Chapter 279: Noisy Emergency Meeting (2)
jPtKang Geom-Ma took off running. Behind him, Director Sung and Media followed, panting, trying to stop him.3hzWAM
3SUPhd8“Mr. Heavenly Sword!”4qVjMxM
bhjQ0xDirector Sung shouted.9ER51d
YriQBk4Kang Geom-Ma ignored the call and ran up the spiral stairs.OZvc
hBgNrz‘Did he run all the way to the 12th floor just because the elevator was slow…?’KNF
gSkjEo7He was so fast that even Media couldn’t keep up. He was literally as fast as lightning.8nPlMew
qtIS“You can’t just leave like this!”iEVsO
6x60Sung yelled desperately, hoping his plea would stop him. But it was useless. Kang Geom-Ma sped up even more.PloUYX
slgi‘I shouldn’t have said anything.’QDvd
r2qlTwenty minutes earlier, Kang Geom-Ma had arrived at the Hero Association headquarters in Seoul.6kCFYPx
dma4OnlHe asked Director Sung about the status of the meeting. Sung, who was monitoring the situation, sighed deeply and explained things were going badly.AqDg
aKz8Of course, Kang Geom-Ma asked why. Sung didn’t hesitate to say the culprit was the President of the United States, Ronald—an imperialist who looked down on the Association and believed all power should revolve around the U.S. Sung didn’t hold back in criticizing him.ioBhGSI
2a5He trusted Kang Geom-Ma enough to share that and felt he had every right to know the meeting’s details. Also, he’d been dying to vent about Ronald.39ap4
F8PmnNz‘That pig dared to openly humiliate the vice president…?’FNp
ly4rMThat’s how it started. After hearing the account, Kang Geom-Ma hardened his expression and headed straight for the meeting room. Media, surprised, followed but couldn’t catch up.4yD019
HLr“Pant… pant… Since when is Mr. Heavenly Sword so fast?”XibBPu9
5zsm6R3Everyone knew about his speed, but only when wielding his sashimi. Now, just running, he was so fast sparks trailed in his wake.CDpe
qQ1Still, Sung and Media chased him the best they could. Finally, when they reached the meeting room one after another, the first thing that greeted them was a dense, heavy air. It was the lingering trace of the murderous aura Kang Geom-Ma had unleashed upon entering.d4VYg5
fUzu7Sung didn’t faint only thanks to prior experience. Humans are creatures of habit, after all.Te71
7XcaVAs he caught his ragged breath, he looked up… and froze.hrne
HjCGPLY“……!”8urs
R7NThe first thing he saw was President Ronald, with his temple and cheek pressed against the table, tongue hanging from his mouth. A grotesque sight.EtNT
n5XjcuuWait… Is he dead? Or just unconscious? Right? Please, just unconscious.IuFxKGM
MBhMedia rushed forward and approached Ronald. She tapped his shin with the tip of her shoe. No response. She leaned in to listen. No breathing. No signs of life.d5z
2TFWShe stepped back and shook her head silently, like a doctor declaring a death.5DXI
Wbd“We’re screwed.”JVa
SrmG7Director Sung muttered. A cheap Korean curse echoed in the minds of all the leaders present. Korean was a universal language—everyone understood it.Aghp
T8WWbKRSung looked at Changseong, sitting calmly in the distance. Seeing his shocked expression, he sighed.kRXk8
eMK7Het“Is he dead?”sf6KPbk
AZPKmv“I don’t know, but his heart stopped.”J9VlfU
Ko2W12Media replied, biting her lip.AMjCd9
2TvPi“H-his heart stopped doesn’t that mean he’s dead?”0OqMf
aSaCASung’s face turned pale. The same happened to the others.6WXK
XjnxL1“It’s not the same as clinical death. A cardiac arrest can be reversed if treated within the golden hour with a defibrillator. The problem is, that device is on the first floor, and we’re on the twelfth. It won’t get here in time.”D4JKUlU
MwiMuF“That’s a problem.”Zrb6
kOv7EclChangseong scratched his beard uncomfortably, though he didn’t seem too concerned.noSNY
TJFBk“If a head of state dies in the middle of a summit, we’re in for a major mess. Even if it was just a heart attack, the public impression won’t change. Also, that Yankee pig—I mean, President Ronald—is a major shareholder in Lancelot Company. Without him, getting support from hero agencies could become difficult.”IxE
