Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: The Superpowers' Gambit
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“Ivan.”
Nikolai finally spoke.
“For a long time now, Ivan, I’ve been watching you, and I believe you’re the one Russia needs for its glory.”
“That’s not an answer, Nikolai.”
“And I’ve come to realize, from observing you, that age is just a number.”
Nikolai spoke toward Ivan like a doll, yet one with its own will.
“But I just can’t understand it to this extent.”
“Well, even you wouldn’t be able to.”
Ivan slumped onto the sofa like a slime, as if he’d issued all his orders.
“Do you know?”
Heh.
Ivan chuckled as he spoke.
“That Russia was on the verge of destruction not long from now?”
“Ivan.”
“Already.”
Ivan’s eyes gleamed sharply.
“The world’s hegemony and order had tilted to one side.”
Ivan said.
“This isn’t about Temple.”
“…Then what?”
Nikolai was an intelligence agent who later entered politics and built his career.
Of course, it went without saying that he had solid backing from the intelligence bureau and the Association.
“It’s a story from before that. Temple is…”
Ivan sat up.
It wasn’t over yet.
“Just the sole example that revealed a new order, a new hegemony. And moreover…”
Ivan’s eyes gleamed once more.
“It will become the perfect order.”
Nikolai still didn’t seem to understand.
“Don’t doubt it, Nikolai. I… doubted it at first too.”
Ivan had heard about Temple and eagerly awaited contact with them.
And finally, he’d come face-to-face with a part of them.
‘Back then.’
Ivan had merely dreamed of using them as a pretext to purge the former president and those in power hindering Russia’s glory.
A rebellion against the world that held hegemony.
“But when I saw them myself, I understood.”
It was different once he grasped their true nature.
“Nikolai, remember this: the world’s hegemony will change. The order will be reshaped. And if we want even a foothold at its center, we must strive even harder.”
Once a superpower rivaling America, but with the emergence of Players and gates, Russia had lost its initiative.
The Association had entered Russia just over ten years ago.
Russia’s national power, fallen behind because of it, was already irreparably ruined.
“Relics of the old era.”
Things like nuclear weapons.
“They’re what we must gladly discard for the new era.”
If necessary, they could give them up or launch them as much as needed.
Because there were those they had to seize, defying the entire world order— and to grasp them, they’d have to bare their bellies and stick out their tongues.
“Watch.”
Ivan said with a smile.
“America will move soon.”
“…America, you say?”
“Hard to believe, right?”
Unlike faded Russia, America had grown even stronger with the advent of the Player world.
The solid world number one.
But.
‘It’s all for show.’
America’s true state was only marginally better than Russia’s, far from what was known.
That was the truth.
“Nikolai, remember this.”
Everything was.
“For Russia’s glory.”
*
*
*
The greatest nation.
The Heavenly Kingdom, self-proclaimed world police and superpower—America.
But long ago, they had already lost their greatness.
“Richard.”
A nation at the forefront of capitalism and the new era’s cutting edge, ironically devoured by it.
The U.S. government had no choice but to become the mouthpiece of massive corporate conglomerates, which had grown too large to be controlled by temporary presidents or governments—true monsters.
“Logan.”
Goldian’s chairman, Richard, called the name of the current U.S. Vice President, Logan.
“…So.”
They had originally scheduled a direct meeting with the president, but he hadn’t shown.
Eyes everywhere.
Inevitable backers.
And more, and more, and more…
“Pressure South Korea?”
Ha, haha.
Logan let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.
However.
“Yes.”
Richard smiled brightly, as always.
“That is Temple’s will.”
At the name Temple, Logan’s face hardened.
Even U.S. Vice President Logan hadn’t heard the name long ago.
Unlike past secret societies like the Bilderberg Club or Illuminati, whose names were at least known—this was one whose very existence was hidden.
But when a faction of them revealed themselves.
‘What the…’
He could only spit out shock.
A massive chunk of the U.S. economy was in their grasp.
And in the now even more crucial Player world, their influence was greater still.
Just look at the man before him.
‘Goldian…’
Already enormous, Goldian had seen explosive growth recently.
Unique items pouring out from sources unknown, all under Goldian’s name.
-We’ll sell elixirs.
-Elixirs?
