novelraw Chapter 238 : Chapter 238
Chapter 238 : Chapter 238
Chapter 238: S-rank
Although the Hero Association was in charge of overall management and protecting the rights of all heroes, that didn't mean there were no gatherings or groups among heroes at all.
City-level hero communities for information sharing and cooperation also existed, and there were organizations where the requirement for joining was hero rank.
Of course, most of those were, at best, small gatherings of a dozen or so members.
Compared to the Hero Association, their influence or recognition was less than dust.
That was why the Association also considered itself the only hero organization.
However, a single counterexample existed.
Its military power, recognition, influence, all of it wasn't lacking at all compared to the Hero Association.
No, rather, if it wanted to influence hero society, it possessed enough power to overwhelm the Association.
The number of affiliated heroes was small, only a few dozen at most.
Even the bond between its members wasn't strong at all.
It was no different from having almost no meetings.
‘Former and Current S-rank Hero Gathering’
If you were an S-rank Hero, you were joined regardless of your own will.
However, without any responsibility or duty, you just put your name on the list.
Since there were practically no activities, the S-rank Heroes didn't think much of it.
As for the organization's activities, it was just getting dried persimmons or Spam sent in the gathering's name during the holidays?
Even that didn't exist originally; Smiley had sent them out using her own money.
The last time they had gathered in the gathering's name was already over 20 years ago.
Even then, the gathering itself took place online.
That's how little reason they had to meet.
An S-rank Hero was the last bastion protecting the public order of their affiliated city.
Weekdays, weekends, it didn't matter; leaving that area was a big risk in itself.
It was naturally impossible for a dozen or so S-rank Heroes to gather for the simple purpose of socializing.
An organization that barely maintained its existence.
However, today, for the first time, that gathering took place offline.
A spacious conference room.
It was an unnecessarily large space for just 20-odd heroes to gather.
In truth, a smaller conference room was reserved, but the hotel, upon checking the gathering's name, had hastily provided the most splendid and spacious banquet hall.
“Wow. It’s been a while, everyone.”
One of the former S-rank Heroes nodded his head and exchanged greetings.
The atmosphere itself was amiable.
In the first place, checking each other and viewing one another as competitors was a prerogative of A-rank Hero politics; these S-rankers had no reason for such things.
What's more, they were retired now, so they just hoped their successors would do better.
Otherwise, they themselves might be dragged back to the field.
One active S-rank Hero muttered, holding a glass in one hand.
“Anyway, I didn't expect Teacher Sword Demon to be the one to call us.”
Everyone around nodded as if they agreed.
The host of today's gathering was the current S-rank No. 1, Sword Demon.
This was the biggest reason this gathering was even happening.
If any other S-rank Hero had called this gathering, this level of attendance would have been impossible.
At best, maybe three or four retired heroes would have gathered.
Sword Demon, who didn't even participate in Association-hosted hero events, was holding a gathering himself?
Was it an impersonation?
Was he terminally ill?
Everyone who first saw the invitation had such thoughts.
And since the purpose wasn't written properly, the heroes gathered, unable to hold back their curiosity.
The man who wouldn't even show his face at gatherings hosted by the Association?
Half of the S-rank Heroes attended the gathering out of curiosity―wondering what on earth Sword Demon was holding a gathering for, and the other half attended as a sign of respect.
The other S-rank Heroes acknowledged him; he might be a bit lacking as a hero, but they acknowledged his achievements and strength.
“I wonder what he called this assembly for.”
“It’s obvious. The crazy bastard who openly attacked the Association Headquarters. He probably intends to catch and crush him.”
“True. But the things he said at the end. If that’s true, it’s a bit hard to call the Association a simple victim, isn't it?”
In an instant, the mood sank.
The position of an S-rank Hero was one where information gathered in all sorts of ways just by staying still.
They all knew the Association had a dark side.
But they considered it a necessary evil to some extent, and since there were no major problems, they just turned a blind eye.
However, if Ho-cheol's public statement was true.
No, even if just half of it was true.
The Association was by no means the justice they thought it was.
“Even if the Association caused such an incident, are you listening to a villain who smashed the Association building? And it’s not just anyone, we heroes should trust the Association.”
One S-rank Hero, who had a relatively friendly relationship with the Association, shouted.
“It’s not entirely wrong, but in the end, the Association is not a hero.”
Opinions were divided even among the S-ranks.
Just as the opinions of the side defending the Association and the side doubting it were heating up.
The door opened at the perfect time, and Sword Demon was the last to enter.
One of the retired heroes, who had less reason to get overly immersed, clapped his hands lightly.
“Oh, the main character has arrived.”
It wasn't like there was a strict hierarchy, and a simple nod of the head was enough for a greeting.
“So, what on earth is this about?”
A retired hero smiled slyly and nudged Sword Demon's side with his elbow.
However, Sword Demon didn't answer.
Instead, he let out a faint sigh and turned his head back.
Following him, another person entered the banquet hall.
Ho-cheol, wearing sunglasses, looked around inside and marveled.
“Wow. This is quite a sight in its own way. Even at the Association-sponsored Hero Chart announcements at the beginning of the year, only three or four S-rankers barely showed up, didn't they?”
Even when he was committing villainy, at most three or four S-rankers would gather to face him.
For all existing S-rank Heroes to gather was just that amazing.
He turned his gaze back to Sword Demon and spoke.
“I take back what I said about you being a fill-in No. 1. If you can gather all these people, you must be acknowledged to some extent.”
I didn't expect this many to gather.
“Who are you?”
