Chapter 436 – Part 2 – After the Coup

When Ryu Jong-ik regained consciousness, the situation was already over.

Though the person in question didn’t know it.

“All the doors are broken. Who could have been here?”

“Seems like it.”

Woo Seong-jae, wearing the black mask, answered shamelessly.

Ryu Jong-ik looked around one room, confirmed no one was there, and turned around.

It was the room where Kwak Min-cheol had been just moments before, but he didn’t notice at all.

The corpse had disappeared cleanly through Vitality Recovery.

“No one’s here. Let’s look upstairs to see if he’s there.”

“Let’s do that.”

The two went up to ground level to look for Kwak Min-cheol.

Choi Seong-min watched this scene using stealth.

‘Fortunately, it went well.’

Thanks to the memory erasure, Ryu Jong-ik remembered nothing.

Not Kwak Min-cheol, and not even the Black Mask’s identity.

Even though it had happened just 5 minutes ago.

‘This is it. Everything’s finished.’

As expected, the coup had ended successfully.

Ryu Jong-ik, who couldn’t find Kwak Min-cheol, would return to the association.

And as planned, he would spread Kwak Min-cheol’s murder video on the internet.

‘Learning of Kwak Min-cheol’s death will come in two weeks.’

When the rankings updated in two weeks, the deaths of all Great Heroes including Kwak Min-cheol and Melissa would be revealed.

Including Woo Seong-jae’s death.

‘I just need to command Woo Seong-jae to go somewhere quiet and commit suicide.’

Once all 8 Heroes died and their crimes were exposed, winning over public sentiment?

All that would remain was for Ryu Jong-ik, who had risen as the new association president, to reform the government.

‘That’s when it begins. When the world starts to change.’

Though he’d have to wait and see if things would flow as planned.

‘I’ll watch over things for a while.’

The figure of the stealthed Choi Seong-min disappeared without a trace.

* * *

After the coup, Revolution took control of the association.

Association employees thought terrorists had occupied it and didn’t come to work.

It was a natural flow since they had occupied it without warning.

“Captain, what about Kwak Min-cheol? Still haven’t found him?”

“Yes. We’re searching everywhere, but we have no idea where he is.”

Ryu Jong-ik, who needed to complete his revenge, was desperately searching for Kwak Min-cheol, but there was no way to find someone already dead.

“It can’t be helped. Let’s spread the video as planned first. Before the citizens’ misunderstanding deepens.”

“Understood.”

Articles about the association being taken over by terrorists had already appeared, so they had no choice.

Revolution spread Kwak Min-cheol’s murder video on the internet as planned.

The reaction was hotter than expected.

[Title: We reveal the truth about Association President Kwak Min-cheol.]

└What’s this video? Is it real, not manipulated?

└Crazy. A Great Hero commits murder?

└Shouldn’t they at least mosaic it? It’s too brutal?

└If they mosaicked it, people might suspect it’s fake, so they didn’t.

└Ugh, disgusting. Shouldn’t have watched it, damn.

└If this is true, the association president is a murderer.

└ㄷㄷㄷ;; Thought he was a hero but he was killing people behind the scenes.

└Aren’t these terrorists who took over the association actually the good guys?

└ㄹㅇ There’s always a reason for coups.

└That’s our Great Hero representing Eastland? Such a murderer?

└Chills, more chills…!

Though some comments claimed the video was fake or defended Kwak Min-cheol, they were a tiny minority.

Most were filled with criticism.

“Leader! Look at the comment reactions. A thousand comments in just one day! Over 200,000 views too!”

“Good. When reporters spread the video and make it an issue, even more people will know.”

Ryu Jong-ik waited for the time.

When fewer people would call them communists.

When his arguments would carry the most weight.

After waiting another week like that.

“Leader! Views exceeded 200 million!”

“Good. It’s about time to announce our statement.”

Ryu Jong-ik, who had been holding out day by day using the association as a base, began to act.

He decided to make a public announcement.

* * *

Click- Click- Click-

A gathering of reporters.

Ryu Jong-ik appeared on the podium where video was being broadcast live.

“Hello, everyone. I am Ryu Jong-ik, leader of Revolution. Though I may be better known as the terrorist who caused the coup, it was all for a just cause…”

This was both an important and meaningful occasion.

