Chapter 198 – Apex [Climax]

The White House Oval Office.

President Jonathan Smith, the CIA Director, and the Secretary of State sat in a triangle, their expressions grave as they conducted the meeting.

“Has the Korean government made any separate mention?”

At Jonathan Smith’s question, the Secretary of State shook his head.

“The Korean government is practically comatose at the moment. We haven’t heard anything through official channels, and it was only by using several layers of unofficial routes that we could barely discern the government’s stance.”

“Right, and what is the Korean government’s stance?”

“‘No opinion,’ they say.”

“What?”

Jonathan Smith made a bewildered expression.

“‘No opinion’? What does that mean?”

“Literally. They say the Korean government’s position is that they have no opinion whatsoever regarding Hunter Lee Siguk’s return.”

Jonathan Smith pressed his forehead and shook his head side to side.

“Couldn’t it just be political confusion? Well, it’s not like the Korean government hasn’t been like this once or twice before…”

At the Secretary of State’s words, Jonathan Smith nodded, though he couldn’t hide his look of disbelief.

“Anyway, so Hunter Lee Siguk returned, and that’s why Nam Hanseok made such a shift in his position?”

At Jonathan Smith’s question, the CIA Director straightened his posture and answered.

“That seems highly probable. According to consistent testimonies from officials in the Blue House Prime Minister’s security detail, Prime Minister Nam had no intention of even managing the situation, let alone announcing his resignation, until just a day ago. It seems Hunter Lee Siguk likely met with Prime Minister Nam beforehand and pulled some strings before officially announcing his return.”

“He’s certainly a quick man. Has there been any separate communication with Russia?”

“Given the lack of any special reports from our FSB collaborators or Kremlin informants, it seems he hasn’t contacted the Kremlin yet. However, both President Ivanov and Hunter Lee Siguk are A-Rank Hunters, so the possibility of them meeting without our collaborators’ knowledge still exists.”

Jonathan Smith nodded.

“Anyway, China’s situation is complicated, and Korea’s is flowing even more complicatedly. Our own situation isn’t good right now, so it will be difficult, but in the long term, once the situation improves significantly from now, we must be able to negotiate with Hunter Lee Siguk. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Yes, I understand.”

“I will keep it in mind.”

After that, Jonathan Smith gave a few instructions to the Secretary of State and the CIA Director before sending them out.

After they left, as Jonathan Smith momentarily moistened his throat with water, the Chairman’s Secretary had already appeared like a mirage, sitting cross-legged in the seat before him.

Looking at her unusually displeased expression, Jonathan Smith asked.

“You don’t look well. Is something the matter?”

“Common sense says, how could my expression be good when someone we thought was dead has returned?”

At her prickly answer, Jonathan Smith gave a dry cough.

“What did the Chairman say?”

“He said he would come here soon.”

“Soon?”

Jonathan Smith was startled.

“No, I thought the Chairman was still conserving his power…”

“If the Chairman says he’s coming, then he’s coming. Why so many words?”

“……”

“The situation is turning in an unusual direction. The Chairman was already uncomfortable with Ivan Ivanov surviving, and now with Lee Siguk returning as well… Perhaps the day the Chairman reveals himself to the world may come even sooner.”

“Does that mean…”

The Chairman’s Secretary glared sharply at Jonathan Smith.

“Don’t worry. You will become the lord ruling over North America under the Chairman. Since the Chairman himself promised this, you should believe it.”

Jonathan Smith nodded.

Just as he was about to raise his glass and take a sip of water.

“Gasp!”

Suddenly, the Chairman’s Secretary’s eyes widened, and she shot up from her seat.

“Why, why are you doing that?”

“B, big trouble. The, the Chairman… the Chairman…”

“Did something happen to the Chairman?”

The Chairman’s Secretary gave no answer.

Instead, she vanished like a mirage, just as she had appeared.

Watching that, Jonathan Smith made a meaningful expression.

He called for his secretary.

“Tell the FBI Director, CIA Director, and… even the Secretary of Defense to come in.”

• I intend to finish off Fenrir as quickly as possible.

At Siguk’s words, Ivan Ivanov, looking down at the dawn streets of Moscow from the Kremlin presidential office, answered.

“How quickly do you intend to finish her off?”

• Right now.

“Huh?”

For a moment, Ivan Ivanov thought he had misheard.

Or that Siguk had chosen the wrong vocabulary in Russian.

“What did you say?”

• I intend to finish off Fenrir right now.

“……”

For a while, Ivan Ivanov couldn’t say anything.

Because Siguk’s decision was so abrupt, Ivan Ivanov couldn’t help but be taken aback.

“No, why right now of all times?”

• I have sufficient ability to subdue her, and I roughly know where she is, so shouldn’t I eliminate her as quickly as possible?

“That’s… true, but… hmm…”

• Why are you hesitating?

“It’s just… bewildering. Usually, when handling such a significant matter, one prepares as much as possible in advance. Or at least lays some groundwork around it.”

• We don’t have the luxury to do that. Just yesterday, a B-Rank Dungeon collapsed in Xi’an, China, and monsters poured out, wrecking the city.

“I know.”

• Didn’t a dungeon in Novosibirsk, Russia, almost collapse too?

“Hmm…”

• That’s why I’m hurrying.

In terms of justification, what Siguk said was clearly right.

If Fenrir was controlling almost all the monsters emerging from dungeons, and if Fenrir was behind the accelerating Dungeon Breaks recently, then eliminating her as quickly as possible was the right thing.

The problem was that it was Siguk saying and doing it.

“You’ve changed a lot.”

• I’ve heard that a lot.

