<<All characters, products, and organizations appearing in this novel are fictitious and not related to any real entities.>>
The national legislative building was under attack, and surrounding military and police forces mobilized all available troops in response.
The Association also took the situation seriously and dispatched A-rank and B-rank heroes.
“I’ll take care of it. Let me handle this. I’ve heard the intruders are unfit Awakened Ones, so there shouldn’t be anyone among them stronger than B-rank.”
This was the declaration from the A-rank hero, ‘Metal Man,’ who was addressing the assembled military and police commanders.
He pounded his chest, confidently declaring victory.
“I’m sorry, but we can’t tolerate even a single hostage casualty. These are all members of the National Assembly.”
The police liaison, with an expression of inconvenience, restrained Metal Man’s aggressive suggestion, although personally, for him the lives of the legislators were of little concern. However, the resulting responsibility for any mishap would be a major headache.
“That’s true, but their demands are unreasonable, so one way or another, sacrifices will likely happen.”
Metal Man, relatively free from such responsibilities, was baffled by their cautious stance.
“Emergency! The criminals have started an internet broadcast and they’re holding what seems to be… a people’s trial!”
Upon the sudden report from a policewoman, the assembled commanders ordered a broadcast system to be quickly established to monitor the live stream.
“Up next is Councilor Song Byunghan! Let’s take a look at the bills he has proposed so far, shall we?”
On a hastily set up large display screen appeared the image of Kang You-jin, sword in hand, who was in the middle of preparing the relevant materials to sentence a particular legislator.
Next to him knelt a legislator, his arms bound behind him.
“Huh? Meta-universe… What’s that supposed to be? What is that even?”
Kang You-jin, casually resting the sword on his shoulder, asked genuinely puzzled.
“Hey, explain it to me! What’s this ‘Meta-universe’?”
He rapped Councilor Song Byunghan on the head, demanding an answer.
The legislator trembled uncontrollably, staring death in the face.
“It… It’s something concerning MZ generation… people who are engrossed with computers, things like that…”
Councilor Song Byunghan answered, shaken with fear.
“What’s the MZ generation?”
Kang You-jin relentlessly pursued the matter.
“Oh… It’s the young generation these days…”
“Starting from how old and ending at how old?”
“Well, that’s…”
“Why do you use terms you don’t understand? Do you know what a meta-universe is? Have you even tried it?”
“No…”
“So why propose a bill without even looking into it? Take another strike for that.”
Kang You-jin hit his face, and the awakened one’s merciless strike crushed Song Byunghan’s nose, causing blood to flow out.
“Ladies and gentlemen, you’ve heard the story. Here is this gentleman, who earns a salary and allowance summing up to 150 million won a year. Moreover, he commands nine aides with public funding.”
The cameraman, manipulating a laptop, made the broadcast through ‘Black Streaming,’ modeled after the example of ‘Darkness Jumper.’
And they made it clear to the company that if the broadcast was stopped, they would kill all the hostages.
He then created a voting window on the broadcast.
“Should Councilor Song Byunghan live or die? You get to vote. We’ll do exactly as you ask.”
The audience, at the start, hesitated. It wasn’t easy for anyone of normal character to vote to kill someone they had just seen for the first time.
“Our country consists of 82% small and medium enterprises. Even as section heads, they make salaries between 40 and 50 million won annually. And then there are the unemployed—it’s unreasonable even to consider a comparison.”
The cameraman began persuading the audience in a calm voice.
“Poor people are now surviving on cheap triangular rice cakes while legislators set aside concerns for the general public to live extravagantly in luxurious places. Can a person who doesn’t care about daily needs be blameless? What’s this Meta-universe… virtual reality?”
He employed language designed to provoke the viewers’ sense of injustice, pushing them to vote in favor of execution.
<Hang him, bstard.>
<Nine advisors? That’s enough to start a small company! And they’re all on the public dime...>
As aggressive comments began to appear, public sentiment grew increasingly hostile, causing a surge in voting.
