Chapter 127

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

Chapter 127: Territorialism (5)

War with North Korea has arrived…!

This event was as shocking as the reset that changed everyone’s lives here just a few days ago.

The majority of the people in the crowd have gotten to this point by acting like dogs.

Yet, suddenly finding themselves in a life-threatening situation overnight.

If there’s any silver lining in this misfortune, it’s that the most skilled fighters on the Korean Peninsula are on the same side.

‘Ugh… Why did we have to let this bastard in?’

‘I knew there would be trouble eventually, but I didn’t expect it to be today.’

‘But still, can’t that brat handle three of them alone? Then maybe it’ll be surprisingly manageable.’

Amidst countless thoughts of optimism and pessimism crossing the minds of the fighters, someone unintentionally muttered to themselves.

“Why doesn’t he just stay here and stop the North Koreans, while we continue to handle the mutants as we’ve been doing…?”

And the one who spoke wasn’t someone else.

“…Tsk!”

It was Kim Doha, the Strongest Sword of Yongsan.

The weak Strongest Sword who had surrendered Yongsan Park as a meeting place after being struck by the previous Strongest Sword, Jeong Hyunsik.

“Ugh, seriously.”

“You call that a plan?”

“Tsk.”

Despite other Strongest Swords rushing in to criticize, they subtly glanced at Jeong Yeongwoo’s expression.

They were actually thinking the same thing.

In fact, it’s not an unreasonable opinion.

‘Well, the Strongest Swords from North Korea won’t all come down at once, right? Of course, it would be regrettable if ten really came down at once, but…’

While mutants are indeed becoming stronger, not all regions were experiencing a simultaneous strengthening of mutants.

Just yesterday, weren’t there only about three regions out of twenty-five with issues?

Meanwhile, the Strongest Swords from North Korea could appear anytime, anywhere.

‘They could be at least as strong as me, or even stronger. In terms of winning probability, it’s 50%. But that’s only when one of them comes down from over there…’

Already, two Strongest Swords from the north have died.

Next time, they’ll surely increase their numbers, won’t they?

“Ugh.”

Yang Wootaek, the Strongest Sword from Mapo, belatedly shivered realizing that his district was close to the front line.

And Kim Hyeonggyu from Eunpyeong, closer to the north than Mapo…

“Um, excuse me. If a war is suddenly declared like this, what should we do?”

Now the ‘solid’ concept he had maintained was nowhere to be found.

What’s the importance of such dignity when they’re facing North Korean blades dozens of times today?

“We need to do something, right? Yes? Strongest Swords!”

As Kim Hyeonggyu looked around the audience and shouted a renewed cry, Yeongwoo, who had been perched on Negwig all this while, came down to the ground.

Clank!

All the Strongest Swords in the area suddenly widened their eyes.

“Huh…?”

“What’s going on?”

“He’s grown taller…?”

While it was thought that Yeongwoo exuded intimidation due to Negwig’s bulk, it turns out that his physique itself had grown much larger than before.

Until now, it was thought that Yeongwoo exuded intimidation because of Negwig’s bulk, but now it was clear that his physique itself had grown much larger than before.

“Ugh…”

Standing right in front of Yeongwoo, Kim Hyeonggyu grinned and looked up at his opponent.

Kim Hyeonggyu, the Strongest Sword from Eunpyeong, was 176 centimeters tall.

He was certainly not short, but the height of Yeongwoo, whom he faced now, was a whopping 2 meters.

Literally a giant.

Swoosh.

Slowly, Yeongwoo planted his feet firmly on the ground, then gently grabbed both of Kim Hyeonggyu’s arms with his bare hands.

“Especially with this recent incident, there’s been an increased risk burden on Eunpyeong. I apologize sincerely. But if you hadn’t shown up to this meeting today, you would have been angry without knowing anything. Welcome.”

“…?”

With Yeongwoo’s oddly twisted point, Kim Hyeonggyu looked puzzled.

Meanwhile, Yeongwoo looked at the rest of the Strongest Swords and said.

“It’s really a good suggestion for me to specialize in Paju all day. I really want to do that.”

This was truly sincere.

With the need to take down five more Strongest Swords in the future, it wasn’t their place to choose their targets here.

“But.”

Yeongwoo added a follow-up.

“However, we can’t just leave Seoul vacant all day either. I’m already in charge of two areas.”

He meant Gangnam and Gwangjin-gu.

