SWNOVELXO Chapter 83
Chapter 83. Counterattack (2)
TL: xLordFifth
ED/PR: The reader
Late at night.
Despite the darkness, the city sparkled with bright lights.
“Hyung, do you really think Uncle will act as you expect?”
Inside a limited edition sports car of a famous brand, Kim Shihyuk, who was behind the wheel, glanced at the seat next to him with a somewhat anxious expression.
To that, “He will move. Definitely.”
Kim Shimun, who was propping his chin and quietly looking out the window from the passenger seat, responded.
“How can you be so sure? What if Uncle has other intentions…”
“Shihyuk.”
Kim Shimun looked at his brother’s anxious face reflected in the window.
“This matter involved clandestinely bringing armed forces from another country without permission. And that too, to harm our own citizens.”
Even before Galaxy Arena made its appearance, the acts committed by Uncle Kim Muyeol were nationally intolerable.
“No matter how great Uncle is, this is something he can’t simply brush off.”
The remarkable networks Uncle had built up in the political and legal circles wouldn’t be able to cover this up. It was an issue of that magnitude.
Introducing foreign armed forces to harm our own citizens was indeed significant.
“And I know Uncle very well.”
Not just because they shared the status of being illegitimate children. Or maybe, it was precisely because of that background.
Regardless, the important thing is, “Uncle could never give up the position of association president. So, whether he likes it or not, he will have to move as I wish.”
“I don’t understand how you can be so confident, hyung. What if Uncle throws everything away and targets you?”
“That’s why I’m saying it’s impossible for him, Uncle is like that.”
To be exact, he is someone who could never let go of the association president position.
‘To grasp that position, he gave up everything from his own kin to himself.’
In his previous life, it was the same. Kim Muyeol, who was a puppet of the Continental, disturbed Shihyuk to such an extent.
Even when he was branded as a traitor, a dog of the Continental, and accused of treason, “I am the association president! Not him, I, Kim Muyeol, am the president of the Korean association!”
For some reason, he always insisted that he was the association president. It reminded one of a madman. Indeed, many players shook their heads, saying that the Ironwood King had lost his mind.
Kim Muyeol’s obsession with the association president position was tremendous. Therefore, “Uncle will never give up the association president position.”
“But hyung, there’s always a what-if.”
Seemingly quite anxious, Kim Shimun let out a small laugh at his brother’s persistent worry about Uncle.
“That’s right. As long as it involves humans, there’s no 100%. But if that happens, it’s actually better.”
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly as I said. What if uncle can’t sever ties with the Continental? They grow even deeper? Then, it’s more advantageous for me.”
The upper hand was theirs.
If their uncle really couldn’t sever ties with the Continental, just dragging him down from the association president position with the recorded evidence would be enough.
Moreover, ‘Uncle possesses Dragon Force’
Though it was unclear how he had acquired Dragon Force, possessing the power of Dragon Force, Kim Muyeol couldn’t possibly stand against Shimun, who had the affair in hand.
‘There’s no way Uncle’s Dragon Force ranks higher than mine.’
It was of the ancient dragon god’s caliber. How could their uncle stop him who even brought down the Dragon Force of the Dragon Emperor, who had corrupted the World Tree?
As his thoughts reached this point, ‘Maybe its the reason uncle untraitally moved as a puppet of the Continental in my previous life…’
There was a high chance that it was related to the Dragon Force Uncle possessed.
‘This will gradually be revealed as we infiltrate the Continental.’
That task would be diligently carried out by our very own Ironwood King, Kim Muyeol.
In the end, ‘Whichever way Uncle moves, it ends in my victory.’
The war with Uncle Kim Muyeol was practically over.
“Hyung? Hyung.”
“Oh, sorry. Did you call me?”
Drawn out of his musings by his brother’s call, Kim Shimun turned his attention.
“To be honest, I don’t really know what you’re thinking. But.”
Kim Shihyuk glanced at Kim Shimun and said.
“I know there must be a reason you’re so sure of this. So, I’ll trust you.”
“Isn’t that blind trust? I’m human, too. I can make mistakes.”
“That may be true, but the hyung I’ve seen until now has never made a wrong decision. So if you say so, I just believe it.”
Kim Shihyuk’s one-sided trust.
Hiding the warm feeling in his heart at this grateful sight.
“Isn’t it just because you’re too lazy to think for yourself?”
Kim Shimun replied teasingly with a sly grin.
Could it be because they were of the same blood?
“Heh. You got me.”
Kim Shihyuk also responded with a playful smile.
