Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The Mayor's Outrageous Remarks
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Operation start time is 2 PM.
After lunch, the time when drowsiness envelops the entire city hall.
Well, what should I start with?
If it's too weak, it fizzles out; if too strong, it raises suspicion right from the start.
Appropriate destructive power, wide diffusion, and a topic that stimulates the moral superiority of countless people.
Carefully but firmly, I moved my thumb.
One letter at a time, engraving a spell that touches the most sensitive reverse scale of modern society.
First bomb.
There are only two genders in this world. Male and female.
Everything else is just personal delusions or mental issues.
[#RestoreCommonSense #FactViolence #LeeGaram'sConviction]
The finger pressing the send button wasn't anxious. Rather, a sensation close to ecstasy enveloped my entire body.
Done.
This one sentence is enough.
I hurled a stone straight at the sanctuary of political correctness.
"Heh heh heh."
This is certain. With just this one sentence, countless groups will come rushing to bite at me.
PC radicals, human rights organizations, progressive media...
I could clearly picture the angry swarms buzzing toward me.
Just imagining it made my shoulders shake with delight.
But this isn't enough.
I need to concentrate more firepower. Trigger a chain explosion.
Loaded the second bomb.
Males and females differ physically and mentally. This isn't discrimination; it's distinction.
Guaranteeing the same results for everyone is communism.
What we should pursue is equality of opportunity.
[#FairSociety #Meritocracy #DistinctionNotDiscrimination]
Ahh. Perfect.
I poured oil onto the active volcano of gender conflict. The tightrope walk between the words 'discrimination' and 'distinction'.
Third bomb.
Villains are a cancer on society. Human rights are a luxury they don't deserve.
Rehabilitation? Reform? All just fancy empty words.
For heinous villains who commit crimes, summary execution and permanent isolation from society is the only solution.
[#ExterminateVillains #ImplementJustice]
Finished.
Now, not only superhuman rights groups but even the hypocrites soaked in half-baked humanism will all become my enemies.
Satisfied, I set down my smartphone.
The three missiles flew precisely toward their targets. Soon, massive mushroom clouds would rise.
Ding. Ding. Ding-ding. Ding-ding-ding-ding!
My prediction was spot on.
My smartphone began wailing like mad.
When I turned on the screen, hundreds—no, thousands—of notifications poured down like a waterfall.
I condemn Mayor Lee Garam's misogynistic ravings! What era does he think this is with that garbage?! #LeeGaram_Resign
Only two genders? A hate-monger like you doesn't deserve to be mayor. We'll start a rally with rainbow flags in front of city hall right now.
Equality of opportunity? Ever thought that the opportunities themselves are unequally distributed? What do you expect from someone so dim-witted... tsk tsk
listen listen i can't listen (can't even pretend to listen)
Grab the popcorn. This place is a festival today.
The mayor's finally lost it! #LeeGaram_Resign
A torrent of condemnation and insults. Mockery, disappointment, rage.
The small spark I ignited caught on the haystack of SNS and blazed into an uncontrollable inferno.
This is a festival.
A cosplay party put on by crowds desperate to confirm their moral superiority.
A healthy form of entertainment where they don masks of justice and hurl stones at the designated enemy to their heart's content.
I, Lee Garam, gladly volunteered to be both the sacrificial offering and the star of this festival.
My outrageous statements spread rapidly via retweets.
Hashtags boldly claiming the top of real-time trends.
#CrazyLeeGaram
"Yes! That's exactly it!"
Success.
This is the reaction I wanted.
People are furious, condemning me, demanding my resignation.
"Hahaha. Now things are finally getting interesting."
It was right then.
BAM!
The mayor's office door burst open as if it would shatter.
There stood Seria with a frost-covered face. The tablet in her hand clearly displayed the tweets I'd just posted.
"Mayor."
Her voice was as cold as an ice block.
"Why, why are you like this, Seria? I'm in the middle of some heartfelt communication with the citizens..."
"Were you perhaps hacked on your smartphone?"
"No? It's working fine. Why?"
"Then it seems your brain was hacked. Looks like a fatal virus infiltrated your head. I recommend a full format, but since the OS itself is faulty, it might not make a difference."
Vicious barbs.
Sharp venom worthy of her. But today's me was unshaken by any attack.
"Ahem. These are my convictions. What's the problem?"
I shot back without batting an eye.
Seria strode over and slammed her hands on the desk.