“No. You’ve really changed a lot. To the point that the cruelty you showed in Africa is no longer visible.”

• Isn’t that a good thing?

“It depends on the situation.”

• If Fenrir dies, dungeons and monsters will weaken. Naturally, whether it’s Russia or the US, they’ll be able to exert the influence they couldn’t outwardly display until now.

“That would be the case.”

• Prepare for that, Nikolayevich. What you need now is not action as a Hunter, but action as the President of Russia.

“Understood.”

• I’ll contact you again after the job is done.

“Take care of yourself.”

• Thank you.

The call ended, and Ivan Ivanov put down the phone.

He slowly rose from his seat and walked to the window.

Looking down at the Moscow streets where not a single car passed, he fell deep into thought.

‘Whose side is this changed Lee Siguk on, really?’

Siguk had already notified Ivan Ivanov of his broken engagement with Polina.

Polina, too, whatever her inner feelings, had accepted Siguk’s notification on the surface.

Therefore, the same intimate relationship as in the past no longer existed between Ivan Ivanov and Siguk.

In such a situation, Siguk had clearly changed.

Siguk had changed to the point where it overshadowed the fact that he had killed Hunter Liu Yaofang, who was perfectly alive, and other International Coalition Assault Team Hunters to kill Ululu Tumbebe.

Whether that change would ultimately benefit him or harm him.

Furthermore, whether it would benefit Russia or harm it.

The one idea piercing through the numerous thoughts rising in Ivan Ivanov’s mind was precisely that.

Suddenly, snow began to fall from the sky.

In an era where things like climate change, discussed since over a decade ago, had become reality, and now with the reality that even Siguk had changed, Ivan Ivanov’s anguish only deepened.

Siguk told Ivan Ivanov he would go finish off Fenrir right away, but he didn’t go literally right away.

While Moscow was still deep in slumber at dawn, in Korea, where it was a time when people were busily working, Siguk, having finished his call with Ivan Ivanov, immediately took Park Seongjun and headed to the National Advisory Council Secretariat.

Though called a secretariat, with only a Secretary-General as a member, Siguk created a new position for Park Seongjun there.

“Isn’t this just the JH Guild?”

As Park Seongjun said, it was practically no different in composition from the JH Guild.

“We’ll need to recruit some people from now on. Until now, I did everything alone, but by the time you take my place, that will be difficult.”

“That’s true.”

“But for now, while you’re learning the work from me, it’ll just be the two of us.”

Then Siguk handed documents and a tablet PC to Park Seongjun.

“For the time being, what you need to do is understand the constitutional provisions, legal regulations regarding the National Advisory Council, and the internal regulations and organizational chart of the Council. I don’t need to teach you this specifically, so study it well on your own. If there’s anything you don’t know, try searching for it.”

“Ah… so that’s why you’re giving me the tablet?”

“That’s right.”

Leaving behind Park Seongjun, who forced a smile, Siguk headed straight for the Blue House Prime Minister’s Office.

The avatar performing Nam Hanseok’s role splendidly greeted Siguk.

“What about Villains following Nam Hanseok besides these guys?”

“There are none.”

“Well, for someone of his level, gathering this much rabble is impressive enough. Good job.”

Just like that, Siguk left the Blue House.

And that day, all the Villains who had followed Nam Hanseok lost any trace of their existence in the world at Siguk’s hands.

After clearing out all the unofficial organizations Nam Hanseok had planted, and by evening, Siguk went to find Yeo Jeongyeon.

After having an atmospheric dinner with her at a high-end restaurant she often visited, Siguk immediately headed with her to his penthouse.

And there, the two finally faced each other after a very long time.

Thus, a day passed, and Korea fell asleep in the dawn.

Confirming that Yeo Jeongyeon was asleep in bed, Siguk gently slipped out.

He went to the dressing room and changed into neat formal attire.

With a luxury watch on his wrist, he slowly vanished from the spot.

A moment later, Yeo Jeongyeon came out of Siguk’s room wearing a robe.

Looking at Siguk’s empty house, she intuited that this was the future soon to befall her.

She quietly stroked her lower abdomen with her hand.

‘But if… a trace of Mr. Siguk remains here… like Unni Minori…’

Thus, Yeo Jeongyeon spent the dawn in the silence of Siguk’s empty penthouse.

While Korea was still in dawn, Alaska was already morning.

Under the brilliant sun, Alaska’s snow-covered land shone.

Upon it, Siguk slowly stepped on the snow as he walked forward.

Wind blew with the snow, but it couldn’t even reach Siguk’s vicinity.

The wind gradually began to strengthen.

And as if struggling to somehow overwhelm Siguk, it flew towards Siguk’s vicinity with snowflakes.

But nothing could touch Siguk’s body.

After indifferently brushing off the snowstorm’s attacks for 30 minutes like that.

Siguk stopped walking.

And he looked at the empty void where only emptiness existed.

“Should I break in? Or will you just come out?”

Siguk spoke to the void.

Only the sound of the now-exhausted wind returned, no other sound.

“If that’s really what you want.”

Siguk slowly stretched his right hand forward.

Centered on his palm, a mana wave like a heat haze began to bloom.

The mana wave gradually intensified, and soon the surrounding air resonated with it, beginning to swirl violently.

Siguk, who had been looking ahead with indifferent eyes, soon sharpened his gaze and fired the mana wave gathered in his palm forward.

KWA-GWA-GWANG-!*

With a roar as if dozens of giant cranes were toppling over at once, the empty void before Siguk shook.

The spatial shaking continued for a long while, and as the roar faded, finally, a gigantic silver castle with its doors blown off revealed itself before Siguk’s eyes.