Chapter 55
Chapter 55
Anna Christine stepped in to refute James Reed.
“What’s the problem with him being Erasure? Isn’t that a good thing?”
The eyes of the room gathered on her.
“If you look at Erasure’s track record, it’s simple. ‘Vanished after making a villain organization operating in Ansan disappear. Similar copycat crimes occurred afterward, but the culprit is presumed not to be Erasure.’ Erasure has only appeared once, and even then, all he did was wipe out a villain organization. Is it because he killed the vice-master? If anything, the ones who should be criticized are the ones who were with the villain organization in the first place. Calling Erasure a villain is premature.”
“Anna, when someone acts however they please outside the state’s control, we call them a villain.”
“I see it differently. The global trend keeps tightening the noose around Awakened. It’s pushing things in a direction that lets the League’s ideology run rampant. You have to look at the bigger picture. If you say this isn’t allowed either, and that isn’t allowed either, eventually all that’s left is villain, isn’t it? This is the kind of behavior that encourages the League to flourish.”
“The League is……”
“Now, now. The League isn’t what we’re here to discuss, is it?”
At the Vice President’s timely intervention, Anna Christine and James Reed took a step back.
“Christine, your position that we need to recruit Choi Junho hasn’t changed?”
“If anything, we should bring him in even more. Head Breaker and Erasure—two completely different epithets suggest a high likelihood that he’s a dual gift user.”
“……I won’t deny that the talent itself is real.”
Even James Reed, who had taken a stance against recruiting Choi Junho, had nothing but praise for his talent.
Which meant that much, at least, was genuine.
Of all things, the talent that could make him the strongest had to come from somewhere other than the United States. The Vice President felt a pang of regret, but consoled himself with the fact that he hadn’t emerged in a hypothetical enemy nation.
Having sorted out his thoughts, the Vice President spoke.
“My position is this. The United States is vast, and there are many places we must protect. We need to draw in talented Awakened to protect even one more citizen. Even if their past is a little uncomfortable, if it serves America’s interests.”
“I agree as well.”
“In that sense, Choi Junho is a talented Awakened. Even if he is Erasure, if he can kill more monsters, we should bring him in. And if he isn’t Erasure, all the more reason. The possibility that he becomes a villain is only a possibility. Steering him away from that is the think tank’s job. We can do it.”
“……”
“James.”
“I merely conveyed my concerns. I have no complaints about your decision, Vice President.”
“Good. Contacting Choi Junho will be left to Christine.”
“I’ll do my best.”
The Vice President, having settled the matter, nodded.
“I’ll have a conversation with the President tomorrow.”
*
The next day, the President and the US Vice President held a one-on-one meeting at the Blue House.
“South Korea’s strength never fails to impress. I was amazed.”
“In this narrow land, the only thing we can boast of is our people. We’ve merely stayed true to that duty.”
“The exchange match was impressive as well. Yang Eun in particular seems like she’ll become a promising talent in the future. The students who came to this exchange match must have gained a great deal of insight.”
“The same goes for us. I believe it served as an opportunity for our students to feel the wall of the world firsthand and push themselves harder.”
The mood of the conversation was warm.
But that, too, was only a surface veneer—beneath it, fierce maneuvering was playing out.
‘What’s his real intention?’
The President raised his guard, thinking the Vice President must have a reason for suddenly requesting this meeting.
Light pleasantries went back and forth, and then the Vice President was the first to reveal his hand.
“I heard a villain at Level 8 appeared recently.”
“You mean Berserker? Fortunately, he wasn’t a villain that posed a major threat.”
“Not him—I mean Eraser. In Korean, was it called Erasure?”
The President narrowed his eyes and set down the teacup in his hand.
“……He’s a villain who appeared only once. Is there a reason you’re bringing him up?”
“It concerns me that he couldn’t be found in a country with as tight a surveillance network as South Korea.”
“He’s been quiet since his first appearance, so it’s fine.”
“Can I take that to mean you haven’t found any traces of him?”
“So you’re suggesting we search for Erasure together?”
“To speak plainly, yes.”
Why Erasure, who hasn’t even appeared?
The Vice President’s behavior only fueled suspicion.
Something was definitely going on.
“I don’t see why there would be any need for that.”
“Our analysis suggests Erasure may be a Hunter who has burrowed deep into society.”
“Hahaha, even so, he’s a villain estimated at Level 8.”
“There is a recently appeared Level 8 transcendent, isn’t there.”
“……”
Unlike the President’s hardened expression, the Vice President wore a relaxed smile.
