Chapter 306

Chapter 306. Spotlight (8)

The public trembled in anxiety as threats to life became commonplace.

That was why they idolized players who promised them safety and security.

Even those from Bihar could receive such admiration.

Some among them possessed prowess rivaling that of players.

Thus, Rashar couldn’t help but accept these conditions.

“The guild name is Palao, and I received reports that the joining of Greg and other affiliates went smoothly.”

Thanks to the time difference, some countries had already seen the first round of camp trainees emerge before Korea.

As a result, most of the Palao guild affiliates stationed overseas had already completed their employment contracts.

‘With everyone around here, the chance of Rashar moving to another guild is nearly non-existent.’

While I reassured myself, my mouth grew dry.

After waiting merely a few minutes, Rashar picked up a pen and inscribed her name.

After stamping her signature and handing over the contract, she added a word.

“I’ll work hard to ensure your investment was worthwhile.”

I had to grit my teeth to keep my grip from loosening.

It was a statement that pinched at words I had uttered in the past.

– I will repay what I have been supported with. I’ve been practically living in the corrupted area, and it will likely continue, so this much should suffice.

I vividly remembered the moment when I had denounced all my kindness and sincerity as calculative compensation.

If I had known this day would come, I wouldn’t have said those words.

If asked whether I regretted it, yes, I did.

But no amount of regret could turn back time.

Moreover, I didn’t have the luxury to indulge in momentary feelings now.

“Let’s get moving.”

Swallowing a sigh, I rose from my seat and called the guild members through the company intercom.

Three of them were tasked to guide each department and their roles.

I had shown my sincerity until the recruitment, but I didn’t have the time to stick with them.

“They will provide the detailed explanations. I’ll see you again later.”

With those parting words, I swiftly exited the office.

After handing the three contracts over to the HR team, I arrived at the employee break room.

Finding Gilenios, surrounded by female staff and sipping on cola, was quick.

As soon as he spotted me, he gulped down the remaining cola.

“Got to go, the boss is here. Bye.”

With his awkward Korean, he bid farewell to the staff without hesitation.

I approached him and spoke concisely.

“Let’s go?

To Washington, where the Player Association headquarters is located.

* * *

A skyscraper in Washington, DC was enveloped in dazzling night scenery.

In a shadowed room at odds with the brilliance, an unknown figure stirred.

It was Hasan, a member of the Alpha Growth Support Team of the association’s headquarters.

Originally, he should have been under the strict protection of the association.

But due to an incident that occurred about three hours ago, he became an isolation and surveillance target.

He struggled to sit up from his prone position on the floor.

Despite the minor movement, Hasan had to catch his breath heavily.

All his limbs had been broken when he woke.

Even his tendons had been meticulously severed.

A precautionary measure to prevent escape, even if he regained consciousness.

“No equipment, and they’ve attached restraints as well.”

Realizing the operation had completely failed made Hasan gnash his teeth.

“Damned……”

The plan itself wasn’t bad, in fact, it was quite excellent.

Yet, everything ended in failure because of that damned French guy.

“Now that the operation has failed, the surveillance and protection level will surely increase when accumulating purification proficiency.”

The Alpha growth support team usually had a schedule to conduct purification by assembling players affiliated with the association to enhance the purification traits of each Alpha.

The plan of creating a flare of a Hole that rapidly erupts without a respite during that time, at that location and causing chaos.

He was bewildered when told of a plan to take advantage of the chaos and eliminate the other two alphas.

It was akin to saying they could control the randomly occurring Holes.

But once the initial bewilderment subsided, his thoughts changed.

If truly possible, the plan itself wasn’t bad.

Thus, he was only waiting for the perfect timing to poison the combat personnel of the team to increase the plan’s success rate.

“I explained that it’s made with my mana, so the effects are certain.”

The half-witted French guy got impatient and proceeded without waiting for that brief moment.

As seen, the result was a complete derailment and failure of the plan.

“I should’ve backed off instead of joining when the Hole erupted.”

When the unexpectedly generated Hole turned pitch black in an instant and monsters poured out.

If he hadn’t attacked the other two alphas and remained still, he could have at least claimed innocence in the incident.

The more he thought about the past, the angrier he got.

Of all things, he was most infuriated by the unilateral decision to trigger the Hole without his consent by that French guy.

“Lousy bastard, didn’t care if I perished, right?”

Otherwise, there was no reason to trigger the Hole without reaching an agreement.

Just as Hasan contained his seething anger, footsteps approached.

They were ordinary footsteps to be heard anywhere.

Yet suddenly he felt a chill down his spine.

The instincts of a player, evolved to be far more sensitive than a human, intuitively noticed the presence of a higher predator.

The moment the footsteps halted at the door, Hasan swallowed involuntarily.

An eerie silence ensued.

Gone were the myriad sounds of people passing through the player association’s headquarters.

Only then did he realize mana surrounded the area.

“Barrier.”

The oppressive presence of the footsteps had masked the movement of mana.

The small room he occupied seemed completely cut off from the external environment, along with part of the corridor outside.

“The work of Persona, surely.”

