Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: 24. Wave (2)
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Golden Rain.
A kind of parade that could only be seen if the person who slayed the Mutated Being gave up their exclusive claim to the 3 million karma and decided to distribute 30,000 karma to everyone.
Naturally, no one in Seoul had ever called down a Golden Rain before, and it was probably a rare occurrence even on a national scale.
That was why Jo Sang-ik couldn't help but be moved by the Golden Rain that fell over Gwanak District.
The conditions for its appearance and the sight of the actual rain pouring down—it was like a balm in this hellish world.
Was this what they called a miracle?
But the感動 he felt back then was fleeting.
Now, to Jo Sang-ik, the Golden Rain was practically synonymous with disaster.
“Of all days, a Golden Rain appears only in Gwanak District on the day Gangnam First Sword's son is killed... Doesn't that look suspicious to anyone?”
Jo Sang-ik said with a face drained of color, and Youngwoo asked,
“Then what happens now?”
“The Seoul Alliance will demand an explanation from me about this incident. What the Golden Rain really is, who called it down, and whether that person brutally murdered Jeong Hyeon-sik's son.”
“Then can't you just tell them the truth? That an outsider like me took down the Mutated Being without permission and called the Golden Rain.”
“......”
Jo Sang-ik let out a deep sigh at Youngwoo's words.
“Then how am I still alive?”
“...Pardon?”
“An outsider who murdered fourteen young men he met on the road made it all the way to Gwanak District and stole the Mutated Being—how could Gwanak First Sword still be alive?”
“Well, because of that conversation at the time......”
Youngwoo, about to continue naively, had no choice but to shut his mouth.
“That does sound inconsistent.”
Exactly.
From a third party's perspective, it was a story with zero credibility.
An outsider who boldly cut down even the son of a Seoul heavyweight left Gwanak First Sword untouched?
Worse, Gwanak First Sword just stood by and watched as this sudden outsider slew the Mutated Being right in front of him...?
‘Even I wouldn't believe it if I were them.’
As Youngwoo seemed to grasp the situation, Jo Sang-ik continued.
“In Jeong Hyeon-sik's eyes, I'll look like your accomplice, Mr. Youngwoo. Which means there's a very high chance he'll come after me without hesitation.”
‘Me too’ implied that Youngwoo, the prime murder suspect, would obviously be killed as well.
And above all.
“Jeong Hyeon-sik is currently the provisional alliance leader of the Seoul Alliance. So most First Swords will side with him.”
“You're saying no one will stop Jeong Hyeon-sik.”
“It'd be fortunate if they don't all pile on together.”
“Looks like you Vice Minister are pretty hated on the regular.”
“Not every First Sword at the assembly wants order. Some are itching to revel in their power.”
Jo Sang-ik worried that this incident would act as a catalyst, crumbling Seoul's order.
“But skipping the assembly would be the worst choice. Jeong Hyeon-sik would come straight to Gwanak District himself.”
If that happened, Seoul National University would become a mountain of corpses and sea of blood.
Jo Sang-ik frowned, imagining the horrific scenario.
“So you're planning to obediently attend today's assembly?”
“What other choice is there? I have no option but to go and explain as best I can.”
“......”
At that, Youngwoo checked the time on his wristwatch.
Current time: 1:36 PM.
About 1 hour and 20 minutes until the First Swords' assembly at Yongsan Park.
“By the way, Vice Minister.”
“Yes.”
“Is Gangnam First Sword really that strong? Why do you think we'll lose?”
“......?”
“You said earlier, ‘We're fucked.’”
“Well......”
As Jo Sang-ik struggled to respond, Youngwoo finished for him.
“We're not there yet. We'll see who's longer or shorter in a fight. And I've never lost a one-on-one.”
Of course, this could be his first and last defeat.
“They might've made 3 million today... but how much did we make? 30,000 per person, so at least 30 million. No, probably hundreds of millions. Does it make sense for us to lose? Money is power. Gwanak District is now the richest neighborhood in Seoul.”
“......”
It sounded true but twisted a certain way, it was sophistry.
Sure, they'd brought in tons of money to Gwanak District, but that cash was divided among the district residents scattered everywhere—not piled up here.
“So what are you suggesting?”
Jo Sang-ik asked with a confused expression.
Youngwoo pointed south, toward Seoul National University, and said,
“You need to fundraise. If they want another 30,000 karma next time, ask them to return 10,000 each now. You're already doing something similar in Seoul, right? The Seoul Rotation or whatever.”
“.......”
It was an absurd plan, but Jo Sang-ik couldn't find a counterargument.
Because the idea itself was perfectly sound.
Getting a cut back after the Golden Rain was no different from charging a fee after helping residents complete scout quests.
The difference was that, from the residents' view, the Golden Rain was overwhelmingly safer and could yield up to ten times the profit.
“You said Gwanak District needs a strong First Sword to have a voice at the assembly, right? So this is for the public good too. It's justified, and it's an immediate crisis. Feels like fundraising would work just fine.”
Plus, wasn't Jo Sang-ik the one who'd used the Seoul Rotation to find a path to survival for not just district folk but all citizens?
Youngwoo checked his wristwatch again after saying that.
“Vice Minister, 1 hour and 17 minutes left. Gwanak's in the Seoul Rotation now, so residents should be gathered. Move fast, and you can pull it off. Plus, there are plenty of experts at Seoul National University. Send them out in all directions to collect the funds.”
