Chapter 146
"Hah... This is ridiculous."
After hearing Weizhigang's rather lengthy story, Lee Seong-jun let out a mocking laugh.
"So, to summarize the key points, the high-ranking Chinese officials are arguing that instead of rewarding us for this incident, they should hold us accountable for failing to properly defend their territory?"
To be more specific, there was also political retaliation and checks involved, with all of Feilongcheng's assets being confiscated and major officials like Weizhigang being branded as criminals.
However, looking at the surface situation, Lee Seong-jun's summary could be considered accurate.
"...That's correct."
As Weizhigang nodded in agreement, Lee Seong-jun's expression hardened.
"They must be out of their minds."
Though he was called the Blood Demon, Lee Seong-jun himself was not exactly a saint.
However, he had never crossed the line to be called a villain.
In other words, he had never engaged in such despicable acts as trying to eliminate people who could be called heroes, who had made great contributions to saving countless citizens even at the cost of their own lives, for political reasons.
Just as cold anger was rising in a corner of Lee Seong-jun's heart...
Bang-! Bang-!
With the rush of approaching presences, Lee Seong-jun's door was broken down.
Since he had already sensed their presence, there was no need to be surprised.
However, as his displeasure was evident, Lee Seong-jun's brow furrowed as he shifted his gaze.
"Lee Seong-jun."
A man at the center of the many people who had rushed inside called out Lee Seong-jun's name.
"What are you doing?"
Despite Lee Seong-jun's words filled with displeasure, the man shrugged his shoulders as if it was no big deal.
Immediately after, he pulled out a piece of paper from his breast pocket and spoke in a confident tone.
"It's an urgent arrest warrant from the Party. Please cooperate with the investigation quietly."
Having heard Weizhigang's story earlier, the shallow ploys of the Chinese government were becoming clearly visible.
As a result, the anger that had been rising in a corner of his heart now erupted like an active volcano.
"...So you've finally crossed the line."
A voice colder than winter ice flowed from Lee Seong-jun's lips.
At the same time, Beijing City Hall.
In the conference room located there, many high-ranking officials were still letting out faint sighs.
"Ahem... It seems Feilongcheng has been dealt with to this extent... What are your thoughts on how to handle Lee Seong-jun?"
At one man's question, the gazes of the officials sitting nearby all turned towards the head seat.
Liu Yuning, who had risen to become the new Standing Committee member of the Politburo and third in the Communist Party hierarchy, replacing the purged Li Huning, curved his eyes as he looked at them with a relaxed expression.
"We'll have to deal with him decisively when the opportunity arises, just like the others."
South Korea's Lee Seong-jun could be considered China's biggest headache at the moment.
This was because due to this one individual named Lee Seong-jun, South Korea, a country they had always handled at will, had started to assert its own opinions, resulting in the loss of many vested interests.
Even the factories operating in the north had to reduce not only the materials used but also their operating hours due to South Korea's protests about fine dust generation, causing considerable economic damage.
From China's perspective, there was no way they could look favorably upon Lee Seong-jun. And now this troublemaker had entered Chinese territory of his own accord.
Naturally, they had no intention of letting him return home quietly.
However, not all Chinese officials shared Liu Yuning's thoughts.
"I've heard that Lee Seong-jun single-handedly defeated the Corpse Pile Legion and Rethar, the Emperor of the Dead, whom even the Allied Forces couldn't handle... He's such a powerful individual that if we provoke him recklessly, we might end up suffering greatly instead."
"I think it would be better to first give him proper treatment and compensation befitting his achievements this time, and then observe the situation a bit longer."
"You fools! This is why you're all stuck here in the north!"
Liu Yuning, furrowing his brow at the sight of the officials cowering in fear, shouted and opened his mouth once again.
"The report clearly stated that Lee Seong-jun defeated Rethar with overwhelming power, right? If we interpret this a bit differently, it means he could have subdued him in one go from the start."
A sinister smile bloomed on Liu Yuning's lips as he spoke.
"Yet, instead of defeating him immediately, he engaged in a prolonged fierce battle, turning our precious land into a dead zone covered in the poison of the corpse piles. So, isn't it only natural to hold Lee Seong-jun accountable?"
It could be said to be an absurdly unreasonable claim.
That's why the officials couldn't easily agree.
However, they couldn't go against the words of Liu Yuning, the third-ranking Standing Committee member of the Politburo.
They could only cautiously gauge the situation.
"But, but..."
"Tsk tsk, there's a limit to how stupid one can be."
When a few officials who gathered courage tried to voice their opinions, Liu Yuning cut them off immediately.
"I've already dispatched the Public Security urgently, so don't waste time arguing and just wait to see the results that will unfold soon."
Liu Yuning's expression, as he faced the officials, was filled with self-confidence and conviction.
At the same time, Lee Seong-jun, harboring cold anger, showed a final act of mercy.
"If any of you are here unwillingly, you can still withdraw now."
This could be seen as a final courtesy to the northern hunters who had fought the Corpse Pile Legion even at the cost of their lives.
After all, even these people who had become dogs of power were among those the northern hunters had risked their lives to protect.
However, unfortunately, the men before him kicked away the last stroke of luck that had come their way.
"If you have no intention of cooperating, we'll subdue you by force."
