Chapter 28

– Whoa, seriously? He killed people on purpose just to act like a hero? That’s terrifying.
– Something felt off. Like how V showed up late this time, unlike usual.
– There are even rumors he’s tied to the Association. What if they made him into a hero on purpose?
└ So the Association is now killing people to manufacture heroes? Why not stage a coup while they’re at it?
└ Even if it’s just him, that’s still a problem. If the Association can’t control one guy, how incompetent are they?
└ Since when did this wild theory become truth? He risked his life saving people—how can you treat him like this?

“…That last comment’s a bit annoying.”

“Don’t worry, sir. I’ve already deployed paid commenters. We’ll make him look like a lunatic.”

└ V logging in again, huh? LOL what a clown.
└ So pathetic. Don’t you feel ashamed living like that?
└ You think I’m V? You really think I’ve got nothing better to do?
└ Nervous?
└ Nervous much? LOL. Psycho weighing lives like they’re nothing—just shut up already.

Kim Seokmyeong smirked as he read the replies.

They were rooted in factual dirt dug up on V, amplified with paid online commenters.

It was nearly impossible for public opinion to flip back now.

“Well done. Just keep it up steadily.”

Thanks to the fake accounts, community opinion was overwhelmingly on Kim’s side.

Without them, V would’ve had at least 60% public support.

After all, he had saved Seoul and countless civilians.

But people were creatures of consensus. Keep the tide going and it would tilt 50:50, then 40:60.

“People really are dumb. Even the ones shouting ‘bot comments!’ start believing when everyone else does.”

“You’re truly wise, sir.”

“So what if V is powerful? He won’t even know I was behind the articles. And if he tries to retaliate? He can’t. If he actually kills me, he becomes a psycho.”

He was already celebrating victory.

At this rate, V and the Association would be forced to submit to him.

He had shared power with other assembly members, but he was the mastermind—he’d reap the most credit.

“President Kim… doesn’t sound like a dream anymore. The election’s just two years away. I just need to solidify my support base. You’ll still be my aide then.”

“It would be an honor! I’ll do my utmost.”

Kim Seokmyeong was already president in his mind.

As he basked in his self-assured peace—

Ring—

His aide Han Yushin’s phone rang, piercing the mood.

It was from one of the reporters who had written a hit piece on V.

Kim frowned.

“Tsk.”

“S-Sorry, sir.”

“Oh, come on. That’s not your fault. Blame the phone for lacking tact. Go ahead, pick it up.”

Ring—

Something felt off.

Even before Han brought the phone to his ear, Kim’s own phone began ringing.

It was from Assemblyman Lee Eunchang, one of his co-conspirators.

Feeling uneasy, Kim ignored his own call and listened to Han’s.

“Yes, this is Han Yushin.”

—“V just expressed intent to emigrate!”

“W-What!?”

—“It’s already in the news! Check it out!”

Kim snatched his phone and opened the news app.

Front page, in huge font:

[V Considers Emigration, Willing to Clear S-Rank Gates Abroad… Open to Offers Depending on Treatment]

“Hah…”

So, he wasn’t going to back down?

Kim gave a hollow chuckle. Han hung up quickly after repeatedly thanking the journalist.

“This… this is bad, isn’t it?”

“Bad? Please. It’s a bluff. He wouldn’t actually go.”

If he did go, it would be a different story.

But if he stayed, this was the worst move he could make.

Was he so bold as to take on Kim Seokmyeong?

“Kid’s got guts. Maybe too much.”

“If he’s bluffing, that’s not courage. That’s recklessness.”

“Exactly. He thinks public support will swing back to him.”

Not a chance.

Even if public opinion flipped briefly, as long as V stayed in Korea, they could just keep attacking him.

Eventually, the Association would bow first.

If the pressure continued, V might actually emigrate—and then the Association would look like total failures.

It didn’t matter who wrote the article or whether the Association tried to protect him.

People only remembered results.

The Association’s efforts would be forgotten—they’d be labeled incompetent.

Sure, losing V would be a massive blow to the country… but what did that matter to him?

The Association would take the blame. Kim could just step forward as the next presidential candidate.

“Tsk. If he’d just listened from the start, this wouldn’t have been necessary.”

“He must not know how the world works—he only just came out of the Tower.”

“Yeah, Tower climbers tend to act like wild colts.”

Too bad. The young man made a poor move.

But the feeling of victory didn’t last.

Ring—

His phone rang again. Assemblyman Lee Eunchang.

“This guy… he’s not usually this persistent.”

A strange tension crept up Kim’s spine.

He finally picked up, only for Lee’s voice to blast into his ear:

—“Sir! Midas just announced his support for V!”

“What!?”

