Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator : M.N 1391
Chapter: 82
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A former coup commander and dictator who had killed countless people for the sake of power was attacked at a banquet celebrating his eightieth birthday.
To some, it was an act of private retribution that disrupted the rule of law. To others, it was a red terrorist attack against a hero who had saved the nation from communist unification. To some, it was justice finally being served, and to yet others, it became the trigger that dredged up old pain and resentment they had been forced to forget.
Naturally, this incident struck at one of the most sensitive nerves in the nation’s history, turning into a massive issue black hole. Even the Sandman and Death Reporter incidents that had shocked the public were pushed aside in an instant.
The authorities’ stance was firm. Under no circumstances could private retribution be tolerated.
Of course, there was criticism of that position, but such criticism failed to construct any coherent legal argument and was largely emotional.
Even so, it was clear that it was not an issue that utterly failed to gain public sympathy.
Who could possibly accept that an old man, who had lived as a dictator, received bribes from numerous business leaders and was sentenced to forfeit over two hundred billion, yet spewed nonsense about having no money while living in luxury in a palace-like home? And how could anyone accept that his children, and even his grandchildren, were massive asset holders?
Were they exceptional entrepreneurs? Or investment geniuses whose brilliance anyone would acknowledge?
Who could deny that the vast wealth they enjoyed came from assets seized or extorted from corporations during the era when their father and grandfather ruled as a dictator?
And yet, even setting everything else aside, the state’s incompetence in failing to properly collect even the forfeiture imposed for the former coup commander’s bribery charges raised a fundamental question through this attack.
When the law fails to perform its function, or fails to uphold the value of justice, is it truly so wrong for an individual to step forward?
In truth, this was not the first time such a thing had happened. Why else would the executor of justice have beaten a frail old man to death?
“Don’t do it!”
“Why can’t I?!”
Inside the lavishly decorated living room of an extravagant mansion with a wide, ornate garden, two old men were shouting at each other.
“Are you saying we should follow the words of the murderer who killed your sons?!”
“Then how am I supposed to protect my grandchildren?!”
The old man shouted. The one he was yelling at was Heo Dong-se, the former intelligence chief who had stood by his side when he ruled this country.
Even now, the old man’s hands trembled uncontrollably. The power of the man now known to the public as Black Nocturne, who had seized the entire hall with black mist, disregarding airtight security, still filled him with fear.
Heo Dong-se frowned and said,
“Is that old man the only psychic in the world?”
“Then…”
“Globally, there are many awakened contract killers. Among them are individuals powerful enough to confidently claim they could kill even that Black Nocturne.”
“Have you called them?”
“I already have.”
“Then hurry up and bring me that bastard who killed my children!”
As the old man continued shouting, Heo Dong-se finally bowed, saying he would take care of it, and left.
Outside the mansion, he clicked his tongue as he looked back at the fortress-like walls and massive gate.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Even a general who once ruled the world can’t stand against time.”
Had his body grown weak with age, and his mind along with it? The charisma of the man who had led a coup and ultimately ruled this country was nowhere to be found.
And yet, why was Heo Dong-se stepping in to help him?
It was because the former dictator had declared his intention to repent for his past wrongs and donate all his assets to society, saying that was the only way to save his grandchildren’s lives from Black Nocturne.
But from Heo Dong-se’s perspective, that could never be allowed.
He, too, was one of those who had built their current wealth by aiding the dictator. Thanks to that, his children were now enjoying economic freedom and happy lives.
An apology from the dictator, the former coup commander? Heo Dong-se could never throw the world a justification that might strip his children and blood relatives of their wealth.
And he was not alone in thinking that way. Just as Heo Dong-se had not been the only one to assist the coup and military dictatorship, most of those who had secured positions back then were still enjoying wealth and comfort in the present day.
Spit on my grave if you must. Even so, you will not take away the wealth and glory of my children and descendants.
That was why those who had lived quietly now dragged their aged bodies back into the fray.
= = = = =
The CIA’s Korea branch went on high alert. The reason was simple: a large number of contract killers classified as dangerous individuals by the CIA had entered the country.
Had the North ordered the assassination of key figures or acts of terror against the South?
After activating their intelligence lines, it was fortunately confirmed that this was not the case. Instead, they uncovered something far more interesting. The targets of the contract killers who had entered Korea were revealed to be the infamous Black Nocturne.
Black Nocturne was known as the first telekinetic. Using black mist to exert physical force without even touching his targets, he was already considered a person of interest by multiple nations.
What was regrettable was that he was so old that he openly claimed he had little time left to live, and that what he intended to do with his remaining time was very clear.
Given the nature of his goals and the time he had left, there was little room to make use of him, which was unfortunate. Telekinesis was undeniably a powerful and highly versatile ability.
The CIA decided to quietly observe the situation in Korea.
However, that information passed through the FBI and eventually reached Kim Jun.
The reason the CIA shared the intelligence with the FBI was that they had agreed to cooperate among investigative agencies within the Korean theater. It was a prior agreement meant to prevent turf wars between national institutions over an investigative asset named Kyung-wan.
“So you’re saying a bunch of young guys came into Korea to gang up on a dying old man?”
“…Calling Black Nocturne a dying old man might be a bit…”
Kim Jun trailed off, already regretting why he had brought this up.
