Chapter 353: Under the Sun, In the Shadows (4)

Choi Seon-hee, the director of ㈜ Sun—also known as Taerang Co., Ltd—remained silent for a moment.

Cale Henituse.

The two questions he had asked her echoed in her mind.

‘Where is the president’s residence?’

That was the first.

‘Has ㈜ Sun ever invested in ㈜ Transparent? Or is it possible to contact the person in charge of that area?’

And that was the second.

Actually, the meaning of the second question was simple.

To what extent are you related to ㈜ Transparent?

Choi Seon-hee answered both questions, and the three humans who heard her response fell silent for a moment.

The first to speak was Alberu Crossman—the human the Sun God had told to do whatever he wanted.

“So, Transparent doesn’t accept any external investment.”

“Correct. They don’t want any external intervention in the creation or operation of the game.”

The number of players in the game was in the hundreds of millions.

Furthermore, even those who didn’t play still enjoyed Raising My Precious Absolute God in various ways.

All sports.
All entertainment.
Even gambling.

Nothing could surpass the influence of RMPAG in the present day.

In fact, sports, entertainment, gambling—everything—was either conducted within RMPAG or tied to it in some way.

“Many companies and numerous countries tried to expand their influence in RMPAG, but ㈜ Transparent didn’t want it.”

The company and the country that controlled RMPAG could incite or manipulate hundreds of millions of people.

But Transparent didn’t allow it.

“People feel a great deal of sympathy for RMPAG’s determination to focus solely on the game.”

“Transparent’s image is good, right?”

Alberu muttered softly as Cale opened his mouth.

“Wouldn’t it have been bad for ㈜ Transparent to reject everything like that?”

Right now, RMPAG held massive influence over Earth 3.
But what if it had shown that same attitude of rejection during its growth phase?

“If it had been stopped before it grew... it would’ve been problematic.”

Cale’s gaze shifted to Secretary Choi.

“Correct.”

She nodded her head.

“That’s why ㈜ Transparent does accept advertising.”

“Advertising, right?”

“Yes. If the price is right, they advertise various policies of companies and countries on Earth 3 within RMPAG in various ways.”

The method was quite subtle, so many users didn’t notice.

“So, they’re creating connections, right?”

“Yes. They haven’t completely ignored the governments and companies of various countries.”

At that moment, Rosalyn joined the conversation.

“I don’t think it’s just that, right?”

Rosalyn, sitting on the sofa looking at the ceiling, had a strange smile on her lips.

“Isn’t there a power struggle going on within RMPAG right now? And among them, there must be quite a few users who have a country or a large company backing them.”

“…Correct.”

Secretary Choi, who answered slowly, wore a smile similar to Rosalyn’s.

These people—

They don’t lose sight of the essentials.

“Transparent created the board, and on that board, who—, no,” Rosalyn said to herself.

“Even if an organization or a country seizes the board and gains power, they won’t interfere with it... right?”

“That’s why the other forces on Earth aren’t saying anything to Transparent and are trying to expand their influence in RMPAG secretly or openly.”

Alberu continued with those words.

Choi Seon-hee nodded her head.

“A kind of new Earth is the New World of RMPAG.”

Tick-tock, tick-tock.

Choi Seon-hee stood beside Cale.

She stroked the fully glass-walled wall.

“Earth 3 has been saved from the invasion of monsters for now. But for a while, or rather, for several decades, it had to endure a period of pain due to the invasion of unknown monsters.”

Among the products of advanced science, strange mechanical devices that emit steam.

All of them were evidence of the way of life of the new Earth 3, created for safety.

“Those monsters still appear from time to time. Anyway, now they are monsters that humans can withstand and stop.”

The Earth 1 and Earth 2.

This place was different from the world Kim Rok Soo had lived in or the one Cale had experienced.

“So, you can say they overcame it. But the things that were broken and collapsed didn’t come back.”

“A new world, a beautiful new world, has opened up for those people.”

Secretary Choi nodded her head at Rosalyn’s words, who had been listening silently.

“Yes. People couldn’t help but immerse themselves in that beautiful world.”

The developed Roan outside the glass wall was a beautiful world.
But the scars remained, etched into the hearts of its people.

The wounds and pain that couldn’t be erased remained everywhere on Earth 3.

