Chapter 394
As expected, the scale of the continent is on a whole different level.
I knew this was supposed to be a small town, but once I actually entered it, the area and population far exceeded my expectations.
Because of this, despite the monster horde sweeping through, there were still quite a few intact buildings.
‘It’s the same here.’
I stood at the entrance of the city hospital, which was currently being used as a temporary command center. A tall, white hunter approached, having spotted me and Captain Choi.
“I’ve been expecting you,” he said.
“Are you here on behalf of Magic Johnson?”
“Yes, I’m Michael Johnson. Feel free to call me Michael.”
“Ah, right.”
I couldn’t help but wonder, *Is everyone from over there named Johnson? Are they all part of the L.A. Johnson Family Association or something?*
As I shook hands with Michael, he grinned widely.
“What’s the smile for?”
“I’m a huge fan of yours, Sibuljwa.” [1]
“…I’d appreciate it if you just called me Jin instead of *Sibuljwa*.”
“Why? I’d love to have a nickname like that.”
“How about I call you ‘Little Johnson’ then?”
Michael’s expression turned serious as he firmly replied, “No.”
*Whoa, someone’s serious.* I couldn’t help but laugh at his reaction.
“It’s the same principle, so just call me Jin.”
“Ah, okay.”
*This ‘Sibuljwa’ nickname is spreading globally, huh?*
Cheon Tae-min, who’s known as the Savior of the 21st Century after slaying the Demon King, got a cool nickname like “Slayer,” but even after killing the Devil, I’m stuck with *Sibuljwa.* I guess even if I evolve further, the best I’ll get is *Ssibuljwa*.
“Don’t feel too bad about it, Sibuljwa. It’s got a certain charm, don’t you think?”
“Captain, are you teasing me right now?”
“Of course not.”
As I shot Captain Choi a glare, Michael chimed in.
“Choi, you’re here too.”
“You know me?”
“Of course. Magic Johnson speaks highly of you, and the word has spread among our guild members.”
Captain Choi’s face darkened instantly, so I nudged him in the side.
“Don’t be too upset. Seems Johnson’s, uh, Johnson is quite fond of you.”
“…Jin Tae-Kyung, did you just say ‘Johnson’ twice?”
“Oh, did I? Must’ve slipped out.”
Ignoring Captain Choi’s piercing gaze, I turned back to Michael.
“Where’s Johnson?”
“I’ll take you to him.”
We followed him inside. The moment we stepped into the lobby, the murmuring quieted down, and dozens of eyes fixed on us.
I’d heard that a few civilians were rescued last night, but judging by the atmosphere of the command center, it seemed to be all soldiers here.
“You sure know how to change the mood, Jin,” Michael remarked.
“I was already famous, but after yesterday, I’m probably even more so.”
“Oh, did you take down a named monster or something?”
I shrugged in response. “Something like that.”
Considering General Liao’s position in the military, he was certainly a big name. Despite attempts to keep things quiet, rumors spread fast, and I could hear the soldiers’ hushed whispers as I passed by.
“Did you hear? Yesterday, Jin broke the commander’s…”
“Yeah, I heard that rumor, but isn’t it just gossip?”
“No, it’s true. Both the hunters and the operations officers said it was. Even Rao Yang heard it firsthand.”
“Damn, if that’s true, I’m disappointed in Jin.”
“Same. I thought he was a hero of the people.”
I expected this reaction.
People tend to side with their own, so it’s only natural for soldiers to disapprove of me breaking their superior’s bones…
“He should’ve broken his neck instead of just his limbs.”
“Right? That fat bastard’s incompetence has gotten so many killed.”
“I heard he pocketed a lot during that recent defense contract scandal too. No wonder they’re trying to cover it up. At least by sticking with Jin, they can save face and maybe pick up some scraps.”
“That filthy thief deserves to be strung up in Tiananmen Square.”
…Wait, they actually seem to like what I did.
It wasn’t just the soldiers. Even some of the officers were muttering.
They were calling Liao an incompetent pig who sacrificed their comrades, saying they finally understood why they were still using equipment from the Chinese Civil War era.
The combination of the recent scandal and Liao’s poor reputation had sparked a flood of comments that could easily be considered insubordination.
“The mood’s pretty good, isn’t it? I doubt we’ll have any issues with this,” Captain Choi remarked, walking beside me.
I replied, still a bit bewildered, “Yeah, if I’d known, I would’ve hit him a few more times.”
“Well, I’ve got a few more high-grade potions left if you’re interested.”
“Wow, Captain, you’ve really got a sense of humor now.”
“Who said I was joking?”
“…Excuse me?”
*What the hell? Why’s he suddenly acting like this?*
I was taken aback by Captain Choi’s unexpected response, and he looked me dead in the eyes.
“Jin Tae-Kyung, you’re an official S-rank hunter. You’re a symbol of hope and aspiration for ordinary people, and you have the public’s full support. Meanwhile, General Liao is the epitome of corruption. Anyone who tries to come after you will face considerable backlash.”
“So… you’re saying I could’ve hit him even more?”
“There would be consequences, but you won’t be bogged down by someone like General Liao, who’s on the brink of collapse.”
“Man, you were telling me not to cause trouble just a few hours ago.”
“Even the best sports cars crash if you keep slamming on the accelerator. That’s why someone like me has to ride along and hit the brakes when needed. And…”
Captain Choi’s voice lowered as he continued.
