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========== Chapter 109 ==========
James Reed’s expression turned urgent.
“Come on, just hear me out!”
He was desperate enough—and I had gotten a recipe out of him—so I decided to listen.
“Go ahead.”
“So, here’s the thing……”
The reason James Reed had crossed the sea to faraway Korea was the anomaly that had recently occurred in the United States.
At first, there was an intense Force reaction. Thinking it might be a new Plus-tier monster, California issued an emergency standby order and Awakened gathered from all over. But before long, hundreds of thousands of monsters began converging on the location.
The United States was thrown into a state of emergency.
A wave of over hundreds of thousands of monsters was a colossal disaster the likes of which had never once occurred.
If these monsters were to surge all at once?
The casualties were expected to be catastrophic.
Some argued for a preemptive nuclear strike, but since that could instead provoke the monsters, the opposition held the majority.
“…….”
At least they still have some sense.
If they’d launched a nuke, the worst-case scenario would have arrived even faster. It would have been no different from clearing out the small fry that were holding back the situation from progressing.
It seemed my guess about what the Jolla Man was describing was correct.
Well, that was that.
I sat askew and spoke.
“So why are you asking me about it?”
“Because you’re crazy smart, Junho! Isn’t there some way?”
“I said, why are you asking me.”
“Come on, you know.”
Since when were we close enough for him to act so smug? This Jolla Man.
Let’s hear him out first, at least.
“We’ve decided to call it the Monster Graveyard.”
James Reed’s guess was accurate.
The Monster Graveyard—the anomaly in the United States—was caused by monster corpses.
I recalled the experience from my past life.
Monsters appeared, Awakened appeared, and each side’s level began to rise.
As Harmful-class Level 8 monsters appeared, Level 8 transcendents emerged, and Plus-tier beings surpassing Harmful-class Level 8 revealed themselves.
The number of monsters that had seized over half of humanity’s territory was terrifying. Even if they wanted to reclaim lost lands, no one knew how many monsters lurked within, so every nation was exercising extreme caution.
Monsters multiplied quickly, while producing high-caliber Awakened took a long time.
As a result, monster ecosystems formed, and through constant conflict and the law of the jungle, higher-tier monsters began to emerge.
In particular, as the number of Harmful-class Level 8 monsters increased, clashes occurred between monsters that reigned as predators over specific regions.
The winner takes the region, and the loser is driven out.
If it escapes safely, it can establish itself in a new domain—but occasionally, a monster with severe injuries dies while on the move.
“Meaning a monster corpse.”
“Exactly.”
The Monster Graveyard James Reed described was a phenomenon that occurs when a Harmful-class Level 8 monster dies.
The heart of a Harmful-class Level 8 monster—the pinnacle of the monster ecosystem—otherwise known as a Core, fails to be contained and goes on a rampage.
The reason monsters gather is to target this Core. To monsters, the Core is a symbol of strength and the source of power, so they fight fiercely to claim it.
If absorbed whole, a new Harmful-class Level 8 monster is born.
Putting it that way, it’s like martial artists chasing after a treasure manual.
“You know the answer, right? Huh?”
“You know it’s a phenomenon caused by monsters dying.”
“I know!”
“And you’re probably expecting that if a monster absorbs that Core, it becomes a new Harmful-class Level 8 monster.”
“Yeah!”
James Reed seemed to be expecting some tremendous solution.
If answers like that just popped out, how easy would life be?
The world is, by and large, about the fundamentals. The fundamentals.
Didn’t I go half-mad collecting this and that gift to get stronger fast?
“Then just leave it alone.”
“What? That’s it?”
“Doesn’t the US know better than anyone what happens when a low-tier monster absorbs a Core?”
A Harmful-class Level 8 Core isn’t something to be taken lightly.
Even if one of the countless monsters that gathered absorbs the Core, it typically can’t overcome the runaway surge of power and explodes.
“But if it actually succeeds in absorbing it……”
“Then it becomes a Harmful-class Level 8 monster.”
“That’s so irresponsible, Junho!”
I thought this was the ki-dome-ta thing, but maybe not.
“Irresponsible is you telling me that putting mussels in soybean paste stew makes it a Mediterranean recipe and then running off.”
“…….”
“In this case, it’s one of two options. Either you hope the monster that absorbs the Core self-destructs, or you form a small suicide squad and destroy the Core.”
Then the monsters drawn by the Core’s power would scatter on their own.
In fact, the jumbled mess of monsters might fall into infighting and drastically reduce their numbers.
Even the US probably already knew this much.
They’d tested me just in case there was some extraordinary method.
Still, it wouldn’t hurt to have the options laid out.
James Reed let out a deep sigh.
