Ubermensch – Chapter 63

Chapter 63

Warlord core.

It was an expected story. Rather, he would have been embarrassed if a different story had come out.

Mason asked the question he had prepared in advance.

“Why?”

“It wouldn’t be a treasure if everyone didn’t covet it, would it?”

“Of course it’s valuable. So I’ll buy it. But that’s not my question. I’m asking why you’re already saying you’ll buy it.”

The core had two uses.

The core as a research material, and the core for player training.

The value of the Warlord core as a research material had been proven, but nothing had been revealed about it as a core for player training.

Then, did he want the core as a research material?

No, that was also strange.

Mason was exceptionally sharing all research data for free. It was strange to buy data that could be obtained anyway, even with a blank check.

Then he had no choice but to ask.

“What do you want?”

“…”

Chong Daolong’s eyes narrowed.

He was silent for a moment before opening his mouth.

“As expected, it’s not a good idea to do things that don’t suit you.”

“…?”

“I’m a martial artist, not a diplomat. So I’ll just be blunt.”

Chong Daolong handed over the tablet PC.

There stood a large white man with a cheerful smile. At first glance, he was as large as Mason.

“The raid leader of the <Statesmen> attack team, Steve Queen.”

Chong Daolong’s voice was laced with cynicism, a mixture of contempt and hostility.

“He’s also a big player in the player business world.”

“Yes, but why him?”

“He’ll definitely try to buy up the Warlord core. And he’s probably thinking of making money by hiding the technology he gets from the Warlord core or patenting it.”

“…”

“What’s there to hide? I’m not on good terms with him, and our country and their country are in a complex and subtle confrontation. Considering the mischief Steve Queen will cause if he gets his hands on the Warlord core, my advisors suggested that it would be better for us to secure the Warlord core and form a connection with Raid Leader Park.”

The conclusion drawn from the subtle power dynamics and diplomatic relations was a blank check. It was to secure the Warlord core and gain Mason’s favor.

Mason frowned.

“So it’s not so much that you want it, but you don’t want to hand it over to the US.”

“It doesn’t mean we don’t need it. It just means that acquiring the Warlord core is the best option, and Park Gongdaejang having it is also a good second option.”

“Even if you say that…”

Mason didn’t know anything about Chong Daolong, and he didn’t know anything about Steve Queen either.

He looked at Seo Yeonhee.

Seo Yeonhee nodded silently.

Chong Daolong’s personal prejudice may be included, and there may be points where the story was told in a way that was advantageous to him.

But… it meant that at least it couldn’t be said to be wrong.

The fact that Steve Queen would also want the Warlord core and wouldn’t be someone who shares information like Mason.

“…”

Mason didn’t really want to sell the Warlord core. He wasn’t greedy for money, and he wasn’t in a situation where he needed it.

But there was no particular reason why he had to have it.

‘This is complicated…’

Mason thought for a moment before speaking.

“Do I have to answer right now?”

“Not necessarily, but is there any reason not to decide here? If you’re willing to hand over the Warlord core, we can negotiate the details later…”

“I have to at least listen to what the other party has to say.”

“…Hmm.”

Chong Daolong nodded.

“Alright, do that. But when deciding what to do with the Warlord core, please remember this. I will share the research data. And…”

“And?”

“The Chinese don’t forget favors.”

Mason nodded.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

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Deroa was in the VIP room, eating a mountain of snacks.

“Hey, big guy. Did you have fun?”

“Why are you so excited?”

“I talked to these guys, and we hit it off.”

Mason looked at the person sitting across from Deroa.

He was an ordinary person, nothing special.

“Does he speak Korean well too?”

“Korean is basic in this industry. It’s not that, it’s that we can understand each other.”

“What did you talk about?”

“The game I play. They said they signed a popular Japanese voice actor and will add full voice acting to the new character! I think I’ll save my guaranteed 3-star ticket until then.”

Mason made a subtle expression.

“He’s Chinese, right?”

“Yeah.”

“And the game you play is made by Chinese people, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then why are they using a Japanese voice actor?”

“Japanese voice actors are the foundation of otaku games!”

“…Something’s weird.”

“Is it not weird that a Chinese player speaks Korean? Japanese is the Latin of the otaku world.”

Mason scratched his head.

The conversation with Chong Daolong was complicated, but easy to understand, while Deroa’s story was simple but hard to understand.

“…Alright, let’s just go home.”

“Okay.”

Deroa shoved a handful of snacks into her pocket and stood up.

“You’ll give me another 3-star ticket if we come again, right? If you don’t promise, I’m going to lie down here.”

Mason sighed and lifted Deroa by the scruff of her neck.

“…Stop being a nuisance and let’s go.”

“…Tsk.”

Deroa swung her staff.

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Upon returning to headquarters, Seo Yeonhee let out a deep sigh.

“Whew.”

Mason looked puzzled.

“Were you nervous?”

“Yes? Of course I was nervous.”

Seo Yeonhee grumbled.

“Mason is so bad at etiquette… It’s a good thing they were understanding.”

“…Am I that rude?”

“It’s not so much that, but there are many parts where Chinese unspoken rules clash with Western manners.”

