Chapter 38: Decree (3)
“Let’s be honest. What you really need is a puppet, isn’t it? A puppet to take all the blame. I’ll be that puppet.”
When Sion spoke, the conference room fell silent.
He calmly waited for Gil In-ho's next words.
‘The bait is set.’
Now, all he had to do was wait for him to bite.
Leaning back arrogantly in his chair, Gil In-ho remained silent.
With his arms crossed, he simply observed Sion.
The silence dragged on for a while.
Then, the corners of Gil In-ho’s mouth slowly curled up.
“Puhuhuhu.”
Soon, his hearty laughter filled the conference room.
“Puhahahahaha! Ah, I surrender, Mr. Sion.”
Gil In-ho held his forehead with one hand, shaking his head.
As if finding the situation amusing, he laughed repeatedly and then turned to Inspector Lee Chung-chun.
“You were right, Inspector. Mr. Kang Sion is an extraordinary person. Honestly, when I first saw him walking in, I thought… What’s this? A middle schooler? Is he joking with me? That’s what I thought. But look at this—he’s a treasure. A real treasure.”
“Hahaha, I feel the same, Assemblyman.”
Finally, the police chief joined in the laughter, aligning with the atmosphere.
Gil In-ho took a sip from the instant coffee sitting on the table.
It was coffee that the scouting team had procured from a convenience store.
The table was also laden with snacks, jellies, and other food items.
They were enjoying a comfortable lifestyle here.
“Honestly, if the situation weren’t as dire as it is, I’d want to take you under my wing, Mr. Sion. There’s no one among today’s youth like you. Remarkable. Truly. You’ve got me good this time. Just as you said, with a single word, I could paint you as either a murderer or a hero. That’s right! Let’s be frank about it! I’m a man with much to lose. That’s why there are things I can’t act on directly.”
The police chief sitting beside the assemblyman smiled cautiously, trying to match his tone.
Sion, without changing his expression, continued to gaze at Gil In-ho.
“But it’s different with you, Mr. Sion. You have nothing to lose. I can make you the hero of this place. The media? Journalists? At my word, they’d be scrambling to take notes. Front-page news: Hero of Chaos! Hero of the People! Kang Sion! In a few years, I could even elevate you politically! Spreading your name across society wouldn’t be hard at all. Of course, the opposite is also true.”
When emphasizing the opposite, Assemblyman Gil In-ho put a bit more weight into his words.
“But don’t worry, Mr. Sion. I find you very likable. I adore people like you. Ambition, confidence, conviction… and above all, boldness. I apologize for acting rudely earlier. I’m sorry. I completely misjudged you. There are so many people looking to exploit this situation that I misread you. After doing politics for so long, you can gauge a person’s worth just by exchanging a few words. Your potential is immense. I will make you a hero.”
After hearing those words, Sion calmed his inner thoughts.
It seemed the persuasion had worked.
Gil In-ho interlocked his fingers and pressed them against his philtrum.
His voice regained a calm tone.
“I will appoint you as a manager. However, there’s a condition.”
“Go ahead.”
Gil In-ho stated the condition without delay.
“Resolve the cold.”
“…….”
Solving the cold issue without electricity was an exceedingly difficult task.
But they could no longer neglect the problem.
One of the two whiteboards was filled with notes from discussions about the cold.
However, it wasn’t entirely without solutions.
“I’ll do it.”
Sion replied, and Gil In-ho reiterated.
“Not just ‘I’ll do it.’ You must succeed.”
Gil In-ho set the tone with gravity.
But now, Kang Sion had no intention of backing down either.
To achieve significant results, he needed authority commensurate with the task.
“That depends on what authority you grant me.”
“Puhuhu! You don’t retreat even a step, do you? Of course, Mr. Sion. Chief.”
“Yes, Assemblyman.”
“Proclaim the first decree.”
“Ah, yes! Understood.”
At the assemblyman’s instruction, the police chief moved his hand in the air.
