Chapter 78

The day after the case of Eun-kwang High’s Pyun-deuk Choi and followers was settled.

The players of the Association, who heard that the team manager, Gyubin Hong, had come to work 30 minutes earlier than usual, felt a shiver down their spine.

“What’s he doing, coming so early again today?”

“…… I was going to take a half-day off, but it ain’t gonna happen, is it?”

“Didn’t we wrap up the case of those followers or whatever?”

Self-management, self-development, ability to handle tasks, and manners toward supervisors and subordinates in the workplace.

Gyubin Hong lacked nothing, being selected as the most perfect player in the Korean branch of the Players Association.

However, as he was working with an elegant posture, everybody eyed him like he was some kind of grim reaper.

“Yes, Mr. Lim, please. 24 hours after sunset. We will send the coordinates to your device.”

The person who overheard Gyubin’s phone call whispered urgently.

“Mr. Lim…… Like the manager of the satellite management team? There wasn’t a day without working overtime when we collaborated with that team.”

“Aw shit……”

“No, we don’t know yet. Not yet!”

The employees of the Public Relations team 1 and the Regulations Enforcement Department were about to let out a sigh but closed their mouths when they saw a figure walking towards Gyubin.

It was Gyubin Hong’s closest colleague- basically his sidekick- assistant manager, Mr. Yoon.

Unlike Hong Gyubin, who was relatively generous, Yoon had no mercy in tardiness or negligent work attitude.

While employees under Mr. Yoon’s position lowered their heads and pretended to work, Mr. Yoon’s report began.

“Mr. Hong”

“Yes, Mr. Yoon.”

Gyubin said, glancing at the hologram he had been reading.

“It is possible that a core member of the EverLake team is involved in the Dream auction incident.”

“Give me the details, please.”

All the players within earshot of Mr. Yoon, including Gyubin, gawked at him.

“There was a person who was associated with both the Dream auction case and Pyun-deuk Choi’s case who had received overseas remittances for more than 10 years. The person who sent the remittance is a core team member of EverLake.”

“Did you check the amount of remittance?”

“It varies by year, but it exceeded 3 billion every year.”

3 billion won a year, so more than 30 billion won all those years.

Overseas remittances made between players are less regulated and less commissioned than those applied to the general public, so there were quite a few players using that.

Even so, this was weird.

Both the amount and the period.

“Why didn’t we know until now?”

“I found that Korea had tried to get the England branch to cooperate; there were over 10 copies of letters of cooperation sent to the UK branch. However, the EverLake team is England’s hero, and the Dream Auction is Korea’s problem, so I guess they tried to cover them by pretending not to know anything.”

Everybody gasped or sighed.

Employees who particularly suffered from the Dream Auction incident began to express their resentment.

“Don’t they know that associations shouldn’t represent the interests of a particular country? They’re crazy. They made a pledge before joining the association, did they not?”

“I don’t know if it’s patriotism or fanism, but the British branch will fire a lot of people after this.”

“I can’t believe they haven’t snapped out of it even after messing with the Original clans.”

“They’re gonna work overtime for sure now. Oh, they won’t be able to once they’re fired.”

“Can I fill out the documents to be submitted to the Headquarters of the Players Association?”

The team members, who had not been motivated until now, started working out of rage.

Gyubin lowered his voice as he looked at the team members who began to work vigorously even before giving instructions.

“It’s an agenda for the Regulations Enforcement Department.”

“There is a possibility that it may be an incident that has nothing to do with the Dream Auction…… but things got worse because of the British branch who tried to conceal it.”

Conveniently, Gyubin knew the schedule of that person in the EverLake team today.

“I am going to pick him up today, Mr. Yoon.”

“All right.”

“Mr. Hong!”

An employee who kept his mouth shut all this time suddenly rose from his desk, went up to Gyubin, and shouted.

“I want to go. Please let me go!”

It was Mr. Jeong, who was obsessed over Eun-kwang High Players.

“……Yeah, okay. Mr. Jeong can come.”

“Allllright! Finally, I have a chance to see Jae-in Kwon in real-life……!”

They weren’t going to see Jae-in Kwon for a happy matter, but Mr. Jeong was excited to meet Eun-kwang High’s alumna, Jae-in Kwon, anyway,

Mr. Yoon looked at Mr. Jeong as if we wanted to strangle him right now.

