Assume the Worst
Assume the worst-case scenario. —Tok. While Gangcheori and the GP Chief were heatedly debating the terms for completing their deal, I felt something lightly brush against my feet.
"Can you hear me?" This voice belonged to Rial of the Namhongryeon party. Was he in his right mind? Given Gangcheori's level, security on communication magic was no different from broadcasting it nationwide.
"Don't worry. I've been using my injuries as an excuse to skip the front lines since three days ago and boosted the security. In simple terms, we connected the communication magic through cables to enhance its security performance."
So that was why he hadn't been seen nearby for three days? I briefly examined the flow of energy around this negotiation table. Communications from the equipment prepared for the killing intent clashed against the energy barrier Gangcheori had wrapped around himself, while Rial's transmission reaching me remained quiet. Conclusion: no problem.
"Then I'll keep it simple as well. It seems Gangcheori is stalling for time."
"Do you have any specific information? The jamming here makes it impossible to hear any voices."
That was Pigeon 1's voice. He seemed to be assisting Rial.
"The most predictable move would be a diversion. Using himself as bait to draw monsters from other regions toward South Korea."
"That's not it. The monsters in other regions haven't shown any movement at all."
Then it was something else. It was unclear how much control he had over the monsters, but if he could sweep through Korea, there would be no need for such troublesome schemes.
"In any case, the ultimate goal must be to become a dragon. The entire nation is supposed to call him a dragon when he ascends, and he's demanding the President for the contract."
"We have no intention of complying. Therefore, it would be correct to assume he's approaching through methods other than invasion."
Other methods. Other methods, huh. Then something that had been obscured by the massive threat named Gangcheori until now came to mind.
"Dream-Soul Play Fruit! He's planning to pull something with that!"
"But the gangsters who were practically Lee Han's limbs have all been killed by his hand."
That was true. But no other answer came to mind. I might be wrong, but I couldn't just sit back and do nothing. I had to assume the worst. Lee Han and Gangcheori were armed with sorcery and mysteries unknown to humanity. It was entirely possible for them to scheme using means beyond our expectations. We couldn't set limits.
Then keywords began combining one by one. "If those bastards can control people, then the story changes."
"...Are you talking about hypnosis? That's far too unrealistic."
"Gangcheori doesn't sound unrealistic at all. We don't have time. We need to assume the worst and prepare countermeasures by guessing at unknown methods. Just as we initially feared, Seoul is in danger."
But most of our forces, including myself, couldn't leave. The moment we did, our strength would weaken due to dispersion, and that too was one of Gangcheori's aims. However, long-range communication to Seoul was also limited because of the jamming.
"Then I'll contact the Blue House immediately. We need to move fast—something will happen at midnight. And include me in that communication as well. I'll add one more pair of hands."
Training your techniques is good, but you should study as well. Master said this while waving around something like an encyclopedia. And what I was looking for—if my memory was correct—should be around here. Fortunately, my efforts were rewarded.
"Found it!"
Even though it was merely a game setting book with some filler, its thickness was considerable. Naturally, there were also editions like the Monster Edition or Spirit Beast Edition, but right now there was only one thing I needed.
"Mo, mo, mo... Dream-Extreme Flower."
Thanks to the initial consonant classification, finding information on the Dream-Extreme Flower was easy. The description matched what I had heard from that grandfather. But the latter part was unfamiliar.
"If it is not an irreversible case, have the addict smell the scent of the Dream-Extreme Flower. Due to the Dream-Extreme Flower's characteristic of pursuing 'good dreams,' it can call the addict back from the hell of pleasure and dreams, but because of Jogwangshin's curse, the coexistence of both is extremely rare."
"Furthermore, dreams take on extremely diverse forms. Do not judge by appearances alone."
In other words, this fruit was already damn rare and hard to obtain, and the medicine to treat it was another version of something equally damn rare.
"Then, where would the Character Edition be—"
—Chiiik!
"...Hmm?"
For a moment, I heard static like something from a TV in my ears.
"Yuseong."
"Whoa, hallucinations..."
