Chapter 164
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: Overseas Topic
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[Overseas Topic]
[Nigerian Kidnapped Women Reveal Their Stance on Black Scythe...]
-It has been revealed that the Korean player Black Scythe (nickname), known for driving the ISIS leader to suicide and killing his men, has also wiped out a human trafficking organization.
Nigeria was still rampant with various organized crimes such as human trafficking, drugs, prostitution, organ trafficking, and baby factories, but that's now a thing of the past.
According to the Nigerian government, all 22 organizations under surveillance have vanished without a trace in just a few days.
What happened?
It was the good deed of someone claiming to be Black Scythe.
Subina (30), one of the women actually kidnapped by the human trafficking group, testified.
She said she had to endure day by day in pain, locked in a tiny iron cage with no light, waiting to be slaughtered like livestock.
She endured the slop not even pigs would eat and the sexual harassment from the demon-like gang members because she lacked the courage to kill herself.
In that prison where only despair was visible, the ray of light that came down was Black Scythe himself.
He wiped out the gang members and rescued all the captive women without asking for anything in return.
The women who reported the kidnappings all said the same thing.
If it weren't for Black Scythe and the East Asian woman who appeared to be his partner, they would still be trapped in that horrific prison.
The author is neither a human rights activist nor a humanitarian, but after hearing the stories of the countless women saved by Black Scythe, one thing is certain.
Black Scythe's actions should not be condemned but rightfully praised.
(This article is a direct translation of the original Nigerian article.)
└Whoa... I have nothing to say to this.
└He rescued dozens of kidnapped people.
└Saved them without asking for anything and disappeared without a word.
└So cool...
└He's a true saint.
└If it's true, he really elevated Korea's prestige.
└It's true. Googled it and found the original article.
└But the comments here are so clean. Other articles were full of people freaking out, calling Black Scythe a murderer who should be punished.
└ All those idiots rambling about murderer this and that have gone quiet?
└Fucking scum. If you still call him a criminal and talk about human rights after this, you're not human.
└The non-humans are the human traffickers. I'm getting pissed just thinking about it.
└Black Scythe did the right thing a hundred, a thousand times over~
└(This comment has been deleted upon report.)
└But who was the woman who looked like his partner?
└Black Scythe's girlfriend?
└ Why would he take his girlfriend into danger like that?
└Probably just a partner, literally.
└God! I believed! Truly the savior of this era. Go! d! Sa! vi! or!
A pleased smile crept across Ryu Min's lips as he read the article.
'The tide has turned.'
Thanks to the women he rescued in Nigeria stepping forward, Black Scythe had gone from serial killer to hero who saved people.
With an article representing the victims' plight, many immersed themselves in the victims' side and began defending Black Scythe.
'Good. This should make it safe to step out publicly.'
Ryu Min picked up Lost Ark's phone.
As expected, there were hundreds of calls.
'Interviews, public service ads, presidential commendations—I'll accept them all.'
Ryu Min decided to promote himself like a celebrity this time.
He planned to use every means possible to boost Black Scythe's reputation.
To elevate Black Scythe to the level of a head of state, fame was the first step.
So that every ordinary person knew the name Black Scythe.
'Now that I'm in such a good mood, maybe it's time to use that?'
Ryu Min pulled an item from his inventory.
It was the rune package he'd received as a 10th round reward.
Using it now, when he was feeling good, meant even a bad rune wouldn't sour his mood too much.
'Use.'
With a flash of light, the package vanished from his hand.
At the same time, a rune he'd never seen before appeared, and a message informed him it had been imprinted on his body.
* * *
Nine months had passed since the world changed.
Of the 1.8 billion people aged 15-29 at the start, only 130,000 remained.
Among them, Korean players numbered fewer than 700.
Globally, that meant over 22% of the population had vanished.
It was a population wipeout that would shake any economy.
-Bankrupt. My company's done for.
Ma Kyung-rok had seen plenty of company presidents lamenting their fates like that.
He understood.
As a businessman himself, he could see why they'd wail.
But he didn't empathize.
'I'm doing just fine.'
As long as he was thriving.
'No, as long as my company is.'
With that mindset dominating him, Ma Kyung-rok understood the laments intellectually but not emotionally.
His company was different—it hadn't failed.
'Just like the Prophet said. Switching to the VVIP site really kept sales steady.'
The moment they returned from the round, PlePle Market had revamped to the pre-prepared VVIP-exclusive site.
They packed in lavish events to lock in existing customers and increased auction inventory.
'The items the Prophet gave us had a lot of good stuff, which helped sustain the market too.'
A week after returning from the round.
With customers down to a quarter, trading volume naturally dropped, but revenue hadn't fluctuated much.
Players desperate for survival poured their fortunes into seeking better items, launching aggressive buying sprees.
Posing it as a VVIP site had helped too.
'Good thing I listened to the Prophet. Heh.'
Ma Kyung-rok grinned.
He proudly valued his choice not to doubt the Prophet.
Of course, the Prophet's advice held the biggest share.
But the Prophet only showed the path.
The decision was ultimately his own, wasn't it?
