Chapter 165: Clues Behind the Scenes
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 165: Clues Behind the Scenes
“You’ve been busy behind my back. Quite the interesting little project you’ve started.”
Despite the word ‘interesting,’ the middle-aged man’s expression was frozen like ice.
His face demanded to know how someone like Kim Chi-sang dared to act without authorization from his superiors. In response, Kim Chi-sang, who had been lounging with a glass in hand and surrounded by women, gave a dismissive wave to the room.
With that single gesture, the dozen or so women nearby stood up and filed out without a word of complaint.
The middle-aged man’s frown deepened as he took in the heavy scent of perfume and the women’s revealing outfits.
“You certainly have a knack for finding places like this in broad daylight.”
Not a single ray of sunlight penetrated the room. Instead, it was filled with the rhythmic thumping of bass and vibrant, provocative lighting. As soon as the women left, the middle-aged man gave a sharp nod, and the music abruptly cut off.
Click! Whoosh!
With a crisp flick of his lighter, Kim Chi-sang lit a cigarette. He spoke as a cloud of smoke escaped his lips.
“Don’t I have the authority to handle something of that scale on my own?”
“Nonsense! There is only one person on Japanese soil with that kind of authority!”
Kim Chi-sang’s lips curled into a smirk as the middle-aged man raised his voice.
“I don’t think I’ve outlived my usefulness quite yet, have I?”
Slam!
The middle-aged man struck the glass table with his fist, his voice rising in agitation.
“The fallout from touching him will cause far more damage than the loss of your guild’s utility! Because of that one man, a guild we invested astronomical sums into was shattered, and Subaru’s items were seized in their entirety. We’re only just beginning to recover—do you think we can handle that kind of loss again?!”
“Ah, so if we can just get rid of him, the profit would be that much greater, wouldn’t it? Why are you tucking your tail before we’ve even tried?”
“You’re asking because you don’t know? He ruthlessly slaughtered the Three Mad Dog Brothers, who were famous for never missing a target, and he even blocked a Meteor in America! How exactly do you plan to kill him, you damn bastard?!”
Kim Chi-sang picked up his glass, which had been wobbling precariously on the vibrating table, and drained the rest of the alcohol.
“Do you really think I’d step into a fight I couldn't win? I haven't lost my mind yet.”
The middle-aged man’s anger seemed to soften slightly at Kim Chi-sang’s confidence.
“No matter how high the success rate is, it’s never 100%. Considering the risks, it’s better not to move at all.”
“I’m telling you, the rewards for success are worth the gamble.”
The middle-aged man pulled a gold-plated cigarette case from his pocket.
“I’m saying this because those rewards are actually quite vague. Honestly, we could just live our lives without crossing paths with him. What is there to gain by going out of our way to eliminate him…?”
Kim Chi-sang let out a mocking laugh as the middle-aged man trailed off while lighting his cigarette.
“Heh heh heh. Do you take me for a fool? Or do you really not know?”
Instead of answering, the middle-aged man blew out a puff of smoke and stared intently into Kim Chi-sang’s eyes.
“Fine, fine. If you’re going to play innocent, I suppose it’s my duty as a subordinate to play along. Do you have any idea how much the price of items has risen lately?”
“Well, I heard they’ve gone up quite a bit since Cloyd was opened to the public and items started circulating.”
“‘Quite a bit’… That’s a term you use when prices double. When they jump five or six times in a short period like they are now, wouldn’t ‘skyrocketing’ be more appropriate?”
There was no way the middle-aged man was unaware of the information Kim Chi-sang was providing. He listened in silence, merely exhaling smoke.
“Material items that most Players wouldn't even look at are selling like wildfire among the general public. Ever since the regions and monsters of the otherworld were Linked in Africa and Korea recently, they’ve been selling even faster. People are paying whatever is asked.”
(The phenomenon of otherworld spaces and creatures appearing on Earth had begun to be referred to as ‘Linking.’)
It was true. Thanks to that, many Players were now bringing back items that previously hadn't been worth the effort or the Coin-to-efficiency ratio.
This phenomenon wasn't just about curiosity or luxury consumption. Ordinary people, feeling a practical threat to their lives, had begun actively purchasing items for self-defense.
Japan was the first country in the world to start selling items to the general public. The government itself had stepped in to facilitate the trade, and after the Linking occurred in Africa, they aggressively reflected this in their marketing.
By stimulating the public’s anxiety, even ordinary citizens who weren't financially well-off began purchasing items on installment plans, much like buying a car or a house.
As the prices of the items they bought began to soar, a market formed, and a massive bubble began to grow. The Japanese government had absolutely no intention of letting this bubble burst.
They were reinvesting the income gained from item trading back into Players to cultivate high-quality talent, who would then obtain even better items for export. They were executing a plan to solidify their brand image as the world’s premier source of items.
“And what does he have to do with that?”
“Are you going to keep this up until the end? His influence has already surpassed Asia. For all intents and purposes, he is the strongest Player on Earth. That influence will only grow stronger over time. Furthermore, no one in the know is unaware that he is friendly toward China and Korea!”
“And?”
