Chapter 97 (1/2)
Episode 6: Mafia Game / Chapter 97: At the ruins (3)
TL: emptycube / ED: Obelisk
{TL/N} ‘evil hand of night’ -> ‘monster of night’, author changed its name.
“That b.a.s.t.a.r.d attacked me first!”
Berserker Kim Minhee shouted in a dejected voice. She was currently being investigated for murder. Lee Jinhee, who was investigating her, leaned on the back of her chair, displaying an indifferent expression.
“But, you see, there are many witnesses saying that you provoked him.”
“Provoke? I provoked him? That’s what those Kalin clan b.a.s.t.a.r.ds are saying, right? Director, do you believe what they say?”
“There’s no reason not to. Either way, we’re all on the same side.”
“Same side?! I don’t know about other clans but that Kalin clan isn’t! Those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds fled when we were dealing with the sululacks! How can we be on the same side as those who only look after themselves!”
“So you’re saying you’re innocent?”
“Ah d.a.m.n… Since I killed someone, I’ll take the punishment.”
“What punishment?”
“… I’ll take charge of setting up the washroom pits.”
“Are you joking? Murder means a death penalty. You know this.”
“I told you! It was self-defence!”
She protested as if she truly felt this was unfair. Her voice also became louder.
“And I’m a Berserker! It’s really strange these days! Without listening to us properly about how things are unfair, you just say ‘death penalty’ like it’s nothing! We are like family! Aren’t you supposed to at least trust the words of your fellow Berserkers?! This is unfair! Unni! Are you really going to kill me? Unni, you know me! I don’t kill people for no reason!”
As if she really found this unfair, Kim Minhee slammed the table as she stood up. She was a Berserker who normally had a good and close relations.h.i.+p with Lee Jinhee.
This was exactly why Lee Jinhee was the one handling this incident. Although she was busy investigating the various murders and brawls that would break out every day, she wanted to personally conduct the investigation of Kim Minhee and volunteered for it.
Lee Jinhee said in a low voice,
“… Yeah. Berserkers. We are like family… Minhee, when did you join the Berserkers?”
Lee Jinhee asked as she picked up the file she left on the side. Although she didn’t act like it, Lee Jinhee was very nervous right now.
‘Please… Please…’
Lee Jinhee inwardly pleaded again and again.
“Me? About… 2 years?… Maybe 1 year?”
As if fl.u.s.tered by the sudden question, Kim Minhee’s answer was vague. ‘Ah…’ Lee Jinhee’s hand, which was flipping through the file, slipped. Still, she continued to question her as if nothing was wrong.
“Okay. How did you awaken?”
“Ah… Don’t ask me that. It’s horrible.”
Lee Jinhee frowned at her words.
“… Okay.”
Thud.
Lee Jinhee placed the file down on the table with a thud. She unsheathed her new sword that had been smelted with semi-transparent metal, ‘Silent Ice’, and asked,
“I get it. Then let’s check one last thing.”
Lee Jinhee placed Silent Ice’s sharp blade on her own forehead.
“Haa… I really hate this.”
After letting out a sigh, she sliced her forehead.
Pik!
Her flesh and frontal bone{1} were
cut instantly. As if she restrained it with karma, not a single drop of her blood spilled. In that state, Lee Jinhee showed the inside of her forehead to Kim Minhee. She could see a light gray brain inside.
“Di-director! What’s this!!”
Kim Minhee shouted as if she were freaked out by Lee Jinhee’s sudden self-inflicted wound. It seemed that Lee Jinhee found her noisy as she stretched her hand out to restrain her, and then took out two gla.s.s bottles containing a transparent liquid from her chest. She opened one of the two bottles and poured it on her wound. The moment the transparent liquid made contact with her brain, it emitted a golden light as it protected her open forehead and began to seal her wound.
“This is a liquid made by Guardian Bae Jinman. It won’t leave a scar.”
Without showing any sign that it hurt, Lee Jinhee calmly conducted this terrifying process. Then she tossed the remaining bottle and a sharp sword at Kim Minhee and said,
“Now it’s your turn. Do what I did. That’s an order.”
