Cheon Seyeon walked up to Endo Tsuyoshi, a key lawmaker of the ruling Gamin Party.
"We already sent an official request for cooperation to Sugihara. They replied that they're willing to help in any way. So I don't understand why you're blocking us."
With a casual wave of his hand, Tsuyoshi signaled for the nearby reporters to step back.
"Cheon Seyeon, was it? Is it because you're young that you're so slow on the uptake? Whether Sugihara claims they'll cooperate or not is completely irrelevant. This isn't a matter between individuals or corporations. It's a matter between nations. A diplomatic issue between Japan and Korea."
He pointed upward.
"So if you want an investigation, go through the proper channels. Hold a summit. Have your president call ours. Get Japan's permission first."
"Why are you protecting them to this extent?"
"Sugihara is one of the pillars supporting Japan. Of course we protect them."
"I already told you what kind of incident they're involved in."
"That's just your claim. It's not something discovered through an official operation. Just the words of a lone hunter who happened to stumble onto this while on vacation."
"They killed thirty civilian players and targeted a Ranker. That's a fact."
"That was the independent action of a despicable onmyoji group. We appreciate you for wiping them out. That is Japan's official position. So let's end it here and go back. We won't make trouble if you do."
Seyeon frowned.
She was starting to get curious.
Just how much influence did Sugihara Industrial really have in Japan?
How powerful did they have to be for ruling-party lawmakers to step in so openly?
On the surface, Sugihara had agreed to cooperate. If the investigation continued, dirt would inevitably splash on them. And yet…
"Even if we retreat now, I won't give up. I'll get that consent somehow and come back."
"Pfft…!"
"What's so funny?"
"You're naive. Let me ask you this. How much is Korea willing to give up for that consent? Will you rewrite your history? Hand over disputed islands? Or maybe offer up a Ranker? You said you'd get Japan's approval no matter what. Who do you think you are? Just because you awakened as a hidden class and became a Ranker, you think you're untouchable? Know your place. Know your place. I guarantee you, your country won't give up any of those things. It would be the same as admitting defeat in our long struggle."
Seyeon took a slow breath, steadying herself.
She had almost punched Endo Tsuyoshi in the face.
Ring, ring.
Her phone rang.
"Yes."
"—This is Jin Yunho. Hunter Cheon Seyeon… I'm sorry. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs moved quickly, but it didn't work. Their demands were completely unreasonable. We couldn't accept them."
She clenched her fist.
Those damn Sugihara bastards.
Publicly, they claimed to cooperate and polished their image. Behind the scenes, they pulled this kind of stunt.
"They even threatened us. They said to withdraw before what happened in Kyoto became an international issue. Because of that… the Korean government is begging you. They're asking you to step back. If you push forward now, there's no turning back."
Seyeon's face hardened.
Noticing this, a victorious smile crept onto Tsuyoshi's lips.
"A defeated dog knows to retreat without looking back."
He really knew how to get under people's skin.
She had to admit it.
It was a talent.
"Assemblyman Endo Tsuyoshi. Do you know the word 'karma'?"
"Don't waste my time."
Seyeon pointed at him.
"I don't know when you got involved in this, but you'll pay for it."
After casting one last look at Sugihara Industrial, she turned away.
The Korean hunters retreated with her.
Beaming, Tsuyoshi clapped twice.
"Everyone! Great work protecting Japan today! Always remember! I, Endo Tsuyoshi, will safeguard everything that makes up this nation, no matter what crisis comes!"
While he was busy showing off…
An old man at the top of the building let out a low chuckle.
"Disgusting lowlifes."
His name was Sugihara Shoji.
Chairman of Sugihara Industrial—and the man who secretly commanded the 'Oni of Kansai.'
"We apologize for causing trouble, Chairman."
Minako, the chief secretary, bowed deeply.
Shoji clenched his teeth.
Everything had been handled perfectly.
All records of his visit to Korea had been erased. Miyamoto, the onmyoji connected to Sugihara, had been silenced in time.
There should have been no way for Korea to trace anything back to him.
So how had his name leaked?
"No need to apologize. Those worthless onmyoji were simply incompetent. They called themselves the best, yet couldn't even kill one person properly."
He had used them well as pawns in the past.
They had eliminated his rivals and strengthened the company's position.
But this time, the ending was sloppy.
A whole group wiped out by a single Ranker.
"Such a waste. We could've shaken things up much more."
"I'll look for new operatives."
"You'd better."
