Ch.652Chapter 25. Let it Unfold (2)

Suddenly, about 300 S-class ability users appeared around the world.

All of them decided to participate in the Ability User World Cup, leaving Korea in a precarious situation.

“It’s fine since we have the Lord of Radiant Wings!”

That’s what people say.

But having just one Lord of Radiant Wings seemed insufficient given the many concerning factors.

“Did you see the names of these new S-class users? ‘Loki,’ ‘Carlos,’ ‘Mahatma.’ Those titles are absolutely brutal.”

“And that Heavenly Demon from China. Though he’s a traitor to his country, his skills are on par with the Battle God, aren’t they?”

“He might even be stronger now. Who knows? He might have gotten stronger through backdoor connections with the Patriotic General.”

Beyond the information gap that made it impossible to identify these newcomers, the “S-class women” who had already been threatening elements became a major concern.

America alone was a prime example.

America officially dispatched 20 S-class ability users, and while some concealed their identities, they were well-known to those in the know.

Red Rider.

Blue Rider.

White Rider.

Black Rider.

The composition seemed somewhat familiar, as if seen or heard somewhere before, but this team of four women was under close scrutiny by Korean citizens.

It was already known that Red Rider, “Yoon Hye-ra,” had spent a night on Jeju Island with the Patriotic General and Baek Seol-hee.

Moreover, just days ago, photos of Black Rider with Baek Seol-hee at Mount Geumgang appeared on social media.

Two American S-class female ability users with the “Rider” title already had connections to the Patriotic General Do Ji-hwan.

Having acquaintance with Do Ji-hwan could mean they’ve reached a level similar to Snow White, an S+ class who retired due to pregnancy.

Though they’ve never actually fought, could the long-reclusive Lord of Radiant Wings defeat the four Riders who awakened through Do Ji-hwan?

“Are you doubting the Lord of Radiant Wings now?!”

Doubting the Lord of Radiant Wings was tantamount to death, but as the World Cup approached, people’s anxiety showed no signs of subsiding.

Citizens gradually fell into panic, which extended to the gambling market.

“Let’s go all in on the traitor odds!!”

The “X-Sports Toto,” run by the Hero Association with fair-minded individuals and led by a lottery company whose CEO was Ymir, the luckiest woman in the world, exploded with bets on Korea losing.

For Koreans, betting on a win would be the patriotic choice.

But if the underdog odds won, they could double their money or more.

“It’s okay if just I bet against my country!! If I win, I’ll donate half to the nation!!”

People went crazy for money.

Because the late Chairman Choi Ho-jung had legally arranged for anyone to place bets on the Ability User World Cup matches, not only adults but even elementary school students joined in the betting.

Not just South Korea, but the entire world was caught up in gambling on match predictions.

“This is Gwangalli Beach in Busan, the special opening ceremony stage created by Snow White herself. A stadium that can hold 300,000 spectators…”

“I can’t believe this was built in an instant. They say it’s even safe for S-class users to fight inside? Someone like her should have competed in the World Cup…”

“Some say she became stronger because of her pregnancy, because she became a mother. Questioning why Baek Seol-hee isn’t participating is slander against her. We should think about how to best use the stage she created for us.”

On the surface, everyone seemed focused on the opening ceremony at the special venue in front of Gwangalli Beach in Busan.

“PD, who are you betting on?”

“If Baek Seol-hee were competing, I’d bet on her without question. Professor, are you also doing the Patriot Toto?”

“I’m merely making predictions based on thorough ability analysis, from a professional perspective.”

“So that’s why you went all in on the Lord of Radiant Wings? Well, at least none of you seem to be betting against the country. But I bet some of you told your families to place traitor bets as insurance, right? Hahaha! …Why is everyone so quiet?”

Inwardly, everyone was pouring all their attention into X-Sports Toto.

In an era where mass media, online communities, and any gathering of three or more people inevitably led to discussions about the Ability User World Cup outcomes.

I want to tell the people of this era:

“You’d definitely win if you bet on people wearing costumes with The Company’s mark, yet you’re betting against them.”

The sure bet is The Syndicate.

