Chapter 129
One of the guild leaders in my previous life was an ambitious guy who wanted to conquer dungeons one class higher than what was rated for his guild. It was before the Eight Evils and the Eight Virtues revealed their true nature, and government-owned dungeons were put up for bidding. Dungeon conquests and gate battles had changed from being managed exclusively by the military to being monopolized by the private sector.
During that time, the guild leaders manipulated the guilds’ database thoroughly. They not only put their members one class higher than their true state, but they also worked with other guilds to modify the information of the dungeons they had been targeting and would conquer in the future. They had succeeded in pretending that they were going to win.
However, the result was obvious. They could attack the dungeons they wished, but their core members all died there and the guilds were disbanded. They had brought the disaster upon themselves, so they had no one else they could blame.
Nonetheless, things were different in this era, especially for many companies like Daehoo. They had manipulated their ledgers to lessen their losses and lied about their profits in order to make their company look promising. It wouldn’t have been an issue if they had self-destructed like the guilds in my past life, but the problem was that Daehoo had swindled government funds and civilian investments to get the dungeons. They made the country leave the government business to them and invest an enormous amount of money. This was clearly a scam.
The massive accounting fraud scandals after the terrorist attacks shocked the American financial community, and some claimed that it caused more serious damage than terrorism itself. This was another reason why the U.S. government didn’t pay attention to us as we prepared to enter the banking industry.
The Jonathan Investments in New York had not revealed an IPO[1] yet since there was no reason for us to deceive investors through accounting fraud.
“I’ll see you next time.”
That was why the investigator from the Department of Treasury had left after talking about obvious things. As soon as he left, Jonathan spat on the ashtray. His smile that he had pasted on for the official had disappeared instantly.
“Those bastards suffocate me,” Jonathan said.
“They had not mentioned a single word about banking, so it seems like we can begin,” I replied.
History was in the making as Jonathan Investment was moving into the institutional sector. Banking was the symbol of finance.
“Do you want to tag along?” Jonathan asked, but I had more important things to do.
“No, go and rake all the money,” I said, smiling.
He grinned insidiously. “Do you have a date with the teacher?”
“You won’t be able to reach me for a while, so do as much as you can.”
“What’s going on?” His smile disappeared.
“Business trip to Germany,” I replied.
***
Woo Yeon-Hee and I were in a restaurant that played quiet jazz music, and she seemed to have moved on from Leon’s death. Since I couldn’t read her emotions, I had to guess.
“It’s alright if it’s because of me,” she said.
I asked, “What?”
“About recruiting a new member. Wasn’t it necessary? I’ve been thinking about it, and I realized that you stopped it because of me. We need more people,” she continued.
I answered, “Hey, don’t be like that. You’re trying to be on the same level as me now. Let’s not talk about him. He was…weak.”
She tried to say something but stopped at the end.
“I’ve realized so many things here in the U.S. I’d like to prepare better. If it’s like this after just terrorism, then in the future…” she hesitated.
I was determined to keep my plan a secret, but her expression convinced me.
“I have plans,” I said.
“Plans?” she asked.
“There’s a guy who can evaluate pre-Awakened people better than us. He’s the perfect one to train people.”
I had received reports that the guy had started moving as a ‘Cat’ from last year. It was only yesterday that I got another report that he had gathered more than thirty pre-Awakened. He had been searching from psychiatric hospitals to civilian residents by eavesdropping and had aggressively brought the European pre-Awakened together. He wasn’t reluctant in his actions as he had money, social status, and highly developed equipment.
In the past, he was the Second Virtue, and his guild, Revolucion, that dominated Western Europe in the future was actually not in its infancy right now. It had started when he organized his business before the dotcom collapse and brought a German Telecom firm.
“There’s a person like that?” Woo Yeon-Hee widened her eyes.
“Yes, that’s why you should stop caring about it and return to Seoul.”
