Chapter 393: The Birth of Evil (10)

Earth 3.
And within it, Roan.

“Did you guys see this?”
“Wow… what’s going on?”
“Yeah, right? They still haven’t managed to control the museum?”

People waking up as usual that morning—or forced awake by the commotion—were all talking about the “Transparent Museum Explosion.”

No matter their age or gender.
At home, at work, at school, online. Everyone had seen the headlines, everyone was talking.

Wherever people gathered, they were talking about this.

In fact, this incident was reported all over the Earth 3, not just in Roan.

“Wow, it seems like this isn’t a simple incident.”

Because there was a lot to talk about.

“No, but isn’t it true that the museum was originally a different building?”

The ㈜Transparent building that was camouflaged as a museum.

“But why did President Ahn Roh Man appear there?”

The sudden appearance of President Ahn Roh Man.

“And you know? Who is that user?”

“No, what do you call them? They were enveloped in a red aura, so I couldn’t see their facial features clearly. But their skills were amazing.”

“Exactly! No, isn’t there any clearer recorded video? We have to recruit them to our guild!”

“Nah, it’s obvious they’re someone on Ahn Roh Man’s side, do you think they’d come with us?”

A new user with extraordinary power.

“But isn’t this an act of terrorism?”

“Wait… are Ahn Roh Man and Transparent actually fighting?”

“How can this be?”

“No, but more than that, who is that man in black? It seems like he belongs to a different faction than that mage.”

“Yeah, they said he was Arm?”

“The God of Chaos? It seems like they’re an organization that worships him.” “Isn’t that a cult?”

The appearance of the God of Chaos’ religious organization, ‘Arm’.

“My god, this is a disaster.”

“Hey, I don’t know what it is, but it’s exciting.”

“What’s exciting? We don’t know what will happen to this country!”

“No, two days ago, Transparent attacked Ahn Roh Man’s advisor. And this time, it seems like Ahn Roh Man is doing something.”

“So, it’s a disaster! It’s chaos, chaos!”

People’s stories spread further and further in different directions, and speculations abounded.

It couldn’t be otherwise.

“Aren’t there any more reports?”

“I don’t know. Both of them are silent now!”

Both ㈜Transparent and Chairman Ahn Roh Man’s side.

No one opened their mouths; they were all silent.

On the news, they brought in all sorts of experts and constantly covered this morning’s incident.

But there was no proper follow-up report.

At least not yet.

“Oh!”

But at that moment, the people who were looking at their phones, television, or computer.

They could all access a piece of news.

“It’s Transparent! Transparent has spoken!”

On the television screen, a scene was being broadcast where ㈜Transparent’s press officer was speaking.

“The incident that occurred this morning was a clear act of terrorism.”

㈜Transparent unsheathed its sword against President Ahn Roh Man.

“President Ahn Roh Man, personally using troops, attacked the Transparent Museum that ㈜Transparent has built for the people. We demand severe punishment for this, and furthermore—”

The press officer’s gaze was fixed on the screen.

“We demand the arrest and severe punishment of the suspected individuals who, along with President Ahn Roh Man, carried out the terrorist attack on the museum.”

The people reacted.

===

- Wow. Are Ahn Roh Man and Transparent fighting?

- How can it be a fight? Who can defeat a transcendental company?

- But then is it Arm? Are those black guys and the red magic user on Ahn Roh Man’s side?

- Don’t we know? Can’t, we be sure?

 - You’re dumb. The red magic user escaped with Ahn Roh Man in a helicopter, haha.

 - And then the guy in black? The one who used a fire beam and destroyed everything. Wasn’t he the one who actually destroyed the museum?

 - …Huh? Is that true?

 - Yeah. Actually, were Ahn Roh Man and the red woman just exposing the shell of the museum? The camouflage?

 - …Yeah, right?

- Anyway, chaos is going to break loose, haha!

 - You’re crazy! How can you laugh?

 - Then do we cry?

 - Well, no, but don’t laugh either.

===

While various opinions were exchanged, some people observed the words of ㈜Transparent’s press officer with a slightly strange look.

“…It doesn’t seem like Transparent is trying to gloss over this, right?”

“Did you feel that way too?”

“Yeah. They’re only focusing on the museum explosion, but they don’t mention anything about the museum’s camouflage or the identity of the building that was revealed, or why Ahn Roh Man acted that way.”

“That’s right. Also, one of those suspected individuals clearly said that their faction was ‘Arm’. But why don’t they mention it? Ahn Roh Man said it proudly.”

“Yeah, why is this happening?”

Everyone—from political and financial circles to the guilds of skill users, and those analyzing the incident in depth—realized something.

“Is it strange?”

“It’s strange.”

