The Modern Founding Chronicles of the Returned Demon King

The Modern Founding Chronicles of the Returned Demon King

Episode 38: Scammer (2)

The eyes of all the politicians blinked intermittently. The report Seo-jun was holding was undoubtedly the one presented by the director of the research institute during the emergency meeting last night.

Although he didn’t fully understand the meaning of the report at that time, the combination of those words had left a lasting impression in his memory.

‘But how did he get that report…’

Moreover, only the director of the research institute and the president possessed that invaluable data. Yet somehow, it was now in Seo-jun’s hands.

A member of the National Assembly, his mouth agape.

“H-How do you have that…?”

“Are you not going to deny that this is false? Well, I guess this is undeniable evidence that you guys are scammers who can’t even deny.”

“…Close your mouth! Are you seriously saying you stole it?”

“Hoo.. raising your voice now that it’s disadvantageous, huh? You guys never change. Consistent. It’s nice to see.”

“We ask! Did you steal it?”

“Steal it? Well… I simply received it from someone last night.”

It wasn’t a lie. Seo-jun received the data from Shayen who visited him last night.

Those who heard his statement exactly as it was asked in a stunned voice.

“Y-You received it from someone…?”

“Yeah.”

“F-From whom, exactly…”

In response to the following question, Seo-jun’s head turned slowly.

At first, it was the director of the research institute, then the president.

Afterward, facing them all, he showed a wicked smile.

“Well…”

The next moment, suspicious gazes rained down from all directions in the conference room. The first to receive those glances was the director of the research institute.

As the accused suspect, the director slammed the table, asserting his innocence.

“W-Wait a minute! Are you suspecting me? What possible benefit do I have to hand over that report to Mr. Seo-jun?!”

“Why don’t you have any benefits? If Mr. Seo-jun, the hunter, obtains that floating island, won’t you also benefit? Then you can research that land freely without government intervention.”

It was a persuasive argument. Researching under a private individual would likely have fewer constraints than researching under the government.

The prime suspect defended himself.

“It could indeed be like that! But don’t you think it’s absurd? What will happen to me in the Republic of Korea after that? I will undoubtedly be branded as a traitor.”

“Well, living on that floating island all day should solve that problem, right?”

“What about my family? Can they attend school and live well? No, and even if I assume I did it. Do you think Mr. Seo-jun would accept someone like me who has already betrayed the government?”

“Hmm…”

The defense of the prime suspect was excellent. It was truly a rhetoric befitting the director of the research institute.

However, their suspicions still weren’t dispelled, and the director continued his statement.

“And it’s not just me who had that report. You all must know that. Who else had that report.”

The gaze of the first suspect shifted to another direction. At the smooth end of that line was the next viable suspect, the president.

The second suspect, showing a bewildered expression, stood up.

“Wait a minute! Is it my turn this time? Aren’t you relying too much on the process of elimination?”

“But if it’s not the director of the research institute, then it’s only the president…”

“Yes, I undoubtedly received that report. And I went back to my office and examined its contents.”

The second suspect reflected on the situation at that time.

“At the time of the report, I didn’t realize the danger, but reading it later, I understood why the director was so cautious. The material has tremendous value to the extent that it could ignite a war between nations.”

He met suspicious eyes.

“But why would I hand over such a report full of risks to someone? Am I crazy? I just want to smoothly finish my term!”

“But why…”

“I don’t know! I don’t know either! I securely stored it in a magical vault that even an S-class hunter couldn’t crack! So I have no idea why it’s in his hands!”

“Then who on earth…”

As it seemed insufficient to attribute the crime to the second suspect, they began searching for another potential culprit.

For a while, the search for the criminal began. Voices echoed in the room, and the face of the accused suspect turned red.

S-class hunters reacted to the chaos.

“What in the world is going on…”

“We’ve seen them fight among themselves many times, but this is the first time it’s gotten this heated…”

“Well, considering the value of that floating island is 1 trillion, it’s not that surprising.”

“But still, to hide that from me and try to deceive us… If it weren’t for Seo-jun, it would have passed unnoticed.”