“So that really is the only way.”
“It is. If you’re done, leave.”
Still, I supposed I should let him off for the effort of preparing a new recipe.
New York-style soybean paste stew—there’s a certain New Yorker sensibility to it.
James Reed seemed to want me to come to the United States, but I’d just been to Japan recently and had no intention of going.
I still had to trigger Yunhee’s gift awakening, extract the Penta awakening compound, and above all, prepare for the “raid” that would happen before long.
As far as I knew, Plus-tier monsters would appear simultaneously in the south and north, and there was a faction that would use that opening to attack.
I was about to shoo away the uninvited guest when I heard an unexpected answer.
“I’m not leaving.”
“What?”
“I’ve decided to stay in Korea from now on! Gonna stay a real long time! So take care of me!”
James Reed said with a grin.
Can’t we force-deport him?
Wondering what on earth was going on, I looked at Cheon Myeongguk, who was watching me with an expression that said there was nothing he could do.
“Transcendent Reed has come as the head of the US diplomatic mission in Korea.”
“…….”
Was that something a transcendent could do?
So a troublesome bastard had ended up staying in Korea.
After James Reed left with Choi Junho, the President and Cheon Myeongguk, now alone together, wore grave expressions.
The anomaly in the United States was something the government could never overlook.
“Just hearing ‘Monster Graveyard’ gives me a headache.”
“It’s identical to the phenomenon that occurred in North Korea last February.”
“A Harmful-class Level 8 monster that wasn’t in any records popped out.”
“Yes.”
At the time, the government had concluded it was the emergence of a Harmful-class Level 8 monster and was thrown into an uproar.
If the monster pushed south, there was a chance the surrounding monsters would be swept down with it.
South Korea’s current frontline city is Kaesong.
Since it was a city that had only recently been reclaimed, there was endless debate over whether to spend astronomical budgets on reinforcing its defenses.
On top of that, the difficulties the government faced—with Kim Younghwan and the major guilds refusing to join the hunt and instead playing games to inflate their bounties—were beyond counting.
Fortunately, the newly born monster headed toward China. South Korea breathed a sigh of relief, while China was in chaos. Zhang Zidong insisted that Korea had driven the monster north, and relations had been sour for a while.
Looking back now, it was astonishingly similar to the phenomenon James Reed had described.
“Let’s say this kind of phenomenon could happen at any time. However.”
The President paused, his expression serious.
“It’s surprising that the Macho Man would go so far as to stay in Korea. The value the US places on Choi Junho must be far higher than we thought.”
“His valuation has been continuously rising. We’d need to work with him directly to know for sure……”
“That’s part of it, but it must also be a factor they’re willing to accept. There are so many transcendents who pull outrageous stunts, after all. What does Director Cheon think?”
“I feel the same way.”
“Is there a possibility the US knows something we don’t?”
“Very high.”
“And we can’t just ask them outright. What a difficult situation.”
“…….”
Cheon Myeongguk expressed his agreement through silence.
Choi Junho’s value had reached a point where evaluation was meaningless.
He ranked at the top in every category—enough that if offered a trade for five transcendents from another country, one would still choose Choi Junho.
Young, strong, not calculating, and once he decides on something, he doesn’t waver.
He had also taken first place in the transcendent bounty rankings announced not long ago.
However, the assessment was that he was so difficult to handle that they openly used the word Bomb.
This was the only factor lowering his bounty. Everything else ranked at the very top, proving Choi Junho’s value.
James Reed’s actions stirred all kinds of speculation, but Cheon Myeongguk brought up the situation right in front of them.
“The problem right now is James Reed. Externally, we can advertise that South Korea is a trustworthy nation, but……”
“You’re worried about him spying on us openly.”
“Yes.”
James Reed, who had even completed his doctoral coursework at Stanford, was one of the most intellectual transcendents around.
He would see far more than others looking at the same thing.
“But that’s not what we should be worrying about, is it?”
“Then?”
“We should be worrying about James Reed’s life.”
“Ah……”
Even if James Reed was friendly with Choi Junho, there was no telling when that relationship might twist.
What if he were to die?
The President spoke as if to console him.
“Still, these days things have been working out, so let’s hold on to hope.”
“I sincerely hope so.”
Cheon Myeongguk said with a resigned expression.
When James Reed said he’d stay in Korea, I figured he had some other scheme in mind.
He acted innocent, playing a role, but inside he was black as pitch.
Sure enough, the guy who followed me out of the Blue House glanced around, sidled up, and made a request.
“Junho! Introduce me to Berserker.”
“Why Berserker?”
“I want to see the villain who killed Debuffer.”
“Why are you asking me for a villain?”
