Chapter 599
On the way back to the mansion after the meeting, I felt a subtle shift in the flow of the air.
Their glances and behavior were probably products of rigorous training and refined instinct, but they couldn’t escape my senses.
‘They’re definitely suspicious.’
The A-rank Hunters from the Presidential Security Service.
They claimed their role was to provide temporary protection for me and my family, but I wasn’t naïve enough to believe that at face value.
‘If they sense even the slightest anomaly, they’ll report it immediately.’
They weren’t Peace Guild members, nor ordinary Hunters. They were government agents whose sole superior was the President himself.
It wouldn’t surprise me if Baek Hanseong had already received a report about today’s meeting.
My private meeting with Go Sewon. The fact that no sound was heard during the brief minute or two we were together.
‘What should I do?’
I stared out the window, specially treated to prevent visibility into the vehicle, lost in thought.
The existence of another hidden zone within the guild HQ, revealed through Go Sewon’s words.
When and to whom should I disclose this information?
It didn’t take long to come to a conclusion.
‘I can’t act on it right now anyway.’
It had only been two days since that day.
The world was still in chaos, and people hadn’t recovered from the grief and shock.
Even Chief Choi, the one who deserved to know first, wasn’t in any shape to process it yet.
So at least until Kim Hwajong’s funeral was held… I needed to stay silent.
Not just for Chief Choi’s sake, but mine as well.
I needed time to sort myself out.
“Haa…”
As I let out a small sigh, the agent in the driver’s seat glanced at me through the rearview mirror.
“Are you feeling unwell, sir…?”
“No, nothing at all.”
A lie.
I sank deeper into the seat.
The truth was, I felt extremely uncomfortable.
With everything surrounding me.
I muttered a truth I never spoke aloud and stared out the window.
Time passed quickly, just like the scenery rushing past outside.
January 19th.
A week had passed since what would come to be known as the 119 Incident.
The world was still a mess.
The blaze ignited that day didn’t die out easily—no, it grew uncontrollably.
Media outlets from South Korea and around the globe kept throwing logs and oil onto the fire, and public sentiment only made the flames stronger.
[January 19. The Day Darkness Fell on South Korea.]
[Two Artificial Monster Waves. UN Secretary-General: “An International Crime That Cannot Be Forgiven.”]
[The Vatican: “He is no human but Satan. Another Demon King.”]
[Ares Guild’s Official Statement: “We condemn Seok Gojun’s actions and deeply apologize to the public.”]
[Victims of the 119 Incident preparing to file a massive lawsuit against Ares Guild and the state.]
[Go Sewon continues his revelations: “Ares is rotten to the core.”]
The ones hit hardest were, of course, Seok Gojun and the Ares Guild.
Go Sewon, who once held the No. 2 position in the guild, gave detailed testimony about all the crimes and corruption he knew.
Secrets the world never knew—or chose to ignore—were dragged into the light, and the world flipped all over again.
Warrants were issued by the prosecutors, and several foreign branch heads who caught wind of the crackdown attempted to flee.
– Did you see the news? The China branch head got caught trying to escape.
– Yeah. Interpol issued a red notice, and he got nabbed by the Public Security Bureau.
– Of all places, caught by the commies. What a national disgrace.
– Hey. Don’t hate on the PSB. They worked with the Madman during the Monster Wave Incident in China to take down the Archlich, remember?
– What’s a “good commie”?
– One that helps the Madman. Duh.
– The PSB’s legit. The one who caught the branch head was Xiao Shen—the youngest-ever PSB chief. He’s a hardcore Jin Taekyung fanboy.
– I saw his interview. He kept calling him “Big Bro Taekyung.” On top of that, it came out that the China branch head also vandalized local cultural artifacts, so even their foreign ministry is pissed.
– Was that guy a Red Guard in his past life or what?
– Watch, next they’ll claim all this was revenge for Northeast Project criticism. These mainlanders still call hanbok “hanfu.” At this point, Winnie the Pooh’s dead, but “hanfu” lives on…
It was the worst crisis the Ares Guild had faced since its founding.
Half of their executives were summoned by the prosecution, and even those not involved in crimes were pulled in as witnesses.
Meanwhile, public opinion toward Jin Taekyung and the Peace Guild—who had played a pivotal role in the incident—was overwhelmingly positive.
[Summary of the Madman’s Deeds.jpg]
[I was at the Pyeongchang Monster Wave. Thank you to Guildmaster Kim Hwajong and the 15 Peace Guild Hunters who gave their lives. May they rest in peace.]
[Let’s be real. What crime did Jin Taekyung commit? (Long Post Warning)]
[Blue House Petition hits 10 million signatures.]
Countless posts supporting me flooded the internet daily.
People passionately defended my innocence, submitted petitions, and even protested against media outlets that had slandered me early on.
But even then, some continued to speak out against me.
[Editorial from Patriot Daily’s Lee Kanghee: “Jin Taekyung is a vigilante. Seok Gojun should have been handled by the law.”]