ljCRQThat’s why Changseong had been restraining himself. But now it didn’t matter.ITZAn
HCdmglsStep.xWG8
inB2wwtUntil then, Kang Geom-Ma had remained silent.N3WOS
my4D20Suddenly, he stepped forward toward Ronald. Before touching him, he looked at Changseong.5CKFSan
ZLrm“You said saving this Yankee would be most beneficial, right?”qbttJGw
m8VDu“It’s not very ethical to weigh a person’s life, but yes, it is.”HEnScY
mDWInAs he spoke, Changseong glanced at Ronald. His pupils, pointing in different directions, showed signs of decomposition.SFs4c
Icw“But seeing those eyes, it’s too late to save him.”NsrA2x
asj“We won’t know until we try.”5M9KRua
OSl“Huh? What do you mean…?”Rr2eN
R0BpChangseong blinked, then his eyes widened. The others reacted similarly.FKj
BzBkeJUThe meeting room, which until then had only dim lighting, suddenly lit up. Blue electric sparks jumped across the floor and walls.wayL2
FFNdxfCrackle!JhV
jKNfbYfEveryone stared at Kang Geom-Ma in stunned silence. For a moment, no one could speak. Then, they shielded their eyes.ZGRz
0utyIt was blinding. His right hand emitted a light so intense it burned into their retinas.nA8
jHg8pVZIs that a blessing…? Isn’t that magic?HmYOSd
rNIKang Geom-Ma grabbed Ronald by the neck. An even more powerful bolt of lightning erupted. Beyond blinding, the light seemed capable of rendering one blind. Everyone shut their eyes.OsKUUc
JZvZVFFlash!FcG
VRcNThe room, tinted white for an instant, slowly regained its color. Then, a groan was heard.Qbz
RKgREveryone opened their eyes wide. Through their still-blurred vision, they saw Ronald groaning, holding his forehead.H5Zj6pG
i89“…What… what is this?”A8l
SzJRonald was disoriented. As if someone had snipped and randomly pasted his consciousness, past and present events were completely jumbled. When he raised his head, he flinched.uRv4IH
tbBKHeavenly Sword was staring straight at him. In the dark shadow cast by the emergency lights, his black eyes shone intensely.NBb
l4Rl“What’s it like, dying and coming back?”HqjOIc
MtrgHeavenly Sword spoke in a low voice. No formality. No trace of respect for the President of the United States.xL6Q
VQkH“That’s what heroes feel every second they charge into battle. While garbage like you cut steak at fancy restaurants and drown in wine.”PwUGUMM
WGeYzHHis eyes scanned the wine glasses lined up on the round table.M8xlc3
xX5FbAt that moment, all of them shattered at once, shards flying through the air.FrD4g
NjYJ1bWhile he was at it, he also directed his killing aura toward the bottled mineral water. The plastic crumpled like dry rags.tAFMl
b7gZdQs“If you come to Korea, drink Yeongchangsu. Haven’t you heard? ‘Ours is the best.’”Xrit0Fr
AHVsRonald’s face went pale as a corpse. Even more than when he was near death moments ago.q2XW
9FjHeavenly Sword spoke again.5Xo4U
IR5“Still, out of respect for the people who chose you as president, I’ll spare your life.”DGfU
xH1T“…”2S0tKD9
gV4iYh“Am I talking to myself?”5VLJN
0rLS5H“T-thank you for your mercy, Lord Heavenly Sword.”x5cxj
cTbuQj“By the way, all that nonsense you spouted earlier was recorded. I’ll release it everywhere once the war ends, just so you know.”KYaMgu
uEZJT0“That’s a bit…”GHAby
FZvSHeavenly Sword fiercely furrowed his brow.hENf
Wh67f“What? Missing the afterlife already? Speak. Killing is easier than saving for me. But choose your words carefully. They might be your last.”CzB
9deOi4j“I’m sorry…”c49MG
LiiTRJWHeavenly Sword kicked a chair leg and nodded toward a corner of the room.9pkZlk
68S“Then go over there, raise your hand, and stay standing.”BU9
GSloG6“Yes, sir…”beBDvQI
UIl4JfRonald walked away with his head hung low. Everyone watched him go, no one daring to stop or comfort him.F2mpNC
a3NZUHe knelt down, raised one hand in the air, and lowered his head like a criminal. His suit wrinkled horribly. Tears as large as raindrops streamed down his cheeks, consumed by shame.GjLxJ1
y0YklrHeavenly Sword reclined in the chair Ronald had occupied, crossing his legs with arrogance.TXgP
jTc5After the storm, the room fell silent.Pjveh