* * *

Three days before the opening ceremony, at the Busan special stadium [Seolhwaru].

Though it’s a World Cup with ability users representing various countries, it’s a great opportunity for participants to appeal to the world—especially to Korea.

“South Korea! Your traitor has returned! I’ll avenge my family who were forced into exile after being branded as traitors by defeating the Lord of Radiant Wings and winning!”

Some returned to take revenge on Korea for making them villains and forcing them to choose exile.

The so-called “executives” silently supported those who returned to Korean soil with such intentions.

Of course, only if their costumes bore the marks of The Company, The Syndicate, or their affiliated or sponsoring companies.

There were those who joined hands with worse elements like the mafia, gangs, or drug cartels to take revenge on Korea, and even those with justified vengeance were ultimately “villains.”

Yes, villains.

Though they came with S-class hero credentials, this World Cup was overflowing with villains wearing hero masks.

For example:

“Those guys are villains-hae.”

[What’s with that sudden speech pattern?]

“It’s to emphasize my Chinese origin-hae. Anyway, those guys over there, if my eyes don’t deceive me, they’re all S-class with villain backgrounds-hae.”

The Chinese S-class villain with hair styled like a dumpling, now [sealed] by Zenros and under the management of a college student with a strongman background, Miss “Jang Deok-hee” accurately identified the villains among the portfolios prepared by the tavern owners.

“Especially this guy, only 21 but wearing a mustache, this sneaky-looking fellow needs extra caution-hae.”

“Why?”

“He’s a psycho who enjoys secretly killing husbands, then approaching the widows to make them his women.”

“So he’s a scumbag?”

Whether it was his concept or perhaps a descendant with different surname but the same bloodline awakening such tendencies, the S-class hero that Jang Deok-hee pointed out with disgust had the face of a villain.

[Yu Hyun-sook, do you know anything about her?]

“…That woman is probably from Inner Mongolia.”

The former eldest Peach Sister, now living under the name “Yu Hyun-sook” and wearing elegant hanbok, pointed to a woman with a tanned complexion.

“A woman who mercilessly slaughtered 100 public security officers. She was eventually caught and had to cooperate with authorities if she didn’t want to die, just like us. Her main mission was… assassination.”

[Sending an assassin openly as a hero. That’s bold.]

Is it prejudiced to say this is a country that doesn’t hesitate to use any means necessary to win?

They’ll even send villains as heroes to secure victory.

[Well, we’re not ones to talk.]

There are cases where those who have killed and Zenros-sealed such vicious individuals are competing under different aliases, so I’m in no position to criticize them.

“Excuse me…”

[What is it, Gwan Un-sook?]

“Are you really competing as ‘Goblin’?”

[Yes.]

I nodded immediately after looking at the profile handed to me by Gwan Un-sook, the second Peach Sister.

[Why?]

“Well, um, doesn’t this look too much like ‘that person’?”

[Who? Do Ji-hwan?]

“Yes… well, him too, but…”

Gwan Un-sook pointed at me wearing the goblin mask.

“It’s really you, right? Not a copy? Not like a real replica made by The Syndicate?”

[If it’s a copy, it’s a copy, but what’s a ‘real replica’?]

“Well, you’re always joking about being a clone and deceiving people… There are even theories that the current ‘Riders’ are clones of the ‘erased’ Korean S-class ability users.”

[I suppose there would be.]

Though upgraded, both Goblin and I originally had golden bridges mixed in our hair, but in terms of abilities, they all resembled heroes.

[We may joke about being copies, but there’s one truth that eventually comes to light.]

“What’s that?”

[The truth is always one.]

More precisely:

[The original is always one. And how that original manifests itself.]

That there’s only one real one in this world.

[Even if China sent three S-class heroes called the Peach Brothers, they wouldn’t be you all.]

“……”

[It’s a world full of counterfeit S-class users. Jang Deok-hee, do you know who these people are?]

“……Three A-class users.”

[That’s right.]

The S-class bargain sale is:

[Even if they give A-class users S-class business cards and send them to compete, that doesn’t make them S-class.]

A global scam.

[They started the rigging first.]