“Sometimes, you also need to pave the track to let that sports car run smoothly. Like now.”
“Huh?”
“Given how many people witnessed what happened yesterday, any attempt to keep things quiet was bound to fail. So, I figured it’d be better to let the rumors spread quickly and in our favor.”
It didn’t take long for my confusion to turn into understanding.
“Captain, did you…?”
Seeing my open-mouthed surprise, Captain Choi smiled.
“Getting ahead of things and spreading advantageous rumors—it’s a method Deputy Guild Master Lee Jung-Ryong often uses.”
“…Wow.”
Everything made sense now.
I had wondered why the rumors spread so quickly despite the attempts at secrecy, and now I realized it was because Captain Choi had already set things in motion.
The Public Security Armed Forces hunters had a strong disdain for General Liao, so they were easy to influence. And as for the soldiers…
*He probably used money.*
After all, money speaks louder than words. Captain Choi likely used money to sway them, ensuring the rumors spread in a way that benefited us.
And in a military setting, rumors spread like wildfire. Soldiers are practically walking microphones and speakers.
*The rumors spread in no time.*
Once ten people heard it, they told a hundred, and a hundred told a thousand. By the time it reached everyone, the rumors had grown into exaggerated truths.
*And he came up with this plan and executed it in a single night?*
I stared at Captain Choi with newfound admiration.
“Captain, are you secretly Zhuge Liang or Zhang Liang?”
“This is nothing.”
“Man, Captain. I think I might have a crush on you.”
“…Please stop.”
As we joked around, Michael suddenly stopped in front of a door.
*Knock knock.*
“It’s me, Michael Johnson.”
Beyond the door labeled “VIP Room,” two distinct presences reacted. A deep, yet jovial voice called out.
“Oh, come on in.”
“They said we could enter. My part’s done, so I’ll leave you here.”
Michael shrugged and stepped aside, gesturing for us to enter.
With Captain Choi visibly tense beside me, I stepped forward and opened the door.
*Creeeak.*
The door swung open smoothly, revealing two figures.
“Haha, it’s great to see such charming young men again!”
A towering black man with hands the size of dinner plates—Magic Johnson.
And…
“Hiiiik!”
A plump, trembling pig of a man.
I glanced at General Liao, who was quivering in fear, and then turned to shake Magic Johnson’s hand.
“When did you get here?”
“About 30 minutes ago?”
“What about your front line? And why are you hanging around with this guy instead of coming straight to me?”
“Hold on, hold on. I’ll answer in order. But first, say hello to Choi.”
Without hesitation, Magic Johnson swooped in like a hawk and clasped Captain Choi’s hand with enthusiasm.
“How’ve you been? Think of me much?”
“…Yes.”
Captain Choi’s response was undoubtedly sincere. He’d been thinking about him non-stop on the way here.
But Magic Johnson, oblivious to the meaning behind Choi’s words, was clearly thrilled.
“Oh, we’re on the same page then! We have so much in common, don’t we?”
In terms of romantic interests, I’m pretty sure they couldn’t be more different.
“Anyway, it’s great to see you again,” Magic Johnson said, finally turning his attention back to me.
“And Jin, about the southern front, there’s no need to worry. A brief absence won’t cause any problems.”
“So things are going well, I take it?”
“Hmm, well, there’s some good news. As of last night, the monster armies have begun retreating across all fronts.”
“Ah, that’s a relief… Wait, what?”
Both Captain Choi and I blinked at each other in confusion.
*What the hell is he talking about?*
Captain Choi recovered first and asked, “This is the first we’re hearing of it. Could you explain, Mr. Johnson?”
“As I said, the monster armies pulled back overnight. We’ve confirmed it’s happening on all fronts.”
“But we haven’t detected any movement on our side.”
“Oh, right. Excluding this western front, of course.”
“Why’s that?”
“What? Haha!”
Magic Johnson laughed heartily and clapped me on the shoulder.
“Because, naturally, the western front is already deep into enemy territory. I’m not sure what the Arch Lich is planning, but the western front has already become a highway for them. They’ve retreated as far as they can here.”
“Oh.”
I had briefly forgotten. Unlike the other fronts, where the army advanced slowly under the protection of air and ground forces, I had bulldozed my way through everything in sight.
*I knew I’d been on a rampage, but this much?*
Seeing my bewildered expression, Magic Johnson laughed even harder.
“You don’t look like the Genghis Khan of the 21st century right now. You’ve made incredible progress, so why not smile a bit?”
“It’s too early to relax just yet. But never mind the retreating monsters—what brings you here?”
“I came to see Choi.”
Captain Choi’s face paled instantly. If Magic Johnson joked again, I was sure Captain Choi’s butt clenched cheeks would give out.
“Just kidding.”
Magic Johnson continued with a grin.
“I had to deliver an order to the commander. We’re pulling some personnel.”
“Pulling them? Where to?”
“Chengdu. A military conference has been called.”
***
Footnotes:
[1] Sibuljwa (씨벌좌) is a playful nickname that combines the Korean slang word sibul (씨벌), which is a vulgar expletive similar to “damn” or “f***”, with jwa (좌), which means “leader” or “lord”. It’s a tongue-in-cheek title given to Jin Tae-Kyung, humorously acknowledging his rough language or demeanor, making him something like the “Lord of Fuck/Profanity.”
