abcnovels
Chapter 93
Chapter 93
Chapter 93
[Translator – Night]
[Proofreader – Gun]
Chapter 93: Yongsan Park (3)
When Yongsan Strongest Sword officially recognized Yeongwoo as a ‘guest’ through enthusiastic hospitality, many things changed.
First and foremost.
Chot-chot!
Until just a moment ago, Yongsan police officers, who were ready to confront Yeongwoo with swords, cleared the way by lining up on both sides.
The procession had begun.
“Let’s go, please.”
Then, Kim Doha, Strongest Sword of Yongsan gestured towards a black sedan parked on the other side, indicating they should go together.
Even near the sedan, mobile security agents on motorcycles were waiting.
It was a direct imitation of state ceremonies from childhood.
“….”
As Yeongwoo stared blankly at the clearly formal procession, Yongsan Police Chief Lee Kwangwon spoke up.
“Not only is Yongsan home to key departments of the New Seoul Government, but Yongsan Park, designated as a meeting place, is also here. It’s practically the capital of Seoul.”
That’s why, he explained, such a procession was a great morale boost for the residents of Yongsan.
“…I see.”
Yeongwoo didn’t fully understand, but he nodded anyway.
Starting with the term “capital of Seoul” seemed awkward.
Of course, judging by the name “New Seoul Government,” it seemed they no longer viewed Seoul as just another city.
‘They seem to be too preoccupied with their own agendas to call this a government.’
It was almost comical to see the one who killed the son of a member of the Seoul Federation receiving a procession.
Yeongwoo slowly approached Negwig, looking down at Kim Doha and Yongsan Police Chief Lee Kwangwon.
“You two ride as usual. As you can see, I have a horse.”
“Ah… I see.”
Kim Doha glanced at the horse of the outsider that had been bothering him since earlier.
The vehicle of unknown grade that Yeongwoo, his advertiser for Dogo, had given as a token of gratitude.
Kim Doha, unaware of Negwig’s background, could only wonder where he had bought such a rare item and how much he had paid for it.
* * *
Yongsan Park.
A large green space in the heart of Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
Once a space occupied by U.S. military bases, it covers an area of 3 million square meters and is now used as the meeting place for the Yongsan Federation, supervised by the Seoul Federation.
In other words, it is said to be a place where superhumans, who can even demolish buildings barehanded, might engage in combat if circumstances permit.
“I wonder if there have actually been fights among the Strongest Swords.”
As Yeongwoo muttered to himself, a police officer following on a motorcycle blinked.
He had just heard Yeongwoo’s words.
“….”
Yeongwoo glanced around.
Their current location was above Dongjak-daero, heading towards Yongsan Park.
In front of him, there was a black imported car carrying Yongsan’s Strongest Sword and Yongsan’s Police Chief, rolling along.
Yeongwoo was following them from behind at a suitable distance, accompanied by four police motorcycles, not regular security.
“Why, do you happen to know something? Please tell me.”
As Yeongwoo asked, the police officer, who had been cautiously observing the surroundings, opened his mouth.
“We couldn’t get inside, so we don’t know much, but… we heard there was a duel at the first meeting.”
“Oh… really?”
As Yeongwoo showed interest, the officers standing right next to him started to move away.
It was because they suddenly stopped the bikes.
…?
Yeongwoo, with a puzzled expression, turned his head back towards the front and then understood the reason.
In the meantime, they had arrived at Yongsan Park.
Vroom…
The vehicle carrying the Strongest Sword was already gliding into the park, receiving a 90-degree salute from men in formal attire.
“And welcome. From here, it’s Yongsan Park.”
As Yeongwoo passed by on Negwig, the men bowed their heads again.
“They’re not following separately. Can’t even the security enter the park?”
There were no additional guards on the Strongest Sword vehicle racing from the other side either.
In other words, from now on, they would have to handle everything solely with their own strength.
