Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Hollywood Goddess
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Adam Patton didn't give Do-hyun an immediate answer about joining MAGA. Instead, he said he'd consult with the other members first and get back to him.
"Stuck-up bastards."
You could tell just from their use of the MAGA slogan—they weren't exactly normal folks. Twisted by white supremacy and all sorts of extremism, sure, but they were still a group that claimed to care about America in their own way. They could be useful.
After that, Do-hyun enjoyed a brief moment of leisure.
Of course, it was leisurely only for him. Outside, the fallout from what he'd stirred up was causing absolute chaos.
He'd maximized his profits, closed out his positions, and moved on to the next phase.
In response to the bewilderment of countless people, Do-hyun gave his answer.
"Babel Farms crumbled under the hands of the Genocider. But I don't think that was the true end. The victims' wounds haven't healed at all. I plan to use what Babel Farms left behind to help those victims."
Public opinion was a bit chaotic.
It didn't make much sense, honestly, but since it was something the Genocider was doing, they'd trust him? That kind of reaction.
And soon after, as if to prove his words were sincere, Do-hyun took bold action.
And that wasn't all.
That was how the series of events unfolded.
Do-hyun had only done a single interview in the middle of it all; Cecil had handled pretty much everything else.
"Good work."
"Not at all! Master's joy is the joy of this slave! Please rest easy, Master!!"
Maybe she was scared of going back to prison, but Cecil served Do-hyun with utmost dedication.
And it wasn't just that.
"Do you need me to attend to you tonight, Master?"
"······Attend?"
"Nighttime service."
"······No need."
Cecil tilted her head.
"You haven't done it once lately, have you? Feel free to use me without holding back."
"Isn't it what you want...?"
"······Yes, honestly. It's my taste, Master. I've wanted to pounce on you since the first time we met."
Cecil eyed Do-hyun with a look like she was drooling.
Do-hyun's head throbbed.
"······Our cultures are too different."
And it wasn't just Cecil.
Sara had been like that before, and there were way too many people gunning for Do-hyun's chastity(?).
From celebrities he'd met for talk shows, to reporters for interviews, even the lawyers hired for the Babel Farms acquisition—they'd all hinted at spending the night together.
"It's because you're too sexy, Master. Didn't you just top the poll for 'man American celebs want to spend a night with'?"
"······Don't talk about that."
He could understand the advances, but their reactions when rejected pissed him off.
-······Wait, really?
'No, fuck off.'
Do-hyun wasn't some ascetic. Back in the early rounds, he'd even blown off steam with casual flings.
But as the rounds progressed, he'd turned into a sage(?).
More precisely, he'd grown averse to forming special bonds with anyone.
'It's not like I'm cool(?) enough to keep things casual—once I connect, feelings get involved.'
He missed Korea, where keeping his chastity(?) didn't raise eyebrows.
Still, his homesickness was milder than before.
Finally, he could eat Korean food!
"LA Koreatown's pretty good."
He'd been worried after the disappointing Korean food at that taco joint in Washington, but surprisingly, LA's was excellent!
A bit sweeter, subtly different... but apparently, it suited the palates of Korean-Americans used to American flavors?
It was good enough to be grateful for.
"I've packed kimchi soft tofu stew and spicy pork stir-fry from Koreatown."
Picking up Korean food from Koreatown was one of Cecil's main duties.
"Ah, this is the taste."
Unable to resist the fragrant spicy pork, he cracked open some soju from the Korean mart.
"It'd be even better if I could go eat there myself."
He was avoiding going to Koreatown in person.
It'd draw eyes, and more importantly, with the election coming up, Cecil worried it'd give ammo for pointless criticism.
"Better safe than sorry."
Do-hyun had become a hero millions of Americans adored.
But winning LA mayor? Still seemed damn near impossible.
There were countless obstacles.
For starters, over 70% of LA voters were die-hard Labor Party supporters who'd vote straight ticket. Do-hyun had to run as a Liberty Party candidate.
On top of that, he was a fresh immigrant from the East. And yeah, a villain.
Somehow the rumor of Do-hyun's LA mayor run had leaked, and forum boards were full of cheers.
But that was nationwide reaction. Local LA County communities were a different story.
California was the most multi-ethnic state in America.
People were hypersensitive to racism; overt comments like that got you virtually canceled.
