Chapter 92:

I asked over the intercom, "Who is it?"

The response I expected came over.

–This is the police. This is the home of Mr. Kim Hyukjin, correct?

The police came, and I knew very well why. As they entered our apartment, Noona gave me an indifferent stare, and I tried to smile to reassure her that everything was okay.

"Noona, it's okay. Don't worry and just stay put. Let me go take care of things real quick, and then we can eat fried chicken together."

"...You really didn't cause a mess somewhere, right?"

"I'm telling you, I didn't. This is, well. Hm, something like a big show of force."

"..."

"Go to your room for now. I'll take care of it, don't worry."

"If you've made a mess somewhere, you're dead."

She was looking at me with distrust, with what appeared to be a little loathing. That was what her expression said, but I knew what she was actually feeling.

State: Extreme Worry

I could see it from her state, and I could feel her true feelings through Eye of Perception as well. She was terribly worried about me. It probably meant I was just that important to her.

In any case, I turned my attention to the police.

"We must ask you to accompany us for a little bit."

Just then, Senia appeared, her wings unfurled. My exclusive contracted Streamer exuded absolute aloofness and beauty with her very presence.

As soon as Senia revealed herself, the two policemen flinched.

'Naturally.'

They must know what Senia was. To them, she was probably something like an unknown being who looked different from humans and could suddenly appear out of thin air, transcending time and space (though that was actually just coming out of the transparent state). An almighty alien who could erase the life of one or two humans with a single swipe of her finger.

'As expected, they're scared.'

Be it policemen or detectives, they were reduced to mere puppies with their tails tucked between their legs in front of Senia. Guns didn't even work on her, and she wasn't human, so they couldn't enforce human laws on her, either.

"Let's go then," I said, walking forward.

'What an obvious little trick.'

I was well aware of why I was being taken to the police station. It was because of 'assault'. I strangled Kim Taechun into unconsciousness. However, I knew he hadn't made charges against me, because he must still be out of it from the aftermath of the failed descent. That meant someone else had reported me to the police, and it was because of that person that the police took action so quickly.

'It's almost ridiculous how obvious this is.'

If things dragged on too long and I ended up not being able to eat fried chicken with my chicken-tempted older sister and my chicken-loving little sister, this little scenario wouldn't go over nicely.

'Song Kiyeol.'

The second place I would be meeting Song Kiyeol would be the police station. There, we would have an intense talk. I arrived at the station, and a little time passed.

* * *

There were none of the browbeating policemen I'd seen on TV here.

Summary: Rod of the People Experiencing Love at First Sight

Summary: Old Bachelor Blinded by Beauty

Each and every summary was amusing. There was a guy who fell in love with Senia at first sight, one that was 'blinded by beauty', and one summary was even:

Summary: Policewoman Enlightened to a New World

The fact that her summary said 'policewoman' instead of 'policeman' meant that person was very conscious of their gender.

'What new world?'

From the way she was sneaking glances at Senia, she almost seemed like a pubescent teenager in love.

'Well… It is peaceful, that's for sure.'

These people were simultaneously fearful of Senia and charmed by her beauty. Thanks to this terrifying yet awe-inspiring Intermediate Administrator, I wasn't subjected to much harassment.

'Guess Song Kiyeol's plan is already off the tracks from the start.' I guessed his plan. 'He probably intended on putting me in hot water, then coming in to save me like a knight in shining armor.'

That way, he would hold the higher ground in any future engagements or negotiations with me. His intentions were so blatantly clear. Even as the policemen interrogated me about my assault, they seemed to be waiting for someone.

'Observation is such a wonderful thing.'

I couldn't read their inner thoughts, but 'observation' relayed a great deal of information to me. The quality and quantity of the information I received was different compared to other people.

"I can wait until my lawyer comes, yes?"

"Yes, feel free."

With Senia backing me, the policemen couldn't treat me roughly anyway and they had their own intentions, so they just let me be. As a result, I was able to wait in peace.

I whispered to Senia.

–Making me feel enough pressure before he makes a sufficiently heroic entrance should last about forty minutes, don't you think?

–Forty minutes?

–Yeah, it should be about forty minutes.

After making calculations of her own, Senia began to stream using a strange language I couldn't understand.

[The 'Merchant of Venice' is watching with interest.]

[The 'Whispering Devil' focuses on the 40 minute time limit.]

And to my surprise, he really did appear after forty minutes.

'Iya, fancy seeing you here, Mr. 3rd Generation Chaebol Song Kiyeol. That was easy?'

Was it because he was still inexperienced? I'd felt this for a while, but I felt like I could read Song Kiyeol like an open book. In terms of gambling, my hand of cards was way better than his.

I smiled. "You've come, my lawyer."

This was where I would make my decision. Would I move forward with the card called Song Kiyeol, or would I discard it?

Sungshin was a global conglomerate. In the modern day, money was power, and Sungshin commanded immense power in Korea. He didn't publicize Kim Hyukjin's existence to the media because Kim Hyukjin was a 'variable', and because right now, the most important fact the world had to know was that Taeguk Shield hunted the Orcanthropes, monsters invulnerable to modern weapons.

That was what he told the media, but the whole incident left him feeling irked.

'Just what kind of guy is he?'

Kim Hyukjin. A subject of interest even to his grandfather, and a sovereign-class Player with the incredible ability to instantly put the Orcanthropes into a groggy state.

'I don't get him at all.'

He needed to know a little more about this enigma. The man's ability was desirable. If he could turn Kim Hyukjin into a subordinate, then he would, and if he couldn't, then he really did have to establish a working relationship. Otherwise, the man would have to be eliminated.

