Chapter 51
Chapter 51
Chapter 51: Uninvited Guest (3)
Translation: godtl
"Yes. Please conclude it that way, and as for the press—"
Leaving behind the sound of his younger brother's rambling voice—
'Damn, this kid's really raking it in.'
Si-mun surveyed the extravagantly luxurious interior.
'It's Gangnam to begin with. And a penthouse, no less...'
Gangnam. And a penthouse.
Just as those two words suggested, his younger brother Kim Si-hyeok's home was staggering.
Of course it was.
This place, known as the Ranker Palace, was primarily inhabited by Ranker-level Players or those of equivalent status.
And wasn't his little brother the son of the former Association President, one of South Korea's Rankers to boot?
Just one of those alone would make living in a place like this effortless.
But this overachieving punk had both, so it'd be stranger if he didn't have a home like this.
Si-mun absently pressed down on the armrest of the sofa—clearly expensive at a glance—before turning his eyes toward the luxurious door plastered with security spells.
'Right. Come to think of it, Yu-jeong lived here too, didn't she?'
Lee Yu-jeong.
The Poison Princess of the Seongsam Guild—just like Si-hyeok, she was someone born with everything, from family background to talent.
"Yes, then I'll leave it to you. I'll handle the Association side myself."
Had the call ended?
Kim Si-hyeok approached, ending the call.
"Hyung, are you sure you don't need to go to the hospital?"
His little brother's voice was laced with concern.
"Cut it out, you brat. Are you running some kind of macro? That's the seventh time you've said that exact same thing."
Behind him, a large-framed man grumbled.
It was the Night Hunter, Park Jin-uk.
"If I were your hyung, I'd have punched you by the fourth time you asked."
"Sunbae."
Ignoring Si-hyeok's low growl, Park Jin-uk—
"Now, now, our esteemed VVIP guest. Please enjoy this rare treat and make yourself at home~"
—held out a cup containing a greenish beverage.
"Thank you. Hm?"
Si-mun's eyes widened slightly as he examined the drink.
"This is Elven Tea, isn't it?"
"Haha! As expected of a top-tier alchemist, recognizing it at a glance. You're absolutely right."
Elven Tea.
A tea made from ingredients occasionally obtained from high-ranking elves appearing from Platinum tier onward.
Beyond its exotic flavor—unfound on Earth—
It was also a type of Spirit Elixir that slightly boosted stats upon consumption.
Naturally—
"Are you sure it's alright to give me something this precious?"
It wasn't something even the wealthy could easily drink.
After all, the only acquisition routes were high-rank Players who were inevitably well-off to begin with.
Given that, Elven Tea—offering both taste and stat boosts—rarely circulated in the market.
And yet, despite offering such a rare tea—
"What's the big deal?"
Park Jin-uk shrugged nonchalantly.
The reason was simple.
"It's not even mine, so why not?"
"Sunbae, is that really something to say in front of its owner?"
"Look at this punk. So you're saying your hyung shouldn't drink it because it's too good for him?"
"That's not what I meant!"
Si-mun let out a quiet chuckle at the sight of his usually composed younger brother getting worked up.
"Tch. Sunbae, we'll talk later."
With that, Kim Si-hyeok shot Park Jin-uk a glare before sitting across from Si-mun.
"Hyung. What the hell happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"What do I—? The explosion, obviously! I was seriously shocked when I got your call!"
"I'm curious about that too. Mr. Si-mun, what exactly happened?"
Park Jin-uk also showed interest as he took a seat beside Si-hyeok.
In response, Si-mun took a sip of Elven Tea and wet his throat.
[Your Agility has increased by 1 due to the elixir's effect.]
Perhaps thanks to the high-grade elixirs he'd consumed earlier—
A faint smile crossed his lips at the slight Agility stat increase before he spoke.
"Well, you see—"
BANG!
"Hey! Kim Si-hyeok! Where's my big bro— Huh?"
That was what he'd intended to say.
At least, before a violent crash erupted from the once-luxurious entrance.
Like torn tape—
The high-level security spells were mercilessly ripped apart.
Kim Si-hyeok pressed a vein throbbing on his forehead as he closed the ruined door.
Clunk.
But perhaps the force used to open it had been too strong.
Even before the security spells, the crumpled door refused to shut properly.
"Ah— Lee Yu-jeong, you—!"
Annoyance was plastered all over Kim Si-hyeok's face.
"I said I'm sorry. And get a better door. What kind of junk breaks from a little push like that?"
"What do you mean? This is the exact same door as yours!"
"Was it? Hehe. Anyway, sorry."