Shoji leaned back and closed his eyes.
Some might wonder—
Why would someone who had everything want to kill a foreign Ranker?
What would he gain?
If asked, Shoji would answer:
Nothing.
This wasn't about profit or loss.
It was a long-standing obsession of the Sugihara family.
'Those damned dogs… crawling back like weeds…'
They had driven stakes into mountain ranges, suppressed language, forced name changes, and demanded shrine worship.
Each time, Joseon—modern Korea—had staggered.
Yet it never completely broke.
No matter how much they trampled it, it always rose again, like an undying flame.
Shoji had grown up watching his grandfather's and father's failures.
He believed he would be different.
As soon as the company stabilized, he resumed their old project.
Though the incompetent onmyoji had delayed him once, he would never give up.
"And one more thing."
"Yes, Chairman."
"Find whoever leaked our name. It must be someone in the Reform Party."
"Understood."
Even if his name had leaked, Sugihara itself suffered no real damage.
But that was beside the point.
The ruling party and Sugihara had been closely connected for years.
The opposition knew it too.
They pretended not to, for one reason.
Everyone understood—
There was a line in politics.
Cross it, and you'd lose more than your career. You might lose your life.
This time, someone had crossed it.
So he would remind them.
Of Sugihara's terror.
"I'll take my leave."
Minako bowed and left.
Shoji sank deeper into his chair and smiled peacefully.
Today, nothing had happened.
Some lowlifes barked.
That was all.
And it would always be that way.
Nothing would happen.
That was the gap.
The unbridgeable gap between heaven and filth.
"This has been Matsui from NJK. Thank you."
Tsubasa ended the call and shrugged apologetically.
"Hmmm."
Jin-hyeok rubbed his chin.
It seemed unlikely that Seyeon would be able to approach Sugihara directly.
Ding.
"I'm sorry, Jin-hyeok. Even with the name you gave me, I couldn't do anything. See you in Korea."
Unlike her usual lively tone, the message was curt and flat.
He could imagine how dejected she was.
"They cooperate on the surface and stab you in the back when you arrive. Typical Sugihara."
Tsubasa smiled bitterly.
He knew the pattern too well.
Back when he was a fiery rookie lawmaker, he had tried to drag Sugihara into the spotlight.
Just when he thought he'd succeeded, he realized—
Everything had been in Sugihara's hands from the start.
He had been nothing more than a puppet dancing to their tune.
Considering Sugihara's cruelty, the Korean hunters had gotten off lightly.
The stigma of being the 'Oni of Kansai' had made him cautious.
"Assemblyman, I have a question."
Jin-hyeok had a habit of asking things out of nowhere.
Tsubasa nodded.
"Go ahead."
"Where does Chairman Sugihara live?"
"Cough!"
Of all the questions, this was the most shocking.
Tsubasa nearly choked.
After calming down, he shook his head.
"Sugihara isn't like Hosakawa. He's on another level. His security is completely different. I know you're absurdly strong, Jin-hyeok, so brute force might not be an issue. You might even win in a fight. But that's not the real problem."
He continued after catching his breath.
"He's smart. And evil. At his estate, hundreds of people live there besides guards. Chefs, cleaners, gardeners, drivers—and even their families. To the public, he looks benevolent. In reality, they're human shields. If someone hesitates because of that? He wouldn't hesitate to kill them himself."
It was Sugihara Shoji's silent question to his enemies:
Can you massacre innocents just to kill me?
"On top of that, he's extremely cautious. He changes where he sleeps every night, even inside his own mansion. No one knows where he'll be. So…"
"Uh, Assemblyman?"
"Yes?"
"Sorry, but… I'm not planning to kill him. I was just curious where he lived."
"Oh."
Tsubasa scratched his head.
He had jumped to conclusions.
After showing Jin-hyeok the address on his phone, Tsubasa watched him bow.
"Thank you. For everything. From the name to access permissions."
Tsubasa gave a faint, empty smile.
At least he was polite.
'Well, whatever.'
He chuckled softly.
They hadn't gained concrete results.
But he was satisfied.
He'd built even a thin connection with the famous Runner.
"No need to thank me."
As Tsubasa shrugged, Jin-hyeok spoke again, as if he'd been waiting.
"Since you've helped me so much, one last favor…"
Tsubasa's eyes trembled.
This wasn't gratitude.
It was preparation for another request.
"Would you like to take a walk with me?"
Jin-hyeok pointed.
At the map on Tsubasa's phone.
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T/N:
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