joo Jintae setup complete. I nodded slowly and fired a single blood bullet. Straight into her abdomen.

"Then die."

"Huh? Gahk!"

The bullet pierced her gut. She clutched her belly, slowly toppling sideways. Even then, cradling it. Whatever. I grabbed her neck with one hand and snapped it.

Her usefulness was done.

"What? Not 2 points? I killed the kid too. Does it not count fetuses?"

Would've been nice if they counted like some drama. I clicked my tongue and stood. Whatever. They were useless now. Time to clean up.

Ideally, I'd just leave, but pennies make a mountain, right?

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠slaughtered everyone here. Some with blood manipulation, others with Gram up close. Once done, I piled the bodies. The constellations reacted immediately.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Ah, time for clarification. Strictly legal and realistic.

"Ah, ah. Everyone calm down. Humiliate and kill the weak? I just put them out of their misery."

I nudged the corpses into a pile with my foot and continued.

"Think about it. Am I a savior? A corporate bigwig? Even if I saved them, where to? My tiny place?"

Pure logic.

"So I sent them off peacefully. Where's the humiliation? And in this apocalypse, what morality? Might as well not kill zombies—they were human once."

The goody-goody constellations went quiet. That's right. In reality too, cross the line but stay legal? It's fine. That's me. Utterly realistic.

"This'll look like Jintae sent his youth group to clean up, right?"

They'd have died anyway. Zombies might've gotten them. So, humane euthanasia. Bad?

21 points total, minus the pregnant one. Dumbass Jintae, why keep them alive? That one shred of conscience?

Maybe he wanted to cosplay good guy to the end. With his youth crew watching. I smirked and left the cathedral. On the way, I rifled through the old man's pockets like always. Nothing. About to leave, but paused.

Wait, what if...?

Pulled down his pants. Peeked—ration coupons tucked under his pubic hair. A bit soiled, but pocketed them. Might come in handy.

Anyway, home time. I scattered blood droplets mid-air for a leap—

"Hm?!"

I watched from atop the blood droplet. Explanation followed.

I whistled and tapped the alert. The list unfurled with a flourish. Always mesmerizing.

Impressive detail. "Hah, super user-friendly. Changes weekly?"

Just take 'em out for rewards. Whatever they are. Sweet. Only ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I could think that—pure terror for the weak-hearted or sentimental.

Calling this content too? Brutal. What if a buddy or family gets listed? Dying to see humanity's dark side?

I clicked my tongue. Heading home, I pondered. Tempted to hunt one now. But...

I shook my head. Delusion.

"Good or bad doesn't matter. Look at my past smackdowns. Viewers don't care about the punished—they crave the thrill, the schadenfreude from the punisher."

You're no different from netizens, constellations. That's why I milk you.

Then a welcome ping.

I bowed my head. "Thanks! Love ya! Hehahahahaha!"

En route home, thoughts turned. One target's in Jungkye-dong, perfect. But how to find him? No detection skills yet. Gonna take time.

I peeked at Geosilive. The pregnant woman's post was blowing up. Some dissent, but more bashing Jintae.

"Not some third-rate agency. Loved astroturfing? Your turn."

I started a post.

Title: [It's Me, Sung Najin. Seeking Help to Educate Some Scum.]

Prime title. Wrote the body as home neared.

The usually bustling Jungkye-dong Cathedral was dead silent. Jintae's foul mood. He played the good Samaritan, but everyone knew his terror. Most here lived crushed under it.

Heading to his office, Jintae eyed the youth group. One trembled, bowing.

"S-sorry. We should've finished them off!"

"Don't say more. I don't even know what I'd do."

"Y-yes, sir!"

"Drink this with your buddy."

He tossed a fatigue recovery potion like charity and entered his office. His two lieutenants approached: ex-detective Ji Dong-ho and Chu Bo-hee.

Ji Dong-ho, once in violent crimes, spoke first. "Joo Jintae-nim, you okay?"

"Who knew Sung Najin would screw me like this."

"His doing? Account didn't match."

"He must've grilled them there. Didn't you see?"

"Sorry."

"Fine. Time to send Najin a gift soon."

Jintae smiled languidly. Ji Dong-ho nodded with zealous eyes. "I'll go."

"Take Chu Bo-hee too."

She approached—Ji Dong-ho's junior, ex-women's crimes captain.

"Hehe, don't worry. Najin or his crew—I'll strip 'em bare and enslave 'em all."

"A former detective okay with that?" Jintae teased.

She grinned. "It was my job. Nail one case, twist laws to lock up men. Same now."

Her sleazy answer pleased him. He nodded.

Sung Najin—if I can't have you, I'll break you.

He smiled coldly, eyes closing.