Chapter 1273 – 1273. Pheromone Monster
The woman frowned. She seemed to have decided to ignore me, focusing intently on the TV screen. Thankfully, she didn’t seem to understand Korean. If she knew the meaning of “jaji boji,” she would have looked at me with contempt.
I subtly slid a cocktail in front of her. She didn’t even glance at it. Feeling awkward, I looked around and then sat next to her. She didn’t react this time either.
‘Is the news that interesting? Or is she a fervent supporter of jaji boji… no, Joo Ji-Boshi, or something?’
I shifted my gaze to the TV screen. If she was a fervent supporter of the president, I could try to win her over by pretending to support him.
Joo Ji-Boshi stared straight into the camera. His face was full of confidence. He was, after all, the President of the United States; it would be stranger if he lacked confidence.
“China has broken our trust! They show no remorse despite violating international law! We must strike China with an iron fist! We will impose tariffs on 780 items coming from China! This is just the beginning! China! You have underestimated the United States! The United States is the greatest nation in the world!”
Joo Ji-Boshi shouted.
My eyes widened, and I let out an exclamation of admiration.
“Wow.”
That such a fiery guy became the President of the United States… America might be a more fiery country than I thought.
Joo Ji-Boshi’s words didn’t end there.
“Japan! Our Department of Defense has identified a serious security threat in the US-Japan alliance! Japan will have to pay the price! We will double their contribution!”
The atmosphere in the bar dropped as if cold water had been poured on it. Not only the bartender but also the customers were staring at the TV. Most of the customers were in shock.
“What the hell is Boshi babbling about?”
“There were rumors that Boshi was trying to dominate East Asia… Isn’t this a bit crazy?”
“I like it! This is how America should be!”
And Joo Ji-Boshi continued.
“There are too many hunters concentrated in Korea for such a small land! We will bring Korean hunters to the United States! America will be safer from those damn monsters and dungeons!”
There are indeed a lot of hunters in Korea. I leisurely sipped my beer.
“Rocket Man! Listen carefully! Your clumsy provocations won’t work! We don’t need a dangerous and precarious peace! I will wage war for the peace of Northeast Asia! Rocket Man! You should stay locked up in your kingdom as you always have!”
“……”
My relaxed expression turned serious.
Joo Ji-Boshi wasn’t just crazy. He seemed like a completely deranged madman. Joo Ji-Boshi went on to talk about taxes and worker wages.
“Starting next year, we will reduce taxes by 0.5% and increase the minimum wage by 5%! We will implement policies prepared for the American people!”
Joo Ji-Boshi finished his piece and turned away, disappearing.
Voices erupted from all over the quiet bar.
“What the hell is that crazy guy!”
“He’s probably just talking big!”
“Who the hell voted for that moron?”
“You voted for him, you idiot.”
I just sipped my drink.
‘You guys voted for that president. Endure it with grit and determination.’
Those words rose to the tip of my tongue, but I held them back. There was no point in stirring up trouble. Let’s focus on the sexy blonde beauty sitting next to me.
“Haha. America is truly an amazing country.”
“…You don’t seem to be American.”
The blonde beauty sighed and replied. She picked up the beer glass in front of her and gulped it down.
“Does being in America mean you have to be American?”
“That’s… not true. What country are you from?”
“I’m American.”
“……”
The blonde beauty glared at me with her blue eyes. I offered her a Sex on the Beach while smiling. She hesitated for a moment but eventually took the cocktail.
“Let me introduce myself again. I’m Kyle. And you are?”
“…Sophia Mayvers.”
“Sophia. Hmm. That’s a nice name.”
“I’ll enjoy the cocktail. But please, leave me alone. Nothing good will come from getting involved with me.”
“It seems you have your reasons. I’ll help you.”
“…You’re making promises you can’t keep. Is that how you hit on women?”
“I tend to take responsibility for the words I speak. And I don’t hit on just any woman. To be honest, Sophia, I like you.”
“Isn’t your goal just my body anyway?”
“A sweet dream for one night… sometimes that’s better. …Do you happen to have a husband?”
“I did until six months ago. I even had a child. But I lost custody… I’m not as attractive a woman as you think. I’m in my mid-30s, and my personality is terrible.”
My eyes widened.
‘Mid-30s?’
It was unbelievable. She looked like she was in her mid-20s. It wasn’t like she had heavy makeup on either.
‘…Is she naturally youthful? And a divorcee… hmmm. Hot.’
Sophia downed her cocktail in one shot. Her face flushed slightly. Her eyes flickered, aware of me. Her eyes were softer than before. The effect of the pheromone perfume was kicking in.
“Don’t you sometimes want to forget everything? Let’s forget everything and just enjoy tonight.”
“Ha. You’re so blatant, it’s almost refreshing. Seeing as you don’t know who I am… you must be from somewhere else?”
“This is my first time at this bar.”