His comments gained traction briefly—
Until details of Ares Guild’s Code Red and the true scale of the 119 Incident were revealed.
[538 total casualties from intense combat. Only 20 confirmed deaths.]
[Identities of the dead confirmed. Mostly Seok Gojun and his personal guard.]
[Go Sewon: “Seok Gojun’s guards were loyal attack dogs—fanatics. They orchestrated the Busan Wave too.”]
[Victim’s statement: “Jin Taekyung struck down all who blocked him, but never once touched a healer.”]
[Jin Taekyung, A Modern-Day Knight Shining Through a Bloodbath.]
[London Murder Case: 10 of Seok Gojun’s guards killed the detained European branch head’s family. Interpol launches international manhunt.]
[Patriot Daily’s Lee Kanghee under investigation for hundreds of millions in secret real estate holdings.]
As the truth came to light, my critics grew quiet.
And those who had spoken in my defense from the start began to receive attention.
[President Xiao Yang of China: “We have not forgotten Sichuan. Jin is a true hero, a man who acts only for righteousness.”]
[U.S. Grand Archmage Magic Johnson: “Jin is a hero. Korean media is trash. That clown Kanghee Lee should grovel before my huge… magical staff.”]
[Prince Felix of England: “He may not have been born noble, but he has proven his nobility. Those who slander him only show their own vulgarity. Kiss the back of my hand.”]
[Japanese PM Koizumi Shinjiro: “Korean media should reflect on their actions. I think they are reflecting, but I also think they are not showing enough reflection, and that’s something to reflect on.”]
[Former U.S. President Joseph Biden: “He’s a good young man. I met him recently—calm and kind.”
When asked when, he paused and said,
“I think I confused him with someone else.”]
In a still-chaotic world, people were too busy just trying to keep up with the news.
President Baek Hanseong publicly apologized and promised this would never happen again.
At the same time, he launched a nationwide campaign to “cleanse society,” targeting the bloated guilds that had grown too powerful to touch.
Leaders and dignitaries around the world voiced strong support for the Peace Guild.
In contrast, the Ares Guild—tainted by Seok Gojun’s crimes—and even former Vice Guildmaster Lee Jung-ryong couldn’t escape the backlash.
But amidst all the truths being uncovered, one question remained unanswered.
Why?
Why had he not appeared yet?
Why hadn’t Cheon Taemin shown himself?
It was a question everyone asked—
And a truth no one could answer.
The immortal hero who had vanished without a trace.
Not when the Archlich’s rampage in China caused astronomical damage.
Not even for Lee Jung-ryong’s national funeral.
Not even when his own guild’s headquarters was leveled by Jin Taekyung.
Cheon Taemin remained missing, and public curiosity about his silence continued to grow like a snowball.
And then, amid unresolved chaos and grief—
A large-scale national funeral was held for the victims of the 119 Incident.
—
South Korea, normally so loud, was silent that day.
The government declared a temporary holiday.
Roads were empty.
News anchors, solemn-voiced, reported that 30 million citizens had gathered to mourn across the country.
And I was here.
At the National Cemetery.
Where those who served with honor were laid to rest.
Step. Step.
Though it was still January, the grass was already green, and spring felt near.
The breeze brushing my face was gentle, the sunlight warm.
It was a good day.
A perfect day to say goodbye.
And to remember.
[January 19th. In Memory of Them]
I looked up.
The sun’s rays pierced down upon the memorial stone.
Among the two thousand names engraved there, one was especially familiar.
[Late Kim Hwajong]
For some reason, I was glad the weather was nice.
He had suffered in the cold until his last breath.
But today, under this warmth, he received everyone’s farewell and found peace.
‘It’s warm now. Isn’t it, Butler Kim?’
Though his ashes would be buried elsewhere, I believed his spirit remained here.
Just as I asked the question he would never answer—
“He’ll rest well. Butler Kim will.”
A quiet voice pierced my ears.
Chief Choi, his eyes sorrowful as he looked at the monument, added,
“But for us… things will only get busier now.”
I nodded.
It was time to speak of the hidden truth.
The grief of losing something precious never truly fades.
It only wears down over time.
And that’s why this past week had been so important for Chief Choi.
It gave him time to collect himself.
“He’ll rest well. But for us… things will only get busier now.”
Those words told me—he was ready.
Ready to rise again while holding his memories close.
“I met Go Sewon. A week ago.”
Chief Choi reacted.
“Go Sewon… you mean the Ares Guild’s security chief?”
“Yes. Seok Gojun’s former right-hand man.”
At the sound of that name, Chief Choi’s brow twitched.
But he quickly masked his expression and spoke calmly.
“Please continue.”
“He asked to see me. Said he owed me a debt.”
“A debt… Judging by his actions, it wasn’t just a thank-you.”
Though he had never met Go Sewon, Chief Choi’s intuition was sharp—and correct.