novelraw Chapter 279 : Chapter 279
Chapter 279 : Chapter 279
Chapter 279: Hero (2)
Lee Byeong-hoo’s declaration, though far from rational in its content, carried a level of influence far exceeding that of a simple lunatic villain.
Even if the logic was equally insane, when it came from the mouth of someone who had strived as a Hero their entire life and had been everyone’s idol, the outcome was different.
Indeed, a profoundly confusing atmosphere was created here and there.
Even with the entire assembly consisting of former and current S-rank Heroes, they were this unsettled.
Other Heroes would be even more affected.
Or, was it precisely because they were S-ranks that they clearly felt the problem he presented?
The system that relies solely on Heroes for the entire society is problematic, but even more problematic is the immense burden placed solely on the Heroes.
It was a problem that was bound to explode eventually, and it just so happened to come from Byeong-hoo's mouth.
There were a few Heroes who were completely unshaken, but these were even more dangerous.
They had no interest in Byeong-hoo's claims.
Because, for now, he was just a minority faction.
These people, who only cared about social justice and citizen safety, didn't care about affiliations.
They simply wouldn't forget the work they had to do because they were swayed by a minority.
However, conversely, if Byeong-hoo’s influence grew stronger, they were the type to completely wash their hands of the current system for the same reason.
They were the real fanatics, for whom affiliation and job title didn't matter, as long as social stability was maintained.
There were only a few people, including the Swordmaster, who would rely on their own conviction and righteousness to handle things well.
Ho-cheol squinted his eyes and looked around the banquet hall.
Initially, they seemed quite disturbed, but most quickly regained their composure.
After all, citizens being unpleasant wasn't a one or two-day affair, and anyone who would completely fall for those words due to stress would never have reached the S-rank.
In the first place, Byeong-hoo probably didn't expect to incite the Heroes with just this one attempt.
This incident was merely a tiny wedge.
But even a fingernail-sized wedge can split a huge rock.
He likely held the mindset that all he needed to do was drive it in.
Just as he was contemplating the events ahead and how to respond, the Dean, having finally recovered his wits, approached.
“The situation is serious. Especially some of the S-ranks who rose quickly recently are noticeably disturbed.”
Most S-rank Heroes were veterans who had worked their way up for over ten years in the A-rank or below.
However, due to incidents that occurred in recent years, the number of S-rank Heroes sharply decreased, and they were forced to promote some slightly underqualified Heroes to fill the void.
Lacking experience, skill, and seasoning, they were bound to be more easily shaken than the other S-ranks.
“I'll head back immediately and figure out a countermeasure.”
At the Dean's words, Ho-cheol shrugged.
“Me? Not really.”
The Dean narrowed his eyebrows at his lukewarm attitude.
What did he just say?
“What do you mean by that?”
“No. It’s true, isn't it?”
Ho-cheol reached out to a nearby table and picked up a fancy-looking cookie.
“He didn't explicitly say he was going to harass citizens or anything; he just said he was going to replace the Hero system. It’s a simple difference in direction, so there’s no need for me to step up and stop it……”
Ho-cheol trailed off, chewing the cookie.
The Dean, in contrast to Ho-cheol’s relaxed response, seemed bewildered and parted his lips.
There was a significant contradiction in Ho-cheol’s words.
If Byeong-hoo's claims and logic had been pursued through peaceful means, it would have been a simple generational change.
But he was clearly trying to achieve his goal through force, blood, and violence.
There was no way Ho-cheol wouldn't know that, so why the lukewarm reaction?
The Dean stared at Ho-cheol with an utterly suspicious gaze.
“Something is going on.”
“I can't say there isn't.”
Ho-cheol subtly gave a hint.
“It seems the Association still wants to somehow persuade him and use him again. So they told me not to interfere.”
“What did you say?”
The Dean questioned his ears again.
And he ground his teeth.
How is it that the Association bastards have never been helpful even once?
Not only are they useless, but they also interfere—it was maddening.
“That’s what I heard. I don’t know if it’s still valid. Anyway, so I'm not going to bother with this. Let the Heroes deal with it themselves.”
As Ho-cheol turned away, the Dean grabbed his shoulder again.
“Even if that’s the case, don’t you know that if we leave him alone like this, the citizens will suffer enormous damage? How can a man who knows all this talk so irresponsibly!”
“No. They won't.”
“What?”
Ho-cheol, who only turned his head back, let out a dry laugh.
He curled his middle finger and rubbed his temple.
“Why would that man call me to a meeting that only S-rank Heroes need to attend?”
If Heroes instantly disappeared, even if a replacement system existed, social chaos would be inevitable.
A mass outbreak of villains, a rise in the crime rate.
It would far exceed the capacity of regular police to handle.
That is why Byeong-hoo called Ho-cheol.
“He's telling me not to interfere, but to continue suppressing the villains.”
After meeting me a few times since my release, he completely saw through my tendencies and set up the stage.
Byeong-hoo intended to steer this situation into an internal fight between the Heroes within the Association.
If Ho-cheol intervened, he would be an outsider regardless.
Moreover, a villain would be involved.
The justification and the narrative flow itself would be absolutely unfavorable to him.
Simply Ho-cheol's personal might was a problem, but the balance of power could be greatly shaken just by the involvement of his faction.
