Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: 28. The Trump Card Is Right Here (3)
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― Hello? Yoo Ji-tae guardian?
7 a.m.
A call came in from the PR Department. The voice sounded urgent.
“Yes.”
― Sorry to call so early in the morning. Have you... seen it by any chance?
“I'm looking at it right now.”
The article had just popped up.
PR Department.
Protecting Lair's image. Shielding professors, cadets, and staff from the storms of the media. That was their job.
They jokingly called their work “the rainy season.” Because amid tens of thousands of people, problems cropped up endlessly, pouring down like monsoon rains.
“I've switched to Yong Do-hee. Are you okay, guardian?”
― Yes.
A surprisingly calm voice came through the receiver. Yong Do-hee found it odd for a moment, then spoke urgently.
“Don't panic too much for now. It's not that big a deal.”
Today's incident was like a drip from the ceiling during the rainy season.
In short, no major crisis.
But the concern was that Yoo Ji-tae's guardian protected Yoo Gaeul almost to the point of overprotection.
So Yong Do-hee decided to soothe him.
“The Wei Guard is off-base here.”
― Off-base?
“Yes. It's not like they hate Autumn cadet or anything. They're just venting their anger. They've been obsessive fans chasing Professor Wei Lian to every event. Those crazies even showed up at his family home in China all the time, calling it a pilgrimage to holy sites.”
―…
“In that situation, Professor Wei Lian tragically died in battle, shocking them. They're angry, but have no target. Yelling at monsters or rifts feels empty. So they targeted innocent Autumn cadet.”
Yong Do-hee scanned the screen.
If her read was right, public opinion would shift.
And as if proving her words, reactions on the Superhuman fandom communities and Lair fan sites were mixed.
Monitoring community reactions and emerging articles.
Yong Do-hee bit her nail.
“Guardian. Autumn cadet doesn't know about this yet, right?”
― No.
“In case she finds out late through some other channel, give her a heads-up beforehand. So she can brace herself with a mental shield.”
― I will. What about the video they stole and uploaded?
At Yoo Ji-tae's question, Yong Do-hee glanced at the display.
[Yoo Gaeul Video.] (12 hours ago)
Views: 3,894,334
Likes: 31k / Dislikes: 27k
Comments: 999+
Once they flagged it as unauthorized use, it was taken down from the trending videos.
But the Wei Guard's antics had blown it up too much; the views kept climbing steadily.
“We submitted a takedown request, so it'll be gone within three days at latest. We'll pursue legal action for unauthorized use too.”
― Three days.
“The PR Department will do everything to support Autumn cadet, so don't worry too much.”
― Thank you.
As she hung up, Yong Do-hee felt puzzled.
Why's he so chill?
She pictured Yoo Ji-tae guardian.
Always with that watery gaze, bored expression—like booze diluted with water or vice versa. But when it came to Autumn, he'd turn scary serious.
Yet now that the incident had blown up, his attitude was too calm?
Did he have some ace up his sleeve?
As the middle-aged woman puzzled over it.
Her phone rang again. From the Academic Affairs Office.
“PR Department Team 3, Yong Do-hee speaking.”
― Academic Affairs, Daniela. Official notice from the Federation Strategy Office.
Yong Do-hee looked flustered.
The International Superhuman Federation's military strategy office?
What notice?
Details about Professor Wei Lian's secret and an emergency meeting schedule came through the receiver.
“Pardon? What did you just say...? Professor Wei Lian...”
Her head rang at the unbelievable news. Hanging up, she spaced out, random thoughts intruding.
How many all-nighters ahead?
Team Leader Yong Do-hee muttered.
“We're fucked...”
The monsoon had shattered a windowpane.
Gaeul was puzzling with Winter. A massive 10,000-piece jigsaw: 1.6m wide, 1.1m tall.
Puzzle pieces scattered across the living room. Gaeul and Winter grunted as they fitted them.
“Ooh! This piece looks like it goes there?”
“...?”
“No? Maybe here?”
“...”
“Hmm, you don't know either? Ppivung, which way?”
Ppivung!
It was a toy Yoo Ji-tae had bought.
Vacation started.
With friends all heading home, Gaeul had nothing to do and clutched her watch all day. Searching food or chicks, it seemed.
So Yoo Ji-tae “accidentally” broke it. Now it was in for repairs.
Bought the puzzle to fend off boredom, but surprisingly, they tackled it seriously.
“You two. No magic to solve it.”
“Okay!”
Yoo Ji-tae had secretly pocketed a few pieces, so it'd take twice as long.