Kim Minhee became dumbfounded.
At the same time, Choi Hyuk was in the middle of a meeting with the important clan leaders.
“Do you know how many murders there have been? The monsters aren’t the problem! We’ll die by fighting amongst ourselves!”
Resolutely remarked Lumin, a popular clan leader. His words were also a direct attack on Choi Hyuk’s commanding abilities. It was a ‘dangerous’ remark.
Yet, it wasn’t like his words were wrong.
Choi Hyuk’s army was currently swept with severe distrust and conflict. People killed each other. This didn’t change even if they made the punishment more severe. Every few hours, another brawl would break out and someone would die. Whether there was a punishment or not, murders and fights didn’t cease. They killed each without thinking of the consequences. They hated those next to them more than the monsters.
Even still, Choi Hyuk couldn’t provide a clear countermeasure. It seemed he only wanted to quickly complete the mission as he only quickened his advance. However, the monsters didn’t directly clash with Choi Hyuk’s army. They simply avoided them and fled. If they kept subjugating and pus.h.i.+ng the monsters into a corner, then they might eventually be able to take them out… But it would take too long to reach that point. The conflicts between the colonizers and clans had inflated to the point where war could break out at any moment.
Yet, there was no solution.
“… So what are we going to do?”
Clan Leader Jiro asked in an annoyed tone. He glanced at Choi Hyuk and Baek Seoin and said,
“Don’t you already know? We can’t return to Earth now. It’s already been 3 days since we’ve been shut out of the ‘military gate system’. So what do you want to do?”
That was so.
At first, they couldn’t retreat because of Choi Hyuk’s opposition, but now, that wasn’t the case. Everyone became aware of this fact with Richard’s message.
<the messenger=”” i=”” sent=”” to=”” the=”” virgo=”” cl.u.s.ter=”” headquarters=”” returned…=”” he=”” said=”” our=”” mission=”” changed.=”” to=”” find=”” what=”” is=”” going=”” on=”” in=”” this=”” place.=”” until=”” we=”” do,=”” the=”” military=”” gate=”” system=”” will=”” be=”” closed…=”” d.a.m.n,=”” i=”” can’t=”” tell=”” what=”” they=”” are=”” thinking.=””>
The closure of the gate meant the closure of their escape route.
To the clan leaders who desperately wished to retreat, this was like a bolt out of the blue.
“That’s why if we had already retreated…”
Someone leaked the thought that everyone inwardly thought but couldn’t say. At the same time, the mood in the meeting room chilled. At that word, everyone became so nervous their spines stiffened. This was because everyone was afraid of Choi Hyuk.
However, Clan Leader Lumin didn’t read the mood and raised his voice,
“Even if we let bygones be bygones, we can’t go on like this! Everyone will die! We can’t ignore the conflicts between the clans these days either. A civil war might break out!”
“Ah, just stop it…”
Even when the clan leaders next to him tried to stop him, Lumin didn’t listen.
“No! I need to say what needs to be said! Overseer Choi Hyuk! I, Lumin, have never held dissatisfaction with the Berserkers’ actions! I always quietly cooperated! However, not this time. Overseer!”
When Lumin raised his voice, Clan Leader Jiro, who was very friendly towards Choi Hyuk, began to criticize Lumin,
“What are you doing? Don’t you know your current actions are bringing about more disorder?”
Another heated argument broke out in the meeting room. Jiro simply criticized Lumin while Lumin, frustrated, said that they need to take note of the current situation and find a solution. Some clan leaders joined in on the debate, but the majority of the clan leaders maintained an uncomfortable silence.
Choi Hyuk raised his hand.
Everyone became quiet.
“Isn’t it weird?”
Those were his first words.
“No matter how hotheaded colonizers’ tempers are… Isn’t the current situation too strange? Doesn’t it seem like we aren’t able to control the situation at all?”
“Yes! That’s what I mean!”
Lumin raised his voice.
“Be quiet and listen!”
And Jiro scolded him.
However, Choi Hyuk still didn’t care.