For now, he decided to put Kim Hyukjin into his debt before their conversation together. He didn't release it to the mass media, but the scene where Kim Hyukjin assaulted Kim Taechun was clearly recorded from start to finish. Using that, he mobilized the police.

'Let's see if he can be that relaxed even in the police station.'

His opponent was a regular person. Certain that Kim Hyukjin wouldn't be resting easy in the police station, he intentionally waited a little.

'He'll probably be anxious enough to bow and scrape.'

As a Korean, he should know how much authority and power he, Song Kiyeol, held. He truly had enough power to make a little assault charge fly away with a single word. To begin with, the police wouldn't have even gotten themselves involved in a matter between Players if Kiyeol hadn't instigated it.

He entered the police station… and was greeted with someone's voice.

"You've come, my lawyer."

To his shock, Kim Hyukjin looked incredibly relaxed. Kiyeol had the bad feeling that things had gone awry from the start.

'Ah…'

He saw her right away. The Intermediate Administrator, Senia. A woman possessing angelic beauty that didn't seem to belong in this world.

'Even though he's not even Playing…'

She appeared in the police station?

'Was that intended by Kim Hyukjin?'

Did he make Senia do as he wanted? But how could a mere Player make an Intermediate Administrator act as they wished? According to Song Kiyeol's common sense, that was impossible. It couldn't happen.

'He was lucky.'

That was the only way he could interpret this.

'That attitude, like he knew I'd be coming…'

Kiyeol had already lost once in a battle of wits. Even so, he was the one with the advantage. But the words that came next challenged that thought.

"Kim Taechun is in a coma, yes?"

"..."

"That's because of descent. I stopped a Guardian descent that was about to happen. If that descent had actually occurred…" Hyukjin shrugged. "We wouldn't be talking here like this."

"Why?"

"Both of us would be dead."

"..."

Senia took a step forward. "I, an Intermediate Administrator, confirm the veracity of that statement."

* * *

Song Kiyeol turned to the investigator who had been interrogating me. "Would it be alright if I had a private conversation with Mr. Kim Hyukjin for a moment?"

Wow. Was that really okay? I was amazed that he suddenly requested a private meeting. The funny thing was that the private meeting was actually permitted.

'Even though he's not a policeman? He's not even a lawyer.'

Well, whatever. We were taken to a room within the station.

'Just my guess, but I doubt this won't be recorded. If it is, even better.'

I started talking first. "Did you come to help me?"

"Yes, I did."

"Should I be saying thank you?"

"That is something for you to decide."

I sat down. Senia had returned to her transparent state, but I could feel her presence.

[The 'Merchant of Venice' continues to focus.]

After I choked Kim Taechun and made him black out, when I didn't see myself on the news or hear any mention of my name on the radio in the taxi, I knew for a fact that this situation would occur.

"I'll start then." I raised the index finger of my left hand. "First. The comatose Kim Taechun cannot report me. Second. If so, someone else did. Third. That someone has the power to make the police move this swiftly and without delay."

With three fingers outstretched on my left hand, I started counting on my right hand now.

"First. The appearance of the variable Kim Hyukjin was not publicized to the media. Second. The variable called Kim Hyukjin does not desire becoming known to the media. Third. In the end, Kim Hyukjin was not publicized."

I stretched out all my fingers and shrugged. "What could these things mean?"

Song Kiyeol's eye twitched. "What are you trying to say?"

"A person who can perfectly control the media, someone capable of moving government forces. I'm here right now because that person wanted it."

"And you think that person is me?"

"I didn't say it was you, Mr. Song Kiyeol."

It is you, and everyone knows it. But I didn't say that. I simply smiled with an air of calm. After watching his reaction for a moment, I continued.

"There must be someone out there who wants to have the higher ground in a negotiation with me."

"I have come here to help you. I find your remarks very unpleasant."

"How did you know I was in the police station?"

"..."

This man seemed as lofty and unreachable as the heavens in my previous life, but now, I felt like I was dealing with a child. It was really amazing. So much had changed after coming to the past.

"The police do not like to involve themselves in matters between Players. Why? Because there are Intermediate Administrators in the middle."

And yet they moved this rapidly?

"I would guess they had no choice even though they didn't want to. Because there was pressure from up top." I grinned. "But alright, let's just say I don't know who the source of that pressure was."

This was enough for a show of my hand. There was no need to shout 'You're the criminal!' outright. What I was going for was just 'Your scheme is dogshit!'

"I also don't intend on resenting it, either."

"..."

For the briefest moment, uncertainty flashed over Song Kiyeol's face. For the briefest moment, there was a trace of panic.

'He's wavering nicely.'

This was the negotiation table. A business table between me and this 3rd generation chaebol scion, a man whose name would fly high as the guildmaster of Taeguk Shield, but would still lose the battle of inheritance to his younger sister, Song Junghye.

"After all, it was a pretty decent choice using the cards that could pressure me."

If I were a moron who didn't know anything, that is. But I didn't say that. In business, everything was calculated on profit and loss alone. For a moment, Song Kiyeol made an expression of uncertainty before quickly schooling his countenance into expressionlessness.

"It was just that those cards were ineffective on me."

My cards were just a little better than his. My field of vision was a little wider than his, that was all.

I had completely seized the initiative.

"Shall we start our conversation? There must be a lot you want to ask. I'd like this to be a useful time for me, no… for us."

To be more precise, my test for Song Kiyeol began.

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