㈜Transparent, a huge transcendental company that influences the Earth 3, beyond Roan.

It seems like they’re only saying they want severe punishment, but their actions are a little timid.

“Didn’t they even just send a press officer for this kind of incident?”

“Yeah. It seems like this press officer had never been to an event of this caliber!”

“…We need to investigate this.”

A strange atmosphere was being created.

Cale put down his tablet and looked at the television screen.

While the press officer continued to speak, Cale opened his mouth.

“It seems like Transparent is in trouble too.”

“Of course. From their point of view, it’s better to focus on Ahn Roh Man.”

Alberu put down the teacup he was holding.

“Hm. However, I didn’t expect them to not mention Arm.”

Choi Seon-hee, the director of ㈜Sun, shook her head with a disappointed expression.

“Wouldn’t it be because they can’t reveal the God of Chaos so easily?”

Rosalyn smiled slightly and said.

At that moment, the four were enjoying a brief tea in the upper floor office of the ㈜Sun building.

“Well.”

Choi Seon-hee still had a disappointed expression.

“I don’t know about Honorary Chairman Han Taek-su, but I expected Director Han Seong-hyeong to do something.”

The current president was a puppet of Han Taek-su. It was an open secret in the financial world that the true heir was Han Seong-hyeong.

Rosalyn opened her mouth.

“The Hunters wouldn’t want to reveal the existence of a being called the God of Chaos. Also, if they mention the God of Chaos incorrectly, there will surely be problems within them, so instead of making a statement like this, they will surely try to find appropriate information in secret.”

“Hm.”

Choi Seon-hee remained silent for a moment and then continued.

“But they can’t just let it slide like this. Kang Geun-mok also betrayed, and we’ve also stolen information. If we let it go like this—”

“It will only benefit those on Ahn Roh Man’s side.”

Alberu said that and picked up the teacup again.

His mouth was hidden by the cup, but everyone saw that he was smiling.

“Transparent isn’t an easy type, so they’ll know.”

He chuckled slightly and said,

“Doubts are doubts. They also know that the truth is sometimes overshadowed by those who have a louder voice.”

“Hm!”

Rosalyn frowned slightly, as if she had noticed something.

In these moments, she realized that she wasn’t cut out for politics, and at the same time, she realized that Alberu Crossman was from the royal family.

At that moment…

“He’s appearing.”

Cale, who had been silent, pointed at the television screen.

The screen was becoming noisy, because a person had appeared.

Director Han Seong-hyeong.

He is said to be the grandson of Honorary Chairman Han Taek-su.

The heir apparent and Young Master of the Transparent Blood Family.

The man Cale had greeted appeared on the screen.

“This is the first time he’s appeared at an official event.”

The impact of the director’s appearance could be felt in Choi Seon-hee’s words.

Director Han Seong-hyeong looked at the screen with an expressionless face and said,

“As Transparent is a company that began in Roan, we have tried to avoid causing more confusion than necessary. However, since there has been a real act of violence, I believe we must inform the people of a truth, along with the reason why Transparent has been attacked in this way.”

“Director!”

“Director, you shouldn’t do this. First, after—”

“No, I can’t keep holding back.”

The live broadcast showed the press officer and secretary approaching to stop him.

“Oh, he’s a good actor.”

Alberu was sincerely admiring.

And as if responding to this, Han Seong-hyeong spoke with each word serious but full of passion, like a young man full of enthusiasm, who loved Roan and was a capable person who sought the future of Transparent.

“President Ahn Roh Man, currently, has been involved in acts like the case of the murder at the abandoned school of Chief of Staff Mary, joining forces with a cult called the God of Chaos. Furthermore, he has been cooperating with them to take control of Roan, and to eliminate our Transparent, which tries to stop him, he carried out this atrocity this morning.”

The voice of him, who had been trying to remain calm, began to increase gradually, and finally, Han Seong-hyeong said with a desperate tone.

“We must stop this Ahn Roh Man, ruthless and corrupt, who hides under the mask of a hero, and the Arm faction that has been collaborating with him! If we don’t, we will face terrible chaos!”

“Wow.”

Director Choi Seon-hee was admiring.

“If he talks that way, even if Ahn Roh Man reveals the truth, people will doubt it, right?”

“Hm.”

Rosalyn groaned and glanced to her side. Cale was staring intently at the tablet.

“Young Master, what’s wrong?”

“As expected—”

Smile~

Cale smiled.

“People are smart, right?”

“Huh?”

While Rosalyn looked incredulous, Cale turned off the tablet screen.

The last screen he had been looking at was the RMPAG Community.

===

<But haven’t I heard of Arm somewhere?>

- W… why does that name sound familiar?

- My god! Wow, I remember now! The Western Empire! They’re the guys who attacked the Sun God Cult of the Western Empire!