Of course, it was annoying to be moving according to his will, but if I recklessly intervened and caused chaos, the ones who would suffer were the ordinary citizens.
“So you’re just going to observe?”
“I was refused, saying I wasn't needed, so what can I do? There’s no room for me to interfere.”
The Dean crumpled his nose bridge.
“The Jeong Ho-cheol I knew would have ignored all of that and moved to protect the people. I judged you wrongly.”
“No, you judged correctly.”
As if he had nothing more to say, the Dean let go of Ho-cheol's shoulder, which he had been holding until now.
Ho-cheol lightly dusted off his shoulder and left the hall again.
The Swordmaster merely watched him silently from a distance.
Ho-cheol stepped out of the hotel and chuckled to himself.
“As if.”
He pressed the corners of his mouth with his fingertips.
Other things, like skill, improved as much as I practiced, but acting was simply not getting easier.
Was it because the foundation of acting was ultimately lying?
I only put on a show because there were too many ears listening.
It was too risky to reveal my true intentions in that hall.
It was practically confirmed that a betrayer among the S-ranks would emerge later, and what Ho-cheol was worried about was the probability that a betrayer was already present.
No, it was embarrassing to even call it a probability.
100%.
Furthermore, I was more than certain.
That is why I had created tension with the Dean using words I didn't mean.
Whether the Dean saw through my acting or took it seriously.
Honestly, it didn't matter.
I didn't need his cooperation for this matter anyway.
No, it was better to keep a distance.
“Now. What should I do.”
Ho-cheol entered a nearby park and sat down on a bench.
He reviewed the events that transpired today and anticipated the future situation.
Division among the Heroes was inevitable.
Ideally, someone would stand as the center of gravity and firmly stabilize the balance, but unfortunately, the Hero side currently lacked such talent.
The Swordmaster at least had the best reputation, but he lacked the ability to immediately seize control of such a schism.
Unlike Smiley or The Sun, who possessed the popular appeal and overwhelming charisma to draw people in, the Swordmaster was a case of someone who diligently did his own work and was recognized for his ability to climb to the top.
“Will it split into roughly three groups?”
Heroes who want to maintain the current Hero system.
Heroes who want to establish a new Hero system centered around Byeong-hoo.
And Heroes for whom the name doesn't matter, as long as justice is served.
They would split up and probably fight until only one side remained.
The conflict between the Association and the Heroes is not a big problem because they are two groups with completely different natures, even if their goals and names are similar.
However, a split within the Heroes themselves is a great disaster.
To solve this problem, the best option would be for Ho-cheol to explicitly support one side.
In fact, if I were to follow my own feelings, I would want to support Byeong-hoo's side.
It was true that the citizens' attitude toward Heroes and their social treatment was excessive.
However, not in this manner.
Even if the purpose and essence are right, I have learned several times that the process, choices, and subsequent actions are equally important.
Even if his goal was to prevent more victims like his daughter from appearing, if innocent victims emerged in the process, he would ultimately be no different from a villain harming others for their own gain.
No, moving based on a firm conviction made him even more dangerous than a mediocre villain.
He was walking on a dangerous boundary, and though he had crossed the line long ago, even the slightest misstep would cause him to fall into a pit incomparable to the present.
Although I have committed a considerable number of murders, that is not a reason to allow him to commit further sins.
I must stop him now.
If Byeong-hoo had been a little more level-headed, he would have established an organization that performed the functions of a Hero, but under a different name.
He would have used his reputation, citizen support, and the events he experienced to create a massive propaganda campaign, slowly and surely suffocating the old-style Heroes.
In that scenario, Ho-cheol would have had no opening to interfere.
All I could have done was stare blankly as the name of the Hero disappeared.
And if he had been a little more consumed by madness, he would have physically appeared at the hotel today instead of on the screen, intending to kill all the Heroes.
“Do you understand?”
Ho-cheol tilted his head back and looked at the area behind the bench.
Wolf Fang was crouching there, waiting.
He scratched his cheek and replied with a troubled tone.
“I understand, sir. But it doesn’t seem like there’s anything we can do right now.”
In Wolf Fang's view, the benefits they could gain by interfering in this situation were minimal. No, they would surely only suffer losses.
“Why do you say there’s nothing to do?”
Ho-cheol stood up from the bench.
“Go and find me two fake identities. Very clean ones.”
Wolf Fang, who heard his rough plan, gasped in surprise.
“Are you serious?”
“Why would I be joking?”
“……Considering the Boss’s hatred for Heroes, it’s hard to believe.”
“Exactly. If even you think that, imagine what others will think.”
In the current situation, the people who cannot move carelessly are the 'villain' Jeong Ho-cheol, the 'professor' Jeong Ho-cheol, and the 'ordinary citizen' Jeong Ho-cheol.
A 'Hero' Jeong Ho-cheol, who had never existed, let alone been active, was a different matter.
Of course, my face is now publicly known, but covering it up and operating is another strong point of Heroes.
“Indeed, if you think of it as exploiting a loophole, there might be nothing better than this.”
At least, no one who knew Ho-cheol would ever imagine it.
If I can't stop the storm from outside, shouldn't I go inside and remove the cause?
“Well, what can I do?”
He let out a dry, slightly amused laugh.
“Still, I never thought I’d actually play the role of a real Hero.”
You truly live and learn.