I must have been hearing things because I'd trained too hard today. Should I leave the rest for tomorrow?
"Kim Yuseong, can you hear me?"
"Uwaaah! Yes, sir!"
I answered the hallucination without thinking. Was it a ghost or something?
"Listen carefully. This is communication magic. I'm sending a transmission to you from the front lines right now. And the situation is really urgent, so I think I need to borrow your hands."
"Just tell me! Dohwa is already fast asleep."
It was close to midnight, but my motivation surged. An opportunity had already come knocking.
"Ah, by the way, Master. I have that Dream-Extreme Flower or whatever it's called."
"...Why do you have that?"
I gave Master a rough explanation of what had happened, and after a moment of silence, Master continued with a sigh.
"Congratulations. Your importance has skyrocketed. This is something that involves cutting people down. If you hesitate, this country will fall. Can you do it?"
Cutting people down, and if I failed, the country would fall. Not just fall, but be destroyed by monsters and its people massacred. Thinking that made my heart sink. It made me ashamed of what I had thought was an opportunity. But the face of Dohwa sleeping in the next room and my family's faces in Jeju Island flashed through my mind.
"Yes."
Even after answering, my lips trembled.
"Good. First, quite a few people besides you will be moving. We don't know the enemy's intentions, but we'll move while assuming the worst. And the target is—"
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.
"Hocheol, are you asleep?"
Lee Gwanho opened Lee Hocheol's door along with his alcohol-laced question. He had opened it because he wanted to see his son more, but even while drunk, his judgment wasn't completely gone, so he at least knew his son was sleeping soundly, unaware of the world.
"Even if the world is harsh, I'll protect you, at least."
Lee Gwanho recalled what had happened three days ago. There were problems at the front lines, but war wasn't the police's domain. That said, there was nowhere to evacuate to either, so their main job had shifted to preventing information leaks, and he felt great skepticism about it. It was futile. But he was used to it. It was an emotion he often felt after the fire demon had passed. That was why he knew how precious his peacefully sleeping son was.
Lee Gwanho stroked his son's hair and looked at his face. It was an unfamiliar face, but he would have to get used to it soon.
"Hah, he's really sleeping like a dead mouse."
At the very least, he had expected some movement from his son, but his face didn't move at all. However, Lee Gwanho smiled and left the room to sit at the dining table. Then he began peeling the fruit skins he had been eating with beer and snacks using a fruit knife.
At the same time, Jo Hayeon, who was leisurely reading a book during her night shift instead of agonizing over her own significance, was spending her usual daily life.
"Whether it falls or not~ Let's live for today~♪"
—Trurururu♪
And when the phone rang with the scent of work that Jo Hayeon hated while she was singing leisurely, she frowned for a moment before picking up the receiver.
"Yes, the cute night shift captain♪ This is Inspector Jo Hayeon."
"Loyalty. It's nothing, but the magic maintenance manager has arrived."
"Huh? The chief's son? At this hour?"
"Yes. He says he wants to take a quick look because of some recent ominous events."
It was strange. Jo Hayeon realized that this situation was highly abnormal. At a time like this, she was starting to feel certain that the chief wouldn't send his son out alone.
"...Buy me some time. Call the kids over for a moment."
"Hello. Ms. Jo Hayeon, I'm sorry for dropping by so suddenly at this hour."
A voice suddenly came from behind Jo Hayeon. However, Jo Hayeon didn't turn around. Instead, following her instincts' warning, she tried to rush over and press the emergency bell, but before she could, her arm was blocked by a rough hand.
—Crack!
"Kuuuugh!"
Just from being grabbed, her bones broke. And the officers who had been working with Jo Hayeon and noticed the situation one step late reacted belatedly.
"Inspector Jo—!"
—Thud!
But before they could even finish saying "inspector," the necks of the officers who had been there besides Jo Hayeon soared into the sky.
"Shit! Shit!"
Jo Hayeon pounded on Lee Hocheol's face with her still-free arm as he grabbed her, but it only hurt her own fist as if she were hitting a rock.
"Please don't resist. If you do, you can stay alive until the moment the Great Work is carried out."