“According to our analysis, there’s a possibility that the transcendent Choi Junho is Erasure.”
“This is a matter that could spark a major dispute.”
“We’re still only at the stage of suspicion. I’ll provide you with our analysis. I offer it with no ulterior motive, purely out of a desire for you to be informed, so I hope you won’t misunderstand. And when you’ve made your decision, please let me know. As an allied nation, we’ll cooperate to the fullest.”
The President relaxed his expression and smiled.
“Thank you. I’ll take it under advisement. I won’t forget America’s goodwill.”
“Are we not eternal allies?”
“Indeed. Eternal allies.”
Both hid their blades and exchanged smiles as they wrapped up the conversation.
*
“……”
Cheon Myeongguk, summoned by the President, listened to the account of the conversation with the Vice President and nodded quietly.
“What do you think?”
“It’s a plausible hypothesis. There’s also the report submitted to you, Mr. President.”
“That’s right. Which is why I even brought it up as a joke.”
“I was quite surprised—you seemed sincere.”
“Did I? Anyway, seeing that the US has caught the scent, their greed must be considerable.”
“It’s worth taking interest in his might rather than the danger Erasure poses. If the two are the same person, it proves he can wield Level 8 power in two different directions through a dual gift. Perhaps……”
“Go on.”
“They may be approaching this with the view that Choi Junho is the person closest to Level 9.”
Level 9.
A realm that has never once appeared.
A stage where only speculation circulates about just how great that strength might be.
An unknown realm where no one has even grasped how to classify it, how to measure it.
But one thing is certain.
The nation that possesses a Level 9 transcendent will be the nation closest to world hegemony.
Surely they weren’t looking that far ahead.
The President felt a chill run up his spine.
“What do we do if it’s revealed that he’s Erasure? Arrest him?”
“Are you serious?”
“I’m joking. Of course we bury it. Did you think I’d let Choi Junho go just because the dead vice-master was from our party? When you look at sheer value, there’s no comparison.”
“……”
“However, the US could move to manipulate our public opinion. So work behind the scenes to reshape Erasure’s image. Turn him into a dark hero who wiped out villain organizations and rescued trafficking victims.”
“Understood.”
The President smiled as he watched Cheon Myeongguk’s retreating figure, already moving into action.
“We’ll have to lay the saliva on thick so they can’t pull any tricks. No, maybe we should just spit outright.”
It was a point he found himself seriously deliberating.
*
As the US delegation’s visit entered its final event, I was receiving Lee Sehee, who had come to the National Guard Bureau.
“How was the exchange match?”
“Higher level than I expected.”
“They’re the world’s strongest nation, after all. I hear they educate far more thoroughly than we do and get their people into real combat early. Without that, they can’t keep up with the number of monsters.”
“Because they have a lot of land to protect.”
“Exactly.”
The larger a country’s territory, the more places it has to defend, and so its Awakened inevitably gravitate toward practical combat. In some cases—especially where territory is vast and population sparse—the effectively controlled area had shrunk to under 20 percent.
“You said you came to talk about Heartworker?”
“Yes. Heartworker’s mother isn’t doing well.”
“In what sense?”
“The treatment timing is far too late. The treatment she was receiving in Busan was narcotics, so the side effects are compounding on top of everything……”
According to Lee Sehee, the reality was that only life-sustaining treatment remained.
Was it too late?
I didn’t feel much about it. It was the best I could have done. Even if it had been Oh Jongsu in the same situation, I would have felt the same.
“If that’s the best that can be done, then there’s nothing to be done.”
“And about Kim Jonghyeon……”
“Speak freely.”
“His work attitude isn’t good.”
Lee Sehee explained that Heartworker’s work attitude was excessively free-spirited, that he didn’t follow his superiors’ instructions at all—he’d become a headache for the research institute.
“He has the eye and the skill to make up for it, but I don’t know when he’ll cause a problem.”
“That is a problem.”
“Yes.”
She was only speaking cautiously because I was the one who’d brought Heartworker in.
“The reason I brought him was because of that eye and those hands. Those two things.”
“His talent is real.”
“But if he becomes more of a hindrance than a help, there’s no need to keep him. If the losses outweigh the gains, contact me.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Only then did Lee Sehee’s expression brighten.
She went on to explain the progress on the new drug, then moved on to the processing method.
The progress had apparently accelerated noticeably, thanks to my having brought Heartworker in. Unlike me, who pushes through with an overwhelming amount of Force, he works from delicacy and instinct. Making that method universal is Lee Sehee’s job. And based on the samples Heartworker has produced, significant progress had been made—they were on the verge of commercialization.
