Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Han Min-oh
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“......Did you perhaps leave something behind?”
Minister Park Sang-min tilted his head.
It had been less than an hour since he'd sent him off with a firm rejection after their final goodbye.
Yet here was Lee Hyuk-soo, back already, not even an hour later.
'The atmosphere around him has changed.'
And with a face brimming with confidence, no less.
There was a strange certainty in his squared shoulders and the clear gaze of his eyes looking straight ahead.
He'd left the minister's office earlier with irritation mixed in.
“A total of 98 Incarnations have been confirmed in the government complex today, Minister.”
“......What do you mean by that?”
Park Sang-min's expression hardened in an instant upon hearing Lee Hyuk-soo's words.
He couldn't process it right away.
There was no known way to identify Incarnations yet.
Even the Abyss Safety Department could only make 'guesses' by compiling information from inside and outside the Abyss.
But Lee Hyuk-soo's tone was bold. Bold enough to specify the exact number: 98.
And the shocking part wasn't even over yet.
“It's limited to inside the complex, but I've found a way to identify Incarnations.”
“......You're saying it's possible to identify Incarnations?”
“Yes. If you wear these glasses, you'll see a special mark under the neck of any Incarnation.”
Lee Hyuk-soo pulled a pair of glasses from his pocket.
Plain glasses with absolutely no distinguishing features.
Park Sang-min took them, tilting his head again.
These shabby glasses could distinguish Incarnations?
“......I can't wrap my head around it. They don't even seem like Abyss tools. How are they supposed to identify Incarnations?”
Another question was the state of the glasses.
These weren't from the Abyss.
No mana or special options imbued in them.
If they'd been acquired in the Abyss, they would've evaporated the moment they were transferred.
The fact they hadn't meant they were just ordinary glasses from Earth.
“The lenses have a special coating. It's been specially treated to distinguish all 98 Incarnations we've identified so far. Put them on, and you'll see a dot on the neck of any Incarnation.”
“I heard you stayed in the complex for about an hour......”
Did he spend that hour going around marking dots under Incarnations' necks?
'Some things can't be done with youthful bravado alone.'
Park Sang-min sighed inwardly.
He still thought Lee Hyuk-soo was pushing things too far.
Courage was good. Determination was good.
Lee Hyuk-soo was a great hero who'd saved over a million lives.
But Minister Park Sang-min had to protect South Korea's 50 million people.
He couldn't recklessly join such a rash challenge.
So he had no choice but to speak realistically.
“The evidence is still too thin. What makes you so sure those 98 are Incarnations? Start by explaining your method.”
“I can't explain the method of identifying Incarnations.”
“Then neither I nor the Abyss Safety Department can work with you, Mr. Lee.”
Lee Hyuk-soo responded firmly, word for word.
“But I stake everything on the fact that they are Incarnations.”
Stake everything.
It was a declaration utterly different from his earlier visit.
'......Not a lie.'
Park Sang-min, who had lived many years and met countless people, could tell.
A rare few with ironclad convictions gave off this vibe.
They were far from slick-talking con artists.
They kept their word, no matter what.
They proved it with actions.
Even if it meant descending a thousand-foot cliff or leaping into blazing flames.
They challenged boldly and succeeded.
Which side was Lee Hyuk-soo on?
Con artist or true hero?
“Everything? What exactly do you mean by that?”
“If they're not Incarnations, you can have my life.”
“......”
Life was everything.
Yet it was also the easiest thing to throw around.
Park Sang-min fell silent, staring at Lee Hyuk-soo.
Lee Hyuk-soo didn't avert his gaze.
'Time to choose.'
If he rejected Lee Hyuk-soo here, he'd never work with the Abyss Safety Department for the rest of his life.
But if he accepted him and it turned out they weren't Incarnations, his career as minister would end.
If he were younger, he wouldn't have hesitated.
But age had given Park Sang-min much to protect.
He could never say he'd stake everything.
'Not just because of youth.'
There was something more behind the bravado and conviction.
A massive driving force propelling Lee Hyuk-soo.
Like unshakable faith. Like belief in an absolute being......
“Mr. Lee Hyuk-soo. Do you believe in God by any chance?”
“......Yes, I do.”
“They say God doesn't play dice.”
“Yes. He hates games of chance.”
An answer without a hint of hesitation.
The response was odd, but sharing the same faith sat well with him regardless.
Park Sang-min swapped his glasses for the new ones.
The prescription wasn't perfect, but he could still see.
“98, huh. More than I expected.”
“There are more.”
“98 confirmed already...... If we include those who didn't come in today or are out on assignment, it's easily 200.”
“That's what I think too, Minister.”
Minister Park Sang-min looked up at the ceiling.
Too many. Way too many Incarnations.
What even were Incarnations, really?
