Chapter 133

[Translator – Prøks]

[Proofreader – Prøks]

Chapter 133: Encounter

While there may not be truly exceptional awakeners, boasting about the high average was something to be proud of.

“Oh, no…”

“This has to be a dream… it has to be…”

But now, even that pride was about to be stripped away.

A small country from the East.

In global terms, they were a mid-tier guild.

And yet, they had lost to them.

So devastatingly that there was no room for excuses.

Moreover, this was being broadcast live to the whole world.

Because China had generously allowed access and filming from the start.

It was a complete international humiliation.

Nam Cheolmin, who took the microphone, spoke up.

“All this glory is thanks to our Guild Master, Kim Minwoo. Without the highest-rank potion he provided, today’s victory wouldn’t have been possible. In that sense, Guild Master?”

Step.

Step.

Kim Minwoo walked up to the stage and took the microphone.

“As you’ve seen, Korea will keep getting stronger. The days of being called a weak nation for Awakeners are numbered.”

Then he smiled broadly.

“On the other hand, what about China? At this rate… well, their future doesn’t look too bright.”

―….

The crowd, faces red with anger, fell silent.

Their inability to express their rage openly was due to the shocking result.

He shrugged his shoulders and continued speaking.

“I’m a very busy person. But I think I’ll take a day to tour Beijing. Opportunities like this don’t come often.”

With that, he and the members of the Ilsung Guild left the arena.

Nam Cheolmin carefully asked.

“Are you really planning to stay here?”

“Did we commit any crime? While we’re here, let’s at least enjoy some good food. I’ve already made reservations at a famous place.”

By the way, it’s a place frequently visited by the Chinese president.

* * *

Robert, the President of the United States.

Recently, his mind had been occupied by one name.

Kim Minwoo.

A man who had shaken America by acquiring a highest-rank potion recipe overnight and who had nonchalantly declared he would sell it to China at ten times the price.

How on earth?

Out of curiosity, he watched the guild match.

The cheeseburger in his hand began to tremble uncontrollably in an instant.

“Call a meeting immediately. Right now!”

At the president’s command, America’s top officials gathered in one place.

The Secretary of the Department of Awakeners carefully handed a report to the president.

“Here are the analysis results.”

Robert’s face crumpled as he read the report.

[Analysis Data]

―Subject: Nam Cheolmin

―Estimated to be in the top 100 of the world’s archers. Has a habit of mixing unnecessary movements when using skills….

(Updated)

―Unnecessary habits have disappeared, and his movements have become significantly more refined. He can now aim for the top 60 archers in the world….

“Is this possible just by taking a potion?”

“Absolutely not. There’s a huge difference between improving one’s stats and making movements more refined.”

“That’s what I thought.”

“Yes. It seems Kim Minwoo has done something to the Ilsung Guild. Otherwise, such a rapid improvement is impossible.”

“What do you think he did? According to the ability analysis chart, it doesn’t seem like doping.”

“Considering the disappearance of bad habits, we suspect it might be some form of training. However, the question remains… how could such a change occur in such a short time?”

“…”

The Awakeners in the meeting nodded.

Only two weeks had passed since Kim Minwoo’s return. Yet Nam Cheolmin’s skills had jumped from the top 100 to potentially the top 60 archers.

It was an unbelievable feat.

“Come to think of it, didn’t they say they were taught by some exceptional instructors in the second exam?”

“Yes. I heard that Merhen’s training was particularly impressive. She even managed to raise the rank of their magic. Of course, it reverted to its original state without her help…”

Even that was an astonishing feat.

“What if those instructors had trained the Ilsung Guild?”

“We’ve already confirmed with the Dragon Guild. Thompson and Sophia’s skills improved, but not to that extent.”

“Still far from enough?”

“Yes. They might have hidden their full teaching capabilities, but it’s unlikely they would do so right before a raid.”

The president nodded.

The minister’s words were correct.

Facing an impending dangerous raid.

Is it adequate to only provide appropriate education to the awakeners to conceal their abilities?

