Episode 279: A Crazy Emergency Meeting (2)
The swordsman ran. Then, the chief of police and Media followed him in a hurry to stop him.
Chief Sung shouted.
“Your Majesty the Heavenly Sword!”
Kang Geum-ma ignored those words and climbed the spiral stairs.
‘The elevator is slow, so you ran all the way to the 12th floor… … .’
It was so fast that even he himself couldn’t keep up with the media. It was literally as fast as lightning.
“You must not go!”
I shouted and watched. I hoped that the swordsman would stop running after hearing this desperate cry. Of course, it was a vain hope. Instead, the swordsman quickened his pace.
‘I wasn’t talking.’
20 minutes ago, Kang Geum-ma arrived at the Seoul branch of the association. He asked Director Sung about the status of the meeting. Director Sung, who was eavesdropping, sighed and replied that they were having difficulties.
Of course, Kang Geum-ma asked the reason, and Chief Sung explained the reason without much hesitation. The reason was the US President Leonard. He was originally a person who had a negative view of the association, and he was an imperialistic president who thought that the US was the center of all power. Chief Sung took great care to gossip about Leonard.
That was because he trusted Kang Geum-ma that much and believed he was qualified to hear the contents of the meeting. His mouth was itching to curse at Leonard.
‘How dare you openly insult the Vice President, you pig.’
That was the beginning of this division. Kang Geum-ma, who heard the story, hardened his face and immediately started walking. He was heading towards the conference hall. Media, who was next to him, was startled and chased after him, but it was not enough. Compared to Kang Geum-ma, she was much slower.
“Huh, huh… Was Cheongeom that fast?”
There is no one who does not know the speed of the strong swordsman. But isn’t that limited to when he picks up sashimi? At present, he is just running, but he is leading the light. In addition, where he passed, crackling, yellow sparks were flying.
However, it was Chief Sung and Media who kept chasing after them. When the two finally reached the conference room one after another, a heavy air greeted them. This was because Kang Geum-ma had burst into life as soon as he entered.
Even though he had experienced it several times, Chief Sung did not lose his mind or anything. As such, humans are creatures of adaptation.
He raised his eyes, catching his breath that was jumping out of sync. Then he was taken aback.
“… … !”
President Ronald was the first to catch my eye. He was sitting on the round table, his temples and cheekbones resting on his temples, his tongue hanging out. It was ugly.
No, wait. That thing isn’t dead, is it? It just fainted? Right? Say so, please.
Media quickly passed the swordsman and approached Leonard. She tapped his shin with the tip of her shoe. There was no movement. She put her ear close. There was no sound of breathing. All signs of life had ceased.
She took a step back from Leonard and shook her head silently, like a doctor pronouncing death.
“It’s fucked.”
The head of the Sung clapped. A cheap curse word that stuck in the minds of the heads of state. Since Korean was a universal language, everyone understood the meaning. Sunggi.
Chief Sung looked at Changseong, who was far away. He had been sitting still, feeling fortunate, but he sighed when he saw Chief Sung’s dumbfounded expression.
“Is he dead?”
“I don’t know if he’s dead… but his heart has stopped.”
To Changseong’s question, Media answered while touching her lips.
“Hey, if your heart stops beating, doesn’t that mean you’re dead!”
The face of the Sung clan leader turned pale. The rest of the leaders were the same.
“It’s not like death. Cardiac arrest can be revived with a defibrillator within the golden time. The problem is that the machine is on the first floor, and this is the 12th floor. You’ll die before then.”
“That’s difficult.”
Changseong scratched his beard. He said it as if he was embarrassed, but his expression didn’t seem that way.
“If there’s a death at the summit, things could get a little more complicated. Even if it’s a heart attack. Besides, that pig, no, President Leonard, is also a major shareholder of the Lancelot Company. Without him, it could be difficult to get the Hero Air Exhibition to cooperate.”
That’s why Changseong was so angry. Well, does it matter now?
Damn it.
Kanggeomma, who had been quiet until then, suddenly took a step forward. He approached Leonard and looked back at Changseong before reaching out his hand.
“What you’re saying, Changseong, is that it’s beneficial to save this Yankee? Right?”
“I guess it’s a bit much to judge profit and loss by human lives, but that’s the way it is.”
While they were talking, Changseong glanced at Leonard. His pupils were dilated in different directions, and they were decaying faster than expected.
“But looking at your eyes, I can’t believe you’re not going to be saved.”
“You have to try it to find out.”
“Huh? What is that… … .”
Changseong blinked for a moment, then his eyes grew as big as lanterns. Everyone else reacted the same way as Changseong.
The conference room was dark with only indirect lighting on. The blue currents bounced off the floor and walls, illuminating the room.
Phage crackle!
Everyone looked at Kanggeomma with dumbfounded faces. For a moment, they were at a loss for words. They covered their view with their hands.
My eyes were dazzled. Kanggeomma’s right hand was emitting a flash of light that was enough to hurt my eyes.
… Is that a blessing? Isn’t that magic?
Kanggeomma immediately grabbed Leonard by the nape of his neck. A stronger lightning bolt burst out. The intense light was so blinding that it seemed like it would make you dizzy. Everyone shut their eyes tightly.
Flash-!
The conference room, which had been murky for a moment, gradually regained its original color. The next moment, a groan was heard from somewhere.
At that sound, I opened my eyes wide like a carp. The sight that was still scattered was dim. Leonard was groaning while covering his forehead.
“…What is this.”
Leonard was in a state of confusion. The whole story was a jumbled mess, as if it had been cut and patched together with scissors. And as soon as he raised his head, he was startled.
