Ch.576Chapter 22. The Price of Labor (8)

When a server goes down, all kinds of situations truly arise.

Assuming all electronic data has been destroyed by an unidentified hacker, in that chaotic situation, you have no choice but to rely on “handwritten” records to recover the data.

You’d have to input new data based on information from contracts. That’s all there is to it.

What if that hacker deleted all loan records from a bank?

The bank would be in chaos and people would express concern, but secretly, they might harbor a glimmer of hope.

“My 500 million won home loan is gone!!”

If the monthly loan interest payments and the enormous principal that they’ve barely been paying interest on completely disappeared…

“Please, even if other people’s loans are recovered, let mine stay gone!”

That’s what they’d think. Everyone’s the same.

It’s good when your savings increase, and it’s incredibly good for an individual when debt decreases.

However.

What about the opposite case?

What if the loan records remained intact, but all the assets you could call your own—savings accounts, funds, bonds carefully accumulated in the bank—all disappeared?

“BURN IT DOWN!!!”

A riot would begin.

No, it couldn’t even be called a riot.

It would be a legitimate expression of anger.

Protests against the bank would draw people to the streets, and that anger would manifest in people’s actions.

No matter how insane an organization might be, they wouldn’t think of pushing away citizens who came out in anger because only their loans remained.

But what if a group with such force had that thought?

‘They wouldn’t have operated that way in the first place.’

If, while all the data in the server room was being wiped out, only the loan data was backed up.

If even when the server went down, the data of Haeguneul affiliates remained safe.

If they had prepared for everything in that way, and people found out about it.

“Haeguneul, are you crazy?!”

Even if it hadn’t actually happened, even if it was just an attempt, people would be furious.

“…Damn it.”

The man in the suit looked at his Taegeuk Watch and gritted his teeth.

“Inciting unrest, are you?”

[I’m merely spreading the truth.]

Currently.

Information has started spreading across internet communities.

While those using Haeguneul’s telecommunications service are completely cut off, rumors have started circulating among those using other carriers.

-Is Haeguneul Bank really being restored? Aren’t only the loan records remaining?

ㄴNonsense. Only the loan records are being deleted lol

ㄴI heard loan records are stored at the Jeonju branch, not Haeguneul headquarters?

ㄴAh….

People quickly catch on with just a little information.

Especially those who have put money into Haeguneul Bank or Securities—they’d all be watching the situation with burning eyes.

-My money!!

When the hard-earned money entrusted to the bank is about to disappear, who could focus on their work?

Only two types of people can concentrate:

Those like me who came to expose Haeguneul’s true nature.

Or.

Those who are Haeguneul people, who won’t suffer at all even if everyone else goes bankrupt.

“This is troublesome. Tomorrow is payday, but it seems I won’t be able to withdraw anything.”

The suited man let out a hollow laugh.

He kept tapping his Taegeuk Watch several times, but it remained unresponsive.

“What are you going to do? This means I can’t even bring home a bouquet when I go home.”

[Are you married?]

“The bouquet is for my parents.”

[Pretending to be a filial son isn’t going to make me feel sympathetic, you know.]

I slung my daegeum over my shoulder and infused it with magical power.

[Anyway, even with all this chaos, as a Haeguneul Man, you won’t suffer any direct damage, right?]

“I was planning to take my parents to a Haeguneul restaurant tomorrow, but if my Haeguneul card is blocked, I can’t even pay. The reservation will be canceled too.”

[It’s not like there aren’t other card companies besides Haeguneul. Or you could use some emergency cash you’ve set aside.]

“Who carries cash these days? Ah, someone dressed like you probably doesn’t even have pockets for cash. What, do you string Sangpyeong Tongbo coins together and carry them around?”

He’s trying to get under my skin by mocking my costume, but I’m not particularly bothered.

[You’re angry.]

The one who’s truly angry is him.

“I can’t believe this. I even planned my schedule and took the afternoon off, and now my plans…”

[With all this chaos, you’re more upset that your plans to act like a filial son to your parents are ruined?]

“Of course. My time is more precious than anyone else’s.”

The suited man clenched his gloved hand tightly.

Soon, a blue light burst from the back of his hand, and mana began flowing out of the glove along with the light.

“Do you know how much money I get from Haeguneul? And now I’m about to lose it because of whom?”

[That’s rich coming from you. Wasn’t it Haeguneul’s chairman who tried to blow up the server? Along with people.]

“The ones committing terrorism now are you lot. Suspicious terrorists who won’t even reveal their identities.”

