The Crazy Villain Regains His Sanity - Chapter 74

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 74

Han Jeong-mun arrived at the scene the moment word reached him of the commotion, and he clicked his tongue.
There stood Choi Jun-ho, and sprawled on the ground was Ham Guk-gi.

Tsk.

The situation became clear at a glance.

“Take him.”

At those words, the people who had been watching hurried in and removed Ham Guk-gi. Only then did Han Jeong-mun turn his attention to Choi Jun-ho.
At first glance, the boy had a polished appearance—the sort they’d call upon for ceremonial events.
But beneath that surface lay someone who cared nothing for the President himself. He was said to possess strength befitting such arrogance, but Han Jeong-mun had rarely encountered anyone so presumptuous as this.
Awakened at a tender age, no wonder he thought himself above all others.
Was this boy truly as formidable as they claimed? He didn’t look particularly strong.
Han Jeong-mun burned to teach him manners, but reality dictated otherwise—the boy had backing substantial enough to draw a presidential warning.
Suppressing his anger, Han Jeong-mun introduced himself.

“Han Jeong-mun.”
“Choi Jun-ho.”
……

Silence fell between them.
Han Jeong-mun considered what Choi Jun-ho wanted and extended a proposal.

“I’ll conduct a thorough investigation and audit the contractor. We’ll proceed with a new selection process. How does that sound?”
“Are you speaking sincerely?”
“I am.”

This was the line he could hold. He’d make adjustments from here as needed.
Politics was the art of dialogue and compromise, he thought. Once their positions were clear, they could find common ground.
But what came from Choi Jun-ho’s mouth was entirely different.

“That’s quite far from what I have in mind.”
“In what way?”
“At the very least, the contractor should forfeit all profits made, and those responsible should face prosecution. Didn’t the President tell you this?”
……
“If you refuse, I’ll have no choice but to add your name to the list of those profiting from this scheme.”
“What are you———”

Han Jeong-mun cultivated a composed public image, but he too had steel in his spine. Without it, he’d never have become Seoul’s mayor, never have outpaced his rivals within the party.
As a leading presidential contender, he had never been treated this way before.
As he bristled to show his anger, his eyes met Choi Jun-ho’s. In that instant, his breath caught, and he found himself swallowing his rage.
He felt stripped bare by those hollow, penetrating eyes.
Choi Jun-ho was regarding him not as Seoul’s mayor but as a mere human being.

‘He sees me this way? Me—a leading presidential prospect, the mayor of Seoul?’

But those eyes were sincere. The moment Han Jeong-mun realized that all the brilliant trappings of his station—every accolade, every carefully cultivated facade—meant nothing to this boy, clarity struck him like cold water.
Strip away social standing, accumulated achievements, all the ornaments of power, and what remained was only the primal distinction between the strong and the weak.
If Choi Jun-ho lifted a hand here, would he face any real punishment? The President would shield him. The party leadership itself held its breath in his presence. Killing Han Jeong-mun would bring Choi Jun-ho nothing more than minor inconvenience—a small price to pay.
In that realization, Han Jeong-mun grasped what the President had truly meant to convey.
They had built a society of laws and prestige that could not bind this boy. Compromise gracefully, or accept the consequences.
After a long silence, Han Jeong-mun offered his answer.

“I have no involvement in this matter.”
“I see. Then may I proceed with my own methods?”

Now that I understood what Choi Jun-ho truly was, those words didn’t sound nearly so menacing anymore.

“What is there for us to cooperate on?”
“May I ask for your help?”
“Just tell me.”

Han Jeong-mun accepted Choi Jun-ho’s request without hesitation, though it could hardly be called reasonable.

“Give him everything he wants.”

As Han Jeong-mun issued the order, he seemed to have aged several years in a matter of moments.

