## Chapter 277 – 28. Go Hayoung (2)
+++
As a courtesy to the dead, I only used the AV for travel between Muyol Land and Incheon Port.
On the way to the city council, I used a car, even though it was a bit inconvenient.
Of course, it wasn’t because I genuinely cared about the dead; it was a kind of custom that remained in political and business circles.
In this desolate world, it was an almost obsessive form of respect.
The superstitious idea that the sky path should be open to the souls of the dead, and that the living should travel on the ground, was quite amusing, considering it was permeating the ruling class in 2077, supported by ultra-high technology.
Anyway, I arrived at the joint memorial altar at the city council around 6:20 PM.
The city council, where the joint memorial altar was set up, was already crowded with people from all walks of life.
Coincidentally, a light winter rain began to fall from the sky. It made the air even more damp, and the low-hanging gray clouds made the atmosphere among the crowd even heavier.
Click.
Soo-ah opened the car door for me.
I stretched my legs, stepped onto the ground, and got out of the car.
Secretaries holding black umbrellas stepped back slightly to the left and right, and the protocol team leader, Seo Aram, checked my attire.
She smoothed the collar of my coat to make it neat and brushed off any dust that had settled near my neck.
Meanwhile, the car drove off to park, and nearly a hundred people surrounded me like guards.
“Why is it suddenly raining?”
If I had to choose, I liked rain, but I hated it when it was ambiguous like this.
I’d rather get completely soaked.
Like the dozens of secretaries and guards, dozens of council members, and the aides who supported them, followed me around, drawing attention wherever I went.
Those who recognized my face were either horrified and greeted me or stepped back, and even if they didn’t recognize me, they eventually got the information through whispers from those around them and reacted a beat later.
There were many diverse reactions, but when summarized, they were all based on fear.
The reckless young master who annihilated 15 district heads,
The reckless young master who drowned a council member who asked to be sent back,
And finally, the reckless young master who blew up the leader of the ruling party, the mayor of Incheon, and ruling party council members.
From their perspective, the cause of death for everyone enshrined in this joint memorial altar was ultimately me, so it was chilling that such a person was calmly standing in the memorial altar.
They probably thought of me as some kind of walking disaster.
Of course, that was the effect I was aiming for to some extent.
‘A powerful person must be feared.’
“O-Oh, I didn’t expect you to come…”
A group approached me.
It was the leader of the Homeland Party, the city representative, and some key figures from the Better Future Party.
The party leader humbled himself endlessly before me, who was much younger.
“I had to come. I’m involved in this, so how could I not come?”
“…”
At the word “involved,” they swallowed hard and fell silent.
“By the way, I didn’t expect to have our first meeting in a place like this. I wanted to meet you in a more formal setting.”
“I-I’ll visit you later.”
“I’d like that. Have you offered flowers yet?”
“Yes… Ah! The memorial altar is that way.”
The party leader stretched out one arm and pointed in a direction.
The fingertips facing the drizzling rain seemed to be trembling slightly for some reason.
“Thank you.”
I gave a light nod and walked past them.
The party leader’s group moved aside, giving us space.
Soon, a civil servant attached himself to me.
He bowed so deeply, almost beyond 90 degrees, and guided the way.
Click,
Click,
The deeper we went, the more people there were, and the more reporters there were.
They were very busy taking commemorative photos for their respective work and politics, and leaving their names in the guest book.
But all that commotion was focused on me as soon as I appeared.
It was as if I was walking through a moment where time had stopped.
‘Come to think of it, isn’t this almost the first time I’ve appeared in public?’
During the recapture of Namdong Industrial Complex, I did knock down the district head who was on live broadcast, but that was more of an accident, and it wasn’t really me appearing.
So, it could be said that this was the first time I was participating in an official event that was being shown to the public.
Swish.
Very carefully, I placed a chrysanthemum and lit incense, then offered a silent prayer.
In front of me was a portrait of Mayor Choi Cheol-gyu.
