Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: The Truth Always Sets the Heart Racing, Doesn't It?
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The Union sought to become a massive organization encompassing the entire world.
That's not something you can achieve with mere flowery words.
Public opinion matters, of course, but highly intelligent operations are necessary as well.
🖥️ NEWS BROADCAST 🖥️
"Lately, the public has become increasingly obsessed with the 'Smiling Man.' I acknowledge he's different from other villains, but that doesn't mean we should go wild over him. This shakes the very foundations that countless heroes have protected for our nation."
Emphasizing that the Smiling Man is a villain in the Union's name?
What a foolish move. It won't land at all. It'll only backfire.
The people of Korea already view the Union unfavorably.
Whatever they say from here will just sound bad.
So what should they do? How do they turn hearts around?
🖥️ EXPERT ANALYSIS 🖥️
"Experts like myself in villains and crime see this phenomenon as extremely dangerous. A society idolizing someone who harms others for personal reasons is never healthy. If the justice system and national order crumble, the victims will ultimately be you, the public."
Deploy experts. Spew plausible-sounding words.
Make the public question things themselves and divide into factions.
Right now, everyone's chanting "Smiling Man!" but how long will that last?
Not everyone can unconditionally like one person.
Whether from rebellious psychology or jealousy, resentment is bound to arise for some reason.
🖥️ PATRIOTIC APPEAL 🖥️
"How many villains have threatened this nation so far? How many heroes have protected Korea from them? And how many noble patriots lost their precious lives in the process? The moment we forget them, this country can no longer move forward."
Appeal to patriotism. Mention sacrifices and stress that forgetting makes one a sinner.
They don't say it outright, but everyone absorbs it subconsciously.
Obsessing over the Smiling Man is insulting the sacrifices of past heroes.
And insulting heroes is no different from being a traitor!
🖥️ NEWS UPDATE 🖥️
"Yes, that was our expert on crime and villains. Citizens, we must not forget the countless sacrifices made for Korea to stand tall as a hero nation. Next up: Retired heroes are protesting in front of the Hero Administration, demanding severe punishment for the Smiling Man. Connecting to our reporter on site."
Protests spring up as if orchestrated by someone.
And the world focuses more on the volume of voices than logical consistency.
Once it becomes a social issue, opinions divide and conflicts arise.
When the conflict grows, those at the top use it as an excuse to impose a solution.
What the Union wants is simple: an official statement from the Korean government.
Redesignate the Smiling Man as a villain and issue an arrest warrant.
"...I get it a little."
And those results were starting to show effects bit by bit.
"Even if it's with good intentions, ignoring national order and the justice system on a whim—what else is that but a villain?"
"What are you talking about? Didn't you see the Ulleungdo footage? If not for the Smiling Man, everyone there would've died!"
"If he really meant well, he should've just become a hero from the start!"
People each have their own thoughts and sense of justice.
Some things can be compromised, others cannot.
The Smiling Man's story fell into the latter category.
'Good. It's progressing perfectly.'
Burn brighter. More. More. Burn even more!
As the Union's higher-ups chuckled in anticipation...
📺 Broadcast Interference Detected 📺
Static crackles across the screen—
⚠️ SIGNAL HIJACK ⚠️
"The protesters are currently..."
Kzzt!—
Sudden noise erupts on the news channel broadcasting live.
People aren't watching some random streamer.
It's the national broadcast news—and now it's gone dead.
As viewers stare at the screen in worry...
📺 LIVE BROADCAST HIJACK 📺
"Ahem. Ahem. Microphone test. Dear citizens of Korea, can you hear me well?"
The screen suddenly changes, and a man's voice rings out.
"Oh, it's broadcasting well? Haha! That's a relief."
And there, on the captured screen, sat a figure now known to the entire world.
Known as a villain, yet no one could say for sure anymore.
The eye of all current controversies—the literal center of the storm.
"Allow me to greet you again. Citizens of Korea, I am the Smiling Man."
"It's the Smiling Man!"
"What the hell is this?!"
"Check the news channels! The Smiling Man's on!"
"Breaking news! The Smiling Man hacked the broadcast!!"
In less than five minutes, the nation's attention converged on him.
"I know showing up like this must have startled many of you. I didn't want to do this either? But alas, I've encountered something so astonishing I had no choice. Ahem. I wonder if this will be added to my charges later? Haha!"
The Smiling Man extends his hand, turning the screen.
A thick stack of documents and photos comes into view.
The words at the forefront capture everyone's attention.