But deep down, not everyone felt the same.
They didn't hate Asians, but plenty looked down on them.
Considering all that, Do-hyun's odds of winning LA mayor were slim to none.
"It might be good to pick a running mate for vice mayor who covers your weaknesses, Master."
"No need for all that."
In truth, such election strategies were meaningless.
A massive 'disaster' was about to hit LA soon.
How he handled that would decide the election.
"Labor supporters, white supremacists, whatever. Everyone will vote for me."
Still, blind overconfidence wasn't wise.
No harm in dotting the i's and crossing the t's, so Do-hyun nodded.
"Handle that yourself."
A few days later.
He headed to the Liberty Party's LA headquarters.
The party was so weak that even the HQ was modest—just a few rented rooms in a regular office building.
"We are honored to meet the great hero Kim who saved America! Thank you sincerely for running as our Liberty Party candidate!"
"No need to thank me. I look forward to working with you."
Winning chances were zero anyway.
No one serious about politics ran for LA mayor on the Liberty ticket. Famous folks mostly did it for publicity, not expecting victory.
Do-hyun was there today to meet his 'running mate.'
"Who is it?"
Cecil had secured his running mate.
But she hadn't told him who.
"Hehe, this is a surprise gift from your Cecil. Spoiling it would ruin the fun. She's the 'Goddess of Victory' who'll boost your election odds over 50%!"
Do-hyun tilted his head.
Cecil pegged his win chance at under 5%. If she knew about the LA disaster coming, she'd calculate differently.
For now, even 5% was generous.
But someone who could raise it to over 50%?
That's when it happened.
Do-hyun sensed it.
"Hm?"
Gulp.
Suddenly, an intense 'hunger' surged.
"······This level of hunger means she's way worse than those Babel Farms bastards?"
If anything, it was stronger than the vampire noble he'd met in Washington before.
"Not nearby. Pretty far off. And it's this strong already?"
The hunger Do-hyun felt grew stronger by the second.
Meaning she was approaching.
"Ah, she's almost here. Just parking and coming up."
Cecil took a call, and at the same time, Do-hyun's heart began to race with excitement.
She was heading straight for him.
Click, clack.
Elegant heels echoed in the quiet hallway, and as the sound neared, so did the pounding of Do-hyun's heart.
Whoosh—!
The Evil Destroyer bared its savage fangs, as if demanding blood right then.
The office door opened.
Cecil raised her voice.
"Let me introduce her! This is Miranda Cullen, your running mate, Master!"
A face so ethereally beautiful it didn't seem of this world smiled like a painting come to life.
"Nice to meet you. Thank you for giving me the chance to be the running mate of America's hero, Kim."
Do-hyun stood frozen without responding, so Cecil tilted her head.
"······Huh, Master, do you not know Miranda?"
"No."
As if he wouldn't.
The woman before him was one of the most famous people on Earth.
Do-hyun had gained massive fame lately, but it paled next to hers.
Miranda Cullen was America's top superstar, dubbed the 'Hollywood Goddess.'
And 'goddess' wasn't just hype—
She had tens of millions of fanatical devotees worldwide who worshipped her as a true deity.
And.
"What a delightful encounter."
Miranda Cullen's true identity.
A heteromorph ()—one of the most horrific breeds among the Outer Gods' denizens.
Currently puppeteering Hollywood and the American entertainment industry from the shadows.
"I was planning to seize Hollywood anyway. Talk about an opportunity falling into my lap."
"My apologies. I'm a personal fan, so I was momentarily stunned. Looking forward to it."
"Does that mean you'll accept me as your running mate?"
"Of course."
Do-hyun smiled softly.
Lest this precious 'prey' slip away.
But then.
"As your running mate, may I make one suggestion to Kim?"
"What is it?"
Miranda Cullen gazed at him with seductive eyes.
"The combo of hot hero Kim and Hollywood star me will create huge synergy. To maximize it, how about we pretend to be lovers during the campaign? Window-dressing boyfriend-girlfriend for promo, but if it turns real, even better."
"Well, now."
Do-hyun noticed Miranda's gaze mirroring his own.
In other words.
He saw her as prey—and she saw him the same way.
Do-hyun smiled back.
Deeply.
Sincerely.
"That's quite the intriguing proposal."
And so.
The dull, boring election campaign transformed into a festival of the finest feast.