Chapter 399 – Part 2 – Two People Who Came to Revolution

Ryu Jong-ik’s eyes widened like saucers.

‘The Wings of Hope leader has come?’

Just as he was approaching the door to go out and greet them, a man entered the operations room.

It was the leader of the Westland rebels, Melvin Hernandez.

“Everyone’s here, I see.”

“Me-Melvin sir?”

Toward the flustered Ryu Jong-ik, Christopher showed a friendly smile.

“Nice to see you. Leader Ryu Jong-ik. Is this the second time we’re meeting like this?”

“How did you come here without any contact…”

“Haha, did I make you uncomfortable by showing up suddenly?”

“Ah, not at all.”

To be honest, it was uncomfortable, but Ryu Jong-ik couldn’t treat Christopher carelessly.

He was the only ally who had extended a helping hand first, and his combat power was 200,000 higher than his own.

Most importantly, they needed Wings of Hope’s help to accomplish their great cause.

In short, he was a grateful yet difficult existence.

“I wanted to meet you right away, but contacting by email felt frustrating. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable by coming suddenly.”

“It’s, it’s fine. Please come this way.”

Ryu Jong-ik led Christopher to the head seat.

The remaining members who were in the operations room bowed their heads in greeting and tactfully left.

Soon, when only the two were left in the operations room, Ryu Jong-ik spoke.

“The reason you came so urgently…”

“I received intelligence.”

“Intelligence?”

“Intelligence that you obtained a video featuring the association president.”

“…!”

Ryu Jong-ik’s eyes bulged as if they would pop out.

“How did you know that…!”

“You raided the hunter training facility at dawn, didn’t you? And obtained something from the director’s office.”

“…”

Ryu Jong-ik’s surprised expression soon turned cold.

The things Christopher was talking about were high-level information that outsiders shouldn’t know.

There was no way to know unless he had colluded with a spy.

“Oh my, please put away that murderous intent. It’s scary.”

“…How do you know this?”

“It’s nothing special. The fact that the hunter training facility was attacked is something you can find out with a decent information network. As for the video, I was able to find out by threatening the facility’s director.”

“You found all this out in less than a day?”

“I’m quite quick to act.”

So he was saying he found out through his own investigation.

Ryu Jong-ik had no choice but to apologize.

“I’m sorry. It seems I misunderstood.”

“Haha, I’m glad the misunderstanding is cleared up. By the way, what kind of misunderstanding made you look at me with such murderous eyes…”

“We found out there’s a spy inside. I guess I unconsciously showed hostility. I’m sorry.”

“Oh my… A spy. That must be quite troublesome.”

Christopher, who was acting worried, smiled inwardly.

‘Fortunately, it seems Nam Il-woo hasn’t been discovered.’

If the spy hadn’t been caught, he could continue to use him.

Christopher, who had been thinking of killing Nam Il-woo and cutting off the tail if necessary, decided to spare his life.

“That aside, about the video featuring the association president… Could I see it once? I heard the general content by threatening the director, but seeing it directly could help in planning future operations.”

“Of course. Just a moment.”

Ryu Jong-ik brought a laptop and took out the USB he had been treasuring like his life from his chest.

“Please take a look.”

The video played.

It was footage of a man who looked unmistakably like Kwak Min-cheol committing murder.

“Hmm…”

When the video ended, Christopher had to struggle to manage his expression to hide his discomfort.

‘If this spreads on the internet, Kwak Min-cheol’s image is finished.’

Demonstrations and riots could break out nationwide.

No matter how much this was a society where power came first, humans couldn’t live alone.

Even Great Heroes couldn’t ignore public opinion.

“Have you shared or copied this video anywhere by chance?”

“No. The video is just as we got it from the training facility. We haven’t had time to do anything with it.”

“Then you’re planning to share it later…?”

Ryu Jong-ik nodded.

“Of course. It would be a waste for only me to see this video, wouldn’t it? I need to think about how to use it, but someday I’ll have to share it with the citizens. They have a right to know what their leader’s true face looks like.”

“…That’s a very good idea.”

Though he said that, Christopher wanted to snatch the USB from Ryu Jong-ik right away.

‘Patience. This isn’t something that can be solved by taking it by force.’

Christopher wanted to handle things intellectually rather than with force if possible.