It was the first official announcement by the terrorists who had maintained silence, and the starting shot announcing the beginning of reform.

“Many of you must have seen the video we uploaded. While we will secure additional evidence to prove the true nature of other Great Heroes, as you can see, the Great Heroes are very different from what you know. Heroes? Did they really look like heroes in the video?”

Though it wasn’t a question expecting an answer, several reporters shook their heads.

Having seen the video themselves, they couldn’t help but agree with Ryu Jong-ik’s statement.

“Do you really think the current system that discriminates from birth and divides power through a rotten class system is right? If anyone thinks it’s right, it would only be those who have tasted the flavor of power from atop the food chain. Aren’t commoners and slaves also human beings? Why should they be discriminated against based on their status?”

Ryu Jong-ik, who had been raising his voice, took a deep breath and calmed his excitement.

“Our Revolution is an organization created to correct such injustices. We caused a coup to improve society into one where everyone is equal and anyone can be satisfied.”

Ryu Jong-ik suddenly spoke with serious eyes.

“Six months. I definitively promise you citizens that if you recognize me as association president for just six months and cooperate with me, I will change these overall problems of society.”

With his bold declaration finished, Ryu Jong-ik stepped down from the podium.

Click click click click click click-

The sound of shutters was incessant.

It was like the emergence of a new association president.

‘He gave a pretty good speech. The reporters’ reactions are good too.’

Choi Seong-min, who had been watching with stealth, smiled.

Reading the reporters’ thoughts, most were accepting Ryu Jong-ik favorably.

They too had been aware.

How wrong the current society was.

That’s why they had been hoping someone would step forward and overhaul this society.

‘As I requested, he didn’t mention the Black Mask at all.’

Though the Black Mask who eliminated the Great Heroes was naturally the main contributor to the coup, Choi Seong-min had asked Ryu Jong-ik not to mention it.

‘Just in case someone who might target the family as acquaintances of the Black Mask appears.’

Thinking of his family’s safety, the more such information was hidden, the better.

‘I should give a final greeting before retiring.’

Choi Seong-min followed Ryu Jong-ik while stealthed.

He cancelled stealth in front of him as he rested in the waiting room.

Of course, while wearing the black mask.

“Ah, Black Mask.”

“I heard your speech well. You did better than I thought.”

“Haha, thank you. Well, no matter how eloquently I speak, it’s no use if the citizens don’t empathize and cooperate.”

“Don’t worry about that. Everyone will empathize with your words. Trust me.”

“If the Black Mask says so, I have to believe it. Haha!”

Perhaps his tension had eased, as Ryu Jong-ik smiled broadly.

It was different from what he had shown so far.

“You seem relieved now.”

“Ah, did it show? Since I’ve been running toward this day, I feel both relieved and proud.”

Ryu Jong-ik smiled, but only briefly.

Not all problems had been solved.

“The remaining problems are Woo Seong-jae and Kwak Min-cheol. We can’t know how Woo Seong-jae will react after seeing the official statement, so it’s too early to let our guard down. Kwak Min-cheol’s whereabouts are still unknown, which is problematic…”

Even if they had killed all other Great Heroes, the obstacle of Woo Seong-jae remained.

He hadn’t even been able to get proper revenge on Kwak Min-cheol.

It was natural for Ryu Jong-ik to worry.

“Don’t worry about those two. They won’t interfere.”

“How do you know that?”

“I just know. Trust me.”

Choi Seong-min smiled under his mask.

In a week when combat power was updated, they would naturally learn.

That all Great Heroes’ names had disappeared from the ranking window.

“Everything will be fine, so don’t worry too much.”

“If the Black Mask says so, I have to believe it. Haha!”

“Now that there are no more obstacles, I should retire.”

“What?”

Ryu Jong-ik, who had been laughing just moments before, became serious as if he had heard shocking news.

“No, retire?”

“That’s right, isn’t it? The world no longer needs me. Since I’ve fulfilled my role, it’s time to go back.”

“But…”

“I came here to say goodbye. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Ah…”

Though Ryu Jong-ik couldn’t continue speaking, he vaguely felt it too.

That the Black Mask couldn’t stay by his side forever.

“…I understand. If that’s the Black Mask’s will, I should send you off with a smile.”