“Mr. Hong, Team manager……”

Gyubin pretended he didn’t hear Mr. Yoon’s pleas.

“……Mr. Jeong is, well, I know, but he does have skills. There’s no player in his match when it comes to handling numerous people in a short period of time. Let’s take him in case Team EverLake decides to resist as a whole.”

*    *    *

The Dong-ho of Seokchon Lake.

Streetlamps around the lake lit up the surroundings.

It was close to the downtown area and the lake was well maintained, but no one was around.

‘There’s literally nobody.’

All attractions of the artificial island of the theme park operated by Namgung Mulsan were also turned off.

I heard rumors that it would be less damaging to not operate it at all because of serious economic losses, but was it really closed?

“I made them close it just in case. Even though there aren’t any customers, it’s safe to have no people around. Besides, you did only simple disguises today.”

The thirties version Golden Tiger said, looking at the artificial island.

I wore a crow mask and clothes that hid my physique.

It was the result of thinking that it would be better to show the appearance of Ui-shin Cho wearing a crow mask in front of Kwon Jae-in, rather than standing out to the association while changing my appearance with the player’s trajectory.

‘I asked the association for help this time, so oh well.’

To Kwon Jae-in, I just hope that I will appear as a first-year Eun-kwang High student who likes playing vigilantes with a Tiger clan weirdo.

“That theme park is Namgung Mulsan’s. Can Hwangmyeong Group specify the closing date?”

“It will not be Namgung’s soon. Since last year, they have shown intentions to sell the place. I told them I wanted to look around quietly, and close it for one day, and they obliged immediately.”

“······Are you going to buy it?”

“Maybe.”

The area of this theme park is about 13 hectares, and in terms of pyeong*, it is about 40,000.

A theme park right next to Jamsil Station, Songpa-gu.

It’s a ruined place, but considering the property price itself, it’s not a thing to be thought of lightly.

The thirties version of Golden Tiger said something even more absurd.

*Korean traditional system used to measure area.

“……Jaeho, Seo-ho, and Lee-ho seem interested in amusement parks. If we buy it, they’ll have plenty of space to play.”

What in the friggin’ hell is he saying.

He is talking about buying a theme park as if he were buying a cheap toy for his nephew.

“But I’m still thinking.”

Yeah, duh, you can’t buy a whole theme park without thinking about it.

“This place is too close to the place designated by Butterfly clan. It is on hold until safety is secured.”

It seems that the worries weren’t money worries, but worries about the safety of Silver Tiger’s descendants.

I think he’s on the brink of becoming a boss-level child-spoiler like that almighty Blue Dragon does to his descendant, Jun-yeoul Yum.

“Hello, Ui-shin.”

As I pondered over the future of the Tiger clan, I heard a voice I knew.

“Team Manager Gyubin Hong? What brings you here……?”

Hong Gyu-bin was melted in the shadows.

It looked like he was wearing a multifunctional psychic armor with a stealth effect attached.

They were armor consisting of a black coat, mask, and leather gloves.

I’ve seen them before.

‘These are the items he wore in the basement book cellar of the central library.’

I’ve met Gyubin Hong several times but saw that outfit only once.

Only when he was working as a Regulations Enforcement officer.

“Ui-shin, didn’t you say you asked the player association for help? That’s why I left them alone when they approached us.”

Golden Tiger looked back and forth at me and Gyubin.

Gyubin bowed slightly.

“We took care of all the requests Ui-shin has made. We’re here for something else.”

“Without prior notice?”

“I’m sorry, Golden Tiger. Prior notice was impossible due to the nature of this case.”

Gyubin seemed to know this version of Golden Tiger.

Just as Golden Tiger made a displeased face despite Gyubin’s words.

“Hello.”

Jae-in Kwon appeared, accompanied by Jared Lee and several team members.

At the same time, I could feel that Gyubin and his men standing behind him becoming tense.

‘Wait, does the Regulations Enforcement Department have anything to do with the EverLake team?’

As soon as Jae-in finished greeting us, Gyubin opened his mouth.

“We’re from the Players Association’s Regulations Enforcement Department.”

“Why is the Regulations Enforcement Department here?”

