Chapter 400 – Part 2 – Revealing True Colors

Ryu Jong-ik inserted the USB into the laptop.

The USB contained only a single video file.

“I’ll play it now.”

The video that began playing featured a surprising person.

None other than Kwak Min-cheol.

But what was even more surprising was something else.

The face of another person appearing in the video looked exactly like Melvin.

It wasn’t just the face that was similar.

[Want to drink something?]

[No. This isn’t something to discuss leisurely over tea.]

When you listened to the voice, it was identical to Melvin’s.

Most of all, the Melvin in the video was having a conversation with Kwak Min-cheol like close friends.

“Why is Mr. Melvin with Association President Kwak Min-cheol…?”

Ryu Jong-ik turned his head in confusion.

Christopher also had a noticeably flustered expression, as if he didn’t know the video had been filmed.

[You know about Revolution, right? I heard from the spy over there…]

The Melvin in the video was shockingly giving Kwak Min-cheol information about the video and warning him.

So he could be prepared and take countermeasures in advance.

Moreover, from the context of the conversation, it appeared he had obtained information from a spy.

“To think the person colluding with spies was none other than Mr. Melvin…”

For Ryu Jong-ik, it couldn’t help but be shocking, but this was just a taste of what was to come.

[Wasn’t Revolution under your control, Christopher?]

[Of course it’s true that they’re in the palm of my hand.]

The attitude that he could manipulate Revolution at will if he set his mind to it was shocking.

‘But why is Kwak Min-cheol calling Melvin “Christopher”?’

It was puzzling, but Ryu Jong-ik couldn’t continue his thoughts any further.

Because another shocking statement came from Melvin’s mouth.

[I even set a trap to kill Revolution’s leader and core executives with this opportunity.]

‘He was trying to kill me and the executives…?’

That wasn’t the only shocking fact.

[Don’t worry too much, Min-cheol. I’ll solve it quickly.]

[How are you going to do what?]

[I’m planning to meet with Revolution as soon as dawn breaks. I’ll go there under the pretext of verifying the authenticity of the video and steal it.]

He belatedly realized that demanding the original video had been a ploy to steal it.

‘It was all lies. He never intended to verify the video’s authenticity from the beginning.’

He had simply been deceived by Melvin’s plausible smooth talk.

Ryu Jong-ik couldn’t come to his senses from the series of shocking facts, but the final decisive blow still remained.

[Thank you, Christopher. Really thank you.]

When the name Christopher came up again, Ryu Jong-ik’s eyes widened.

‘Not once but twice he called him that. What? Christopher is the name of a Great Hero…’

The question could be answered by asking the person directly.

Ryu Jong-ik’s gaze turned to Christopher.

“Mr. Melvin… Surely I’m not dreaming, am I? Is the person in the video really the Mr. Melvin I know?”

He asked Christopher, but no answer came back.

He was equally flustered.

‘Damn… to think the conversation with Min-cheol was filmed completely…’

The video was filmed at dawn today, when he was having a conversation with Kwak Min-cheol at the mansion.

It seemed there had been a hidden camera in the reception room at that time.

‘Which bastard filmed it? Was it Min-cheol? Did that guy betray me?’

The confusion was brief.

Christopher glared at the black mask.

‘Could that bastard have secretly infiltrated Min-cheol’s mansion and filmed the video?’

He didn’t know the details, but anyway, if he killed the black mask, he would find out.

Christopher glared at the black mask.

“Hey, you. Where did this video come from?”

“Where did it come from? I obtained it from Kwak Min-cheol’s mansion. You should know well since you were at the scene.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Do you have proof I was at the scene? This kind of video can be fabricated easily.”

“Ah, so you’re going to play dumb first?”

Choi Seong-min, who smiled behind the mask, looked at Ryu Jong-ik and said:

“Revolution Leader. As you felt while watching the video, this person is not the Melvin you know.”

“Then…?”

“His real name is Christopher Gibson. Someone with 3 million combat power and one of Westland’s Great Heroes, that’s his true identity.”

