#199
The Approaching Hand
A community in Korea.
<But ever since the Bone Dragon appeared in Japan…>
– Did Hahoe Mask just give up on stopping photos and videos? It’s only been a few days, and suddenly, all this evidence is pouring in, lol. Though they were all shot in Japan.
└ It’s funny that they made such a flashy debut and are now trying to hide it. But seriously, why aren’t they bringing out that Bone Dragon again? I want to see it!
└ Hyung… When are you coming back to Korea…? I’m scared to walk at night without youㅜㅜ
└ Still, ever since Hahoe Mask went to Japan, the villains who popped up are disappearing quickly these days? Looks like the Guardian finally started to work, lol.
It was only a week since Hahoe Mask revealed the Bone Dragon in Kyushu.
Of course, the excitement on the internet hadn’t cooled off yet.
Sure, new incidents were still happening daily, but the shock from that event was not something that faded in just a few days.
People’s minds were strongly fixated on that presence, and it even made it into international topics!
Given how Korean people react sensitively to foreign reactions, it was only natural that they showed great interest in Hahoe Mask, who was abroad wearing a representative Korean mask.
However, not all reactions were positive…
– But can a Korean really mess around like that in another country? Doesn’t that cause diplomatic issues?
└ Fact: Hahoe Mask is already a notorious criminal messing around in Korea.
└ But if you think about it, isn’t this a shame for our country? A criminal we couldn’t catch is now active abroad, gaining fame. What does that make our country look like;;
└ Who cares, they couldn’t catch that criminal in Japan either.
Many felt uncomfortable with his reckless actions.
After all, it’s not surprising since it was revealed that Hahoe Mask was a notorious necromancer wielding infamous dark magic.
Reactions abroad regarding Hahoe Mask were also largely similar.
Some expressed subtle rejection while experiencing curiosity.
In that regard, the current public sentiment in Japan, where a ‘purification operation’ was underway, was a chaotic mix of various opinions.
– That masked dark hero visited our neighborhood yesterday. Today, I saw police surrounding the area.
– The fools who had been ignoring the police and the Guardians were too scared to live here… can we finally relax a bit?
Some were subtly hopeful for changes following Hahoe Mask’s visit.
– I live in Fukuoka, and I definitely feel a difference. Of course, soon after, the small fry moved into the vacuum left behind.
– But the scale is on another dimension compared to before, so it’s much better. I don’t know how long it’ll last, though.
└ My place is the same. The newcomers are at least decent. I really hope this incompetent organization handles things properly while the factions are weakened right now, but honestly, praying for that masked hero to come back is probably faster.
Some expressed quiet satisfaction about the aftermath of his visit.
– Are these people all idiots? A Korean criminal is coming into our country and slaughtering Japanese people, and why are they so happy about it?
└ Exactly. What is this ‘Ability Nation’ doing? Why can’t they catch that guy already! How can we live in peace with this anxiety?
└ But Hahoe Mask supposedly only hunts criminals like the Yakuza?
└ But aren’t the Yakuza Japanese? We should be the ones to catch them, not some Korean guy! We need reparations for this.
└ Isn’t it a problem that they’re not catching anyone since they’re all in collusion?
Opinions expressing rejection toward the nations involved and those rebutting them grew louder.
As direct parties in the matter, their reactions were inevitably sharper than others.
And that interest only intensified when it shifted from ordinary people to specific organizations—
The crime organizations in Japan, now feeling the heat, and the Buncheon Society that had previously tried to take down Hahoe Mask but ended up failing, were prime examples.
*
In a lavishly decorated accommodation in China.
Beeeeeep— beep—
With the mechanical sound vibrating softly in his head, a man in his thirties sat in a wheelchair, moving his eyes rhythmically like a robot.
In sync, carefully organized data collected from around the world was systematically stored in his mind.
This included not only self-researched information but also contents analyzed for fun by others and posted online.
It was the result of the branch’s total effort in information gathering.
“Tsk.”
After reading the entire report displayed on his office monitor, Yul Ryeong-ja leaned back in his chair and only clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.
Frowning, as if something distressed him, he repeatedly rubbed his eyes.
“Yul Ryeong-ja~? Things seem to not be going well for you, huh!”
Suddenly.
His body jolted at the sound of a frivolous voice.
Just moments before, he was alone in this room.
But that moment passed, and he lowered his hands that were rubbing his eyes and turned his head nonchalantly.
“…Doctor.”
As expected, there was the familiar middle-aged man with messy light brown hair and a scruffy beard, grinning at him.
“It’s been a while! So, how’s the new eye working out for you?”
“Thanks to you, it’s fine.”
“Hahaha! Of course, it’s thanks to me! So… are you more disappointed than ever?”
Now suddenly serious, the Doctor raised his voice in excitement as if he had just been laughing heartily.
As always, amidst his scattered energy, Yul Ryeong-ja could only bow his head in response.
“I heard news from Japan. Apparently, things went terribly wrong?”
“…I am ashamed.”
“What~ that happens, right? Seriously, a Bone Dragon! I didn’t even expect that! He’s much more interesting than I thought! Hahaha!”
With an almost mad-like laugh, the Doctor wiped the tears from his eyes and then got straight to the point of his visit.
“I got news that the Head has returned.”
“…Is that so.”
The whereabouts of the Head were classified information.
Of course, Yul Ryeong-ja was not in a low position as he was the leader of the East Asia branch including China, where the Buncheon Society originated, and responsible for the organization’s main members’ secrecy.
He would probably get to hear all the news soon.
