Chapter 49

The news anchor on TV read from the script, their face pale.

[An arrest warrant has been issued for the Han Seung-Moon Foundation. At the same time, the Special Prosecutor Act has been passed in the National Assembly.]

Both the prosecution and the special prosecutor were mobilized simultaneously.

The government and the National Assembly had launched a coordinated attack.

First, the prosecution.

Won Ok-Bun was a former prosecutor who had risen to the presidency. She was an elite among prosecutors, wielding influence over the prosecution through its hierarchical traditions and organizational loyalty. In other words, the government had drawn its sword.

Then, the special prosecutor.

The Special Prosecutor Team.

A team granted unrestricted investigative authority as long as there was political consensus. A team so powerful that a new law had to be enacted just to create it.

[There are allegations that Han Seung-Moon is behind the controversy over the party merger and the recent terrorist attack—]

A weapon that, with political consensus, could destroy anyone.

The strongest blade in Korea—one that could only be wielded when the National Assembly and the government reached an agreement.

[On charges of political agitation and orchestrating a terrorist attack, he is being accused of treason—]

I could feel that icy blade hovering over my neck.

The National Assembly and the government were trying to crush me.

“……”

At last, the end was in sight.

—

The lawmakers spoke.

“Even the President agreed. It’s time for him to step down.”

“Aren’t you worried about backlash?”

“Just thinking about what that bastard has done makes my blood boil!”

“Please watch your language—”

“Ah, my apologies.”

[Following the passage of the Special Prosecutor Act on Han Seung-Moon, a search and seizure operation is underway at the Han Seung-Moon Foundation. Hong Seon-Ah has expressed her deep regret—]

In the underground conference room of the National Assembly, eleven people sat in front of the TV.

Ten lawmakers and the Chief Justice.

“Of course, right now, the National Party may be pushing forward with public opposition. But what is the National Party, really?”

One lawmaker spoke passionately.

“A group of opportunists trying to ride Han Seung-Moon’s popularity for their own gain! Without him, the National Party is nothing but an empty shell!”

“If we impose an excessive punishment on him, there could be public backlash. It might be better to let this drag on and erode his approval ratings.”

“And what if he pulls another stunt?!” The lawmakers debated how to bring Han Seung-Moon down. Though heated, their arguments were only about the method, not the outcome.

“We must suspend his legislative qualification and revoke his eligibility for election!”

“I’m telling you, that will backfire!”

“I think it’s fine. He deserves it. We need to show what happens when someone breaks the rules.”

“Instead, why not use this as leverage to gain an upper hand in the April general election?”

“No, there’s already significant sentiment that this is an unjust persecution. We should act swiftly and strip him of his seat.”

“Fine, but the public will forget all this in a few months anyway.”

The Chief Justice remained silent. The nine lawmakers were deciding the punishment on their own.

Awkwardly, the Chief Justice smiled and looked at the only lawmaker who had remained silent.

A fellow alumnus from the Judicial Research and Training Institute.

A comrade from the judicial reform movement.

A former colleague from the Court Administration Office.

A former judge like himself.

When Yang Pan-Seok gave a small nod, the Chief Justice finally spoke.

“Uh, lawmakers? I understand your discussion, but you’ll need at least a plausible charge that aligns with public sentiment to determine the penalty.”

“The President has already declared that he orchestrated the terrorist attack!”

“But do you think the public will actually believe that?”

One lawmaker, his eyes bloodshot from stress, checked a file on his smartphone.

“It looks like we need a stronger blow.”

“……”

“The prosecution has just handed us something big.”

Yang Pan-Seok closed his eyes.

A lawmaker smirked and held out his phone.

“They found records of human experiments in the Han Seung-Moon Foundation’s research lab.”

—

David Kim tilted his head.

“……What is this?”

Hong Seon-Ah beamed.

“Resignations!”

“I see that. But why so many?”

“You don’t seem that surprised…?”

“I had a hunch.”

Hong Seon-Ah submitted 48 resignation letters. Given that the Supernatural Task Force Union had steadily expanded to around 70 members, this represented a majority.

She explained.

“Um…! It seems like people don’t like 3D jobs very much!”

“Do you even know what 3D means?”

Hong Seon-Ah tilted her head in confusion.

Hunters had been classified as public servants.

Their pay was low compared to the risks involved.

This was because Han Seung-Moon had turned the guild system into just another department under the National Police Agency.

As a result, dissatisfaction was always brewing.

This, in turn, had made it easier for Hong Seon-Ah to consolidate support among the discontented.

“Uh……”

As she glanced at Han Seung-Moon, she found him somewhat frightening. Yet, she smiled brightly and answered Kim Chun-Sik’s question.

“3D! Dirty! Dangerous! Dull!”

