Chapter 127
Chapter 127
Chapter 127: Suppression Complete
Translation: godtl
Lee Sang-min.
A first-generation player who had been active for twelve years, a so-called "ghost of the first generation" who had remained in Platinum for the past decade.
Or, as some called him, the Gatekeeper.
But even he had once been a promising talent.
A top-tier Platinum player standing before the wall of Diamond.
Naturally, he had numerous Arena experiences with the most renowned players of the present.
A man who had risen to the highest position in the Korean Awakened Association as a world-class ranker.
He even had experience facing Kim Mu-yeol, the Iron Wood King, in the Arena.
Which was why...
'This is unbelievable...'
For Lee Sang-min, who had shared the Arena with Kim Mu-yeol several times, the current reality was impossible to believe.
That man, who was so cold and sharp he might as well have been a blade—
"What kind of lunatic dares spout such bullshit?!"
—was now in such a state of agitation.
In fact, he had doubted it from the moment he heard the voice.
'Is that really Kim Mu-yeol?'
The Iron Wood King, Kim Mu-yeol.
A man deeply connected to political and business circles, he even shared a considerable friendship with Lee Sun-cheol, the chairman of the Seongsam Group—the pinnacle of Korea's business world.
From his personal martial prowess and abilities to his connections—there was nothing he lacked. And yet, here he was, directly exchanging words with a player who had only just reached Platinum?
But there was no time to dwell on that.
"Answer me! What kind of fool dares spew such nonsense in front of me?!"
Kim Mu-yeol, who had never once raised his voice.
Not only Lee Sang-min—
—but any Korean citizen who knew Kim Mu-yeol would say the same.
No one had ever seen the cold, composed Association President in such an agitated state.
No.
In fact, did the man even possess the capacity for such emotions in the first place?
And yet.
"Hmm. Seems they have no intention of answering, does it?"
"How dare... these insignificant worms belittle me?!"
It was happening.
"Are you telling me some mere Platinum trash is ignoring Kim Mu-yeol's words?!"
Setting aside the emotion of agitation—
—judging solely by the tone coming through the phone, it was unmistakably the same Kim Mu-yeol Lee Sang-min remembered.
The lofty Kim Mu-yeol, who wouldn't even deign to acknowledge anyone below Diamond-rank.
And then—
"...Hah... Kim Si-mun."
"Yes."
This unbelievable phenomenon wasn't some fleeting midday dream.
"Until I arrive. Not a single one of them is to move."
It was the beginning of a horrifying nightmare.
"That's... even for me, that's a bit... They're Platinums too, aren't they? They're national team members—how am I supposed to just hold them down?"
BOOM!
"Then tear them limb from limb if you have to!!"
A deafening roar loud enough to make the Association's building tremble.
Along with it, the sound from Si-mun's phone abruptly cut off.
The call must have ended.
"......"
"......"
The waiting room, frozen stiff in a different sense than before.
Si-mun voiced the thoughts of those who had been rendered speechless.
"Well, everyone... we're fucked, aren't we?"
***
[Breaking News! Sudden Appearance of the Association President?]
[Explosive Outburst from the Top Floor—Enraged Iron Wood King! Secretary-General Choi Chang-wook:"It's Just a Minor Issue"]
[Exclusive! What Angered the Iron Wood King? The Platinum Division? Controversy Over Internal Division in the National Team!]
['Do You All Have a Death Wish?' Association President's Call Sends Major Guilds into Panic!]
[The Cause of the Controversy: Jeong Ha-jun and Kim Si-mun? Kim Jong-jun of the Scorpion Guild: 'Assessing the Situation. No Need for Concern.']
[Rumors of Discord Among Platinum Players. Frantic Participating Guilds and Kim Si-mun's Silence]
Only three hours had passed since the call with his uncle, Kim Mu-yeol.
Yet the flood of articles pouring out was nothing short of staggering.
And that wasn't all.
"What the hell happened? The Iron Wood King lost his shit?"
"Yeah. My friend works at the Association. Said the President was furious—never seen him that mad before."
"For real? That guy even has emotions?"
"The kind of guy who'd bleed steel instead of blood..."
"It's true. My sister works there too. Said the President stormed down to the parking lot radiating murderous intent."
