Chapter 2170 – 2170. Eternal Eden
Jin Seonghwa checked the video that Seong Yujin had released.
Seong Yujin’s combat footage was quite impressive. She even knew about the bomb planted in the room beforehand, though how she knew was a mystery.
Objectively speaking, it was remarkable. Seeing this, she could understand how Seong Yujin could have possibly terrorized the headquarters and killed her older brother and nephew.
That is, until the captured contractor revealed the name of Jin Sukyeol, the chairman of Ilwoo Group and her father.
“It’s not just mentioning Ilwoo Group! He openly said Father’s name!”
Jin Seonghwa’s anger erupted into a scream.
In her family, Jin Sukyeol’s status was higher than anyone could imagine. It was no exaggeration to say that everything within the family was decided by Jin Sukyeol’s word.
“…The contractors don’t know our identities. This is Seong Yujin’s manipulation. If you watch the video, there are signs of editing.”
“Secretary Oh! That’s not the point right now! What about Father? What’s his reaction?!”
Jin Seonghwa was the one who planned and executed this. The backlash could be severe, even leading to a harsh reprimand.
“The Chairman hasn’t officially reacted. However, reporters and comment groups favorable to the group have been mobilized. The Chairman is also furious at Seong Yujin. It seems he’s been investigating her separately… and it looks like he’s trying to socially bury her.”
Only then did Jin Seonghwa calm down a bit.
“Well, if Father didn’t interfere with my plan… it’s as good as tacit consent to killing Seong Yujin. It’s just that the damn CCTV footage messed things up.”
“……”
Oh Habaek kept his mouth shut. The hospital CCTV footage was a bit unfair. He had definitely received a report from his subordinate that the CCTV footage had been deleted. He vowed in his heart to make the subordinate who gave the false report pay the price.
“What about the disposal of Catherine and the monster rats? How’s that going?”
“The disposal team hasn’t arrived yet. They’ll contact the military tomorrow afternoon. They’ll dispose of Catherine together with the military. However, the military will take the credit.”
“Since trust in the military has dropped because of this incident, I understand that much. What about the police?”
“The Gwangju police and the Gwangju mayor are witches. Even if they aren’t, they have to be witches. We need a definite culprit to make things easier.”
“I trust you’ll do well with that. Seong Yujin… I guess we can’t kill her, right?”
“Yes. It’s impossible for now. We need a more solid plan to kill Seong Yujin.”
“Okay. Let’s back off. Since Father has stepped in, Seong Yujin’s reputation will definitely plummet, so let’s just watch.”
• • •
I clicked my tongue as I looked at the internet. The criticism against me was overwhelming. Among them, some good stories about Ilwoo Group were also being released little by little.
Some smart ones realized that this was Ilwoo Group’s doing… but the public was already tearing me apart.
-The secret of Seongak Elementary School. ‘We are Seong Yujin’s slaves.’ Is Seongak Elementary School really a safe haven?
There was a reporter covering the story of Seongak Elementary School in detail.
Since this was based on facts, it was hard to refute it right away.
‘I thought I had complete control over Seongak Elementary School… did word get out? No, rather, I should assume there’s a spy in Seongak Elementary School.’
Seongak Elementary School doesn’t accept just anyone. Recently, they even conduct background checks in addition to interviews. But it wasn’t possible to see into people’s hearts. If someone was determined to plant a spy, there was nothing I could do.
-Seong Yujin. The cruel side that contradicts her kind appearance. Those who disappeared from Seongak Elementary School. Are they really missing?
Of course, they weren’t missing, they were executed.
Seongak Elementary School is my kingdom. Those who displease me deserve to die, and those who rebel are no exception.
‘The good thing is that there’s no definite evidence. Cameras and such are strictly controlled inside Seongak Elementary School.’
-A resident from Saetbyeol Apartment reveals Seong Yujin’s true colors. Was Seong Yujin the real cause of the Saetbyeol Apartment tragedy, not the parasites? The start of the execution vote was Seong Yujin.
‘The residents of Saetbyeol Apartment have been talking. Usually, their words would be ignored…’
Ilwoo Group had started to pour out everything to bury me. The only good thing was that there was no definite evidence.
Brrr.
My smartphone vibrated. It was a call from Na Chaeyoung.
-You know what’s going on, right?
“Ilwoo Group is going all out. What about the government?”
-The government is quiet. It seems they’re planning to watch for now.
“Of course, they would, considering what we’ve done for them so far. They probably don’t have a good relationship with Ilwoo Group because of the Busan fortification. No, wouldn’t it be better for the government to uproot Ilwoo Group entirely?”
-I don’t know much about politics… but that would be difficult. Ilwoo Group has done a lot in Korea. They seem to have considerable connections in the government and military. What’s important now is how you respond. People don’t fully believe the news yet. Because there’s no definite evidence. At the same time, you’re also a hero. But you know that’s fleeting, right? If you stay silent and respond vaguely, public opinion will worsen.
