You've Broken a Taboo (2)
Eugene McCain, head of the AAU's US East Branch. Park Minjae racked his brains, furrowing his brow deeply.
But.
'I've never properly faced him.'
Eugene's face, that of the East Branch chief, didn't come to mind easily.
In truth, his name was renowned. It had to be. Eugene McCain was just as much a Cosmo celebrity as Park Minjae himself.
The first branch chief from a non-developer background. In Cosmo, which valued ability above all, Eugene's appointment was revolutionary. Beyond non-developers, Eugene hailed from politics, far removed from the gaming world.
There had even been rumors floating around.
—"Isn't Raymon prepping for a political run?"
Park Minjae's lips twisted into a smirk.
"That would've been quite the spectacle."
Park Minjae knew Raymon Sean's true nature—a mere robot. What else from America, the fast-paced advanced nation? The world's first robot politician would've made for an entertaining picture.
He wiped the amusement from his voice at Joshua's tone over the receiver.
—"Mr. Park. I know full well why you'd suspect me. Even divided into East and West branches, this happened in America. I can't claim total innocence."
It wasn't Joshua's fault.
Who could've imagined Eugene dodging a face-to-face with Hoyeol while plotting treachery?
Park Minjae tamped down his irritation and spoke calmly.
"No. You must be uninvolved, Branch Chief Joshua."
—"……Pardon? What do you mean?"
"Because that's the only way you can resolve this mess."
Eugene McCain. Once Park Minjae pegged him as the mastermind, it all made sense. The one and only non-developer, political outsider appointed branch chief.
"Eugene couldn't possibly grasp Arcana's weight. It's only natural."
AAU. They didn't revere Hoyeol out of blind faith. It was because they knew Arcana well, having once posed as its creators. They understood just how absurd Hoyeol's accomplishments were. That's why they could follow his lead sincerely.
"It didn't hit home for him, so he stabbed us in the back."
But Eugene was different. That's why he'd bided his time. Like a politician waiting for lame-duck status.
And then he bit on bait too juicy to ignore.
"With Eugene's connections, this whole affair is easily explained, right?"
—"Exactly, Mr. Park. Given his background, it's no surprise the media's running wild with baseless claims. Hell, Eugene's more at home in this arena than us developers. But……."
Joshua trailed off awkwardly.
—"I've been clumsily imitating him all this time. Connections to the elite, lobbying, favors. Watching from the sidelines, I envied it. Though now I realize it's all pointless……."
Park Minjae nodded. Only after hearing Joshua's deepest thoughts could he fully dispel his suspicions. Joshua truly had no part in this.
Was this his way of repaying that trust? Joshua nodded firmly.
"……You're right, Mr. Park. I'll handle it."
Click.
Joshua ended the call and boarded his private jet. He'd been ringing Eugene nonstop via backup channels, but no answer. Contacting the East Branch HQ yielded only that Eugene was fine and well in his office.
"What the hell is he scheming?"
From the runway at the East Branch, all eyes were on him.
"Isn't that Branch Chief Joshua?"
What business did the West Branch chief have here? Was it that scorching global headline? The one claiming Lee Hoyeol was one of the Ten Thrones demon kings.
A few staffers whispered.
"This could shake Chief Supervisor Lee Hoyeol's position, right?"
The public's reaction to the article was pure chaos.
If it were mere player gossip or tabloid speculation, fine. But this came from a high-ranking AAU official. A prestigious American daily no less.
"Someone definitely leaked it."
"Forget that—the real issue was the side commentary."
"Twist it maliciously, and there's no end. Like those idiots seriously claiming Hoyeol's rift clears keep jacking up difficulties?"
Excluding Branch Chief Eugene, everyone at the East Branch had met Hoyeol at the Mage Tower. Perhaps that's why they weren't swayed by the turbulent public opinion.
"I'd love to just spill everything Yusra Chief Supervisor Lee said. He's shouldering insane risks alone again……!"
Joshua gauged the mood as he strode the halls.
'Only Eugene's worth worrying about.'
He mulled it over. Eugene's confidence stemmed from somewhere. Guessing wasn't hard.
"……Rocks."
Arcana Continent, a new land of opportunity. Maybe Eugene believed in America's Shining. Shining's Rocks. That he could replace Hoyeol.
Perhaps even setting up a rivalry.
'Shining's holy knight Rocks versus the Ten Thrones demon king Lee Hoyeol.'
It painted a decent picture. But really.
A fool's fancy, born of non-developer ignorance.
"You seriously think that's possible?"
Lee Hoyeol was on another level. Not something you caught up to by matching levels. No matter how great Rocks was, he could never fill that void.
Joshua asked his secretary with a stern face.
"Is Branch Chief Eugene inside?"
"……!"
The secretary flinched and nodded. Joshua marched straight in.
Eugene, you have no idea the blunder you've made. He planned to break it down point by point. And……
'When you started scheming this nonsense.'
