Chapter 105
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: The Kidnapped Congressman
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The car carrying the congressman glided down the road.
Yamtti, at the wheel, glanced at the rearview mirror.
The bodyguard must have hit him pretty hard; he showed no signs of waking up.
*'You should've kept a better leash on your men.'*
For Yamtti, controlling the bodyguard was a simple matter.
*'And there just so happened to be four of them, too.'*
The Mesmerizing Rune currently had four open slots.
One was for the chairman of PleSeBa, and the rest she kept open for flexible use.
*'I just released the bodyguards from the mesmerism. They're probably coming to their senses right about now, searching for the congressman.'*
She had released them on purpose.
They needed to report the kidnapping so her side could act accordingly, after all.
*'That chairman. I was surprised when he suddenly brought up kidnapping the congressman out of the blue, but he's come up with a decent plan for once.'*
The kidnapping wasn't her order but something the chairman had thought up and planned himself.
*'Still, I should give him a little warning to talk to me first before he cooks up any more schemes.'*
A warning, yes, but she wouldn't have to be forceful.
Humans under her spell would listen to anything she said.
No matter how unconvincing her words were.
"We're here."
Arriving at a secluded mountain valley, Yamtti got out of the car.
*Heave—*
Though she looked too frail to lift a sack of rice, Yamtti easily slung the congressman over her shoulder and started up the mountain.
The world had changed; now, every Player, man or woman, was considered a monster.
Yamtti reached a cabin she had secured beforehand and opened the door.
*Creeak—*
As soon as it opened, murderous gazes fixed on her.
"Ah, you're here, Ms. Yamtti."
Realizing she was an ally, the Players relaxed their glares.
They were the three executives she had recently selected through a deadly interview process.
Yamtti set the congressman down on a chair and said with a smile,
"I really know how to pick 'em. I like the fire in your eyes."
"Thank you for the compliment, Ms. Yamtti."
"You have beautiful eyes too, Ms. Yamtti. And that body of yours is stacked, wow..."
"Haha, thank you. But..."
Yamtti grabbed the finger of the man who had just spoken.
*Crack—!*
"Aaaargh!"
"Where did you learn the nerve to sexually harass your superior? It makes me want to kill you."
"I-I-I'm sorry. Hkk."
The man with the broken finger apologized instantly.
It wasn't because Yamtti's strength was beyond imagination.
[Player 'DolPlusI' has been mesmerized.]
He was groveling because he had just fallen under the control of her Mesmerizing Rune.
"The rest of you executives should be careful, too. If you look down on me because I'm a woman, you'll all die. Got it?"
"..."
"..."
"Why the silence?"
"Y-Yes, we understand."
"W-We'll do whatever you ask, Ms. Yamtti."
"Come here. I'll treat that finger for you."
"Th-Thank you. You're so kind, I don't know what to do. Maste—"
"Don't talk to me. Just shut up."
After providing first aid, Yamtti didn't release the mesmerism.
She was worried he might try to get revenge and ruin the plan.
*'Once you cast it, you can't cast it again.'*
When this was all over, she could just make him kill himself.
"Ughh."
Awakened by the scream, Lee Seong-hyun's eyes fluttered open.
"Oh, are you awake, Congressman?"
"Huh? W-What? Who are you people?"
"Just a moment. Let me get some rope to tie you up."
While Yamtti went to get the rope, Lee Seong-hyun shot up from his seat.
"Hey, old man. Sit down. I said, sit down."
"Fucking bastards. Do you have any idea what you've done? You've kidnapped a congressman, you morons."
"So what if we did, Mr. Congressman? I wanted to kidnap you, so I did."
"What?"
"And we're going to kill you in a little while, too."
"Heheheh. Though we won't be the ones doing the killing."
"We're the ones who should be treated as national heroes. Hehehe."
Lee Seong-hyun scowled at the cackling thugs.
"What the hell are you sons of bitches talking ab—"
"That's enough, executives."
Yamtti approached, putting a finger to her lips to signal for quiet.
"Even if the congressman is going to die soon, he's still alive now, isn't he? Don't go blurting out the plan."
"Our apologies, Ms. Yamtti."
Yamtti walked up to the bewildered Lee Seong-hyun.
"Here, I brought the rope. Please sit down quietly in the chair."
"You fucking bitch. What do you think you're doing?"
"And what do you think *you're* doing, Congressman?"
"What?"
"You seem to have grasped the situation, talking about kidnapping and all. So why do you keep provoking us? Ah."
Yamtti sniffed as if she understood.
"You must be eager to see your son, aren't you? Hmmph."
"You..."
"Don't you worry. As soon as the criminals arrive, we'll send you right to your son's side."
"You... fucking bitch!"
*Whoosh—*
Ducking the punch, Yamtti kicked Lee Seong-hyun in the stomach.
"Keuk!"
The pain was like being hit with a concrete block, and his legs gave out.
"Do you think I'm an easy target because I'm a woman? I don't get why you keep coming at me."
Yamtti frowned in annoyance and gestured with her head.
"Tie him to the chair and tape his mouth shut."
"Yes, ma'am!"
As the male executives grabbed him, Lee Seong-hyun gritted his teeth and resisted.
"Let go! Let me go, you bastards!"
But there was no way a normal person could withstand the strength of Players who could punch through concrete.
*Thud—*
He was forced into the chair, but he continued to struggle fiercely, refusing to submit.
"Ha, this old guy's putting up a real fight."
"I can't even tie the rope."
"Ms. Yamtti, can I just hit him once?"
"Move."
As if she had no choice, Yamtti met Lee Seong-hyun's eyes.
"Be still. I said I'd send you off peacefully. Don't you want to see your son?"