Park Sang-cheol expressed a small thank you to Seo-jun.

Seo-jun didn’t respond and clapped his hands, quieting them down.

“Alright, you guys can find the culprit later among yourselves and calm down for a moment. Whoever the culprit is, the fact that you tried to deceive us remains unchanged.”

“…”

“But isn’t it funny? From my perspective, all of you are culprits, yet you’re squabbling among yourselves about who’s worse.”

“Seo-jun, what do you want exactly?”

The research institute director, gritting his lips, asked.

“I already told you, what I want is that floating island. And I’m not forcing anything right now. I’m just claiming a fair reward for my contributions.”

It was amusing to claim a reward for his contributions from these guys, but Seo-jun decided to let it slide for now.

After a moment of silence, the president spoke.

“I also acknowledge Mr. Seo-jun’s contributions. Not only this time but also before, you protected Korea. However, giving monopolistic rights to that floating island, which contains resources that could lead to a revolutionary advancement for humanity, might be challenging.”

“Oh, there seems to be a misunderstanding. I have no desire for that material unless it involves reckless mining. I’m willing to cooperate if it’s not indiscriminate exploitation.”

Seo-jun stated his opinion, waiting as if he had already decided to overlook their objections.

“On the contrary, this is a good offer for you. No matter how much you try to hide, it’s only a matter of time before information about that material is revealed. Then, inevitably, those seeking that material will come lurking.”

The president sat down, silently focusing on Seo-jun’s words.

“But if you entrust that land to me, we can effectively block those thieves. In other words, as long as that land is in my possession, you can monopolize that material.”

“Monopolize…”

“Yes, the one you all like.”

As the words sounded like a devil’s whisper, the president seriously pondered. Upon hearing it, it was a surprisingly rational proposal. He would gain ownership of the land, and they would have the right to safely research the material.

In society, opinions that Seo-jun entering the ‘Zodiac 12’ was not unusual had already started circulating. If such a person protected the treasure on that land, it would undoubtedly bring relief.

Originally, it was amusing that a government that hadn’t done anything was deciding on such a reward.

“Mr. President! Don’t be deceived by his rhetoric!”

The member of parliament who had been arguing with Seo-jun shouted at that moment.

“Do you know what this guy will do with that land once he gets it? Will you transfer the ownership of that land to him?”

The assembly member pointed at Seo-jun with a chubby finger.

Seo-jun looked at that fingertip and, with a smirk, waved the document.

“Oh, by the way, was it you who gave me this report?”

“W-What! I’ve never even held that report!”

“Or not.”

Ignoring the playful tone, the assembly member bit his thick lips.

Then, as if inciting, he shouted loudly.

“Everyone! We are all playing into his hands! I don’t know what method he used, but he probably stole that report from us!”

“Ho, is that so.”

Disregarding Seo-jun’s calm response, the assembly member continued.

“In other words, this entire situation was this guy’s plan! He sowed discord among us to get that land! Aren’t you afraid of what he might do with that piece of land? Perhaps he will swallow up Korea!”

“Well, there have been a few cases like that.”

It seemed like nonsensical talk, but there were actually a few cases. A representative example was ‘Isu Ravelli’ in Egypt. The Egyptian government used him to widely promote the country’s status and granted him various privileges. As a result, he achieved the rank of 5th in the world rankings, but with his sudden growth, the entire leadership of the country was handed over to him.

“This is a completely different concept from guilds or magic towers controlling administrative regions! They only have authority over the gates in their area, but this time, they will own the land itself! Before we end up like Egypt, we believe there needs to be some sanctions against him!”

So, regardless of the merits the assembly member had, this opinion seemed valid. Politicians were actually seriously considering it.

However, seemingly trivial to such matters, Seo-jun chuckled.

“Sanctions… What an amusing story.”

All eyes turned to him with a quiet murmuring.

Sensing something unusual, Park Sang-cheol next to him objected.

“Mr. Seo-jun! P-Please calm down! I’ll somehow…”

“I won’t do anything.”

Seo-jun interrupted without hesitation.

Seo-jun pressed Park Sang-cheol’s sensitive shoulders as he rose from his seat. The sudden increase in height made others in the room tense.

