Chapter 333

Chapter 333. Trap (10)

I dared to claim boldly that no scandal to date could surpass the magnitude of the current incident.

A figure who garnered worldwide attention beyond the borders of a single nation,

Kang Hyunwoo, hailed as humanity’s savior, hope, and Hero, became embroiled in a sexual assault scandal that had unimaginable repercussions.

– Are you kidding me? There’s no way K would do that.

– Where’s the falsehood coming from?

– We should investigate those women too.

– Perjury is a serious crime; put all those liars behind bars!

– Look at those mindless people instantly buying into it.

– How can you tell if it’s false without the investigation results?

– It’s because of people like this that the rule of law crumbles.

– Rule of law? Haha, interesting you pretend to know so much, you who only frequent online communities.

– Forget it, haha, those losers will always hate on K.

The conflict between the faction supporting K and those wishing for his downfall intensified vastly.

While the investigation into the incident was still in progress, another issue arose.

People emerged claiming they had been assaulted by players and threatened into silence.

The fundamental power imbalance between players and civilians came under renewed scrutiny.

Simultaneously, the recent series of deaths of the world’s politicians came back to light.

In this rapidly changing situation, many feared they could be attacked by players.

Amidst growing anxiety, the public’s response was simple.

“The Association must hunt down the culprit!”

“Ensure the safety of non-players!”

“Deliver justice to players attacking civilians!”

Protests were initiated.

Demanding resolution of their discomfort and unease immediately.

To ensure their safety.

Their demands were justified.

The nation exists for its people.

It should guarantee the safety and peace of its citizens, who cannot possibly contend with colossal organizations alone.

‘By law, yes, by law.’

However, from a step back, it seemed like the cries of those deprived of power.

The man fingering the attorney badge pinned to his chest smirked and mumbled.

“Indeed, handling empty-headed ones is easy.”

Jung Jiyun, who designed both the broad and intricate details of this incident, said.

“Well, thanks to it, things got a bit easier.”

He exhaled a satisfied breath while gazing at the crowd outside the window.

‘This should suffice.’

Only briefly savoring his accomplishment and pondering the reward ahead, Jung Jiyun turned his attention from the protestors to the opposite direction.

He spotted several vehicles approaching the building he was in.

The journalists and crew filming around the protest got busy.

“They’re coming!”

“It’s K’s personal vehicle!”

“Get the shots, hurry!”

The vehicles pushed through the crowd at a slow speed and soon came to a stop.

While the police were preventing the protestors from clashing with the vehicle, its door opened.

And out stepped a striking youth, now known worldwide.

“Mr. K! Look this way just once, please!”

“Mr. Kang Hyunwoo! What’s your stance on the current incident?”

“Do you admit to the charges?”

“Just say one word!”

Kang Hyunwoo, Jung Jiyun’s target and the protagonist of the day.

‘Finally seeing him in person.’

The only thought that popped into Jung Jiyun’s mind the moment he laid eyes on Hyunwoo was, imposing.

It was truly an odd occurrence. Objectively, people standing next to him were larger in physique and stature.

At the moment, the two players standing beside Hyunwoo were the giants of the tank class representing the earth attribute.

Yang Taeho and Ethan were both 1.2 to 1.4 times larger in physique than Hyunwoo.

Yet, why did Kang Hyunwoo seem to fill up the surroundings completely?

While Jung Jiyun squinted and examined Hyunwoo from afar,

Hyunwoo, encircled by reporters, suddenly looked up.

“Oops.”

He hurriedly pressed himself against a wall with no windows, just as his eyes met Hyunwoo’s.

‘How…’

In essence, it was impossible for an ordinary human to discern the direction of another’s gaze from several hundred meters away.

Yet, what he felt moments before was no illusion.

Hyunwoo accurately found and locked his gaze in Jung Jiyun’s direction.

Even while his rigid body was startled by the sudden incident, the noise from outside persisted.

Thanks to this, Jung Jiyun quickly regained his senses.

Immediately afterwards, he clenched his teeth. Feeling embarrassed by the fact that a mere gaze made him tense.

The shame was enough to rekindle the inferiority complex he’d once buried.

Beyond human limitations with a superb physique and the ability to wield mana, the source of life and the essence of nature.

The emergence of players signified the birth of a new ruling class.

Upon learning about the players’ existence, Jung Jiyun firmly believed he would be chosen soon.

Opportunities abounded.

From Beta selection to the first through sixth rounds.

Opportunities to become a player, the new human race, existed no less than seven times.

Yet, despite so many opportunities, Jung Jiyun was never chosen.

Someone who was always exceptional and excelled in everything was excluded.

‘Something must be wrong.’

Otherwise, it made no sense that a superior individual like himself didn’t belong to the new human race.

That they failed to recognize his worth suggested that players may not be all that impressive a race.

In that case, he’d just evolve into another new human race.

The temptation offered by traitors who suddenly appeared one day was enough to seduce Jung Jiyun, consumed by inferiority.