“EverLake Team Master Jae-in Kwon. One of your teammates has provided funding to crime gang officials over a long period of time.”

Everyone held their breath at his words.

“Remittance of more than 30 billion won over 10 years to the people associated with the huge crime and the Dream auction incident, who were all convicted of trafficking, assault, injury, kidnapping, confinement, tax evasion, violation of the building law……”

The Everlake team is somehow related to the Dream auction scandal.

This wasn’t mentioned in the game.

However, Gyubin was not the person to say this to Jae-in Kwon without evidence.

“I asked for cooperation more than 10 times through the British Association, but never got a reply. I don’t know if it’s the British Association who avoided us or if it’s EverLake that pressured them to ignore us.”

“The EverLake has never put any pressure on the Association.”

There was no agitation in her blue eyes.

She seemed to think there was a misunderstanding.

‘EverLake is not a team that will press the association for such a thing. If there is any corruption inside, they would dig it up themselves and report to the association. Gyubin knows that already. Did he want to see Jae-in’s reaction?’

Gyubin Hong’s expression was invisible, hidden in the mask.

He continued in a businesslike tone.

“In that case, you should come to the association and tell us everything. If you do not respond now, A warrant of enforcement will be executed through General Headquarters. Jared Lee.”

Not just a team member, but the name of the EverLake team submaster came out.

Jae-in Kwon turned to Jared Lee.

Her voice was shaking.

“Jared. The only people you send money to in Korea are…… them. They’re related to the Dream Auction scandal?”

“No way!”

“Jae-in? Jared? What’s going on······!”

Excluding Kwon Jae-in, the team members seemed to be unable to grasp the situation at all.

Seeing that reaction, it seems that they really didn’t know anything.

“I want to hear what happened, too. I will go to the association.”

“I want to go too.”

“Stay here, Jae-in. You should check the message of the butterfly you were looking for with your own eyes.”

Jared Lee decided to follow the Regulations Enforcement officers.

It seemed that a member with an international attorney license would accompany Jared Lee.

“I can’t…… more than what the rumors are saying…… Their names on the Dream Auction scandal list……”

Jae-in checked the list with her device and panicked.

Two or three people remained to take care of their staggering master, and the rest left to take care of this incident.

“Ugh. I wanted to ask for an autograph, at least shake hands….”

“Go.”

A person I guessed to be Mr. Jeong came out and groaned at Jae-in Kwon, but was immediately dragged away by Mr. Yoon.

The first time Mr. Jeong actually read the atmosphere and didn’t do anything awkward, really.

‘There is no description of Jared Lee’s involvement with the Dream auction gang in the game. When this is over, I will have to find out about Jared Lee Gun through Gyubin Hong.’

After the officers had disappeared.

While everyone was frozen in place, Golden Tiger broke the ice.

“Something unexpected happened. Still, the plan here remains unchanged. The only difference is that Jae-in Kwon’s companions decreased by a few.”

“Well, I don’t know what’s going on, but can’t I go home? I don’t wanna stay because I have an ominous feeling and plus, Golden Tiger is here!”

The leader of the Rabbit clan, the clueless To-yeon Ok arrived.

30’s version Golden tiger didn’t hide his irritation.

“If you don’t like it, fuck off. I won’t reduce the contract period by one week either.”

“Ah! Right! ······Eh, but I want to meet Eunho’s descendants.”

To-yeon Ok whined, but she seemed like she was staying.

Golden Tiger, who roughly confirmed To-yeon’s intention, turned to Jae-in.

“······I was going to leave it to you to open the ‘passage’, but I guess I must do it.

“Sorry. My power is not stable now.”

Jae-in said, leaning on the shoulder of her teammate and looking pale as snow.

Forget about using powers, she looked like she was about to pass out.

‘Is Kwon Jae-in related to the person involved in the Dream Auction scandal?’

Paa-!

While I was lost in thought, Golden Tiger opened up his strength and became engulfed in golden light.

“I’ll make a passage with the point specified by the Butterfly clan.”

The landscape and the location of the lake changed at Golden Tiger’s gesture.

Rumble rumble-.

After the landscape and the lake changed until the coordinates designated by Biryung Na were revealed.

Cries of astonishment burst out of those who were watching this process.

“That’s a gap of an Other-world……!”