Seo Yeonhee sighed.

“And… Chong Daolong is a big shot.”

“How big of a shot?”

“Would it make sense if I said he can mobilize more players than the number of Korean players? Chong Daolong is at the top of the Chinese player system, and the Sweep Brigade he directly commands is a large army of over 6,000, including players and regular soldiers.”

If Korea’s player system was a typical kill team, deploying special forces to eliminate enemy commanders, the Sweep Brigade was literally an army for full-scale warfare, deployed to sweep an entire region.

This was because, unlike Korea, where players operate independently, Chinese players are affiliated with the military.

Because China is so vast, military authority in each region is divided into military regions. Players were also affiliated with their respective military regions.

But sometimes there are monsters that need to be subjugated by concentrating elite troops.

Chong Daolong’s Sweep Brigade was an army directly under the national government, not affiliated with any military region, and could even call upon troops from each military region if necessary.

He was literally China’s champion.

“Since such a big shot summoned you directly, refusing this offer without a good reason would be a loss of face.”

“Are you sure, or are you worried?”

“I’m sure. Remember his last words?”

“That the Chinese don’t forget favors?”

“Xiakebufangen (俠客不忘恩). There’s a counterpart to that saying. Xiakebufangyuan (俠客不忘怨). A knight errant does not forget a favor, and does not forget a grudge. It was a veiled warning.”

Mason groaned.

“That’s tricky…”

“Speaking of which, Mason is also quite a tricky person.”

“Me? No way.”

“Everyone accommodates Mason, so only you don’t know.”

“…Is that so?”

Mason scratched his head.

“I guess so…”

Seo Yeonhee chuckled.

“It’s okay. You’re tricky, but you’re not arrogant or annoying.”

“That’s very kind of you to say…”

Mason grumbled.

It was then.

Mason’s phone rang.

“…”

Mason looked at Seo Yeonhee.

“I’ll take this call.”

“…Is it Yekaterina?”

“…Yeah.”

Seo Yeonhee left the room with a serious look on her face.

Mason answered the phone.

“Kacha.”

<Mason.>

Yekaterina spoke in a calm voice.

<I heard you went to China.>

“Yes.”

<Then… you know what I’m going to say, right?>

“Steve Queen?”

<Yes.>

Mason smiled bitterly.

“Where should I go?”

<That bar where we met with Andrei before.>

“…I’ll go now.”

Mason got into his car.

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The place where Yekaterina called Mason was a bar he had visited once before.

A quiet bar located in a deserted alley, with an entrance that was hard to find. In front of it, the Red Knight, dressed as a butler, was quietly waiting.

“You’ve arrived, Mason Gong.”

“Drop the ‘Gong’…”

“Isn’t that the respect due to the future God-King’s child?”

“…”

Mason sighed.

All of Yekaterina’s subordinates were like that, but this guy was the worst.

“How about showing me the respect I don’t want by not showing me the respect I don’t want?”

“If you wish, I will do so. Mason Gongdaejangnim.”

“Yes, thank you…”

Mason grumbled and walked straight into the bar.

Inside, Yekaterina, dressed in formal attire, was waiting.

“Kacha.”

“Mason.”

Her beauty and dignity seemed to brighten the dimly lit bar. It was a beauty that was new and admirable every time, even though he had seen it more than once.

“Mason, let me introduce you. This is Steve Queen, the raid leader of the Statesmen attack team. Raid Leader Queen, this is Mason Park, the raid leader of the Revengers.”

When Mason first saw Steve Queen, what he felt was a large and heavy herbivore like a bull or a buffalo.

He was as tall as Mason. His body, which would normally be considered to have gigantism, was a broad and strong build, and his muscles, which were bulked up to the point of bursting, were like armor.

He was literally a body that had reached the limits of the human species.

Wearing sunglasses and a suit, he grinned and held out his hand.

“Nice to meet you, Mason Park. I’m Steve Queen.”

“Mason, Mason Park.”

Mason shook his hand and sat down at the bar.

“I heard you were in China.”

“Yeah, well, that’s right.”

“There’s a bit of a time difference between Korea and the US, so I was a little late. I hope you don’t think I was rude.”

If Chong Daolong was polite and courteous, but with a subtle pressure underneath, Steve was rudely honest and uncomfortably cheerful.

Mason calmly spoke.

“Then, shall we get straight to the point without wasting any time?”

“Shall we?”

Steve took out his checkbook.

“I’ll buy the Warlord core. Tell me your price.”

“What about the research data?”

“Of course, it will belong to us. Ah, don’t worry. I’ll give you the patent rights, and I’ll pay you royalties regularly.”

Mason said coldly.

“You don’t know what kind of person I am.”

“Neither do you.”

Steve scoffed.

“You don’t even know what you’re talking about.”

“What?”

Mason growled.

“You too, do you know what you just said?”

Steve was indeed a giant who had reached the limits of humanity. But Mason was a superhuman who had reached the limits of humanoid lifeforms. If Mason wanted, he could fold Steve’s spine and kill him.

And with one hand, too.

Mason growled.

“Do you want to experience what kind of person I am?”