The Player Who Stands Above All

Chapter 95

Tadadadak-

"I've sent it. The last place the signal went was the sewer connected to the building below."

"The sewer? Why there of all places?"

"It seems that because they were guys who did dirty work, they had made several doors to escape through in case of an emergency."

The hackers hired by [Wonderland] told Joker their thoughts.

"Hmm, a retreat due to a stronger than expected attack."

"And the rival organization written in the last message sent to the organization while escaping through the sewer."

"...Certainly, just looking at the scenario, it doesn't seem like there will be any problems. There are a lot of empty parts, but that's why it might be able to stimulate the imagination."

Joker nodded as he answered.

"Well, this is an operation that holds true on the assumption that what this guy said was the truth."

At Yeonhwa's words, the gazes of everyone present focused on Irie.

"I won't ask you to believe me, but please just watch until the results come out. I've given you information and even actively presented my opinion, so you can at least do that much, right?"

Irie appealed his usefulness to Yeonhwa while rubbing the part that had been bound by handcuffs.

"Well, I can certainly do that much. I was thinking of dealing with the [Black Dragon Society] after [Dawn], and it was actually a useful operation."

Kim Jae-hyun said, and recalled the information that Irie had mentioned once more.

-If Japan has [Dawn], then China has the [Black Dragon Society]. Well, those guys were created by the integration of the guys who were originally in the underworld, rather than receiving help from the Chinese government.

-Let's drag those guys in. The relationship between the two organizations has been terrible recently. We'll be able to slowly build up our strength while chipping away at [Dawn]'s power.

-Hmm? Why is their relationship bad? As far as I know, I heard that the two organizations are fighting over Korea, so their relationship is bad. So if we just create a small trigger, they will definitely clash. Because both organizations' pride pierces the heavens.

Recalling it again, he was on the verge of letting out a hollow laugh.

'To think they were fighting each other, thinking Korea was an empty land. I didn't expect Yeonhwa-nim doing his job too well would have this kind of effect.'

As Kim Jae-hyun was having thoughts mixed with a chuckle, Irie was desperately moving his mouth next to him.

"You've confirmed through other guys that my words aren't a lie, right?"

"And thanks to me spilling the information, the rest of the guys are also talking smoothly as if a dam has broken, right?"

"Right? No, I'm really a more useful person than you guys think. Isn't this enough to let me live?"

Looking at Irie's appearance, everyone present had the same thought.

'He's desperate.'

'He's desperate.'

'He's desperate.'

Kim Jae-hyun and Yeonhwa thought for a moment before opening their mouths.

"I don't think it matters to me."

"I don't think it matters to me either."

"Hmm... It doesn't seem like something the person who made the request should say, but is it okay to decide so lightly?"

At the light affirmative words, Joker intervened.

Next to him, Irie was gesturing with his eyes as if to say, 'don't say useless things', but Joker ignored the signal by turning his head.

"It really doesn't matter. We're planning to at least put him under surveillance..."

"From the looks of it, he's a typical brainy type, so we can easily take care of him if necessary."

"Ah... ahaha..."

At Yeonhwa's words, Irie recalled the moment when ten heads had fallen at the same time and laughed awkwardly.

"But Joker-nim, are you okay with the revenge? Even if you use the [Black Dragon Society] instead of doing it with your own hands?"

"Hmm... In the past, I wanted to get revenge with our own hands from beginning to end, but after hearing a lecture from Mr. Smile, my thoughts have changed a bit."

Lee Shin hadn't really given them anything that could be called a lecture, but before they knew it, the image of Lee Shin as an adult who had scolded them had been established in their minds.

"So now, I'm satisfied enough if I can just take care of the executives who planned everything at the very top of the organization, so it doesn't matter."

The two nodded.

What could they, as outsiders, do when the person seeking revenge said so?

"But what if those guys don't fight? Or what if they end up cooperating with each other?"

"Hmm? Ah, that part is fine."

At Joker's words, Kim Jae-hyun answered simply.

"I think Joker-nim is misunderstanding something, but with our current strength, even if [Dawn] and the [Black Dragon Society] join forces, our chances of winning are higher."

"...Yes?"

At Kim Jae-hyun's sudden words, Joker was flustered, but Kim Jae-hyun's words were sincere.

"Actually, with this much strength, it's harder to lose even if we want to."

Kim Jae-hyun's words were 100% pure truth.

Because among the available forces, there were three of the Ten Kings, and there was one more skilled person, Lee Shin, who was comparable to them.

Joker didn't know that far, so he was having a little trouble accepting it, but Irie, who was listening from the side, nodded in understanding.

Because he had seen Yeonhwa being attacked by the combined forces of Susanoo, Yagyu, and Oowada, yet not even blinking an eye and overwhelming them.

'And looking at the facilities, I don't think they're lacking in terms of capital either.'

As Irie was quietly racking his brain.

"I don't think it will be much of a blow even if you betray us, but I'll give you a warning just to be sure."

Yeonhwa, who had approached Irie before he knew it, cut through the thoughts in Irie's head with a cold voice.

Overwhelmed by the cold momentum emanating from Yeonhwa, Irie couldn't even move his Adam's apple to swallow his saliva.

It was a sensation as if each of Yeonhwa's words had turned into a sword and was aimed at him.

Grin-

Yeonhwa smiled.