‘I need to plan carefully, corner them, then eliminate them completely.’

He had to drive Revolution and Wings of Hope into one place and kill them without his identity being discovered.

That’s why he had been playing the spy role and secured the leader position.

Most importantly, this was something that could put his romantic friend Min-cheol in a disadvantageous position.

‘To help Min-cheol, I need to take that video.’

Christopher, who had been pretending to ponder while stroking his chin, casually said:

“Leader. About this video.”

“Yes.”

“Can you be certain it’s not fabricated?”

“Fabricated…?”

“Technology has advanced these days so nothing’s impossible. This kind of murder video can easily be fabricated with deepfake technology.”

“No way… It’s a video the training facility director carefully kept in his personal safe, how could it be fabricated…”

“That’s something we won’t know until we check, isn’t it?”

“That’s true.”

The moment Ryu Jong-ik agreed, Christopher’s lips curved up pleasantly.

‘He admitted it.’

Ryu Jong-ik didn’t see that expression.

It was literally a split second.

“If you give me the video, I’ll check whether it’s real or fake and return it to you. I know a capable expert in this field.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“However, there must be no traces of copying or tampering with the file. You need to bring it exactly as you found it for me to properly determine if it’s fabricated or not.”

“Ah…”

For Ryu Jong-ik, who had been planning to give him a copy, this was an awkward situation.

‘What should I do? Should I hand over the USB?’

Since he didn’t know much about this field, it would be good to get help.

But since it was such a precious video, he was reluctant to hand it over.

It was because of insufficient trust.

‘Melvin and I have only met twice. Can I trust him?’

Though they were allies, he was honestly hesitant.

When no answer came, Christopher spoke directly.

“You seem to find me untrustworthy.”

“Um, it’s not that, but rather…”

Seeing Ryu Jong-ik hesitating without being able to speak, Christopher smiled warmly.

“It’s fine. I understand completely. In a situation where spies are emerging from within, you can’t readily entrust such an important item.”

Christopher laughed heartily and acted magnanimously.

“If you find me untrustworthy, you don’t have to entrust it to me. I was just trying to help with the verification process. If you have another trustworthy expert, it would be much better to entrust it to them.”

“Ah, no. I don’t know any experts in this field either…”

“Then will you entrust it to me?”

“Yes. Please take care of it.”

Perhaps reassured by his unselfish appearance?

Ryu Jong-ik dropped his suspicions.

‘I can trust Melvin sir. It’s certain he’s someone in the same boat.’

Ryu Jong-ik removed the USB from the laptop.

“Here it is.”

“You’re certain there are no copies?”

“Of course. We only watched the video and didn’t do any other manipulations.”

“That’s fortunate. The accuracy of the examination is higher when it’s as close to the original as possible.”

Christopher, who received the USB, grinned.

‘Keke, naive fool. To hand over such an important item to me whom he’s only met a few times.’

Since he had the position of leader, he probably couldn’t imagine betrayal.

‘Believing my words at face value is proof of being naive.’

Christopher, who had laughed at him plenty inwardly, put the USB in his chest.

‘This way Min-cheol won’t have any troubles. Our relationship will become even closer than before.’

Though he helped because they were friends, it was also true that he had personal motives.

Christopher wanted to become even closer to Min-cheol through this opportunity.

“Then I’ll get going now. I need to quickly get the analysis done.”

“Ah, please do.”

“I’ll contact you as soon as the analysis is finished. Then.”

Christopher, who bowed his head, was about to leave with the USB when.

Bang!

The operations room door opened and a member entered.

With an urgent expression, just like when Melvin had entered.

“Le-Leader!”

“What’s the matter now?”

“He, he’s here.”

“Who again?”

No sooner had he asked who it was than another person entered the operations room.

It was a mysterious man wearing a black mask.

“The, the black mask…!”

Ryu Jong-ik was more surprised than when Christopher had come.

The veiled existence who had not only annihilated human trafficking gangs but appeared during operations to massacre criminal hunters before disappearing.

He never expected that person would come to Revolution.

“Are you Leader Ryu Jong-ik?”

Ryu Jong-ik was surprised by the black mask’s words.

He knew not only his name but even his title of leader.

That meant he also knew what kind of organization this was.