"Hey! You don't look sorry at all!"
Lee Yu-jeong cheekily brushed it off while Kim Si-hyeok—who rarely showed any emotion beyond a smile—was visibly irritated.
Between these two siblings, Si-mun effortlessly stepped in and pointed to the sofa.
"How old are you two to still be acting like this? Cut it out and go sit down."
At the same time, he flicked his fingers toward the door.
Snap.
Creak... creak...
As if time had rewound, the door returned to its original form.
Si-mun smoothly closed the now-restored door and turned back.
"What are you doing? Not sitting?"
He jerked his chin at his two dazed siblings.
"Huh? Oh, yeah."
"Yes, Oppa."
As the two obediently moved to the sofa, Si-mun let out a small sigh and plopped down.
"Yu-jeong, I appreciate you worrying about me. But that doesn't mean you should go around breaking doors. Understand?"
"...Yes."
"And you're the one who's fixing the security spells you ruined."
Not that his sister, living in a place like this, would lack the money to reinstall security spells.
"This isn't about money. You know what I mean, right?"
Because this was about basic human decency.
Si-mun made sure to drive that point home.
"Yes, Oppa."
As Lee Yu-jeong nodded with a faint smile, Si-mun turned to Kim Si-hyeok.
"Si-hyeok, she didn't do it on purpose, so don't be too hard on her."
"Yeah, Hyung. I'm fine. She's always been like this—breaking everything. She's practically an ogre or something."
"Ha! Unbelievable. Hey, Kim Si-hyeok! It's because my Strength stat is high!"
"Yeah, sure. Next ogre."
"You—!"
Lee Yu-jeong's eyes flared at Si-hyeok's smugness.
Sigh."You two, do I sound like a joke to you?"
The sharpness in Si-mun's gaze made them freeze.
Ahem!"Lee Yu-jeong. You know my account number, right? Transfer the money."
"...Ah, fine."
Si-hyeok and Yu-jeong averted their eyes, hastily ending the argument.
Watching all of this unfold, Park Jin-uk shook his head in disbelief.
"Honestly, who'd have thought I'd live to see something like this...?"
It was hard to believe.
'Those two monsters, who don't even flinch at getting hit, actually cowering like this...?'
If he told this to any Diamond-rank or higher players, they'd probably laugh and ask if he'd gone insane from Arena Disease aftereffects.
Because, fundamentally—
The idea of those two monsters being wary of someone's reaction was utterly unrealistic.
'They don't even care about the Association President or the Seongsam Guild Leader's opinions...'
Park Jin-uk felt a renewed sense of awe and curiosity toward Si-mun.
As the penthouse's atmosphere finally settled, Lee Yu-jeong turned to Si-mun and cut to the chase.
"But Oppa, what exactly happened? You said it was terrorism?"
Kim Si-hyeok and Park Jin-uk also fixed their gazes on Si-mun.
"Well..."
Si-mun briefly explained the sudden bombing incident.
Then, after a brief hesitation—
"W-what?!"
"Desperado?"
"Mr. Si-mun, is that true?"
—he even revealed that the assassin was a promising recruit from Desperado.
There were two reasons for this.
First—
"Desperado, huh... I'll need to look into this."
"I'll handle it, Da-yeong unnie."
—he wanted to borrow the Night Hunter's global intelligence network and the Seongsam Guild's information network.
And second—
"......"
Si-mun pressed his lips together and looked at Kim Si-hyeok, whose eyes had darkened.
'Looks like he's already guessed something.'
Desperado—the world's worst villain organization.
A criminal syndicate composed entirely of Diamond-rank or higher powerhouses.
But strength alone wasn't enough to sustain such an organization in this unforgiving world.
And Si-mun, having experienced Earth in his past life, knew exactly what it took.
'They must have some formidable backing to survive like this.'
'The big players are the U.S. and China.'
For their own interests, they had commissioned unimaginable crimes through Desperado.
There was a reason those two remained the world's last superpowers.
And on a smaller scale—
'And then there's our illustrious Awakened Association President.'
Uncle.
Or perhaps, step-uncle.
He wasn't sure if he, the child of a concubine, had the right to call him that.
No—he didn't even want to.
But genealogically, the current Awakened Association President was his uncle—and Si-hyeok's as well.
Si-mun's gaze was calm yet strangely penetrating.
Perhaps sensing his certainty—
"Hyung, don't tell me...!"
"Si-hyeok, not yet. Nothing's confirmed."
Si-mun cut him off before he could say more.
"What did the Association say? There were many witnesses, and it's already been confirmed through investigations that this wasn't just an explosion accident."