Ryu Jong-ik, who had been forcing a smile, suddenly extended his hand.

Understanding his intention, Choi Seong-min lightly grasped his hand.

“Thank you all this time, Black Mask. Thanks to you, I could achieve our cause and reach this position.”

“No. It’s because of your will that we could come this far.”

Choi Seong-min’s words weren’t empty.

Without someone like Ryu Jong-ik, the world wouldn’t have changed even if the 8 Heroes died.

‘New cancer cells might have taken the Great Heroes’ vacant positions and repeated the cycle again.’

That’s why movements to achieve transformation like Ryu Jong-ik’s are necessary in the world.

To avoid repeating the same mistakes.

“Though it was a short time, it was an honor to work together.”

Ryu Jong-ik, who had finished the handshake, bowed deeply.

Smiling under his mask, Choi Seong-min disappeared after leaving only a brief word.

“Well then.”

* * *

Six months had passed since the coup.

During this time, Choi Seong-min didn’t ascend to the underworld but watched the situation.

To confirm whether Ryu Jong-ik would truly achieve righteous change as he had promised the people.

‘He really kept his promise.’

Ultimately, it was a success.

Ryu Jong-ik, who became the new association president, showed different behavior from the previous Great Heroes.

First, he abolished the class system and governed all citizens equally under national law.

He also announced he wouldn’t interfere with economic activities and placed no restrictions.

Even those not of merchant status could now open shops and sell goods if they had money.

‘The biggest change is in the hunter industry.’

He completely eliminated the existing method of monopolizing dungeons with supervisors for exploitation, changing it so they could be used freely.

Now any hunter could hunt to their heart’s content.

‘Just like the hunter industry in my previous life.’

Though systems like guilds, managers, and coordinators weren’t established yet, they were steadily building them.

Winds of change were blowing.

‘The world has definitely improved. Public reactions are good too.’

Citizens who had been half-doubtful and wouldn’t acknowledge him at first now completely recognized Ryu Jong-ik as association president.

‘Most importantly, revealing the 8 Heroes’ evil deeds was the biggest factor.’

The 8 Heroes’ names could no longer be found in the ranking window.

Citizens were initially shocked by this fact, but when Ryu Jong-ik discovered and revealed the Great Heroes’ evil deeds, they began agreeing that they deserved to die.

‘Moreover, since the leaders they had been relying on were gone, citizens had no choice but to find new leaders.’

Since there was someone stepping forward to play the leader role, citizens probably had the mindset of trusting and watching once.

The result was a great success like now.

‘They’ll do well without me now. Humanity won’t perish either.’

Now he could leave with peace of mind.

Choi Seong-min opened the ranking window with a relieved heart.

1st place – Choi Seong-min (Age 20) – Combat Power 50,213,993 (S-rank)

‘This name will disappear next month too.’

Currently, Choi Seong-min had maintained the 1st ranking with 50 million combat power for five months straight.

He had no choice.

2nd place was only 3 million combat power.

‘The media is praising me as the unshakeable 1st place, but they’d be disappointed if they were surprised by just this much.’

Originally, Choi Seong-min’s potential combat power was 3.3 billion, but worried it would cause too much talk, he stopped hunting and didn’t raise it further.

‘Even at 50 million now, I’m receiving enough attention to feel uncomfortable. If I fully updated to 3.3 billion…’

The hunter industry would be completely turned upside down.

He might even be revered as a god.

‘Such a life wouldn’t be bad either, but since I’ve achieved my purpose, it’s right to return without lingering attachments.’

Thinking of his family who would be waiting, there was no more time to stay here.

Just as he was steeling his resolve, an Elsis message suddenly appeared.

[Warning! Administrator is accessing user’s system!]

[Safe mode activating. Blocking external access.]

[Block canceled. This is an authorized administrator.]

‘Is it Dayna?’

As expected, a young voice was heard shortly after.

[Haven’t you finished your business in the living world yet? I’ve been waiting for so long but you haven’t come up to the underworld.]

[Didn’t you say you’d wait patiently?]

[That’s true, but…]

[Don’t worry. I’ve just finished.]

[Really? That’s great. Now you can come to the underworld.]

Dayna spoke in a bright voice.

[Come on, hurry up and commit suicide.]