Kanggeomma was glaring at him. His black eyes were gleaming in the swarthy shadows created by the hair.
“How does it feel to wake up from the dead?”
Kang Geum-ma spoke quietly. He spoke informally. His respect for the American president was extremely weak.
“That’s what heroes who throw themselves into battle feel every second of every hour. When you guys are slicing meat and drinking wine in fancy restaurants.”
Kang Geum-ma’s gaze scanned the wine glasses lined up on the round table. Then, all of a sudden, the glasses broke and shards of glass flew out.
While I was at it, I tried some high-end mineral waters to fill them with life. The plastic was crumpled like a dry towel.
“If you come to Korea, drink Yeongchangsu, Yeongchangsu. Don’t you know that, Shinto-bul?”
Leonard’s complexion was as pale as a corpse’s. Even more so than a moment ago, when he had been teetering on the edge of life and death.
Kang Geum-ma said.
“But I will spare your life for the sake of the people who elected you as president.”
“… … .”
“Who am I talking to?”
“Well, thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty.”
“For your information, the nonsense you were rambling about just now has been recorded. I’ll spread it around after the war, so you know that.”
“That’s a bit… … .”
Kanggeomma furrowed his eyebrows fiercely.
“Why. Have you been missing the underworld? Tell me. It’s easier for me to kill than to save. But you should think carefully before you speak. It could become your last will.”
“…sorry.”
Kang Geum-ma gestured to the corner of the conference room while kicking the leg of the chair.
“If you know, stand over there with your hand up.”
“yes…….”
Leonard staggered to the corner. Everyone just stared at his sagging back. No one could hold him back or offer words of comfort.
Leonard knelt down and raised his hands. He lowered his head like a sinner. His suit was wrinkled. Tears like chicken poop fell from his eyes in shame.
Kanggeomma leaned back deeply in the chair where Leonard had been sitting. He crossed his legs haughtily.
A commotion swept through the room. The conference room fell into a lull.
Kang Geum-ma turned off local broadcasts with violence and subdued the heads of state of each country with his unique atmosphere. The series of events took place in an instant, like flowing water.
In the silent pressure that followed, the leaders only gulped saliva instead of drinking high-quality water. Middle-aged people who were worn out by their desires were, in a vulgar way, scared. I’m talking about a boy who is eighteen this year.
“Let’s get this meeting started properly.”
In this conference room, Kang Geum-ma was nothing short of a tyrant. However, sometimes a tyrant is necessary. The current situation was exactly like that.
“As I said before, if you have any complaints, please raise your hand.”
By the end of the meeting, no one had raised a hand.
The meeting, which was scheduled to last five hours, was shortened by three hours.
* * *
“Wait a minute, Kojima.”
Changseong called out to Jeolgung, who was about to leave the conference room.
“… What is it?”
Jeolgung answered without turning around. Changseong smiled awkwardly.
“Well, what is it? I wanted to say thank you for your work today. If it weren’t for you, the mood would have completely shifted to that Yankee.”
“I just said that because I was so dumbfounded after hearing it. I didn’t say it to get a thank you from my senior.”
Changseong’s smile grew deeper. What a dishonest guy.
“I have a question. Can I ask it?”
“Why did I suddenly change my stance?”
“You have a keen eye for detail.”
“Of course, it was for me and the Japan I belong to. I don’t know about other leaders, but I know that having dealt with the corps commander, I know. Each for himself? If that happens, humanity will perish in less than half a day.”
“I mean, is that really all there is to it? That’s what I’m asking.”
“Do I have to answer this too?”
Changseong shrugged his shoulders slightly.
“That’s your freedom, but if not now, then when would we be having such conversations? If war breaks out, one or both of us could die.”
“… … .”
Jeolgung just stood there blankly and raised his head. The white snow-covered headdress came into view.
“While I was hospitalized after being stabbed by Cheongeom, I had a lot of time to spare. Come to think of it, it was the first time I’d ever killed time like a bum. After my wife Alice died, I’d been working like crazy.”
Looking at the ceiling, Jeolgung mocked life in that posture.
“As I was killing time, I thought back about Alice and myself. Why was I so obsessed with Alice? That was the part I wondered about. Then, suddenly, this thought occurred to me. The reason I loved Alice… … .”
The archer, who had lowered his gaze, slowly looked back at the archer. The sky-blue irises were as fresh as they were when he was a cadet.
“… Her conviction. ‘I will bear the weight of others.’ I have longed for that conviction. Because I can never be that kind of person. It may be that I became more obsessed because it was something I did not have. An obsession wrapped in the word love. Isn’t it so ugly?”
“The bow,” Kojima spat out with difficulty.
“I am over sixty years old, but I am still an ugly person. Alice, however, died when she was barely twenty, but she was a woman several years older than I am now.”
“… … .”
“So… The great war is coming soon anyway. It’s late, but I’m trying to become an adult now that I’m at this age. I think that way I’ll have a chance to see the man who passed away.”
Kojima stopped talking and let out a hollow laugh. Then he shook his head excitedly.
“You must be getting old. To think that you’re saying this to Senior Murah, who used to tease you whenever you saw him. Getting old is truly scary.”
“Hey, aren’t we just old ladies getting older?”
Changseong had a big smile on his face.
“I’m turning 70 in a day or two. I’ll probably forget about that tomorrow. Don’t worry.”
“Senior, you’ve really gotten old. You used to be so reckless when you were younger, and now you say things like that.”
As he said that, Jeolgung slightly raised one corner of his mouth.