“Are you smart or just an idiot……”

David Kim chuckled as he accepted the resignation letters.

“I’m sorry, Seon-Ah.”

“……Huh?”

“When someone apologizes, you should at least acknowledge it.”

Hong Seon-Ah, her expression unreadable, silently watched Kim Chun-Sik as he sorted through the resignation letters.

David Kim, the one-armed man, fumbled as he tried to take out a cigarette. He then reached for his lighter but accidentally dropped it.

“……Hmm.”

A small flame materialized midair, lighting his cigarette.

Without another word, Hong Seon-Ah turned around and walked away.

She grabbed the doorknob.

And then, she just stood there for a long while.

With a smile that was difficult to read. Containing her emotions. Speaking in her usual, slightly exaggerated cheerful voice.

“I’m heading out, okay?”

“Go ahead.”

“Not going to stop me?”

“You’d leave anyway.”

Hong Seon-Ah closed her eyes and smiled faintly.

As expected. The only person in the world who could truly make her furious—

There was only one.

“……Hey, you.”

“……”

“You… you goddamn son of a bitch…!”

Still gripping the doorknob, Hong Seon-Ah crumbled to the floor. Tears dripped down her face as she let out a broken laugh.

“Yoo Ji-Won, Sung Jae-Kwang, Kim Jung—”

Stray dog. Octopus. Fake soldier.

“Do Eun-Ah, Park Jae-Jun, Jung Sun-Jae,”

Thugs. Herself. Stray dog.

“Kim Bok-Rye, Kim Jung-Gyu, Jo Jung-Sik.”

A man in a helmet. A collapsing building. A sniper.

“Park Tae-Cheol. Seo Joo-Hee. Jung Ah-Reum.”

A flying beast. Thugs. Herself.

“I remember exactly why they all died.”

The one who burned their bodies was Hong Seon-Ah.

“In Seoul, we could have escaped on our own. But you said we couldn’t leave civilians behind. You stayed behind and told us to go.

So, everyone smiled. Saying they’d stay too. I’ll stay too. I’ll stay too. I’ll stay too. I’ll stay too.

Just like some cheap American movie. All of them…!”

She burned bodies trapped under rubble, leaving only their upper halves exposed. She wiped down cold, naked corpses in abandoned buildings before setting them ablaze. She cut down bodies hanging from ropes and burned them. She pieced together remains that had been picked clean, sewing bones back together before setting them on fire.

“The smell of burning flesh is stuck in my nose.” Hong Seon-Ah remembered.

“I can’t eat meat anymore!”

Twelve Awakeners had died in Apgujeong.

“I’m seeing a psychiatrist and taking medication! My doctor calls me insane! Han Seung-Moon called me crazy too! He laughed, saying I burn people with a smile on my face!”

Kim Chun-Sik had saved 1,200 civilians.

“……Heh.”

Twelve sacrificed for 1,200.

No one can easily say what weighs more.

But everyone can count numbers.

Which meant Hong Seon-Ah was a fool.

“Heh-heh…”

She chuckled emptily and opened the door.

“I’m leaving, okay?”

“……”

“I’m really leaving. This is your last chance to stop me. I’m not coming back.”

Kim Chun-Sik granted her request.

“Don’t go.”

Hong Seon-Ah smiled brightly.

“Screw you.”

—

A flood of evidence and accusations poured in.

Han Seung-Moon had manipulated the party merger.

Han Seung-Moon had orchestrated terrorist attacks.

It all sounded like the usual excuses from the political establishment. That was the plan, after all.

But then—

A particularly effective follow-up strike hit hard.

[Following the controversy over Han Seung-Moon’s involvement in human experimentation, public outcry continues across all sectors. The Assemblyman is expected to make his first official statement at 2 PM—]

[Records of approximately 200 human experiments have been uncovered at the Han Seung-Moon Foundation’s research lab. While some claim this is a political ploy by the establishment, terrorists had previously alleged that Han Seung-Moon had obtained Cha Jae-Kyun’s research on ‘Monsterization Drugs’—]

“Hmm, should we turn this off?”

“No, just leave it on.”

It seemed the prosecution had done a thorough job. I had hidden it well, but they still managed to dig it up.

[At a research facility under the Han Seung-Moon Foundation, records of nearly 200 human experiments were found—]

A psychic awakening drug.

Cha Jae-Kyun had put it together using human test subjects, but that didn’t mean it could be immediately commercialized.

Lee Ho-Jung silently stuck a straw into a banana milk and handed it to me.

“……Good work.”

“Yeah.”

I stared at the passing cityscape. My reflection overlapped with the view outside the window, and I ruffled my hair.

“Ah, damn. White hairs…”

Pale strands stood out. I looked far too old for twenty-eight.

