[The eruption from the Rift has concluded.]
[Strengthen your base through the calamities you have subdued.]
[Time remaining until the next eruption: 13d 23h]
The fourth eruption had ended.
Even in jest, one couldn’t say there had been no damage. Although no 4-Star Calamity had appeared, the scale of the event was greater than the third eruption, and most importantly, the Awakened Ones were not fully prepared.
There were also a number of civilian casualties.
Naturally, the blame would be directed toward the Awakened One Management Bureau.
However, our cunning director of the Management Bureau, Yoo Jun-seo, had already prepared a way to evade responsibility.
[S-Rank Awakened One Dragon King Nam Joo-yeon’s Performance at the 4th Seoul Eruption]
A vertically oriented video, the kind usually seen in idol clips, was uploaded to the official Management Bureau channel—which had just been created.
Reactions, naturally, were explosive.
Upon seeing the video hit ten million views in a matter of moments, I sighed.
“…”
Was this press-play that Seo Ye-rin had mentioned aimed at this scenario?
“Hahaha. There’s no better idol than Mr. Nam Joo-yeon. He looks so cool in this video!”
Kang Se-na burst out laughing as she watched the video. Now I understood why the Management Bureau specified the exact uniforms.
I sighed again. If I hadn’t spoken up, Kang Se-na would’ve undoubtedly read the comments out loud.
So, I quickly cut to the chase.
“There’s something I’d like to ask for your help with.”
“Of course. Ye-rin told me you want information on the situation in China, right?”
Strongly suppressing my urge to tease her, Kang Se-na spun her chair around and placed her hands on the keyboard. She appeared to be reviewing recent reports.
Then, she spoke with an air of indifference.
“Still, why are you suddenly interested in China’s situation?”
Here, I had a pretty good excuse ready.
“Actor.”
“Actor?”
“I just heard that Actor, the lord of the Abyss, is scheming in China.”
I wasn’t lying.
Indeed, Actor, the lord of the Abyss, is currently looking for opportunities to extend his influence into China.
“How did you know that?”
“Of course, I tracked it. Through all the calamities I have control over.”
Handy excuse as it may be, it generally works in most situations.
Moreover, since Seo Ye-rin’s rescue, Kang Se-na has become a reliable ally who blindly trusts my words.
Without asking further, she stroked her chin and began to explain.
“As it turns out, there’s barely any exchange between Chinese police forces and the Korean Awakened One Management Bureau. In the state the world is in, it’s not the kind of peaceful situation where we can casually discuss things anymore, right?”
“That’s true.”
Most countries seem to be implementing a 21st-century policy of isolation. Even in some rural areas of our country, the internet is practically non-existent.
Despite this, information exchange in remote areas is still possible thanks to Muskelon. However, China’s Golden Shield censorship system prevents any meaningful information from leaking out.
“The Management Bureau’s only way to find out about China’s situation is to contact its own citizens residing there or infer the situation from media reports. But with China, you can’t always trust the press, can you?”
“Right. They’re the ones who could report millions of casualties as hundreds.”
“Exactly. So, the best way to understand the current situation in China is to ask the individuals directly.”
“Individuals?”
Upon my question, Kang Se-na smirked and continued.
“Mr. Nam Joo-yeon, remember what I mentioned earlier? That the scouts from different nations looking to recruit S-Rank Awakened Ones are already here in the country?”
“…Surely not.”
“Yep. That’s right. The Chinese scout will respond immediately if invited.”
Kang Se-na’s face took on a mischievous expression.
“Let’s go ahead and try, shall we?”
Kang Se-na pushed her chair aside and sat in front of her computer.
“What’s your plan?”
“Bait needs to be placed. Something that the Chinese scout will bite into.”
“Bait?”
“Well, I’ve roughly identified the accounts of scouts from other countries. And on the side, I gather information on domestic Awakened Ones, which drives the scouts mad, though it’s quite profitable.”
“…Isn’t that leaking internal confidential information?”
“Oh, when did you become such a patriot?”
Kang Se-na laughed it off.
Regardless, she was more resourceful than I had thought.
She anonymously logged into a mysterious internet page and spread rumors that S-Rank Awakened One Nam Joo-yeon is currently dissatisfied with the treatment from the South Korean government and seeking to defect.
If they wanted more detailed information, they’d have to pay.
After quietly observing the entire process, I cautiously spoke.
“But wouldn’t this cause trouble if the government or the Management Bureau found out? Especially Yoo Jun-seo—this might just give him a heart attack.”
“That’s not your concern, nor mine.”
“Kang Se-na, isn’t your respect for authority a little lacking?”
“You should try working under him. Doesn’t he just ooze with the intent to exploit Mr. Nam Joo-yeon along with the South Korean government? Doesn’t that make you feel wronged?”
“Hmm, well, it is somewhat unfair, but the situation is what it is.”
“Mr. Nam Joo-yeon is simply too… good-hearted or naïve, I guess.”
Kang Se-na sighed deeply.
