I Overlooked It (3)
The Blue House was in a state of emergency. Jeong Han-taek, the president renowned for his mild temperament, had his face twisted in fury.
"Those damn bastards don't know the meaning of 'moderation.' Moderation!"
How much had they taken? How far had they reached with their grasping hands?
Jeong Han-taek stared bitterly at his own fingers. Grind! He ground his teeth in resentment.
"If it weren't for that damned agreement...!"
Article 1 of the International AAU Agreement
Nations shall not exert influence over players.
Jeong Han-taek had desperately upheld the AAU agreement. As he often said, South Korea wasn't one of the lucky nations chosen by Arcana. Besides, Arcana wasn't his domain. Interfering would only lead to poor results—it was obvious.
No need to look far; the neighboring countries provided stark lessons. China, which hadn't even joined the AAU agreement and wielded massive influence, only to be devoured by the player Ryu Ojuncheon. Japan, which violated the agreement, tried to leash its players, and lost the pillar of Inazuma in the process.
I firmly believed it.
Nam Taemin, followed by the brilliant exploits of Lee Hoyeol. Seeing them, Jeong Han-taek had breathed a sigh of relief, convinced his judgment was sound. Trusting players and watching from afar while sipping ssanghwacha was the best course.
But...
"Feeding me shit like this?!"
Even in this cataclysm-flipped world, those old-guard politicians were pulling this crap.
Jeong Han-taek berated himself again. "I should have trusted the ones worth trusting."
He had rolled in the political trenches with them. He knew they wouldn't just curl up quietly. But there were limits.
If it was his fault... From overlooking them clinging to Shinwa for scraps.
Affiliated with Shinwa Group. Shinwa Guild. Not your average guild.
Thinking of it as just another subsidiary was my mistake.
They were simply chowing down on bribes from chaebols. Overlooking the atypical Shinwa Guild had been the error.
Jeong Han-taek's eyes blazed blue with fury. "I should have carved them all out back then."
He should have intervened, AAU agreement be damned. Letting it fester had led here: Shinwa becoming Inazuma, reaching even for Cheonha Tongil.
The result? "He'd have to step in himself, Lee Hoyeol..."
Jeong Han-taek was too ashamed to lift his head. But time marched on even as he hung it low. A sigh escaped him.
"...Hoo."
He knew it was far too late. Like locking the barn after losing the ox.
Hisagi's face flashed in his mind. Maybe Lee Hoyeol could even shoulder Korea's burden...
Wasn't there precedent with Hisagi? The ancient Arcana kingdom of Yusra manifested in reality. Hisagi had cut ties with his ugly homeland and defected to Yusra Kingdom. And there, wielding king-like influence, was Lee Hoyeol.
Jeong Han-taek clenched his fist. "If that happens... Damn, unanimous impeachment material."
Still, what needed fixing had to be fixed. He couldn't dodge it. He had no choice but to convey his will to Lee Hoyeol. Like declaring war on crime, he had to show war on those Yeouido rats.
But he felt stuck. "...Where the hell do I even start digging?"
Just nabbing the rats wouldn't solve the root. Those sly foxes were bribe masters.
In the end, without player help, it was impossible. Does he know something?
His head shook instinctively. Incorruptible to the core. No one could ignore Lee Hoyeol's conduct. Even deranged rats wouldn't dare demand bribes from him.
Tormented, Jeong Han-taek finally raised his head. "Can't expect the unreasonable."
Subtly hoping for Hoyeol's aid? "Shameless doesn't even cover it, Jeong Han-taek."
As the president gathered himself—
Beep-beep! Mana reaction detected at the Blue House.
Post-cataclysm, countering Arcana threats was every government's obsession.
The threat relayed via aide's radio. "Mr. President...!"
The aide spoke urgently, but Jeong Han-taek had anticipated it. Checking his watch, it was exactly the appointed time.
"I know."
He headed personally to greet Hoyeol at the entrance. A figure emerged from the portal.
But... not just one?
One, two, three. All familiar faces.
Recognizing them, Jeong Han-taek's worries eased. "Never been so glad to see you...!"
Lee Hoyeol. And Nam Taemin, Baek Isul. With them, those rats could finally be rooted out.
*
I'm realizing it anew, but... you really have no brakes, Grandfell.
Starting with the president, no less. This is my fate, huh.
Strike while the iron's hot, sure, but I never imagined facing the president so suddenly.
But I get it. I'm not the one digging into corruption 24/7.
No matter how nosy, meddling here too would leave no time in the day. Neither Grandfell nor I are experts in this anyway.
