This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 448

It was troublesome in many ways, but now it felt like the silence had settled down as if to firmly hold onto the initiative I had worked so hard to acquire, only to suddenly fall into silence.

Thanks to that, the silence that had descended was heavier and chillier than anything else.

This was more than enough to serve as a substitute for an answer.

‘So that’s how it is…’

I only poked around just in case, but who would have thought that it was actually the connection?

‘Well…’

Thinking about it, is it really that obvious?

The question of ‘When did the era of talent begin?’ is just as much a major issue in academia as ‘Why does this talent manifest only in women’s bodies?’

And those who boldly threw themselves into that debate claimed that even before the first generation of Awakened appeared, there were a few zero-generation Awakened individuals as a sort of transitional theory.

Moreover, what those caught up in such claims put forward as evidence to back their opinions were precisely the peculiar phenomena observed before the era of talent began, as well as bizarre crimes that occurred around the world.

What need is there to say more?

The recently mentioned Sunuri Church incident was originally on that list, after all.

“After the Association announced that no mental-related talents had manifested and that there was no possibility of manifestation, that argument fell silent.”

But what if their claim had actually been right?

What if the abilities of the cult leader were not so extraordinary after all, but merely borrowed from his niece’s talent?

And what if this woman was the only one who noticed the fact that no one else did?

Regrettably, the possibilities were quite sufficient.

After all, the organization known as the Association didn’t even exist at the time of the Sunuri Church incident.

Not just the Association.

The very concept of talent itself had not existed.

“Indeed… So that’s why you said it was good luck,” I said.

—That’s unexpected. Did you really have an interest in such old matters?

“Well, I would’ve preferred to bury the past as the past, but someone keeps making it impossible.”

Who would’ve thought it had been that long?

And yet, the fact that it had never once been revealed until now meant… that card had been carefully saved.

—So? Are you thinking of using that to blackmail me now?

“No, that can’t be it.”

The fact I answered their question like that was really because of this.

Honestly, I did think about that method, but no matter how I looked at it, it felt like a handshake deal.

Not to mention it was already decades old.

As such, documents and evidence related to it must have been scattered here and there, and surely, some would have disappeared or been ‘lost’ in the process. How would that make for a proper fight?

If I’d had just one piece of evidence that would put the other party in a tight spot, it might have been a different story, but without that, charging ahead would only give them a chance to counterattack.

And the moment that counterattack happened… they would present terms much worse than now.

So, here—

“What I mean is… it just is.”

It was best to be satisfied with this level of agreement.

“Oh, and as for my response to the proposal you just presented…”

I should have been content with a hand that could elicit a reasonable concession from the other party, that much was clear.

“I’m truly sorry to say this, but it seems impossible to lend the name of the Association. As you might already know, the circumstances of the Association aren’t as good as they used to be.”

—Hmm…

“However, I believe I can grant permission.”

—So lending a name is impossible, but you can give permission?

“Yes.”

To be honest, I was somewhat reluctant to grant permission.

After all, if the Association had worked so hard to prepare for this and still couldn’t guarantee success, there wouldn’t be any boost in success rates by handing it over to them.

‘It would be a blessing if it just doesn’t fail…’

The Heogye was an unknown territory for humanity itself.

Therefore, in the worst-case scenario, it could lead us to poke a hornet’s nest, and not just any hornets, but one swarming with wasps.

Nevertheless, I still said I would give permission to the person on the line… because it had to be done by someone.

If we weren’t to eliminate all the ‘monsters’ scattered and isolated here and there, it had to be done.

‘Though it has been tentatively concluded that it’s currently impossible…’

If new samples were added beyond what has been studied so far… the conclusion might just change.

The potential was substantial since what had been researched until now were only those who had experienced the monsterization phenomenon.

It was as if we were speculating on why the results came out that way.

But if we could add the ’cause’ into the mix… it might even make deciphering the process, which was currently left blank, possible.

In that sense, we had to eventually send personnel there.

For now, due to a lack of resources to focus on it, it had simply been at a standstill.

But what if those being sent over there served as an advanced party?

By fulfilling the role of the ‘advanced party,’ we could reduce the sacrifices that would inevitably occur and challenge the Heogye with more information at hand.

—Ha, who would have thought I’d hear this from someone like the Association Chairman…

“It’s just a workaround; it’s not illegal, is it?”

—Well… that’s true.

“Then is the strike over here?”

—Well, I don’t really know why you’re asking me that… but those currently on strike are likely aware of the seriousness of the situation, so maybe.

After having thrown such a mess and now saying “maybe.”

It was truly remarkable how the old man had hidden a mental-type Awakened for decades, and on top of that, he feared for his family above all.

Even if the color had faded significantly by now, I couldn’t shake the thought that he might have once been like that.

I couldn’t help but smirk.

Is this what the young ones call discrimination against one’s own kind?

In any case… if that guy was willing to talk this much?

I shouldn’t have to worry about the strike issue anymore.

It will probably just drag on for a day or two before naturally fizzling out.

“Is that so? Hearing your opinion puts my mind at ease now. I suppose I’m inexperienced in these kinds of matters…”

—You don’t need to feel so embarrassed. How can a person be perfect from the start? Maybe you’ll become accustomed to it after experiencing it a few more times.

“…I see.”

In any case, he was a person I couldn’t let my guard down around until the very end.

Even in a statement suggesting that I thought we’d had enough talk, somehow sprinkling in a natural threat felt like a masterclass.

It was such a high-level skill that I didn’t even feel like learning it.

And just like that, I wrapped up the call and returned to the meeting room.

Maybe it was because the call lasted longer than expected, contrary to my guess that it might end soon.

The meeting room was already filled with those who had returned from a short break.

Among them was Chae-rim, the Vice Association Chairman.

I had to wonder what they were busy doing since they had just arrived now.

As I naturally turned my gaze away from their disgruntled stares packed with discontent, I declared to those gathered in the meeting room.

“First, let’s conclude this strategy meeting here.”

“Excuse me? But…”

“And from now on… we will prepare bids to select companies or organizations that will assist in exploring the Heogye.”

The moment I announced this, the reactions of those in the meeting room divided into two groups.

Including Chae-rim, the Vice Association Chairman, there were those whose expressions seemed to scream, ‘What on earth is going on…?’ and—

“…Hmm.”

Some appeared relatively less surprised or awkwardly showed surprise as if they had heard something from elsewhere.

Truly… they were quite diligent for their age.

“The meeting will resume in an hour.”

“…”

“What is everyone doing? Didn’t you hear me? This is not the time to be idly sitting around!”