That’s why people immersed themselves in the world of RMPAG.

“For the powerful, a new battlefield has emerged.”

Alberu reacted to those words.

“Battlefield? It’s not a normal battlefield. It’s a virtual reality battlefield that doesn’t affect reality.”

“Correct.”

Choi Seon-hee wanted to inform these three foreigners about RMPAG—
what kind of entity it truly was, and what it meant to both the civilians and the powerful.

Tap, tap.

Alberu, who was sitting in a comfortable and luxurious chair in front of the desk, tapped the desk lightly and opened his mouth.

“Cale.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t you think the reason why this world has survived without suffering great damage from monsters is because of the Transparent Family?”

“…! ”

Choi Seon-hee’s eyes widened.

What are you saying right now?

That our world has not suffered great damage?

But she didn’t rush to speak.

“The Hunters, with the cooperation of the Demon World, were the ones who caused monsters to appear on various Earths and turn them into a disaster.”

The Hunters’ actions to create despair for the sealed god, the god of despair.

One of them was to create hell on various Earths.

“The Transparent Family decided to settle here. And moreover, they decided to create the New World with the technology of this place. So, they couldn’t destroy the Earth 3.”

“And coincidentally, the plan to create a new White Star and the plan to awaken the Sealed God also failed.”

Alberu looked at Cale with a crooked smile.

‘Wasn’t it you who did it?’

Cale didn’t look at the smile that contained that exact meaning.

Instead, he fixed his gaze on the outside.

“The Hunters. They won’t have any reason to keep tormenting the Earth 3 with monsters.”

On the contrary, the New World within RMPAG.

Until that new world becomes a true new world, not a virtual reality, they will protect the Earth 3.

“Yes. However, the fact that monsters still appear at a level that can be managed, well, there must be various reasons.”

To highlight the peace of the New World.

Or to instil fear and uncertainty in the Earth 3.

Maybe there are various benefits to maintaining this state.

Alberu thought that and asked Cale.

“Well, I have to get in touch with the guys from the Earth 2, right?”

“That’s right.”

If the monsters on the Earth 3 are in a state of calm.

He couldn't help but wonder what the state of Earth 2—where Cale had experienced the Sealed God’s test as Kim Rok Soo—was like.

“I have to get in touch with them after a long time.”

“Yes… it’s been a long time.”

It really had been a long time.

Cale had always had a communication network that allowed him to get in touch with them, starting with the Cintamani.

But he hadn’t had any special need to use it.

Choi Jung Soo and Lee Soo Hyuk from Earth 2.

Sui Khan, who was working with the gods after dying, and those two, who were different from Choi Jung Soo, how were they living?

Had peace come to that place too?

Cale opened his mouth before his thoughts deepened.

“In any case, does the honorary president of ㈜ Transparent have great power?”

“Yes. And he’s very popular.”

“Oh.”

Alberu asked with interest.

“He also does a lot of charity work, right?”

“Yes. He’s a person who donates large sums of money to places that have suffered damage from the occasional appearance of monsters. Above all, he’s very popular in Roan.”

The honorary president of ㈜ Transparent.

“He created a giant corporation, does charity work, and moreover, his media image is spotless.”
㈜ Transparent, a corporation native to Roan.

The citizens of Roan couldn’t help but feel proud of it.

“The current president is the son of the honorary president, and his ability is not yet recognized. But the honorary president has great popular acceptance.”

“So, if he ran in the next election, it would be like a guaranteed victory?”

“Yes.”

Choi Seon-hee calmly conveyed the information she had.

“The current president, Ahn Roh Man, has devoted a lot of effort to overcoming the crisis of Earth 3.”

Ahn Roh Man is an incredible person.

“He’s a great warrior and strategist.”

There are many people who admire him.

“But people—”

Choi Seon-hee couldn’t continue and stopped for a moment.

Would it be okay to say this?

In a moment of doubt, Alberu spoke his thoughts first.

“They want peace.”

“…Correct.”

Ahn Roh Man is a great person. His sacrifice was enormous.

“Many people think that Ahn Roh Man has already done enough as president for three terms and that he doesn’t need to continue, but above all—”

The majority opinion of the people is that,

“In a world where peace has come, they don’t want to leave evidence of the war.”

Ahn Roh Man is the proof of the past.

