Chapter 70. Were You Expecting Something?
Chapter 70. Were You Expecting Something?
The viewers marveled at my mercy.
Once I told them how to earn leniency, the flood of donation apologies dried up completely.
And I was a little curious myself.
"Will they... actually film an apology video and send it in?"
[Well, those rich bastards will just settle it lol]
[Fucking hell lol If it were me, I'd just die of embarrassment]
[But this gets preserved forever though lol]
Everyone was enjoying the festival that had just unfolded.
Except for a select few.
"Anyway, now you know. I won't give you much time, so make a decision quickly."
I said that, typed a sign-off message, and ended the stream.
"Hero, will people actually film those videos? It'll follow them around like a shackle for the rest of their lives..."
Laila seemed genuinely puzzled.
Unlike her world, on Earth, once a record was made, it stayed around almost forever.
"Well, they'll figure it out."
Laila smiled softly and climbed onto my lap.
We stayed like that and checked the community forums for the first time in a while.
"I figured there'd be guys like this."
[ Author: Anonymous ]
[ Title: But isn't this going a bit too far? ]
[ Content: Isn't this bastard just trying to pull a stunt with Nutube to get broadcast footage? ]
└ Just get lost lol
└ If you wrote that without thinking, shouldn't you take responsibility?
└ Celebrities kill themselves because of bastards like you
└ I checked this bastard's post history, did you get a complaint sent to you too?
└ What a moron lol
Fortunately, there were no posts blaming me.
And even if any existed, most people were swarming the comments with curses.
"These people are getting dragged off one after another too."
People from the organizations that had come to my house demanding donations were also appearing before the prosecution for various reasons—breach of trust, embezzlement, and the like.
And almost all of them, without exception, were sentenced to prison time.
"Gotta live a good life."
"Come to think of it, isn't today the day you're supposed to meet the lawyer?"
"Yeah, I was just about to go see him."
Now all that remained were the ones who'd written posts for money and the ones who'd left malicious comments.
'How could I handle this so people would say I did a good job...?'
---
I visited the lawyer's office once again.
On one side sat a lawyer dressed in a neat suit.
"I'll pass on meeting them directly."
"Yes, even if we met, they would just bow their heads and apologize in front of us."
The lawyer chuckled.
He knew all too well how the perpetrators typically apologized, having handled such cases before.
"Are you... genuinely thinking of granting leniency?"
"For the people who upload the apology videos."
The lawyer tilted his head, looking slightly puzzled.
He was questioning my actions, since I had consistently maintained a strict stance of showing no leniency.
"I'll grant leniency regarding the civil suits."
The lawyer's expression shifted.
He seemed to have picked up on my subtle nuance.
"Lawyer, the criminal charges... even if I show leniency, it won't matter, correct?"
He closed his mouth for a moment upon hearing my words.
Then he nodded, as if understanding my intent.
"Yes, that is correct."
"..."
"In criminal cases, if it's determined that public interest and order have been violated, the prosecution will proceed with the indictment directly. Regardless of the victim's wishes."
"Exactly."
I grinned.
As if nothing could be more enjoyable.
"I am a generous person. A civil settlement? I can grant that if they upload an apology video."
This wasn't a lie.
If they apologized, I would show them leniency.
But as for the criminal side?
"The criminal charges... the prosecution handles those on their own. Even if I wanted to be lenient, it's out of my hands, you know?"
I spread both hands and made a regretful gesture, as if I were truly helpless.
I wanted to use this opportunity to pull out the roots of those malicious bastards once and for all.
---
"Is this good enough...?"
Though he had tidied up the room nicely, the wallpaper stained yellow from cigarette smoke was visible.
The man dressed himself neatly and put on the most groveling and remorseful face he could manage.
"I am deeply reflecting on my actions... and will ensure this never happens again..."
An apology video.
He sent it straight to Song Hoon's email.
And as soon as he sent it, it was uploaded to Song Hoon's Nutube channel.
"Ha, fuck... if only I had money."
Yet his expression as he let out a sigh was filled with relief.
And he chuckled to himself, thinking he would receive leniency.
"That bastard said it himself. He'll show leniency if I upload the video."
And he muttered again.
"Fuck... I'm getting sued for scribbling a few lines?"
He lit a cigarette inside the room and continued talking to himself.
"So some S-rank piece of shit like that abuses his power. What a fucking bastard..."
But the corners of his mouth were turned up.
"Still, though... I'm just glad it's over without paying any money."
He lived like that for a few days.
