Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Captured Traitor
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"Arrest the 1st Floor Team Leader! He's suspected of being a spy!"
"Got it!"
"No! I'm not!"
He denied it vehemently, but his face had already drained of color.
Anyone could see he looked like the culprit.
'They already knew? Since when?'
The 1st Floor Team Leader sensed something was off.
This was definitely...
'I'm fucked.'
If he got caught, it meant a special prison.
No way. Better to die!
He steeled himself.
Seizing the moment as Kang Hyun handed him over to the guards...
"Hup!"
"Whoa! He's running!"
"As expected! Knew he'd bolt!"
The escape began.
He kicked open the door and dashed across the lobby.
'Knew I'd bolt?'
So they did know!
That dog Choi Young-ho!
If his brother got confirmed guilty?
It was clear-cut 'conspiracy to murder an Awakener.'
No choice now but to live as a traitor.
'Gotta run no matter what!'
He was an agility-all-in type, after all.
As 1st Floor Team Leader, he knew the HQ's forces well.
'They can't catch me with the resident forces!'
But then.
Mixed in with the shouts, naturally...
"Catch that bastard quick!"
"Hey! Stop! I said stop!"
"【Stop】"
Kiiing—
The fleeing 1st Floor Team Leader froze.
'...Huh?'
No time to think as the guards swarmed him.
"Got him!"
"Arrest him!"
"Hey, rookie! Special cuffs!"
The situation ended.
The 1st Floor Team Leader regained his dazed senses.
"U, uwaaaah! No! It's not me!"
What just happened?
Why'd I get caught? Did I freeze up?
No, no Awakener freezes like that!
The questions didn't last long.
Despair crashed down soon enough.
Section Chief Choi approached with steady steps.
"Don't worry, 1st Floor Team Leader."
His shadowed face was icy cold.
His horn-rimmed glasses flashed within.
"If you're innocent, a thorough investigation will prove it."
Or else, special prison.
The 1st Floor Team Leader knew his own guilt well.
He trembled with chills.
"Ch-Chief Choi! I'm sorry! I got blinded by money! Please spare me just once! I won't betray the country again!"
"...Traitorous scum."
Choi growled.
But the Team Leader was baffled.
"Pardon? Traitor?"
What the hell?
Why bring up treason?
Was our loan shark company a foreign corp?
"W-Wait! There's a misunderstanding... Ack!"
A guard knocked out the Team Leader as he tried to speak.
No need to hear more.
He'd basically confessed already.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A group arrived at the scene shortly after.
All in suits.
"We've come from the National Intelligence Service's Awakener Response Team."
They were special agents, all Awakeners.
A few from the group waved.
"Chief Choi, long time no see!"
"Another bust? Still out in the field?"
Choi roughly handed over the 1st Floor Team Leader.
"This traitor tried to sell out the country! Please interrogate him thoroughly!"
"Whoa, never seen our Chief Choi this pissed before."
Awakeners were vital national assets.
Colluding with foreign powers to harm them?
A Perfect Clear Awakener, no less!
It had to be a crime on par with rebellion.
Grueling interrogation awaited, no doubt.
The illegal, horrific kind done in the shadows.
Watching this, Kang Hyun nodded.
'Foreign? Colluders? That's what it was?'
Had no clue.
'Man, Chief Choi gets shit done properly.'
Meanwhile, Choi thought:
'Mr. Kang Hyun... how'd he spot it?'
As expected, something was off about him.
A 1st Floor Team Leader was a HQ veteran.
A spy no one spotted for years.
And he roots him out on the spot.
'Perfect Clear Awakeners really are different!'
Having talent like this step up.
Bright future for the nation!
Things were going well.
Might as well pull the agreement forward and recruit him today.
'Finally! A Perfect Clear Awakener joins Korea's fold!'
His patriotic heart pounded wildly.
Choi guided Kang Hyun to a meeting room.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The air in Blaze Guild's support team turned frigid.
Yoo Chae-young's eyes sharply grilled her team member.
"...What did you say?"
"Ch-Chief Choi... refused cooperation..."
Yoo Chae-young pinched her brow hard.
Refused? Why the hell?
Blaze was rank 3.
Even they fully submitted.
Handed over all collected data.
Yet the government insists on taking the Perfect Clear.
'And he refuses this?'
Was Choi Young-ho that kind of guy?
Thought his heart was for the country.
Guess greed blinded him.
'Government checking guilds is natural, but this is too much.'
In an era where Awakener forces meant power.
If guilds overwhelm government Awakeners?
Balance collapses.
National ops get swayed by guilds.
Hence, balance between state and guilds was key.
But in this crisis?
Screw balance.
Shouldn't we find the Perfect Clear first?!
"What's the public reaction?"
"Chaos."
She pulled up the progress screen.