“You’d better prepare yourself soon.”
“Prepare for what?”
“An enormous villain is going to come looking for you, Junho.”
“I’ll just kill it.”
“You absolutely can’t kill it.”
Lee Sehee smiled confidently.
“It’s the villain called taxes.”
According to her, once the processing method became widespread, licenses would sell to countries around the world, and my cut would be enormous.
Shinseong Group would make even more.
Lee Sehee advised me to set up a corporate entity as a means of tax savings.
That didn’t match my thinking.
“I’ll just pay it all.”
“What? But you should still save on taxes……”
“Why bother? Forget it.”
I already had more money than I could spend in a lifetime, so I didn’t want to skirt the line between legal and illegal just to save on taxes.
If I had time to worry about that, catching one more monster was more profitable for me.
Paying my taxes in full, in fact, lets me beat down villains with a clear conscience.
“If that’s how you feel, I suppose there’s no helping it.”
“There’s something else bothering me, actually.”
I asked whether I shouldn’t be giving Heartworker a cut, but Lee Sehee firmly shook her head.
“I think that’s premature. How about watching the revenue come in and making a decision slowly?”
“If that’s what you think. But can that really make that much money?”
“Yes.”
She said that since the processing method boosted the efficiency of monster’s hearts, everyone would want it.
Just then, a knock came from outside, and before anyone could answer, the door opened.
The person who entered was Anna Christine. How had she gotten into the National Guard Bureau?
The mystery was solved by Jung Juho, grinning behind her. When his eyes met mine, he gave a thumbs-up and turned to leave.
“Hi, Junho. Princess Lee’s here too.”
“How did you get in here?”
“I came to see you, and the Director was kind enough to guide me.”
Anna Christine grinned and promptly sat down beside me.
Lee Sehee’s eyebrow twitched.
“Why are you sitting there?”
“Because I have things to say to Junho? And sitting next to Princess Lee should help divide the attention.”
“……I don’t like it.”
“How funny that we feel the same way.”
I’d felt it before, but the two of them clearly didn’t get along.
I stepped in to mediate.
“We’re in the middle of something here, so I’d appreciate it if you could come back when we’re done.”
“Ah! Right. The Director guided me in, so I thought it was all finished. Princess Lee, sorry.”
“……”
Lee Sehee’s mood was visibly foul.
Anna Christine winked and stepped outside, and Lee Sehee let out a heavy sigh.
“Whew! Every time I see that outrageous woman, I just can’t calm down.”
“She does march to her own beat.”
“Junho, that woman is a genuine maneater—be careful.”
“I’ll be going with her when the delegation leaves anyway.”
“I suppose so. Maybe I was out of line. But one thing is certain.”
Lee Sehee wore a meaningful expression.
“That woman will stop at nothing to get you to come to America. And.”
The smile at the corner of her lips deepened.
“She’ll fail miserably.”
Though I had no idea why she looked so pleased about it.
*
Anna Christine, who had been waiting outside the meeting room, waved at Lee Sehee as she emerged.
“Finished your talk? That was quick. Or did you have nothing to say?”
“We’d already discussed quite a lot. All sorts of things you wouldn’t know about.”
“Is that so?”
“Sticky things that could never be separated from me.”
Nothing in the world was as tenacious as a relationship bound by money.
It was bait tossed out for her to misunderstand to her heart’s content, but Anna Christine was unperturbed.
“It doesn’t matter. A man’s past is proof that he’s attractive. I’d love to leave plenty of my own marks on that proof.”
“……Anna, I know what your goal is. But it won’t be easy.”
“That’s yet to be seen. Even the coldest man judges by something else at the decisive moment.”
“We’ll see.”
Lee Sehee left with an icy expression, and Anna Christine licked her lips, checked her makeup at hyperspeed before entering the meeting room, and stepped inside. She spotted Choi Junho.
He had an attractive face no matter when she saw him. Add to that the skill that would one day establish him as the world’s strongest. She had run honey traps on countless targets, but this was the first time she’d wanted someone this badly.
Which was exactly why she had to have him.
“You said you had something you wanted to say?”
“Yes, I heard Junho signed a regular contract with the Korean government. I was wondering if you have any plans for what comes next.”
“It hasn’t even been half a year since I signed.”
“Still, wouldn’t it be better to have a plan for the future?”
Choi Junho was staring intently at her face. She felt her cheeks flush for no reason. Could he see that she’d gone red? She should have applied her makeup thicker.
“You’re asking me to come to America.”
