The Player Who Stands Above All

Chapter 168

Tok- Tok- Tok-

The president tapped the table with his fingers and asked in a low voice.

"It's a secret meeting, so we couldn't mobilize many people, but we didn't neglect security to the point where it could be breached so easily…"

Even though he was speaking to an uninvited guest who had suddenly barged in, the president's tone was not much different from usual.

On the contrary, it even contained a hint of a smile, as if he were asking a clerk at a restaurant he frequented for a light greeting.

"How on earth did you get in?"

But apart from that, the president's words contained a weight that pressed down on people.

It was a kind of pressure that a person who was used to standing above others had, different from what a high-level Player would exude.

On top of that, he was the president, who could be said to be at the pinnacle of power in the Republic of Korea.

An ordinary person would naturally be nervous and find it difficult to speak properly as usual.

"Ah, that? I already showed you."

But there are people in the world who are nonchalant even in such pressure from birth.

Lee Shin answered in a playful voice and pointed to the bodyguards lying on the floor with his finger.

"It seemed their personalities had become sensitive from being overworked, so I sent them to dreamland to get some rest. They're probably sleeping soundly, oblivious to the world, right now."

"As expected…"

The president said that and glanced at the mask Lee Shin was holding.

"I had a feeling when I saw you wearing that mask, but I never thought that ghost would be a Korean, and such a young person at that."

"Wow, hearing those words from the president's mouth, it seems I've become quite famous."

"Well, you can't help but be famous."

The president said that and glanced at Cheon Yuhwa.

Cheon Yuhwa had been narrowing her eyes and staring at Lee Shin since he had entered.

The wariness in Cheon Yuhwa's eyes spoke of Lee Shin's danger in her stead.

"An unidentified skilled person who can deal with an LV.4 monster suddenly appeared."

The president said that and slightly straightened his posture.

Just that alone made the atmosphere surrounding the president a little heavier.

"You, what did you say your name was?"

"It's Lee Shin."

At the voice that was clearly trying to pressure him, Lee Shin smiled as if it were amusing.

"I'm a friend of Tarka's, so I came to help this time. Because if they get caught in a fraudulent contract, it could backfire on me too."

"Ha, a fraudulent contract."

The president let out a hollow laugh as if he were dumbfounded.

"Do you have the eyes to see a fraudulent contract?"

"Well, I haven't lived close to the law like a prosecutor or a lawyer, but I've lived in Korea all my life, so I know at least more than a race that has come from another world. And…"

Lee Shin smiled and slightly raised his momentum.

Just that alone instantly reversed the atmosphere of the conference room, and everyone in the room momentarily saw an illusion of Lee Shin's finger piercing their temples.

"If a person with this kind of power is in front of you, you'll at least think twice."

"…You really don't want to lose a single word."

At that, Lee Shin lightly clenched his hand into a fist and wrapped it with ki.

At that, a transparent fist ki was created on Lee Shin's fist.

"In a world like this, it seems it's okay to be a little reckless if you have this much power."

Watching the fist ki being created on Lee Shin's hand, Tarka's eyes trembled slightly.

Because he knew that Lee Shin's real weapon was a spear and that the time it had taken for Lee Shin to reach his current level was far shorter than that of ordinary warriors.

Usually, even if you can materialize and wrap yourself in ki, it takes a considerable amount of time to materialize ki on something other than the weapon you are used to.

But Lee Shin was already doing it naturally on his arm, which was more complicated than a weapon.

'What is this?'

"Ah, it's not a fake face or anything like that."

Lee Shin said that and drew a line on his cheek with his thumb.

The finger wrapped in ki exuded a sharpness that was not inferior to a sharp dagger, so it easily cut Lee Shin's cheek and made red blood flow.

The president looked at Lee Shin, who had cut his own cheek with a smiling face, with a slightly disgusted expression.

"Now, there's nothing covering it, right?"

"…Certainly."

The president, after confirming that Cheon Yuhwa was giving a small signal, readily nodded his head and organized his thoughts.

Although Lee Shin had subdued the bodyguards and entered, the president, of course, did not completely believe him.

He had been thinking that it was the result of a number of organizations working together, using some tool or a third party's help, or the object called a mask.

He had his own grounds for that.

Because Lee Shin's face was not on the list of Players to watch out for in the president's head.

'But if he's a skilled person who can materialize ki, the story changes.'

A strong person of LV.4.

That completely changed the evaluation of Lee Shin.

As time passed, the skills of the Players had improved, and naturally, various governments had continued to collect information on noteworthy Players.

That list was very detailed.

But now, a new strong person who was not on their list had appeared.

'There will be endless uses for him.'

As the president completely changed his judgment of Lee Shin's value, Tarka, who had been quiet until now, opened his mouth in a low voice.

"I didn't call just any random person either. I'm sorry for not telling you in advance, but I would be grateful if you would think that we are taking this meeting that seriously."

"…Yes, I understand."

At Tarka's words, the president nodded his head as if he understood.

