Ch.190Chapter 7. What’s Wrong Is Wrong, No Matter Who Sees It (4)

-I came into contact with them while trying to get mana powder.

-Please, just not my parents…!

-I’ll repent! You can take away this power! Please, just don’t tell them about this…! Please!!

Hong Chang-sik begged on his knees.

He had spilled everything he knew, and having provided all the information, he had nothing more to say.

-Lord Goblin! Please, please show mercy!!

-Discuss the rest with the agent.

I left the negotiation regarding Hong Chang-sik’s treatment to the Syndicate agent.

“You can undo the transformation now.”

I took off my mask.

Though I was transformed as the Goblin, I was wearing a suit, so with just the mask removed, I looked like an ordinary Syndicate agent.

“Is it okay to show my face to others?”

“Everyone here works under Qiongqi. Qiongqi purged his subordinates once, so these are all trustworthy people.”

After the Malttugi incident, Qiongqi had screened his subordinates once more, filtering out the untrustworthy ones.

As a result, all the agents gathered here now were elite agents personally selected by Qiongqi, including the Tavern Owner, Peddlers, and Performers.

People who, like me, had dedicated their lives to the Syndicate and would never betray it.

“They won’t betray us. They won’t leak information. Even if they acted like Hong Chang-sik, they’d dare anyone to make it public if it meant harming themselves.”

“Themselves?”

“If family members or loved ones are held hostage, the Syndicate may consider leniency depending on the circumstances. Of course, rescue agents move immediately to prevent such situations.”

It’s the leader’s principle that an organization cannot be run without some level of compassion.

“Ymir. Could you bear having your old diary exposed to others?”

“What’s the big deal about a diary?”

“You might think that way. But let’s use an example of an ordinary person, not an angel like you. What if it contained all sorts of curses, criticisms, and unspeakable things? If someone was like Hong Chang-sik, or even worse?”

“…Well, I guess they’d end up like Hong Chang-sik? Rather than facing social death, they’d probably try to find an underground bunker to avoid being physically killed.”

“Right. Even if you don’t value honor, receiving negative attention from society is devastating. Not just for yourself, but for everyone around you.”

Humans are social animals.

They don’t want to be isolated or ostracized from the society that surrounds them.

Of course, there might be some who are willing to abandon everything around them and destroy themselves.

But such people are rare, maybe one in five at most.

Most people, like Hong Chang-sik, will spill information to save themselves, and if even one person talks, that’s enough.

“The Syndicate doesn’t threaten family members or acquaintances. We don’t use physical torture like pulling out fingernails or preventing breathing. Instead, we attack using their past actions and the lives they’ve lived. In other words, we touch their ‘dark history.'”

“Dark history?”

“Their behavior during their cringy teenage years.”

An American actor once said in an interview:

When I was young, I was a dork—or in today’s terms, a ‘cringy kid.’

But people didn’t know he was like that.

He only acted that way in private, so the world only knew him as an actor.

Why did he share this story?

He said it was because nowadays, such embarrassing, foolish behaviors are performed in front of others.

In other words, social media is the culprit.

Not just social media, but any medium that can leave records and data in the information world.

In a world where data becomes records, and investigations based on those records reveal crimes.

Criminals try to delete electronic data, while those investigating crimes try to recover it.

Highly classified data is recorded manually without going through networks or stored in secure systems not exposed to hacking, but even those security systems can be breached by the Syndicate.

And through that information, I extracted details about Pandemonium from the traitor agent, Hong Chang-sik.

“That was easier than I expected. Southeast Asia… is it? I never thought it would be outside Korea.”

“Cheonrian is watching within Korea. Unless an individual directly accesses foreign networks through VPN bypassing, even Pandemonium can’t easily be approached.”

Like Hong Chang-sik and others, they all made contracts with Pandemonium while browsing the dark corners of the internet.

Some wanted to become stronger.

Some wanted revenge.

Others wanted to gain something.

“Most people get involved with Pandemonium while trying to obtain mana powder. Working for Pandemonium allows them to regularly receive mana powder, and they strengthen their powers through demon research, supposedly without side effects.”

“Side effects… having only demonic power for oneself?”

“Yes. That’s also why Pandemonium and various research institutions are looking for you, Ymir.”

I found some information from the dark web through the Syndicate’s network and showed it to her.

“Susanoo and Heavenly Demon are just distractions. In reality, battles took place across the country and even underwater.”

“…Russia?”

“They came down with a submarine and were caught by Snow White. To the south, India came up with a submarine from Jeju Island direction and was caught by Cheok Jun-gyeong.”

The world is full of various information beyond what is visible.

The Syndicate collects data mainly from the dark web, and quiet gunfire was exchanged in places not disclosed to the public.

“What made these people stop… the Dark Charisma?”

“Yes. Even people from the underworld know to lay low when such a madman appears.”

Just like when Dueoksini created 72 demons and released them on the Korean peninsula, this time too, various countries retreated after trying to rescue or contact prisoners entering Sejong Island.

“Well… shall we go after the person in charge now?”

[Transform?]

[Transform.]

After putting on the Goblin mask again, I opened the door where the last agent was.

“…Hmm. Interesting. Look who’s here.”

[Park Eun-jung. 21 years old. B-class. From Gangneung, Gangwon Province. At home-]

“Ah, I get that you know my information. Just tell me what you want.”

Park Eun-jung, the leader of the traitors who had personally stabbed an agent who came to smoke, put her legs up on the interrogation room desk and leaned back in her chair.

“What are you going to do? Torture me? Or, what, social destruction?”

[Did you hear?]

