Con Artist (3)
Wisarak, the Demon Brain, had overcome countless crises in his life. The greatest among them had been the oppression from those high and mighty figures. With his extraordinarily sharp mind, Wisarak posed a threat to them. A mere commoner like him outperforming the prideful scions of noble houses? Unthinkable. They kicked away his ladder whenever they could.
But Wisarak clawed his way up through sheer malice and grit. He didn't need any ladder. By this point, they should have acknowledged him—but unfortunately, he had no luck with people. What came his way instead was relentless persecution. In the process, he harbored deep resentment. Carrying that venom, he entered the Ma-gyo, and using his exceptional intellect, rose to the position of Demon Brain.
"What's wrong? Are you using the Gallery too?"
"That's..."
And today, Wisarak faced the greatest crisis of his life once more. A command from the supreme being above all mortals, the one who stood equal to the heavens herself—the Cheonma.
Wisarak's mind raced at full speed upon hearing Cheonma's order. The conclusion it reached was singular.
'I'm fucked.'
Truly and utterly screwed. For the most absurd reason, he now stared down the biggest crisis of his life—and his neck was on the line.
As a Gallery user himself, Wisarak could grasp the current situation. The news that the inner core auctioned off was fake. It was tied to recent events involving Grills, the storm-bringer.
'YasaengGrill. She must have summoned me to help him.'
Yuso Wol had surely called him to aid that man. That much was predictable. But ordering him to access the Gallery? That was beyond Wisarak's expectations.
Here, Wisarak spun his mind into overdrive and spoke up. He couldn't let even a second of silence pass, or Yuso Wol would grow suspicious.
"Heavens above. By Gallery, do you mean the Continent United Gallery?"
"Indeed."
"I shall obey Your Heaven's command. However, my dull mind struggles to comprehend the situation. Pray, tell me the reason."
Even as he stalled for time, Wisarak's brain whirred ceaselessly. Obey the order, access the Gallery, post proof. Do that, and all his past posts trash-talking Yuso Wol would be exposed. And not as a throwaway anon, but as a fixed-nick user—no less. The crisis hit harder for it.
'I made a fixed-nick out of necessity, and now this...'
Why had Wisarak used a fixed-nick? For trades and auctions. The Ma-gyo's location was remote, making resupply a nightmare. In the old days, it was practically abandoned—starvation was rampant. Things had improved only after Wisarak overhauled logistics and Yuso Wol's emergence from seclusion bolstered the martial world.
'I need to resolve this without getting caught.'
Back then, it had seemed necessary, nothing major. But who could've predicted Yuso Wol would outright say, "Reveal your nick"?
It was Wisarak's mistake not to foresee how her thought process diverged so sharply from others.
'Would the Heavens respect my privacy?'
The "Cheonma" Yuso Wol was domineering and overbearing. She ignored others' feelings, focused solely on her own affairs, and her martial prowess backed it up, earning the demons' awe.
'She has to. Or I'm dead.'
Conversely, the Gallery's Cheonma was subtly different. Her haughty demeanor and self-centered nature remained, but she showed humanity. One could tell from the endless favors she'd granted Grills.
Wisarak desperately hoped she'd extend that convenience to him. Otherwise, he'd die socially—or literally.
"The reason...? Must this lady spell it out for you?"
"..."
"Or is it that you must stay hidden on the Gallery for there to be any truth to it?"
"I do not use the Gallery, Heavens."
"You lie without even wetting your lips."
"..."
Fuck. Wisarak cursed inwardly. He'd kept his voice steady, but she'd seen through it. Still, he had no choice but to lie. It was the only way to hope for her understanding.
If Yuso Wol were a rampaging tyrant, his head would've rolled already. Fortunately, she wasn't. At least she respected her subordinates. Otherwise, she'd have ordered him to brute-force the Four Seasons Forest.
Lying from the start made understanding a long shot, but for that slim chance, he had no option. Stepping into the Gallery meant certain physical death. It was a gamble with his life on the line.
"This lady shall believe your lie. But speak truth from now on."
"I shall remember."
"Very well. You asked the reason? This lady shall tell all."
Relief washed over him. True relief. Wisarak exhaled inwardly. The life-or-death gamble had paid off.
But the crisis wasn't over.
"This lady's benefactor faces a false accusation. Lend your wisdom to resolve it."
"This one's wisdom belongs to the Heavens. Command me."
"The situation is..."
Yuso Wol's explanation was concise yet packed with details. Of course, Wisarak had already pieced together the full picture, so he mostly pretended to listen. Countless hypotheses already swirled in his mind. Voicing them one by one was simple.
"Do you understand?"
"Yes. To doubt the Heavens' discernment and even lie about it—such a one deserves heavenly punishment."
"..."
Yuso Wol narrowed her eyes at Wisarak. The one who just lied has no right to say that, her gaze implied.