[…….]

Something, something feels strange.

I’ve been feeling it throughout our conversation—somehow, there’s an unpleasant feeling and irritation arising simultaneously.

If I had to express this emotion in words, it would be something like ‘self-loathing.’

[I am not a suspicious terrorist. I’m just a passing ‘Scholar Mask’.]

“Indeed, is that your alias? I don’t know what face you have under that mask, but you’re incredibly brazen.”

The suited man picked up the briefcase placed next to the table.

“I was hoping not to take this out.”

What emerged from the black briefcase that looked like it contained a laptop and various documents was—

[…Goblin?]

“I don’t know what kind of scholar you are.”

It was a Goblin mask, very familiar to me.

“Don’t think you can attack Haeguneul headquarters and make it out alive.”

[You’re the Goblin?]

“Hmm.”

The man pressed the Goblin mask onto his face and extended his fist forward.

“My fighting style might be a bit different, but I’m the original.”

[…….]

The Goblin, taking a boxing stance, would look like a genuine goblin to anyone if he just held a goblin club.

Others would probably be startled.

If someone were to judge whether he was the Goblin or not based on appearance alone, they would exclaim “Oh!” in surprise.

‘I’m glad I came.’

Others might have been momentarily confused. But only I am not surprised seeing that Goblin.

[So, Goblin. After causing that commotion in Osaka and disappearing, now you’re working as Haeguneul’s dog?]

“No. I…”

The eyes visible beneath the visor-like eyes of the mask momentarily flashed.

“…was waiting to execute the scholar villain who came to terrorize Haeguneul’s server room.”

[…….]

Ah, so that’s it.

I understand now.

He’s an entity that shouldn’t be here, but there’s no particular reason why he shouldn’t be.

Originally, he should have appeared in America, but the current America is “The Syndicate’s America.”

Since I’ve officially become a member of The Syndicate and it has changed from the original Syndicate, the affiliations of “villains” who should be under The Syndicate could change as well.

Just as someone who was employed by The Syndicate in the original work is now employed by Haeguneul, not The Syndicate, in this reality.

[You’re from Times Square.]

“…….”

Under the visor, the man’s eyes momentarily narrowed.

[Coming all the way from America to Korea just to be Haeguneul’s lackey. And imitating the concept of not just any S-rank hero or villain, but The Syndicate’s Goblin. Hmm.]

It’s a bit absurd, but from Haeguneul’s perspective, they’ve hired quite an exceptional talent.

[Are you perhaps Do’kke’bi?]

“…….”

[When a singer becomes famous, copycats emerge. And not just any copycat, but one who’s determined to make money by exploiting it. And Haeguneul is using that.]

“…….”

[You must have worked incredibly hard to mimic even the speech pattern. Trying to make your behavior, speech, appearance, and even voice similar to someone you dislike. Right? S-rank hunter, <Fakuri>.]

“……Hmph.”

The suited man clenched his fist with an obviously irritated expression.

“You’re also imitating Goblin’s speech pattern. What, did Goblin have a change of heart and reincarnate as a scholar mask?”

[…….]

“You’re just a villain trying to terrorize Haeguneul under some righteous pretext. You claim justice, but your ultimate goal is to mess with and destroy Haeguneul.”

[You know it well.]

I came to destroy this Haeguneul.

To do that, I need to defeat this man before me, the last—Do’kke’bi guarding the headquarters building.

[Aren’t you ashamed? Wearing Goblin’s mask and acting like that?]

“What’s wrong with a Haeguneul Man acting as a Haeguneul Man?”

[You don’t need to imitate that too.]

Making the person hearing it feel embarrassed.

“It doesn’t matter. The original Goblin died in an explosion in Osaka anyway, and the current Goblin is just a fake created by The Syndicate.”

[…….]

“In a world full of fakes, there’s some scholar guy in front of me who thinks he’s Goblin. Whether you’re from Hwalbindang or a new concept ability user…”

BOOM!

“Everything is for Haeguneul.”

A loud explosion sounds beneath Do’kke’bi’s feet.

“I execute those who interfere with Haeguneul’s business.”

[Well, that’s fine. But let me ask one thing.]

I tapped my wrist.

[If all the bank data is wiped out, what compensation do you plan to give to people who put money in Haeguneul Bank?]

“……Contracts are individual choices.”

Ah.

“Doesn’t everyone know that the Depositor Protection Act only covers up to 50 million won when they put money in Haeguneul Bank?”