Part 1, Chapter 11, Section 18

9:30 AM, Azure Syndicate Hideout Conference Room.

After breakfast, having regained our composure, we resumed the emergency meeting.

After the ‘Princess Kidnapping Plan’ collapsed before it even began, I put my head together with the executives, hoping for ideas to save Gwanggeom.

“First, let’s put our heads together and come up with a plan to prevent our poor SS-rank monstrous human comrade’s wife from being NTR’d by an extremely thick-dick Western man.”

I briefly explained about Rasputin, and everyone, regardless of gender, felt fear towards him.

“No… is that even a human?”

“So, that…”

“Ah, it’s so disgusting I can’t even talk about it.”

Deokbae completely avoided the spot. Rasputin’s penis, which I had shaped with flames, was spinning on the table like a hologram.

“Uh, just a moment…”

Gungseong swallowed hard and picked up the holographic penis. The executives’ gazes became uncomfortable as he brought the enraged model of Rasputin’s penis to his stomach.

“Hee-eok.”

Even Gungseong, who had considerable experience, screamed. Rasputin’s glans easily passed Gungseong’s stomach, reaching his solar plexus.

“As you can see, this massive thing is incredibly monstrous. Even Rusalka wouldn’t be able to endure it.”

“Oh, how embarrassing… Even so, would Rusalka really submit?”

“And the moment this thing goes *kyung-kyung* into the cervix, the opponent is unconditionally charmed.”

“Good. We’ll have to kill him after all. Let’s start by cutting him in half.”

“To cut him, don’t you have to go to Russia first? Are you saying you’re going to Russia now?”

Beacon stopped Gwanggeom, who was about to go berserk. Gwanggeom couldn’t fly like me or Seok Harang, nor did he have the ability to dash through the sky to a foreign country like Jilpungek.

Since he was a gentleman who reached SS-rank in swordsmanship, he needed a ride.

“If we borrow Red Hare from Xiaolin-yang…”

“Ride Red Hare to assassinate him? No way. It’s unicorn-based, so it only lets virgins ride it.”

“She was a virgin? Wow, that’s amazing. She’s basically advertising her virginity to the whole world.”

“…Everyone probably didn’t know Red Hare was a unicorn.”

Although Xiaolin was half-virgin, Red Hare would probably continue to carry its master and gallop through the sky even if Xiaolin lost her virginity.

Though now its master could run even faster.

“I can send you, Gwanggeom, to Russia. But what do you think will happen if you kill Rasputin?”

“Anastasia would be happy.”

“Of course, she’d be happy that her beloved husband has returned, but what about the aftermath if your identity is revealed? I’m still getting all sorts of profanity hurled at me, being called ‘Gwanggeom’s killer,’ even after I killed you.”

The reason why the Villain Phoenix wasn’t revered as a Dark Hero was also due to his past record of ‘hero killing.’

“So, let’s put a hold on killing him outright. Calm down, and let’s find another way. Fortunately, we still have time before we have to go to India.”

While the issue with Karna was important, it was too difficult to immediately leave Korea for India by airship.

I contacted Baek Heea and insisted on going to India. Baek Heea was quite pleased that the Azure Syndicate would officially visit a foreign country after about a month.

– This is a good opportunity to raise our national prestige. Understood. So, when should we depart?

– Is it possible even an hour from now?

– …Launching the Baeknaro isn’t something that can be done in a flash like roasting beans over lightning. There are procedural issues, and we need at least two days. No matter how urgent it is, you shouldn’t make such unreasonable requests.

– My heart is just racing. It’s urgent. Then please make it as soon as possible.

I hung up the phone with Baek Heea and informed them that we had at least a day’s time.

And I plan to use that time for this unfortunate couple.

“First, the method of entering Russia. The legitimate way is to either smuggle yourselves in, or enter by Yuha’s private jet.”

“Why are you being so frustrating? Just expose it all. Can’t this old man just go in front of Seok Harang, kneel, and say ‘I’m sooooo sorry!!’?”

“Suddenly Seok Harang?”

As expected of Jo Deokbae, his words to Gwanggeom were utter garbage. Everyone’s gaze turned to Deokbae at his sudden suggestion to go apologize to Seok Harang.