* * *

My anger over the bento box stemmed from how it treated charity as nothing more than profit maximization.
Charitable work is a public social relief effort. Naturally, since it serves a public purpose, profits should be minimized and benefits should reach as many people as possible.
It’s admittedly absurd that a Blood Demon like me would think this way.
Perhaps it’s because I’ve been hunted for so long that I’ve developed genuine convictions about food.
Even if such thoughts of mine seem hypocritical, if they result in as many people as possible benefiting, I think that’s still worthwhile.
If the bento box had cost around two thousand won, I probably would have let it slide.
But six thousand won—that genuinely crossed the line.

“I’m sorry for causing you such trouble.”
“Not troublesome at all. Rather, I’m grateful you allowed me to accompany you.”
“What are you saying? I feel reassured knowing you’re with me, sir.”

On the way to the bento box company, we joined up with the audit team Cheon Myeong-guk had brought along.
I could have handled it alone, but I’m grateful he offered to come personally.

“We’ll conduct a thorough investigation into whether any irregularities occurred in the company selection, and civic organizations will conduct a financial audit. You just need to examine the bento box company itself, sir.”
“Understood.”

The inspection was conducted as a surprise raid. For a professional audit team of this caliber, examining a small factory’s records was child’s play.
As it turned out, the facility was poorly maintained—an absolute mess—and sanitation was atrocious.
Cheon Myeong-guk and the audit team members all frowned in disgust.
What’s with the fuss over this level of condition?
There’s someone who ate two bento boxes made in this factory in a single day.
That would be me. To be honest, I didn’t give hygiene much thought. So there are places that maintain things properly, I see.

“They definitely embezzled funds, then?”
“Yes.”
“How much do you think they took?”
“The exact amount will require calculation. However, judging by the bento box’s actual production cost, it’s certain they’ve been profiting excessively.”

I thought I was dealing with petty cash, but apparently the amounts involved are quite substantial.
Once we investigate the exact figures and trace where the money went, we’re likely to uncover some major players involved.

“The guilt seems clear-cut, at least.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”

Hmm, I don’t like the look in Cheon Myeong-guk’s eyes.
To an outsider, it would look like I came here to massacre everyone in the factory.
If I’d intended to be indiscriminate, I would have already acted.

“You needn’t worry so much. I only plan to see the factory owner. I’m curious what kind of thinking he has.”
“I hope his mind is still intact.”

Belying Cheon Myeong-guk’s words, the factory door swung open and a thunderous shout echoed through the cavernous space.

“Who the hell are you? What are you doing barging into my factory?”

The man who emerged was gaunt, in his early forties, with a prominent chin and an air of aggressive temperament. He glared at the inspection officers before turning his attention to me and Cheon Myeong-guk.

“Who do you think you are, coming in here? Do you have any idea who I am?”

To anyone watching, it would look like we were the ones trespassing.
Actually, come to think of it, we were.
Still, the way he was shouting suggested he had powerful backing.
I had the President backing me. If it came down to that, wasn’t I the strongest?
I found myself curious about who he thought he could rely on.

“Who exactly?”
“Choi Hyo-jik, the Assemblyman, is my father-in-law!”

Sorry, but I’d never heard that name before.
Fortunately, Cheon Myeong-guk was standing right beside me, ready to explain.

“Who is he?”
“A three-term assemblyman from the Ruling Party. He’s aligned with the Seoul Mayor.”
“Does that mean the Seoul Mayor might be involved too?”
“Even if they are, it would be minimal.”
“We’ll find out once we investigate.”

I watched the defiant factory owner as I spoke.

“This one doesn’t look like he’ll show any remorse, even after he’s arrested.”
……

Cheon Myeong-guk’s silence was affirmation. It was his way of saying he’d accept whatever I did. That he trusted me. Then I should live up to that trust.

“I understand what concerns you, Director. You’re thinking that if I interfere in every little detail, it’ll never end, right?”
···Ha ha!
“He won’t die. Don’t worry.”

I drew Nuri and swung it at the still-ranting factory owner. The Force-edged blade severed his arms and legs.

“Gahhhhh!”

The way he thrashed on the floor, spraying blood like some monstrous insect, was oddly fitting.
I nodded slightly to myself. Like with Vice Mayor Ham Guk-gi earlier, I hadn’t killed the factory owner. This was how we’d reach an understanding.

