Ranker Who Shatters Myths - Chapter 123
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Broken Ranker
Devours Myths
Chapter 123
Preliminary Preparations (3)
The Military Decoration Review Committee receives recommended merit documents,
and deliberation takes place after fact verification by the Merit Review Officer’s Office.
The committee consists of 7-15 members from the Ministry of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Intelligence Service, and external experts,
and the decoration grade is determined by deliberating on the factuality, importance, and contribution of the merits.
And,
this result is immediately reported to the Minister of Defense, and once presidential approval is granted, the decoration is awarded to the recipient right away…
‘No way. Absolutely not to that bastard Jet.’
Major General Han Dong-wook, who served as chairman of this ‘Jet Decoration Review Committee,’ harbored crooked intentions from the start.
‘Not only did he align himself with Lee Gun-san, but after his injury, he only caused difficulties for the nation. What’s so lovable about such a guy?’
Major General Han Dong-wook believed that relations with China must improve for the security of the Korean Peninsula.
In that regard, he disliked Lee Hyeon, who was the culprit behind the Ministry of Defense facing external pressure after the Gangneung incident four years ago.
And just when relations with China were about to improve again, he also disliked the current actions that suddenly threw cold water on everything.
‘That bastard will bring crisis to Korean Peninsula security. A hero? Only ignorant fools would say such things!’
Absolutely, it was definitely not because he was secretly conducting some kind of negotiations with China.
‘That bastard is a walking disaster itself! He must be eliminated!!’
And it certainly wasn’t because his daughter had recently entered a Chinese university as a Communist Party national scholarship student.
A conclusion truly derived from patriotic devotion to the country.
So when he heard that Jet’s decoration review would be held, he volunteered to be chairman and was just sharpening his blade…
‘What is this?’
From this morning, concentrated fire from various public opinions shook the Ministry of Defense.
Because of this, Major General Han Dong-wook had a throbbing headache.
Calls were coming from everywhere, even directly from the Blue House.
His mobile phone was so overheated that he had to keep it plugged into the charger constantly.
“All matters related to Jet or the Thunder Unit are top secret.”
“I know that. Hehe. Do you think I wouldn’t know when I’ve been handling that stuff since before I took off this uniform?”
Major General Han Dong-wook wanted to punch Lee Gun-san’s annoying smiling face just once.
The only reason he couldn’t was because he was a senior from the military academy, definitely not because he was scared of him being a High Ranker.
“…But why is the media spreading matters related to the Thunder Unit so accurately?”
“Who knows? I don’t know either. I was also dumbfounded when I saw it this morning.”
“……”
“But doesn’t that show the people’s interest in peace and self-strengthening?”
Lee Gun-san shrugged his shoulders.
“Even though our economy has grown this much, they’re still sick of being swayed by great power logic.”
Major General Han Dong-wook was certain that Lee Gun-san was behind this current public opinion war.
He was quite famous for this even during his active duty days.
It was just difficult to find fault with him because there was no evidence.
‘What am I really going to do about this? Do I really have to give him the decoration? Damn it!’
Major General Han Dong-wook was boiling inside.
Still, he thought that if he kept digging at Lee Gun-san somehow, he might find some defensive material,
Ring ring. Ring.
“Your mobile phone is ringing?”
“J-just a moment, I’ll take this call.”
“Go ahead. I also just got a text message.”
It was the Blue House.
Major General Han Dong-wook hurriedly but politely took his mobile phone and went outside.
…And returned looking like his soul had left his body.
“You look quite unwell? Should we postpone the interview?”
“N-no, sir. Senior.”
Major General Han Dong-wook’s answer was much more trembling than before.
‘If the incident keeps growing, an internal investigation will be inevitable? This is crazy!’
The Blue House’s instruction was just one thing.
Hurry up and give him the highest decoration to calm public opinion.
If possible, take a few photos.
Otherwise, they would turn the Ministry of Defense upside down.
If that happened, he might end up taking all the blame himself.
The angry generals wouldn’t leave him alone.
‘L-let’s just finish this hastily. Once I throw him the decoration today, public opinion will calm down a bit,’
“Ah, when you went to take that call earlier, I actually got a contact from Jet too.”
Lee Gun-san smiled brightly.
Major General Han Dong-wook felt chills for some reason.
“He refused the review committee interview you requested for tonight.”
“…What did you say?”
Major General Han Dong-wook’s mind stopped for a moment.