As they raised their weapons and prepared for battle, it was an incredibly absurd sight from Lee Seong-jun's perspective.
"Have you forgotten who defeated the Corpse Pile Legion?"
"If you don't want to be registered as a villain and pursued by the World Hunter Association, it's best to surrender quietly."
"To think you'd resort to invoking the World Hunter Association."
Just as Lee Seong-jun's gaze lowered, one of the people suppressing their presence behind him suddenly leaped forward and threw a punch.
Lee Seong-jun lightly turned his head to avoid the dagger, immediately grasping the surprised opponent's collar with the Geum Na-su technique.
Then, twisting the fabric tightly, he raised his other hand and struck the attacker's jaw.
Crack-!
"Gaaaargh-!"
At the pain-filled scream that burst from his subordinate's mouth, the eyes of the man who could be considered the leader of the group widened.
"Are, are you trying to become a villain?!"
"Of course not..."
Lee Seong-jun shrugged his shoulders and moved his lips once more.
"If there are no witnesses, you can't prove I did it, can you?"
As a cold smile bloomed on Lee Seong-jun's lips, the man urgently shouted.
"E-Everyone, attack!"
The presences surrounding the area all began to rush in simultaneously.
While their loyalty could be commended, they were no different from moths flying into a flame.
Lee Seong-jun, wearing a relaxed expression, uttered in a low voice.
"Bihyeong."
The darkness that suddenly appeared swallowed up the people in the area in an instant.
Due to the pitch-black darkness, nothing could be seen directly with the eyes.
However, through the incessant pain-filled screams erupting, one could easily infer what was happening inside the darkness.
"Aaaaargh!"
"He-Help me-!"
It could be said with certainty that no evidence or witnesses would ever emerge.
While he had cleanly resolved the situation without lifting a finger, cold anger still lingered in Lee Seong-jun's eyes.
This was because the person who could be considered the head that had given these people their orders remained.
"Where is this guy named Liu Yuning right now?"
Given that he was a powerful figure, ranking third in the Communist Party, under normal circumstances, one would have evaded answering by equivocating.
Of course, this wasn't out of fear of retaliation or avoiding responsibility.
'...The power Liu Yuning currently holds can affect all of China.'
In other words, even if one were to confront him out of resentment and anger, in the end, Liu Yuning would be the one laughing.
In fact, hadn't he, Weizhigang, also been forced to retreat because there was nothing he could do?
However, Lee Seong-jun was different.
The Lee Seong-jun that Weizhigang had observed until now was truly a figure with the dignity of an absolute being.
He was not someone that a mere Communist Party official could handle.
A gleam appeared in Weizhigang's eyes.
"Since it hasn't been long since the meeting ended, he should still be at the City Hall."
Lee Seong-jun slowly nodded and shifted his gaze towards the City Hall as he spoke.
"I'll take care of this quickly... Wait here."
Before Weizhigang could answer, Lee Seong-jun, having become a streak of wind, flew swiftly towards the City Hall.
Liu Yuning.
Having finished the meeting with the officials, he was savoring tea in his newly established office within the City Hall.
His expression was full of joy and happiness.
"Hehe... If I can ensnare Lee Seong-jun, I'll be able to firmly establish my position within the Party."
Perhaps thinking his position was obtained by luck due to Li Huning's mistake, many officials were eyeing the Standing Committee member position covetously.
However, if he proved his ability by ensnaring Lee Seong-jun, they wouldn't dare to covet his position so easily.
'If I'm really lucky... I might even be able to secure the second-highest position.'
Only happiness occupied Liu Yuning's mind; not a trace of anxiety about the possibility of the plan failing existed.
'...Lee Seong-jun will never be able to resist the Public Security.'
When he first encountered the report, he had been quite shocked by Lee Seong-jun's power.
It was to the extent that he immediately understood why South Korea, which had always bowed its head, suddenly showed a bold attitude.
But there's no such thing as a perfect human in this world.
'No matter how powerful one is, everyone has a weakness.'
The position of third-ranking Standing Committee member of the Politburo wasn't something that could be obtained by mere luck.
Unlike Li Huning, who advocated for friendliness with South Korea, he had proposed countermeasures against South Korea and Lee Seong-jun, which were highly evaluated by the current Chinese President, Wang Huning, making his ascension possible.
In other words, he, Liu Yuning, was the person who possessed the most information about Lee Seong-jun.
'Family is at the core of all of Lee Seong-jun's actions.'
This was information he could be certain of, having meticulously investigated for a considerable time through spies planted within South Korea.
That's why Liu Yuning had mobilized the Public Security, which could be considered the power of public authority.
'Lee Seong-jun, who has precious things and people to protect, will never be able to act recklessly.'
Even in an extremely unfair situation, he would have no choice but to cooperate with the Public Security's investigation.
'By now, he's probably being dragged along, trembling with anger but unable to do anything about it.'
Lost in his imagination, Liu Yuning couldn't properly recognize how insignificant the plan he had devised truly was.
"Judging by your appearance... You must be Liu Yuning."
Along with a cold voice, a man's figure appeared from the darkness.
Though it was a sudden appearance, Liu Yuning could immediately identify the man, having observed and investigated him the most recently.
"L-Lee Seong-jun...?"