Chapter 164: Reliable Allies
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 164: Reliable Allies
— "Stop filming! You’re violating my rights!"
— "You want proof?!"
— Thwack! Bam! Thud! "P-please, stop hitting me…!"
— Whack! Thud! Crack! "Urgh!"
— "I don’t care if you’re a Player! How can you do this?!"
— "I have legal immunity. I can do whatever I want."
The video was edited to be roughly three minutes long.
It began with an agent in a black suit blocking the camera while arguing with a crowd, while the blurred figures of soldiers marched by in the background.
Then, a man covered in tattoos asked for evidence, only for another man to begin beating him like a dog.
The footage showed the man being assaulted long after he had started begging for mercy. It culminated in a brutal strike that shattered his Dantian while he was completely defenseless.
With blood streaming from his mouth and tears from his eyes, the man looked utterly pitiable.
When a bystander protested that he was going too far, the man’s retort—that he could do whatever he wanted because he had legal immunity—seemed beyond shameless. He looked like evil incarnate.
After the exquisitely edited video ended, a man appeared on the screen.
— "This is everything I saw that night. This is the truth, and these are the facts. As you all know, I am an Ability User and a former Player."
The man took a sip of water as if his throat were parched, wetting his dry lips.
— "Uploading this video is a significant… risk for me. I might even lose my life tomorrow. The blurred man in that video has that kind of power."
The man’s hands trembled slightly as he finished speaking.
Though the face was pixelated, only the eyes were subtly obscured, making it easy for anyone who knew the person to recognize him.
— "Because of the unjust law known as Defamation by Fact, I cannot reveal any personal details about that man. From now on, let’s refer to him as Student J."
The man looked visibly nervous, as if he were making a monumental whistleblowing revelation.
— "As you saw in the video, Student J thoroughly destroyed a fellow Player’s precious future. That Player’s specialty was martial arts. A martial artist with a shattered Dantian is effectively finished."
As he spoke, the man shook his head with a mournful expression, drawing the viewers into his feigned grief.
— "Furthermore, after ruining a man’s life, Student J entered those mudflats to farm items under the protection of government agents. Meanwhile, the poor man with the shattered Dantian was dragged away by agents to serve a sentence without a trial. A fifteen-year sentence, at that. This is the current reality of the Republic of Korea."
The man’s face filled with indignation.
— "Are you aware? These Ability Users, who now reveal themselves to the public as if they are nothing special, were once kidnapped and had their human rights trampled by the state just to keep them under control."
The viewers couldn't possibly be ignorant of this. That very issue had been the fuse that blew up the previous administration.
— "It wasn't even that long ago. Just a year—no, eight months ago—that was the world we lived in. Since then, the government has changed, and the state has deceived us into thinking they’ve accepted Ability Users as citizens, but this is the reality. No one knows when they might be chosen by Cloyd to become an Ability User. Anyone can become one through Stockpile."
— "And yet, in a world like this, such atrocities are happening."
The man’s voice grew heated and agitated, his fists clenched tight.
— "Everyone! Do you believe it is acceptable in an equal, democratic society to grant someone such absurd, extra-legal authority as legal immunity and place them above the law? I cannot understand this. From now on, I will be a fugitive. I will likely spend my life hiding from countless pursuers just to survive."
— "I might even have to leave South Korea. But I felt that someone had to reveal these facts. There is no profit in my whistleblowing, nor is there any distortion. As you can see, I haven't even placed ads on this video. That is all. The world may not change through the struggles of one man, but I hope my sacrifice becomes the spark for change—"
The video ended.
“Cut. Great acting.”
A man smiled at the words of a woman wearing heavy makeup and a skirt so short her garter belts were visible.
“With this, you’re promising me a life in Japan and support from Cloyd, right?”
“Of course. As you know, the Ability Users from our guild who were formerly with the Department of Homeland Security are now living comfortably in Japan with massive support from the Japanese government. The Players are thriving, and the Stockpilers are living in peace. There’s no need to struggle in Korea.”
The man looked satisfied as he slung a pre-packed bag over his shoulder.
“Then let’s go.”
The two of them left the room and headed straight for Incheon International Airport.
*
By the time Seo-un’s group returned to Wonju after delivering the protective items to his parents and leaving Songdo, the sun was already setting.
They jogged into the mountains and entered the house as usual, only to find Gi-chan sitting at the table with an annoyed expression.
“I sent a text saying there’s no training today. Is something wrong?”
At Li Lingwei’s question, Gi-chan nodded silently and held out his phone.
The three of them looked at each other for a moment before taking the phone, which was paused on a video. Gi-chan’s expression was so serious that it didn't feel like the right time to ask for details.
As they played the video, they witnessed a masterclass in fabrication.
By the time the video ended, Li Lingwei was trembling with rage, her grip tightening on the device.
“Noona, I just bought that.”
“Ah. Sorry.”
The phone, which had been making ominous creaking noises, was returned to Gi-chan’s hand just before it shattered.
“Why would they go to such lengths to distort the truth?”
