Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Private Judicial Relief Organization
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“Such immense good karma... It's tipped the scales so far they're granting you a ticket straight to paradise!”
“This man shouldn't be locked up in a holding cell!”
“Lee Seung-hoon, we shall set you free!”
One of the sighing judges closed his eyes and extended his hand.
Just like when they'd disabled the CCTV, darkness seeped into the bars, and the door swung open on its own.
“But who exactly are you all?”
As he stepped out of the holding cell, the judges bowed their heads politely in greeting.
“We are the judges of the Private Judicial Relief Organization.”
“Judges who deliver salvation to the virtuous denied justice by the rotten judicial system.”
“Judges who pass judgment on the wicked who escape punishment from the rotten judicial system.”
Private Judicial Relief Organization.
It was one of the groups the Foundation had flagged—spotted before, but with so little intel that their exact motives remained unknown.
“So you've come here to judge the wicked as well.”
“Indeed. Judgment and salvation in one.”
“Through our judgment, their evil karma is erased.”
“The survivors will return to the starting line, and the deceased will reenter the cycle of reincarnation instead of falling to hell.”
He'd heard quite the intriguing tale.
“So your judgments not only erase the target's evil karma but also mete out punishment fitting its scale?”
“This makes it possible.”
The lead judge held out his scales.
“Humans accumulate good and evil karma throughout their lives, and their final destination—paradise or hell—is determined by the tally. These scales assess one's karma to date and dispense fitting reward or retribution.”
“What's it called?”
“The Scales of Good and Evil. They show no mercy to the wicked, burning through their evil karma in one go to deliver divine punishment. But for the virtuous, there's flexibility to share their good karma bit by bit.”
The judges then addressed him directly.
“You, virtuous one—we wish for you to join us. Even after we revealed ourselves and explained, you kept your composure. You have what it takes.”
“With you among us, we might achieve our ultimate goal.”
“The Chief Supreme Justice himself said that if someone with enough good karma to reach paradise joined us, our objective would be fulfilled.”
“Your good karma surpasses that threshold with ease. You could save the world.”
He wondered why they were being so forthcoming. Turns out they wanted something.
“Mind if I take a moment to think it over?”
“Take all the time you need.”
“We'll await your answer.”
“But first, we'll get you out of here.”
A white aura flowed from the body of the judge holding the scales.
With the scales tipped toward paradise, he cried out.
“I offer my good karma to nullify Lee Seung-hoon's imprisonment!”
Next, another drew a zipper down the wall, opening a path to some back alley in the city.
“Now you've never been detained in that cell.”
“Go on, and take this.”
One judge handed him a small business card.
The number printed on it was an ordinary '010' mobile line—nothing special.
“If you ever feel like joining us, call anytime.”
“Our mission is to save humanity.”
“Let us save humanity in place of this rotten world's judicial system.”
They drew another zipper on the wall and vanished through the passage.
He caught a glimpse of a sign outside written in French.
‘An entity with vast range or no restrictions.’
He emerged from the alley.
Back home, the incident at the precinct was breaking as a special report.
[Mass deaths of detainees at Bucheon Police Station.]
[Survivors claim killing spree by intruders dressed as judges.]
Minutes later, the broadcast changed.
[Holding cell tragedy caused by gas exposure: suffocation and hallucinatory riots.]
[Prior detainee testimonies also hallucinations from gas poisoning.]
[Aging building to blame—who bears responsibility for the disaster?]
The Foundation must have stepped in.
“No mention of me.”
If the Foundation got involved, they'd know he was connected and reach out directly.
The lack of contact meant his involvement had been erased from records—even from the Foundation's knowledge.
‘The effect of the Scales of Good and Evil.’
Zippers that bridged spaces.
Darkness that dismantled or destroyed object abilities.
Scales that measured karma to deliver retribution or reward.
“Private Judicial Relief Organization.”
A most intriguing group.
He jotted down intel on the Private Judicial Relief Organization in the Notebook in My Head.
[Possess multiple entities. Potential for entities that manipulate information and alter perceptions, so logging details here.]
Groups wielding entities appeared in the game too.
[Game factions—barring rare exceptions—hindered player survival no differently than entities themselves.]
[Groups typically control multiple entities. Upon encounter, swiftly analyze via group intel: entities in use, disposition, countermeasures.]
[Private Judicial Relief Organization neutralized so far via good karma accumulation. No further threat to me.]
The stronger the Foundation, the lower the odds of group encounters—like with entities.
Fortunately, reality's Foundation had collapsed once, but the culprit munchkin Mary Sue constellation attacked all groups equally, keeping things in check so far.
That said, with the Foundation weakening now, groups seemed to be stirring.