- Huh?

- …Really?

- Yes! Wasn’t there a group called Arm that also worshipped the God of Chaos?

- …It’s not like they just share the name Arm, even the God of Chaos is the same!

- Hey, hey! Even the clothes are the same!

 - (Link)

 - My god, the clothes design is exactly the same!

 - Damn.

 - How is that possible? Isn’t it true that we just discovered something incredible?

- Nah, it can’t be.

 - Sometimes, what seems impossible is what happens.

 - Then, does that mean there’s an organization that connects RMPAG and reality? Haha, how is that possible?

 - Then, the words being said on television now make sense…

===

Cale pointed at the television screen for Rosalyn, who was looking doubtful.

“Ahn Roh Man will appear soon too.”

That had already been agreed upon with Ahn Roh Man’s side.

Soon, the announcer reported urgently.

“An urgent statement from President Ahn Roh Man is expected!”

Rosalyn felt a slight worry as she watched the screen change.

Will he do well?

Would Ahn Roh Man be able to confront Han Seong-hyeong—and Transparent itself?
This wasn’t a matter that could afford to spiral into a drawn-out truth-seeking crusade.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Alberu and Choi Seon-hee sitting side by side.
They weren’t focused on the confrontation. No—these two were already calculating how to seize control of Transparent the moment it showed signs of faltering.

That’s why ㈜Sun was grabbing all the money and not moving at the moment.

Rosalyn, thinking that Ahn Roh Man would do well, suppressed her uneasiness and looked at the television.

“Hm.”

And she groaned.

“….”

Ahn Roh Man on the television was silent.

He was simply standing there without saying anything.

But no one dared to pressure him.

Blood-red eyes.

Tightly shut mouth.

Clenched fists.

It was obvious he was furious.

His whole body trembled with anger.

“Yes.”

Alberu said calmly.

“He can’t stay still after seeing that.”

Cale had shared the stolen data with Ahn Roh Man’s side.

‘Can we see the data inside?’

‘Yes.’

Ahn Roh Man saw the contents.

Ahn Roh Man saw the contents, so horrible and dreadful that even Rosalyn felt nauseous when she read it for the first time.

“….”

Ahn Roh Man remained silent.

It was very different from the despair with which Han Seong-hyeong had shouted.

But no one dared to open their mouths hastily upon seeing that scene.

Sometimes, silence can convey stronger emotions.

Ahn Roh Man.

And those who were with him.

Those who had been with him since Ahn Roh Man was a skill user, their expressions were similar to Ahn Roh Man’s.

They were filled with anger.

Like when they were active as skill users in the past, fighting countless monsters.

“….”

The silence dragged on.

However, that screen filled with silence was broadcast for a good while.

Finally, Ahn Roh Man’s mouth opened.

“Come in.”

He only uttered those words.

“!”

“Huh?”

“What madness!”

And the veteran journalists, upon seeing what happened, couldn’t help but open their mouths.

Tap, tap.

A person entering by opening the door.

It was someone known to many.

Although he had never introduced himself, he was very famous for being in the shadows.

“…Kang Geun-mok!”

Someone in the crowd of journalists exclaimed that name like a sigh.

A man who had been Honorary Chairman Han Taek-su’s secretary since the beginning of ㈜Transparent, a figure who had been with the company since its commencement.

The person who should be busy working more than anyone else for Transparent was there.

“….”

“….”

An even deeper silence descended upon the space.

Everyone realized that something serious was happening.

This isn’t a simple matter.

Kang Geun-mok, with a face as dry as an old tree, stood next to Ahn Roh Man.

A few minutes of silence.

And Kang Geun-mok.

With just these two things, Ahn Roh Man showed a lot.

And there was one more thing to show.

“This is the research and experimentation data obtained from ㈜Transparent’s secret laboratory.”

He held up an external memory card.

“Mr. Kang Geun-mok and Chief of Staff Mary will explain everything calmly.”

It was a story that would take a long time because there was a lot to tell.

“I’ll just say one thing before I step back.”

Ahn Roh Man’s voice was serene, despite his bloodshot eyes and trembling body.

“Wow. I really misjudged this person.”

Alberu’s voice, muttering as if he had realized something, reached Cale’s ears.

“He’s a hero.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Cale also nodded.

The two seemed to know what Ahn Roh Man was going to say.

That serenity.

Its meaning was soon heard from Ahn Roh Man’s mouth.

“I don’t care about not being the next president. No, I won’t be able to be.”

Hm.

Rosalyn groaned and said,

“Was he supposed to say that?”

“No.”

Choi Seon-hee shook her head.

“!”

“…! ”

The scene of the presentation on the screen could be felt becoming noisy, breaking the silence.