-Mini elixirs, shall we say?
They declared they’d release so-called elixirs with absurd effects onto the market.
Goldian’s size had nearly quadrupled in just months.
“Barely…”
Now, it wasn’t among America’s top ten companies—it was in the top three.
Logan had realized only recently that Temple stood behind it.
“For one twenty-year-old kid? Pressure our long-time ally, South Korea?”
Logan laughed hollowly.
“If it were China, I could understand. If it were a weakness of their chairman, I’d pay more attention. But…”
At best, South Korea’s top guild, the youngest son of Shinseong.
Of course, he acknowledged the kid’s power in conquering that black gate.
And.
‘That was… truly insane.’
The resolve to commit a massacre before the world’s eyes, and the skill displayed in the process—it was shocking.
But that was it.
“What the hell…”
Being U.S. Vice President meant he knew.
The world’s underbelly breathed with hidden powers.
And those had appeared before Temple, forcing not just America but much of the world to its knees.
The power he’d witnessed once…
‘It’s surely no less.’
He figured it wouldn’t fall short of that young man Johan.
“…No way, is he Temple’s…”
“Logan.”
“Or even Temple itself?”
“Don’t question it. Samuel’s will is firm. And if I stand from this seat, Liberty will come calling.”
America’s second-ranked guild.
No, practically the world’s second—America’s pride, Liberty Guild.
“Those who come after…”
Goldian’s chairman, Richard, rose with a beaming smile.
“You won’t even get to meet, Logan.”
“……”
“Logan, this is your last chance.”
Richard said.
“To restore America’s glory… no, that’s too cliché. Right.”
Richard’s smile deepened.
“How about the next president? The American way. Honestly.”
“……!”
“Or we can make you one right now.”
“Richard!”
“I guarantee it.”
Richard said.
“More than those hiding in the shadows…”
Heh.
“The one who has revealed himself is greater still.”
“……!”
“More than those cowering in fear… the one who draws all eyes upon himself…”
Richard declared the final verdict.
“Is greater than anyone.”
*
*
*
For the past few days, Kim Dayeon couldn’t even comprehend what was happening.
Geo Guild, Viren Guild, Go Yohan’s incident.
Contrary to expectations that South Korea’s stock market would crash from the massive linked scandal, the KOSPI, which had been trending down, suddenly broke through the ceiling.
“……”
Even as Russia armed nukes against South Korea.
“And America…”
If ranking nations like Players, America—the number one—had its president demand Go Yohan’s release from the South Korean government via hotline, or so the rumors went.
Word was, U.S. intelligence Players had entered South Korea, ready to whisk Yohan away and naturalize him at the first opportunity.
And that wasn’t all.
“Ha.”
Events on a scale that made her title of Association Investigation Chief feel inadequate were unfolding, centered right here.
No.
“……”
Go Yohan was clearly locked in that black room.
-Permission granted.
Contact from Hwang Cheol-ha.
Only then could Kim Dayeon breathe a sigh of relief.
Since it was what she’d been waiting for, her actions were immediate.
Click, tick-tick.
Computer and items.
She began operating everything that could summon magic tools.
[Authority Approved]
When the system-linked alert chimed.
Clack.
A small noise echoed from within the Black Room.
Pssh.
Like mechanical restraints releasing.
First, the blindfold fell away, revealing his face.
Then, the shackles binding Go Yohan peeled off one by one, rippling as they vanished.
‘What the.’
Kim Dayeon couldn’t even guess what technology this was.
Thud.
Go Yohan, floating in midair, landed on the floor as gravity took hold.
Crack, pop.
Perhaps from days bound in restraints, his joints cracked with every stiff movement.
Yet what was shocking was that no trace of pain or fear showed on Go Yohan.
Beep.
She activated the mic linked to the Black Room.
“…I apologize for the inconvenience. Permission just came from above to release the restraints.”
Kim Dayeon took a deep breath and spoke carefully.
She couldn’t think of the man in there as just her friend Go Minji’s little brother.
Step, step.
Go Yohan moved toward one corner of the Black Room.
“……!”
Kim Dayeon’s eyes widened in shock.
A completely isolated space—no view of the outside, magic inert within.
And yet.
-You must have had it rough.
Go Yohan was speaking as if staring right at her.