“Listen, if we just open up about everything, Russia will understand, won’t they?! Huh? Anastasia brought her husband from Korea? Huh? And that’s Gwanggeom, an SS-rank ability user who was thought to be dead? Huh? And Gwanggeom’s daughter is Seolhwaryeong, an SS-rank ability user? What do you think the Russians will think then?”

Deokbae slammed the table and yelled.

“Wow! Anastasia brought two SS-ranks from Korea! If she keeps staying in Korea, she’ll just sweep up all the SS-ranks and bring them back! That’s what they’ll say!”

“What kind of nonsense are you spouting? Sit down. If making Gwanggeom and Seok Harang meet was that easy, we would have done it already.”

Deokbae’s words were extremely aggressive, making them difficult to implement.

“Of course, that doesn’t mean you did well, Gwanggeom.”

“…I understand.”

But as the saying goes, there were bones in his words; Jo Deokbae’s words pierced Gwanggeom’s heart like an awl. However, Deokbae thumped his chest as if his throat was choked.

“While we’re at it, let me say what I want to say. Why can’t you tell Seok Harang?! Why can’t you tell her?! ‘You’re my daughter! Heo Yun-hwan is your father!’ Why can’t you say it?!”

“How can he say it? He left her in an orphanage for 12 years, watched over her, and then brought her in and raised her as his disciple.”

Even Gaeul joined in Deokbae’s criticism with a scathing tone. Contrary to Gwanggeom’s heroic deeds, he had lived almost as if abandoning his family, let alone being estranged from them.

Jo Deokbae, who had lived almost without a family.

Cheon Gaeul, who had lived sharing love with her family.

Gwanggeom, caught between the differing perspectives of two people raised in completely different family environments, was simply being tossed back and forth.

“…Even if I’m cursed a hundred times, I have nothing to say.”

Having lost his beloved wife, his anger and mixed feelings towards the world were directed at his child, Seok Harang, but Gwanggeom’s wrongdoing towards Seok Harang was crystal clear.

“Let’s see. Starting with leaving Seok Harang at the orphanage, not being able to meet her face-to-face until she was 12, manipulating test results in case of a DNA test, and, uh, what else…”

“Yes. I’m the one who deserves to die.”

“So I killed you.”

…Because most of the Seok Harang route starts with listening to Seok Harang badmouthing Gwanggeom. It even got to the point where she’d ask to half-kill her father if she went back to the past.

“…Hmm, everyone’s family matters are complicated, so it’s not something to argue about.”

“We’re frustrated too, so imagine how he must feel.”

As Gwanggeom became too despondent, the executives offered words of comfort out of pity. Architect patted Gwanggeom’s slumped shoulder, comforting him.

“Isn’t he a man who lived for 20 years, not meeting a single woman, only looking at his dead wife? Boss, will this guy perhaps start a new life in the future?”

“When did you two get so close?”

“Drinking buddies. Our ages are similar, so we became close quickly.”

I didn’t know because there was no point of contact. Architect revealed that he had become somewhat close to Gwanggeom by drinking with him, as Gwanggeom had been drowning his loneliness in alcohol while Rusalka was gone.

“…No. He commits suicide after 25 years without having sex even once.”

“…….”

Public opinion regarding Heo Yun-hwan shifted from criticism to pity. In particular, Architect’s gaze changed to one looking at a pitiful child. Gwanggeom hung his head low and lamented.

“…I’m just sorry. I’m trying too. But it’s not easy. My best effort was bringing Harang home at age 12.”

“And you even took her in as a disciple.”

“Instead of apologizing to us, why don’t you apologize to Seolhwaryeong?”

“Then Seok Harang would also get along with Anastasia, and the Russian people would be relieved.”

“If he had done that, Seok Harang would already be a god. It’s truly uncanny how similar they are in these aspects, like family. Geez.”

Gwanggeom’s eyes flashed wide at my criticism, and he growled.

“…If the stage is set properly, both Rusalka and I can talk face-to-face with Harang.”

He listened deeply to the words of the other executives, so why did he react so sharply to mine? I seized on Gwanggeom’s words.

“Do you really want me to do it for you?”

“What?”

Perhaps he never imagined I’d retort like this, as Gwanggeom’s eyes began to waver in confusion.

“I’m not kidding, if you say you want to meet Seok Harang, I’ll kidnap Rusalka. The Phoenix I borrowed is going around killing SS-rank heroes, so kidnapping a bride from a wedding hall is easy, isn’t it? And then we’ll announce it.”