Rather than the primal anger the others felt, Juriel focused on the underlying interests behind the video. Seo-un felt the same.
Everything in the world happens for a reason. Unless it was a random crime by a madman, there had to be a reason for someone to put this much effort into a scheme.
“The reason is obvious. Either he’s a friend of that guy whose Dantian was crushed, or he’s doing it out of jealousy toward Seo-un…”
Seo-un shook his head before Li Lingwei could finish.
“He doesn't look like someone with the guts to do this out of mere jealousy.”
That day, Seo-un had displayed enough violence to ensure no one present would dare have second thoughts. Despite witnessing the absolute gap in power and his utter lack of mercy, the man didn't seem like the type who would be brave enough to make an enemy of him just out of spite.
Juriel, who was accustomed to political battles between families and power struggles for succession, quickly grasped the core of the issue.
“He talks like a holy saint walking a thorny path for no gain, but there’s definitely a background force that instigated this. They likely made an offer attractive enough for him to risk the consequences in Korea.”
“You think a foreign country is behind this?”
Juriel nodded at Seo-un’s question.
“There aren't many people in Korea stupid enough to make an enemy out of you, Seo-un. I find it hard to believe that someone trying to manipulate public opinion like this would make such a foolish choice.”
Gi-chan added his thoughts.
“The editing is definitely suspicious. For something that maliciously pieces together a situation, it’s strangely natural. Unless you were there and knew exactly what happened, it’s hard to tell it’s been edited.”
“That guy wasn't the only one filming. He’s an idiot for telling a lie that will be exposed the moment someone else uploads the real video,” Li Lingwei remarked.
Juriel’s brow furrowed. “Gi-chan, when was this video uploaded?”
“Eight hours ago. It already has four million views. It’s being watched not just in Korea, but heavily overseas as well. In fact, the media in the UK and Russia have already started making a fuss about it. Articles are starting to pop up in Korea too…”
The crease in Juriel’s brow deepened, and her face took on a completely different aura than usual.
“That settles it. There must be state-level backing behind this. They’ve likely already confiscated all other videos from that day or finished similar manipulations.”
Seo-un shook his head and sat down on the sofa.
“Well, it’s annoying, but my face is blurred and my name isn't out there. Let’s just wait and see.”
His nonchalant attitude only fired up Gi-chan and Juriel more.
“This is no time for that! The comments on this video are serious!”
Seeing Seo-un’s lack of interest, Gi-chan shoved the malicious comments he had been hiding in front of him.
— Why did they even make the Special Act on Ability Users if this is how it’s used?
— So this is what the Republic of Korea has become.
— Crazy! They gave legal immunity to a psycho like that? Is this administration insane?
— Everyone, there’s a petition going on right now. It’s a petition to reveal this lunatic’s identity and send him to jail. Here’s the link…
— That crazy bastard, someone needs to [censored] him and then [censored] him.
As Seo-un read through the severe hate comments one by one, the back of his neck began to stiffen.
“We can’t just watch. If we don’t act fast, we’ll suffer the full brunt of being blindsided. We need to respond quickly and refute—”
Seo-un cut Juriel off with a shake of his head.
“It’s probably a plot by Russia or Japan anyway. But we can’t do anything right now without clear evidence. Besides, I have no intention of making my face even more famous. What kind of rebuttal can I even make? Even if I explain everything and calm things down, I’ll just end up with my face known everywhere, which is a loss for me.”
“Even so…”
Seo-un interrupted Gi-chan firmly.
“Just wait. They wouldn't have started this just for a simple media play. There’s definitely a follow-up attack they’re preparing after shaking me up like this. When that happens… I’ll just kill them all.”
In that instant, a surge of killing intent erupted from Seo-un, causing Gi-chan to reflexively step back. Having felt that same killing intent directed at powerful enemies in the game, Gi-chan felt goosebumps break out all over his body.
“Ah, sorry. My Qi control has been very sensitive lately. My Internal Power reacts to even small emotional changes. For now, if we just wait…”
Just as he said that, a loud knocking sounded at the front door. Gi-chan hurried to open it, finding Jeong Su-hwa standing there.
“Come in.”
Juriel and Li Lingwei acknowledged Jeong Su-hwa as she entered. After a brief greeting, Jeong Su-hwa looked at Seo-un.
“Are you aware of the situation?”
“If you mean the fabricated video, I’ve seen it.”
“Are you alright?”
Knowing Seo-un’s personality, Jeong Su-hwa seemed worried that he might have already done something drastic.
“Why wouldn't I be? Did you come because you have more information?”
“Ah, yes. We haven't identified the mastermind yet, but all the Players and Stockpilers who were at the scene that day have vanished. We don’t know if they were kidnapped or if they went into hiding voluntarily, but it seems the background force is quite formidable…”
“You think it’s a state-level entity?”
When Seo-un finished her sentence, she looked surprised for a moment before nodding.
“You knew. Do you have any idea which country might be behind this?”
“It’s either Japan or Russia. Probably Russia, right? Japan tucked its tail between its legs a long time ago. I heard the media is having a field day with this?”