"Just got off the phone with my uncle. The national training grounds are in chaos right now. Couldn't give details, though."
From the Arena community to every other forum online—everything was in an uproar.
It couldn't be helped.
Kim Mu-yeol had been the very embodiment of cold rationality since his days as a First Generation player.
The icy composure and brutality he'd displayed during his personal streams in the past had sent shivers down the spines of not just his enemies, but even his allies.
Naturally, after becoming the Association President, it went without saying.
Si-mun's fingers, which had been scrolling through his phone, paused.
[I'm an active-duty manager at the National Training Grounds... This is no joke.]
-Active-duty manager, my ass lol. I'm Golem Choi Chang-wook, you bastard.
-It's real... Right now, this place... Just know it's a literal bloodbath...
-Quit the bullshit lol. What, is the Association President gonna beat the national team to death or something?
-Bloodbath, my ass lol.
-Even if it's the Iron Wood King, why would he beat up the national team lol? Can't even bait properly, dumbass?
Perhaps because of the "active-duty manager" title.
Among the exploding views and comments on one particular community post, Si-mun let out a quiet snort.
"So even employees here lurk in communities, huh."
Well.
If anonymity was somewhat guaranteed, there was no reason not to.
-No cap. The competition's tomorrow. And you know the Association President's temper—he'd just wipe them all out without dirtying his hands.
-^2. But the bait worked, huh? Comments are insane lol.
-Didn't he already warn the participating guilds? Saw an article about that.
-Yeah, I'm one of those guild members. The higher-ups are scrambling right now.
-Then it's over, what's this bloodbath nonsense lol. Tone down the exaggeration, human.
The comments multiplied in real-time with every scroll.
Si-mun shook his head.
"The OP must be frustrated."
It's true, though.
With a pitying tone, Si-mun glanced toward the door.
No more screams reached his ears now, but—
He knew exactly what kind of screams had echoed from beyond that door just moments ago.
And the glass wall beside him.
Reflected in it were the restless figures of the Association and training ground staff.
Especially among them, the two-meter-tall man.
Considering even Golem Choi Chang-wook's bewildered expression, the anonymous employee's "bloodbath" was far from an exaggeration.
'Probably one of those people. Wonder who it is.'
Just as he was about to turn his attention back to his phone amid the growing commotion outside—
BANG!
The reception room door burst open violently, dragging the lingering chaos from outside inside.
"Choi Chang-wook."
"Yes, Association President."
The man who had set all of South Korea abuzz in just three hours.
"Get rid of all those vermin. Wipe them from the national team roster too."
"Eh? But... Understood."
Choi Chang-wook startled at the sudden order, but—
Under his lord's terrifying gaze—sharp enough to slice even him apart—he quietly closed the door and left.
"Haah..."
Like a finely honed blade.
The usually calm, razor-sharp voice wavered unsteadily.
The man let out a deep sigh.
Kim Mu-yeol trudged forward, roughly wiping his hands with a handkerchief.
One.
"Damn it!"
Was there too much liquid staining them?
Or had it dried slightly over time?
Frustrated by the blood that wouldn't wipe clean, Kim Mu-yeol flung the handkerchief away in irritation.
Thud.
A sound that barely resembled fabric hitting the wall echoed.
"Pathetic vermin! What? A boycott?!"
CRASH!
Gasping harshly, Kim Mu-yeol carelessly toppled a nearby bookshelf before advancing toward Si-mun.
His demeanor reminiscent of a beast consumed by rage.
Yet despite the overwhelming, terrifying aura that would make even seasoned men tense—
Glug.
Si-mun, sipping his soda, watched his uncle plop down across from him with utter nonchalance.
Then—
"I had no idea my uncle was this popular. You could debut as an idol right now and go viral."
His relaxed voice clashed starkly with the oppressive atmosphere.
"...What the hell are you babbling about?"
Kim Mu-yeol growled, but that was all.
His eyes immediately narrowed at the sight of Si-mun lazily waving his phone.
"Tch. The trash must've already started flapping their mouths."
"With this much chaos, it'd be weird if they weren't talking."
Si-mun set down his drink and replied.
"Then you should've shown some restraint."