“Ah, it’s okay. I have a plan.”
-You sound relaxed, so I guess you do have a plan. But where are you right now?
“Me? At Seonwol Hospital.”
-What? Why there?
“I have to kill Catherine. That’s how the monster rats will spread throughout Gwangju. Ah, I’m hanging up.”
I roughly knew Catherine’s location.
‘Catherine went up when she escaped. So, the upper floors. Somewhere without CCTV… that is, the rooftop.’
When I arrived at the rooftop, Catherine was crouching in a shaded area.
Did she sense my presence? Catherine raised her head and looked at me. Regardless, I held the cutlass in one hand and rushed towards Catherine.
Lightning Heaven Style (雷天流) Gale Lightning (疾風迅雷).
A swift, fatal strike. I rushed in and beheaded Catherine before she could react. Feeling the strain on my body, I confirmed Catherine’s corpse falling to the ground.
‘If I use recovery, I might be able to turn the variant back into a human, right?’
There was no reason to. Catherine looked human, but… I couldn’t be sure she was pretty. And even if I turned her back into a human, she wouldn’t remember when she was a variant.
‘I was a bit bothered by it from the first time I saw her, but why is she wearing a name tag around her neck?’
I paused as I looked at the name tag up close. The name tag was quite thick. I held the name tag in my hand. It was hard. I could feel a strange vibration inside the name tag.
‘Did they hide a device inside the name tag? Ah, was this Catherine’s control mechanism?’
Squeak, squeak, squeak!
I could hear the sound of rats. The monster rats were rushing out of the hospital. They weren’t moving in a group, but scattering in all directions. The police and military surrounding the hospital were flustered and fired at the monster rats.
I was about to leave when I paused. Catherine. Maybe I could use her?
First, I called Na Chaeyoung.
“Dr. Na, I found something interesting. There’s a device inside Catherine’s name tag. I think it’s a way to control Catherine? Could I use this in reverse?”
-Take a picture of the device’s structure and send it to me.
Click!
-…Hmm. This is just a signal device. The way they control Catherine is probably through brainwashing.
“So, I can’t control her?”
-No. The brainwashing was probably done with the power of an Awakened. But I can erase the brainwashing.
“How?”
-Recovery ability. You said you restored the data by rewinding the hard disk, right? It’s the same thing. I’ll rewind Catherine’s brain to before she was brainwashed.
“Heh. It’s better to keep Catherine alive.”
I’ll keep Catherine alive. Of course, I’ll restore her brain to before the brainwashing. Honestly, I didn’t know how far I had to restore it… I had to do it by instinct.
And it seemed like I succeeded.
The awakened Catherine stared at me blankly. Her limbs were broken, but she moved little by little. I didn’t remove the sword pointed at Catherine’s neck and said,
“This is the only time I’ll spare you.”
I left Catherine behind and exited the hospital.
Now, Catherine would run wild in Gwangju. And then she would be defeated by the military. What was certain was that the blame would be directed at Ilwoo Group, not me.
• • •
To reverse the worsening public opinion, I visited a hospital. Not Seonwol Hospital. A slightly smaller hospital. The hospital was naturally overflowing with patients. I deliberately called the reporters. I even hired people to handle the live broadcast cameras.
“Hello, everyone. I am currently at Gwangju Haedong Hospital.”
I didn’t bother to explain each point of the worsening public opinion.
Instead, I would show them clearly.
The value of me, the man named Seong Yujin.
“There are many unfortunate people in this hospital. Especially children who have incurable diseases and no hope. I will cure them.”
I revealed my hidden ability, recovery. Of course, I didn’t plan to show any performances like resurrecting the dead. I couldn’t guarantee the aftermath of resurrection.
“This is my second Awakened ability.”
I cured a child who was on the verge of death due to an incurable disease.
I deliberately coughed up blood in front of them. By coughing up blood, I showed that there was a price to pay for this ability.
The reporters and viewers watching were shocked.
“…As you can see, this ability comes at a cost to me. But I will not hide this ability from you, the people. I will save you!”
A saint had appeared in Korea.
It was me.
The public opinion that had been cursing me instantly changed to praising me.
Riding this momentum, I cursed Ilwoo Group.
“Ilwoo Group is a company that engages in all sorts of dirty deeds. Ilwoo Group is also behind the current mayor of Gwangju. The terrorists who tried to kill me! They confessed that they were hired by Jin Sukyeol, the chairman of Ilwoo Group, to kill me! Furthermore, Ilwoo Group is a Japanese company! Ilwoo’s work is Japan’s work! Japan is planning to invade Korea using Ilwoo Group! Korea is like a candle in the wind! To rise again, Korea must drive out Ilwoo Group! People of Korea! Do not trust Ilwoo Group!”