Ryu Jong-ik’s eyes widened.

He also knew the name Christopher Gibson.

He didn’t know because the face was completely unknown.

‘No wonder they kept calling him Christopher in the video…’

Choi Seong-min continued:

“The alias Melvin Hernandez he’s using is his S-rank direct subordinate. He took advantage of being the only Great Hero whose face wasn’t known and infiltrated Westland’s rebels. After that, he acted like an ally and rose to the leader position.”

This time Christopher’s eyes widened in surprise.

Somehow the black mask was accurately seeing through his activities.

“His purpose is one thing. To gather rebels and eliminate them all. Contacting Revolution was also to help Kwak Min-cheol root out Eastland’s rebels. As you saw in the video, he’s close with Kwak Min-cheol.”

“Nonsense! Do you have proof? Do you?”

Christopher shouted frantically, but Choi Seong-min remained calm.

“Isn’t there the most certain proof right here?”

What Choi Seong-min pointed to was the laptop.

The video was the most certain evidence.

“Damn it, this can be fabricated! Do you know how good technology is these days? This kind of conversation can easily be…”

“Then we can have an expert examine whether it’s fabricated or not.”

“…”

For a moment Christopher was speechless.

The fact that the video was true was something he knew best of all.

‘If they examine it, it’ll be determined that it’s not fabricated.’

In short, it was only a matter of time before his lies were exposed.

“Call, call an expert! We can check whether it’s fabricated or not!”

“So you’re planning to buy time to devise countermeasures since you’ll be caught anyway.”

“What, what nonsense…”

“Revolution Leader. What do you think? Doesn’t his flustered behavior look suspicious?”

Ryu Jong-ik nodded as if agreeing.

“Melvin… no, are you really Christopher Gibson?”

“I said I’m not!”

When he still played dumb, Choi Seong-min laughed behind his mask.

“I knew this would happen, so I prepared a witness. Come in!”

When Choi Seong-min shouted, someone who had been waiting by the door entered.

Seeing the person who entered, Christopher couldn’t help but be surprised.

‘Why, why is that bastard here?’

It was none other than his subordinate, Melvin Hernandez… but for some reason, one of his arms was missing.

“Please introduce yourself.”

“I, I am Melvin Hernandez… Lord Christopher’s direct subordinate.”

While answering, Melvin glanced at Christopher.

He was worried that he might suddenly attack and kill him.

Sure enough, when Christopher glared at him with murderous eyes, he immediately sided with Choi Seong-min.

“Ma-Mask sir…”

“Don’t worry. I promised, didn’t I? If you testify well, I’ll protect you.”

Melvin nodded slightly.

Because he had been threatened in advance that he would be killed if he didn’t testify, he had no choice.

Christopher was scary, but if he wanted to live, he had to betray him.

‘If, if anything happens, the black mask will protect me.’

The fact that the black mask was a strong person who could surpass Christopher was something he knew well.

Though he only realized it after losing an arm.

“Revolution Leader. This person is the real Melvin.”

“Stop playing tricks! Where did you bring some random person from…”

Despite Christopher’s resistance, this was also within Choi Seong-min’s expectations.

“Melvin. Show your hunter ID.”

“Here it is.”

Melvin handed his hunter ID to Ryu Jong-ik.

It was issued by Westland and had a photo of the same face as Melvin attached.

“I am indeed S-rank Hunter Melvin Hernandez. This person is Christopher Gibson and is my superior.”

“…”

Christopher glared at Melvin with murderous eyes.

‘That bastard…!’

For him, it was a situation where he couldn’t help but be internally furious.

His subordinate was openly betraying him right in front of his eyes, so how could he not be enraged?

‘Has that crazy bastard Melvin lost his mind? Isn’t he afraid of the consequences?’

He wanted to pour out curses and pressure him about how he could betray, but.

‘If I do that, it would be admitting that Melvin is my subordinate.’