Honestly, it didn’t seem so.

“…What about Kim Minwoo? Has he ever undergone separate training?”

“Yes. For the first three days, he didn’t reveal himself at all, and afterwards, it seems they conducted joint training.”

Tap.

Tap.

President Robert, who had been tapping the desk with his fingers, adjusted his posture and said.

“Let’s focus on the essentials. It seems that Kim Minwoo may indeed possess special abilities. Do you all agree?”

“I agree.”

“What do you think China will do next?”

“The leadership probably has some idea of the potion’s effects. But the majority of the people don’t. They’re clueless. So… superficially… it might seem like the potion’s effects are so tremendous that they’ve won the confrontation.”

“Since only Korea seems to have it, it’s like playing with fire for them.”

“Yes. The Communist Party maintained power despite various issues because they ultimately had the vision of a dominant awakening power. If that falters… their power base could become precarious.”

“To pressure the leadership, is it possible that Kim Minwoo will continue his deception?”

“Yes. Not only in Korea but also by spreading the potion to neighbouring countries like Mongolia, Japan, India, etc.… it would create strong pressure on President Li.”

“If the President reveals the true effects of the potion?”

“It’s impossible. China can only estimate the effects; they haven’t stolen the actual substance. Unless they directly show the potion, they won’t know…”

“…It just seems like they’re trying to bluff with the effects.”

Whether to appreciate or not the emphasis on security.

The United States was in a complicated situation as well.

“Moreover, if this continues, the effects of the potion will be ridiculously exaggerated. That’s also a problem.”

[Translator – Prøks]

[Proofreader – Prøks]

“…And my phone is already blowing up. I’ll make sure to explain it well to our allies.”

“Yes. We also need to decide whether we should align with Kim Minwoo’s actions.”

President Robert closed his eyes as if pondering deeply.

“…Will China purchase the potion?”

“What’s certain is that Kim Minwoo has shown astonishing abilities. So, we should probably meet and hear their conditions first. We don’t know if they’ll actually pay tenfold or if it’s just a bluff.”

“…They’ll probably pay tenfold. He wouldn’t want to break his promise with us. Instead, he might mix education or something into the potion to sell it.”

As a gesture of goodwill.

Normally, if such a thing happened in China, it would be overturned by the United States.

But now, it was a situation where it was ambiguous to say anything to Kim Minwoo.

What if Kim Minwoo completely aligns himself with China?

It was almost impossible to grasp the extent of his abilities.

From the perspective of the United States, it was indeed a terrifying nightmare.

The minister, contemplating the president’s words, cautiously spoke up.

“If it’s really tenfold… even including education, it’s an enormous price. If I were the President, honestly, I would try to handle Kim Minwoo somehow while he’s still in China.”

“Well, if he returns to Korea in that state, there’s no solution from the President’s perspective.”

“Yes. However, there are variables. Even though Kim Minwoo himself should know that, he stayed in Beijing. And he went to a restaurant frequently favored by the President.”

“Either he’s insane or he believes in something. It’s one of the two.”

“Yes. From analyzing his actions so far… It seems like he believes in something.”

“Even if the President decides to harm him, it’s not easy.”

“To confront awakeners like him, they need to send not just the military but also awakening units, but already, the Ilsung Guild alone has dealt a heavy blow to Nine Dragon. And if Kim Minwoo joins them… it might be a nightmare for the President.”

President Robert nodded thoughtfully.

“Cancel all my schedules. And schedule a visit to Korea. As soon as possible.”

* * *

President Li Zemin and the members of the Standing Committee.

Their faces, watching the guild battle, were wrinkled as if they had eaten something foul.

“What is this…”

President Zemin, his face distorted, crushed the ashtray. The results were beyond absurd.

In essence, it was 10:0.

It meant that the average of the Nine Dragon Guild was far below that of Ilsung.

They couldn’t control the broadcast.

How could they when they planned to spread the results far and wide? How could they stop it?

“This is a reasonable result! What on earth!”

“That, that’s…”

The members of the Standing Committee shifted their eyes uncomfortably.