“Let’s see how the law carries out its judgment.”

If I watched and decided it wasn’t working out, I could always step in then.

* * *

The moment Choi Hyo-jik learned from his daughter what had befallen her husband, he bolted upright in his seat and roared.

“You think you can leave my son-in-law like that and face no consequences? Choi Jun-ho, you bastard!”

His son-in-law’s limbs had been severed and he’d barely survived falling into critical condition. Though they’d reattached the limbs, he’d need extensive rehabilitation to have any hope of returning to normal life. The news sent Choi Hyo-jik’s vision swimming with rage.
He couldn’t let this stand.
No matter what it took, he needed to land a blow on Choi Jun-ho—only then would his anger find release.
But before he could act on those impulses, Cheon Myeong-guk arrived at his office first.

“The President wishes you to exercise restraint, Assemblyman.”
“My son-in-law’s limbs have been severed! My daughter called me in tears! And you’re telling me to just let it slide?”
“You should have exercised restraint. Since you overstepped, this is the consequence you’ve brought upon yourself.”

Choi Hyo-jik’s facial muscles trembled.

“No matter how much real power you wield at Cheong Wa Dae, that’s nonsense—”
“Do you think I came here without any information?”
“……”

The moment Choi Hyo-jik heard that cold voice, clarity returned. His interlocutor was the President’s closest aide—the Awakened One serving as National Security Director—and the person who’d caused this incident was an Awakened One himself.
He’d heard the factory had been ransacked before his son-in-law’s limbs were severed.
If the investigation had moved quickly and funds had been traced, they would likely have identified where the real operation lay.
If he revealed how deep this web ran, beyond just himself, it would be his own limbs that got cut off.

“Your son-in-law’s life was spared thanks to the President’s intervention. He laid hands on national funds and drew the attention of Choi Jun-ho, an Awakened One—losing just his limbs means the damage was minimized. Given Choi Jun-ho’s nature, he would have stormed into the National Assembly and severed yours as well.”
“……”
“I’ll take my leave, trusting you’ll exercise good judgment.”

As Cheon Myeong-guk stepped out and heard the sound of Choi Hyo-jik collapsing into a chair, he smiled bitterly.
This situation had narrowly been contained and minimized, but the risk of it escalating remained ever-present.
And he alone would have to manage all of it.
A sudden ache bloomed in his stomach.

“I wish the Bureau would be established soon. I wish Jung Ju-ho would arrive.”

Then his workload would be cut in half. He found himself praying for that day to come quickly.
Returning to Cheong Wa Dae shortly after, he went directly to report to the President.
The President, who had been gazing out the window, turned with a satisfied expression.

“We’ve ended up with far less damage than we anticipated. Well done, Director Cheon.”
“I only did as you instructed. However, Mayor Han and Congressman Choi will likely harbor considerable grievances.”
“What’s Choi got to complain about? He had nothing better to do than dip his hands into welfare budgets? If he’d been satisfied with a reasonable arrangement, none of this would have happened. Have Chief Secretary Ji send word to exclude Choi from the next primary. As for Han—let’s watch and see for now.”
“Yes, sir.”

Even eliminating a three-term veteran without hesitation, the President’s voice remained cold.

“……”
“I know the Ruling Party will be displeased with such a decision. But read this. Your thinking will change.”

The President handed him a report on monsters that had arrived from countries around the world.

“You mentioned we didn’t get proper recognition for the Awakened One Power Rankings last time, didn’t you? There was a reason for that.”
“This is—”

Cheon Myeong-guk’s eyes widened as he accepted the documents. They contained information about a newly emerged Hazard Level 8 monster.
It was in the same tier as Nuri, which had appeared in South Korea recently, but far stronger than the Hazard Level 8 monsters that had appeared before, and it had manifested a Gift. That was the summarized content.
Countries that had formulated countermeasures based on South Korea’s briefing succeeded in stopping it with minimal losses, while nations that disbelieved or underestimated it suffered enormous damage.
The proof lay in the fact that three Level 8 Awakened Ones had been killed in this incident alone.
The United States deployed two Awakened Ones and succeeded in the hunt, while China mobilized high-level Awakened Ones of Levels 7 and 6 in great numbers to contain it.