"Nobody died. Isn't that enough?"
Just how much more restraint did they expect from me?
Under Kim Mu-yeol's murderous gaze, Si-mun merely shrugged.
"Well, considering it's you, Uncle, this ended rather mercifully."
The Iron Wood King, Kim Mu-yeol.
A man who wouldn't hesitate to kill if necessary—though they weren't truly sworn enemies.
He was the kind of man who had even attempted to assassinate his own nephew.
For someone like him to resolve things without a single casualty?
It truly meant he had exercised an extraordinary amount of restraint.
Especially since—
"Those bastards dared defy me, mere Platinums. The fact they're still breathing is mercy enough."
Needless to say, those who defied the will of the Iron Wood King rarely lived to tell the tale.
"Still, they weren't nobodies. They had backing."
Though they were stagnant Platinums,
that also meant they were skilled players who had secured their place in the upper ranks of Platinum.
Naturally, they had the support of numerous major guilds behind them.
But—
"Ha! What could those pathetic remnants of the First Generation possibly do?"
To the Iron Wood King,
to Kim Mu-yeol, the President of the Korean Awakened Association—did any of that matter?
"Even if I crushed those insects right now, those worthless fools wouldn't dare so much as squeak in protest."
He answered without the slightest hesitation.
No—
"Frankly, they're all just bugs of the same ilk. That's why those guilds took them in. I don't bother with insects. If they dare resist, I just kill them."
His words weren't just scathing—they were like grinding them alive in a blender.
Si-mun clicked his tongue at his uncle's ruthlessness before breaking into a broad grin.
"Having someone like you as my uncle is such a relief."
"Enough nonsense."
Kim Mu-yeol's eyes instantly flared as he glared back.
"I didn't come here to clean up after you."
He growled low, like a beast poised to strike—
as if issuing a warning to Si-mun.
"It's because those insects dared raise a hand against my will. They challenged my authority!"
A threat that would make even seasoned Diamond players tense—
"Well, not many who defy you live to tell the tale, Uncle."
Si-mun merely shrugged, his tone oddly amused.
Perhaps irritated,
Kim Mu-yeol's eyes twitched briefly, but that was all.
"Tch... Whatever. From now on, no one will dare interfere with your participation."
As if refusing to be dragged into Si-mun's pace,
Kim Mu-yeol roughly swept back his bangs and concluded the matter.
Si-mun didn't ask, And if someone still does?
'If more people dare complain about me after this... then they'll really all end up dead.'
It wouldn't end with just roughing up a few players like today.
He'd probably uproot their entire guilds,
and their leaders or executives would vanish without a trace.
Only someone like Kim Jong-jun, Vice Guild Master of the Scorpion Guild, might barely escape with their life.
That was the kind of power he wielded.
That man, Kim Mu-yeol.
"By the way, what now?"
"What do you mean?"
Si-mun jerked his chin toward the chaotic scene outside, where bloodied national team members were being hauled away.
"Looks like they're barely alive. Their injuries seem severe. Will they even be able to participate tomorrow?"
"Didn't you hear? I'm wiping every last one of them from the national team roster."
"Hmm."
Si-mun let out a small sigh.
'Let's see. Aside from Lee Sang-min, he's cleared out about five or six...'
Originally, the National Tournament's Special Match had a roster of thirty.
But now, with Lee Sang-min and the six who defended him as the only exceptions, the rest were being carried out.
Meaning they'd have to face tomorrow's Special Match with just eight members, including himself.
Was it satisfaction that briefly creased Si-mun's brow?
"What, lacking confidence?"
For the first time, the corners of Kim Mu-yeol's lips twisted into something resembling a smirk.
"Well, even for a reckless fool like you, taking on thirty trained players with just eight can't be easy."
Especially since those selected for the national team were all high-tier Platinums.
Of course, the truly skilled aiming for Diamond often didn't even participate in the National Team Selection Tournament. But still—
But that didn't mean the participants' skills were lacking.
Especially since they had undergone months of joint training specifically for team battles.
"I have no intention of changing our deal. Since I've gone out of my way to cover your back like this, you'd better be prepared if you lose this Special Match."
His usual razor-sharp demeanor.