They were high-ranking awakeners themselves.

They had a certain level of discernment. Objectively speaking, was Nine Dragon lacking?

Not really.

They demonstrated their prowess as usual.

The problem was Ilsung.

They suddenly exhibited performances as if they had consumed a potion from legends.

So the game exploded.

Even…

“These damn bastards! Can’t you see they’re mentioning the potion at every word? They’re pressuring us with that!”

“…Even with the highest-rank potion, it shouldn’t make that much of a difference…”

“Who doesn’t know that! But who’s going to tell them!”

That was the problem.

Even they, who were accurately analyzing the effects of the highest-rank potion, began to doubt if there were hidden effects they themselves didn’t know about.

How would it appear to the majority of ignorant people who didn’t even understand the effects properly?

It would simply seem like they had consumed an incredible potion and miraculously won.

Otherwise, how could Ilsung suddenly become stronger overnight and win?

“It seems like they’ll keep mentioning it. What should we do?”

If not only Ilsung but also others showed rapid growth in strength?

If they all packaged it as the effects of the potion?

And if China fell behind?

The members of the Standing Committee broke out in cold sweats.

“If, if we reveal the effects of the potion…”

“They’ll believe it for sure! Are those abilities only attainable by raising stats by 600?”

“…”

Rather, China might think they were downplaying the effects of the potion due to their crisis. But they couldn’t show the actual substance.

From the start, the security of the potion was top-notch.

Even China hadn’t obtained a single sample.

That’s why they mobilized all their think tanks to analyze the effects.

And now, even allied countries including the United States were aligning with Korea.

The potion?

They wouldn’t disclose its effects now or in the future.

Why would they?

Just staying silent would make the Communist Party feel like they were walking on thin ice.

“Damn it.”

“This is serious.”

At that moment.

Someone cautiously spoke up.

“We should then deal with Kim Minwoo firs…”

“Fuck! Do you think that’s easy? Why do you think he stayed in Beijing if he wasn’t out of his mind?”

“T-That’s true, but…”

The President’s eyes grew cold.

It all began with pressure on Korea.

But it had gone awry.

Someone had to take responsibility.

Naturally, it wasn’t him.

Among the Standing Committee gathered here, someone would be judged as ‘foolish.’

That may be so, but…

“…We should meet with him at least once.”

If he stayed here, he must have something he wanted.

It seemed like they needed to have a conversation first.

* * *

On the round table.

Ilsung guild members were busily devouring the piled-up food.

Cedric and Merhen were also eating.

―Wow, Minwoo! This shell is incredibly crispy!

―At least the level of gourmet food here is much higher.

Merhen, poking at the Beijing duck with his fork and enjoying the crispy sound, and Cedric, eating slowly, absorbed the food one bite at a time.

Today.

He rented out the entire shop for a quiet meeting.

“It’s about time.”

At that moment.

The door to the room opened.

A familiar face appeared.

The absolute authority figure of China.

It was President Li Zemin.

With the Guild Master and Vice Guild Master of Nine Dragon Guild behind him, he looked around the room.

“Welcome. You’re not too late.”

“…Quite a lot of people.”

“Everyone, please excuse us for a moment.”

At his words, the Ilsung guild members in the room began to leave one by one.

Only Kim Minwoo and his summons remained, paying no attention to whether the President was present or not, and the two summoned beings continued eating.

“Does the President know them? These are my summoned beings. Say hello.”

―I’m Cedric.

―Hello. I’m Merhen. Does the President like duck too?

For a moment, he looked at the summoned beings with a bewildered expression.

Then President Li took his seat at the table.

Soon, his gaze became sharp.

“…How did you manage it? It couldn’t have been just the potion.”

“Is that important?”

“Hmm. What do you want?”

“I need a lot of money. So, do you want to buy the potion? At ten times the price.”

“…And if I don’t buy it?”

“Well, won’t your position become increasingly difficult, President?”

Kim Minwoo shrugged his shoulders and replied.

[Translator – Prøks]

[Proofreader – Prøks]