It was the ‘Monarch’s Window,’ invisible to others.
Sion recalled what Jin Jae-hee had told him.
Decree.
A privilege exclusive to monarchs that allowed them to use reward points earned through monarch-exclusive quests.
For some reason, Sion had been able to perform quests before officially becoming a monarch, but the system was originally exclusive to monarchs.
In the first round, only a temporary monarch status window could be accessed, but from the second round, the system was fully implemented.
Ultimately, it was a system meant to be seized by eliminating the current chief and taking the role for himself.
If he could acquire that system, he wouldn’t need to convince others anymore; he could run his faction as he saw fit.
Sion desired that system.
Gil In-ho addressed him.
“Originally, no decree would have been issued. We didn’t want to negotiate with terrorists. But now, the situation has changed. We must act. The authority you’re asking for—it’s this decree, isn’t it?”
Sion nodded.
So far, they had been looking for someone to take responsibility.
And now, they were planning to shift all the blame onto Sion.
Ultimately, it was about passing the burden of responsibility, but for Sion, that worked to his advantage.
“From this moment, control over everyone here, except for police officers and distinguished guests, is delegated to Mr. Sion.”
“Decree. Article 1, Clause 1, Proclamation.”
At that moment, a notification window appeared in the air.
A proclamation by a monarch.
It was the first authority granted by the system to a monarch.
Absolute power.
Using the system’s defined powers, monarchs could control their factions.
[Manan First Faction, Monarch Park Geon-woo]
[Proclamation of Decree]
[Proclaimer: Park Geon-woo]
[Article 1, Clause 1: Control over all individuals within the faction, excluding those identified as police or distinguished guests, is delegated to Kang Sion.]
The proclamation details appeared in front of all faction members except the monarch.
Gil In-ho, looking at the notification window, spoke to the police chief.
“Let’s add one exception.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Include a clause that allows the police chief and me to revoke that position at any time.”
It was Gil In-ho’s clever maneuver.
The power granted to Kang Sion was merely on loan and could not surpass their own authority.
This clause served as insurance for maintaining control over Sion.
“Understood.”
The police chief added the clause as instructed.
[Article 1, Clause 1: Control over all individuals within the faction, excluding those identified as police or distinguished guests, is delegated to Kang Sion. However, this authority can be revoked at any time by Monarch Park Geon-woo or Citizen Gil In-ho.]
[Set the penalty for violations.]
“Penalty for violations?”
“Detainment in the holding cell.”
“Let’s go with that.”
[Violation penalty has been input.]
[Would you like to proclaim the decree?]
“Proclaim it.”
At the police chief’s words,
Whoosh!
A golden light rippled through the bodies of everyone in the conference room.
As proclaimed, the decree was stored in the interfaces of all faction members present.
Sion looked at his glowing palm.
He was now bound by the decree.
It was a tremendous power.
Despite being human, the decree was recorded in their beings as if they were characters in a game.
And that power emanated solely from the monarch.
With just a single word, it could subjugate hundreds of people.
It was truly the power of a god.
Gil In-ho spoke with a faint smile.
“From now on, Mr. Sion, please come up here every day at 6 p.m. to report on your tasks. We’ll also prepare a private room for you.”
“A private room?”
“Yes. Those who hold power should have an appropriate place to stay. We’ll set up an office for you. Don’t worry. It will be much larger and more comfortable than the cramped space downstairs. Oh, and regarding things like the restroom or food supplies, feel free to inform our officer. There will be no restrictions on usage.”
It was a privilege.
The people in this place were living differently from the ordinary citizens.
While not luxurious, there was still a disparity of wealth even here.
There was no reason for Sion to refuse these benefits.
After all, proper rest was essential for achieving his goals.
“Yes.”
Kang Sion accepted.
“Mr. Sion.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t disappoint me. My expectations are high.”
Gil In-ho chuckled slyly.
Sion stared at him and thought to himself.
That he, too, had expectations.
