Chapter 238: The Chaos
***
"Uoooh─!"
In the video, Kim Hyeonjun charged toward Baek Woohyun, who stood still, with an intense battle cry.
It was fierce and sharp, but there was a hint of impatience in the rush.
No, perhaps that feeling came from already knowing the outcome. After all, when I first watched it, I thought, 'As expected of a Battler!'
In contrast, Baek Woohyun seemed like he'd given up on fighting. He simply stood still, calmly drawing in his breath.
But it was Baek Woohyun who struck first, despite moving later. The development I hadn't noticed in real-time became clearly visible in the slowed-down footage.
"Look at that! Damn it! Look!"
Johnny shouted, pointing at Baek Woohyun swimming through the extremely slow time.
It was like cheering for a superhero moving in a frozen movie scene.
And it wasn't an entirely wrong expression. Johnny's flushed face showed something akin to adoration.
With just a tap to Kim Hyeonjun's head, it exploded and vanished, ending the 'Duel' video.
At the video's end, there was a close-up of Baek Woohyun's white pupils, cracked like they might shatter, above eyes turned dark crimson with protruding veins.
It was truly a sight radiating an eerie presence.
"Flash, Superman, whatever! Look at that monster! He tore apart the Battler in one second!"
"But didn't he nearly die from the backlash?"
"Remember, Ben, we couldn't even kill the Battler."
Last year's 'Reverse Planet' World Championship finals between TLQ and DH Empire, which went to a full five sets after a close battle.
The 'Man of Worlds,' Battler Kim Hyeonjun, crushed TLQ without dying once and ultimately lifted the trophy.
For TLQ, who'd tasted defeat because they'd let him slip away narrowly several times, Baek Woohyun who at least managed to kill him was all the more desperately needed.
""······.""
"So, anyone else objecting?"
Johnny's eyes blazed past simply shining brightly—they were downright flickering.
As if he'd tear apart the mouth of anyone who objected.
It was as intimidating as Baek Woohyun's eyes displayed on the hologram where the video ended.
"I'm not objecting, but the other party said they have no intention of debuting as a pro. I'd like to hear how you plan to resolve that."
"Good. Now we're getting to something worth discussing."
Johnny grinned.
He brought his thumb and index finger together to form a circle.
The gesture commonly used to express 'money.'
"Money solves most problems. And when problems are difficult, bigger money solves them."
······And TLQ wasn't the only overseas team making such an attempt.
Many foreign teams moved to recruit Baek Woohyun, who'd overwhelmed last year's World Championship winner and Finals MVP.
Since they'd be signing him as a free agent anyway, if it hit big, it would be the ultimate low-risk, high-return!
*
"······."
Whether the community spent days buzzing about his potential pro league entry, whether domestic pro teams weren't enough and even foreign pro teams joined the recruitment war.
Baek Woohyun paid no attention at all. He'd already become too resolute for external winds unrelated to 'that side' to shake him.
Whatever others said, he'd simply walk his own path. Just as when he'd carried out revenge while opposing the government.
For only those possessing a powerful and solid self, who can confidently shout their righteousness even while opposing the entire world, reach 'Transcendence.'
—Jeong Nayeon: ㄱㄱ
That's why Baek Woohyun, receiving Jeong Nayeon's now-familiar brief start signal, proceeded with the PVE main story.
She'd offered to give him time at the studio before the broadcast started if he wanted to make things clear, but he'd refused with a simple "Why bother?"
He knew all too well that people who'd nitpick about him would say the same thing regardless of what he said.
"···Hm?"
Baek Woohyun, who'd returned to Otherworld Management Bureau headquarters from the Half-Human Half-Insect research facility where he'd last finished the game, widened his eyes in surprise.
As befitting the currently most important government agency—though the treatment wasn't great for such a thing—the substantial headquarters building had taken considerable damage.
While not quite half-destroyed, it was pretty smashed up. Especially the building's front entrance, where all the glass was completely shattered, making it look hollow.
Considering this place was always guarded by several agents, all of whom were clearly Awakeners, it was quite surprising.
Both the fact that it had been attacked at all, and even more so that they'd resisted without being immediately subdued, leaving this much damage to the building.
The attackers must have possessed very powerful force.
'Well, the culprits are obvious.'
"It was the research facility."
'As expected.'
Lee Yujin, who appeared at news of Baek Woohyun's return, told him why Otherworld Management Bureau was currently this messed up.
As expected, the culprit was the research facility. Having learned that Otherworld Management Bureau had finally drawn their sword against them, they immediately launched a preemptive strike.
In truth, they had no choice. If they'd stayed put, Otherworld Management Bureau's operation would've begun and they'd have ultimately collapsed.
At that point, their backers would abandon them too. Rather than be captured like that, they clearly intended to raise hell everywhere in the open and somehow create a way to survive.
"Thanks to the information you provided, it only ended at this level. Otherwise, headquarters might've really been devastated."
"Information I provided?"
