Chapter 305 - Lizard Tail (1)
The World Prize was a large-scale event in the superhuman society. As much as the powerful superhumans each country had... Perhaps even more than that, artifacts influenced national power, and unlike superhumans, they endured through the generations to steadily exert their power. Therefore, securing quality artifacts was important to each country. This was why Lee Manwoo was revered for his grandiose name, the Great Chief, and there were superhumans who were prestigious for the artifacts they possessed rather than their own name.
“The atmosphere seems bloody.”
“That’s because if we’re attacked at this point, the pride of mankind will hit rock bottom.”
The World Prize was held at the Theater Royal William hall in South Kensington, London. Originally, it was scheduled to be held in Hyde Park, but the location was suddenly changed, as there was a high risk of a raid in open areas. Superhumans from all over the world visited to watch the contest and defend the pride of mankind. Of course, the number of people was strictly controlled and except for those participating; only the fierce superhumans who passed the screening could stay. The elite troops of humanity were gathered there. With only thirty minutes left before the contest started, there was an odd tension inside the theater.
“By the way, how’s the teacher?”
“This guy... I’ve seen him since then, but it’s the former Great Chief.”
Kang Shin-hyuk admired that they could speak so openly. However, Lee Na-hee wasn’t still.
“So, what is the highest rank among the artifacts that grandpa made?”
“The one being carried on their junior’s back is bold.”
In this contest, Lee Na-hee claimed confidently that she had made an accessory by herself that would be in the final round of the contest. Kang Shin-hyuk ignored the meaningless fight between the two and turned to Eleanor, who stood still behind him. She held a small spear in one hand, faithful to her role as Kang Shin-hyuk’s escort. Hell sat above her, relieving the serious mood she projected.
“Eli, this is also a magical building, right?”
“I heard that it is. I don’t know in detail...”
“Hmm, that’s enough. I’ve learned quite a bit about the British style of architecture for the past few days.”
They had been staying in the palace, after all. No matter how complex the structure, with a few days to explore it with his spiritual power, it was possible to grasp it. Of course, he saw there was nothing except the experimental facilities related to Chiral.
“There are troops hiding in a secret space.”
“Oh, really? Like Big Ben?”
“Yes.”
Kang Shin-hyuk smiled as he sensed the presence of troops hiding in the secret theater space. In Buckingham Palace, no matter how much he searched, he couldn’t find her as much as he tried, but she had been here. He turned to Eleanor with a bitter smile as he could sense her tense breathing.
“Who did you say changed the contest venue?”
“...Prince William.”
No matter how strong Wilford’s influence was, it seemed that it was still up to the queen or the crown prince to host these official events. Wilford had used this as bait, but he wasn’t interested in the World Prize itself so that he wouldn’t have interfered much with it. Had William had some self-consciousness and judgment left...
‘But if I let it out here, what will I do afterward? Oh, yes, is that right?’
The conclusion came quickly. In other words, leave it all to Kang Shin-hyuk.
‘Ha. Royalty is royalty.’
Kang Shin-hyuk laughed as he recalled the image of Prince William, who was as quiet as a new bridge in front of Wilford. He’ll have to ask him directly later... Kang Shin-hyuk picked up his phone and made a call. He was calling Claire, his lover, who was waiting for his return in Korea right now.
[Yes?]
“I think I need to change my plan a little. Is the analysis done?”
He had sent the chiral he had secured in cooperation with Wilford over the past few days to Claire using the Hero Universe’s gift function to analyze.
[Yes...I don’t know the source yet. As for its infectious nature, roughly. It won’t be easy to return with a human’s ability right now. I don’t know if anyone else will be able to resist it like you...]
“Then your ability?”
[Of course, it’s possible.]
“Claire is the best.”
[Compliment me more, see how high my nose goes.]
Kang Shin-hyuk continued to praise her, but then a gaze came from his side. Eleanor’s unfeeling look gave him a bit of anxiety, so he quit messing around and got to the point.
“Then, Claire, can you come over here? To me.”
[Shall we go!]
“Okay, then look a little bit later.”
[Yes, I want to see you soon. I love you.♥]
“I love you too.”
Hanging up the phone, Lee Na-hee was regarding him coldly as Eleanor was after returning from the battle with her grandfather.
“Is it necessary to act so sickly sweet while everyone’s listening?”
“It was an operational meeting. Besides, Claire is having a hard time these days.”
“A pathetic woman...”
It didn’t personally feel bad for Claire to depend on him more. In their early days of dating, he was worried he might be too dependent on her, so now was the time to find balance. Thinking like that, Lee Na-hee pouted and shouted at him.
“Ah, I want a boyfriend too! A boyfriend like Kang Shin-hyuk or Shin Eun-hyuk or the Puppeteer!”