I stood up from the sofa and stretched my arms towards the sky.

“Russia’s national treasure, Princess Anastasia, will be taken as a bride by this Phoenix! That’s what we’ll say publicly, anyway.”

“Publicly… you say. Since Phoenix is an entity separate from the Azure Syndicate, they won’t be able to directly protest.”

The separation of the Azure Syndicate and the Dark Legion.

There were many advantages to carrying out covert operations in various ways.

“Of course, the Vladimir family isn’t completely foolish, so it’s inevitable that our relationship with them will significantly worsen.”

Jihwa clicked her tongue in regret. Jihwa added her opinion to my words, and one by one, the other executives also began to voice their thoughts.

“The entire country might just explode in rage. How about this? You, Gwanggeom, kidnap your wife and then flee across the world.”

One opinion: telling Gwanggeom to kidnap the bride and run away.

“Can’t we just break off the engagement by any means necessary? It’s an arranged marriage to begin with. ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t visit often. But from now on, I’ll visit Russia frequently. Let’s pretend the marriage never happened.’ Wouldn’t that be the end of it? As long as they don’t get married.”

One opinion: to break off the engagement by any means necessary.

“Think of it this way. Just as our people tried to protect the Azure Syndicate from foreign demonic influence by linking Azure Syndicate and Fire Fist, the Russian people are trying to prevent Undine from going elsewhere by combining her with Rasputin. In that case, we just need to create a better fiancé than Rasputin. Make Gwanggeom-nim a Russian. Like Viktor Heo or something.”

One opinion: to have a fiancé competition in the 21st century.

“She has been in Korea for quite a while, hasn’t she? You said she never went back to Russia? Imagine Seolhwaryeong living in America for about a month. If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to sleep from anxiety, fearing news of her sudden defection. Just tell her to buy a house in Korea. I’ll build a magnificent building for her.”

One opinion: to set up a villa in Korea and commute back and forth.

“…If I were to refute each one, it feels like dawn would break.”

Gwanggeom seemed to find every single opinion put forth by the executives problematic. Deokbae, who had been silently listening to the executives’ opinions, slammed the table and stood up.

“If we’re going to keep talking so disjointedly like this, I’m leaving. Hey, let me see you for a moment.”

Deokbae crooked his index finger, trying to call me aside. The executives were surprised by his audacity, but I raised my hand to stop them, then stood up.

“Alright. I wanted to get some fresh air for a bit too, so, 10-minute break.”

Ultimately, the unproductive meeting was halted, and I went up to the rooftop at Deokbae’s suggestion for a private talk.

“You have something you’re curious about, don’t you?”

“Yeah. Even though I gave you so many hints, you didn’t budge, did you?”

Perhaps because we were out on the open rooftop, Deokbae exhaled deeply and composed himself.

“You keep trying to get Gwanggeom to face Seok Harang on his own, but you. Is there a reason you’re not forcing Gwanggeom and Seok Harang to meet?”

“Yes. As expected of Subordinate No. 2. You hit the nail on the head.”

It was a conversation that couldn’t be had where Gwanggeom could hear. I cast a Barrier so that no one-especially Gwanggeom-could hear.

“I told you that Spirits awaken through love, didn’t I?”

“Yeah. Though I have no idea what kind of love you’re talking about.”

“It’s not necessarily love between opposite sexes. While that’s the best, each executive has a different kind of love they prioritize.”

I depicted the appearance of Seok Harang’s family with flames. The three-person family, living separately from each other, certainly couldn’t be described as harmonious or happy.

“What do you think Seok Harang, who grew up without parents, lacks the most?”

“Her damn parents.”

“What a way with words.”

“How can nice words come out when parents aren’t acting like parents? They go around fucking each other, saying it’s great, but then they tremble in fear and avoid seeing their child. What kind of parents are those? If I could only curse, I would have just said ‘bullshit’ seven times. What’s wrong with ‘damn parents’?”

“…It’s true, it is true, but let’s try to rephrase it more beautifully.”

I moved the figures of the three family members. I arranged them as if taking a family photo, making them smile faintly as if posing for a picture.

“Familial love.”

Seok Harang’s face, shaped by flames, was smiling more brightly than ever.

“Seok Harang needed a family.”