“People want a future, a future that elevates Roan’s status. People want someone who will elevate Roan’s power.”

Rosalyn said with a sad expression.

“It’s like a forgotten hero—”

“It’s not that he’s forgotten, he’s enjoyed what he’s achieved a lot. It’s just that people don’t want him for the future. Even though he’s incredible, they consider the honorary president to be much more incredible.”

Raon whispered cautiously in Cale’s mind.

- Human, but… wasn’t it ㈜Transparent that caused his parents’ deaths? They’re his mortal enemies!

That’s right.

People just don’t know.

- Ahn Roh Man must be super angry! If they gave his position to his mortal enemy...! If it were me, I’d burn it all down!

As Raon said, Ahn Roh Man will be furious inside right now.

Being defeated by another person is nothing, but being defeated by ㈜ Transparent is like a terrible nightmare.

Especially if one has dedicated their life to Roan, as most people recognize, their mood will be even worse right now.

Cale opened his mouth.

“Secretary Choi.”

“Yes.”

“What is the name of the honorary president?”

“Ah.”

Choi Seon-hee bowed her head slightly and said as if apologizing.

“I’ll send you all the information about ㈜ Transparent that I’m collecting soon.”

And she quickly answered Cale’s question.

“The honorary president. His name is Han Taek-su.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Cale.

They had already grasped the situation.

“Did you say the current president is at that address?”

The important thing was what they could do on that board.

Cale looked to the northwest and then tilted his head.

And he checked his attire.

“Well, I think this outfit will be a bit problematic.”

It was an outfit that would only work in Aipotu or the Kingdom of Roan.

If anyone saw it, they would think he was cosplaying the RMPAG game.

He asked Secretary Choi.

“It would be good to have three suits.”

And Secretary Choi replied as if it were natural.

“I’ve prepared everything for the three of you in this building.”

Not only three suits, but everything needed to infiltrate Earth 3 was already prepared.

“Great.”

“You’re welcome.”

Cale told his companions.

“First, let’s change clothes and then we move.”

* * *

“Here is the popularity analysis.”

Ahn Roh Man threw the documents his assistant had given him onto the desk.

Thud.

Ahn Roh Man looked at the papers and opened his mouth.

“I’m losing.”

“…Yes.”

Probably, his popularity will decrease even further over time.

“What is the ruling party doing?”

“…”

The advisor lowered her head without saying anything.

Ahn Roh Man let out a dry laugh.

“Well, those old men are trying to get in touch with Han Taek-su of ㈜ Transparent somehow.”

“…Yes.”

Ahn Roh Man asked his advisor seriously, without her being able to continue.

“Has public opinion changed?”

Only the advisor and Ahn Roh Man were in this place.

“Speak calmly.”

The advisor opened her mouth at the end of the silence.

“…Unless there is a major variable, I think it will be difficult to stop Han Taek-su.”

Ahn Roh Man closed his eyes tightly.

“The large-scale update will be completed soon, and major changes will occur in RMPAG. As you know, everyone is on edge.”

“Pfft.”

Before the advisor finished speaking, Ahn Roh Man let out a breathless laugh and rubbed his eyes with his hand.

“There are many who want to establish their own kingdom in that New World battlefield.”

Both countries and companies. Everyone wanted the New World.

It was a new business or power.

This would be an act that ㈜ Transparent couldn’t control, relying on the New World that had become too big.

“Can’t ㈜ Transparent control it?”

They’re just pretending.

Ahn Roh Man knew better than anyone that ㈜ Transparent completely controlled the New World.

“People know it. Who is the real owner of that battlefield.”

“The Honorary President, Han Taek-su. Is that why the citizens of Roan want him?”

“There’s no one who rejects a new land.”

“Well, it’s true.”

Now, the New World was another Earth that offered people on Earth a new life without burdens.

“…”

Ahn Roh Man, who had been silent, slowly looked at his advisor and opened his mouth.

“Mary.”

“…Yes. Oppa.”

Mary, the advisor, sighed, took off her glasses, and rubbed her eyes forcefully.

Ahn Roh Man looked at her and asked.

To the only one he could trust.

“Will it be difficult for me to win?”

“…I can create two variables.”

Mary didn’t say she could win. She was a boring girl because she spoke in a mechanical voice, but she had never been wrong about what she said.