Of course, Gwangjin-gu was a joint area that also restrained Songpa and Seocho, but practically speaking, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that Yeongwoo, the strongest within the meeting, was in charge.

The highest probability of quickly defeating the mutants assigned to each and rushing to Gwangjin-gu first was indeed Yeongwoo’s.

“Yes. If Yeongwoo leaves his position, it’ll be difficult for us too.”

Songpa’s Strongest Sword, Oh Yeonhee, supported Yeongwoo’s argument.

She also didn’t want mutants in Gwangjin-gu harming Songpa residents.

And if Yeongwoo stayed in Paju, who would handle Gangnam’s mutants?

“Even handling just Gwangjin-gu alone is overwhelming… If Gangnam is also vacated, it’ll be impossible.”

Seocho’s Strongest Sword, Choi Namhee, nodded in agreement.

Then, finally, Yeongwoo drove the nail.

“So, the alternative I propose is that once mutant hunting in Seoul is done, I’ll move to Paju.”

“I-Is that possible…?”

Kim Dohha, the Strongest Sword of Yongsan, asked like this, then immediately realized he had asked a stupid question and shut his mouth.

Didn’t he see it firsthand just a moment ago?

The moment when Jeong Yeongwoo single-handedly intimidated everyone in this meeting.

He was a figure capable of subduing eight Strongest Swords, so handling mutants in two areas wasn’t a big problem at all.

“Yes. We can handle the mutants somehow. The problem is if more Strongest Swords come down from North Korea than expected.”

Therefore, Yeongwoo added that the voluntary participation of the remaining Strongest Swords was necessary.

“You don’t all have to come. Just a few who are confident in one-on-one combat would be reassuring.”

“T-Then… should we just vote quickly?”

Asked the Yongsan Strongest Sword, spreading his hands on the ground.

At this, Seocho’s Strongest Sword, Choi Namhee, was the first to raise her hand.

Swoosh.

“I’d like to see how Gangnam’s Strongest Sword fights at least once, even if out of curiosity.”

A tough yet humble reason for participation.

Following suit, Songpa’s Strongest Sword, Oh Yeonhee, also volunteered.

Swoosh.

“If something were to happen to Yeongwoo, it would be troublesome for us too since Songpa and Gangnam are neighboring areas.”

She said, providing a reasonable justification.

After that, no one else raised their hand.

“…Is there anyone else besides these two?”

As if finally concluding, the Yongsan Strongest Sword looked around, and at this point, Seongbuk’s Strongest Sword, Lee Yoobin, cautiously raised her hand.

“I’m not sure if I can eliminate mutants quickly, but… I’ll do my best.”

As she said this, her eyes met with Oh Yeonhee, who had previously expressed her willingness to participate.

In fact, Oh Yeonhee had raised her hand out of concern.

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

Then the Yongsan Strongest Sword, as if saying it was enough, hastily concluded.

“Ah… So there are three of you. That’s reassuring.”

“Well, what about future meetings? Even if today we can roughly go through it here, what about from tomorrow onwards…?”

This was a concern from the Dongjak’s Strongest Sword, Lee Hanwook.

So, Yeongwoo pointed to another Strongest Sword who was hurrying over from the other side.

“That’ll be handled by him for the time being.”

At the end of Yeongwoo’s finger was none other than Gwanak’s Strongest Sword, Jo Sangik.

* * *

11:32 AM.

Temporary meeting in Paju dispersed.

Yeongwoo headed straight to Gangnam as soon as he left the meeting.

He judged that North Korea’s Strongest Swords wouldn’t come down now since mutants would appear in an hour and a half.

Clatter, clatter!

And next to Negwig, who was currently running with the sound of iron hooves, Gwanak’s Strongest Sword, Jo Sangik, was moving along at a fairly fast pace.

“You’ve only been in Seoul for barely a day, but your influence is even greater than that of your predecessor.”

Jo Sangik said with a subtle smile, referring to the series of events he heard about hastily upon arriving late to the meeting.

“I caused a lot of trouble.”

For Yeongwoo, it was best to make a suitable comment as he didn’t have much to say.

Then Jo Sangik shifted the topic with a smile.

“Yesterday evening, they sent someone from Taewon to our side. They’re going to bring your colleagues to Gangnam.”

“Yes, I requested it.”

“As expected. They’re probably almost near Gangnam by now. Just in case, I attached our people to them.”