All the heroes here had seen the video of Ho-cheol declaring war on the Association, but they couldn't connect that Ho-cheol with the Ho-cheol in front of them now.
The sunglasses were part of it, but the atmosphere itself was completely different.
“I'm the real host of this gathering. Ah, introductions first, I guess.”
Ho-cheol smirked and lifted his sunglasses.
“The one who's been making headlines lately, the one who openly picked a fight with the Hero Association……”
Ho-cheol looked at the hero who had just called him that and smiled lightly.
“That crazy bastard.”
Only then did the heroes recall Ho-cheol's face and get flustered.
Even with Ho-cheol's sudden appearance, though some heroes were a bit flustered, not a single one was afraid or nervous.
And why would they be?
There were 20 S-rank Heroes gathered here.
The safest place in this country was definitely this banquet hall.
No matter how strong he was, he had no chance against nearly 20 S-rankers, including Sword Demon.
If Sword Demon just bought a little time at the front, he'd get hit in the back of the head with something and be gone.
He didn't come with that goal in the first place.
“If it's about my business, it's simple.”
As he said that, Ho-cheol put his hand inside his coat.
And at that moment.
Cheolkeok―
Before he could even put his hand in his coat, a gun barrel was aimed at his temple.
A hero who had closed the distance in an instant warned in a low voice, his finger on the trigger.
“I recommend you don't try anything stupid.”
It was a speed so fast that even Ho-cheol would have missed it if he wasn't paying attention.
The speed-specialized hero famous for being the fastest hero, Highlander.
Besides him, several other active-duty heroes immediately entered a combat stance at Ho-cheol's suspicious movement.
“Good. As expected, you can't compare to other mediocre heroes or villains.”
He praised them sincerely.
S-rank by name.
Among them, there was no one incompetent enough to not meet Ho-cheol's standards.
They're not selling S-rank titles for money yet.
What a relief.
Ho-cheol let out a sigh of relief inwardly and looked around.
He barely knew the faces of the active S-rank Heroes, but the retired heroes were a different story.
Heroes he had fought countless times when he was committing villainy in the past.
Now, he even felt a strange sense of nostalgia.
Though they probably had no clue as to his true identity.
If they remembered him, a huge fight would have already broken out.
“Anyway, I didn't come here to fight, so don't be so nervous.”
“It's not nervousness, it's caution. Who knows what a guy who even terrorized the Association will do.”
“What's the point of lowering your voice and trying to set the mood like that. It's useless. You just end up embarrassed later.”
It was a fairly serious piece of advice.
“In any case, I'd rather not get a hole in my clothes……”
I wore an expensive suit to match the dress code.
Instead of putting his hand in his coat, Ho-cheol grabbed his lapel and opened it slightly.
A yellow paper envelope was visible inside.
He gestured lightly with his chin at Highlander, who still had his gun aimed.
Highlander, though sending a suspicious gaze, took out the envelope.
“Open it and hand them out, one to each.”
Highlander clicked his tongue and scattered the papers into the air.
A hero with a telekinesis Trait distributed the papers to everyone with just a light gesture.
It's a good thing I printed plenty; otherwise, there might not have been enough to go around.
Sword Demon, who received the paper first, asked puzzledly.
“What is this?”
Sword Demon also hadn't heard the real reason Ho-cheol gathered them.
He had simply been blackmailed using Dayeon as leverage and had no choice but to send out the invitations.
It was a demand he had no reason to refuse.
What kind of amazing feat could he pull in a place teeming with former and current S-rank Heroes?
Conversely, this was a golden opportunity for them to capture Ho-cheol.
But there was no need to hear Ho-cheol's answer.
Just reading the first part of the paper was enough to make him unable to hide his astonishment.
“……What is this.”
Someone muttered.
However, that mutter was a word that spoke for the feelings of everyone gathered here.
While the heroes were reading the contents of the document, Ho-cheol answered belatedly.
“The Association's shame. The 'real' dark aspects I didn't reveal in front of the press last time.”
Ho-cheol sat on the edge of the conference room table and shrugged.
“It's too provocative for ordinary citizens. Informing them would only create chaos. But you all are different.”
Those who have power have a responsibility for that power.
And for them, ignorance was also a sin.
“At the very least, the excuse that S-rank Heroes couldn't help it because they didn't know shouldn't be made. And you're not just bystanders, shouldn't you take some responsibility as involved parties?”
Now, the excuse of simply not knowing was impossible.
Sword Demon, who had finished reading the document, let out a sigh.
“Is this real?”
“Would it be fake?”
Even at Ho-cheol's sarcasm, the S-rank Heroes couldn't say anything.
Just the contents that had already been made public had sprouted doubts about the Association's reason for existence, but this was on another level.
Even the expression Hero Association was a waste.
Wasn't it practically a Villain Association?
“Now, you see that the gun shouldn't be pointed at me, right?”
Among them, a few pure heroes wore expressions of genuine disbelief.
Most of them were new heroes who had risen to S-rank in the last few years.
To them, the Association was the absolute standard and good.
“So what do you want?”
An S-rank Hero asked, crumpling the document in his hand.
If he was here to say some nonsense like, ‘join hands with me and let’s destroy the Association.’
He was ready to throw a punch at that smirking face right now.
However, Ho-cheol's goal was quite different from their expectations.
“Nothing.”
Ho-cheol erased his smirk from just a moment ago and put on a serious face.
He warned the heroes, who wore puzzled expressions.
“I'm doing what you all keep failing to do. Even if you can't help, don't get in the way.”
Even after I kindly created this opportunity and left a warning, if you still side with the Association and block me.
“If you're that brainless, I won't hold back and will properly crush you.”