“He says he’ll just refuse the decoration due to personal circumstances?”
“…!?”
“It seems I’ve just wasted the busy Major General’s time. I apologize.”
Thud!
Lee Gun-san stood up with his briefcase, smiling brightly despite his words.
“N-no! Lieutenant General, what are you doing getting up like that!”
“If you unilaterally refuse dialogue like that…!”
The aides rushed over with pale faces, desperately trying to stop Lee Gun-san.
“What can this old man do? The person involved says he won’t accept it. Well then.”
“W-wait just a moment, Senior!!”
Major General Han Dong-wook belatedly came to his senses and grabbed Lee Gun-san’s pant leg.
Gone was his earlier arrogant attitude of pressuring Lee Gun-san.
“This person, really, why are you suddenly acting like this? There are many eyes watching.”
Major General Han Dong-wook cared more about keeping his position than his dignity.
“Please help us! Don’t you know we’ll really die if things continue like this!!”
“Hehe. I wouldn’t know. It’s been so long since I left the military.”
‘This old geezer, really!!’
Major General Han Dong-wook was overcome with emotion.
How many people in the military still follow Lee Gun-san, and he says such things.
But right now, he had to crawl desperately.
“You can’t leave like this! Please help us, please!”
“Hmm… This is troublesome.”
Lee Gun-san stroked his chin as if finding the situation troublesome.
The more this went on, the more Director Han Dong-wook’s insides burned with anxiety.
“There’s no choice. I’ll try my best to persuade them from the middle.”
“Th-thank you,”
“However, there’s a condition.”
“Wh-what is it?”
Director Han Dong-wook looked ready to give up his liver on the spot.
But soon his face turned pale at Lee Gun-san’s condition.
“An official apology from the Ministry of National Defense.”
“If it’s something like that,”
“Not an apology to Jet, but an apology to the Blue Thunder unit.”
“……!!”
“Official acknowledgment and apology for the dissolution of Blue Thunder, and measures to prevent recurrence.”
Lee Gun-san smiled coldly.
“Can the Ministry of National Defense say such words with their own mouth?”
* * *
“Pahaha! You should have seen Director Han’s face directly!”
Lee Gun-san laughed with an expression as if ten years of pent-up frustration had been released.
Lee Hyeon, who had been waiting for news at the Uijeongbu mansion, smiled.
“It seems the discussion went well fortunately.”
“Just went well? He looked ready to give up his liver and gallbladder. Actually, Director Han, that bastard was the worst of them all.”
Lee Hyeon nodded.
He knew Director Han Dong-wook well from seeing him several times.
The man who had constantly tried to steal command of Blue Thunder from Lee Gun-san.
He was also the person most obsessed with undermining the value of Blue Thunder.
When he heard that such a person had become the examination committee chairman, he had been somewhat worried.
But it had turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
“Besides, it seems he received a call from above.”
“From above?”
“The Blue House.”
“Ah.”
“Puhehe. The local elections are coming up soon, aren’t they? The timing was just perfect.”
Lee Gun-san clinked glasses lightly with Lee Hyeon while twisting his lips into a smile.
“The supporting fire from White Burn at just the right time was also good.”
Im Won-young had poured out various articles and interviews like crazy for Lee Hyeon.
It was also good news for White Burn.
News spread that Jet, who had lived without losing his dreams even while injured, met White Burn and succeeded in making a comeback,
and furthermore had formed a team again with former Blue Thunder members.
Thanks to this, public opinion was turned upside down once more.
└Wow, he survived a Great Curse from a 4-star dungeon? Crazy
└At this point, isn’t the Ministry of National Defense basically certifying themselves as idiots?
└At age 60,,, I thought I had forgotten,,,tears are,,,flowing,,, Sons of Korea,,,I support you,,
└└I cried too. My daughter asked me at dawn why mommy was crying. I cried more thinking of the pitiful youth suffering like my son.
White Burn separately announced they would operate a healing fund for Hunters injured while serving the nation.
└Even private PMCs are rolling up their sleeves to do such good work, but the places that are supposed to protect citizens… tsk tsk tsk
“They don’t say it properly, but they all seem grateful to you. I received over ten calls on the way home.”
Lee Gun-san showed the list of calls from former Blue Thunder members while laughing heartily.
Go Jin-woo nodded in agreement beside him.
Pfft.
Lee Hyeon also laughed.
“That’s fortunate. At least everyone is properly venting their frustrations before leaving.”