“That's true, but......”
Jo Sang-ik replied half-heartedly but was inwardly shocked.
At Jeong Youngwoo's adaptability and boldness.
Was every major district's First Sword this exceptional?
“But you're fully aware the money stays in Gwanak District, right? That's what you're proposing.”
Even if the fundraising succeeded, they wouldn't give it to Youngwoo.
Youngwoo nodded.
“Of course, just like we agreed at the start.”
“Th-then while I'm collecting the money, what will you be doing, Mr. Youngwoo?”
By asking this, Jo Sang-ik had tacitly accepted Youngwoo's proposal.
Youngwoo looked relieved.
“I need to meet the merchant. And talk to my companions first.”
“Companions......?”
Did this weirdo really have companions?
As Jo Sang-ik tilted his head skeptically, a car horn blared from behind.
Honk, hooonk!
“Huh.”
Startled by the sudden noise, Jo Sang-ik turned to see a patrol car approaching from afar.
Finally, Tae-young and Jong-su had come to find Youngwoo.
* * *
“Ah, nice to meet you. I'm Jo Sang-ik.”
Jo Sang-ik extended a hand with a friendly smile, and Tae-young shook it awkwardly.
“I'm Kwon Tae-young from Icheon District Police.”
As he spoke, Tae-young's eyes were fixed on the title above the man's head.
『Gwanak First Sword』
So Tae-young knew full well this man was Gwanak District's true master.
But how were both the outsider intruder Youngwoo and this man still alive?
‘I definitely saw the Golden Rain falling earlier.’
Meanwhile, Jo Sang-ik was gauging the man's grip strength through his palm.
‘A total civilian...? How'd Gyeongbuk First Sword end up rolling with a district cop?’
Careful not to crush Tae-young's hand, Jo Sang-ik ended the handshake.
Next up.
“I'm Kim Jong-su from Andong.”
“Yes. First time meeting.”
Kim Jong-su from Andong... This one had far more strength than the previous cop.
Not on par with Seoul National University's elite swordsmen, but enough to handle monster hunting for sure.
“Andong and Icheon—hard to pin down your group's origins. I'd love to chat more deeply, but it'll have to wait. Too many pressing matters.”
“We'll see each other again soon.”
Jong-su flashed his usual affable grin.
Jo Sang-ik grinned back, then turned to Youngwoo.
“Will you handle business here and head straight to the assembly, Mr. Youngwoo?”
Now they would part ways—how would he participate in the assembly?
“Going together would be safer, but... you don't have much time to spare.”
Youngwoo thought briefly before answering.
“I'll head to the assembly first.”
“...You sure? Jeong Hyeon-sik might already be there.”
“Then I'll have no choice but to challenge him to a duel. Anyone can challenge for a First Sword position, right?”
This was something he'd heard for sure from the cops at Yangjae Interchange.
—If you want a First Sword position, you can challenge anyone attending the assembly. If you want the monster business rights, you can duel the incumbent and take them over.
It was said when inviting the outsider Youngwoo to the assembly.
“I took it to mean you can challenge for a First Sword spot in a one-on-one duel.”
“Yes. For now, at least......”
Jo Sang-ik groaned.
Jeong Hyeon-sik would naturally want to kill his son's killer himself, and in an official duel, other First Swords wouldn't dare interfere easily.
Unless Jeong Hyeon-sik broke the rules and called for help.
“Then what's my role at the assembly? If you're dueling Jeong Hyeon-sik one-on-one.”
At Jo Sang-ik's question, Youngwoo voiced the same concern.
“If I overwhelmingly beat Jeong Hyeon-sik by some chance, he might call for support from the other First Swords. Block any reinforcements then. That'll do it.”
If Youngwoo lost decisively to Jeong Hyeon-sik, Jo Sang-ik's survival would be dicey anyway.
Not just Jeong Hyeon-sik—several First Swords eyeing an unclaimed district would swarm in.
“...Got it. See you soon at Yongsan.”
Jo Sang-ik nodded, wrapping up their discussion.
Then he bolted south at tremendous speed.
Fwoosh!
“......”
Now left at the intersection were Youngwoo, Jong-su, and Tae-young.
Soon, Jong-su asked what had been bugging him.
“What did you two get up to in that short time......?”
Youngwoo shrugged.
“Seoul's as complicated as ever, past or present.”
Then he turned to Icheon district cop Kwon Tae-young and asked,
“Tae-young, you're still a cop, right?”
“...Of course. Though Seoul does look complicated, like you said.”
“Then I need a favor.”
“What kind......?”
Tae-young gestured to hear him out, and Youngwoo scratched his chin.
“Find some people for me.”
“People?”
“Yeah. While I'm at the assembly settling things, it'd help if you could locate CEO Kim Tae-jun's family.”
“Kim Tae-jun......”
“CEO of VC Soft.”
Tae-young still looked puzzled, but Jong-su piped up.
“Hyung, you mean that TJ?”
“Yeah, him.”
The third-day mutation in Gwanak District, Kim Tae-jun, and the ensuing battles up to forming a 'friendship.'
Youngwoo summarized what happened at this intersection, and Tae-young's face hardened.
“Such an important promise... Do you know where the family is?”
Even as cops, they couldn't find people on the clue of 'Kim Tae-jun' alone.
Youngwoo pulled out his fountain pen 'Wanted Poster' and said,
“If they're still alive, I can find out right now.”