Although there were rules for the meeting, it was essentially an informal agreement among the Strongest Sword.
With no public eye here, one could argue that this was a true lawless zone.
‘Even if someone dies here, it wouldn’t make much of a difference.’
Meanwhile, the vehicle ahead kept moving forward without stopping, continuing into the park.
‘How vast is this place…?’
Yeongwoo, following the vehicle in front of him, began to understand why the Strongest Swords had chosen this place as their meeting spot.
This amount of space was needed for the minds of the Strongest Sword-level individuals to feel at ease when fighting.
Vroom…!
Gradually, the engine noise of the vehicle subtly changed, slowing down, and in time, something began to appear in the distance.
First, there were people who seemed busy moving something, and then, what caught the eye was…
‘A chair…?’
The object they were moving was indeed a chair.
“Is that the meeting place over there?”
This time, there was no one to answer Yeongwoo’s muttering.
And Yeongwoo didn’t need an answer this time either.
Anyone could tell that was the meeting place where Seoul’s elites gathered.
“…”
A vast open space covered with evenly laid grass.
On it, there were about a dozen chairs spaced at regular intervals.
That was all there was.
[Translator – Night]
[Proofreader – Gun]
There wasn’t even a table for refreshments, let alone a canopy to shade from the sunlight.
Just chairs placed on the ground.
Even those chairs were mismatched, some resembling lavish leather seats that could be reminiscent of sofas, while others were simple plastic folding chairs one might find at a convenience store.
‘This is ridiculous. They made such a fuss on the way here, and this is what the meeting place looks like?’
It was a composition that couldn’t have resulted without a clear intention.
Moreover, some chairs already had people sitting on them.
It meant that some of the Strongest swords had arrived early.
Click!
Finally, the black sedan ahead stopped, and Kim Doha and Lee Kwangwon got out one after another.
Yeongwoo also jumped off Negwig and approached Kim Doha holding the reins.
“Is this the meeting place?”
To this, Kim Doha smiled as if he knew what Yeongwoo was thinking and replied.
“It’s surprising, isn’t it? Just conducting the meeting on the ground.”
Then, he glanced at the scene where the chairs were being arranged.
“Even placing these chairs here costs money. We can’t just bring in furniture carelessly because if a fight were to break out, everything around could be destroyed.”
In other words, they hadn’t wasted effort preparing assuming a duel or fight would occur.
And flipped around, it also meant it was difficult to control each individual Strongest Sword.
“Still, we offer one service… You can choose the chair you’ll sit on during the meeting yourself. Of course, sitting on the ground is also possible.”
With these words, Kim Doha sent a look as if asking if Yeongwoo wanted to choose a chair.
“Ah… I’m fine. As you said, sitting on the ground is fine.”
Yeongwoo’s gaze naturally turned south, towards his back.
He hoped Gwanak Strongest Sword, Jo Sangik, would arrive soon.
It seemed uncomfortable to be stuck here without knowing anyone.
However, the actual development was completely different from his expectations.
One by one, the Strongest Sword who had been present at the meeting started to rise from their seats.
They were all looking towards Negwig as if waiting for something.
“Let’s go and say hello.”
Kim Doha scratched his chin and took a step in the direction where the Strongest Sword were.
On the other hand, Yongsan Police Chief Lee Kwangwon didn’t move from near the vehicle.
It wasn’t clear whether he had no authority to go further or simply didn’t want to be near the Strongest Sword.
Anyway, since they had come this far, there seemed to be no other choice.
“Ahem.”
Yeongwoo cleared his throat once and then moved forward holding Negwig’s reins.
Clack, clack.
Thanks to the illusion wrapped around his feet, every step Yeongwoo took produced the sound of metal.
This caused a murmuring among the Strongest Sword who stood in their places.
It was a reaction similar to when Yeongwoo first met Jo Sangik, Strongest Sword of Gwanak.