“We stopped a monster like that with just Choi Jun-ho alone.”
“……”
“Do you understand now why UPN won’t believe in Choi Jun-ho’s solo hunt? Even I wouldn’t have believed it if we’d received intelligence that someone in China had hunted it solo. But we know this is the truth. That’s how far beyond imagination Choi Jun-ho’s value truly is. That’s why we have no choice but to maintain our ties with him, however much it costs.”
“Seeing the numbers, I understand just how extraordinary he is.”
“The rest of the world needs to know this too, but they’re biased by the assumption that youth means weakness. Tsk. They’re conducting a public opinion campaign based on that, while Yeouido is full of fools.”

Cheon Myeong-guk agreed, having seen the exponential growth in Choi Jun-ho’s supporters in recent times.

“At this rate, there might be trouble from UPN……”
“Why worry about it? If they pick a fight and get destroyed, that’s their own doing. They’re the ones taking the damage, not us.”

Choi Jun-ho didn’t seem to think he would lose at all.
And truthfully, that’s what he himself believed too.
Speaking of which, it was strange how the President was gradually becoming more and more like Choi Jun-ho.
It was mildly concerning, but he understood the sentiment.
He hoped Choi Jun-ho would get to Tokyo soon.

* * *

In a space thick with toxic fog, the corpses of dead villains lay scattered haphazardly throughout the forest, and Berserker stood at its center.
Before him lay a fallen Hazard Level 7 Poison Snake.
This monster, which could spew an enormous volume of Poison Breath capable of poisoning hundreds at once, was known to be the most difficult to hunt among all Hazard Level 7 creatures.
Yet Berserker had succeeded in hunting it alone.

“Krrk! Krrk-krrk-krrk! Krahahaha!”

Berserker drew in a deep breath of the toxic fog, utterly unaffected, and burst into mad laughter toward the sky.
He had finally unlocked a new Gift: Complete Poison Immunity.
With this legendary, most powerful Gift now in his grasp, Berserker felt the destructive force of the Heaven-Breaking Force swirling within him, a power that could topple everything in the world.
This was a Star Moment. Seized by an intoxicating euphoria, Berserker trembled faintly, savoring every second of it.
His eyes blazing with murderous intent and his expression gaunt, he laid bare the malice he had concealed.

“Choi Jun-ho, now it’s your turn.”

Without wiping away that killing intent, Berserker pulled out his smartphone and sent a message. It was a declaration of war.

Me (Berserker)—Now it’s your turn, you bastard.
Me (Berserker)—I’ll be coming for you soon.

All the brutal suffering he had endured at Choi Jun-ho’s hands until now.
Recalling the moments he’d been handled mercilessly by that creature, he swore his vengeance.
But then.
When he remembered the moment his heart had shattered twice, he felt the resolve that had burned so fiercely grow dim.
Berserker decided to take a step back.

“Not yet. I still don’t know the full extent of that bastard’s power. So I need to be careful. First, I’ll make this Gift completely mine. Then I’ll go after him.”

Me (Berserker)—Message deleted.
Me (Berserker)—Message deleted.

Just as he quickly deleted all the messages.
But Choi Jun-ho was faster. The read count disappeared before he could finish deleting. Choi Jun-ho had seen them.
Then messages came pouring in.

Choi Jun-ho—Saw it all.
Choi Jun-ho—But why delete?
Choi Jun-ho—Want to fight?
Choi Jun-ho—Wouldn’t just say that for no reason.
Choi Jun-ho—Did you unlock Complete Poison Immunity?
Choi Jun-ho—Where are you?
Choi Jun-ho—I’m coming right now.

“Ugh, ughhhh!”

Beads of sweat formed on Berserker’s brow as his rage spiraled beyond control.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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