Chapter 1365 – 1365. God’S Atlantis
Jackson was a continental from Sector 6,700. This meant he had lived in Sector 6,700 since the beginning of the Eighth Atlantis.
Sector 6,700 was outwardly glamorous, but if you looked inside, it was disgustingly filthy.
Jackson had experienced similar situations a few times before.
‘I need to stay calm, especially in times like these. First, back up the data on the server….’
Jackson tapped on the machine while looking out the window. Black cars stopped in front of the studio, and men in suits poured out. At the center was Director David.
His hair was neatly swept back, revealing a pale face, hollow cheekbones, and sunken eyes. He was, of course, wearing a black suit. An appearance that evoked the image of a grim reaper.
‘Damn it. They even brought thugs….’
Sector 6,700 was safer than other sectors. At least, that’s what most people in Sector 6,700 thought. But if you looked closely, that wasn’t true either. All sorts of crimes occurred in Sector 6,700. It was just that they weren’t very visible to the public.
The kingdom of entertainment earned AP every month based on popularity.
AP.
Atlantis Points.
A currency superior to the penny, the common currency of Atlantis.
In Sector 6,700, simply maintaining popularity could earn you AP every month. Large agencies could earn hundreds of thousands of AP per month. That was equivalent to the power of a ruler in a decent sector.
AP was relatively easy to obtain through entertainment activities. Low risk, high return. That was why the flies were swarming.
‘Damn thugs….’
Most of the thugs were outcasts from outside. They were people with physical abilities stronger than ordinary humans who had luckily obtained tickets to Sector 6,700 and settled there. The only ones who could deal with thugs were other thugs or the police in charge of security in Sector 6,700.
‘But the cops are just as bad.’
Still, with a glimmer of hope, he reported it to the police. But it was as he expected. The line was cut off before the second ring. The police had deliberately hung up.
Knock knock knock!
“Director Jackson. It’s David. I know you’re inside. I’ve brought a gift for you, Director Jackson… Please open the door.”
“……!”
Jackson gasped. His heart was pounding like crazy. If it was Director David, he might be buried today. Should he just tell David everything?
‘…No. If I do, that crazy bastard….’
He remembered Sung Yu-jin torturing and killing Robert AD. His fingers trembled at the sight of that madness. Jackson was more afraid of Sung Yu-jin than Director David.
“Director Jackson. Are you in a dangerous situation? If you don’t answer within 10 seconds… I’ll force the door open! 10. 9. 8….”
“Stop! I’ll open the door now, so don’t do anything!”
“Ah, you’re safe. That’s a relief.”
Jackson looked at his smartphone and headed to the front door. Sung Yu-jin had read the message but hadn’t replied. He couldn’t tell if she was deliberately ignoring him or if she had read it and was on her way here. If she was coming, it would take at least 10 minutes.
Jackson grabbed the doorknob and managed his expression. Director David seemed more peaceful than he expected. That meant he was willing to talk. He could buy time until Sung Yu-jin arrived.
He opened the front door. Director David smiled faintly and bowed slightly.
“Director, I apologize for coming so late at night. I felt bad coming empty-handed, so I brought a gift. Please take a look.”
“A gift?”
Jackson’s gaze shifted behind David. Thugs in suits were holding boxes. And there were more than just one or two.
“What did you bring?”
“The latest electronic products and seasonal fruits.”
Gifts.
If it were the usual Jackson, he would have cheered with joy. But now, he felt as uncomfortable as if he were sitting on pins and needles.
•••
David, the director of Nar Entertainment, was originally an outcast who worked as a mercenary in the outer sectors.
He was happy to come to Atlantis. He thought that with his skills and brains, he could thrive in Atlantis. But reality was different from what he had imagined.
Atlantis was a savage world.
Fists are closer than the law? What a joke. Knives were closer than the law. Power, money. In this world, force was the ultimate.
Good brains? It was useless against someone strong. A strong person’s word could change your brain at any time.
The reason David came to Sector 6,700 was that there weren’t many strong people there. Because it was a sector with many restrictions, the strong felt more frustrated than attracted to the safety of Sector 6,700.
‘Better to be the head of a snake than the tail of a dragon. That’s my motto.’
David looked at Jackson, who was sitting in front of him. Jackson was acting arrogant towards him, but his eyes showed an undeniable fear.
David grinned and narrowed his eyes. He used his unique trait.
「Using Lie Detector.」
「Lie Detector
Can detect lies.
Type: Unique Trait
Rank: A」
“The task I asked you to do….”
“I’m doing it well. Don’t interfere.”
「That’s a lie.」
“Yes. I understand.”
David’s expression didn’t change at Jackson’s curt reply. But his mind was working fast. The task he had asked Jackson to do was a simple one: to make a music video for Phobitz haphazardly. It was literally just a matter of doing it roughly.
But it wasn’t going well? Something was up.
David started with a different topic.
“Do you know where Robert AD is right now?”
“How would I know? That guy disappeared without a word while working. He’s probably sleeping at home.”