"About the strong monsters. As soon as Team Leader Kim Cheol heard that, he thought the research facility might pull something crazy and gathered personnel."
"He said since information leaking about the operation is natural, we should anticipate the enemy's response, and with that level of force, an attack should be considered," Lee Yujin added.
Truly fitting insight from someone who'd long been on the front lines of war with the research facility and possessed the ability to later rise to Otherworld Management Bureau Director.
Though he wasn't sure if it could really be credited to information he'd passed on, since there was no particular reason to nitpick, Baek Woohyun just shrugged.
He was about to nod, thinking it was good they'd blocked it well anyway, when he paused. The thought that the damage was actually too light flashed through his mind.
"Were there no Half-Human Half-Insects among the attackers?"
"No. The ones who attacked headquarters were those you called Fusion Monsters."
'Well, yeah, I guess that makes sense.'
It was natural, actually.
The Half-Human Half-Insect was clearly a monster created by Abrasax-Deus's excessive intervention, one that even Baek Woohyun who'd entered the 'Frozen World' had struggled against.
If such a creature operated where Baek Woohyun wasn't present, the damage wouldn't have ended at just this level, no matter how strong Otherworld Management Bureau was.
In fact, even before that, Isaac wouldn't have watched Abrasax-Deus pull stunts with a monster like the Half-Human Half-Insect without proper buildup.
Though Baek Woohyun didn't know it, considering the fierce struggle between Abrasax-Deus and Isaac that had occurred inside the Half-Human Half-Insect's mind, that was correct.
"Anyway, the Director and Team Leader Kim Cheol were incredibly angry about this attack. Same for me and the other agents."
Though they'd blocked it with damage that could be called minimal compared to the attackers' forces, Otherworld Management Bureau's pride couldn't help but be scratched.
From Otherworld Management Bureau's perspective, they tried to sweep away these bastards who'd been causing trouble in the shadows, only to get hit with a preemptive strike.
For those who'd always been on the arresting and suppressing side, it could only be seen as 'How dare these bastards?'
"So, about that."
"Yes. Please go ahead."
Lee Yujin glanced at Baek Woohyun.
In reality, Baek Woohyun had thoroughly rested after the previous story and even climbed to Challenger Rank 1, but to her, he'd just returned from a mission.
If even a hint of fatigue showed from him, she would've told him to go to the dormitory and rest. Since that wasn't the case, she hesitated before speaking.
"If you're okay with it, could you go on the next mission right away?"
To revive Otherworld Management Bureau's face, sullied by this attack, and express their anger, overwhelming results were needed.
Therefore, there was no time for Baek Woohyun, counted among Otherworld Management Bureau's strongest agents, to leisurely rest just because he'd completed one mission.
Otherworld Management Bureau was always short-staffed—hadn't that been mentioned consistently since the story's beginning?
"I'm fine. Which mission should I take?"
"···! Thank you so much!"
As mentioned earlier, Baek Woohyun, who'd taken sufficient rest, found no reason, need, or value in refusing Lee Yujin's request.
Even if it were a situation where he had to be deployed to the next mission immediately without any rest, his answer wouldn't have changed at all.
Unless he were on death's door, his inherent anger was far too great to miss sweeping away those research facility bastards just because of consecutive missions.
"There's actually a suitable mission—"
Ddiring!
Lee Yujin, who'd been quick to open the file folder she was holding, stopped. A loud ringtone sounded from within her pocket.
"Just a moment," she asked Baek Woohyun's understanding and pulled out her smartphone, then stiffened after checking the screen. It seemed to be an unwelcome call.
Well, calls seeking someone who'd left for work are usually urgent business.
"Yes, this is Lee Yujin. I've answered."
"Big trouble!"
This call was no different.
The urgent voice coming through the receiver was loud enough for even Baek Woohyun to hear. They were practically shouting.
With his superhuman physical abilities, he could hear even small whispers, but right now that wasn't even necessary. Even an ordinary person would've heard the call.
Murmur murmur!
"The research facility bastards have occupied Leraian Hotel and are holding hostages! Foreign tourists are detained too!"
"···What?"
"It's currently being broadcast on the news and requires swift resolution! Team Leader Kim Cheol has already headed to the scene immediately, and he says to form additional personnel!"
"Understood. I'll send our best agent right away."
"Yes! Got it!"
"First contact nearby agents—" the shout was heard before the call cut off abruptly.
A hotel occupation hostage situation in the heart of Seoul, using supernatural abilities at that. It was obvious what chaos must be happening on the other end.
This rampage creating a terrorist attack involving even foreign tourists, not satisfied with just attacking Otherworld Management Bureau headquarters, showed how cornered the research facility was.
Lee Yujin, who looked down at her smartphone and let out a deep sigh, glanced and met eyes with Baek Woohyun.
"···Should I head to Leraian Hotel?"
"···Yes. Please do that."
Lee Yujin nodded at Baek Woohyun's question.
Even though she hadn't explained the mission details, it was a completely natural conversation.