“That’s good. I was worried if it would overlap with the mutant’s appearance time.”

Then Yeongwoo hesitated and asked Jo Sangik cautiously.

“Um… how many of my colleagues are there?”

“…Yes? Oh, I remember there were five.”

“I see.”

Yeongwoo finally smiled in relief.

If there were five of them, it would probably be Jongsu, Taeyoung, and Kim Taejoon’s wife and two children.

Jongsu and Taeyoung must have managed to find and bring them.

‘Now the chairman might be a bit more satisfied.’

Yeongwoo fiddled with the whistle hanging around his neck and then urged Negwig to pick up the pace.

* * *

At 11:57 AM.

Yeongwoo arrived in Gangnam like an arrow shot from a bow.

To avoid the crowd gathering around Negwig, he leaped into the air.

Swoosh!

Every time he did this, the residents of Gangnam rushed after Negwig’s departing figure, exclaiming “Oh!” in awe, as if he were their guardian deity.

Now, to the residents, the Gangnam Strongest Sword was akin to a guardian spirit.

Of course, there were all sorts of terrifying rumors about him circulating, such as decapitating the former Strongest Sword and even eating his body whole, but the true identity of the incumbent Strongest Sword remained shrouded in mystery, hidden from the public eye.

Up to now, the only known fact about him was that he rode a horse from somewhere in the universe.

So, paradoxically, because he seemed so unrealistic, the residents weren’t afraid of him.

“He’s just like an airplane.”

“I wonder where he’s been since morning.”

“I heard the meeting today was outside of Seoul.”

Regardless of the relationship with the local community, everyone knew that the Strongest Swords captured mutants to maintain order.

Therefore, it was expected that today’s mutant in Gangnam would be taken care of by this mysterious Strongest Sword.

For the residents, Yeongwoo naturally evoked a sense of internal intimacy.

On the other hand, Yeongwoo…

Swoosh!

He soared through the air on Negwig, lost in thought.

‘Should I go back to the accommodation we stayed at yesterday? Taewon probably handled things that way. It’s the only place I know in Gangnam.’

Already, the Parnas Hotel, where Yeongwoo had stayed, was only a kilometer away.

Within reach with a few more leaps from Negwig.

Swoosh!

Finally, Negwig made another powerful leap, and by now, Yeongwoo could see people near the entrance of the hotel staring at him in amazement.

And among those people…

“Mr. Jeong Yeongwoo!”

There was Lim Suna, Yeongwoo’s aide.

She had been waiting at the hotel entrance all this time, as he had promised to return when daylight came.

And even here…

Yeongwoo’s close aides, Jongsu and Taeyoung, as well as their entourage.

“Aaaah!”

“Mom!”

“Is that really dad…?”

Even Kim Taejoon, the chairman’s family, came out to greet him.

They probably heard that they could meet Chairman Kim here if they waited quietly.

The former founder of VC Soft, and the current Golem of granite, Kim Taejoon.

“Uh-oh.”

Yeongwoo realized that the children were younger than he had expected, and he looked awkward.

Then…

Swoosh!

He landed heavily on the road in front of the hotel, shattering it into pieces.

“Nice to meet you. Are you the family of CEO Kim Taejoon?”

Yeongwoo smiled coolly as he slowly dismounted from Negwig, and instinctively, Kim Taejoon’s wife, trembling with a mixture of fear and anticipation, asked.

“Uh, where is our…? Didn’t he come with you?”

All she could see now were a two-meter-tall giant, a horse from another world, and a greedily looking golden goblin.

There was no trace of her husband anywhere.

“Strongest Sword…?”

As the other party sent a desperate gaze, Yeongwoo, unable to resist, fiddled with the whistle and explained.

“Your father is here.”

“Huh? What do you mean…?”

“….”

Seeing is believing.

Before starting the task, Yeongwoo first asked Lim Suna for a favor.

“Suna.”

“Yes?”

“I’d appreciate it if you could mobilize all the staff to control civilian access in Gwangjin-gu.”

“Gwangjin-gu? May I ask what’s going on?”

“I need a space with no one around. As far as I know, Gwangjin-gu is already empty.”

“Oh? Yes, that’s true, but realistically, it’s difficult to completely control the entire area. How wide of a restricted area do you need?”

To which Yeongwoo replied,

“When a mutant appears, how many meters around the vicinity are usually cleared?”

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]