Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Hunting Ceremony
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The Korean forums were in an uproar.
NHD (Neo-Healthy Drug).
It's mired in controversy.
"Enjoy pleasure without responsibility!"
Far more intense pleasure than traditional drugs. Yet no addiction, no harm to health.
Truly one of the greatest revolutions of the new era.
But contrary to claims of no addiction, streets overflowed with NHD addicts.
Side effects were worse, too.
Traditional drug addicts merely shambled like zombies, but NHD addicts turned aggressively feral, like monsters.
The Korean forum users were worried about Do-hyun.
Holy Market.
A betting site like Polymarket, but for Awakener and Hunter-related topics. Predictions on elections or major world events.
Above all, far more money flows here than on Polymarket.
As time passed, votes predicting Genocider's failure climbed higher.
It was only natural.
LAPD swarmed the perimeter of crime target Kane's mansion, and the 'Brothers' gang he led stood guard with ironclad security.
Broadcast networks aired live coverage from the scene.
Leka streamers flocked to the area too.
The entire U.S. was watching.
Soon, it was 11:50 PM LA time.
Only 10 minutes left. Everyone thought Do-hyun was bluffing.
Everyone bet on failure—then chaos erupted on Holy Market.
It seemed the incident was wrapping up.
11:55 PM LA time. Reporters and streamers started packing.
Suddenly, one streamer tilted his head.
A thumping club beat echoed loudly from afar.
Eyes turned. An object floated in the sky.
A hover car!
Speakers must've been mounted on it—the music blared across Beverly Hills.
Hover cars in Beverly Hills weren't unusual—most owners lived here.
Blasting music that loud was odd, though.
Other streamers and reporters finally noticed, swinging cameras around.
The hover car rocketed at top speed!
Over 500 km/h.
A flash from afar—then the hover car streaked over reporters and streamers like lightning.
And—
It slammed straight into the heavily guarded mansion.
Flash! BOOOOOOM!!!!
The mansion erupted in flames like a bomb blast, collapsing.
After hasty firefighting, Kane's decapitated corpse was found.
-Welcome to the Hunting Ceremony!!
......Along with that message.
LA—no, America—exploded in chaos.
Do-hyun's shocking murder announcement on the talk show had the whole country watching.
-Fuck! Crazy!!
-Genocider's stunt? Still gives me chills.
-Genocider isn't just some vigilante. First time seeing a madman like this!
-I thought the East Coast's infamous villain Joker was America's craziest, but nah. Compared to Genocider, Joker's a fake rookie.
America went wild over the unimaginable method.
A crime, yet no one cursed it?
At least not among the public.
The public felt dizzying catharsis from the hover car smashing the mansion—and cheered Genocider.
Billionaire.
Someone owning over $1 billion.
That's over 1 trillion won.
Hunting Ceremony.
A sign he'd keep hunting Babel Farms.
Such posts heated American communities. Watching, Koreans thought:
Not just the public—Hollywood lost its mind over Genocider.
"Any contact with Kim?"
"We need him on our channel!!"
"B-but isn't Kim a villain?"
"Who cares?! Proof he's Genocider?!"
America was a nation of crazies from the start.
Full of unique characters.
But someone like Genocider? A first.
A horrific villain, yet righteous. Cheered by all, yet hides nothing!
Handsome, too!
Do-hyun appeared on Weekend Night, the most famous among countless U.S. talk shows.
True to its name, it owned American weekend nights.
"Our special guest, Genocider!"
"Whoa, Jim? I'm not Genocider."
"Haha! Right! My slip! Please welcome Kim!!"
America's top MC and Hollywood superstar Jim Jaimen wielded his wit smoothly.
"Can't call you Genocider, so how to introduce? Hero who saved America? America's hottest man right now? Overnight billionaire super-rich?"
"Haha, just say 'one who serves America.'"
"'Serves America!' Never heard that except from fucking congressmen. But from you, Kim, it rings true!"
The audience roared with laughter. The talk show kicked off in earnest.
"Everyone's curious about Genocider's next move. Planning to keep targeting Babel Farms?"
"I'm not Genocider, but I think so. He won't stop till Babel Farms crumbles."
The audience buzzed.
Not just there—headlines exploded in real-time: Genocider to End Babel Farms.
"Got it! Then, any idea what 'Hunting Ceremony' means? Why 'Ceremony' not 'Festival'? Ah, just Kim's personal take!"
Hunting Festival.
Hunting Ceremony.
Similar, but different.
"Simple reason why not Festival, but Ceremony."
A solemn air settled over Do-hyun's face, smile gone.
"A Ceremony is a 'rite' honoring something. In Korea, we call it a memorial rite. Genocider chose 'Ceremony' to commemorate NHD's victims."
The studio fell silent.
Even chatty Jim shut up.
Do-hyun stared straight at the camera, speaking to America.
"I hope Genocider's retribution offers some solace to NHD's victims."
The scene rocked America again.
Do-hyun's voice pierced countless American hearts.
This was just the beginning.
After the show, Cecil said,
"Short position on Babel Farms complete."