329 – The Past (8)
After leaving the lab, Jitter headed to the secret conference room set up in the basement of the Players Association to wait for the call.
Not everyone gathered immediately even though he had called. Many people did not respond to the call, and some climbed the tower. While waiting, Jitter pondered and pondered in a tenfold slower time. He racked his brain over which path to take would be helpful to humanity, which path would be helpful to the world.
A constant thought experiment. The room was hot from the heat coming from his brain, and the sugar and water he consumed in the process amounted to a truckload.
How should we deal with a regressor? Should we push him? What if he collapses even if we push him? What if he avoids responsibility? What if he accepts responsibility? What if we like him? What if we hate him? What if we invest everything in him and he runs away? What if he declares that he will become the ruler of the Earth? What about Jitter?
“Association President.”
“Ah. Everyone is here.”
“There is still one left.”
Jeter’s constant worries ended with the gathering of Team ‘Alpha’. They were all people Jeter could trust, and they trusted Jeter in return.
Prophet. Long-distance teleporter. Animal shape-shifter. Able to convert one’s body into electricity. Able to create chemicals through molecular combination. Clairvoyant. Dream manipulator. Miniaturizer. Memory extractor.
Just looking at the members, it was clear that this organization was currently the strongest organization in the world. It was not just a ‘player association’ in name only, but the real main force of Jitter. The strongest player group in humanity.
And the last one to arrive at the conference room was.
“It’s been a while since we all gathered together?”
Inventory ability user.
Dok Soo Hee.
This was the beginning of another tragedy.
**
Even though Jeter had already sacrificed all of America’s power, Jeter didn’t know that. In fact, even if he had known, it wouldn’t have mattered much.
Why did Jitter sacrifice people on his own discretion? Because he thought there was no risk. It was a ‘minor’ matter that he could do whatever he wanted. It would have been forgotten anyway, so what’s the big deal?
“I gathered all of our team members together to discuss our future direction.”
“What direction do you mean?”
“… In this world, there are regressors.”
However, in terms of his attitude toward the regressor, even Jitter, who believed in himself, became cautious. This was a choice that could really distort the future of the world, and the risk of being wrong was too great to decide alone.
“A regressor? What is that?”
“In Korea, there is a player who can travel through time. There is a player who can twist the world at will. I can’t explain it in detail, but I have successfully proven it through experiments and found out who it is.”
“What, what is that…”
Even though the Alpha team members had seen everything they could see, Jitter’s declaration was shocking to them. Suddenly? A regressor?
“I don’t know the specific conditions. How many times can I turn back time? Are there any restrictions on time travel? What actions must I take to time travel? I don’t know anything, but it is clear that time travel is possible. It would be reasonable to assume that it is possible multiple times.”
“…”
“Time travel is a power that can distort everything. If you think about it simply, ‘completely subdue them before using time travel’ could be the winning condition, but the opponent probably knows that too. No matter how well you prepare, if you can’t finish them off in one go, the regressor will definitely win. That’s what it means to be able to see the future.”
“Don’t we have a prophet too?”
“Prophecy is not that powerful. The prophecy itself can have many different meanings depending on how it is interpreted, and the likelihood of seeing the time I want is not high.”
“Ugh…”
In response to Mahesh’s answer, the animal shape-shifter banged his head on the table. He suddenly transformed into a cute puppy and started scratching my head violently.
“No, if you have that kind of ability… isn’t that too much of a fraud? Isn’t it just an invincible ability? You can’t be killed, and if you have enough will, you can become infinitely stronger through time, and even get the rewards you want at the top?”
“The problem is that it is impossible to detect the ability called ‘time travel’ in the first place. I don’t know how the chairman found out just now… but will you be able to use that method in the future?”
“It is possible, but it may be difficult to get the timing right. If it fails, the risk is high.”
“Then there is a high possibility that we will be affected without even knowing that we have been affected.”
Team Alpha was a team that had gathered the rarest and most fraudulent abilities from all over the world, but even they couldn’t help but whine in front of the ‘Returner’. No, no matter what, it’s like that. Does it make sense for such an ability to exist?
“Of course, this is when we are enemies with him.”
Jitter that calms down the atmosphere.
“I know who the regressor is. He is not revealing himself, and he is climbing the tower faithfully. He is basically of a good nature, and he probably shares our goals.”
“Oh, oh…”
“It can be seen as a blessing for humanity. If the one who possesses this power were an evil being, it would be difficult to deal with him. If he fails, he will become the ruler.”
-Ouch.
