Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: A Hundred Million Dollar Bounty
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Oh, this is something!
Oh. Well. I had a feeling, but they went and did it boldly after all.
I never imagined the Union would be more extravagant than the villains.
Against the backdrop of the city's lights, he sat cross-legged in midair.
Yushin gazed down at the world that was changing bit by bit.
"...Well. Keep doing this, and things get strangely tangled."
In truth, he had considered holding back on attacking the Korea Branch this time.
If it was for the sake of the 'enemy who becomes an ally,' it was too risky.
There was a chance it could tarnish the good image he'd carefully built.
If the enemies exploited it, he'd be in quite a bind.
Even so, he pushed forward. Not as Yushin, but as the Smiling Man.
"It's not like I have two personalities. And it's not like I got sucked into the concept. In the end, there's only one answer."
It meant his anger toward the Union was that immense.
It meant his enmity toward corrupt heroes was enormous.
He understood. Just thinking of 'that incident' still twisted his body even now.
It would be a lie to say he had no desire for revenge.
But that could never become his main goal.
'Don't forget. I'm a man who came this far chasing romance.'
The enemy who becomes an ally. A mid-boss who doesn't give his all sincerely.
The moment he strayed from that, he'd become a monster with nothing but power left.
Like a ship without a compass running aground at sea.
A man without purpose is bound to lose his way in this world.
"Alright. Let's sort it out once more."
Riiing!!
Gazing quietly at the police cars passing by in the distance.
Yushin listed out his actions so far and what he had to do next.
First and foremost, the protagonists were still growing diligently.
Their fate was originally meant to start twisted with the Academy half-destroyed.
But not anymore. He had blocked the monster with his half-closed eyes.
He had dealt with the bitterness that was supposed to be fed through Seo Ha-eun before it even began.
Holy Knight. Seo Ha-eun becoming his lackey.
Just thinking about it made him dizzy; he nearly lost his balance.
'I even saved Jin Seo-ah's true worth from being squandered unknowingly.'
The reason Jin Seo-ah's sword was beautiful was its straightness.
A sword tainted by revenge or anger would eventually become ugly.
The sword must be noble. A swordsman must walk straight.
The Hwiun Group hadn't aimed for this level of scale, really.
It started simply with Omega Coffee. Right, that was the reason.
The Black Woman took a liking to it. He needed to win her favor.
What began for that reason had now spread this far.
Thanks to it, stocks skyrocketed, fattening his back pocket.
'The reason for antagonizing the Union is in a similar vein.'
Why was he helping Valkyrie, who sought justice?
The answer was simple. Romance. It was for romance.
Why was he looking after Yi Bora and the orphanage?
The reason was the same. Romance again.
It wasn't for justice. Nor for good.
The half-closed eyes must act as the half-closed eyes. The enemy who becomes an ally must act as such.
Always one timing late, but thorough in handling things precisely because of the delay.
Always causing incidents and accidents, but they end up helping everyone.
Claiming to prioritize himself more than anyone, yet ultimately sacrificing like a martyr.
'Union. You all... are the ones shattering that romance. So what can be done? If you weren't the force bothering the protagonists, I would've let it slide nicely. Don't feel too bad. Once a half-closed-eyes character decides to strike, they have to take the hit—it's the rule.'
No personal feelings. Ah, really none?
Hahaha! If you believed that, I'll just say you're an idiot first.
Swish.
Like an acrobat performing in a circus, Yushin rose atop the Mana Threads.
It was a dizzying height. Below his feet stretched a cliff formed by the buildings.
Beneath that were electronic billboards delivering the world's news.
The Union was still moving slyly.
They dangled bounties to lure heroes, but that was it.
They never outright said to join the Union.
Isn't that fine? No problem at all.
On the contrary, it increased worldwide interest in the Smiling Man.
Korea alone seemed insufficient, so the Union stepped in to help.
Even the bounty payout would be handled by the Union—what could be the issue!
Money doesn't solve everything.
But money solves a hell of a lot.
In the old hero society, it would have been unthinkable.
They would've rebelled at the idea of trying to buy heroes with money.
But the world now was vastly different from before.
Heroes no longer meant noble champions.
More popular than idols, earning more than any job.
With justice and good added, they could pursue honor too.
"Of course, not everyone's like that, right?"
The first person who came to mind was, naturally, Hero Valkyrie.
And in time, protagonists who would rival her.
Kang Yuna. Seo Ha-eun. Jin Seo-ah. And even Louise.
Plus Jung Ye-bin, who would help them with all his might.
'Why must the enemy who becomes an ally always be so powerful?'
Because they must aid the protagonists.
'Why does the enemy who becomes an ally undergo forced power balancing?'
Because they can't turn the protagonists into extras.
'Then, what can an enemy who becomes an ally without such balancing do?'
Growth of talents. Clear sense of purpose. And...
"Now it's time for societal fame, isn't it?"
The Union placed a 100 million dollar bounty on the Smiling Man!
This news spread not just across South Korea but the entire world.
100 million dollars. An unprecedented sum.
And it wasn't even the end. It could go even higher.
"Ah, what is this, the Wild West era? Trying to move people with bounties."
"The Union must be pretty desperate. It's the first time in 10 years they've taken a proper hit on a branch, so it makes sense!"
Many mocked the Union for finally crumbling.
But that was only on the surface. Only when others were watching.
Behind closed doors, many tapped calculators, weighing profits and losses.
'100 million dollars is money you couldn't touch even if you hero-ed your whole life.'
'Idiots. The bounty's just an excuse. The Union is looking for people willing to work for them instead of heroing! Hanging 100 million as bounty is to flaunt their wealth!'
In truth, the Union had only placed the bounty and done nothing else.
The rest was up to the heroes' own deliberations and decisions.
Since catching the Smiling Man seemed tough, they'd use their own money.
Korea, suddenly swarming with bounty hunters, naturally rebelled.
But it was fact that they'd lost numerous heroes to the Smiling Man regardless.
Unable to catch him even now, the need for a new force arose.
The Union's bounty would provide a clear target above all.
Since yesterday, some were subtly quitting hero work.
A few for health reasons. Some openly mentioning the bounty.
Others were more interested in the Union than the bounty.
'The reason the Union took care of heroes was one: to turn national heroes into their private organization. They held back due to governments until now, but with a solid backing force, they're stepping out.'
'Can't be treated like civil servants forever. This bounty isn't just a bounty. It's the Union flaunting overwhelming wealth, saying they'll pay dozens of times more—join us!'
Rumors lately said the Union aimed to become an official armed group.
The lobbying of governments was for that purpose.
At the same time, heroes the Union had been fervently recruiting moved.
They were dissatisfied with their national governments' hero policies.
Hero in name, but treated like civil servants.
They couldn't be bound by duty forever.
To show that, they needed to ditch national affiliation and go to the Union.
How far would the Union soar?
How far would nations tolerate, and where would they draw the line?
As the world's focus converged on the Union.
One person wouldn't even allow that.