It's a Hundred Times Easier to Replace People Than Change the System
Changing public opinion is a hundred times harder than just swapping out people. One American company refuses to install air conditioning in its logistics warehouses, even though workers collapse from dehydration or heatstroke every summer. It's simpler and cheaper to just hire one more healthy person. For the same reason, digging into the truth behind the Walpurgis incident was an exhausting and convoluted ordeal. There was zero known information on how they infiltrated Korea, why they kidnapped innocent people, or what experiments they conducted.
But there was a turning point. The UN openly admitted that some high-ranking Walpurgis officials had slipped through the net due to inadequate handling by leadership and the military, expressing direct regret. The public was, naturally, outraged. Is this why we called in UN forces? Didn't you bungle the terrorist takedown and cause the Banghwa Bridge disaster?
'If it was done with good intentions, we'd understand, but hiding it? You're all dead. Strip the president first!'
The Blue House scrambled in various ways to protect approval ratings. One was disciplinary personnel changes—cutting off tails. The current ROK-US Combined Forces Command deputy chief of staff and Army Training Center commander, who had covered up the incident, were the first fired.
But the media is sharp, and the public isn't stupid. It came out that they mostly targeted people already sidelined or demoted once. With parties too busy tearing into each other, they eventually agreed to sacrifice their precious darlings as scapegoats.
Cheon Jeong-ho, Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office chief, criticized as a political prosecutor by the Republican Party. A hidden dragon in quiet meditation training, poised for prosecutor general. The party's fresh faces decided to smash his wings to solidify their positions.
Unfortunately, he was a man with pride to match. He had a strong sense of self.
Likes: 481 | Angry: 827
The media gleefully painted politicians as even more demonic, and the public started feeling nauseous. That was the reaction politics wanted.
"They finally uploaded it..."
It was the video announced for VTube Shorts. Not just 'vs fun,' but a real duel under official rules, preserved on Nami's VTube.
Theoretical Magic Department Shin Yeon-ho sighed deeply as he rewatched the duel footage.
"A duel?"
Ban So-wol, sitting across, set down her Americano and tilted her head.
"I dueled Nami no-hands rules before. I lost."
"Loser. Weakling."
"Loser yes, but not weak?"
"So you enjoy losing to girls?"
"Don't phrase it like that—people will misunderstand!"
"No?"
"Really no, please believe me?"
Slurp— Bitter coffee flowed through the straw into Ban So-wol's mouth.
"Nami hates spectators."
She said calmly. Ban So-wol, who had paid dearly for intentionally losing an arm-wrestle once, slowly stroked her forearm, checking muscles still not recovered.
"I know. But I had a handicap. I sealed direct strikes completely."
"Man making excuses."
"..."
"Sorry, don't shrink—keep going. So you gave your all with handicap and still lost. Right?"
"I did my best, yeah... But even if my punch landed then, would it have reached Nami?"
"What do you mean?"
Shin Yeon-ho lowered his head slightly, lost in thought. That final rule-breaking punch slamming Nami into the wall. Why was he so sure she could dodge?
Signs were plentiful mid-duel. When Nami closed in, his shoulder instinctively turned for counter multiple times.
"Hard to believe, but every moment, Nami was prepped for my punch range."
If opponent threw a light hook, Shin Yeon-ho would've instantly shattered their left ribs. Of course, he didn't against her. But recalling Nami's stance then sent chills.
"She threw the hook, leaned upper body back for counter, left arm already guarding tight. Instinct level?"
Shin Yeon-ho's eyes widened in bewilderment. Ban So-wol scooped carrot cake and fed the deepening thinker.
"Nami beat me arm-wrestling too. Totally possible."
"What?"
Beat Ban So-wol arm-wrestling? Impossible without her holding back. Called 'Iron Lady' for mastering aura at just 17.
As she put cake in mouth and set spoon down, he grabbed her hand.
"Enough other girls. Know why I like arm-wrestling?"
"Uh...? No."
"Holding hands lets me see faces well. Feel it?"
"No?"
"Then like this?"
"Whoa!"
A thin aura thread climbed his hand, glowing gray. It spread thin and wide, covering his face. Ban So-wol's sensing method.
She released; the gray web dissipated. She calmly drained her last drink.
"But grabbing any guy's hand like..."
"You're fine."
"Huh?"
His face lit