With an extra spoonful of venom mixed in, Kim Mu-yeol's words made Si-mun shake his head repeatedly.
So this is why he came all the way here himself. He must have had this kind of calculation in mind.
From the very moment he had pressured Si-mun to join the national team, he must have been confident he wouldn't lose.
But in life, there's always an "if," isn't there?
What if the match ended in defeat?
That was why he had laid the groundwork to pin all the blame on Si-mun if things went wrong.
And to make that calculation even more certain, he had eliminated over half of the national team today.
Of course, his primary motive was probably just to vent his arrogant pride and temper—very much like the uncle he was.
"Really. You're thorough to the bone, Uncle. It's almost admirable."
Si-mun shook his head again.
He meant it.
With his past life's experience, Si-mun was confident in his own schemes, but his uncle Kim Mu-yeol didn't miss even the smallest details.
"But don't worry."
A smile curled at the corner of Si-mun's lips as he shook his head.
"Even if I end up going out there alone, winning the Special Match won't be a problem."
That smile was the exact opposite of his uncle's venom—bright and sunny.
Perhaps it was unsettling.
"Ha!"
Kim Mu-yeol scoffed.
"Your arrogance pierces the heavens."
"Is that so? Well, you're the same, Uncle. Must run in the family."
Si-mun fired back without backing down.
Then, turning to his uncle, who was biting his lip in frustration, unable to retort, he asked:
"Uncle, setting aside our personal feelings, be objective for a moment. Do you really think I'm wrong?"
"......"
Kim Mu-yeol stared at Si-mun in silence.
He wanted nothing more than to tear into this arrogant nephew with sharp, venomous words, but he couldn't bring himself to open his mouth.
Of course not.
Personal feelings aside—
The discerning eyes of the Ranker, the Iron Wood King, clearly saw that this damn nephew could single-handedly sweep the Special Match.
As if he had found his answer in Kim Mu-yeol's silence, Si-mun grinned.
"See? So don't worry about the Special Match. Just focus on handling the tasks I'll leave for you later."
His smile deepened.
In response, the venom that had been lacing Kim Mu-yeol's lips vanished as if washed away.
"...I truly hope you lose."
"Uncle, are you trying to get recorded again?"
"Hmph! Your head will roll before that happens."
"Pfft—HAHA!"
Si-mun burst out laughing at his uncle's immediate retort, then propped his chin on his hand and mused:
"Do you really think so? No matter what I say, Uncle, you have no choice but to listen."
"You—! Just because one of your traits is blocked, you think I can't—!"
"If you really don't believe me, you can test it right now."
Si-mun wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Kim Mu-yeol's blood boiled, but that was all.
"...Just be prepared if you lose."
For some inexplicable reason, a sense of unease surged in him. Kim Mu-yeol abruptly stood up and left.
The next day.
[The day has finally arrived!]
[I believe the entire nation will be watching with bated hearts!]
The broadcast of Korea's National Arena.
The National Arena Program's MC, Choi Gang-yeop, and commentator Song Jae-kyung were brimming with excitement.
Naturally.
[Just thinking about the player who recently joined the Platinum division makes my heart race!]
[Haha! You're absolutely right. I might be stating the obvious here.]
A single player who had joined via an Option Addition Ticket.
The rising star who had shattered records left and right and was now enjoying global fame after his Platinum Debut Match—wasn't he participating?
Of course—
[There was a brief, unfortunate incident, but the Association has resolved it smoothly.]
[That's right! All we have to do is cheer, and cheer some more!]
There had been a bit of noise, sure.
But even that had been settled personally by the Association President, so from now on, they could focus solely on victory.
Or so—
Choi Gang-yeop and Song Jae-kyung thought.
The viewers watching the National Arena Program thought the same.
[Oh! The national anthem is playing, which means the Platinum division players are entering... Huh?]
At least, until the moment the players for the Special Match were supposed to enter.
[Uh... Commentator Song? Are my eyes playing tricks on me?]
[I... I was about to ask the same thing.]
Their voices trembled with bewilderment.
Naturally.
[There are only eight players visible... Surely, the entire participating team isn't just those eight, right?]
Accompanied by the national anthem, Korea's national team entered.
But their numbers weren't the 31, including Si-mun—they were just eight.