Ahn Roh Man, not caring, said, he explained why he couldn’t be the next president.

“Transparent.”

He pointed at the screen with his finger.

“I’m going to eliminate those bastards.”

“… !”

The people were moved.

Ahn Roh Man’s calm attitude, different from Han Seong-hyeong’s.

And the fierce and harsh words he uttered with that attitude.

“Ah—”

Choi Seon-hee exclaimed without realizing it.

“…It’s like in his younger days.”

Like when he started being called a hero.

Like back then, when he had defeated all the monsters.

It was like the Ahn Roh Man from before he became president.

The advisors and aides who appeared on the screen didn’t try to stop Ahn Roh Man.

On the contrary, the emotions reflected on their faces were similar to Ahn Roh Man’s.

In particular, some of those who had been with him since his days as a skill user, including Mary, had a aggressive wrath on their faces, as if they could destroy anything.

Rosalyn, seeing Ahn Roh Man’s bloodshot eyes and the harsh fervor they contained, muttered.

“…He’s not just a person who completely gives himself over to politics and revenge.”

The position of the next president.

Revenge for his parents.

Choi Seon-hee, listening to Rosalyn’s words, said with a strange expression,

“If he were like that, he wouldn’t have fought the monsters to the end, sacrificing everything.”

She had also read the research data from ㈜Transparent, like Ahn Roh Man.

And she was also a person who called the Earth 3, this land of Roan, her home.

“Ha, this is…”

She let out a laugh.

“He has a talent for igniting people.”

The fury and fervor that Choi Seon-hee had been trying to hide in her eyes were emerging.

Those who don’t know yet will now wonder.

“It seems like the battle will be slow and tedious.”

Even though Ahn Roh Man has the truth in his hands, the battle against the transnational company Transparent won’t be easy.

Even if the majority sided with Ahn Roh Man, Transparent had all the money, power, and authority to crush him.

However, unlike what she said in a negative way, Choi Seon-hee had an even sharper gaze.

Alberu, seeing this, said calmly.

“There’s nothing more terrifying than sincerity.”

His gaze turned to Cale.

“Did you give the data to the Mediators?”

“Yes.”

At that moment, Kang Geun-mok was speaking on the television screen.

“㈜Transparent has been conducting experiments on humans all this time.”

And in the hands of Aurora, the head of the Mediators organization, the only descendant of the former Demon King of the Demon World, was the same information.

‘The Demon King has been conducting experiments on demons to create artificial demons.’

Earth 3.

Ahn Roh Man and ㈜Transparent.

Demon World.

Aurora and the current Demon King.

In the hands of those who had been fighting against a formidable enemy, the justification of evidence and truth began to emerge.

And,

===

- Hey, isn’t it true that this Arm from RMPAG and this Arm are the same?

- Hey, hey, is Secretary Kang Geun-mok saying that the God of Chaos and Transparent have joined forces? President Ahn Roh Man says they haven’t.

- It’s not that they’ve joined the God of Chaos, but that they’ve joined the organization that worships him. Hey, where’s the real God?

- Anyway, Chief of Staff Mary says that the red mage is an ally who works with them. She says they were able to steal the data with her help. And that Arm? They say they also intend to capture him.

- Damn. What’s going on? RMPAG is virtual and Earth is real. Why am I so confused? Is this right?

===

===

- …Hey… but they’re showing the details of the experiment… Wow… how is that possible…?

- …This, this can’t be—

- …Did they really do that? They say they did experiments to lock people’s souls in the game?

- …They say they pretended that a monster attacked the village… and that they used all the people from that village for the experiments?

- …They say the abandoned school was one of the tombs that Transparent used. They say there are dozens more tombs… How is that possible?

- No, this—Wow, they say they gave a part of the souls to the god.

- The God of Chaos?

- Hey, am I in reality now? No, is this happening in reality?

===

“What’s going on here?”

The saint of the God of Chaos.

He closed the RMPAG community bulletin board and frowned.

“Pope, things are getting strange. Contact Transparent.”

The God of Chaos Cult.

They also began to move upon realizing that things were getting strange.

The things that Cale had discreetly sown in the Earth 3, the Demon World, and New World began to come together, creating a huge whirlpool.

* * *

“I think we can let them fight amongst themselves for now.”

And in the center of the whirlpool.

The eye of the hurricane.

Cale spoke calmly.

“Let’s go to Eden Miru’s birth ceremony.”

To make the whirlpool even bigger.

Cale was just doing his job, one after another.

 -----

P/R Thoughts: The Transparent Scandal explodes as Han Seong-hyeong and Ahn Roh Man clash publicly, while Cale turns toward Eden Miru’s fateful birth.

***

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]