Chapter 2164 – 2164. Eternal Eden
I quickly pulled out my smartphone and connected to the internet.
As Na Chae-young had said, the media was reporting on the Gwangju City Hall’s statements.
-Gwangju in Crisis! Mutant and Variant Groups Occupy Major Hospital!
-Gwangju Major Hospital. Military Unable to Intervene Directly Due to Safety Concerns.
-Gwangju Mayor Requests Assistance from Superpowered Individuals Nationwide.
News articles poured out. There was also a video of the Gwangju mayor holding a press conference. I clicked on the video to watch it.
“I am Kim Kwang-seok, the mayor of Gwangju.”
Kim Kwang-seok was a bald, pot-bellied middle-aged man. His face was like a bulldog’s. His tightly closed lips showed his stubbornness.
“A few days ago, the Sunwol Major Hospital was occupied by mutants and variants. Fortunately, the major hospital was closed, and there were no casualties. The staff who were working to operate the hospital were successfully evacuated thanks to the measures taken by the Ilwoo Group. Detailed information about the mutants and variants that occupied the hospital has not yet been received.”
I instinctively frowned. I felt an instinctive sense of unease listening to Kim Kwang-seok’s words.
‘Ilwoo Group? Why is the Ilwoo Group suddenly involved?’
Was this the Ilwoo Group trying to build a good reputation? I paused the video for a moment and searched for the Sunwol Major Hospital, which had become a hot topic.
‘Huh.’
The Sunwol Major Hospital was a hospital belonging to the Ilwoo Group. More precisely, it was a hospital run by the second daughter of the Ilwoo Group’s chairman.
I resumed the Gwangju mayor’s video.
“The military and the government wanted to launch missiles at the major hospital to blow it up, but I refused. This is because the aftermath of the missiles could affect Gwangju. In the first place, are they sane to even consider firing missiles at Gwangju? If the missiles were to miss, a major disaster could occur.”
Was that really the reason?
“The Sunwol Major Hospital was scheduled to open normally in two months. It is a hospital for the citizens of Gwangju. But they want to blow up the hospital itself with missiles just because it was occupied by mutants and variants? That’s unacceptable!”
Kim Kwang-seok spoke passionately. It seemed like it was too valuable to blow up with missiles. That seemed to be the reason.
“I requested a special forces unit from the military to deal with the mutants and variants, but they flatly refused. The reason was that it was dangerous.”
Of course, it’s dangerous. Personal firearms to deal with mutants haven’t been developed yet. Even if special forces were deployed, there was no guarantee that they could reliably deal with the mutants. Rather, there was a high probability of failure. Blowing it up with missiles was more certain and safer.
“I couldn’t accept that. So, I looked for another way, and I thought of the superpowered individuals called Awakeners.”
Kim Kwang-seok bowed towards the camera. He bowed perfectly at a 90-degree angle, revealing his empty crown, and pleaded.
“I ask for help from all the superpowered individuals in South Korea. Please, help our Gwangju! The citizens of Gwangju need your help!”
Shit.
I couldn’t help but swear.
The media was focused on Gwangju. It was even more so because there hadn’t been any special incidents in South Korea recently.
‘If I back out here? The spotlight will be all sucked up by other guys. Besides, I’ve been acting all righteous. Since the whole country is focused on Gwangju, I have to participate for my approval ratings.’
This sucks.
Should I drop the righteous act and ignore it? Should I make another excuse? Any reasonable excuse wouldn’t work.
I quickly checked the internet reactions.
-Daejeon Thor, Brain Emperor Ban Ho-sung. Decides to Respond to Gwangju Mayor’s Request! “I can’t stand idly by when my help is needed.”
-Gyeonggi-do’s Superpowered Individual, Polar Bear Han Doo-ho, Also Decides to Support! “Superpowers are a force to help the weak.”
-Numerous Superpowered Individuals Decide to Participate and Begin Gathering in Gwangju. But Seoul Zeus Sung Yu-jin, South Korea’s Top Superpowered Individual, Remains Silent?!
I just found out, but silent is bullshit.
‘With this atmosphere, I can’t not go.’
If I back out here, all the criticism would be directed at me. For the sake of the image I’ve built up so far, I have to go to Gwangju.
“Dr. Na, tell the Gwangju mayor that I’m going.”
“Are you really going? You know, the Sunwol Hospital is related to the Ilwoo Group. It might be a trap.”
“The media is paying attention. Even if it’s a trap, I have to go. The Sunwol Major Hospital has become a stage now. A stage to determine who is South Korea’s greatest hero.”
I forced the corners of my mouth up into a smile.
‘You asked for help, so I’ll help. But I’ll decide how I’ll help.’
Na Chae-young shook her head at my smile.
“You’re definitely planning something. Who are you going to take with you?”
“I’ll go alone. If I take Choi Hye-jin or Irina, they’ll steal all the spotlight. They’re too pretty.”
“What about the personal guard?”
“Am I going to promote that I’m organizing and operating a private army? I’ll go alone. It won’t take long.”
