Chapter 2598 – 2598. Eternal Eden

Things with the Awakened Union were going much smoother than I had anticipated.

‘I didn’t expect more than half of the Awakened Union to leave Pohang right away. It seems I didn’t manage to brainwash all of the Awakened. Or maybe I only brainwashed some of those who remained.’

Public opinion was hostile towards the Awakened Union. They didn’t even have a chance to do anything. The NIS and the Seongjin Church’s comment brigades played a huge role in this.

‘What those guys are mistaken about is that they brought pro-Japanese officials to Pohang not long after the military government was established, so they thought the military government wouldn’t function properly and would be in chaos.’

Of course, there was chaos. The government had changed to a military government, so it was inevitable. But I am the master of this military government. Jin Suhak is just a figurehead, and I am the real master of the government.

And I haven’t asked for any changes in the government. I’m not wasting administrative power on unnecessary things. Purges? They’re happening little by little, but at a negligible level. The current government is much more stable than it appears.

‘Japan did protest. But what can those bastards do?’

Japan is also in internal chaos. They haven’t been able to deal with the zombie and mutant problems. Well, they’re problems they won’t be able to solve in the future either.

‘Still, I accepted their protest. Japan’s request to meet with the Union leader directly was actually what I wanted.’

There’s no reason for those bastards to want to meet without a reason. On the surface, it’s to inform me of the importance of the Awakened Union and scout me…

‘In this situation, they’re going to persuade me with words and take me away? What kind of idiot would think that?’

A mental ability user. Whether it’s brainwashing, memory manipulation, or mind control, they’ll try to take me away using some shady method.

‘Most people in power are old. And when you’re old, you have physical problems. My recovery ability is something that people in power can’t help but covet.’

Even if they’re not in power, everyone wants my ability.

‘That brainwashing ability user is what I’m after.’

It’s not that I’m trying to recruit the brainwashing ability user. Brainwashing ability users are unsettling to be around, whether they’re on your side or the enemy’s. And you can brainwash people even without an awakened ability. That’s already been proven through the Seongjin Church.

‘I’ll capture the brainwashing ability user and conduct research to block brainwashing abilities.’

I did have a captured mental ability user.

David Kim. A CIA agent who dared to try to use his mental abilities on me and Na Chaeyoung. He’s still locked up in the basement.

‘The ability to gain someone’s favor. It’s a bit different from brainwashing abilities.’

The more research subjects, the better.

Just then, the door opened and Son Taehyung came in.

“I heard you called for me, Your Holiness.”

Son Taehyung was a cardinal of the Seongjin Church and the commander of the Holy Guard.

“I will give the Holy Guard a mission.”

“Yes, Your Holiness. Our Holy Guard is ready to serve you. We will carry out any mission without fail.”

“They attacked us, so we’ll pay them back. That’s only natural, isn’t it?”

“You are absolutely right.”

“Random suicide bombings. It would be good if you could kill the Prime Minister, but it doesn’t matter if you don’t. The Prime Minister isn’t an idiot either, so he’ll be quite careful with security. I’ll give you the locations of a few important research facilities in Japan, so terrorize those places. Also, terrorize a few shelters where Japanese citizens are gathered to instill fear.”

“The Holy Guard does not fear death. We will gladly carry out Your Holiness’s orders!”

“Unfortunately, we cannot provide the latest equipment for this mission due to technology leakage issues.”

Korea’s scientific technology, or rather, Na Chaeyoung’s technology, was currently the best in the world. Thanks to galchium and room-temperature superconductors. As such, we had to be especially careful about technology leaks.

“It doesn’t matter. The Holy Guard has been trained to the limits of human capability, and we are armed with faith in Your Holiness. The Holy Guard can carry out any mission, no matter how difficult the conditions.”

Son Taehyung’s eyes shone. I noticed that his breathing had become a little rough. He was feeling joy at following my orders.

“To prevent the Holy Guard from being captured, we will implant bombs in the bodies and heads of the members. The bombs will explode at a set time.”

“That is a reasonable measure. None of our members fear death or sacrifice.”

“Son Taehyung. Deliver divine punishment to those who dared to touch me without knowing their place.”

“Understood.”

* * *

I was in a hotel in Seoul. This was the hotel where I was scheduled to meet with Gu Youngbeon, the leader of the Awakened Union.

A black luxury car slowly entered the hotel. People around the hotel jumped up from their seats.

Protesters. Most of them were from the Seongjin Church. I opened the hotel window. The protesters’ loud voices reached me.

“Gu Youngbeon!! You traitor to the nation!!”

“Gu Youngbeon, the traitor who is ruining the country, should commit suicide!!!”

“Execute Gu Youngbeon! Execute him! Execute him!!”

The protesters’ slogans were brutal. But no one rushed in directly. That’s because the protesters were perfectly controlled.

The car entered the hotel. I closed the window and turned on the TV. The screen connected to the CCTV showed Gu Youngbeon getting out of the car.

A gaunt man and woman got out on either side of the rotten-faced Gu Youngbeon. They were all wearing suits.

‘The woman is ugly. Is one of them the brainwashing ability user? Or maybe both of them.’

I had to keep all possibilities open.