By the time they finished, the storm would have passed.
Then he could talk slowly.
Meanwhile, Bom on the sofa scrolled real-time posts. Her face somber as she checked updates and articles.
When they'd done about 500 pieces.
Bom spoke very softly.
“Ajusshi.”
“Yeah.”
“I think I get what you're worried about.”
The Wei Guard's emotional outbursts were heating up.
It started before Gaeul's video even leaked.
Wei Lian's sudden death spread, waves of mourning across communities.
But not the Wei Guard. Theirs began with hate.
Gaeul's video was just the trigger.
“...”
Self-harm proof pics.
Blood letters honoring dead Wei Lian.
Rage at Lair for failing to protect him. Threats to Gaeul's safety.
Some crossed lines: crashing a joint memorial, vandalizing others' except Wei Lian's.
“...”
Bom looked at Gaeul.
She puzzled with Winter, tongue out, seriously pondering two pieces.
“Seems like there are a lot of scary people...”
The Gold Dragon held the identity of guardian deity.
Protecting nations. Shielding the precious. Praised for it.
But not on this world.
“What did this sweet kid do wrong...”
Watching made her angry. And that anger brought emptiness.
At least in Ascalifa, petty grudges and rage wouldn't spread so easily.
Gaeul couldn't face the public because...
Not Earth's fault.
Nor Earthlings' eccentricity.
It was a systemic issue in a highly advanced scientific world.
“Don't mind it too much.”
“Okay.”
Facing head-on the inevitable clash between the world and Gold Dragons, Bom finally thought Yoo Ji-tae's protection wasn't excessive.
He had no choice.
“This isn't Yeo-hee's last rodeo. No need to take it so seriously.”
“Yeah... you're right, Ajusshi.”
Still feeling a bit down, Bom kept scrolling updates.
By then, Gaeul, Winter, and Ppivung had about 1,000 pieces done.
Savanna giraffe's face and neck emerged.
“Whoa...! This side's done!”
“...!”
“Winter, we did it!”
As Gaeul and Winter high-fived.
A new article dropped.
“...?”
Bom's green eyes widened at the headline.
The tide had turned.
'Today Lair's exclusive dropped.
Fuel poured on the already raging Wei Guard community.
They couldn't accept reality.
Even they knew Demonkin were evil, humanity's “enemies.”
In other words, Wei Lian couldn't be a Demonkin.
...It absolutely couldn't be.
Those blindly faithful to Wei Lian flooded boards with curses and hate. Soon spreading to other sites, badmouthing Lair.
Conspiracy theories sprouted too.
The poster vanished ten minutes later, but facts didn't matter to the deranged Wei Guard members.
Enraged, they pooled donations for lawyers.
Spilled more hate posts.
Eventually gathered at Hate Ling for a protest at Lair's main gate. Over 300 from around the world, regardless of race or gender.
Before Lair's massive gates—like a temple entrance—the protesters shouted.
“Lair, issue a correction on your speculative report and apologize immediately!”
“Apologize—!”
Mad as a mob, they roasted whole pigs alive. Flipped and exploded cars. Blared megaphones day and night.
Some lay fasting on the ground.
“Hate Ling Local Police here. Calm down! Do you know where you are?”
“You're all in on it, huh!?”
Clashes with police began. They held firm amid brawls.
On the chaotic protest's third day.
A Lair high-ranking staffer with an academic badge appeared.
“Hello. I'm Lair Investigation Bureau Vice Director Jang Hao-yu.”
For three days, Lair had only said “investigation ongoing.”
This fueled Wei Guard's certainty it was speculation.
They screamed at the vice director for explanations, corrections.
“Yes. Please calm down. Not from Legal or PR. I'm just a pen-pusher from the back office, but I'm here because... Investigation confirmed the late Professor Wei Lian was a Demonkin.”
“Wha...?”
“...W-what did you say?”
Wei Guard voices cut off. Confirmed through investigation? Not what they wanted.
“Evidence? F-fuck! Where's the evidence every time!”
Someone yelled from the crowd's back. Ripples spread through the quiet mass.
“Y-yeah! On what basis!”
“Stop insulting the dead and show proof!”
“Show the evidence!”
As voices rose again. The vice director raised a hand, silencing them.
A bitter smile curved his lips. He snapped his fingers; a holographic display unfolded in the air.
“Video taken by Japanese royal guards. Federation approved release. It's probably public now with reports.”
Lair shoving “evidence” shut them up.
Under suspicious glares like arrows.
“The proof you've all demanded.”
The vice director pressed the remote button.