Wisarak bowed low, missing her expression, but the atmosphere told him enough. His conscience stabbed like daggers. He ignored it. Saving his neck with one lie was a bargain.
"May I offer my opinion?"
"Speak."
"First, we cannot rule out that the winning inner core is truly worthless—a mere pebble. We know the one given to this one was real, but there's no certainty about the other."
"Hm."
Yuso Wol nodded. That point nagged at her too. She'd overlooked his lie because it wasn't a simple fix. First confirm if he used the Gallery, then borrow his wisdom—that had been the plan. Her commanding tone made it sound like "Reveal your nick first," but she hadn't realized.
'Not so upright, it seems.'
Regardless, Yuso Wol understood. The Gallery was perfect for venting desires and stress. He'd surely done things too shameful to show. All users did.
Perfectly understandable.
"Then there's no way?"
"They've seized on the uncertainty, so we must cleverly exploit it in turn. It's a matter of credibility."
"I believe the benefactor has higher credibility."
"We cannot take it lightly. Gallery users are like hyenas. They tear into prey without regard for front or back."
"Hyenas..."
Yuso Wol nodded at the analogy. Users swarmed fun incidents like mad, truth be damned. They bit just for the thrill. Secure trust, though, and those hyenas became allies.
"The accuser's goal is singular: a smooth settlement with the Heavens' benefactor."
"Smooth settlement?"
"A ban could endanger his life. That's what they're aiming for."
"Toying with lives."
Yuso Wol feigned displeasure. She wanted to track and crush them. But location tracking was a head mod power alone. No way Judaek would grant it—especially now.
"Is there a solution?"
"A simple, easy one."
"What is it?"
"The Heavens must descend upon the Gallery."
"Descend upon the Gallery" sounded ridiculous, but the point was authentication. Prove she was the real "Cheonma." The fixed-nick who'd posted crap nonstop—now a sub-mod—had to verify her identity.
"You refused this lady's command, yet dare suggest it. What contradiction."
"My apologies, Heavens."
"Speak your true heart without lies. Would you not authenticate yourself?"
"I'd sooner hang myself."
"Hm."
That averse to it? Yuso Wol nodded. She couldn't lose talent like Wisarak over something silly.
"Even if I did, it wouldn't mean much. They could claim collusion."
"True."
"The Heavens could..."
"Denied."
Yuso Wol's firm refusal brooked no argument. Wisarak wondered but dared not ask.
'Embarrassed?'
Possible. He knew the Gallery sub-mod Cheonma's antics, so he'd been lenient on the lie. Empathy was understanding's start.
'Revealing herself would kill the reason for using the Gallery.'
But Wisarak was dead wrong. Yuso Wol hid her identity not from shame. Far from it.
'Acting on raw instinct without decorum or dignity. How could she give that up?'
She was utterly unashamed, consistent in reality and Gallery alike.
The joy of being a mere "human" unbound by "Cheonma" constraints. Yuso Wol loved that life. Revealing herself would make even the Gallery dull and boring.
'Some would approach only for this lady's dignity.'
Favors to "Cheonma," not the "human." No different from reality. She'd quit the Gallery instantly.
Thus, anonymity was non-negotiable. For her, it was a shield to bare her true self.
'The benefactor seems indifferent to who this lady is.'
That was why she liked Grills. Pure consideration, respect, courtesy. Warmth she'd never known in life—she wanted to help him.
"If not, this lady could lend her name. But I question if it's worth that much."
"A wise judgment."
Even the Cheonma was human, feeling shame. As Wisarak's misconception deepened, Yuso Wol spoke.
"No other way?"
"There is. Divert the hyenas' gaze to the liar. And with the trust he's built, it'll be easy."
"Explain... Wait."
Yuso Wol glanced at empty air. Wisarak sneaked a peek and slipped into the Gallery. Something must've happened there.
'Nothing major?'
The Gallery looked normal. Still flooded with Grills-bashing posts. Defenders were rare minorities. It was so bad the head mod had warned.
"Demon Brain."
"Yes, Heavens."
"This lady's benefactor has acquired another inner core."
"Pardon?"
Wisarak's head snapped up, eyes wide. But who was he? He regained composure, mind racing to a swift conclusion. He proposed to Yuso Wol.
"Heavens. A fine idea has come to me."
"Speak."
"Does the Gallery have a loyal subject of proven trust, skill, and flawless character?"
"Hm..."
Yuso Wol tapped her cheek, then frowned. The mere thought displeased her. Even that scowl was beautiful.
"There is. Why ask?"
"We need their help. Though whether they'd assist, I'm unsure."
"They will. This lady guarantees it."
"Understood. Then..."
Wisarak bowed deeper and proposed.
"Persuade them to give the found inner core to our ally."