“Are there two variables?”

“The first. Destroy ㈜ Transparent right now.”

“Is that possible?”

Mary didn’t say that either because she believed it was possible.

That’s why she said the second variable.

“Or have you received a mission from the king?”

“…”

Mary, who knew that Ahn Roh Man was number 1 in the rankings, said to him, who didn’t respond.

“Ahn Roh Man, the Hero who saved Roan and Earth. The Hero that people had forgotten becomes a Hero again in the New World.”

“Is that your answer?”

“It’s the variable I can deduce.”

A variable is needed to create a new current.

First, the board has to be changed.

“Oppa, you know we can’t ignore the New World anymore as if it were a game. The New World is also another Earth. People have freed themselves from monsters and have become dependent on the New World.”

From the monsters that plagued Earth and Roan in the past, to a new world that offers fantasy and pleasure. People are now moving towards the future.

“…There’s nothing that works.”

Ahn Roh Man said with a sigh and told his Advisor Mary that he needed time alone.

“I’m going to think for a bit.”

Mary nodded her head at his additional words and left the office.

“…….”

Ahn Roh Man was left alone in the office.

He closed his eyes tightly.

“Really, there’s nothing that works.”

Two variables.

He knew the key to creating them.

㈜ Transparent.

He knew those who wanted to destroy the Transparent Family.

And the mission from the king?

That too—

“Alberu Crossman—”

The moment he thought of someone’s name.

BEEP—BEEP—BEEP!

The alarm that was on the desk in the office reacted.

“Alarm activated.”

A voice came out of the device on the desk.

“An unauthorized intruder has been detected. Barrier 0 has collapsed.”

Clang.

Ahn Roh Man pushed back his chair and stood, a cold hardness settling over his face.

The presidential residence.

This place had 10 defence systems. But so far, the 10 defence systems hadn’t worked.

They hadn’t sent any warnings or any errors.

Only one—

A secret defence system that only Ahn Roh Man and his advisor Mary knew about.

Barrier 0.

Now it had detected an intruder.

That meant the intruder had easily passed the 10 defence systems and reached this barrier.

“And Barrier 0. This system—”

“…The office.”

It was installed only in this office, where Ahn Roh Man was now. Only in this space.

Ahn Roh Man turned his head.

Click.

The window opened.

“Oh.”

A man could be seen exclaiming in amazement.

“You weren’t scared, right? It seems you were waiting for us.”

The red-haired man, wearing an elegant suit, entered with a smile.

From head to toe. His movement to jump through the window was not at all appropriate for his attire, completely covered in first-class brands.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you in person.”

And then a handsome man with blonde hair and blue eyes entered.

He was also wearing an impeccable suit, and he looked very much like Ahn Roh Man.

“I’m sorry for coming without warning.”

The last one to enter was a woman with bright red hair and red eyes that matched it.

And a red mana fluttered around her.

All three of them were wearing black suits, although the brands and design were different.

Tick-tock.

When she also entered the room.

Ahn Roh Man opened his mouth.

“You’ve investigated Taerang’s location.”

Alberu couldn’t access the game because it was in the process of being updated, but he wasn’t connecting to Taerang at all, so he thought it was strange and tracked Taerang’s location.

“But Taerang is here.”

He couldn’t determine Taerang’s exact location. But he confirmed that it was on Earth 3.

Also, in the capital of Roan.

“So, naturally, I thought you would come looking for me.”

Ahn Roh Man gave a soft smile.

Alberu, the handsome blonde, returned a radiant smile.

“Yes. But I think, I won’t need to come here next time.”

Alberu kept smiling as he spoke.

“Because next time, you won’t be here.”

“…”

Ahn Roh Man’s smile disappeared.

“There’s no place for Ahn Roh Man in the presidential office.”

Alberu said that.

Ahn Roh Man couldn’t say anything.

But Alberu kept smiling radiantly.

“Well, shall we talk a little?”

Cale stood between them, smiling mischievously.

“While we have some coffee. How about that?”

While Cale spoke nonchalantly.

“Americano. It’s addictive.”

Rosalyn added naturally and was the first to sit on the sofa. 
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Translator's Thought 💭:
When boardroom politics meet shadows of the past, you know Trash of the Count’s Family just turned the heat up.

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Yu Ryeo Han]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Mayank]