‘You should have listened to me.’
After offering a word of blessing to the soul, I slowly stepped back.
Soon after, the council members who came with me began to offer flowers one by one.
“Smelling the incense makes me want to smoke…”
But I refrained from doing so out of minimal respect.
I’m quite strict when it comes to smoking etiquette.
I’m offering incense for the dead, but it wouldn’t be right for the living to be holding incense in their mouths too.
‘In your next life, be born as a slave who listens well.’
+++
After finishing the flower offering, I left the memorial altar.
In the middle, brave reporters stuck to me and asked questions about various issues. As expected, reporters were quick to catch on.
They roughly guessed my intentions and why I came here, and asked questions based on that.
“Due to this incident, by-elections will be held simultaneously for the district heads, the mayor, and over 100 constituencies. What are your thoughts on this unprecedented political vacuum, and what are your thoughts on the response to it? Please say something!”
“There are rumors that you have a certain relationship with the recently deceased Mayor Choi Cheol-gyu and the council members who continued to defect en masse. Are you interested in political activities?”
“Many people are feeling shock and fear about the swarm of mechs that blackened the sky the other day. As the grandson of the Goryeo Group, do you have anything to say?”
“With the death of the deceased, the special investigation team was naturally disbanded. What are your thoughts on the moral and legal laxity of Mayor Choi Cheol-gyu, which has been raised countless times!”
Each time, I gave appropriate answers.
“I’m neither a politician nor a working-level staff member, so I can’t answer that. However, I will convey my thoughts to the council members who are close to me. You can think of it as advice I can give as a citizen. I will think carefully and speak so that this confusion is resolved as quickly as possible and does not affect the lives of the citizens of Incheon.”
“I have never thought about doing anything in politics yet. However, as the grandson of the Goryeo Group, I will exert as much power as I can to contribute to this society, even if only a little.”
“I am not a military personnel, but as a family member, I can say one thing: in the end, mechs, knights, and all the military force of the military are all forces to protect the citizens and the people. I understand that you feel shock and fear, but I think you can rest assured knowing that the enemies will feel even more shock and panic.”
“I have nothing to say about the immoral and illegal actions of the deceased. I am neither a legal official nor a political figure. However…”
I had something to say about the last question.
I stopped walking, which I had been doing continuously.
The group that followed me all stopped at once.
While I was organizing my thoughts, the reporter handed me his phone with a look as if he had caught a big fish.
“However, as a person who is very sensitive to morality, law, and ethics, I have personal regrets. If he had been more moral and had a spirit of compliance with the law, he could have set an example as a public figure to more people.”
“A-Are you saying that it is certain that the deceased had legal and moral problems?!”
“Well, I don’t want to single out individuals like that. However, I have clearly expressed my opposition to any sexual entertainment based on wrong and misguided sexual concepts, and inhumane contracts, while working in the entertainment industry. As a person who has maintained that position, I am saying that I regret the current political situation in Korea and Incheon.”
“…Along with the deceased’s controversy, the wrongdoings of public figures and politicians you mentioned are being heavily criticized. What are your thoughts on this? Please say something.”
“Personally, I think that those who have legal problems should step down from politics. Of course, there are regulations related to nominations, but I think it is not enough to meet the high standards of the citizens. If I were in a position to set party rules, I would absolutely exclude all criminal facts without exception.”
That way, when the Standing Special Prosecutor’s Office, which can terminate cases itself from investigation to judgment, is established, politicians won’t be able to say a word.
There’s no need to go to the trouble of killing them,
‘Oh, you’re a criminal.’
The moment you say that, they’ll be out.
Of course, it’s best to set it as an election law, not just party rules.
If it goes that far, the head of the Standing Special Prosecutor’s Office can really become a dictator.
“Without exception…?”
“Yes. Without exception. Absolute exclusion for all crimes, including suspended sentences and fines. I wish I could just make it a law. That’s what I think political justice is.”
