Ubermensch – Chapter 68

Chapter 68

To destroy the body of an A-rank raid boss with physical force alone. It’s something only Mason could do, but even without Mason, the Sweep Brigade would have shot down the Wyvern.

Just like how the Wyvern’s breath was cut off only 5 minutes after crashing.

In other words…

‘The Sweep Brigade doesn’t need Mason.’

If there’s a place that needs him, it’s not the Sweep Brigade, but China’s Champion.

Chong Daolong would also be keeping that in mind.

The place where humanity’s strongest superhuman was needed wasn’t the battlefield, but the signboard.

‘I can use this logic to taint the Chinese side’s offer.’

Just as Mason had no interest in money, he also had no interest in honor. He was only interested in two things: humanity and monsters.

Protecting humanity and slaughtering monsters, that was all.

‘Not to protect the Chinese people’ but ‘to raise China’s honor’ wouldn’t be a very appealing proposition.

Half. He had won half the victory.

‘Then now, what’s left is the other half…’

He had come up with a reason not to go to China.

The remaining half, the reason why Mason had to refuse this offer.

He had to come up with a reason why he shouldn’t leave Korea.

‘Mason has definitely changed.’

This part was the problem.

‘But where, how, and why did he change?’

The person who came to Seo Yeonhee’s mind was Yekaterina.

If half of Mason’s relationships were with the Revengers, no, Seo Yeonhee, then the other half was with Yekaterina.

Seo Yeonhee hadn’t given Mason any reason to change.

‘What could it be?’

Then the reason why Mason would change would lie with Yekaterina.

‘What did Yekaterina do to make Mason a different person than before?’

Seo Yeonhee thought for a long time.

There was only one solution.

She gritted her teeth.

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“…To be honest, I’m quite surprised. This is the first time you’ve rung my doorbell.”

Yekaterina offered tea and said,

“Seo Yeonhee.”

Seo Yeonhee, with her guard down, looked at Yekaterina.

She tried to hide it, but the hostility and hatred that she couldn’t completely conceal were boiling in Seo Yeonhee’s eyes.

However, now she was here to ask for cooperation…

“…”

Seo Yeonhee blinked, clearing away the remaining traces of emotion. She spoke in a calm voice.

“Mason went to China. Did you know?”

“Yes, I checked the teleport logs.”

“And… he received a scout offer from Chong Daolong.”

Clink.

Yekaterina’s teacup was placed down rather roughly. It was evidence that she was shaken.

‘Then it means she doesn’t know either.’

Yekaterina had connections in the West, especially in the US and Europe. Compared to Seo Yeonhee, who inherited her father’s connections in Asia, especially China and Japan, she was bound to be weak in Asian connections.

“…What are the details of the offer?”

“Everything Chong Daolong can offer, including the position of China’s Champion.”

Yekaterina fell into thought for a moment. Just like Seo Yeonhee had, she was probably calculating.

She would probably come to a similar conclusion as Seo Yeonhee.

“I need to meet with Mason.”

The conclusion that Yekaterina had to hold onto Mason.

That meant Yekaterina could hold onto Mason.

‘Why?’

Seo Yeonhee couldn’t help but have a new question.

‘Why can Yekaterina hold onto Mason?’

Even if Mason had changed, his essence hadn’t.

Mason was good, a person who pursued humanity’s good.

It was strange that such a person had a deep relationship with Yekaterina, the head of a violent organization.

At first, she thought it was a means to an end. Being close to Yekaterina came with many benefits.

But now, no matter how much support and resources Yekaterina could provide, it was nothing compared to what Chong Daolong could offer.

Despite that, Yekaterina was trying to hold onto Mason.

She believed she could.

It was impossible for Yekaterina, the head of a violent organization and a parasite of the Player System.

Then there was only one conclusion.

‘Does it mean there’s something wrong with my premise?’

Seo Yeonhee’s eyes wavered.

If she was the evil thug she believed her to be, Mason wouldn’t have opened his heart to her.

But Mason had opened his heart to Yekaterina.

That meant… either Mason or Yekaterina, one of them was different from what Seo Yeonhee thought.

And Mason was undoubtedly a good person…

Seo Yeonhee bit her lip.

“Yekaterina.”

“Yes?”

“One thing, I just want to ask one thing.”

“Go ahead.”

“Are you hiding something from me?”

At that moment, Yekaterina flinched.

Because she realized the process leading up to that question, and the weight it carried.

That the answer to that question… could change a lot of things, including Seo Yeonhee.

“I…”

Yekaterina hesitated and faltered, which was rare for her.

But only for a moment. She answered with a dry smile,

“Of course, I’m hiding a lot of things.”

“…”

A short silence fell between the two.

Seo Yeonhee tried to open her heart, but Yekaterina closed hers.

Then what was the point of any further conversation?

“…I see.”

Seo Yeonhee got up from her seat.

“Please take good care of Mason.”

“Yes.”

Yekaterina brushed past Seo Yeonhee.

Seo Yeonhee closed her eyes.