⚔ PROGRESS ⚔ Republic of Korea: 100% Korea's progress had been slowing lately.
But they hit 100% in record time.
All thanks to the Perfect Clear Awakener.
Yet the public raged harder.
💬 Comments — Anonymous They really gonna let him get snatched? Dude carried 10% progress solo? — Anonymous Even if Perfect Clear hits C-Rank, he could solo all progress. — Anonymous ↳ Reply Nah, D-Rank would do it. This is insane. ⭐ Top Comment — Anonymous By progress alone, more valuable than an S-Rank. People need to rise up. Public opinion heated up fast.
— Anonymous This country's hopeless lololol — Anonymous Escape Hell Joseon by IQ. — Anonymous Fucking hell... indecisive ruling party bitches... just declare martial law, put out a warrant, block exits!!! — Anonymous Old boomer lost it. — Anonymous I'm for it. Seriously think that's right. Yoo Chae-young burned inside.
Not the time for guild vs. gov dick-measuring.
'Fine, we'll find him first no matter what.'
Even out of spite, bring him to Blaze.
Choi would regret it later.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Oh dear, cold still not better? Warm cocoa... no, tea."
"Thanks."
He pulled down the mask and sipped.
Pulled it back up.
"I'll tell you the 1st Floor Team Leader's backers once interrogation's done."
"Oh, even to me?"
"Of course. People's right to know must be protected!"
Kang Hyun tilted his head.
Guy's a bit overzealous.
Pulled down mask briefly, sipped tea.
"Plus, you're the victim and the one who nabbed him. And most importantly..."
Choi hesitated briefly.
Reveal it?
Yeah, build smooth relations straight-up.
"You're this nation's precious Perfect Clear Awakener."
"Huh."
Kang Hyun mildly surprised.
Busted.
"How'd you know?"
After hearing the story.
"Tch, hiding it ain't easy."
"Exactly. Personal power has limits."
"Need capable helpers."
"Like, the nation."
"We click."
"Haha! Thanks."
Kang Hyun grinned.
Choi bowed amiably, smiling warmly.
"Besides Chief Choi, who else knows?"
"Just me for now."
Good.
Reason he'd hidden from the state till now?
Didn't want his identity spread, too much spotlight.
Sucks it leaked, but good he connected with Choi first.
Things worked out fine.
"Dungeon clear records pinpointing me..."
"Incinerated."
"If more Perfect Clear aggro happens..."
"We'll control the media."
"Worried about paparazzi..."
"24/7 close protection."
"Th-That was a joke."
"I'm not joking. Say the word anytime."
Whoa.
'Gets shit done proper.'
Yeah, things really worked out.
But the hospitality didn't end there.
This was just the opener.
"The state will support Mr. Kang Hyun's smooth growth with all resources and conveniences."
"Like?"
Support.
None of that in his past life.
Unlike fellow heroes.
Orphan street merc origin.
Martial arts, elixirs—all self-sourced.
Comrades lamented it.
If top dog Kyle got support in his growth phase?
He'd have reached higher.
No vocal cord nodules suffering.
They nagged endlessly.
So Kang Hyun wasn't uninterested.
Lemme hear it.
"We'll issue a Platinum Card for top prospects."
"Card?"
"90% off at state-affiliated Awakener shops."
"90%!?"
90%? Basically free.
Allowed?
Awakener gear's pricey.
Very.
Hundreds mil minimum, up to billions.
Thea materials and labor cost a fortune.
Generous.
Eye-popping perks.
"Also, 50% tax cut until S-Rank."
Taxes!
Blood-sucking word.
Running the academy, how he suffered taxes!
Even ex-hero trembled at it.
"Immunity too. Unless major crime, law won't judge you."
Kang Hyun pondered.
Barge into loan shark HQ and rampage?
'Light immunity won't cover that.'
Gotta do it sneaky.
Anyway.
Perks overflowing.
'Shoulda come sooner?'
But take means give.
"What do you want from me?"
"Naturalization banned for now. In national crisis, presidential draft. SNS activity limits, mandatory escorts for travel..."
Long list of terms.
'Enunciation near announcer level.'
Why do those glasses keep glinting?
Anyway.
Not major clauses.
"All minimal for national interest! Please cooperate!"
Taking it was way better deal.
But.
"I see."
"Hahaha! Glad you understand the state's position! Now, sign here on the contract..."
Pulled down mask briefly.
Sipped tea.
"Nah."
"Pardon?"
Answer was set.
Just curious.
'Support?'
Sounds good.
But belonging somewhere? Meh.
"Ha, haha. My ears must be off, say again—"
"Nope."
"M-Must've missed explaining! Here, support details again—"
"Never."
Kyle.
The one hero unbound to any nation.
And.
'Haven't even started squeezing yet, can't get tied down.'
No one more practiced at wringing states dry.