The Sungak Elementary School that people recognize is closer to a shelter that I operate. The name is still Sungak Elementary School. Doesn’t it give off a strong shelter vibe? If the word that I’m operating a private army here gets to the government, they’ll start to keep me in check.
‘Lee Yeon-hee is helping me well, but… since she’s affiliated with the government, I can’t trust her 100%.’
I got in the car and drove down to Gwangju. Since the government had used the military to clear the highways, I was able to arrive in Gwangju without any problems.
• • •
“Boss. We’ve confirmed that Sung Yu-jin has come down to Gwangju.”
Oh Ha-baek, Jin Sung-hwa’s secretary, said.
Jin Sung-hwa, who had been focused on her laptop, raised her head and smiled. As the second daughter of the Ilwoo Group’s chairman, she had planned this whole thing to avenge her family.
“As planned.”
“Yes. Sung Yu-jin is strangely concerned about her image. We’ve also confirmed that she’s systematically operating a comment brigade. Since the media is paying attention, she won’t back out halfway.”
“Is the combat power of the test subject certain?”
“The combat power of the artificial mutant test subject 114 Catherine, who was deployed to the Sunwol Major Hospital this time, is at a level that can destroy a city. No matter how strong Sung Yu-jin is, she won’t be able to handle it.”
“We haven’t been caught interfering, right?”
“The evidence has already been completely disposed of, but… we are being suspected.”
“Being suspected is fine. As long as there’s no evidence. What about Father?”
“The chairman has not shown any reaction.”
“Of course. That’s just how he is. If I fail, I’ll be scolded… If I succeed, I might get the vice-chairman position. Hehehe.”
Becoming the vice-chairman of the Ilwoo Group was the same as becoming the successor.
If she were to deal with Sung Yu-jin, who had terrorized the headquarters and killed Jin Sung-man and Jin Chung-hyun… she would be recognized for her achievement and become the vice-chairman.
“And we can wipe out those annoying superpowered individuals at once. If the superpowered individuals disappear, it will be easier for us to take over South Korea. Father will praise me a lot.”
“Congratulations.”
“I’ll receive the congratulations later. Secretary Oh, the test subjects aren’t the only thing you prepared, right? I trust your abilities.”
“I have hired contract killers. Even if things go wrong, they will kill Sung Yu-jin.”
“As expected of Secretary Oh. You know how to prepare for the worst.”
In a secret research lab on Tsushima Island, a conspiracy was growing.
• • •
I stayed at a hotel prepared by the city of Gwangju. The operation was scheduled to start at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Until then, it was free time.
‘It’s only called free time. There are reporters all over the place outside. The moment I leave the hotel, I’ll be in a hellish Q&A with the reporters.’
So, I decided to stay in the hotel and sleep.
The next day. I filled my stomach with the meal provided by the hotel, armed myself, and got on the bus prepared by the city of Gwangju. I could meet other Awakeners on the bus. I looked around at the Awakeners and smiled inwardly.
‘These nobodies are the heroes of South Korea?’
They looked like weaklings.
They also looked at me. The most famous Awakener in South Korea. Seoul Zeus. They couldn’t not know me, the one called the Thunder God.
“Wow, it’s nice to see you like this. I’m Ban Ho-sung. You’ve heard of my name, right?”
A man with a sledgehammer on his waist spoke to me. The muscular man was about twice my size.
I nodded with a friendly smile.
“Of course, I know you. Aren’t you the famous Daejeon Thor? I heard you have the same lightning ability as me? I look forward to working with you.”
“Haha. It’s an honor that the Thunder God knows me.”
Ban Ho-sung laughed heartily. But his eyes were burning like flames. I could feel his competitive spirit.
I didn’t like it. The fact that he had a competitive spirit meant that he thought he could compete with me.
‘I want to beat him down and make him realize the difference in our levels.’
I had to hold back.
There were too many eyes watching. There were reporters gathered outside the bus.
“People seem to think more highly of Sung Yu-jin than me. I’ll admit it cleanly like a man. Sung Yu-jin is stronger right now. But I’m constantly growing. And I won’t stop growing. My goal is to be the greatest hero in South Korea.”
He said such cheesy things without batting an eye.
“Well, I’ll cheer you on.”
“Haha. You seem relaxed. But can you do something like this?”
Ban Ho-sung spread his palm. He gathered electricity on his palm and spun it around.
“People say this looks like magic… Can Sung Yu-jin do this?”
I followed suit as if to show off. It wasn’t difficult at all. Ban Ho-sung’s smile immediately disappeared. Ban Ho-sung had concentrated for about 10 seconds, while I had controlled the lightning the moment I spread my palm.
“Y-you’re amazing.”
“It’s nothing.”
Thunder Heaven Style (雷天流) Electromagnetic Wave (電磁氣波).
I quietly emitted an electromagnetic wave. The image inside the bus was imprinted in my head. The superpowered individuals, including Ban Ho-sung, didn’t even realize that I had emitted an electromagnetic wave.
‘I know your levels well. It’s so boring that I want to die…’
I ignored Ban Ho-sung’s jealous gaze and sat down.
“Sung Yu-jin. Can we talk for a moment?”