‘Just watch and see.’

He intended to become a being superior to players.

Jung Jiyun calmed his breath and turned to look out the window again.

Then he saw Hyunwoo, Yang Taeho, and Ethan entering the building, surrounded by several people.

‘He brought tankers even to an official occasion…’

Watching the three of them, his lips curled into a smile.

‘It might be true.’

If the rumor that Hyunwoo might have lost his player’s abilities was indeed true…

‘It doesn’t matter if it’s a hearing instead of a trial.’

His purpose was merely to lure Hyunwoo, who had been in seclusion, into the open.

Though knowing that Hyunwoo coming out externally despite losing his ability was a bait…

That didn’t concern him either.

No matter the trap set by the opposing party, he held an ace up his sleeve.

‘They will regret it soon enough.’

The globally renowned name, K, would soon be dragged through the mud.

“Heh.”

Jung Jiyun chuckled silently, turning away.

His inflated ego and firm conviction only wavered at the outset of the hearing.

“This will make my charges cleared, and fortunately, it brings about a new issue.”

When Hyunwoo, sitting with his legs crossed, spoke with an amused smile on his face.

“It seems like it’s time to prepare measures against civilians falsely accusing innocent players; what do you all think?”

Those brown, disdainful eyes full of contempt and disgust locked fully onto Jung Jiyun.

***

“Simply limiting the use of special abilities by players is not enough!”

Name: Jung Jiyun.

“As you can see, Mr. Kang Hyunwoo used his social influence and particular status as the head of a massive power group to threaten several women!”

Age: 37.

“Even without using direct force or special player-exclusive abilities, just his societal position and authority were already threatening enough!”

Currently, he was active as a partner attorney at a major law firm.

“It is very clear that they need social shackles!”

He was also the one who made this ridiculous hearing happen.

“Personally, I’m ashamed that we ever called such a person a Hero.”

I couldn’t help but laugh as I watched Jung Jiyun’s antics.

‘They’re doing everything, aren’t they.’

This is not a trial but a hearing.

It’s a session held before making legislative or administrative policies to understand the perspectives and interests of various stakeholders.

Jung Jiyun and I was both attending as relevant parties.

Yet, by his actions, you’d think he was giving a significant defense.

Perhaps he mistook this as a stage for himself.

‘Well, given that he planned this, it’s not entirely inaccurate.’

I observed Jung Jiyun’s nonsense without much agitation.

He could no longer reverse the situation because the board had already tipped.

Naturally, just because I remained silent didn’t mean Jung Jiyun ignored me.

“If you have a mouth, why don’t you refute it?”

He pointed directly at me, glaring.

‘Wow.’

At that moment, I could have believed he was an actor in a play.

While I clucked my tongue inwardly, a man approached me.

He even handed me a microphone.

‘Is this a scripted drama?’

It seemed he had scripted his lines and hired supporting actors to assist with the rest.

A slight chuckle escaped me.

Unable to suppress it, I let it out, which incited a harsher glare from Jung Jiyun.

But having danced among nemesis-rank adversaries only days ago, I wouldn’t shrink under a civilian’s gaze.

I brought the microphone to my lips and said casually.

“Don’t call yourself a lawyer anywhere. Lawyers nationwide will weep in shame.”

As someone who once aspired to the legal profession, I found his foolish conduct absolutely laughable.

“Since you asked if I had anything to say, I should also officially state my position.”

Before Jung Jiyun could counter, I took the tablet PC I had entrusted to Ethan.

After a few taps, the tablet PC powered up.

I gestured toward the cameras set up for live broadcasting of the hearing.

The camera operator, startled, glanced around.

But soon, casting aside hesitation, the operator rushed forward with the camera.

Thanks to this, the video on the tablet PC was broadcasted live nationwide.

“Never experienced the battlefield firsthand nor been a player, so magic feels like a distant land story?”

Before the hearing, the video that Kim Yul had taken while lurking in Jung Jiyun’s shadow was now revealed to the world.

『If it were easy to prove innocence for crimes that don’t exist, would I be doing this?』

『Kang Hyunwoo will hardly shake off these charges.』

『So, all you need to do is pretend to be victims, dwell in gloom, and receive the money.』

The same footage appeared on the real-time monitor in the hearing hall.

“You’d find it troublesome to think that I’d only use civilian methods because I’m a civilian too, right?”

Thanks to the microphone offered to him, Jung Jiyun’s voice resonated well throughout the hall.

“The relevant video should now be uploaded on guild channels, so those curious about the originals can check separately. Let’s talk about the petty breaches like eavesdropping and stalking later.”

And within those intervals, my voice asserted a distinct presence.

“This should clear my charges, and fortunately, it brings about a new issue.”

Sitting with legs crossed, I continued speaking to Jung Jiyun without bothering to hide my deep sneer.

“It seems like it’s time to prepare measures against civilians falsely accusing innocent players; what do you all think?”

Damned System

TL’s Corner:

Too easy.