“I’m B-class. I worked abroad before coming here, and I’ve collaborated with the National Intelligence Service. I know how the Syndicate handles people.”

[Then this will be quick.]

I sat across from Park Eun-jung.

Ymir seemed uncomfortable being near someone who had tried to kill a person, and Park Eun-jung started snickering as if she could sense that discomfort even through the mask.

“What? Platinum Sun, are you saying killers aren’t human?”

[He didn’t die. Unfortunately. I saved him.]

“Wow. Amazing. I twisted the knife right into his heart. You saved him? Impressive.”

[You…!]

“Next time, I’ll just cut off the head. So you can’t revive him at all. Hehehe.”

[Seems like you’ve killed before.]

When I created and pulled out my Goblin club, Park Eun-jung’s smile faltered.

[I won’t waste words. Answer my questions, and I’ll kill you cleanly.]

“Oh my. I thought you wouldn’t kill in front of Platinum Sun?”

[I can just send her out.]

“Platinum Sun. The Goblin says he’s going to kill someone. What are you going to do?”

[…….]

Ymir remained silent.

Perhaps she hadn’t expected to be mocked in such a way; she clenched her fist slightly, showing her anger.

“What? Are you angry? Our noble Platinum Sun is completely childish inside. Just a child.”

And Park Eun-jung is an expert at reading people’s emotions in such situations.

“The Syndicate must have a hard time dealing with such a child. What good is special ability if your thinking is still childish?”

[Rich coming from someone who acts like an adult but isn’t. Platinum Sun. Don’t mind her. She’s just a person who’s about to die.]

“Hmph. You’re going to kill me? Go ahead. I don’t care if you don’t kill me with one blow. I expected to die the moment I was caught anyway. What are you doing?”

[Digging up your dark history.]

I pointed my Goblin club at the wall.

Soon, images appeared on the wall, and an agent outside began displaying photos related to Park Eun-jung.

“H-hmph. Looking for such things won’t…”

[You wrote an interesting fiction.]

I spotted something immediately unpleasant and pointed my club at it.

[Cheok Jun-gyeong x Battle God? My goodness. Spreading such rumors behind people’s backs, Korean S-class heroes must have good mental… Oh.]

“…Heh. What? Afraid you might be a target too?”

Now even the Goblin.

[Goblin. Should I just kill her? How could she write such… Lord of Radiant Wings x Goblin?!]

[Do you know what this is?]

[Of course I… know. It’s disgusting.]

[Yes, it’s unpleasant. But it’s something all famous ability users have to endure.]

Deepfakes, photoshops.

Compared to video media, these fan fictions are nothing.

[By the way, all your subordinates have talked. You’re the only one left, and I’m here for final confirmation.]

“…If you’re going to kill me, do it. I won’t talk.”

[Tsk. How foolish. An information agent who even worked with the National Intelligence Service, yet so short-sighted.]

I extended my Goblin club over Park Eun-jung’s head.

[Why do you think there’s no ability that forces confessions?]

“……!”

[There are truth serums in this world too.]

“W-wait. What are you trying to…!”

[Hmm.]

The history of the human called Park Eun-jung.

If viewed from a reader’s perspective.

Through the history and experiences she’s lived.

If I read her past.

[Phuket, I see.]

I can find it.

“!! Y-you can read my thoughts…!”

[Not exactly.]

I obtained the final piece of information.

[On May 3rd, you’ll be found at Baengnokdam on Mount Halla. Don’t worry. I won’t kill you until then. I won’t torture you either. However.]

I aimed my Goblin club at Park Eun-jung again.

[While those who show remorse and potential for rehabilitation carry their sins in their hearts for life, a villain like Park Eun-jung with no hope for redemption should die here, right?]

“W-what are you trying to…!”

[I’m erasing your dark history. Memory loss would work too. Let’s see. Ms. Park Eun-jung, removing about three years of memories should do it.]

“W-what…?”

A person addicted to mana powder, accustomed to all sorts of crimes, and in league with Pandemonium cannot be allowed to live.

[The villainous Park Eun-jung will disappear, and you’ll return to being the Park Eun-jung who studied at Sejong Academy and wanted to become a righteous agent.]

“W-what are you saying! That’s… erasing my memories to kill me…!”

[Kill you? Park Eun-jung will still be alive. Just a slightly different Park Eun-jung than the current one.]

“S-stop…! N-no…! My life, you can’t just…!”

[How ridiculous.]

I raised my Goblin club.

[Isn’t it obvious that a 21-year-old Park Eun-jung who dreams of being a hero and becomes an agent of the Hero Association is more beneficial to society than a 21-year-old Park Eun-jung who snorts mana powder and sells people for human experiments?]

It’s only natural.

[You should be grateful that I’m really not killing you but saving you. Don’t you think? I’m using an ability that’s more difficult and challenging than summoning a Rider Kick or Sephiroth’s divine soldier.]

“N-no—”

[One swing of this club will wipe away all your dark history. Clean and clear.]

WHACK!

[Platinum Sun. In your view, did I kill this person?]

[……I’m not sure if I should see this as a personality being murdered, or selective memory removal. Um, Lord Goblin? Do you know who my favorite comic book character is?]

[Hmm… Superman?]

[It used to be. But now.]

Ymir approached Park Eun-jung, who had collapsed after being hit on the head with the Goblin club.

[It’s Batman.]

WHACK!

[…She’s not dead, right?]

[She’s not dead.]

[Then that’s fine.]

After hitting Park Eun-jung hard on the head, Ymir dusted off her hands and stood up.

On this day.

The villain Park Eun-jung was executed.

What remained was just an ability user with holes in her memory.

* * *

May arrived.