The reason he had informed Kyung-wan in advance was that, during the contract killers’ attack on Black Nocturne, some were bound to be repelled and neutralized. The plan was to seize that opportunity, arrest a few of them, and then extract information through Kyung-wan.
It was a precious chance to gain intelligence on the darknet contract market.
For that, Kyung-wan’s help and cooperation were essential. They needed to dig up information before Korean investigative agencies stepped in and complicated matters.
That was the only reason he had told Kyung-wan beforehand, yet Kyung-wan was reacting with clear displeasure.
“Isn’t this a bit much, going after an old man who’s just trying to avenge his wrongfully killed children?”
“Uh… but, ”
Before Kim Jun could even say, ‘We didn’t hire them,’ Kyung-wan cut in.
“Ah, I get it. I know your position, Mr. Kim Jun, as someone who wields state power. But from where I’m standing, doesn’t this seem pretty petty for something planned by a national agency?”
Taking advantage of a dying old man to reap the benefits of others’ work.
“Well, ”
“Ah, I understand, I understand. It’s another country’s problem anyway. From your perspective as an American, Mr. Kim Jun, protecting your own national interests comes first.”
As Kyung-wan cut him off again, Kim Jun grew irritated. It wasn’t as if he wanted to do this, it was a decision from above, but it felt as though Kyung-wan was just picking a fight out of spite.
“Are you dissatisfied with our policy, Mr. Kyung-wan?”
“Of course I am. You said they’re a bunch of shitty bastards, right? Then isn’t it obvious you should arrest them all?”
“Then we’d also have to arrest the old man called Black Nocturne.”
“From the standpoint of public authority, that’s only natural. But from my standpoint, it’s fucking shitty.”
Kim Jun recalled a previous conversation he had had with Kyung-wan. Kyung-wan’s standards of judgment were entirely subjective.
It was hard to call him selfish, but from the perspective of maintaining public order, it was deeply unsettling. Even if someone was a piece of shit, responding emotionally could produce innocent victims.
Kim Jun decided to stop talking about Black Nocturne and changed the subject.
“How’s prison life these days?”
“Well, things are running quietly. Surprisingly, the carrot seems to be working.”
“Is that so?”
“Well, Sam-O-Sam-O is doing a good job, too.”
Nam Dong-geon, a super-strong ability user who had fallen completely for Kyung-wan’s sweet talk. Acting in Kyung-wan’s stead, he was properly disciplining the psychic inmates.
Taking Kyung-wan’s advice, he had learned how to activate his cooldown-based ability briefly and at just the right moments. By actively intervening in incidents between the government’s psychic research division and psychic inmates, he had already become a candidate for model prisoner status.
Thanks to that, Kyung-wan was able to carry out American requests without being annoyed by Warden Hong’s lingering regrets.
Administrative systems in countries that had jumped into the race under the banner of psychic research moved quickly. Korea was no exception. With the Special Act on Psychic Ability Management, they swiftly formed a Psychic Crime Investigation Unit. Beyond that, even at the civilian level, the Korean Psychic Association was established to promote the rights and interests of psychics.
Naturally, all of this was benchmarked after the United States. True to Korea’s fast-paced nature, they burned through their staff to get operations up and running at remarkable speed.
Kim Jun checked the time.
“Let’s end today’s visit here.”
“Isn’t it a hassle for you to come see me like this?”
At Kyung-wan’s joke, Kim Jun replied with a faint smile.
“You’re a person of interest, after all.”
Kyung-wan nodded, and Kim Jun left.
On the FBI side, they were deliberately meeting with Kyung-wan on a regular basis, building a more personal, human relationship through conversation.
Once it was confirmed that Kyung-wan’s actions were heavily motivated by subjective judgment, they decided that a human, emotional bond like friendship would be more appropriate in the long run. To begin with, incentives like money or fame had little effect on someone like Lee Kyung-wan.
After the visit ended, Kyung-wan returned to solitary confinement. A bit of yoga-like stretching, some bodyweight exercises to maintain his fitness, a shower, reading a few borrowed books, some meditation, then bed. That was his daily routine.
With vigilantes being mentioned in Korea, trips to the United States were on hold for the time being.
Of course, that alone wasn’t enough to fully explain the halt. Terrorist groups, drug cartels, and various other criminal organizations that existing investigative agencies had been monitoring were also thrown into confusion by the emergence of psychic abilities, increasing investigative uncertainty.
In times of such chaos, any plan became useless. It would take time to reach a lull or establish order, and then more time before Kyung-wan’s abilities were needed again. For now, observing and waiting was deemed the better choice by American investigative agencies.
Kyung-wan understood this flow to some extent, so he could roughly guess why the United States hadn’t been calling for him lately.
And that wasn’t all. The more Kyung-wan took a share in investigations, and the more agencies grew accustomed to his convenience, the stronger his voice would become. From the American perspective, unless it was absolutely critical, they didn’t want to overuse Kyung-wan.
The paradox of the slave, where a slave providing convenience eventually takes the master’s seat.
Just looking at humans addicted to smartphones, created to provide convenience, proved that paradox true.
So if they didn’t want to be dragged along by Kyung-wan, they couldn’t afford to rely solely on his abilities, and those smart elites knew that all too well.