If he acknowledged Melvin as his subordinate, his identity as a Great Hero would also be exposed.

‘I don’t know what reason he had for siding with the black mask, but I must definitely make excuses. If I acknowledge it, the alliance ends that day.’

He couldn’t let the carefully built tower collapse.

He had to overcome this crisis somehow.

While thinking such thoughts, Christopher happened to see it.

Ryu Jong-ik looking at him with contemptuous eyes.

‘Damn… he ended up believing their words? Is that it?’

Well, it would be stranger not to be suspicious when there was evidence video and even a witness appeared.

After seeing the hunter ID, he would have no choice but to believe it.

‘Damn, now he won’t believe anything I say.’

Judging by his expression, the alliance was already ruined.

‘It’s not my style, but it can’t be helped. Since it’s come to this, I have no choice but to kill them all.’

Since his identity was exposed, there was no need to act anymore.

It was a somewhat dirty method, but there was no other way than complete massacre.

‘First I need to kill the black mask, who’s the source of all this trouble.’

He might not know about others, but the black mask absolutely had to die.

“I expected the moment to reveal my identity would come someday…”

Tsuuuut-

When Christopher equipped his gear, the others also warily equipped their gear quickly.

“But I didn’t know I’d be cornered like this and have to reveal it.”

Murderous intent flowed from Christopher’s eyes as he held a golden hammer.

“That’s right. I am Christopher Gibson, you monkey bastards.”

“Finally showing your true colors.”

Unlike Choi Seong-min who reacted calmly, Ryu Jong-ik had a somewhat shocked expression.

“I suspected it, but to think you were really a Great Hero…”

“You’re just realizing that now? You stupid bastard.”

“…”

“Well, accepting the alliance readily from the beginning was proof of being a sucker.”

“Then, the reason you contacted us from the beginning was…”

“Why are you asking something new? Didn’t that masked bastard say it all earlier? My plan is to catch you all and massacre you completely.”

“…”

Christopher’s gaze turned to the black mask.

“Let me ask just one thing. How do you know so much detail about me?”

“I did some investigating on you.”

“Not just ‘some’? That’s information you couldn’t know without digging deep… Do you have some grudge against me or something?”

“I just have a hobby of investigating trash like you.”

“This damn bastard…”

A vicious atmosphere was created as if a fight would break out immediately, but no one swung their weapons.

‘You’re provoking me even knowing I’m a Great Hero?’

That meant he was confident even against combat power exceeding 3 million.

‘It doesn’t seem like he’s just bluffing…’

That’s why Christopher couldn’t act rashly.

Because he didn’t know what the black mask’s skills were like.

‘All I know is that he’s good enough to defeat three S-rank subordinates with over 1.5 million.’

That level might be possible with 2 million combat power, but the problem was that he showed no sign of being intimidated even in front of his 3 million.

He could only guess from hearing the voice.

‘Damn it. I need to see what expression he has because of that mask.’

Christopher’s gaze shifted to Melvin.

“You bat-like bastard. I treated you so well, yet you betray me?”

“I’m, I’m sorry, Great Hero. I also have to survive…”

“Then you picked the wrong side. You’ll die by my hand along with these bastards.”

It was when Christopher held his hammer with murderous intent.

Puk-!

Choi Seong-min’s dagger made a hole in the neck of Melvin who was beside him.

Thud-

Melvin collapsed and the floor was stained with blood.

At the sudden situation, not only Ryu Jong-ik but even Christopher opened their mouths.

“What are you surprised about? I just cleaned up one piece of trash.”

“What?”

“Though there’s still one more left.”

At Choi Seong-min’s words, Christopher’s gaze turned cold.

“You want to try me?”

“Wasn’t that why you pulled out that hammer?”

Choi Seong-min, who had been speaking leisurely, looked at Ryu Jong-ik.

“Revolution Leader.”

“Yes? Yes.”

“Please step back further. I’ll handle that guy.”

Choi Seong-min smiled behind his mask.

“An execution is sufficient with just me alone.”