"Convictions? So the 'convictions' you speak of are just this lowbrow hate speech? As the official head of the city, do you really not know what kind of waves this will cause? Are you aware that what you call 'communication' is commonly known as 'political suicide'?"
"Can't a mayor express a personal opinion? This is a basic right in a democratic society—freedom of expression!"
Seria was dumbfounded for a moment, unable to continue, then let out a sigh.
"You are a public figure, Mayor. Your personal opinions can be taken as the official stance of Neo Incheon City. Has your cognition glitched so badly that you can't even distinguish between personal and public statements?"
"Ah, enough! Stop nagging! I'm going to live by my beliefs! No one can stop me!"
I cut her off decisively.
I mustn't get entangled in her logic anymore.
I have to be the ignorant, arrogant, stubborn tyrant of a mayor.
"...Understood. I'll watch closely from the side to see where these 'beliefs' of yours lead you."
Seria glared at me for a long while before bowing her head and leaving the office.
Yes, don't try to understand me. Give up on this man!
Two hours later.
My beliefs spread across the world through the megaphone of the internet.
The world had turned upside down.
[We strongly condemn Mayor Lee Garam's anti-human rights ravings!] - Neo Incheon Citizens' Human Rights Coalition Statement
[Mayor Lee Garam, regressing the era with misogynistic ideas—resign immediately!] - National Women's Action Alliance Condemnation Statement
[Mayor Lee Garam mocks the environment—think of the Earth!] - Gaia Circle Environmental Protection Alliance Statement
The internet news outlets eagerly churned out articles.
[Mayor Lee Garam, successive outrageous remarks... City administration in crisis]
['Hidden Dragon' to 'Tyrant'... How far will Mayor Lee Garam's fall go?]
[Mayor Lee Garam, successive outrageous remarks... Fierce backlash from civil society!]
The large TV in the mayor's office showed every news channel plastering my face and sensational captions like 'outrageous remarks' in breaking news competitions.
It was like they were betting on who could paint me as the worst villain.
[Anchor] Yes, Mayor Lee Garam's SNS remarks are spreading far and wide, and condemnation rallies are already forming in front of city hall...
[Emergency Debate] The 'Lee Garam Phenomenon'—how should we view it? Freedom of expression vs. responsibility of public figures
The approval rating graph plummeted vertically like a ski jump.
Over 20% drop in just a few hours.
"Great! Absolutely great! Now the real hate is rolling in! Keep it up like this!"
I stomped my feet on the chair, reveling in joy.
At this rate, impeachment is just a matter of time.
I plugged my smartphone into the charger. The festival wasn't over yet.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do; when in Korea, eat kimchi.
Foreign residents in Neo Incheon must eat 7 types of kimchi every morning.
#MandatoryKimchi #KimchiEtiquetteNation #Hallyu #KimchiWarrior
Ban plastic straws?
How am I supposed to drink milkshakes? With a spoon?
Environment comes after burgers.
#StrawFreedom #DitchGreen #Cheeseburger
(Beef photo)
Meat is violence?
Then where are you sending all the cows?
Are you saying mass-produce them for rest?
#PlantsHaveLifeToo #TastySpotToday #NotMeat_ItsViolentRibs
I stepped on every kind of landmine that came to mind.
Race, environment, diet—everything.
The whole world would become my enemy.
And sure enough, the reactions were immediate.
The spectrum of outrage grew even broader and more colorful.
People went beyond mere condemnation, starting to mock and enjoy it.
The internet overflowed with memes made from my awkward ID photo.
Parodies of me force-feeding kimchi to fleeing foreigners.
A composite of me in Ranranru costume shouting 'Give us straw freedom!'
A video with my face photoshopped onto a Shiba Inu drooling over a grill of pork belly.
Such diversity even in variety.
Sexual minority groups, women's organizations, and superhuman rights groups announced a united 'Neo Incheon Citizens' Grand Rally Against Hate and Discrimination'.
What a beautiful scene of harmony.
Division and conflict. Me at the center of that chaos.
Exactly the picture I wanted.
Now, time to drive in the final wedge.
Mockery aimed at those criticizing me.
The best way to pour oil on the fire of rage.
God, seriously... If you don't know, study up!! Don't judge so recklessly when you know nothing
Watch your tone. Don't raise your voice.
With someone like you as mayor, Neo Incheon's future is bleak!
Don't use such strong words. You look weak doing that.
Perfect!
This rhythm, this tempo!
Keep it going! All the way to the day of impeachment!