Kim Chi-sang furrowed his brow at the middle-aged man, who continued to play dumb.
“What do you mean, ‘and’?! Currently, the only country with more Players than Japan is China. But it’s also true that their quality is lower than ours. Isn't it the same for the higher-ups? They want to remove Jin Seo-un and monopolize the market before those guys can catch up. Besides, I’m sure they’re dying to pay him back for the humiliation last time.”
The middle-aged man dropped his nearly finished cigarette into a glass that was still half-full of alcohol. He crossed his legs and leaned back.
“You’re wrong. We’ve already effectively given up on antagonizing him. Didn't you see the statement released in America last time? Even we, Japan, praised his righteous actions. Do you think we can do something so hypocritical as to turn a blade on him now?”
“Of course I think so. Is there anything you people won't do in the name of national interest? You’re better than anyone at being two-faced, denying the past, and whitewashing or distorting the truth. That’s why you shook hands with me in the first place.”
The middle-aged man’s brow furrowed again at Kim Chi-sang’s blunt words.
“So, what are the odds of eliminating him?”
Words that didn't match his expression tumbled from the middle-aged man’s mouth, as if he were about to explode in anger at any moment.
Kim Chi-sang emptied his glass and answered.
“I’d say about 70%.”
“Too low. You didn't leave any traces of this, did you?”
“Aside from planting clues pointing toward France and Russia, it’s perfect. Even if China or America intervenes, they won't find anything.”
“I see. In that case, I shall forget everything I heard from you today.”
With that, the middle-aged man stood up abruptly and left the room without looking back.
Watching the man’s retreating back, Kim Chi-sang lit a new cigarette and spat out his words.
“Cunning Japanese bastard. He wants me to take the fall if things go wrong.”
But if it succeeds, he’ll never let the credit be taken.
Kim Chi-sang swallowed the rest of his thoughts so no one could hear. He pressed a small bell on the table, and the scantily clad women filed back into the room as the music began to blare once more.
*
Several days passed without any new developments, and Seo-un remained in Wonju, focused solely on his training. By now, Juriel and Li Lingwei had also come to accept this lifestyle as natural.
BOOM!
The Ruyi Staff narrowly missed Seo-un’s head and struck the ground, causing the surroundings to tremble with a thunderous roar.
“Tch! If it weren't for your measly Immortal Demonic Energy…!”
Swish!
The Great Sage, Equal of Heaven, who had been speaking, quickly retreated, narrowly avoiding Seo-un’s Blood Bone Claw.
At that moment, Juriel’s ice magic flew toward Seo-un. As the magic softened the ground beneath him to shake his balance, Seo-un unleashed his Aura to slice through her spell.
Tap.
In that split second, Li Lingwei, who had approached from behind, lightly touched Seo-un’s back.
“Whew. A five-on-one is definitely a bit tough.”
It was still a struggle for Seo-un to fight while sealing his Immortal Demonic Energy against five opponents: the two Great Sages, Shin-yo and Shin-geum, plus Gi-chan, Juriel, and Li Lingwei.
“As long as you have enough Immortal Demonic Energy, I can take you on by myself as much as you want.”
“No. I’m trying to train for various situations and multi-man combat. I don't particularly have any desire to fight you one-on-one.”
When Seo-un said that, Shin-geum vanished with a deep scowl.
“Don't provoke him too much while you’re working him like this.”
Shin-yo said the same and disappeared as well.
His patience has grown significantly since we signed the contract. He doesn't even fall for most provocations anymore.
While he was thinking that, Gi-chan slumped to the ground, looking exhausted.
“Phew… Hyung, honestly, isn't it a bit much to only focus your attacks on me?”
“In a multi-man fight, it’s standard procedure to bite down on the weakest link first.”
“Eh?! Honestly, I’m not that much different from Juriel-nuna, am I? My mobility is actually better than hers.”
Juriel nodded in agreement with Gi-chan’s protest. Indeed, Gi-chan, who had learned a fair amount of martial arts, had a wider range of positions than Juriel, and his mobility during combat was quite overwhelming.
Despite that, Seo-un spoke without hesitation.
“Juriel’s ice-attribute magic is quite taxing. Plus, she mixes in status-effect magic appropriately, making her difficult to deal with. And since she stays hidden in the back, I’d be wide open for a concentrated attack if I tried to go after her. On the other hand, your magic range is narrower than Juriel’s, and you’re focused on fire and lightning magic, which makes you easier to handle. Don't just try to raise your Circles; focus on broadening your magical spectrum. You rely too much on your footwork and often end up out of position. Honestly, your Lightness Skill isn't good enough to be that cocky against me.”
Gi-chan hung his head at Seo-un’s scathing critique.
“You’re a total cheat character.”
In truth, Gi-chan’s lightning magic was at a high level. From his control to his casting speed, not to mention his impressive spectrum within the lightning attribute, he was formidable.
However, ever since Seo-un had received half of Shin-geum’s Diamond Bone, Gi-chan’s lightning magic had effectively ceased to be a major threat to him.