Jeong Su-hwa nodded with a frown.
“We suspect the same and are mobilizing all our personnel to gather information. Right now, they’re just shaking up public opinion, but…”
“They’ll show their true colors soon?”
Interrupted again, she simply nodded.
“If we wait, they’ll move. I plan to wait too. Once I catch the tail, it won’t be hard to trace it back to the head. When that happens…”
As Seo-un trailed off, Jeong Su-hwa could guess what he was going to say without hearing it. When Russia had moved against him before, Seo-un had invaded without hesitation and caused an incident that nearly turned the country upside down. Even now, Russia held a grudge from that time and took every opportunity to criticize Korea.
“We do have the footage from the day of the incident. It was filmed from our side, so the angle is different, but it’s more than enough to prove the truth. The higher-ups want to release it immediately to stop the public outcry, but…”
“If you do that, they’ll tuck their tails and run. I’d prefer if you held off for now.”
“Yes… the leadership wanted to consult with you, Jin Seo-un, before releasing the video. Since you are the party involved.”
“The important thing is their next move. Leave it alone until I catch the tail. Let them do as they please. No, it might be better to act a bit flustered so they get bolder. It would be good if the government looked like it was struggling to explain, refuting poorly and acting panicked.”
“I understand what you mean.”
With that, she hurried out of Seo-un’s house. Less than ten minutes after she left, Karina opened the door and walked in.
“You’re here?”
Karina nodded at Seo-un’s greeting, her expression grave.
“There’s a big problem—”
But after a brief exchange with Seo-un, she realized she was late and slumped onto the sofa.
“The video was only uploaded recently… when did you find out?”
“About thirty minutes ago?”
At Seo-un’s answer, she looked at him and his group with a stunned expression. She hadn't expected them to have analyzed the situation and formulated a plan in just thirty minutes.
“What do you plan to do once you find out who’s behind this?”
A hint of anxiety flickered across Karina’s face as she asked.
“I have to clean it up. I’m not stupid enough to leave an opponent who’s bared their fangs alone. Before they can bite my neck, I’ll pull all their teeth and break their will to fight. Permanently.”
Thinking as expected, she nodded at his answer.
“The US has been in contact. It seems they’ve already identified you as the person in the video. They’ve sent word that they will stand by you whenever you face difficulties. They told me not to worry, as they will actively participate in the media war.”
A deep smile spread across Seo-un’s face at Karina’s news.
“That’s very reassuring to hear.”
“The US is a country well-versed in media manipulation. And they seemed quite displeased that their hero is being treated this way. Although nothing has been revealed about the person in the video yet, your name will likely be mentioned soon.”
“I suppose so. ‘Student J.’ Since they made it that obvious, my name will be all over the news before long.”
“Is there anything we can do to help?”
“Not yet. After I move… please take care of the aftermath.”
Karina sighed and nodded. Just hearing his words, she could already imagine how he would handle those involved and how massive the fallout would be.
As the conversation with Karina was winding down, another group arrived at the house in Wonju.
“It’s been a while.”
Seo-un stood up and reached out his hand as a man entered, greeted by Gi-chan.
“A familiar face. How have you been?”
Seo-un’s face brightened as he saw Bai Lun, who managed the Chinese Players. With a grim expression, Bai Lun shook Seo-un’s hand and nodded.
“It seems… you’ve heard the news.”
Seo-un nodded, glancing at Karina.
“Mostly. Did you come all this way to…”
As Seo-un trailed off, Bai Lun nodded.
“Yes. I’m here to give you some information.”
He pulled a manila envelope from his Subspace and handed it over. Seo-un and his group tilted their heads as they opened the envelope. Inside were photos of one woman and two men.
“Are these the ones behind this?”
Bai Lun shook his head.
“They might not be the masterminds, but they are involved. After the video went live, we confirmed that the person who filmed it entered France with these three. I suspect these three are the link to the mastermind. They were unknown until now, and we have no information other than the fact that they are of Asian descent, but…”
The group waited for him to continue.
“The individual who uploaded the video, Bae Jeong-do, has vanished in France, and it’s been revealed that these three smuggled themselves into Korea via Russia. Upon investigation, it seems they had set the video to be uploaded five days ago.”
The corners of Seo-un’s mouth twisted.
“Via Russia? So they’re back in Korea?”
“Yes. We are currently tracking the movements of Bae Jeong-do and these three, but other than their tracks in France and Russia, they’ve been impossible to catch.”
Juriel spoke up with a frown.
“If people capable of moving so stealthily left traces in France and Russia…”
Seo-un finished her thought.
“It’s a bit too blatant, isn't it?”
Bai Lun looked at Seo-un for a moment before speaking.
“I apologize that the information isn't definitive yet.”
“It’s enough. This gives me a rough outline. I’m always grateful.”
“I’m glad you feel that way. Please remember that we consider you our Xiongdi. No matter what public opinion says, the Chinese government will stand by your side.”
“Those are very kind words.”
Having said his piece, Bai Lun stood up. Seo-un saw him out, walking him all the way to the edge of the property.