「That’s a lie.」
Jackson’s voice trembled.
Deep fear.
He thought it was fear towards him, but… if he was really afraid of him, he wouldn’t even be able to make eye contact. Jackson was afraid of something else.
“Director Jackson. Even if it’s something small, please give me information about Robert AD. Are you perhaps hiding Robert AD?”
“Me, hide him? Why would I?”
That wasn’t a lie.
Jackson wasn’t hiding Robert.
“…Actually, I asked Robert AD to do something separately. Do you know about it?”
“I don’t know. How would I know? Don’t ask me about Robert.”
「That’s a lie.」
“So you do know. I asked Robert AD to secretly film Phobitz’s dressing room.”
“…You made him do something dirty. David. This has nothing to do with me.”
“Director Jackson, you’ve been afraid of something since earlier. What are you so afraid of? Is Robert AD perhaps dead?”
“…….”
Jackson’s pupils shook violently.
“If not, please say no.”
“I, I don’t know. Robert probably took your money and went into hiding. He’s the type to do that.”
「That’s a lie.」
“So he’s dead.”
“I said I don’t know.”
「That’s a lie.」
“Is it the work of Lilith Entertainment? They’re coming on pretty strong this time. I knew Lilith Entertainment didn’t shy away from dirty work, but I didn’t think they’d go as far as murder….”
“Damn it. I said I don’t know! If you’re going to make assumptions, get out of here!”
「That’s a lie.」
“Were you threatened by Lilith Entertainment? Director, let’s join hands. I’ll save you. If you trust me and follow my instructions, Lilith Entertainment won’t be able to touch you. I promise you that on my name.”
David, who had bowed his head to Jackson, was in a good mood at the thought of putting a leash on Jackson. Lilith Entertainment’s aggressive response? He had predicted it to some extent, so it was fine. No, it was something he had been hoping for. Lilith Entertainment would be shaken up a little by this.
‘Lilith Entertainment made a hasty move. That’s their mistake. If they want to fight in the dirt… they’re welcome. First, I need to coax Jackson to tell me the whole story….’
Thud.
A dull sound came from behind.
When David turned his head, something fell from above. It was a severed human head. The face was that of a bodyguard he knew well.
Jackson’s face came into his view. Jackson’s pale face was distorted with fear. The bodyguards moved before they could even scream.
Thud, splat, thump.
There was no sound of fighting.
Instead, there was the sound of bodies falling. Human heads fell, and blood filled the floor. All of his bodyguards were dead. Step, step. Someone walked through the pool of blood and approached David.
Cold sweat trickled down David’s neck. It felt like a sharp knife was enveloping his entire body.
“Hey.”
“…….”
At the voice calling him, he slowly turned his head. A man with a red sword in his hand was standing among the corpses.
“Are you David?”
“…Yes. I’m David, working for Nar Entertainment. You are….”
“How should I kill you? You touched my woman… Don’t even think about dying easily.”
“…I haven’t met any women recently. There must be some misunderstanding….”
“Phobitz. You tried to film them secretly, you bastard. That guy named Roberts spilled everything.”
Sung Yu-jin swung the Hwaryeon Blade in annoyance. The car of the bodyguard lying nearby was cleanly cut in half, spilling blood and guts.
David grabbed his trembling hands. He knew it the moment he saw him. This was a crazy bastard who couldn’t be reasoned with. He had encountered the scent of crazy bastards like this twice during his mercenary life. One was a guy who only killed boys, and the other was a guy who enjoyed cannibalism. And all those crazy bastards were stronger than David.
“…Save, save me. I’ll do anything… I’ll do anything.”
David got off the chair and knelt on the floor.
“Oh. You bow your head right away? You’re a smart one. It’s good if we can talk. I’ll spare you.”
「That’s a lie.」
He was going to die.
The other party had no intention of sparing him.
He needed to pull himself together. He had survived two encounters with crazy bastards. If he kept his wits about him, he could survive this time too.
“I’ll really do anything. I’ll give you all my assets. Just spare me… just spare me.”
“I said I’ll spare you. Lift your head. Let me see your face.”
「That’s a lie.」
David lifted his head.
The crazy bastards he had met hated it when you made them say something twice.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been this pissed. I probably won’t forget your face for a while. Your right arm and your left arm. Which one should I cut off first? Huh?”
“My unique trait is a lie detector. I can judge lies by listening to the other person’s voice.”
“…Oh. Interesting. And?”
“I’ll be your personal lie detector. Please spare me.”
“I said I’ll spare you?”
「That’s a lie.」
“I’ll bark if you tell me to bark, and I’ll kneel if you tell me to kneel. I’ll tell you all the corruption of Nar Entertainment. I’ll definitely be useful.”
“Nar Entertainment’s secrets…. Suddenly, I’m intrigued. The celebrities there… can they offer sexual favors?”
“Yes, they can. I’ll call them right away if you want.”
“I just happened to need a useful dog…. I like you. I’ll spare you.”
「That’s a lie.」