Then one day, all that peace shattered to pieces.
─ Ding-dong!
A single envelope was wedged in front of his door like a package.
A summons stamped with the red seal of the 'Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.'
"...?"
His hand trembled as he opened the envelope.
As he slowly read the contents, his face turned pale.
- Suspect Summons Notification. You are to be investigated for defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act...
"You fucking...! What is this? They clearly said they'd show leniency!!!"
He couldn't believe his eyes.
He read it a second time, then a third time.
His fingertips trembled at the word 'Suspect.'
He slammed the desk and quickly turned on his computer.
He searched for related keywords on the community forum.
'Malicious comment lawsuit leniency video', 'apology video prosecution', 'S-rank hunter lawsuit'.
Posts that hadn't appeared in searches just a few days ago were now flooding in.
And he clicked on the post with the most recommendations.
[ Author: Anonymous ]
[ Title: Can you get sued for fraud over this? ]
[ Content: I uploaded the video, but the prosecution is telling me to come in as a suspect? ]
Dozens of similar posts.
And cruel comments attached below them.
└ Hey man... isn't it greedy to try and brush it off with just one video?
└ He did show you leniency though lol
└ Criminal charges were separate, you idiot lol
└ But the faces of the bastards who uploaded videos were consistently ugly lol
└ That's the kind of scumbags who hide behind monitors and tear others down
└ Be careful, identification standards might be met lol
"...Fuck."
A short curse escaped his lips.
"Now that I think of it..."
Checking the time, it was almost time for the stream.
Curious about what he would say, he connected to his Pajijik channel.
- Ah, did the summons from the prosecution fly your way?
Song Hoon on the screen wore a smile full of mockery, as if he had known all along.
---
[ World's Strongest Hero : hey ]
[I thought the festival was over but there's an after-party lol]
[Lol the bastards who got summons are screwed now]
[But he said he'd show leniency, is that okay?]
"I tried to show leniency, but it seems the prosecution has different ideas?"
[Lol so fucking funny]
[If it's God-tier fun, upvote lol]
[Okay]
[Okay okay okay]
[Super upvote lol]
[ Anonymous has donated 1,000 Watts! ]
- You son of a bitch, you said you'd show leniency, I'm suing you for fraud
Apparently having received his summons and now with nothing left to lose, a donation of pure rage flew in.
"No, I really did try to show leniency, okay?"
I deliberately put on a comical expression, as if I felt wronged.
And alongside donations like that, other types came in as well.
[ Anonymous has donated 1,000 Watts! ]
- Hero, I am currently the pillar of my household. If I get investigated, I'll be fired from my job...
A donation packed with emotional appeal.
"Ah, I see. I also went through all kinds of hardship for 30 years to save another world."
[Lol it's the Hero who even defeated the Demon God you know]
[Hero didn't save a household, he saved the world, you idiot lol]
Donations following that same emotional sob-story template poured in en masse.
Stories came from those preparing for civil service exams, job seekers, and various others.
But my thoughts remained unchanged.
'So what.'
If you cared about those things, you shouldn't have done this in the first place.
Why did people always act out and then regret it later?
"The news is even reporting on this incident right now."
This wasn't your average malicious comment or spreading false information case.
Unusually, a strong response had been made regarding this incident.
"I like it. With a precedent like this set, won't everyone be more careful about hitting their keyboards?"
[Come to think of it, what happened to the person who first reported it?]
[For real, I'm curious]
"There's nothing special about that. I showed them 'leniency' too."
[Showed leniency (Fact)]
[Lol Whoa, so that bastard got an investigation + insider label?]
"Well, maybe the judge will show some leniency in sentencing in exchange for providing information?"
I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly.
"It's a righteous society, right?"
[That's right, it's a righteous society lol]
[Receive the judgment of justice, you bastards lol]
Even after that, donations disrupting the stream continued to come in.
All kinds of sob stories, or just outright insults.
"I clearly dropped the lawsuit. Why are you all coming here to do this?"
[That's right, go complain to the prosecution lol]
[Hero bestowed his mercy upon you]
They couldn't receive a full acquittal anyway.
Judging by how things were unfolding, the judiciary had drawn its sword.
"Manager, ban everyone who writes these kinds of posts from now on."
[ Saintess's Foot Wiper : ok ]
Those who were hoping this might just be for show, or that I really would grant leniency.
I drove the final nail into them.
"Did you actually hope for that?"
Listen well.
You feel betrayed because you had expectations in the first place.