However, he naturally ranked lower in priority compared to the Doctor, who was practically the right-hand man of the Head.
Yet, the Doctor was explicitly here to share this information…
“I heard the Head is very interested in the Bone Dragon! Naturally, she loves anything unique, right?”
“You don’t mean…?”
“Exactly! She’s thinking about seeing that smile mask person in person! Of course, I plan to be in on it too! Hehe!”
“Did the Head say that herself? What about the Oracle…?”
Yul Ryeong-ja was surprised as he mentioned another name, causing the Doctor’s playful smile to sour as if he had heard something he shouldn’t.
“…Hmph, for some reason, the girl doesn’t seem too certain this time. What can we do? Just stay silent!”
But it was only for a moment; he soon regained his swagger as he continued speaking.
“It was refreshing to see that girl who usually makes a racket shut her mouth! The future isn’t predetermined; we carve it out ourselves, don’t we? I hope the Head doesn’t listen too much to that girl!”
In terms of abilities and inclinations, they were at opposite poles, and the two had a notoriously bad relationship.
If the Doctor was the right hand of the Head, she was the left.
Had it not been for his existence, their being in the same organization would have likely been impossible.
“So, what about the Head now?”
“Haha! You know her personality, so why ask?”
As expected.
Feeling a premonition, Yul Ryeong-ja slowly nodded.
“It should be time for her to arrive…”
Click—
Just then, as if to interrupt the Doctor, the door swung open without warning.
“Long time no see, everyone. Yul Ryeong-ja, hope you’ve been well?”
With a low voice and an unusual aura surrounding him, a man entered the room.
At first glance, he seemed ordinary, yet on closer inspection, he exuded a suffocating intimidation that made it hard to focus—
An utterly inscrutable existence.
“Yes, thanks to your concern, I’ve gotten much better.”
“Hmm~ they say demons show up when you mention them! You came right on cue, Head!”
The head of the Buncheon Society, a transnational crime organization that exerts immense influence in the undercurrents of the world, had finally returned to China after a long absence for some business.
To directly tackle Hahoe Mask.
*
“Why is my ear so itchy?”
Thud—
Having carefully set down the heavy barbell while continuing my routine in the home gym, I vigorously rubbed my ear.
Hmm, is someone talking about me?
That thought barely grazed my mind before quickly fading away.
When you start to think in that direction, there are so many potential connections that it’s almost overwhelming.
Shrugging lightly, I bent down to pick up the barbell again.
Huuuh—!
After all, Hans had to be in a position that drew complaints one way or another.
Especially in another world, but recently he had been publicly active in Japan, which was especially stirring up a lot of talk.
Naturally, I was already aware of the trend in public opinion.
That said, I don’t intend to change my course of action based on public sentiment.
Up till now, everything had been going smoothly.
I had shattered the traps set by the Buncheon Society while flipping Japan upside down, giving them considerable damage in return.
From past experiences, they wouldn’t stay idle after being attacked, so some form of retaliation would surely come soon.
I just needed to quietly carry out my tasks while preparing for that eventuality.
And that is to completely burn down their base.
A smile involuntarily crept onto my face.
What could be more enjoyable than collapsing a tower someone else diligently built?
It’s been just a few days since the first clash. They must need time to reorganize, but they wouldn’t completely abandon Japan, so that period shouldn’t be too long.
Of course, with the second round, they would surely come back better prepared, but no matter what kind of preparation they undertake, it wouldn’t mean much.
Now, with the Bone Dragon, Heratos, that I can use freely, as well as the newly joined Abyss Revenant, Salma, of course…
If worse comes to worst, I can just run away.
The ultimate escape move, Summoning Release, was always ready at my disposal.
So, Earth is settled. Things in Auterica are a bit complicated, but… well, it’s going relatively smoothly.
Thud—
With another heavy sound, I placed the barbell on the floor.
Having finished my training set, I rolled my shoulders and glanced to the side.
Hoooh! Hoo—! Hoo!
Sweat poured from my entire body like rain, and my rough breathing was audible.
There, a tall young man, lightly dressed and squatting with a barbell on his shoulders, was training his lower body.
Hmm, definitely good-looking.
I nodded to myself, feeling pleased while looking at him.
That figure belonged to Hugo, the avatar I could recently create.
As always, he had entered extreme hard-training mode immediately after being created.
The only peculiar thing this time was that… I hadn’t specially modified his appearance, so he looked identical to me, just like the previous clones I had made.
I can always modify the appearance through ‘Customization’ later, so it doesn’t matter.
Hugo’s current duty was to carry out various errands and to act as my replacement when I was away.
This would neatly solve the gaps resulting from my frequent absence using ‘Entity Projection’ lately.
Of course, leaving for a short while wouldn’t cause major issues, but as always, it’s better to be overly cautious.
Hmm, more importantly…
Heading to the shower with a towel draped over my shoulder.
I leisurely strolled along, contemplating the situation in the other world, nodding to myself.
Perhaps it’s time I focus on the situation over there for a while?
A significant event was about to kick off in Auterica.
*
As Heinrich emerged from the swirling blue gate, the first person he faced was a very familiar face.
“Welcome, Saint. You’ve had a tough time.”
A girl with bright silver hair and sparkling golden eyes that refracted the surrounding light.
With her mere presence illuminating the area, Liesta Saint Hatyandus welcomed the hero group with a gentle smile.
“Welcome to Rosellia Temple.”
Finally, Heinrich arrived at the shrine to participate in the second continental summit after completing a long journey.
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