Lee Hyuk-soo called them monsters contracted with devils.
That matched what Park Sang-min had pieced together.
If they were truly disrupting Earth, they deserved extermination.
As a devout believer, shouldn't he stop devils from invading sacred ground?
“Do you know how to deal with Incarnations?”
“We need to herd them into one place. They don't trust each other.”
“What? Didn't you say they'd gathered at Bukhansan? You also said we need to stop them before they group up.”
Lee Hyuk-soo gave a small smile.
Because Minister Park Sang-min had asked exactly what he'd posed to the Prophet.
“Once an Incarnation reaches 'half-human half-demon' stage, they can brainwash others to form packs.”
“Hold on. Half-human half-demon? Incarnations have stages?”
“That's what we call humans fully turned demonic. Far stronger and more vicious than I can handle alone. True monsters.”
“......”
He wondered if he'd misheard.
This was Lee Hyuk-soo, humanity's savior, famed for soloing the Dragon God General and completing legendary quests and unique achievements.
Something even the great Lee Hyuk-soo couldn't beat?
'This is insane.'
But it wasn't a lie.
Lee Hyuk-soo had cleared countless Abysses.
He naturally held more information than what was public.
If this was true, Incarnations demanded utmost caution.
Who could stop a monster stronger than Savior Lee Hyuk-soo?
Prevention was best.
Park Sang-min nodded.
“......Give me a moment. I need to take a walk.”
He stepped out of the minister's office wearing the new glasses.
About 30 minutes later.
When Minister Park Sang-min returned, his face overflowed with tension.
His pupils shook wildly, cold sweat streaming down.
“Are you alright?”
“F-Fine. It's just...... more shocking than I thought.”
He'd circled the complex, checking who was an Incarnation.
The results were horrifying.
'Almost all of them are already turned!'
The Planning Department head and countless high officials—all Incarnations.
No way it was coincidence.
The Incarnations were covering for each other.
Not just inside the complex—higher politicians had helped them seize those positions.
His mind cleared in a flash.
Time to choose.
Believe or don't.
If believe, then fully. If not, end their connection here.
Park Sang-min took a deep breath and spoke with resolute eyes.
“Mr. Lee Hyuk-soo. One promise between us.”
“What promise?”
“We will never betray each other. Ever.”
Trust was key in this operation.
A long game requiring unflinching calm to the end.
A moment's waver, and they'd be devoured in turn.
Lee Hyuk-soo nodded.
“As long as you don't become an Incarnation, Minister, I won't betray you first.”
“Good. Then...... what should we call the operation?”
“......Pardon?”
“Isn't it just like a thrilling spy movie? If we give our operation a cool name, it'll feel even more legit. Let's brainstorm one.”
Blood stirred in his veins for the first time in ages.
Weeding out devil-contracted Incarnations.
Deceive, be deceived, herd them out.
They needed an operation name.
And he was asking Lee Hyuk-soo to come up with it.
After a brief ponder, Lee Hyuk-soo spoke.
“Prophet.”
“......Operation name 'Prophet'?”
Park Sang-min tilted his head at the unexpected name.
Prophet?
Referring to Lee Hyuk-soo himself?
Lee Hyuk-soo nodded again.
With even clearer resolve.
“Yes. 'Prophet' it is.”
Park Chan-woo watched Han Min-oh emerge from the Han Yeon Group building.
His face tense for some reason.
Bodyguards flanked him, attendants swarmed around.
'Not what I heard.'
The ill-fated second son, overshadowed by Han Shin.
They said Han Yeon Group treated Han Min-oh like he didn't exist.
But the scene before him was worlds apart.
He was being escorted with utmost deference.
However.
'Incarnations are swarming around him.'
Bodyguards, attendants, even third parties watching—all of them.
Through the Brilliant Lord's glasses, the number of Incarnations was staggering.
At least 50 tied to Han Min-oh alone.
'Checking before the massive Abyss hits, I bet.'
Verifying if he truly contracted with a 'divine beast.'
Discreetly and precisely.
Which explained it.
'No gap to slip in.'
To be worthless unless right beside Han Min-oh when the large-scale Sniper Abyss hit.
A few coins wouldn't get him out.
They'd snipe endlessly if he tried to escape.
Han Min-oh couldn't survive without his help.
But how to get close?
'Gaps can be made.'
No worries, though.
He'd already prepared.
Shwooooooo!
“Wh-What?”
“Abyss!”
“Crazy! Why an Abyss out of nowhere......!”
“Sniper! It's a Sniper Abyss!”
Purple mist spread centered on Han Min-oh.
A Sniper Abyss.
But not a 'large-scale' one.
The sniped target: a single Creator.
'Adora. Perfect timing.'
The Creator of Death, Adora.
Seizing the chaos, Park Chan-woo slowly walked toward Han Min-oh's side.