“I know you’re real close with Berserker!”
“…….”
Should I hit him?
Who said I was close with that lunatic?
He’s just a guy who’s convenient to use when I need him.
Yeah, a one-sided business relationship—that’s exactly what it is.
Setting that aside, he knew I interacted with Berserker.
Is this what American intelligence looks like?
“I don’t want to.”
I refused. There was no reason to introduce him just because I knew Berserker.
Then James Reed appealed from a different angle.
“Junho! Aren’t you amazed that I keep bringing you such great recipes? I’ve got a method!”
What he mentioned then was molecular gastronomy. A field that scientifically analyzes and creates new forms or textures.
“…….”
He thought that would win me over? He thought wrong.
…Though I am curious.
But not enough to cave.
Besides, there was something I wanted to extract from him anyway.
“Pay me with something else. If you agree, I’ll introduce you to Berserker.”
“What is it? Tell me what you need!”
“Aren’t you a doctor?”
“…Haha! I guessed on all my exams and got it by sheer luck. I don’t know much!”
Playing dumb won’t fool me.
Just as he’d looked into me, I’d looked into him.
A transcendent who thoroughly rebuilt his own body based on theory. The current James Reed could even be called a product of calculation.
His evaluation places him as able to contend with the Twelve Zodiac or about a notch below, rated lower than the Ten Great Transcendents.
At that level, he’d just be an outstanding transcendent—but he possesses a brain others don’t have.
Meaning he’s a talent who grasps both field and research institute situations simultaneously.
What I need is his brain.
Ah, of course, I don’t mean I’ll crack open his skull and take his brain out.
“There’s something I’m researching. If you cooperate, I’ll introduce you to Berserker.”
“That’s so one-sided.”
“If you don’t want to, don’t.”
“Ugh!”
James Reed wore a conflicted expression.
He’d already been found out, yet he kept up the act to the end—it was almost admirable.
“Fine! I’ll do it!”
“Good.”
He took the bait.
I’d have to show him how Korea grinds up engineering grinders.
With the promise secured, two days later I arranged a meeting between James Reed and Berserker.
Berserker, who had been leaving my messages on read at first, took the bait when I said the Macho Man James Reed wanted to meet him.
I’d have to make him pay later for ignoring my messages.
And so, a lunatic and a weirdo came face to face.
“This is the Macho Man, James Reed. He’s sharp-witted and nothing like he appears on the surface.”
“Junho! That’s harsh!”
“Harsh? Please.”
If anything, I was being generous.
He doesn’t know I left out the “leech” and “cunning” parts of his evaluation.
Pretending not to hear, I introduced Berserker.
“You know Berserker, right? He’s a lunatic. Assume normal conversation doesn’t work with him.”
“It’s always like this, but hearing that from you makes me feel like the world has gone wrong.”
“Yeah, because you’re a villain.”
And I’m a state-affiliated transcendent.
If you’ve got a complaint, go back in time and become a public service Hunter yourself.
Anyway, at my introduction, the two exchanged greetings.
“…….”
Sparks flying from the start.
Between a lunatic and a weirdo, I, the normal one, was supposed to hold the center—but it didn’t look easy.
They were both such strong personalities.
In any case, my role ended with getting the two of them to meet.
James Reed’s goal was obvious at a glance.
Japan, and now the US? I’d have to watch and see what choice Berserker would make.
“Well then, talk comfortably.”
Afraid it would get annoying, my choice was to escape the awkward gathering.
The moment Choi Junho left, James Reed’s eyes flashed.
Berserker was a villain whose name he’d heard for a long time.
It was an epithet that invited the assumption of madness, but the US assessment of Berserker was surprisingly generous.
His disposition leaned toward neutral evil, and if he’d been in the United States, he would have been recognized not as a villain but as a transcendent with a unique personality.
Of course, the margins on that standard were razor-thin.
But with the appearance of someone named Choi Junho, the threshold for tolerance had expanded to near infinity.
You could say a consensus had formed that, apart from his League affiliation and his personality regarding Choi Junho, everything could be accepted.
“You have something to say?”
“I do.”
How should he go about telling him to come to the United States?
As James Reed agonized over it, Berserker’s chilling voice cut into his ear.
“How about we go a round first?”
“Huh?”
“You’ve got to mix it up once before the honest talk starts flowing. Don’t worry. It’ll just be a few broken bones—and at worst, you lose an arm or a leg or two. Get quick first aid and they can be reattached.”
“……”
James Reed was at a loss for words.
He’d let his guard down for a moment after Choi Junho left.
‘This bastard’s a total lunatic too!’
A lunatic standing next to a lunatic—in a way, that was only natural.
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