“I’m getting old. Really old…”

[The Special Prosecutor’s Office has indicted Assemblyman Han Seung-Moon on charges of human experimentation, incitement, subversion of constitutional order, and seven other crimes.]

The country was split in two.

The public wavered between two narratives.

To the National Party, he was a hero.

Han Seung-Moon, who stood firm against Cha Jae-Kyun’s conspiracies, the National Assembly’s collusion, and the threat of extremist terrorist organizations.

To the National Defense Party, he was a demagogue.

A man who fabricated facts to seize power, secretly backed terrorist organizations, and conducted human experiments—the second coming of Cha Jae-Kyun.

The National Party had public sentiment and legitimacy. The National Defense Party had evidence and the media.
(T/N: National Party is head by Han Seung-Moon while National Defense Party is his opposition. It’s just the Republican and Democratic Party combined.)

The public was in turmoil.

And in times of chaos—

The one who provides a clear direction is called a great leader.

I would show this insane country the way forward.

—

“Ha, it’s Han Seung-Moon!”

“Assemblyman Han Seung-Moon! What do you have to say about the human experimentation allegations—”

“Han Seung-Moon! Han Seung-Moon! Han Seung-Moon!”

“Who does the guild belong to?!”

As soon as I stepped out of the car, a sea of people surrounded me. A familiar place.

I had deliberately chosen the same location.

The site where I had once exposed Cha Jae-Kyun’s human experiments—now eerily recreated.

I rolled onto the red carpet in my wheelchair and moved toward the podium.

I had stripped away countless layers of myself.

Now, I stood here as a complete politician.

No illusions remained. I knew what I had to do, and I would see it through.

To prevent a preordained downfall.

To pull both the stagnant rulers and the confused masses back onto the right path.

To bring hope to this steadily decaying nation.

“……Good afternoon.”

I knew the exact distance between my mouth and the microphone for the best audio.

I knew where to direct my gaze to appear trustworthy on camera.

I spoke with practiced ease.

“I am Assemblyman Han Seung-Moon.”

A four-second nod to convey solemnity.

A three-second pause to build anticipation.

“I risked my life to stop Cha Jae-Kyun’s plan.

And yet, they claim I secretly orchestrated terrorist attacks.

They say I was abducted and even shot by them.”

A light paradox.

It showed confidence to my supporters.

“They also say that I was a young, promising, politician with a bright future— but that I conspired with the establishment, only to expose it again.”

I had played politics like a madman.

In other words, my actions lacked logic.

“Does any of this sound believable to you?”

It was absurd.

“Did I have any reason to do these things?”

Of course, the special prosecutors and the prosecution had presented highly objective and reasonable evidence. Various documents, testimonies from involved parties, and more.

But.

“The evidence presented by the special prosecutors and the prosecution—most of it is fabricated.”

– People naturally believe what they want to believe.

“That evidence may be enough to bring me to trial. It may even be enough to put me in prison.”

– But evidence has nothing to do with truth.

“But I believe that truth and justice do not change!”

– In politics, legitimacy and public sentiment determine trust.

“I will reveal everything, clearly and without ambiguity, here and now.”

– At last, the puzzle pieces began to fall into place.

“I will expose the collusion between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party.”

– By dividing the political sphere, mutual checks and balances were reinstated, forcing the elite to resume their work.

– A nation thrives when politicians fight.

“I stood against the dictator Cha Jae-Kyun, and I am still fighting against his remnants.”

– By creating a fictional enemy, the public is thrown into chaos. Their fear is then converted directly into political support.

“The claims of the Special Prosecutor’s Office are blatant political slander.”

– By provoking the establishment, I invited their attacks.

“But there is one truth in their allegations. I conducted approximately 200 human experiments.”

– And in the end, I would shatter their attacks entirely.

“Through these experiments, I transformed the Monsterization Drug into a Psychic Awakening Accelerator, while also mitigating its side effects.”

– I would obliterate the government, liberate the prosecution and the media. And in doing so—

“The sole test subject was me. I conducted 200 human experiments on myself using my own psychic abilities.”

– I would sever the establishment’s corruption once and for all.

“As a result, my remaining lifespan is ten years.”

– The restoration of the separation of powers.

– And—

“I will no longer dwell on the past. I will speak about the future. Rather than defending myself from these false accusations, here and now, I will declare what kind of Republic of Korea we must build.”

– By presenting a clear direction to this chaotic world,

– I would end this era of turmoil.

(T/N: Damn! Well played Seung-moon.)
—

The Thirty-Six Stratagems – Strategy No. 34

Self-Sacrifice Strategy
Inflict harm upon oneself to achieve one’s ultimate goal.

The Strategy of Dividing the World into Three
Divide power into three factions to maintain balance through mutual checks and counterweights.