Ryu Jong-ik’s gaze turned cold.

“How do you know my name…”

“I accidentally discovered your members at the hunter training facility and eavesdropped on conversations while in stealth. I learned not only your name but also what purpose you raided for and what kind of organization this is. I apologize for secretly eavesdropping.”

“Then, coming here was also…”

“Yes. I followed the members returning after the raid.”

“Ah…”

The fact that the black mask’s skills were among the highest even among S-ranks was something he already knew well from seeing the battle.

He could have eavesdropped on all conversations without being detected while in stealth.

‘Not only the organization’s identity but even our base has been discovered.’

To think it was so easy to be discovered by an S-rank hunter…

Ryu Jong-ik opened his mouth blankly in dismay.

“I’m sorry for following without permission, but I have something to tell you.”

So saying, the black mask held out something to Ryu Jong-ik.

It was a USB.

“What is this?”

“There’s a surprising video inside.”

“What kind of video…”

“Let’s check what kind of video it is right now.”

To suddenly hand over a video.

Ryu Jong-ik didn’t let down his guard.

“Why should I watch this? Isn’t it a strange video?”

“I guarantee you’ll regret it if you don’t watch it. It’s a video that will be tremendously helpful for your organization’s future, so don’t worry.”

“…”

Ryu Jong-ik was conflicted.

‘To suddenly come and tell me to watch a video.’

Whether he should trust the black mask’s words.

‘Should I trust the words of someone who hasn’t revealed their name or face?’

Honestly, the Wings of Hope leader beside him seemed much more trustworthy.

However.

“Understood. I’ll watch it, thinking of it as being deceived.”

Ryu Jong-ik accepted the USB from the black mask.

The reason was simple.

‘A video that will be tremendously helpful for the organization’s future?’

Moreover, he even threatened that he’d regret it if he didn’t watch it, so how could he not watch?

‘Though I’m seeing him for the first time today, I can’t take his words lightly.’

The black mask’s reputation within the organization was quite good.

Not only did he single-handedly destroy human trafficking gangs, but he also eliminated criminals.

Recently, even the story of saving Do Eun-jeong had spread, cementing his image as an agent of justice.

‘Just looking at his actions so far, this person’s credibility is guaranteed.’

Moreover, his tone and voice were serious.

Though his expression wasn’t visible, he didn’t seem like someone who would joke about such things.

It was when Ryu Jong-ik was about to insert the USB.

Christopher, who had been watching like a stone statue from the side, spoke up.

“I’ll be going now. Please have your conversation together.”

“Ah, I’m sorry for keeping you. Please go safely.”

Ryu Jong-ik apologized with a sorry face.

He had forgotten about seeing him off because he was talking with the black mask.

Christopher glanced at the black mask before leaving.

‘Is this the bastard who killed my subordinates and ruined the operation?’

Christopher had heard from his spy.

That the black mask was the main culprit who ruined his operation.

‘Damn bastard. I’ll definitely repay the debt I owe you next time.’

He was avoiding it now because he had urgent business, but if he met him again someday, he would smash his head with a hammer.

With such thoughts, just as he was about to pass the black mask.

Tap.

The black mask grabbed his shoulder.

“Before you go, let’s watch the video together. It’ll be interesting.”

“…What?”

Christopher was dumbfounded.

To grab him, who had no relation to this, and suggest watching a video together.

Ryu Jong-ik was also looking this way with a flustered face.

“I’m busy, so I don’t have time for that.”

He said that and tried to pull away, but.

“You should watch it. It’s a very surprising video.”

“You can watch such things yourself.”

“It’s too good for me to watch alone. It won’t take long, so I hope you’ll definitely watch it.”

The black mask persistently held on.

Then even curiosity that hadn’t existed before arose.

‘What kind of video is it that he’s doing this even to me?’

Since he kept insisting, Ryu Jong-ik also sided with the black mask.

“Melvin sir. Don’t be like that and let’s watch it together once. Aren’t you curious what kind of video it is?”

“Hmm… If it doesn’t take long…”

Eventually Christopher decided to watch the video before leaving.

Honestly, he had a bad feeling, but he had to watch it out of curiosity.

But the moment he saw the video, Christopher realized.

That not leaving the operations room was the mistake of a lifetime.