The doctor, seeing that smile, felt goosebumps all over his body.

"If you want to betray us, then do it. But in that case..."

Yeonhwa's eyes met the doctor's.

Sharp, cold, and hard.

"I'll make you wish you were dead."

"...I'll keep that in mind."

The doctor said, and touched his neck with one hand.

It was fine.

A sigh of relief escaped him.

At the same time, one thought followed.

'I'm lucky.'

The fact that his past self had helped Joker.

The fact that he was put into a mission like this despite being a researcher because he was out of favor with the organization.

The fact that he met this person in the building.

It was a huge stroke of luck created by all of them combined.

Thanks to that, he was able to leave the organization and join hands with them before they launched a full-scale attack on [Dawn].

"..."

"..."

They talked a little more and discussed what to do with the doctor in the future.

As a result, it was decided that Joker would take responsibility and move with him for the time being.

Thus, Kim Jae-hyun and Yeonhwa left the room and walked down the corridor to go outside the building.

"By the way, what is that guy doing now?"

"Hmm? Ah, are you talking about Mr. Lee Shin?"

"Yes."

At Kim Jae-hyun's words, Yeonhwa clicked his tongue and openly showed his displeasure.

"It's annoying when he's in sight, and it's annoying when he's out of sight because I'm worried... He's a guy who gets on my nerves in many ways."

"Hahaha, it's hard to deny that. There's no one else who is so close to incidents and accidents. It's like he brings some kind of incident with him at regular intervals..."

Woowoong-

At that moment, the cell phone in Kim Jae-hyun's pocket vibrated slightly.

Halt-

At the same time, the two's feet stopped, and a subtle atmosphere began to flow.

Yeonhwa told Kim Jae-hyun to check with a silent pressure, and Kim Jae-hyun sighed lightly and took out his smartphone.

The name his instinct had predicted was written there.

"Haa..."

He didn't want to answer, but it was obvious that not answering would be even harder to handle, so Kim Jae-hyun had no choice but to answer the phone.

Prick-

And Yeonhwa, next to him, quietly pricked up his ears and listened to Kim Jae-hyun's call.

"Yes, it's me."

-Yeah, it's me. I want to get something, so I'd like to meet, is that okay?

"...Yes, it doesn't matter."

-Alright. I'll be right there.

After finishing the short call, Kim Jae-hyun went up to the guild master's office to greet the guest.

***

Click-

"Hi? Did you handle the work well? Did you eat well?"

Lee Shin, who had been blacklisted from an all-you-can-eat marinated galbi restaurant today, entered the guild master's office with a spinning smile.

"Yes, I had a simple meal."

For reference, Kim Jae-hyun's late-night snack menu was boneless chicken that could be eaten simply.

"By the way, what happened to the guys from [Dawn] after I left?"

Lee Shin had played with Oowada and Susanoo to his heart's content, then handed them over to the person who came from [Underworld] and disappeared to eat.

So he didn't know anything about what happened after that.

At that, Kim Jae-hyun briefly summarized and explained what had happened so far.

"...So it was decided to make the two organizations in Japan and China fight. So you might be disappointed, but it seems there will be no activity on our side for a while."

With those words, Kim Jae-hyun drew a line, telling Lee Shin that there would be no battles.

But even as he spoke, it was hard to predict what Lee Shin's reaction would be, so he was unconsciously spinning the pen in his hand to relieve his tension.

"Hmm, really?"

But Lee Shin's reaction was completely different from what Kim Jae-hyun had expected.

"It's a little disappointing, but it can't be helped. It seems that's actually the most effective way."

"...Yes?"

At the completely unexpected words that came out of Lee Shin's mouth, Kim Jae-hyun's mouth fell open blankly.

He was so different from usual that he felt not only a sense of incongruity but also goosebumps.

Nyam-

Unaware of Kim Jae-hyun's thoughts, Lee Shin just ate the snacks on the table.

'What on earth is he doing? Don't tell me the thing he's going to ask me for is that amazing?'

"Th-then, what brings you all the way here?"

Kim Jae-hyun, feeling a great sense of anxiety, asked Lee Shin in a trembling voice.

"Ah, that. It's nothing much, but there's something I want to do, and I need something for it, so I came to get some help."

"...Is that so."

Kim Jae-hyun, with a feeling of 'I knew it', asked cautiously.

"What do you need?"

"Hmm? The cultivation method of a martial art."

At Kim Jae-hyun's direct question, Lee Shin answered simply.

"...The cultivation method of a martial art?"

At the appearance of a completely unexpected word, Kim Jae-hyun asked back.

"Yeah, the cultivation method of a martial art. I remembered that [Wonderland] buys all kinds of martial arts books, magic books, and superpower books without discrimination. I want to borrow some, is that possible?"

"Yes... it's possible."

A lightning bolt made of question marks struck Kim Jae-hyun's head, but his mouth moved separately from that.

"Don't worry. I'll pay the rental fee properly."

"...No. It's okay."

But that was also for a moment.

Kim Jae-hyun realized that this was an opportunity.

He didn't know what the situation was, but he thought that if he lent the books, Lee Shin would stay still for a while.

"Anyway, we've made copies, so you can take as many as you want. You don't need to pay either."

"Really?"

Hearing Kim Jae-hyun's words, Lee Shin smiled as if it were a good thing.

(End of Chapter)