Step by step.

With formal strides, he strolled through the silent room, and many eyes followed his graceful movement around the round table.

“Am I trying to swallow up Korea? You guys are really spouting nonsense. If I had such intentions, this country would have disappeared long ago.”

His deep voice filled the spacious conference room.

“But since I have no such intentions, this country will remain safe. Of course, in the future as well.”

Gradually, his indifferent gaze turned to the assembly members.

“And did I mention any sanctions?”

Under the imposing pressure, the assembly member shrank.

“Even if you impose any sanctions, my value as an ‘SS-ranked Hunter’ and the owner of the ‘Twilight Guild’ will never change.”

As Seo-jun, who had turned the table halfway, approached the assembly member, the atmosphere darkened. With the increasing proximity to darkness, the assembly member sat back in the chair with a faint expression.

“But how about you?”

Like drifting in space, Seo-jun’s hand slowly reached for the front of the suit.

“When the honor of being a assembly member disappears, what’s left for you?”

His thumb neatly covered the shiny badge on the lapel.

“Just a talkative old man? A scammer deceiving others? Without these, you’re just a person with no value.”

In Seo-jun’s dark eyes, the desperate appearance of the assembly member became apparent.

“So don’t try to change innocent people at your whim. If you don’t want to let go of even a thread-like honor.”

As Seo-jun casually dropped the trash, the assembly member struggled to breathe.

Seo-jun stared at the terrified figure for a moment, then licked his lips. He then turned away and headed towards the exit of the conference room.

The president, witnessing this, urgently called him.

“I, Mr. Seo-jun! Where are you going? The meeting hasn’t…”

“I’ve said what I had to say. Talking to you guys any further won’t yield any good words.”

“Ah…”

“Now, it’s up to you. Whether it’s a floating island worth 1 trillion or me.”

Seo-jun gently opened the conference room door with both hands.

Then, facing outside the wide opening, he spoke.

“Your answers have already been decided.”

With a thud, the door closed, and Seo-jun left the conference room.

====

***

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“Your Majesty, did everything go well???”

As we returned to the guild building, Shayen approached and asked.

“Well, I guess.”

“If they are bothering you, please just give me the order. I will take care of those who oppose you neatly.”

Shayen, with a serious gaze, knelt on one knee from my pace.

Ignoring him, I passed by.

“That’s enough.”

“…Your Majesty, I apologize for speaking out of turn, but why choose such a difficult path? If you eliminate those opposing you, it will end simply.”

I stopped abruptly and turned to look at him. Shayen was still kneeling on one knee.

While they were usually indistinguishable from humans, their attitude towards matters concerning me was extremely blind. Therefore, my actions carried even greater responsibility.

It was the weight of the crown that a king must bear.

As my silence lingered, Shayen bowed his head deeply.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty! I dared to speak without knowing the subject…”

I sighed deeply as I watched him.

“The reason I walk this difficult path is because I know the consequences of choosing the easy path, as told by the words of those who chose it. What returned to him was only despair and emptiness.”

Of course, if there was an easy path, I would take it anytime. However, there are times when one must walk a difficult path.

That is founding a country.

If I were to conquer all countries using force, it would be truly simple. But a country built through violence would not have a good reputation. It has already been proven in history, so I had to go through meticulous processes as well.

“Well, that’s how it is. So, even if it’s troublesome, please work hard in the future.”

As I turned away, a muffled voice echoed from behind.

“Yes! I, Shayen, will definitely live up to Your Majesty’s expectations!”

“…Lower your voice a bit.”

“I-I’m sorry!! No, I’m sorry….”

When I looked back with a stern gaze, Shayen whispered as if crawling. A guy who can’t be called an assassin just by listening to his voice.

I took off the black cloak and handed it to Hyude, who was by my side.

“Hyude, hold this and follow me.”

“Where are you going again?”

“Just follow.”

I used the “Devourer of the Demon King” to retrieve a pendant.

It was a memento of Jang Min-tae, who died at the hands of humans.

“We must keep our promises.”

(To be continued in the next part)