Bang.
The moment Joshua entered Eugene's office.
Thwack.
"!"
A dull thud, and Joshua crumpled.
"Wh-what the……?"
Joshua barely lifted his head from the floor. His occiput burned. Blunt force trauma.
He gritted his teeth.
"Eugene McCain…… Do you even realize the magnitude of your mistake? I'd almost rather believe you're a demon's puppet……."
"Demons? Humans are scarier than demons, Joshua."
"……You're fine, then."
Eugene's pupils were clear. No demonic possession. This was all his own doing.
Whoosh.
Eugene gazed down at Joshua from the sofa.
"I hit hard, but I had no intent to kill. Why? Handy items here, no? Potions, was it? Pour one on, and your wound heals right up."
Thud.
"Hard for this old brain to believe, but that's the post-cataclysm world."
Eugene set a potion bottle on the table and caught his breath. Joshua saw it. Eugene's shoulders trembling post-deed.
That was the reaction of someone who knew the weight of his actions.
"You think that plan will work……? Regrettably, this isn't politics. No need for court proofs or evidence. Actions prove everything."
Even if he screamed about Ten Thrones demon kings. If Hoyeol succeeded in hunting all demon kings and challengers as planned, no one would doubt him.
Joshua ground his teeth.
"You don't understand Arcana at all."
Eugene rummaged in his pocket.
"True, I couldn't grasp it. To me, you, the world, players—all seemed childish. Holding absurd powers, yet fumbling. Why take the long road when the easy one's open?"
"……Childish?"
"What? Said something off-limits?"
Joshua sneered.
"You…… Expressing pride like that. You're in deep shit."
"Pride? Whatever."
Click.
Eugene lit a cigar from his pocket.
"On that note, we agree for once. That's why I acted. Couldn't stand idle. Doesn't it make a great story? America versus the demon king. Guaranteed box-office Hollywood blockbuster, no? Sorry about this, Joshua."
Joshua held his tongue. Blood loss? Mind fogging. Or Eugene's words demanding attention.
'……We agree?'
Not a solo act, then. Joshua clung to his fading wits. How far did this web extend? Using a trusted American daily. Targeting Yusra Chief Supervisor Lee Hoyeol. Too big for one branch chief. This could upend global politics.
Joshua spoke.
"……Connected to the White House after all."
Exhale. Eugene blew smoke.
"Not that far, Joshua. Pretend to know more, and I might not need this potion for you."
"You're all stark raving mad."
A threat to his life. Yet Joshua pressed on. Absurd. Useless help, now backstabbing.
"What the hell…… did Lee Hoyeol ever do wrong?"
"Hm?"
"What stuck in your craw? The guy always risking his neck on humanity's front lines. What was so infuriating?"
No need to revisit the past. Even now, Hoyeol becoming a Ten Thrones demon king had one reason. To hunt demon monsters threatening Arcana and reality more efficiently. For that alone, he'd ascended the throne he so despised.
Smoke dispersed.
"Joshua, know the scariest in politics? Heir to chaebol billions? Elite from political dynasty? None."
Exhale.
Through drifting smoke, Eugene's eyes gleamed.
"Those who can sway the masses. Born with that gift."
"What?"
"That's why I fear Lee Hoyeol."
Eugene added.
"Seeing your changed, unfamiliar face."
"……!"
Eugene, the White House, the world. They feared influence. Hoyeol's growing sway.
Joshua spat a bitter laugh.
"Just a pawn after all……?"
"Something like that. Pity, though. You know too much. Can't let you live if you're not with us, right?"
Joshua coughed blood this time.
"F○ck……."
A rotten smile returned.
"Yes. That's the scary part. What the hell is pride that you'd die defending it? Naturally, we must guard against it."
No more talk followed. No next steps. A mere pawn's role ended here.
Fizzle.
Eugene extinguished the cigar with trembling hands.
"Now, time to await the demon king's clutches."
Eugene embraced death. Or rather, planned to use even his life.
Even Joshua had pieced it together. He was the culprit.
'Lee Hoyeol.'
He'd surely come. After seeing Joshua down. For interrogation, he'd strike.
'Every action his proof as demon king.'
Humans are cunning. No unshakable faith exists. Just needs a trigger. His death wouldn't be in vain.
"Yes, he will."
As Eugene muttered bitterly.
"?"
Suddenly, blinding light stung his eyes. From the window. Dazzling radiance poured beyond.
"……What?"
Just sunlight, he thought. No.
Intenser than the sun. Something massive.
Yes, a colossal meteor plummeted from the sky.
Non-developer Eugene murmured.
"A-asteroid……?"
But precisely, Meteor Strike.
Eugene had overlooked. His enemy wasn't just Lee Hoyeol.
Arcana's mightiest force, the Mage Tower. Tower Master Marcelo. With all senior mages, over American skies.
And.
……
I checked the incoming message.
That was why I hadn't stopped Marcelo.