—“He says if V leaves the country, he’ll leave too!”

Like a thunderbolt.

Yes, V was valuable.

He was considered beyond S-rank—a true national asset.

But losing V could be blamed on the Association.

They were technically independent now.

Losing Midas, however, was a different beast.

The state needed to keep him, even if it meant clinging to his coattails.

If he stayed, it was a victory. If he left, it would be Korea’s greatest political failure.

Suddenly blank, Kim just stared at his phone.

Han Yushin held his phone out.

“Sir… here’s the article.”

Next to the piece about V was a newly published headline:

[Midas Declares Support for V, Praises Hunter Spirit, Will Consider Emigration Too]

So that faint article from earlier was important.

They’d just ignored it in the panic.

But that wasn’t all.

—“Other Hunters are coming out to defend V as well.”

“I see it.”

Bribing reporters and flooding comments hadn’t helped.

Now famous Hunters were backing V, calling him a true hero.

Why?

Even usually spineless Hunters who feared politics were speaking up.

Even assemblymen who had supported Kim began backing away.

—“I’m pulling out. Sorry, sir.”

“W-Wait! Think this through—are you sure?”

—“Sure or not, once a fire’s ashes, it won’t catch again. I’ve got my own statements to release. Goodbye.”

“Wait!”

Click.

Kim hurled his phone in frustration.

Too bad it didn’t even crack—his phone case was too good.

“Damn it. A betrayal this deep!?”

Betrayals were common in politics—but this one stung.

He’d led the charge and tried to hog all the credit.

Now, he had to shoulder all the blame.

Han Yushin tried to calm him.

“Please don’t be too upset, sir. Your seat is still secure.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I’ve already set up a fall guy.”

Kim wasn’t new to politics.

Unless someone tortured the reporters and assemblymen, no one would connect the scheme to him.

This wasn’t enough to topple him.

He’d stagger, but he’d recover.

He picked up his phone.

“Prepare a press conference. Let’s start calling V a hero. Even if it disgusts me.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll get to it—”

“No need.”

The bunker door opened without warning.

A man entered.

The room was well-lit, but his face was completely blurred, like mosaic pixelation.

All Kim could see was a tall figure in a gray hoodie.

“What the hell? Did you open the door?”

“N-No, sir!”

“What?”

This door was impossible to open without internal clearance.

You needed fingerprint, retina, and vein recognition. Even an A-rank Hunter couldn’t break it.

“Then who the hell is this bastard!?”

“Me?”

Kim cursed, but immediately regretted it.

Anyone who could open that door without a sound wasn’t normal.

And the aura the man gave off was suffocating.

Even Han Yushin—an A-rank Hunter—was paralyzed with fear.

Kim realized his mistake at once.

Had he gotten too used to living like a king?

“No need to know. Why would you?”

“I-I’m sorry. I must’ve offended someone I shouldn’t have. Please forgive me. I’ll use all my power to support you.”

“Wow. You are a politician. Fast reader of the room.”

The man’s tone softened slightly.

Kim had instinctively bowed low and begged.

It was humiliating—but he was used to this posture.

He hadn’t started out as someone powerful.

“Please, spare me. I’m still useful.”

“Yeah… probably.”

His voice hinted that he might be spared.

Kim’s mind raced.

Who is he? Did a reporter talk? A lawmaker? Once I get out of here, I need to clean house.

“You’re right.”

“W-What?”

“I found the reporters, interrogated them, then the lawmakers, and then finally you.”

He can read my thoughts!? He’s reading them right now!?

Kim was horrified.

But it didn’t last long.

Thwack—

His neck separated from his body.

The man murmured:

“You got the posture wrong. You should’ve been prostrate, not just bowed. You’ve got awareness, but no humility.”

He summoned a millipede-like monster and tossed it at Kim’s corpse.

It began devouring the body ravenously.

Then he turned to Han Yushin, who was still frozen.

“You entered the bunker with Kim. A monster followed in. You tried to stop it, broke your arm, and failed to protect him. Got it?”

“…Huh?”

“You don’t need to think. I’ll use hypnosis.”

Crack.

“AAAAAGH!!”

Han’s arm broke with a grotesque sound.

“It’ll heal soon. Think of it as punishment for following a bad master. This way, you’ll avoid responsibility.”

“Ghh… Th-Thank you… I’ll never forget your mercy…”

“You won’t remember it anyway. You’ll just think you killed a monster and barely escaped.”

The man snapped his fingers.

Han’s eyes glazed over.

He stumbled toward the door.

“See? You really should pick your enemies carefully.”

Lee Woojae blew up the monster that had eaten Kim Seokmyeong.

They’d need a body to blame it on.

All that remained was a chattering skull… and a pile of bones.