After all, both Assemblyman Gil In-ho and Police Chief Park Geon-woo would die by his hands, and he would take control of this faction.
I exited the conference room and followed Lee Chung-chun.
He led me to a duty room prepared for on-call police officers on the fifth floor.
Creak.
When the door opened, I saw a single bed and a desk inside.
A few cardboard boxes were stacked in one corner, and there were no windows.
“I’ll bring in another bed. Ms. Jin Jae-hee will be staying too, right?”
“Yes.”
The room was definitely spacious enough for two people.
It was on a completely different level compared to squeezing in with others downstairs.
The treatment I received in the faction had drastically improved after just one scouting mission.
“The cold can’t be helped, but I’ll bring in some thick blankets for you.”
Lee Chung-chun said this as he carried the cardboard boxes out of the room.
I gave him a slight bow.
“Thank you for recommending me.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Having finished moving the boxes, Lee Chung-chun leaned against the doorframe.
After letting out a small sigh, he spoke to me.
“It’s because I have high expectations of you, Mr. Sion. And you saved my life. This isn’t enough to repay you. If you need anything else, just call on me anytime.”
I nodded slightly in thanks again, and Lee Chung-chun smiled before closing the door and leaving.
Once he was gone, I walked slowly to the bed and sat down on it.
‘So far, so good.’
The plan to earn Inspector Lee Chung-chun’s trust and approach the leadership had gone more smoothly than expected.
It was true that the alligator snapping turtle nearly cost us our lives, but thanks to it, I gained Lee Chung-chun’s trust.
Now it was time to consider my next move.
I needed to gain the trust of the leadership.
To do that, I had to solve the ‘cold’ problem that Gil In-ho had tasked me with.
‘The cold.’
I leaned back, letting my body sink into the bed.
It was soft.
Closing my eyes, I felt like I could fall asleep immediately.
Before the world had been destroyed, I had never slept in a proper bed.
My brother and I had always slept on the floor.
We would layer several blankets on the ground and rest our heads on pillows.
My brother and I had never had a proper personal space since we were young.
Even when our parents were alive, we were still poor.
Studying wasn’t an option, and dining out was a dream.
I always shared one blanket with my brother.
In summer and winter alike.
In those naive days, my wish had been to have a comfortable bed all to myself.
And now.
Only after the world had been destroyed could I get my own bed.
I lay on it, staring at the ceiling.
It was disgustingly soft.
There was so much I needed to do, but the fatigue overwhelmed me first.
I hadn’t slept since fighting the alligator snapping turtle last night.
What felt strange was that despite the disaster the world was in, my life seemed to be getting better.
I was now negotiating with established figures of society, persuading people to join my side.
Unlike before, when I barely slept four hours a day to survive, now I could rest peacefully.
Even this bedding was better than what existed in the world I came from.
The only thing missing from my current life was my younger brother by my side.
Everything was going according to plan.
First, I needed to gain the trust of the faction’s leadership.
Gil In-ho said he had high expectations of me, but I, too, had great expectations for the power I would obtain.
This was just the beginning.
In the end, they would hand over their power to me.
First, I would maximize my approval within the internal faction.
I would change everything for the citizens.
The internal systems, activities, food, restrooms, and even the heating system.
Anyway, Gil In-ho and the police chief were too preoccupied with their safety to care about the external situation.
“The cold.”
I pondered how to resolve it.
At that moment, I heard a noise.
The door opened, followed by the sound of movement.
There was a heavy thud as a bed was placed, and some people left before one person returned.
Silence resumed.
But it didn’t last long.
“There are about two hours left until the artifact unlocks.”
“……”
It was Jin Jae-hee.
I slightly opened my eyes and looked at her sitting on the bed opposite mine.
She sat quietly at the edge of the bed, her legs together.
She was gently swaying her feet.
I closed my eyes again and asked her.
“You didn’t sleep?”
“No. There’s not much time left until it unlocks.”
“……”
I didn’t say anything else after that.