Previously, he had to worry about lightning magic more than others because it could slow his body or temporarily rob him of his freedom of movement. But after receiving the Diamond Bone, no matter how much he was electrocuted, he only felt pain; the stun effect was non-existent.
As a result, Gi-chan, who darted in and out while spamming magic, was nothing more than prey for Seo-un.
Seo-un smiled at Gi-chan’s words, but inwardly, he couldn't help but agree.
The Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils and the Diamond Bone had certainly elevated him to a completely different dimension.
Without any actual advancement in his martial arts or magic, simply receiving parts of the Great Sage’s body had made him this strong—it was borderline cheating by anyone’s standards. If he were truly a game character, his abilities would have caused an uproar among all the players.
After catching their breath, the group had a light lunch on the spot. Everyone except Seo-un was glued to their phones. Seo-un was busy quickly sating his hunger and refilling his Immortal Demonic Energy.
Juriel and Li Lingwei were absorbed in social media, while Gi-chan was checking various communities for new articles and stories related to recent incidents.
As Seo-un opened his eyes and regulated his breathing, Gi-chan hurried over to him.
“It’s finally started.”
At his words, Seo-un’s lips curled into a smirk as he stood up. He took the phone Gi-chan handed him and saw his name plastered in the headline of an article.
—Is the Extra-Legal Player ‘Student J’ Who Colluded with the Government Actually Jin Seo-un?!—
Seo-un clicked the article, checked the reporter’s name and the company, and spoke.
“Let’s go.”
Not long after they left Wonju by car, Gi-chan shook his head in disbelief.
“Wow, there are already over a hundred related articles popping up. They’re all just copy-pasting the same content… Oh? Hyung, your name is trending in real-time too.”
“Don't worry about it. We just need to catch the guy who wrote the first article. That reporter.”
“Reporter, my foot… Calling that trash journalist a reporter is an insult to the profession.”
“You said it was a fairly large media outlet, right?”
“Yeah. I looked into it, and it’s an affiliate of XX News. They own several internet media outlets, and they even have an advertising company under their wing—they’re doing it all. Honestly, they’re less of a news organization and more of a typical trash-tier company that makes money by spreading rumors and attaching ads.”
“What about their relationship with Japan?”
Gi-chan’s hands moved faster as he tapped away at his laptop in the back seat.
“I don't see any special relationship with Japan or Russia. There are plenty of shady spots in their cash flow, but no obvious traces of foreign capital coming in.”
Seo-un closed his eyes for a moment at Gi-chan’s report. Seeing Seo-un’s expression in the rearview mirror, Juriel spoke.
“We don't need concrete evidence. All we need is enough circumstantial evidence or testimony to solidify our suspicions.”
She was right. He had no intention of conducting an investigation or arresting anyone, nor did he plan to act as a substitute for law enforcement. If he could find a clue to confirm his suspicions, he would simply hunt down those involved and deal with the mastermind.
Just as he had dealt with the Three Mad Dog Brothers from Russia.
*
“I assume you’ve made your peace with this?”
At Kim Chi-sang’s words, three men dressed in shabby clothes nodded.
“In exchange, the promise…”
As one man began to speak, Kim Chi-sang nodded before he could even finish.
“I’ll keep my promise, so don't worry. The moment you three die, regardless of the success of the mission, 2 million US dollars will be delivered to your families.”
With that, Kim Chi-sang pulled three black daggers from his Subspace and handed one to each man.
They were a murky, dark color and their shapes varied slightly, but the options on the three daggers were nearly identical.
[Cursed Dagger of Exchange]
• Uses the wielder’s life as a medium to inflict a debuff on the target. However, the greater the difference in ability between the target and the wielder, the more painful the wielder’s end will be.
• Cannot be used by non-Players. The effect is void unless used voluntarily.
• Debuff: Reduces all of the target’s stats by 30% for 30 minutes.
[Cursed Dagger of Exchange]
• Debuff: Subjects the target to 10x gravity for 30 minutes.
[Cursed Dagger of Exchange]
• Debuff: Reduces the target’s defense by half for 30 minutes. This value applies even if items are equipped.
Inside Cloyd, these were quite useful and relatively rare items. They were highly efficient for instantly applying a strong debuff to a powerful enemy who couldn't otherwise be harmed. Especially in Raid games, they were incredibly useful to have.
However, it was extremely rare for a Player to bring a Cursed Dagger of Exchange—which cost 30 Coins—into reality. In fact, it was practically unheard of.
In Cloyd, sacrificing one’s life was considered natural if it led to the team’s victory, but in reality, no Player was willing to use these daggers at the cost of their life.
Yet, Kim Chi-sang had brought three of these Cursed Daggers of Exchange into reality.
Having invested a whopping 90 Coins into single-use items, he began to laugh hysterically, his shoulders shaking with delight.
Embedded in his arm was a yellow stone that hadn't been there before.
As he laughed, he pulled Metis's Seal Stone from his Subspace and stared at it intently.
The expressions of the three men watching Kim Chi-sang’s mad behavior didn't change much. To those who had abandoned all lingering attachments to life, it didn't matter whether the man before them was insane or sane.
As long as their remaining families received sufficient compensation, that was enough for them.