Gu Youngbeon’s group entered the hotel under the escort of hotel security guards. By the way, the security guards were all NIS agents. According to Lee Yeonhee, they were new agents made up of Awakened. As Awakened, they were somewhat resistant to brainwashing abilities.

Gu Youngbeon’s group soon entered the hotel room. The security guards did not enter the room.

“It’s our first time meeting face-to-face. I’m Gu Youngbeon. It’s nice to meet you.”

Gu Youngbeon extended his hand. I responded to the handshake with a sneer.

“Nice to meet you? Really?”

“…Things between us aren’t good. Why don’t we sit down and talk? It’s a story that will benefit you, Seong Yujin.”

“No. You don’t need to sit. Talk while standing.”

I picked up the pistol on the table and aimed it at Gu Youngbeon. Click. I slowly pulled back the slide. Well, it was just for intimidation. I don’t have any shooting skills right now, so I can’t even hit a target at close range.

But Gu Youngbeon and his group didn’t change their expressions.

“Such an insult… The public needs to know your true nature.”

“Cut the crap, you traitor.”

“I’m not a traitor.”

“You didn’t come here under Japan’s orders? Really?”

“……”

“The whole nation knows you’re a traitor. Why don’t you try barking some nonsense?”

“…Seong Yujin. Come with me to Japan. Japan has promised you enormous wealth and power. Japan will provide you with more than you’re getting in Korea.”

“That’s a bunch of nonsense with nothing special about it. You should at least say they’ll give me the position of Prime Minister of Japan.”

Of course, even if they did, I had no intention of going to Japan. As soon as I entered Japan, I would become a research subject.

‘I can’t throw away what I’ve built up in Korea.’

Even if they’re not much, I’ve done them all myself. I’m attached to them because of the effort and time I’ve put into them.

Na Chaeyoung and Lee Yeonhee wouldn’t want that either. Especially Lee Yeonhee, if I went to Japan, she would become a sworn enemy and try to kill me.

‘And Japan is a shitty land with too many natural disasters.’

It’s a place that suffers from typhoons and earthquakes every year. Especially now, in this world, the power of natural disasters has increased like crazy. Even in Korea, it was snowing heavily in the middle of March.

“I didn’t think we’d be so unable to communicate. It’s as expected, so I’m not even laughing. We’ll proceed with our plan. Don’t worry, we don’t intend to kill you, Seong Yujin.”

I pulled the trigger right away.

With the sound of the gunshot, the bullet rushed towards Gu Youngbeon but stopped in mid-air. At the same time, I couldn’t move either. An invisible force was constricting my body.

“Hmm. Your shooting skills are terrible. More than half of the shots missed, and even the ones that hit didn’t hit any vital spots that would kill you instantly. Well, it’s not like I’m going to be hit by a bullet.”

He flicks his hand. My body rises up. I tried to use all my strength to break free from the telekinesis, but my body just trembled and I couldn’t move.

‘I can’t break free even with my power. He’s pretty good. Does he have the ability to be the leader of the Union?’

Of course, things would be different if I used lightning. But I didn’t use lightning and waited.

“Proceed with the plan. Brainwash Seong Yujin.”

The gaunt man and woman on either side of him stepped forward.

“Don’t close your eyes.”

Telekinesis held my eyelids open. I was forced to make eye contact with the man and woman. Their eyes glowed blue.

Nothing much happened.

“Ugh. Hurry up. As expected, since she’s not an ordinary person, I can’t maintain this state for long…”

Gu Youngbeon said, sweating profusely. His telekinesis was weakening. I didn’t resist and waited until the end.

“…Her mental resistance is considerable.”

“We need more time.”

“Damn it. Did she take an antisper, a drug that protects the mind? She’s being annoying…!”

Antisper? I didn’t take any. It’s difficult to mass-produce, but I could make it.

The man and woman were sweating. I could see that their abilities were starting to falter, so I decided to move.

While feeling the telekinesis on my whole body, I moved my arm. Crackle! Electricity moved towards the knife in the corner. The knife was pulled by magnetism and grabbed in my hand. I swung the knife at Gu Youngbeon.

“Huk…!”

Gu Youngbeon gasped and stepped aside. I ignored him and moved forward. What was important were the brainwashing ability users. I swung the knife and cut through the bodies of the two brainwashing ability users. They were still focused on brainwashing, so they couldn’t avoid the knife and fell.

Clang!

When I turned my head, Gu Youngbeon was breaking the hotel window and flying away into the sky with telekinesis. Thinking about it, telekinesis was an ability with quite a lot of uses.

The door opened and Lee Yeonhee and NIS agents came in. The agents collected the bodies of the dead brainwashing ability users.

“Gu Youngbeon escaped. Should I chase him down and kill him myself?”

“It’s okay. That bastard’s destination is obvious. Where else would he be but Pohang? Contact Jin Suhak and have him surround Pohang.”

“Even if I don’t chase him myself, I’ll put agents on Gu Youngbeon to track him. We need to know his location just in case.”

“Do as you wish.”

That evening, the government officially declared the Awakened Union a terrorist organization plotting to overthrow the state and surrounded Pohang with the military.