“Hey, haven’t I always said since we were young? You’re smart but you hate thinking too much.”
“Can’t help it. It’s annoying.”
“That’s laziness, that is. How did someone with that attitude become a ranker?”
“Uh. Just caught them all without thinking much?”
“… Why don’t you say such unlucky things in interviews?”
“Hey, it would ruin my image. I need to make a living, too.”
“Crazy guy.”
Kim Shimun burst into laughter first.
And so, the two brothers.
“Ah! It’s so nice without the usual two nuisances. I wanted this kind of harmony.”
“You know those two nuisances are more helpful than you, right?”
“… I’m stronger than senior or Yujeong.”
“What’s the use of being strong? You’re no help to me.”
“Hey, hyung!”
“If you’re jealous, shove the acting president aside and become the association president. With that position, you’ll definitely be helpful to me.”
“Che. So dirty and petty, but if I ended up being the association president.”
“Really? If you say something, you die.”
“Then… I’ll run in the arena for one more year.”
After a long time, they joked through the night.
* * *
Dawn broke. Bright sunlight gradually filled the dim room. A middle-aged man with his arms rested on a premium wooden table, chin propped on his hands, his gaze sharp.
Had he stayed up all night?
To say so, the unmoving gaze of the middle-aged man was exceedingly sharp. A muscular man with a chiseled figure beside the middle-aged man also maintained a still posture.
Then.
Drrrring.
From the chiseled man. A simple notification sound flowed out from the pocket of Golem Choi Changwook. After hours of stillness, he checked the phone ringing in his pocket and spoke.
“President, there’s a meeting with the parliament side early today.”
“…”
“Shall we cancel?”
Despite Choi Changwook’s question, Kim Muyeol maintained his still stance. Not long after.
“What do you think?”
The statue-like mouth of him spoke.
“What aspect are you referring to?”
“Everything.”
The relationship with Continental, the neutralization of his abilities, and even the recording proving illegal entry. The current situation of Kim Muyeol was undeniably one of the top three crises he had ever faced.
Therefore.
“Tell me, Choi Changwook. How should I deal with this?”
Kim Muyeol was completely at a loss.
However.
“… I’m sorry.”
Even Choi Changwook could not see what was ahead in such a situation.
As always.
“I can’t even begin to grasp what kind of answer I should give.”
Without a hint of deceit, he spoke only of the harsh reality.
“After all, it’s an exercise in futility trying to find an answer when there isn’t one. I misspoke.”
Kim Muyeol let out a cynical laugh as he massaged his throbbing temples. Soon after, he commanded, “Contact the Continental side. Tell them the operation has failed.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And make sure they know the failure was due to their experimental subjects.”
“You mean…”
Choi Changwook’s voice trailed off. Kim Muyeol nodded indifferently.
“If there’s no other way, we have no choice but to follow my nephew’s orders. This is where our ties with Continental end.”
Suddenly pulling out a cigarette, he lit it with an air of nonchalance. Watching quietly, Choi Changwook asked, “Isn’t it a shame, sir? Haven’t we put a lot of effort into our relationship with them?”
“Indeed. Whether it was time or money, we did invest quite a bit.”
“Then why…”
“It’s simple.”
Exhaling a thick puff of cigarette smoke, Kim Muyeol said, “If all that effort only leads to poison, no matter the investment, it’s better to cut it off.”
“Do you believe Kim Shimun’s words that Continental would be toxic?”
“It’s not about believing him. I trust my own experiences.”
An SS-rank trait, Ruler of Plants. Although he had faced challenges with druids, elves, and elemental monsters, he had never been so utterly defeated in all his years as a player until he faced his nephew, Kim Shimun.
‘It felt as though the trait itself balked at the idea of aggression.’
As if it were the feeling of pointing a knife at one’s own parents. The trait seemed to resist and disobey his will. He couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.
‘And to think, I did not hesitate to turn against my own family to get here.’
To be obstructed by a bastard nephew of all things. Moreover…
“The fact that Kim Shimun knows about that elixir bothers me.”
“You’re referring to the DS produced by Continental.”
“Exactly.”
The Dragon Serum (DS), a trait enhancer, was a top-secret experiment conducted by Continental with Spear King Zhang Liqiu at its helm, far beyond whispers of secrecy.
“It’s supposed to be unknown to anyone who hasn’t built a level of trust like I have… Considering Continental’s influence within China, it’s essentially state-level classified information.”
How could a mere Gold-tier player like Kim Shimun possibly know about it? Beside him, Choi Changwook tentatively suggested, “Maybe it’s because they used experimental subjects for assassination? I heard the ones for non-Awakened are still in clinical trials.”