The viewers felt that the benefits they received were grossly unfair. Of course, no one was unaware of the situation; they’d merely accepted it because there seemed to be no change possible.
But now, here was an opportunity to hold these people accountable.
Favor | Against
<----------------------------->
51% | 49%
The approval percentage grew slowly until it approached 51%.
Kang You-jin’s lips curled into a smirk. His eyes gleamed with a shadow.
“Stop. Please reconsider, citizens! As a representative of my district, I worked more responsibly than anyone. The path to become a legislator is open to everyone. I merely seized the chance given to me. You all could have done the same and enjoyed the same level of benefits if you had run for office!”
Although subtly phrased, it was essentially him telling the audience that if they wanted to experience the legislator’s lifestyle, they should run themselves, implying that no one had blocked the path.
Naturally, this incited outrage among the viewers.
<Hey bastard, when does anyone have the chance to even eat properly? After a long day’s work, who even has the time to run for office?>
<That's absolutely bllsht.>
<Oh please, like it's truly open to everyone? You need a solid foundation of wealth and connections to even bother thinking about it.>
<Look folks, most people cannot afford career gaps. Running for office is only for those who can afford to live a life of leisure forever. Or people in freelance fields like lawyers.>
The approval percentage skyrocketed. Clearly, Song Byunghan, who held a position requiring the ability to resonate with the public, lacked even that much-needed empathy.
The voting time eventually ended.
Favor | Against
<----------------------------->
81% | 19%
The anonymity and collective decision-making lessened the viewers’ feelings of guilt almost completely.
“Please… spare my life.”
That was his final plea.
The legislator’s head rolled across the meeting room floor. His grotesquely twisted face.
Kang You-jin placed the legislator’s head next to where the same legislator had been railing about treason moments ago. He planned to create a tower of heads to pile them all.
At this ghastly sight, the surviving legislators cried out for salvation.
“Our next most anticipated guest is Councilor Oh Bangsoo, who has made us into who we are.”
The criminals brought out an old man. His body trembled fiercely.
“What do you know about Awakened Ones? What makes you think it’s okay to pass such garbage laws? Do you know the difference between Necromancy and Spirit Conjuration?”
Kang You-jin positioned him in front of the camera. Councilor Oh Bangsoo wet himself humiliatingly, pleading for mercy.
Observing this, the military-police forces and heroes on the outside felt their stomachs churn. It was becoming clear that these criminals planned to proceed with executions one by one.
“We can’t wait. We need to attempt an assault.”
‘Metal Man’ spoke with barely contained anger. This time, the military and police didn’t stop him with all sincerity, as they had earlier.
‘If things come to this, any sudden actions by the hero might not be so bad…’
They thought this while not letting it show to the hero side. They intended to allow Metal Man to act unilaterally so they could avoid any future responsibility issues.
‘If problems arise later, we can always say, “We had better plans and tried to stop Metalman, but he went ahead anyway.”‘
“Our position remains the same. If anything happens to the legislators through unnecessary provocation of the hostage takers, the situation will worsen.”
The commanders continued to formally oppose the plan.
“Tsk—Fine. I’ll go in on my own then. All responsibility will be mine.”
The impatient Metal Man stormed out of the control room after blurting those words, leaving behind no one who could stop him since ‘Office Lady’ was absent.
He instantly regretted what he had done but still felt it was the right decision.
Ding-ding.
His pocket buzzed with an incoming message. It was from his manager.
He took a call while running towards the legislative building.
“Hello, it’s Metal Man.”
<Metal Man sir! Absolutely don't go inside! You could lose everything here! This could end your career!>
He shook his head and ended the call, muttering,
“Does that make sense for a hero?”
With that, he led a few B-rank heroes to invade the legislative building.
Meanwhile, beyond the lines set to control civilians, two mysterious individuals in hats observing the situation disappeared as they saw Metal Man rushing into the legislative building.