'I discerned and accepted the Prophet's advice well. Though I admit he's a lucky charm too.'
He no longer worried about the company failing.
He was confident he could run it well even without the Prophet's advice.
The question was whether he could ride this momentum to a KOSPI listing success.
'I need to prepare for the listing soon. Nothing proves it to my father like a KOSPI debut.'
Putting company worries aside, Ma Kyung-rok thought of another concern.
'The next one is finally the deadly 11th round?'
Of course, he wasn't worried about himself.
It was his fiancée, who might die in the 11th round, that concerned him.
'I hope she makes it through safely.'
There were no tender feelings.
Just pity-born sympathy.
Ma Kyung-rok had never been interested in romance to begin with.
It was purely a business tie forced by his father's nagging.
They were lovers on the surface, but they'd never even kissed.
Anyone might mistake him for gay, but he truly cared only for himself and his company.
Even so, he had to care now.
'What if Christine dies just like the Prophet foresaw? The blame would surely turn on me too.'
If he knew the danger and didn't stop her, he couldn't escape criticism.
Losing a fiancée after going public with it would damage his image too.
'I need to protect Christine by her side. The 11th round integrates with other countries anyway.'
He could get the details from the Prophet, Ryu Min.
'He should be coming around now anyway...'
Right then, a knock sounded, and the representative's office door opened.
But the visitor wasn't Ryu Min, as expected.
It was the blonde white woman, Christine.
"You've arrived, Christine."
"Sorry for dropping in unannounced."
"Haha, no need to apologize. We're not just acquaintances—we're lovers, so seeing you more often is great."
Ma Kyung-rok always put on a friendly smile in front of Christine.
Unaware that it only made her more guarded.
"You know why I came, since I called ahead?"
"Of course. It's meeting day today anyway, so just wait a bit. Coffee?"
"Sure."
Ma Kyung-rok brewed coffee in the pantry and chatted with Christine.
About the weather, any inconveniences on the way, how her father was doing—polite small talk.
Or player talk: what level are you, was the 10th round tough, the prophecies are spot-on, right?
No sweet lover-like banter.
Then, Ma Kyung-rok got a call from a subordinate.
"Ah, got it."
"Who was it?"
"He's here."
"Oh."
Ma Kyung-rok stood and prepared to greet him outside the office.
Soon, a short man entered the office.
The Prophet.
He was the reason Christine had come to Korea.
"Hello, Representative Ma."
"Major Shareholder, you've arrived?"
Ryu Min greeted and spotted Christine standing beside.
"Your fiancée is here too?"
"Hello, Ryu Min."
"Hello, Christine."
"You remember my name."
"Of course. I know why you're here too."
Christine shot Ma Kyung-rok a wide-eyed rabbit look.
Asking if he'd told him, but Ma Kyung-rok just shook his head.
"Representative Ma hasn't said a word to me. I foresaw it all. Shall we talk somewhere quiet first?"
"Sure."
As Christine followed Ryu Min out, she stopped Ma Kyung-rok from tagging along.
"Sorry, but I'll hear it alone."
"Ah, go ahead. I'll wait here, so take your time."
"Thanks."
Ryu Min and Christine sat on a bench in front of the company.
"This spot's good. But why tell Representative Ma not to come?"
"It'll be easier to talk that way. It's a serious matter involving my life, and if too many hear, the future might change, right?"
"Not wrong."
Ryu Min grinned and cut straight to it.
"You're here about the 11th round, right?"
"Yes. Specifically, to see you, Prophet, and get advice."
"Advice... I thought I said everything back then."
"Not in my view. You're holding back even though you know. Who saves me, who threatens me."
"......"
"It's impudent, but please tell me. You said a group that doesn't acknowledge me—what exactly are they?"
"I don't know. I told you before."
"I know. But even a small clue. You saw the scene, right? Preventing it early is better. It might help in the crisis."
"I don't remember now. I've forgotten it all."
"......"
Christine was at a loss for words.
Stonewalling left her no recourse.
"Then the one who saves me? You saw their face, right? You remember?"
"I know, but I can't say."
"Because saying it changes the future?"
"You get it."
"Can't you tell me anyway? I'll be careful not to change it."
"How can you guarantee that? If Christine dies because of it, how do I face Representative Ma?"
"......"
"You're curious and anxious, rushing here like this, but I can't help it. The info I can give is limited."
"Sigh..."
No wall was this impenetrable.
Frustrated, but Christine understood.
Changing the future would shatter the Prophet's credibility, naturally.
"Sorry. I got heated and pushed too hard."
"No problem."
"With the next round so imminent, I got anxious and sensitive. Apologies again."
Christine politely confirmed.
"So, all I can do is wait to be saved by someone?"
"Yes. That's best for now."
"Whew..."
"Don't worry too much, Christine. It'll be fine."
Her anxiety eased a bit at the plain, warm reassurance.
"Thanks, Prophet. Hearing it from you makes me believe."
"Right? Representative Ma's waiting, so shall we head up? Since you're here, hear the 11th round prophecy together."
"Got it."
The two rose from the bench and entered the company.
Unaware that someone was glaring at their backs with murderous intent.