Insisting on going barefoot was a tradition among the Strongest Sword, known as ‘bizzare,’ but the sound of metal with each step was more akin to being a ‘monster.’
Furthermore, the creature Yeongwoo was leading with the reins, resembling a horse, also lacked a metal outer shell.
Clack, clack, creak.
As the distance between Yeongwoo and the meeting place narrowed to about 20 meters, the first reaction finally erupted.
“What’s that?”
With one hand halfway resting on the hilt of his sword at his waist, the man who spoke was Yang Wootaek07, a 42-year-old male.
Above his head shone the title of ‘Mapo Strongest Sword.’
On the other hand, above Yeongwoo’s head was the title of ‘Gyeongbuk’s Strongest Sword,’ writhing in a purple haze.
?Gyeongbuk’s Strongest Sword?
Another person mumbled, feeling out Yeongwoo’s peculiar title.
Seongbuk Strongest Sword, Lee Yoobin16, a 22-year-old female.
She had sensed unease upon seeing Yeongwoo earlier.
Considering the form of the title and the fact that Gyeongbuk was a major region, it indicated a different class of opponent.
“Excuse me… What’s wrong with the title? Is that how the title of a great region is supposed to be?”
Of course, she wasn’t so scared to hesitate to ask.
After all, this was Seoul, and even at this gathering, there were far more members of the Federation.
“Oh, that’s…”
Just as Yeongwoo was about to answer, suddenly…
Clang!
A person who had been sitting quietly on a chair all this time suddenly stood up with a loud motion.
“Oh my, we’ve heard a lot about you.”
Jang Jeongho01, 29 years old male, Dongdaemun’s Strongest Sword.
As he rose with a heavy presence, Lee Yoobin’s expression hardened.
Jang Jeongho was a troublesome figure even at the meetings.
As far as the Strongest Swords knew, he was a completely different person from the previous world with no criminal record then, but now he was a murderous maniac.
For example, the punishment method he enforced in Dongdaemun-gu was solely beheading.
“Hmm.”
Mapo’s Strongest Sword Yang Wootaek also sat down comfortably on his chair upon seeing Jang Jeongho rise.
Thud, thud.
If Yeongwoo was a monster, Jang Jeongho was a strange man.
Even now, he confidently walked barefoot, displaying his identity.
For the Strongest Swords, wearing shoes was a kind of courtesy and respect.
This is a roundabout way of expressing that you are not here to fight and that you want to stay politely before leaving.
It meant they wouldn’t exert themselves to the point of breaking their shoes.
However, Jang Jeongho belonged to a category that didn’t care about such things.
In fact, wasn’t the world before the reset the same?
Not everyone adhered to public morality.
“Since we’ve met like this, shall we shake hands?”
Jang Jeongho, who had suddenly approached Yeongwoo, extended his hand with a glint in his eyes.
Swish!
It felt like he was already gripping with strength in his hand.
“That’s enough. He’s a guest on business with our leader.”
Kim Doha, sensing the obvious joke, or rather, provocation, intervened to stop Jang Jeongho.
In reality, whether they quarreled or not didn’t matter much, but not now.
‘I want to see Jeong Hyunsik get beaten up.’
If it was true that this outsider had killed Jeong Hyunsik’s son, then one of the two Strongest Swords would surely die today.
And Kim Doha’s wish was for Jeong Hyunsik to die, if possible.
Ever since the duel over the choice of the meeting place, he had harbored resentment against Jeong Hyunsik
So it was essential to ensure that the outsider facing them didn’t exert unnecessary force.
For example.
Thud!
“Huh…?”
Engaging in a handshake turned into a power struggle initiated by Jang Jeongho.
“Wait a minute!”
Just as Kim Doha realized the handshake had begun, Jang Jeongho’s eyes began to glow with a golden light.
This lunatic was trying to assert the authority of the Strongest Sword.
[Translator – Night]
[Proofreader – Gun]