5ISHeavenly Sword had silenced the foreign press with force, and with his overwhelming presence, had dominated the leaders of every nation. It all happened in the blink of an eye, as if time had flowed naturally.bZOWH8
nGRBy extension, his silent pressure caused the heads of state to swallow their saliva instead of sipping luxury water. These greedy adults, seasoned by age, were cowed—by a mere eighteen-year-old boy.IFPBPY
6qMUX9R“Let’s begin the real meeting.”RHzZ
a71UDQ8In this room, Heavenly Sword was practically a tyrant. But under certain circumstances, a tyrant is exactly what’s needed. And this was one of those times.SnjH7iX
oRV0“As I said earlier, if anyone has objections, raise your hand.”lsr
IWJpUntil the meeting ended, no one raised a hand.nMkVQ
jx3Thus, the meeting originally scheduled for five hours was wrapped up in just three.FiKy
UCr***aTOu
CEWi33b“One moment, Kojima.”135QCp
evqChangseong called out to Kojima, who was about to leave the room.CkDK
Xdo“…What is it?”hKwMBS
KdDdu7YHe answered without turning around. Changseong smiled with mild awkwardness.xnSRv
ZEO“Well, I just wanted to thank you for today. If it hadn’t been for you, everything would’ve tilted toward that damned Yankee.”d065Jo
rRw“I only spoke up because what he was saying was so absurd. I didn’t expect any thanks from the senior.”V2L
ryA8JChangseong’s smile deepened. What an ungracious guy.FlX
Wk1eU“Can I ask you something?”dcj
ZNGw0“You want to know why I changed my attitude so suddenly?”adysmv1
eXOaa“You’re sharp.”lVe6UO3
os1Vw“Obviously, it was for me and for Japan. Even if others don’t get it, I know what it means to go up against a Corps Commander. ‘Every man for himself’? If we go that route, humanity won’t last half a day.”9bCx2SO
XWMPD“What I want to know is if that was the only reason. That’s the real question.”D1AOYdk
60soEcW“Do I have to answer that too?”hOCCW
gjxvWgChangseong shrugged lightly.Frl5vS
2qlZE“It’s your call, but when else would we get a chance to talk like this? If war breaks out, one of us—maybe both—might die.”dNuJV44
5ADCT“…”Llw7
whaKojima stood still, staring upward. His snow-white crown was clearly visible.SOr
eci“While I was in the hospital after Heavenly Sword stabbed me, I had a lot of time. It was the first time I ever wasted time like a slacker. Since my wife Alice died, I buried myself blindly in work.”VbS
cb0l1As he gazed at the ceiling, Kojima confessed.LAucU8
9ChL13“During that time, I reflected on myself and on Alice. I asked myself why I’d clung to her so much. That was the first doubt. Then, suddenly, I understood. The reason I loved her.”vt2
NX58He lowered his gaze and looked slowly at Changseong. His sky-blue irises shone with the same vitality they had in his cadet days.kCxdY
qwwNbe“…It was her conviction. ‘To shoulder the burdens of others.’ I always admired that principle. Because I could never be like that. Maybe that’s why I obsessed over her so much. An obsession disguised as love. Pathetic, isn’t it?”Wes
CIrAzsJSaki Kojima said this with difficulty.rSQY
66xbq4“I’m over sixty, but I’m still a pitiful human being. Alice, on the other hand, died in her early twenties, and yet she was far more mature than I ever was.”SE5by
kgb“…”vKgb3
Gyid4vb“So now that the great war is about to begin, even if it’s late, I want to try becoming an adult. Only then will I feel I’ve earned the right to see her again.”l8aM2
EiD5KPRKojima let out a dry laugh halfway through his story, then shook his head.EAs1qO
YcvWy1Y“I must be senile. Me, telling all this to an old geezer like Mura, who I used to argue with non-stop? Getting old is scary.”uzX4
1LEqFm“We’re both stubborn old men, aren’t we?”3JMs1K
ikl5D3qChangseong grinned widely.nBE
uIG1vhn“I turn seventy the day after tomorrow. I probably won’t even remember this chat by tomorrow. Don’t worry.”GrSXpdv
xQwS9“Looks like you’ve aged too. In your younger days, you were completely reckless. Look at you now.”2Iyv9L
U2kpv5And despite his words, Kojima softly lifted one corner of his lips.fB5NES
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BlackLotus
Qi RefinementKojima has matured up