As Hasan gauged the situation, the door opened.

The person revealed had black hair and brown eyes, an Asian.

An individual known by the whole world, a face prominent everywhere.

“…… K.”

Responding to the whispered call, K entered the room and closed the door.

With neatly composed steps, K halted in front of Hasan, who barely managed to sit up, and spoke.

“Don’t worry too much.”

His tone was gentle, like comforting a fearful child.

“The association doesn’t recognize player killings, except in exceptional cases.”

Why relay a simple message so twistedly: that he wouldn’t kill?

Perhaps, the true intent behind K’s words lay elsewhere.

“Therefore, while I will not kill.”

Instead, without crossing that line, any action was permissible.

The realization of K’s actual intent stirred a tremble in Hasan.

“So then.”

Thwack!

“Guhh!”

With a single kick from the platinum-rank, Hasan’s body, affiliated with the Gold-rank, doubled over.

The searing pain tore his back and twisted his innards, rendering him speechless.

Before the excruciating pain could subside, K spoke while lifting Hasan by his hair.

“To go by the book, let’s start with interrogation. What should I ask…?”

His voice remained calm, unbelievably so, for someone wielding violence.

Meaning this situation didn’t stir any emotions within him.

It was expected. Players were inherently skilled in bloodshed and slaughter.

Among them, K was called the strongest, it was natural for such violence to hold no special significance.

Hasan wasn’t foolish enough to ignore this fact.

So, considering his safety, he didn’t need to deliberate on what choice to make.

Hasan intended to confess the entire incident’s details and reveal who plotted it.

“Pa, pavi……”

Thud!

However, just as Hasan opened his mouth, K’s kick connected.

“Did you think I came here without knowing?”

Why would one hold back right when someone finally arrived, spoiling the surprise?

“Even as I was coming, I thought deeply that solving this wouldn’t be a short ordeal.”

“Hold, on! I’ll tell you everything… Ugh!”

“To make your wits to my liking, it seems we need an immensely profound and extensive interrogation.”

“Aaah!”

“So, we can’t be hasty.”

No matter his intention to talk, his will was meaningless before the agony inflicted by the violence.

“Let’s take it slow, deliberately.”

He will start talking properly not now, but when K permits it.

* * *

I hadn’t planned to kill the guy named Hasan.

Personnel capable of purifying pathogens must be secured through any means necessary.

Association rules that prohibited player killings also supported this.

‘But leaving him unchecked is out of the question, so I must educate him to my liking.’

Fortunately, all conditions for that education were met.

Strictly speaking, this was a wait fulfilled as such.

I left him unattended initially, knowing full well this mess was likely.

‘While the other alphas paired with him might be endangered.’

With the trust I held in Yang Taeho, whom I personally trained, I didn’t worry much.

In reality, Yang Taeho effectively created a shield for those who needed protection.

‘Thanks to that, we have clear justification; it’s a boon for us.’

Officially, the association commissioned me to investigate the mastermind behind this attack.

There was opposition questioning why this task fell to me.

Yet, the news quieted down, once Lily stepped in front of the camera to announce it.

– K possesses a special trait allowing connection to other spaces. Thus, we relied on his assistance in the evacuation process of Biharin refugees.

A bit ambiguous as truth, but also not entirely incorrect.

I know why gates are created and who governs them.

Additionally, I have the means and authority to use the gate without their consent.

– He’s currently utilizing this trait to investigate Holes occurring worldwide. Hence, we sought his insights on the matter.

Again, not wrong when examining the facts I possess.

I knew well why Holes surfaced.

‘But I have no way to explain about Karklein.’

The existence of not many beings possessing the status to recognize him.

“Ugh, urgh……”

While contemplating the prevailing circumstances, Hasan began to make strange noises.

Unfazed, I calmly opened the potion cap.

I fed it to the poor guy, choking on his breath.

I intentionally didn’t mend the bones. Breaking and resetting them later would be more effective in shattering his spirit.

‘Wonder how much more this will take.’

This bastard must oversee purification on important fronts.

He must be completely neutralized, rendered incapable of any improper thought.

Like a puppet that only follows my orders.

‘Better to apply more pressure for now.’

Considering his eagerness to confess forming a partnership with Fabian, he seemed overly fixated on immediate gains or escaping crises.

With no beliefs or loyalty, continued harsh violence should yield results.

Thinking so, as I extended my hand toward the recovering Hasan.

“Pl-please, enoug… I’ll do as you say, just, please, spare…”

A plea accompanied by tears reached me.

His pronunciation wasn’t perfect due to the missing teeth, but understandable.

I stood still, looking silently at Hasan clutching my ankle and pleading.

It wasn’t because pity took root or that assaulting became burdensome.

Merely, a system window floated above Hasan, face down on his own blood trail.

With an unexpected message.

「The necessary condition is met, activating hierarchy program.」

「A submissive Alpha has appeared, pledging obedience to you. Do you wish to register this Alpha under your command? (Y/N)」

Damned System

TL’s Corner:

Opp, system helping K again. The Alpha of alphas. So you can call him, alphaalpha. 😀