“To put it bluntly, yes. I’d like you to come to the US and do as you please, Junho.”
Anna Christine listed off the advantages of coming to America.
“Freedom above all. That’s something you need, Junho.”
“Freedom……”
“Yes, freedom. It’s different from Korea, where the law binds you in so many ways. Freedom, better treatment, respect. And romance, too.”
Anna Christine smiled with her eyes as she said it. After that disastrous failure last time, she had calmly reviewed her mistakes and waited for this day to come.
This man would never fall for what was right in front of him. She had to build up his goodwill step by step and construct a trust that would never crumble.
It was Lee Sehee who had established that kind of standing as a business partner in such a short time. If she could do it, there was no reason Anna Christine couldn’t.
“America isn’t bad.”
“I’m not asking you to decide right now. Slowly—when your contract ends, I just mean for you to put America on your list of options.”
“That’s not difficult. Fine.”
“In exchange, there might be something good in it if you decide quickly.”
Anna Christine grabbed the front of her top and pulled it open slightly. A more blatant seduction than before. He was welcome to fall for it, or not. Even leaving an afterimage would be a huge success.
She felt his gaze. Success. No matter how cold-blooded, a man was a man.
That was when she was congratulating herself.
“But.”
“Yes.”
“When my contract ends, how old will you be?”
“……”
At the sudden attack on her age, Anna Christine’s expression stiffened.
*
The US delegation returned home.
Their visit was short, but it left behind a great deal.
James Reed in particular—he’d pretended to be innocent with his clumsy Korean, but I could tell he was a clever raccoon. He tried to scrutinize every inch of me, though he didn’t seem to know that curiosity shortens your lifespan.
Anna Christine’s proposal seemed like it would become a useful card later.
And watching the Vice President and the senator, I got a sense of a system that moved with considerable order and rationality.
At the exchange match, Yang Juhyeok stood out—though I was left dumbfounded by Go Myeonghak, who kept thanking me over and over, saying the boy had completely turned over a new leaf.
“What comes next is the problem.”
“China will never be easy.”
The President and Cheon Myeongguk talked that way, then looked at me with worry-filled eyes.
After the United States came China’s visit.
China had attached a pile of demands from the start, and one of them was that I come out to greet them.
I gladly accepted. I wanted to see what kind of people they were.
“I’ll leave it to you.”
“Yes.”
The Chinese delegation’s visit came three days after the Americans left.
Their scale was far larger than the US’s. The leader heading them was Zhang Zidong, a Chinese transcendent and the guardian of the three Northeast provinces.
He looked older than his apparent early forties, with a boxy crew cut and sharp eyes.
When he died by my hand, he looked about twenty years older than that—and he’d been just as rigid then as he was now.
He strode off the plane at the front and came straight to where I was.
“So you’re that half-baked transcendent of Korea.”
If you’ve come to Korea, speak Korean.
I couldn’t understand what he was saying, but just from the way the faces around us changed, I could tell what it meant.
I let out a smirk and said,
“A man exiled to the borderlands comes to the city, breathes the air, and loses his mind—running wild as he pleases.”
I instructed the interpreter to relay it without softening a thing, and he did.
“You dare……!”
The message must have gotten through, because Zhang Zidong’s expression hardened and a murderous glint rose in his eyes—then his hand moved first.
It came at me with clear intent, reaching my face in an instant and swiping as if to claw.
I tilted my head slightly to dodge, and the hand bent its trajectory toward my neck.
I raised my left hand to twist his wrist, but he immediately shook it off. Ignoring the recoil, I kept trying to seize his wrist.
Violently rampaging Force clashed as we traded offense and defense. I chased relentlessly after the hand that lunged at me like a snake. In the end, after five exchanges, Zhang Zidong’s wrist was caught in my grip.
Crack!
Zhang Zidong’s Force desperately resisted the Arc Mine trying to burrow inside. But the Arc Mine dug in faster. Among the gifts that destroy an opponent, nothing is as tenacious as the Arc Mine.
Just as the Arc Mine was about to pierce through his skin, Zhang Zidong’s body blurred and vanished, reappearing at the very back of the delegation.
It was the gift Transfer. The Transfer I possessed was the one I’d obtained after killing him in my last life.
I didn’t bother chasing him—I just watched.
“Tell him I enjoyed the gift demonstration.”
Hearing my words, his expression was frozen stiff.
Since we’d clashed anyway, I wouldn’t have minded settling it here for good.
So—were you scared? If you weren’t, then come at me.
But he made no further move.
“……We will proceed with the schedule.”
A shame.
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