“…You have a smartphone, right?”
“It’s the latest model. Want me to show you?”
“Go online and search my name.”
“Are you perhaps a celebrity?”
“……”
There was no reply.
With a pounding heart, I searched her name online.
Sophia Mayvers.
She wasn’t a celebrity but a journalist. And not just any journalist, but the one who exposed President Joo Ji-Boshi’s corruption. Of course, she exposed the corruption he committed when he was a senator in Virginia, before he became president. I quickly scanned through the articles.
“You were a righteous journalist.”
“…Is that sarcasm?”
“No. I respect you. I know it’s not easy to write articles like this. But is it true that Joo Ji-Boshi took money from a cult and turned a blind eye to them?”
“I only pursue the truth. But people don’t accept the truth as truth. You don’t believe it either, do you?”
“I do believe it. And he took bribes from corporations… and his cousin was involved in a car accident and was arrested, but he used his power to get him out.”
“There are many more unknown corruptions.”
“How did he become president with so much corruption?”
“Asking that question tells me you’re not American.”
“Hmm. Yes. Sorry for lying.”
“It’s okay. Do you know about the recent China incident?”
“Are you talking about the large-scale dungeon break incident in China? Who doesn’t know about that?”
“It’s been resolved now, but it was very dangerous. If China had collapsed, the entire world’s economy would have been shaken.”
“But what does that have to do with anything?”
“At that time, the United States didn’t help China. It was because the congressmen, led by Boshi, vehemently opposed helping China. The American public was on their side too.”
“Hmm. The image of Chinese people isn’t good. So he gained popularity by antagonizing China.”
“He also managed his public image well. To the point where the articles I wrote had no effect. This part is a bit strange… Anyway, now you know why you shouldn’t get involved with me, right?”
“What’s the problem with that?”
“……Boshi is watching me. He’s monitoring me to make sure I can’t do anything. My friend lost his job because of me, and my parents’ company suddenly started to falter. And I… lost my family.”
“Haha. That sounds like something out of a movie. Would you like another Sex on the Beach?”
“…Does that sound like a joke to you?”
Sophia’s voice changed. It was a voice that seemed to suppress something rising within her. She glared at someone, and my eyes followed her gaze. The bartender, who was wiping wine glasses, glared back. He approached me and placed a glass of beer on the table.
“…Master. I didn’t order a beer?”
“It’s a gift from me to the customer.”
The bartender leaned forward. He looked down at me, exuding an intimidating aura. The oppressive mana emanating from his body swept around us.
‘…C-class, huh.’
It wasn’t just the bartender. I could feel gazes from all around. Judging by the sensations, they weren’t as strong as the bartender. They were E to F-class nobodies.
“I’m warning you. If you want to live long, you better manage your middle leg well. You seem particularly stupid, so I’ll say it again. Don’t act like a horny dog, drink your dog piss-like Chinachi beer, and get out of here.”
“……”
When I kept my mouth shut, the bartender smiled and withdrew his aura. He gestured with his chin for me to drink the beer, as if telling me to hurry up.
I grabbed the beer glass and smashed it over the bartender’s head.
Crash!
The beer glass shattered, and yellow beer soaked the bartender’s head.
Before the bartender could raise his mana, I grabbed the back of his head and slammed it into the bar.
‘Thunderclap.’
Zzzzzzzzzzz!
Thousands of blue currents of electricity erupted from my right hand, electrocuting the bartender. I wasn’t just satisfied with stopping his heart. I decided to fry his brain. Until his brain was so cooked that it melted into a slime.
“Damn it! It’s Michael! Variable detected! Requesting backup! The bartender was taken down instantly! The opponent is at least an A-class electrokinetic! Requesting backup!”
“Aaaaaaah!”
“Shoot! Even an A-class will die if hit by special bullets! Open fire!”
Thunder Heaven Style (雷天流) Electromagnetic Barrier (電磁氣幕).
The metal bullets fired at me stopped the moment they touched the electromagnetic barrier. I waved my hand. The metal bullets turned 180 degrees and flew back.
“Aaaaaaah!”
The men holding guns screamed. I had originally intended to kill them, but it was my first time, so the power was weak. I was about to approach them to finish them off when Sophia grabbed my arm.
“Stop! We have to run now!”
I hesitated for a moment but decided to follow her advice.
“Where to?”
“Let’s go through the back door!”
Sophia ran. I followed her, spreading my senses in all directions. I didn’t sense any danger.
Before going out the back door, she took a car key from a coat hanging on the wall. She ran to a black sedan outside. She took the driver’s seat, and I sat in the passenger seat. She started the car and stepped on the gas pedal with all her might. She was a surprisingly bold and fiery woman.
“You’re from Bluecad, right? Even so, you were too rough.”
“Bluecad? What’s that?”
“…You’re not from Bluecad?”
“No, I’m not.”
“……”