“Don’t speak so loud, stupid!”
“Is that so?”
Kang Shin-hyuk pretended not to know Lee Na-hee and turned his head away, but Eleanor called out to him.
“Who is among those secret troops?”
“Your sister.”
“...Really?”
“Yes. She’s in good shape.”
“Thank god... Thank you.”
“No, what for?”
Eleanor hugged him with a sound of relief, but Lee Na-hee was quick to push her away wordlessly. Kang Shin-hyuk backed up from both of them.
“I think I’m going to get Prince William’s help. And I’ll expose Wilford... You must be thinking like that.”
“In fact, he hasn’t been brainwashed.”
“Well, it’s almost impossible to get a person to be fully subservient. It wouldn’t be difficult to dig a trap if you had any free will left.”
What’s more, Wilford’s behavior had been flawless from the start. Even if he succeeded in brainwashing, would he be able to control his targets properly? At first, he doubted whether Wilford deliberately induced this situation, but in that case, he wouldn’t have approached Shin-hyuk like this.
“Then what’s your plan? For the time being, you pretended to cooperate and got inside.”
At first, that was his thought. However, looking at it calmly based on his experiences over the past few days...
“Well, I’ve already figured out everything I can from Wilford, and maybe there isn’t anymore more to come out of it...”
To be precise, what was it... Wilford had an odd atmosphere around him. He knew of chiral, but he wasn’t sure where it was from or why it was named chiral in the first place. Even in the experimental facility which Kang Shin-hyuk carefully examined, nothing seemed to be going on. Wilford was busy moving about, securing chiral and increasing absorption efficiency, but he didn’t do anything except attract Kang Shin-hyuk (as far as he knew).
‘It’s a feeling like the more active he is, the laxer he is...’
There was also the gate that maintained the chiral supply. The gate was a whopping SSS-rank with a high internal mana density. If Kang Shin-hyuk hadn’t entered it, it would go berserk. He could manage one of those gates, but his organization wasn’t working properly. There was only one conclusion to be drawn. It was that Wilford, who was barely creating chiral with Jormungand’s support, had been disconnected from them due to something.
‘And what’s going on... I can tell, even if I don’t ask.’
Perhaps Janus thought if Jormungand was allowed to devastate Earth more than this, the balance might be skewed? So this project they were implementing was thrown out... Ah!
“Eunah’s parents.”
“Huh?”
“The masters of Zeus. They were working on a superhuman project.”
“Surely... Is it with chiral?”
“Yes, there is a high probability that they were working together. Moreover, it must’ve been the result of absorbing chiral, that magi.”
They also certainly had a link to Jormungand. However, they died in the midst of that major explosion... What if that wasn’t their will? What if Jormungand had only abolished the useless humans? If so, Wilford, who was partnering with them, wouldn’t have been left alone. He first met him and thought he had caught the snake’s tail, but it turned out it was a tail of a lizard that had already been cut off and abandoned.
“No, but...”
Kang Shin-hyuk remembered Janus’s face and thoughts. Then why didn’t Jormungand, or Janus, deal with Wilford at the same time? It would’ve been possible to sort him out when they attacked England. What meaning was there for leaving Wilford... Other than for him? Just imagining it made him sick, and Kang Shin-hyuk couldn’t stand it anymore as he closed his eyes and clenched his teeth.
“Do you feel bad...?”
“No.”
Kang Shin-hyuk pushed Lee Na-hee to the side and drank the water Eleanor handed to him. The rumbling inside him subsided, although only slightly.
“Thank you, Eli.”
“Yes, that’s it.”
“Aaaah!”
However, Lee Na-hee suddenly laughed at Eleanor, who took back the water bottle with a bashful smile.
“Eli, you, indirect kiss!”
“Who are you supposed to be?!”
“It’s very relaxed.”
When the tension completely disappeared, a cold voice spoke up from behind. Looking back, there was a slim blonde beauty standing behind Kang Shin-hyuk. She looked vaguely familiar, but before he could place it, Lee Na-hee shouted again.
“Ebiger Hammer!”
“What is that?”
“You know, the German kids who won gold last year. I can’t see the boy, so I guess you’ve changed partners.”
“Ah.”
“This...!”
Kang Shin-hyuk nodded along.
“Regardless of whether or not you’re No. 1, this time, our work will be even better!”
“Ah...yes, what do you expect?”
“It’s only now that you can be so cheeky!”
“Ah, yes.”
The woman provoked him, but he didn’t pay any attention to her. Now that there was the problem of Jormungand and chiral, there was no way he could bother with this blonde beauty.
Being so uninterested, Kang Shin-hyuk didn’t even realize until the end that she had spoken to him in Korean with a unique accent.