***
Now was the best timing to strike as the Second Virtue’s organization had not been fully established. I had received reports that his ‘private security officers’ were increasing, which meant he was preparing to conquer dungeons. The reason why I had not purchased dungeons around his active area was that I expected this day would come.
“Nice to meet you,” the agent said.
We met in Berlin. The agent was the one who had infiltrated the Second Virtue’s mansion as a bodyguard and was dressed casually today. He summarized the events and told me that many outsiders, suspected of being ‘cats,’ frequently entered his mansion and were doing something there. The agent had not been able to see more.
The question was how to join his group naturally. It was only my assumption that he had intercepted communication lines to gather pre-Awakends. I had stayed in a hotel and left hints on one of the boards I suspected, but there had been no response. I finally ended up infiltrating his house, and after rifling through his office, I realized my assumption was correct. It was just that his wiretapping technique wasn’t perfect. Therefore, I added my new phone number to his wiretapping list and attached the call data.
After a few days, I got a call from a stranger.
<Hi, this is Berlin Telecom.>
A beautiful female voice spoke to me in English, not German. I was certain that he had taken the bait.
<We have called you to ask for your understanding. There was a major business problem with your traveler’s line, so we’d like to meet you and talk about it. If you tell us your residence or hotel, we’ll send our staff to check out some things and compensate.>
<Seon-Hu: Will it take long? I’m at the hotel right now, but I have to head out soon because of my trip schedule.>
<Where are you staying?>
<Seon-Hu: Wilson Garden in Berlin.>
<We’ll send you an employee right away. He will arrive within ten minutes, so could you please wait in the lobby?>
<Seon-Hu: You guys are fast. I think that’ll be fine.>
They must have sent someone already on this street where most of the hotels were located. The entrance of the hotel was visible from where I was sitting. I was looking at travelers and buyers from all over the world when…
“No way,” I muttered.
My spine tingled upon recognizing someone who had just come in. I had never expected to meet him again in this way.
He was the Fourth Virtue, who had gained his position through sheer stats and fighting abilities as his skills and items had been inadequate. In a world where skills and items had triumphed, the Fourth Virtue had overcome his misfortune through sheer talent alone.
Nevertheless, the Second and Fourth Virtue were bitter enemies. The only time the two met up was the day when one of the Seven Demon Kings attacked them. But…
The Fourth Virtue belonged to the Second Virtue’s group? He was a part of Revolucion?
There was a story behind them that was unknown in the past. The Fourth Virtue started talking to the receptionist and approached me after she pointed at me.
I had once admired the Fourth Virtue until he became obsessed with the System. It was quite a contradiction that he, who was also the epitome of bad luck, had supported the System in the end.
“Leonard?” he asked.
His voice was as strong as I remembered, and his muscular body didn’t fit with the image of a communication firm employee. I scanned him first, and the ring he had was just an accessory, not an item.
“Are you from Berlin Telecom?”
I pretended ignorance.
“Hello, my name is Michael.”
He was using a western name, but he was an Asian man who had been born in Hong Kong.
“What’s wrong with the line? I’m going to be late. I hope you act quickly,” I said.
“Are you in a hurry?”
I held up a tourist pamphlet. Leonard, the identity I was using, was a Korean American who was on a backpacking trip in Germany. I made sure I seemed vulnerable to the Second Virtue’s group so that they could try luring me.
Michael was not alone as another man was observing me. He must have thought I had not noticed, but he had been under my observation from the very beginning.
The man touched his hair, which seemed to be a sign indicating that I was an Awakened. He must have been another Awakened and had the trait ‘Chaser’ like Leon. The Second Virtue’s group seemed to be well organized over the past two years, which was good news for me too. It was worth leaving them alone for so long.
“Can we move to a more private place? I think our conversation is going to be quite long.”
Michael took the bait.
Gillian had begun targeting oil money from North America, Jonathan was going after banking in the U.S, and I was now beginning to conquer the Second Virtue and his group.
1. Initial Public Offering refers to the first time a company sells shares publicly. 👈