"They did mention it. They said you'd have to come to the Association to give a statement."
Their father—a First Generation player and the inaugural Association President.
And their uncle, who succeeded him as the second president, with Si-hyeok poised to likely become the third.
Given that the Kim Clan practically controlled the Awakened Association.
Si-hyeok held considerable influence within the organization.
Yet even with his younger brother's power, covering up this incident would be difficult.
Of course it would.
This was a bombing that had taken place right in the heart of Seoul.
No matter how influential Si-hyeok was as the future Association President, this wasn't something he could sweep under the rug easily.
But before that—
'As expected, it seems Uncle has no intention of letting this slide.'
Uncle Kim Mu-yeol.
That damn bastard must be clinging to this like a leech.
Hadn't Si-hyeok said as much during his phone call earlier?
'I'll handle the Association side.'
"Hyung, you don't have to go. I'm a Ranker now. I can block them somehow."
Perhaps because Si-mun's silence had stretched too long.
Kim Si-hyeok waved his hand dismissively as he spoke.
"No. There's no need for that."
Si-mun shook his head firmly.
'They didn't just send some hired thugs—they sent Desperado. I can't just sit still.'
He had already been planning to investigate who was behind the assassination attempt.
Now that one of the prime suspects was personally summoning him, why would he run away?
"Contact the Association. Tell them I'm coming now."
The Awakened Association.
An institution established in each country as a kind of branch under the World Awakened Association, following the emergence of the Galaxy Arena and the Awakened in 2015.
In South Korea, it was located in Gangnam, not too far from the Ranker Palace.
"Welcome. We've been expecting you."
Guided by an employee, Si-mun stepped out of the underground parking lot and scanned his surroundings.
'No reporters.'
Despite this being the arrival of one of the hottest players in South Korea right now—Kim Si-hyeok—not a single journalist was in sight.
That meant this visit was being kept under wraps.
The reason was simple.
"Si-hyeok, thanks."
"Huh?"
"Because of you, the face of the Sillim terror attack's protagonist hasn't been revealed."
"That's only natural, Hyung. There's nothing good about having your face exposed over something like this."
Our dear younger brother—son of the first Association President, nephew of the current one, and a Ranker—had flexed his considerable influence.
Perhaps because he knew firsthand just how intense media and public scrutiny could be?
Even without being asked.
That brilliant little brother of his had taken care of it all on his own.
"The elevator is this wa—"
"That's enough. We'll take it from here."
"Understood, Si-hyeok-nim. Then I'll excuse myself."
Kim Si-hyeok dismissed the guide.
Once the two of them were alone in the elevator, the younger man finally spoke.
"But Hyung, are you really okay with this?"
"With what?"
When Si-mun answered indifferently, Kim Si-hyeok hesitated before replying.
"Well... You've always been uncomfortable around Uncle."
"Look at you, all grown up and filtering your words. Just say it straight—You were scared of that bastard, weren't you?!"
"H-Hyung!"
Si-hyeok flinched in surprise.
Seeing his reaction, Si-mun smiled faintly.
'It's true—back then, I was terrified of Uncle.'
His sharp demeanor aside.
It was because, during his childhood, his uncle had been especially cruel to him.
'I didn't understand it back then.'
Why the man who should have embraced him as family had treated him so harshly.
'But not anymore.'
This was his second life, after all.
The years and experiences had changed his perspective from childhood, and of course, he could now see right through his uncle's intentions.
And once you understood the reason behind fear, it ceased to be frightening.
Ding.
"Young Master, you've arrived."
As the elevator doors opened.
A man with an imposing aura bowed deeply to Si-hyeok.
Si-mun let out a quiet chuckle.
'Still the same.'
Even though the man had clearly seen him standing right there, he only paid respects to Si-hyeok.
Naturally.
This close aide of his uncle had treated him as if he were invisible since childhood.
But the Kim Si-mun who used to cower at such behavior no longer existed.
"Secretary General Choi Chang-wook, still as respectful as ever. Is the Association President inside?"
Si-mun greeted him with an easy smile, showing not a hint of intimidation.
"...Yes. He's waiting for you."
Choi Chang-wook—his golem-like eyes twitching—glanced at Si-mun suspiciously before opening the door.
'Hm?'
A thick, woody scent stabbed sharply into his nostrils.
It made perfect sense, considering his uncle's trait.
The only strange thing was—
Did he spray air freshener or something? It's oddly fishy...?
The scent of wood was mixed with a distinctly fishy odor that clashed horribly with it.
Just then, into Kim Si-mun's ears—
"You're here."
—a low, sharp voice cut through.