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The call from Mason came 30 minutes later.

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Chong Daolong was standing in his room.

He was standing with his hands clasped behind his back, looking at a scroll with the words ‘Serve the country with utmost loyalty’.

“Isn’t it beautiful?”

Mason and Seo Yeonhee looked at the scroll Chong Daolong was looking at.

It was definitely beautifully written. However, it was just beautifully written.

“Whose masterful work is it?”

“Lin Zexu-daein.”

“Lin Zexu?”

He was a famous official, called the last loyal subject of the Qing Dynasty.

He was a loyal subject who fought against opium and foreign powers all his life, a person whom any Chinese would undoubtedly respect.

“You have a valuable item that’s priceless.”

“I receive teachings from Lin-daein whenever my heart wavers.”

Chong Daolong turned around.

He looked into Mason’s eyes and understood his answer.

“The offer… is a refusal?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Mason said with a calm expression,

“Because China has Chong Daolong.”

“A reason not to leave Korea?”

“I also… have people I need to take care of.”

“Then there’s nothing I can do.”

Chong Daolong smiled.

“Have some tea before you go. Or would you prefer alcohol?”

However, Mason wasn’t finished talking.

“It’s not much of a substitute, but… if there’s a fight you really need me in, call me. Whether it’s for you or your country, it doesn’t matter. I’ll come running anytime.”

“…”

Chong Daolong was startled. Mason asked,

“Why, don’t you like it?”

“…It’s an offer a friend would make to a friend.”

“We’re friends, aren’t we?”

“Yes, we are.”

Chong Daolong smiled warmly.

“Seeing Park-hyung say that, it seems we’re already pengyou [朋友].”

Chong Daolong was about to clasp his hands in a bow but stopped.

He extended his hand.

“I won’t forget that offer, pengyou.”

Thump.

Mason took Chong Daolong’s hand.

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As Mason left the room, Seo Yeonhee said,

“Did you say that after calculating beforehand?”

“Huh? What?”

Seo Yeonhee smiled bitterly.

‘Well, that can’t be true.’

The word ‘pengyou’ is often translated as ‘friend’, but it implies a heavier and deeper relationship than that.

It was practically the same as forming an alliance, not the kind of friendship Mason had in mind.

“It ended well. Very well.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Mason looked around.

Korean attack team buildings were also full of advanced equipment, but they weren’t as large or diverse as this place.

“You wouldn’t be disappointed, would you?”

“I am a little disappointed. But… I have things to do in Korea.”

“I’m glad you said that. I thought I was going to lose Mason to China.”

Mason laughed and patted Seo Yeonhee’s back.

“Make sure I don’t get taken away. Got it?”

“Yes.”

Mason chuckled and walked away.

Standing one step behind, Seo Yeonhee watched Mason’s back.

‘I have things to do in Korea.’

As those words echoed in her mind, she quietly murmured,

“I have to make sure… you don’t get taken away…”

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Winter was coming.

Winter was a cold and harsh season. It was a cruel season that didn’t give birth to anything and made everything fall.

To both people, and even monsters.

To get through the winter safely… many things had to be checked.

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“Winter is coming.”

To Seo Yeonhee’s words, Mason replied,

“I know.”

It was already the season to be called late autumn. It was the season when people walked the streets in warm clothes and started preparing thick clothes.

However, that wasn’t what Seo Yeonhee meant.

“I mean, we have to prepare for the winter defense.”

“Winter defense? What’s that?”

“A battle to thin out the monsters, especially the goblins.”

The strongest monsters were probably the Five Great Demon Gods. But the monsters that caused the most casualties were the weakest monsters, the goblins.

It wasn’t because they were strong. Even considering the barrier, a goblin’s combat power was similar to that of a wild dog. Even an ordinary person could subdue them if they were armed with a gun, let alone a player.

The problem was… their numbers.

There were a lot of goblins. Way too many.

They were as strong as wild dogs but multiplied like rats. They increased and grew easily, to the point where no one knew what they ate to multiply and grow so much.

Most monsters even preyed on goblins.

In the monster ecosystem, goblins occupied the position that plants occupied in the regular ecosystem.

The fewer the number of goblins, the better.

To be more precise, the more they were reduced, the better.

“Using the Han River bridges as the battlefield, we reduce their numbers as much as possible.”

“Why do we have to do that?”

“We have to.”

The monsters’ invasion from the south, commonly known as the Big Wave, which wiped out the main force of the Republic of Korea in an instant.

The monsters, which had multiplied without limit in North Korea, which was a blind spot for surveillance, all surged at once and pushed back the regular army deployed near the armistice line with human wave tactics.

A nightmarish battle where there were more monsters than the shells being poured out.

Neither the Ministry of National Defense nor the players wanted to experience that situation again.

Like releasing steam from a pressure cooker, they wanted to reduce the number of monsters in advance.

“Then why does it have to be winter?”

“Because monsters are living creatures too, so they’re a bit subdued in winter. And also…”

“And?”

“We have to be prepared for monsters in winter anyway. Because the Han River might freeze.”