“Let me offer some advice: Mr. Nam Joo-yeon should realize that he’s far more valuable than he thinks. You’ve fended off two 4-Star Calamities, after all. You’re not the kind of talent a mere country like this can tie down. You need to toughen up. In some parts of the world, Awakened Ones have become the ruling class.”
“…”
Although she said that,
Until recently, I was just scraping by with part-time jobs. Can I really carry out such bold actions?
“Anyway, you’ll come to know through this experience.”
There was a clear undertone of hope in Kang Se-na’s voice that Yoo Jun-seo would suffer greatly.
How much time had passed?
“Ah, there’s a reply. They must have been watching closely.”
The bait was easily taken by the Chinese scout.
A message came promptly from a certain account.
[Laoying: Is it possible for us to meet and talk right now?]
“Laoying?”
“The Old Eagle. What do you think? Would you like to come along?”
“No. I’ll be fine going alone.”
“Security detail…?”
“You know I don’t like that kind of thing.”
Kang Se-na smiled faintly and nodded. After a few exchanges with Laoying, she handed me a sticky note with the detailed time and place.
“Thank you.”
“There’s no need to thank me. It’s Mr. Nam Joo-yeon whom I’m perpetually grateful to.”
*
I emerged into a quiet alley, wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap pulled down low.
Since the state of the world has deteriorated so much, establishments like restaurants are almost nonexistent. The meeting place with the Chinese scout was an isolated park.
Sure enough, the person I was supposed to meet was already there.
“…Are you Anonymous-024?”
“Laoying? Do you speak Korean?”
“To some extent.”
A plain-looking man wearing a black beanie approached and extended his hand.
Judging by his broken Korean, he must be of Korean descent.
Anyway, as long as we can communicate, it doesn’t matter.
I shrugged, sat down on a nearby bench, and slightly lowered my sunglasses.
“…I’m Nam Joo-yeon.”
Because of Seo Ye-rin’s video, my face was already familiar to him.
Startled, the man, Laoying, gasped but quickly covered his mouth to avoid drawing attention. He probably hadn’t expected the S-Rank Awakened One himself to show up.
“Alright, Old Eagle. Let’s not make a fuss. Creating a difficult situation for either side will make the conversation harder.”
“Y-yes, yes.”
He was now speaking to me respectfully with polite language.
“Anyway, before we discuss the contract, I’d like to hear about the situation in China first.”
“The situation in… China?”
“For me to make a smooth contract, I should understand how dangerous your current situation is, right?”
“We should review the contract document first…”
“No, that’s irrelevant. I’ll set the agenda.”
“…”
The scout looked perplexed.
Had he not expected such an assertive stance from me?
But as Kang Se-na had said, in most cases, I am the one in control.
[5-star The Blackened Saint Selene casts «Shrouded Veil».]
Moreover, if this Laoying attempts to harm me, there’s Selene lurking nearby in stealth mode. Mirien is surely watching me carefully from her perch too.
There’s no risk involved.
Perhaps because of that, my tone of voice naturally slipped into casual language. Overwhelmed by this, the scout hesitatingly began explaining.
“Well, putting it frankly… things aren’t going well. There’s a severe shortage of Awakened Ones, and recently, various incidents have occurred…”
“Right. I heard there were three 4-Star Calamities last time. Two cities were completely destroyed, and millions died, right?”
“Even that… was heavily fabricated by the media. The actual death toll was four times as high…”
That would mean the population of South Korea was wiped out by half.
The scale was far bigger than expected, and I couldn’t help but sigh.
“What? Didn’t you guys have S-Rank Awakened Ones? With them around, how could that much damage occur unless they’re responsible for different areas or maybe because of the vast land?”
“…, uh, um…”
The scout’s face paled.
His cautious expression was definitely suspicious.
He was definitely hiding something. Seizing him by the lapel, I spoke.
“If you don’t say something honest now, I’ll hand you over to the Management Bureau.”
“W-what?! That wasn’t part of the arrangement!”
“I just told you. The process is up to me. And handing you over to the Management Bureau would also be part of the process. It’s called a sting operation, you know?”
“…”
Laoying’s eyes darted around. He seemed to be considering the consequences of resisting me and fleeing.
However, I had already manipulated the status window to summon a 3-Star Calamity, a faded specter named Lucien.
Upon seeing the calamity, he immediately gave up.
“…It’s about that Awakened One.”
“What do you mean?”
“Code name Longyan. The only holder of a 4-Star ability in China. The nation had poured in immense support for him but…”
The scout trailed off.
Frowning, I gestured to Lucien, who drew a translucent blade from within his body.
“Alright, start talking! I’m listening!”
“Alright, alright!”
The scout squeezed his eyes shut and blurted out.
“Recently! Longyan betrayed!”
“Betrayed?”
“Yes! Suddenly, he killed all the police guards… and turned the city into a wasteland with strange crows!”
“Reason? Do you know why?”
“I don’t have all the details. But according to the police… he didn’t seem human. It’s like he was someone’s puppet…”
Upon hearing this, only one name came to mind.
A calamity specialized in stealth, tracking, interrogation, and brainwashing.
The Mother of Omens, Karne.
“…”
I frowned deeply.
The situation seems to be more serious than expected.