[Even if they leave me be, they could harm humanity.]
A group was a gathering united by shared purpose—voluntary or coerced, they acted to fulfill it.
[What is their goal?]
[Holding cell encounter yielded intel:]
[1. Judge wicked, save virtuous. Judging wicked resets evil karma; aiding virtuous with good karma saves all.]
[2. Handle independently, bypassing national law.]
[3. Possess multiple entities to enact this.]
[4. 'Rotten world's judicial system' implies distrust of real-world judiciary.]
[5. Korea-specific or global unknown. French sign suggests at least branches abroad.]
[6. If global scope, ultimate goal likely worldwide.]
[7. My joining—with paradise-tier good karma—speeds ultimate goal, so it requires massive good karma.]
To him, their goal was crystal clear.
[8. Ultimate goal: judge all wicked, save all virtuous—via entity activation.]
Simple, clear, resolute. Simpler goals bred unity, minimizing discord.
[Queries]
[1. Emerged post-Foundation fall. How'd they amass entities so fast?]
[1-1. Suspicious dealings: Golden Almighty Inc., Lucifer Company, or equivalents?]
[1-2. Or leader is an entity?]
[2. Karma, paradise/hell refs follow Eastern afterlife. Scales likely Eastern Hell origin. But Karma Call Center ditched harsh punishment for reform/friendship—yet scales enforce severe retribution.]
[2-1. Acquired pre-reform entity? Or factions within Eastern Hell, like Hell Train?]
[3. Ultimate goal achievable sans me—plenty of virtuous folk. Post-goal world?]
[3-1. Truly benevolent? Cases like munchkin Mary Sue, Last Monkey Hand, Dimensional Scout show entity 'goodwill' ≠ human survival.]
They'd achieve their aim eventually.
Thus, he had to choose.
[Choices]
[1. Report to Foundation.]
[1-1. They already know. I can't be sole contact; they evade Foundation, which lacks countermeasures.]
[1-2. Severs ties with group.]
[2. Observe.]
[2-1. Hope goal positive.]
[2-2. If negative, I'm not immune.]
[3. Join.]
[3-1. Gain intel, verify goal.]
[3-2. Right eye reveals if leads to ruin.]
[3-3. Aid if positive for humanity; sabotage if not.]
“Writing clarifies thoughts, aids decisions.”
It laid bare what to do.
He dialed the number on the card.
“Hello?”
-Lee Seung-hoon. The voice from the receiver belonged to the judge from the cell. -Will you join us? “Yes.” He was now a member of the Private Judicial Relief Organization. “Please do.”
He arrived at the rendezvous.
No word to the Foundation. He respected the dangers of intel- or condition-triggered entities and was sincere about joining.
“You're here.”
“This way.”
A robed judge unzipped into view.
Stepping through the wall hole led inside an unknown building.
“We truly welcome your joining. Yet our goal is vast and distant, opposed by the ignorant. We must verify your sincerity.”
“Lie detector?”
“A fairer method exists.”
The interior was solemn, linking to a massive door flanked by a blindfolded goddess statue.
“That is the Statue of the Goddess of Justice. It discerns truth from lies in all who visit.”
“Lie detector, then.”
“Don't compare the goddess's absolute truth-sight to a machine.”
He demonstrated.
“I declare my devotion to humanity as a member of the Private Judicial Relief Organization.”
The statue reacted not.
Then another judge zipped in from elsewhere.
‘Zipper ability again. Not a single entity, then.’
This judge brought an outsider too.
“You've brought another with good karma.”
“Brought back one who visited before but left for urgent business. By order, test him first.”
“Proceed.”
The judge shoved forward a kindly-looking man.
The man parroted the judge's words.
“I declare my devotion to humanity as a member of the Private Judicial Relief Organization.”
That instant—
The man burst apart.
Red stains on the floor, splattered blood, scraps of skin and clothing—the sole proof he'd existed.
“A liar.”
“Pity.”
Like a fly swatted dead.
He hadn't eaten "Friendship," but even with superhuman physique, he hadn't tracked the strike—only the aftermath. Unavoidable death, even for him.
“Your turn now.”
“Yes.”
Assuming betrayal, of course.
“I declare my devotion to humanity as a member of the Private Judicial Relief Organization.”
Why betray?
If their goal truly served humanity.
If the virtuous were rewarded and wicked judged in a just society.
If it benefited mankind overall.
He was ready to devote himself sincerely.
The Statue of the Goddess of Justice declared.
“Welcome, new judge.”
“Welcome, new judge.”
So please, let it be true.
“Thank you.”
Or he'd shatter them all to stop it.
“Looking forward to working together.”