Jitter held out a photo. It was taken from far away, and the details were a bit distorted, as if they had been forcibly retouched, but it was still possible to make out who it was.
“The name is… Kim Jun-ho. Does anyone know this man?”
“no.”
“I don’t know.”
“Me too…”
“And you, Soohee?”
“… I don’t know either.”
Of course, Dok Soo-hee recognized Kim Jun-ho. At this point, Dok Soo-hee had a ‘three-story’ memory. After much thought, she had come to the conclusion that Kim Jun-ho might be a regressor. Now, when Jitter showed her the photo, she had to do her best not to panic.
Contrary to Kim Jun-ho’s guess, Dok Soo-hee had no memory of catching a tiger in the future. Even if Dok Soo-hee didn’t know, Kim Jun-ho didn’t have strong enough feelings, and Dok Soo-hee had no idea what would happen in the future.
“It’s obvious that no one knows. What’s important is how we deal with this man in the future…”
Jeter noticed a little bit of agitation in Dok Soo Hee, but decided to let it go for now. He trusted his teammates, and he thought Dok Soo Hee would tell him the reason for her agitation later. He believed that even if Dok Soo Hee had something to hide, she wouldn’t have lied.
“Ouch, hot.”
“What, why are you like that?”
“No, the table suddenly got hot…”
“uh?”
But when a burnt notebook was found in the drawer of the table where they were meeting.
“This is…”
“Coming from the 24th floor…”
“If you lie… the pages will burn… it’s a notebook…”
“Oh, I forgot and left it behind last time, but it was here?”
“Wait a minute, then…”
When everyone’s eyes were focused on Dok Soo-hee, who had just shown a slight agitation.
“Dok Soo Hee.”
“…”
“I think we need to have a talk.”
I couldn’t trust her anymore.
**
Dok Soo-hee, who was on the third floor, had an arrogant protagonist mindset that said, “I have to save the world. So, all the rewards are mine.” However, after joining Team Alpha and meeting many strong people, that illness was naturally cured.
Dok Soo-hee, who had abandoned her arrogance, was a very good player, and a good player must have the ability to make quick judgments. Accordingly, Dok Soo-hee’s judgment was also quick.
“I, I’m sorry. I was so flustered that I lied without realizing it. This guy and I… Kim Jun-ho, we met on the third floor.”
“If it’s the 3rd floor, is that the floor where you choose the difficulty level?”
“Yes. Do you remember when I first came in, I had one arm missing? This guy had blown it off. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a man like that… I was flustered. I think I unknowingly muddled things. I’m sorry.”
I don’t lie, but that doesn’t mean I tell the whole truth.
Dok Soo-hee’s answer was orthodox and understandable. I saw a picture of the man who had cut off my arm before, and I lied without realizing it. I’m sorry.
“Well, then.”
“Suhee, you shouldn’t lie. We’re like family.”
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
So, the other team members just wanted to let it go. They had the mindset of, well, maybe that’s possible.
“Dok Soo Hee.”
But Jeter. In a time 10 times slower than others, Michael Jeter observed Dok Soo-hee’s every gesture, every wink, every slurred speech, every pore that had grown larger than before. He believed in his instinct that he couldn’t just let it go now.
“Did you know that Kim Jun-ho was a regressor?”
“…”
“Answer yes or no.”
Jitter asks, holding out a notebook with the first page burned. Now the lie is sealed.
“…yes.”
“what?”
“Hey, Su-hee.”
“I was able to remember that fact by borrowing my supernatural powers. How did you know that he was a ‘regressor’?”
“…”
“…”
“Answer me.”
“… I’m sorry. I can’t tell you. Please trust me.”
“No, that’s enough. That’s enough.”
Dok Soo-hee didn’t say anything, but Jitter had already obtained enough clues. The regressor’s own ability was clear. The fact that Choi Ji-won was always with him could be because the regressor’s companions could share memories. This is a highly probable hypothesis.
“Then again. I will ask you, Dok Soo Hee.”
“…”
“you.”
Now, Jitter’s goal is to extract as much information as possible. Is there more information that Dok Soo-hee is hiding? How can he use it? In fact, trust is an inefficient emotion.
A colleague who has lost ‘trust’ can only be treated ‘efficiently’.
“How do you think we should treat Kim Jun-ho?”
“…”
In a situation where everyone’s eyes were on her, Dok Soo-hee unconsciously closed her eyes tightly.
“I am…”
In a trembling voice, Dok Soo-hee said.
“I think we should just… leave it alone…”
The regressor should be left alone.