"...I understand."
As if by magic, Lee Seong-hyun stopped moving.
"Whoa, what just happened?"
"He became a gentle lamb in front of Ms. Yamtti."
"Ms. Yamtti is amazing."
The executives watched in awe, but for Yamtti, it was easier than breathing.
*'I've used another mesmerism slot.'*
Having cast her spell on Lee Seong-hyun, Yamtti sighed inwardly as she looked at the message that had appeared.
[Civilian 'Lee Seong-hyun' has been mesmerized.]
<Currently Mesmerized Humans>
1. Song Jae-gyeom (Civilian)
2. DolPlusI (Player)
3. Lee Seong-hyun (Civilian)
4. (Empty)
5. (Empty)
She had wanted to save them if possible, but now only two slots were left.
*'Well, it's certainly more convenient to use it.'*
It had seemed impossible to get a man like Lee Seong-hyun to cooperate otherwise.
"The chairman will be here soon with six criminals. Get everything set up so we can start as soon as they arrive."
"Yes, ma'am!"
At Yamtti's command, the executives moved busily.
They tied Lee Seong-hyun to the chair and covered his head with a black bag.
On a stand in front of him, they set up a smartphone camera.
"Is the setup complete?"
"Yes. We just have to press a button, and it'll start streaming live on YouTube."
"Good."
The phone they were using to stream was none other than Lee Seong-hyun's.
They had intentionally left it on to make it easier for the police to track.
There had to be a witness to discover the congressman's body, right?
"Ms. Yamtti, what about the criminals?"
"The chairman will bring them soon. Just wait a little longer."
It was then.
*Slam—!*
The door flew open, and all eyes turned toward it.
But their expectant expressions quickly turned to disappointment.
The person who entered wasn't the chairman, but Lost Ark.
"What are you doing here? You should be keeping watch over there..."
Yamtti stopped mid-sentence, startled.
"Don't tell me the police have already tracked us?"
"No, it's nothing like that."
"Then why did you come in?"
"I was just bored of standing watch, and I was curious how things were going..."
"Ha."
Yamtti let out a disbelieving sigh and narrowed her eyes.
"Look, Mr. Lost Ark. Don't you know how important today is?"
"I do."
"Then why are you acting like such an idiot? I told you to keep watch. We need to finish this little play before the police show up..."
"But we can't proceed until the criminals you hired get here, can we?"
"That's right. But the chairman isn't here yet."
"Right. Why isn't the chairman here, I wonder?"
For a moment, Yamtti felt something was off.
Lost Ark's vibe was strangely different from before.
"Did you just speak informally to me?"
"Yeah."
"Have you forgotten that I'm your senior?"
"There are no seniors or juniors in this business."
"Ha, so you're just going to do whatever you want now?"
Letting out a dry laugh, Yamtti decided to be patient, given the urgency of the situation.
"I'll let it slide for now since things are critical, but you just wait. I'll speak to the chairman and formally..."
"I'm asking why the chairman isn't here in this critical situation."
"..."
Good point.
Yamtti looked at the wall clock in the cabin.
*'Seriously, why isn't he here yet?'*
He should have already arrived with the six civilian criminals in tow.
*'There's no way he'd disobey my command.'*
The chairman, who should have kept his promise even on pain of death, was nowhere to be found.
They couldn't start the show without the main actor. This was a bust.
Yamtti immediately picked up her phone.
"Shit, why isn't he answering his phone either?"
"Did you just swear at the chairman?"
"..."
Flustered, Yamtti realized she had sworn without thinking.
"I was just talking to myself, okay?"
"Really? You're incredibly dense, you know that?"
"What?"
"After all this, you'd think you'd have caught on by now, wouldn't you?"
Yamtti lowered her phone.
Her eyes were now frightening.
"What do you think you're doing right now?"
"What about it?"
"Don't tell me the reason the chairman isn't here is because of you?"
"I told you, you're dense. You're only just figuring that out."
"Hey."
Yamtti dropped all pretense of politeness.
"Who are you? Where's the chairman?"
"Oh? Speaking so informally to the chairman again? Anyone would think he was your subordinate."
"Hah, damn it."
Yamtti ran a hand through her hair in frustration.
"What is with today? Why is everyone acting like this? Do they really think they can push me around because I'm a woman?"
Yamtti decided she had had enough.
The traitor who had ruined all her plans was standing right in front of her.
"Look at me."
Yamtti met Ryu Min's eyes.
"I should have weeded out a piece of trash like you from the start. Hah, my mistake. Truly."
Activating her Mesmerizing Rune, she sighed and said,
"Hey, where's the chairman? Tell me the truth."
"Why should I? Do I have to answer just because you ask?"
"Wha...t? What did you just say?"
"I asked if I have to answer you, you bitch."
"..."
Yamtti could only stare blankly, as if she'd been hit in the back of the head with a hammer.
She had seduced dozens of men, but she had never gotten a reaction like this.
*'Th-This is strange. I'm sure I cast the mesmerism.'*
Could it be that Lost Ark wasn't a man, despite his appearance?
Or had her mesmerism slots somehow filled up?
*'No, I'm sure there were two slots left...'*
To confirm, Yamtti commanded him once more.
"I asked where the chairman is."
"Who do you think you are, ordering me around, you crazy bitch."
"..."
As Yamtti's eyes widened in disbelief, a message she had missed before flashed in her vision.
[A powerful mental barrier is blocking you.]
[Player 'Black Scythe' cannot be mesmerized.]
*'What?'*
Yamtti was more shocked by something else than by the fact that her mesmerism hadn't worked.
*'Not Lost Ark... but Black Scythe?'*