Ch.54[Episode 54] Reversed Hearing

“At that time, the status window did not account for fights between people, so judgments were single, meaning they relied only on the judgment of the one with the status window. However, in modern society with various interactions, the revised status window changed to double judgments, comparing the values of each other’s status windows and producing effects based on the difference. That’s why Sir Dominic could perform so well. While others received adjustments based on the difference in stats, Sir Dominic received additional effects from single stats.”

The hearing room suddenly turned into an inn.

Not literally, but people were starting to fall asleep from the overly long explanation.

Trom glared at the System Industries operations manager rambling in front of him with a look that could kill.

It was characteristic of System Industries employees to make unnecessarily long-winded explanations when discussing familiar topics.

“From what I can see, his stats aren’t particularly high, so applying the latest patch should be sufficient to deal with the situation.”

The operations manager showed no signs of concluding his speech.

Trom sighed while holding his head, when suddenly an uneasy feeling crossed his mind.

A question that hadn’t occurred to him until now due to the chaotic situation, but emerged clearly as boredom set in.

Why are these people dragging this out?

It was the same with the initial commotion, and now with the operations manager’s endless speech.

They were intentionally stalling for time.

But why?

Trom turned his head to look at the entrance of the hearing room.

It was locked.

Why?

Trom’s mind began racing.

And he finally deduced the answer.

They’re trying to keep me trapped here.

In truth, this conclusion stemmed from his paranoia and self-importance, but that’s precisely why it approached the correct answer.

Trom began to grow increasingly anxious.

Why? What are they planning to do by keeping me here?

“This is bad. He seems to have noticed.”

Senator Muscleman whispered to Sir Dominic.

Trom anxiously began biting his nails.

Seeing this, Muscleman thought Trom had figured out the plan and was trying to escape.

“How is the plan progressing?”

Sir Dominic asked, glancing at the entrance with one eye.

“That lock seems too flimsy to contain him.”

“You’re not wrong.”

Muscleman answered Sir Dominic’s question.

“But the Executive branch’s locks have special abilities—if you can’t deal damage exceeding their durability in one hit, they instantly recover. Moreover, the lock currently securing the hearing room is one of the few top-tier locks.”

Sir Dominic hadn’t known that such an ordinary-looking lock had such capabilities, but thinking again, there was another flaw.

In the conversation behind the chairman’s seat earlier, Trom was described as a dealer.

Despite being a sustained damage dealer, he had apparently worked to develop a new trait [Charge Shot] that could charge power to deal damage proportional to maximum health.

Sir Dominic observed Trom secretly fiddling with his phone under the desk.

“He seems to be trying to get information from outside. He’s definitely noticed our plan. He might try to leave soon.”

The operations manager was still continuing his verbose speech, but it was having the opposite effect.

[Trom: Assistant, where are you? The atmosphere here is strange.]

[Assistant: What? Didn’t you contact me yesterday telling me to take the day off?]

The assistant said he hadn’t come to work today. Then who was the assistant who had been there until just now?

Trom finally realized he had been deceived as he read the assistant’s message.

What did I say? Did I say something controversial?

As Trom pondered, he realized that if his statements were revealed, he would not only lose the general election but his political career would be over.

His remarks about melee dealer supremacy were the least of his problems.

The issue was that he had used the term “master.”

“Master” was a title reserved only for members of Mountain Bridge Marsh. And Mountain Bridge Marsh was known as the most dangerous reactionary group in Gacharland.

If his use of “master” became public, he would be branded as someone collaborating with reactionaries to bring down Gacharland.

Of course, his actions were indeed aimed at bringing down Gacharland, but Trom had convinced himself it was for Gacharland’s prosperity.

Trom stood up.

While continuing to act anxious so the surrounding senators wouldn’t notice, he secretly activated his trait.

It took time to charge, but it was his trump card that could break that lock in one go.

“Or so he thinks.”

Muscleman covered his mouth and grinned.

Sir Dominic stared at Muscleman for his sudden irrelevant comment.

But Muscleman just kept grinning while staring intently at Trom.

…

A moment later, Trom looked at the operations manager who had now started explaining the algorithm of the status window.

The charge was complete. His next attack would deal 100% of health or durability damage.

Pretending to stand up and stretch his back, Trom suddenly dashed toward the entrance with his belly jiggling.

The senators couldn’t react to his sudden movement.

Finally reaching the entrance, Trom raised his fist and struck the lock.

He was certain the lock would shatter, allowing him to escape and foil their plan.

Or so he thought.

But the lock, just before breaking, returned to its original state.

Sir Dominic’s special ability, [Knight], with its 4% damage reduction, created a variable.

Trom was an enemy. By the twisted logic that whoever Trom attacked must be an ally, the lock also received this 4% damage reduction.

Trom’s plan fell apart.

“Senator Trom, what are you doing? Have you forgotten that no one can leave during the hearing?”

The chairman looked down from his high seat.

“Did you need to use the restroom?”

Muscleman added.

“The restroom is that way.”

The Healer Association president said.

Other senators also seized the opportunity to criticize Trom’s impulsive action.

Trom was driven to the brink of madness by the failure of his plan and the realization that their scheme was proceeding.

“Shut up! All of you shut up! Everyone hates me! Everyone despises me!”

No, he had gone completely mad.

Excessive anxiety and unexpected circumstances had led Trom to create the worst possible situation.

“Since it’s come to this, I’ll kill all the senators for the world I want. If I’m the only senator left, I can guide Gacharland’s direction alone!”

It was truly a tragic situation.

Trom had now fallen into delusion after being cornered.

Subduing everyone here was nearly impossible.

The senator position was only available to those with at least 4-star abilities.

But Trom had something he believed in.

He used the power given to him by Mountain Bridge Marsh.

“I’m the best! The absolute best! No one can defeat me now! I’m number one!”

His clothes transformed into brilliant golden armor.

A magnificent greatsword inscribed with ‘Phoenix Sword’ appeared in his hand.

Large wings sprouted from his back.

His level rapidly increased as tremendous stats flowed into him.

He irritably dismissed the [Watch Ad for Additional Rewards] prompt that appeared before him and surveyed the hearing room.

Yes, he had used the power from mass-produced games that promised “Server #1 with minimal investment.”

Mountain Bridge Marsh had long been a blight on Gacharland.

This group, called Mountain Bridge Marsh for their cookie-cutter productions, was an extremely malicious organization that pretended to offer great power for a small price, but as soon as people became intoxicated with that power, they would induce payments.

They created similar games, but ultimately exploited people by tempting them with power when characters were weak, milking them until death before discarding them. They became the biggest criminal organization in the back alleys by using false advertisements to lure more victims.

The senators here knew well the harm of Mountain Bridge Marsh.

If they had given false power, no one would have been deceived, but they always provided real power as if they were sincere. That’s why they were considered even more vicious criminals.

Those intoxicated with power caused social disturbances, and Mountain Bridge Marsh enjoyed the chaos.

When crackdowns against them began, they seemed to quiet down temporarily…

That’s why everyone was shocked by Trom’s power.

They took it to mean that Mountain Bridge Marsh, which had gone underground, had resumed activities.

“Now I’m number one. I’m number one!”

Trom, now fully equipped with cheap-looking top-grade golden equipment, laughed maniacally.

Chaos returned to the hearing room.

This time, a more vicious chaos.