“No matter how much pride they had in sacrificing for the country, they must have had a strong desire to be recognized. It was wrong to just demand sacrifice unconditionally.”
Thud!
Lee Gun-san put down his empty soju glass.
“But on the other hand, I don’t know if the Ministry of National Defense will accept your conditions. It’s such a closed-off place with damn strong pride, I’m worried they might get angry and lock the door even tighter…….”
“Actually, that doesn’t matter.”
“Huh?”
“My original goal was restoring honor anyway. I can find another opportunity to get that damn Ice Queen’s corpse anytime,”
Glug glug.
Lee Hyeon filled Lee Gun-san’s empty glass with alcohol.
“But restoring honor has timing, doesn’t it?”
“……That’s true too.”
Lee Gun-san’s face was reflected in the transparent liquid surface.
Tap.
Tap.
Lee Gun-san quietly tapped his knee with his index finger.
A moment of silence.
And then,
Lee Gun-san smiled broadly.
“Then now we can just comfortably watch how far the firewood will burn.”
* * *
Various communities, SNS, YouTube, etc.
The ‘Blue Thunder dissolution controversy’ that spread through various media had now become a topic issue overseas as well.
“Korean media is once again creating heroes of their own country while fabricating Chinese intervention. Blue Thunder’s activities need to be investigated as a case of transnational armed organization violating international norms.”
“If Jet, who previously conducted joint operations with US forces, returns, this could act as a major variable in Northeast Asian balance.”
“The fact that the awakened special forces were dissolved due to national neglect symbolizes the loopholes in East Asian awakened security systems.”
No matter how many explanatory materials the Ministry of National Defense released, they only added fuel to the fire rather than extinguishing it, and when it seemed impossible to put out,
finally the last bomb was dropped.
EU member countries reportedly made individual scouting offers to Blue Thunder unit members
Various overseas countries, including the United States, had officially announced naturalization offers including citizenship to Lee Hyeon and the Blue Thunder unit members.
In reality, for famous Hunters, each country made tremendous efforts to prevent their outflow.
Now, the Hunter forces they possessed were directly linked to national security and strategic assets.
Moreover, not only Rankers but awakened units had even greater value…
A sense of crisis spread that they might lose Jet and the Blue Thunder unit to other countries.
└You crazy bastards, do you really want to see us lose Jet and Blue Thunder!!
└There’s even a rumor that the US offered Jet over 10 billion won in annual salary, are they really insane?
└└Are you kidding me? What 10 billion? lol No matter how famous they are, what kind of ranker lol
└└└Are you the one who’s crazy lolol They’re not just some random ranker, they’re a ranker who cleared a 4-star dungeon lolol Haven’t you calculated how incredible their value would be if they became a high ranker?
└It was recently discovered that Jet seems to hold the record for world’s youngest Ranker.
└└Yeah, that record still hasn’t been broken. Go check it out.
└└└I checked the World Awakener Association website, but it’s classified as confidential?
└└If you search that confidential number, it’s connected to Jet. Link to organized data.
└└└Whoa? Really?
└└└└Then if he’s the youngest ever, doesn’t that mean his talent is incredible too?
└We’ll lose someone like this and regret it later. Please let’s not do that.
└I heard there’s going to be a protest at Gwanghwamun soon regarding Jet and Blue Thunder?
└└Really? Should I go too? I don’t like what they’ve been doing lately anyway.
└If we really lose Jet and Blue Thunder, we’re screwed.
└Jet’s talent and abilities are amazing, but his tactical knowledge and value are tremendous too, right? If he goes overseas, all of that disappears too.
└└Let’s go to Gwanghwamun!!!
On top of that, actual protests occurred in various regions.
Eventually,
“I heard Director Han was kicked out from the review committee chairman position and someone else came in. He’s someone I know well. He’s pleading to have a conversation. What should we do?”
The Ministry of Defense ended up surrendering with a white flag.
Lee Hyeon also smiled.
“Let’s go. It seems they finally have the right attitude.”
“Right. Wait a moment. I’ll bring the car.”
While Lee Gun-san burst into loud laughter and went to get the car keys,
Lee Hyeon looked at Son Wukong who had been quietly watching him.
‘Great Sage, there’s something I want to learn. Could I learn it?’
「Hmm…? Suddenly? What is it?」
‘Clone technique.’
「…!?」
Son Wukong’s eyes widened.
However,
Hehe!
Lee Hyeon only smiled with an unreadable expression.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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