“It has nothing to do with me taking DS. Weren’t all the experimental subjects non-Awakened?”
“That’s right. My apologies.”
After another deep draw of his cigarette, Kim Muyeol exhaled and said, “From his tone, it wasn’t a mere assumption. He definitely knows about Zhang Liqiu’s research.”
At this, Choi Changwook’s eyes widened slightly.
“Could it mean…”
“Yes. Perhaps, because I was injected with DS, my trait was nullified by that damned nephew of mine.”
No. Most likely, that was the case. His trait had never caused any problems until now. Choi Changwook, looking perplexed, responded, “But, President-nim. Zhang Liqiu assured that DS has no side effects…”
“Idiot. Do you believe that?”
Kim Muyeol’s eyebrows arched sharply.
“There’s no such thing as a drug without side effects. Even common cold medicine has them, so DS would be no different.”
“Still, it’s hard to believe. Haven’t you been taking DS for quite some time? And your trait even advanced a level.”
“Indeed.”
Known to the world as the Ironwood King, Kim Muyeol possessed the trait, Ruler of Plants. In reality, ever since he took DS, the ruler of plants had evolved beyond an SS-rank to an SSS-Rank.
“It’s all the more infuriating because of that.”
Now stronger than before, it was incredulous that he could not even stand against a mere Gold rand.
“Sigh. What’s done is done. From now on, I should only look ahead.”
Kim Muyeol took a deep breath and brushed his forehead.
With a cool gaze, Choi Changwook said, “Shall I… handle it? If I’m prepared to become a villain, and even risk my life, Kim Shihyuk won’t be able to stop me.”
Ready to leave everything behind as a player, And rush in, do or die, he believed a Gold rank could be killed even if the Sword Saint was by his side.
Kim Muyeol quietly shook his head at his loyal retainer’s confidence.
“No, for the time being, we move according to my damned nephew’s orders.”
He disliked moving according to his nephew’s wishes but, “I also need to find out the side effects of DS, so it’s not a losing deal.”
A cigarette that had burned out. Crushing it in the ashtray, Kim Muyeol mulled over with a cool gaze, ‘Kim Shimun, I’ll bow to you for now. Until I figure out the side effects of DS.’
Unaware of the shackles already tightening around his neck.
* * *
The next day.
“Let’s see…”
Kim Shimun busily moved to his lab from the morning, fiddling with his phone.
“I’ve already asked Jinwook to handle the remaining guild positions for sale…”
Originally, he had no plans to do anything with the guild. But his thoughts changed after experiencing the assassination attempt.
‘The uncle definitely tightened the leash, but not to the extent of the Continental’s power.’
This was the second attempt. Of course, he easily invalidated the assassination attempt without much trouble. But how long could he keep welcoming attempts like these?
Preventative measures were needed. And so was a minor revenge. To that end, ‘Utilizing the current growth guild is the most efficient way.’
Kim Shimun, with a slight smile, thought, “Alright! Philo, today’s work is finished, right?”
-Yeah. I’ll handle the rest. Good work~.
Having organized the automated healing facilities and aged elixirs, he returned to his room.
‘I was able to overpower all the assassins with strength, but I still lack finesse.’
Though he managed to overpower with sheer strength, it wasn’t exactly efficient, Kim Shimun didn’t rest on the laurels of Gold defeating Diamond but, as he wrapped up the battle with Gong Yeolryun, picked up the arena goggles.
‘After all, practice makes perfect.’
While life-threatening real battle experience was immensely important, Ultimately, there was nothing like the arena for a player’s growth.
[Welcome to Galaxy Arena.]
The familiar phrase appeared in front of Kim Shimun, who had the goggles on.
And then, -Huh? You’re here!
-Set the alarm, so sweet~.
-5252. Been waiting for you!
-Kim Shimun, thought you had quit streaming.
Maybe because the scale of the broadcast had grown considerably, Even though the arena hadn’t started yet, ‘There are quite a few people here.’
[21,497 viewers watching]
The number of viewers had already surpassed 20,000.
Next, [Due to possessing stats unfit for your current rank, matchmaking has been adjusted upwards.]
[With the adjustment, experience and rewards gained are increased by 40%.]
‘Huh? Unfit stats?’
The messages were followed by changes to the lobby, “This is…!”
-Wow!
-Crazy! Isn’t this guy a Gold?
-Golds get matched here nowadays?
-Getting matched here of all places lol. Looks like his streak of consecutive first places is going to break.
Both Kim Shimun and the viewers were startled by the revealed map.