Because now, in the president's eyes, Lee Shin's value had risen from an annoying obstacle to a strong person worth having a conversation with.

Lee Shin himself knew that fact well, so he lightly pushed up the glasses he was wearing for decoration and then unbuttoned the button that was closing his neck, as if relieved.

The teleport artifact that had been hidden by his clothes was revealed.

'Now then, I've succeeded in getting in and participating.'

Lee Shin smiled lightly at Cheon Yuhwa, who was glaring at him as if to pierce him.

At that, a voice was transmitted from the choker.

-Cover the thing on your neck. What are you going to do if you get caught later?

-If you don't want to get caught, first stop glaring at me, will you?

-You don't seem to know, but it's natural to be wary of an intruder like this.

At that, Lee Shin said with a smile.

-An intruder. You're being too harsh on a partner who's going to take control of this meeting with you.

***

Cheon Yuhwa glanced at Lee Shin and then turned her eyes to survey the surroundings.

The atmosphere, which had become chaotic with Lee Shin's sudden appearance, began to be organized surprisingly naturally.

Well, that might be natural.

It was a meeting where they were meeting the heads of the demi-humans for the first time.

Even if an unexpected situation occurred, they had no choice but to deal with it carefully, and it was best to let it pass smoothly if possible.

On top of that, they wouldn't want to have a hostile relationship with a skilled person of LV.3 top-tier to LV.4 who had suddenly barged in.

'That guy probably calculated all of that and came.'

Although she hadn't asked separately, Cheon Yuhwa could be sure.

Because he was a guy who seemed to act as he pleased, but moved strangely calculatively.

As the conversation between the government side and the demi-human side began to flow little by little, Cheon Yuhwa used an artifact to talk to Lee Shin.

It was also possible to use her aura to speak so that only Lee Shin could hear.

But if she did that, even if they couldn't hear the content of the conversation, there was a possibility that they would be caught talking, so she used an artifact.

-If you were going to make such a grand entrance, you should have at least told me in advance.

-What does it matter, this level of flashiness is just right to avoid being looked down upon.

Despite Cheon Yuhwa's prickly tone, Lee Shin said in his usual playful voice.

-And since I've dressed up like this, it's good to stand out this much, isn't it?

-Don't tell me you brought those guys for that reason too?

-I guess so. To be honest, I just thought it would be more impactful to appear with many people wearing masks.

The moment she heard Lee Shin's words, Cheon Yuhwa had to use all her strength to hold back the sigh that was about to come out.

'How did things turn out like this…'

The reason this had happened was because of a sudden phone call last night.

At first, she had hesitated whether to answer Lee Shin's sudden call, as it was ominous, but in the end, she had answered.

"What did you say?"

"So I'm going to participate in tomorrow's meeting too, as a surprise guest."

"…But why are you telling me that?"

"Huh? Well, looking at the situation, it seems you're trying to help the demi-humans settle down in Korea, so I called to ask you what I should do."

At Lee Shin's words, Cheon Yuhwa was at a loss for words for a moment, then she let out a small sigh and said.

She had expected that Lee Shin, with his personality of not being able to stay still in one place, would wander around here and there and not care about what was happening in the dungeon, but it seemed that was not the case.

But in fact, Cheon Yuhwa's prediction was accurate.

Because if Tarka hadn't asked Lee Shin for help first, Lee Shin would have left for overseas by now.

"So what are you going to do?"

"…Wait a moment."

Although it was a sudden proposal, Lee Shin's proposal made Cheon Yuhwa feel as if a nagging tooth had been pulled out.

Originally, Cheon Yuhwa had planned to forcibly intervene in this matter and give strength to the demi-humans while taking some losses.

And in that process, she was prepared to lose some of the political connections she had now.

But if Lee Shin spoke for her on that side, Cheon Yuhwa would be able to draw the picture she wanted without losing anything, no, a bigger picture than she had originally imagined.

'But should I have refused after all?'

Watching what Lee Shin was doing, that thought naturally came to her mind.

But Cheon Yuhwa forcibly erased those thoughts from her mind.

Now that the situation had already occurred, it was not the time to have regrets.

-Alright, do as you please. But make sure you keep your promise.

-I know. I also have a favor to ask, so I'll do my best.

Although the words were a sound argument, no sense of trust was created because of Lee Shin's laughter.

As if Lee Shin had noticed that, he added a few words.

-Don't worry, I also have a slight connection with Tarka and Mairiph-ajae. The higher the two of them go, the more it benefits me. This time, I'm really planning on helping purely.

-Hah, alright. I'll trust you, so let's get started.

-Alright.

Cheon Yuhwa said that, and Lee Shin smiled and opened his mouth.

-I have something I want to say for a moment.

"I have something I want to say for a moment."

At Lee Shin's sudden intrusion, the government side, which had been gaining momentum, narrowed their eyes slightly and glared at him, and Aier, who was being gradually cornered, let out a small sigh of relief.

Watching that, Lee Shin smiled slightly.

It was time to become the ace who saves everyone from the unpredictable joker.