That's why we're getting help from these two: Nam Taemin and Baek Isul. Korea's top guilds, Gaon and Shinwa's masters.
"I thought I'd die of annoyance, Mr. President. For real!"
Victims don't forget, even if perpetrators do. Especially Baek Isul, tangled with politicians via the succubus mess.
She exuded expert vibes. "In the cataclysm era, no more apple boxes with Sin Sa-imdang notes. Items or artifacts—Arcana bribes hard to trace, value guaranteed."
Makes sense; they're worth billions... Solid intel from experience.
Nam Taemin nodded in awe. "They traded that meticulously? No joke, you guys? Explains why media praises Shinwa and rags on us..."
"As I said, all in the past."
"Yeah, yeah. Just shocked."
Of course, I swallowed a sigh of relief. Sticking to my job brings days like this.
Exorcism ritual. Thanks to that link with Baek Isul, a huge hassle became a freebie.
Imagine coming alone? Breath catches just thinking. Conversation would've stalled.
Might've just hurled insults at the president. But Baek Isul had concrete lists.
That's when it hit: why bribe-takers spouted absurd logic. Can't let ties sour or it all spills.
Grandfell's incorruptibility shines here. Me, Lee Hoyeol. Since awakening... Lived without shame under heaven.
So I didn't touch the ssanghwacha, opening my mouth. "Ignorance is incompetence; knowing and ignoring makes one complicit."
"...!!!"
A straight fastball that made hearts sink. Grandfell's pride wouldn't gloss over it.
Cleanup's on me, naturally. "But if procedures were followed prior, I'd understand."
President Jeong Han-taek. His inaction stemmed from tangled AAU agreements. As Yusra AAU branch head, I knew their complexity well. Can't slack on details—addict that I am.
Any other excuse, and I'd have judged him...
So I magnanimously understood. No more chit-chat fodder. Procedures, agreements matter.
Deep ties? Pass.
Grandfell, you might not mind, but portaling to the Blue House? Commoner me finds it awkward.
Luckily, the president wrapped it up. "We'll uproot them as you trusted."
Jeong Han-taek's vow soon reached all Korea. Endless late-night breaking news. Headlines chilling the rats.
His bold claims weren't empty. Rare tough talk from politics nonstop.
This strong? No need for me. "Unless the stench wafts over."
Stench meaning demons, naturally. No demonic presence at the unexpectedly visited Blue House. Relief, if anything.
But just a moment's thought. Let's see.
Time for my duties. Yusra Kingdom office. Seated at the desk, eyeing the teacup.
Mouth's been itching since ssanghwacha, huh?
Clink. Gulping green tea like quenching thirst, to the main point.
Time to admire spoils from massive feats? Great Evil, Sin of Envy slain. Messages cluttering view.
Time to savor the loot one by one...!
*
Spacetime Salon upper floor. No middling transcendent could enter.
Transcendents needed proof beyond.
"Feels foreign."
Once desolate compared to lower floors. Now, with only four family heads lingering...
The upper floor buzzed relatively. "So many dead."
"Felled by demon rabble."
"Undignified for transcendents."
Loath to descend with lower transcendents lumped as "wholesale."
Golden Maxima. Forest Yugric. Valor Kansel. Thrill Akmond.
The four heads conversed, hiding intents.
"Empire's rising again."
Today's main dish: the Empire. Nearing collapse.
They'd eyed hegemony, watching cues. "Stuffy hunkered in territories?"
Even almighty, hard to track from remote domains. No intact cities or villages for rumors.
But predictable. "Only black dark dragon, surely."
Hmph. Scoff. "Claudy? Could be."
Fallen Claudy, sole survivor. Enough to fan empire's dying embers.
"Empire's foes are just demon mongrels. Even toothless Claudy handles that."
"Doubting it insults Claudy... and our ancestors."
"Heh. Mere thrashing."
Why fear demons? Simple. They ruled the Empire substantively.
Proud possessors of Arcana's knowledge. Demon hierarchy info included.
Then. Flutter. Paper scrap from chandelier.
"Screening now?"
Spacetime Salon Upper Floor Entry Screening Request
The four witnessed the feats. Pupils dilated.
"Great Evil, Sin of Envy crushed...?"
True evil beyond demon rabble, savagely hunted. But not the end.
"Who achieved this...?"
No secrets in Spacetime. Surely the name listed.
Confirming it, heads paled.
Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo
Golden Maxima head, Igignite Maxima. Golden pupils quivered helplessly.
"Spacetime! This must be wrong!"
He yelled at the chandelier. "Impossible...!"
Five stages of grief. First: denial. Raw emotion poured out.
"Grandfell?! Alive...?!!"