"This is an orphanage located in Gangwon Province. It receives support from the Union. And the Union was selecting and taking away children not yet adults from here!" "Yes, exactly. Child soldiers. Child soldiers! Oh my god! All for themselves, for the Union! They were committing the unthinkable!"
If you ask for proof, it's right here!
The Smiling Man kindly displays the document contents on screen.
Not everything, but clearly related records are documented.
As soon as a child from the orphanage awakens an Ability, they pull them out.
They send them to a secret training ground under the guise of relocation.
There, they force minors to do things they shouldn't.
Grueling, brutal training during the crucial age when personalities form.
Thus cultivating private soldiers loyal only to the Union!
"Everyone, can you see? This is the Union's true face. Those who prattle about justice, who shout about doing good. What do you think now?"
"Is this... real? The Union was secretly raising private soldiers?"
"No way! Why would the Union?! They exist for heroes!"
"Everyone! Don't fall for it! This is just a vile villain's trick..."
"Shut up already! We can't hear!"
"Some watching me might say: 'Sure, the Union did wrong, but you're no different.' If doing 'evil' turns good into evil, then someone who started as evil like me can never be 'good'!"
Hahaha! The Smiling Man bursts into cheerful laughter on screen.
"My response to that is this."
He elegantly crosses his legs and rests his chin on his hand.
It's not the vibe of a villain. It's the posture of a true gentleman.
"Seems some are misunderstanding. I've never called myself 'good' or a 'hero' from the start." "On the contrary, the Union has always claimed to be good from beginning to end. They've said they exist for heroes." "By now, you can tell who's insulting heroes, right? If not, I sincerely recommend a visit to a psychiatrist! Hahaha!"
The Smiling Man lobbed it—a ball far too big.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Exactly one hour and fifty minutes later.
"Hey, Smiling Man!!"
Valkyrie arrived at the orphanage, the designated meeting spot.
The kids mustn't be scared. They're innocent.
So Valkyrie dressed casually, like she was there for volunteer work.
"Hi, kids?!"
"It's Hero Valkyrieee!!"
"Woooaaahhh!!"
"That's right! This is Hero Valkyrie! Pretty cool, huh?!"
There were still a few minutes to spare. She wasn't late.
So she'll stick around a bit longer for the kids.
Opportunities to see an S-Rank hero up close don't come often.
"Oh! Here!"
A middle-aged man in the back is laughing heartily.
His looks don't match, but the aura gives it away.
The vibe says it all. That's him. The Smiling Man.
'You. What. The hell. Did you. Do!?'
Mouthing words two at a time, she gets a smile from the Smiling Man.
Then he points outside the orphanage with his finger.
Meaning: let's talk quietly outside, no fuss.
"What is it this time? I saw on the way here. This place is where the Union picks private soldiers?"
As wished, facing off alone, Valkyrie grabs the Smiling Man.
"That's how it turned out. Haha!"
"How..."
"If you're asking how I found out, it's only polite to tell you!"
"You planning to joke till the end?! It's chaos right now!"
"I created that chaos, so isn't it even more fun?"
No, still! Valkyrie couldn't voice the next words.
Right. As the cadets said, the man before her isn't a hero.
Neither villain nor hero. Just the Smiling Man.
Someone who moves by his own justice, in a way different from us.
"...You—no, Smiling Man. Tell me straight. What do you really want?"
"This."
Showing real-time internet articles in pandemonium.
The Smiling Man gestures like a conductor.
"I'm just doing what I want."
"That's..."
"It could be saving heroes or exposing hidden evil."
He smiles, as if that's answer enough.
Damn. I shouldn't trust him. Why does it feel believable?
Valkyrie shakes her head and asks one last thing.
"We're not enemies?"
"Isn't facing each other and talking like this—without trying to kill—enough? Or do you want a public confession maybe...?"
"You wanna die for real?!"
"Hahahahaha!!"
Good. Keep being you, Hero Valkyrie.
So other young sprouts can take you as their role model.
Light guides the way more surely than anything.
They know that too, so they'll face crises soon enough.
But this sly fox will handle that—rest easy!
"...How about fixing those eyes?"
"Pardon?"
"No. On the way, it seemed like... the footage came through fine. If you just opened them, you'd look a bit more... hmm..."
"This is surprising. I'll note it in my book. Hero Valkyrie is weaker to looks than expected. Hahaha!"
Not joking—he actually pulls out a notepad and writes.
Thanks to that, Valkyrie ended up in a fierce tussle to snatch the notepad for a while.
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