For a while, there was silence.
The sounds of something being rubbed and heavy breathing followed.
The noises piqued my curiosity.
I opened my eyes again and looked at her.
Jin Jae-hee was rolling up her pant leg, unwrapping a bandage.
Swish, swish.
There was a long gash on her calf.
The bandage was soaked with blood, as the wound had not fully clotted.
She was changing the bandage.
It was an injury she got while protecting me from the Nepenthes.
Noticing my gaze, Jin Jae-hee carefully lowered her pant leg.
Then she spoke.
“You checked the decree. It worked out well.”
“Yeah.”
“With this, you should be able to handle the remaining quests smoothly.”
I sat up at the edge of my bed.
Jin Jae-hee rolled up the bloodied bandage and tucked it back into her bag.
“Starting tomorrow, let’s get into proper training. It’d be great if your abilities were the same as in my previous life, but there’s no guarantee. I’ll handle the training. Now that we’ve secured a room, we can do various thi—”
“More importantly, is your leg okay?”
I asked about her injury, and Jin Jae-hee looked up, seemingly surprised.
She met my gaze briefly, then lowered her head with a slight smile.
I asked her why she smiled.
“Why are you smiling?”
“No reason. Just.”
Ziiip.
She zipped up her bag completely.
“You’ve never been someone who worried about others.”
Her tone carried a hint of bitterness.
I pondered what it meant to be someone who didn’t worry about others, then asked her again.
“Is that strange?”
“No, just… just no.”
Jin Jae-hee seemed unusually flustered and fumbled over her words.
Her reaction was odd, but I didn’t think much of it.
“Two hours left until the unlock, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Alright. I’m going to sleep.”
“I’ll wake you when it’s time.”
“Make sure you rest too.”
I lay down again.
Pulling the thick blanket Lee Chung-chun had brought up to my neck, I felt warmth envelop my body.
Jin Jae-hee continued talking to me.
“No, I can’t. Someone might come. You need to grow quickly. You have to find your brother too. I’ll make sure to wake you the moment it unlocks.”
“Jin Jae-hee.”
“Yes?”
I spoke with my eyes closed.
I couldn’t see her expression or know what she was thinking.
But I knew she was probably more exhausted than I was.
“Just sleep. Missing the artifact unlock by a few hours won’t make a big difference.”
“Huh…?”
“I said sleep. Even if you try to wake me, I won’t get up.”
I burrowed further into the blanket and turned over.
Jin Jae-hee needed rest.
More than me, she was constantly vigilant, scanning for danger and staying alert even in perceived safety.
The physical fatigue compounded with the mental strain would be overwhelming.
Whether or not I trained two hours earlier wouldn’t change whether I found my brother.
More than anything, she needed rest.
As drowsiness overcame me, my mind grew hazy.
Even though I was on the verge of sleep, I waited to hear her answer.
Just before I fell completely asleep, I heard her soft, gentle voice.
“…Alright. Thank you.”
Hearing her response, I finally let go and sank into a deep, blissful sleep.
In the early dawn, when everyone else was asleep, Jin Jae-hee remained awake, staring at Sion’s sleeping figure.
She curled up and sat with her legs drawn in.
Whenever she looked at Sion, it felt as if she could hear his voice.
You must protect him.
The image of a man, his face covered in blood, as he died.
You know.
Her own face, shedding tears as she cradled him.
He’s the only one who can… return all of us to where we belong.
The man’s weakening hand, touching her cheek.
…See you in the original world.
She had sobbed, clutching his lifeless body.
Even now, the longing was so intense it made her tremble.
By now, he was probably fighting in the League somewhere in Busan.
Perhaps they would meet as enemies.
But she had to stay here.
Because, as he said, he alone could return them to their original world.
And they would meet again there—in the world where they had played music and dreamed together.
Jin Jae-hee could still feel the coldness of the man’s body as she held him in her arms.
It was as chilling and lifeless as it was now.