< Disbelief (2) >
“Are you a regressor?”
Sang-woo did not understand the unfamiliar word of a regressor.
return.
It means return to place.
‘A regressor… a person who returns to his place? Ah, did you mean returning to the past?’
And Sang-woo’s prediction was correct.
– It means you came from the future to the past. In other words, if Lucas is a regressor, he knows the future.
“…oh no way.”
– You don’t believe me either. But that’s for sure. I can see his information.
Ashley’s ability is hacking.
‘Honestly, with her ability, she could have peeked at Lucas’ information. So did you find out But maybe this person is lying to me. I still don’t know who this Ashley is, so I can’t blindly trust her.’
There were too many bad people in the world to just blindly believe, and Sang-woo had experienced many such cases while doing online transactions at the time of game failure.
That is why, rather than unconditionally believing, I first developed a reasonable doubt.
“Assume Ashley is right. So do you have any proof? Proof that Lucas is a regressor.”
– Evidence… There is no physical evidence. But the heart attack is certain. Sangwoo, do you know how Lucas created the Enlighten Group?
Ashley asks in reverse.
Sangwoo opened his mouth as if it were natural.
“Of course I know, because everyone who wants to be a Hunter dreams of being Lucas or Dan Villerian. Lucas, a teenage boy who awakened the super-special ability of teleportation, became a successful hunter, set up his own guild, and eventually went beyond the guild and merged with various companies in other fields to establish a super-giant corporation called the Enlighten Group.”
At those words, Ashley laughed through her smart goggles.
-Yes. You know. But you don’t know the details either.
“That’s right, I’m not even a fan of Lucas, so what…”
– It’s not that Sang-woo was wrong. Lucas has succeeded and seems to have gone on and on without a hitch on the surface. But Mr. Sang-woo. Do you think it is possible for one person to create the No. 1 company in a country or the world in less than 20 years? Also, the person who was a hunter suddenly came up with innovative ideas that people at the time could not even dream of, and created things like ‘smartphones’ and ‘smart goggles’. He wasn’t even an IT expert.
Yes.
The smart goggles that Sang-woo is currently using or the smartphone that is gradually disappearing.
The man who announced them, high-tech gadgets that appeared like comets, was none other than Lucas.
‘I remember. Lucas was the first to make the announcement at Heritage headquarters.’
At the time, several years had passed since the cataclysm, and social networks were barely recovering and establishing themselves.
And at that time, it was the folder phone that had just appeared in the late 1990s that dominated communication devices.
It was the time when various types of mobile phones of new attempts that combined mana engineering appeared.
However, most of them contained only crude or weak functions.
But one day, a touch-type smartphone with only a huge liquid crystal appeared like a comet.
‘I remember when I was young too. The world said that innovation had appeared. And Lucas is a great genius.’
But Sang-woo now knew the secret.
Because Heritage had a great genius.
So Sang-woo refuted Ashley’s words.
“Why do you think Lucas developed it alone? Heritage has exceptional geniuses.”
-i know. That Duver is an alien, right?
Ashley you already know.
Sang-woo replied as if it became easier to talk.
“that’s right. You know. Then it should be easy to talk about. Dubert is a great genius. in creating and developing something. But as Ashley knows, he is from another planet. Because of this, it is difficult for him to come forward. Perhaps cutting-edge devices such as smartphones and smart goggles were developed by Mr. Dubert. However, only the announcement about the development would have been made through Lucas.”
At those words, Ashley affirmed as if she knew.
– Well, it could be. But Mr. Sang-woo. So where did Lucas get the information to bring Duvert? How did they find out the location of the Tibern portal? And how did they know and bring those talented people called Dubert and Aria? Haven’t you thought about that?
“…that.”
At those words, Sang-woo was speechless.
-Well, it’s because Lucas is a very lucky person. But isn’t it strange that so much luck goes on for one person?
“…Well, you might have been born with tremendous business luck and sense.”
Sang-woo refutes.
But now Sang-woo’s voice lacked confidence and certainty.
Because he also felt that something was strange.
– It could have been. But Mr. Sang-woo. Open your eyes and open your ears. The fact that Lucas is a regressor doesn’t change. And if you watch his progress in the future, you’ll see that it’s very strange.
Ashley said as if Sang-woo would naturally believe that Lucas was a regressor.
“Couldn’t it be…?”
– Did you forget? I am ‘Oracle’. You can also see Sangwoo’s future.
Of course, this was Ashley’s lie.
Strangely, she couldn’t see Sang-woo’s future.
-And that’s not what’s important now. It’s important that Sangwoo is with dangerous Lucas. So I contacted Sang-woo because I felt sorry for him. Lucas isn’t as nice a person as Sang-woo thought.
She didn’t seem to be aware of the fact that Sang-woo and Lucas had fallen out yet.
Sang-woo replied.
“If that’s the case, it’s already over. It’s because I’ve said that I won’t work with Lucas from now on.”
-Ah… I didn’t know that. That’s fine though. Actually, I tried to convince you by talking about this, but I don’t think it’s necessary.
“What are you talking about?”
– A deal between Lucas and me. Aren’t you curious what the price I’ll get for giving Lucas information about the Master… what?
“Oh is that it? I was curious. But anyway, it’s someone else’s business. But if you tell me, I will be grateful.”
-What is this, you are bowing down. Anyway, since I was originally going to tell you, I’ll tell you.
Ashley continued with a nuance that seemed to be absurd.
-The price I asked for was the release of my comrades imprisoned in Alcatraz.
“A colleague? Is Alcatraz the name of a prison?”
-yes. It is the most dangerous and harsh prison in America that confines the Awoken.
Alcatraz.
Located on an island off the coast of San Francisco, California, this prison was notorious for being ‘impossible to escape’ even before the cataclysm.
After the cataclysm, the place went through repeated renovations and turned into a prison in the form of a fortress that confined criminals from the Awakened.
All the inmates imprisoned there were unclear whether they were alive or not, regardless of the length of their prison term, and people believed that virtually all Awoken criminals were executed there.
– It is said that everyone will die if they are trapped there, but that is not true. As a result of checking the CCTV inside the prison, it is also an ordinary prison. Although the security is great, of course. And I was able to see what my colleagues looked like there.
“aha. Excuse me, but what guild are you from? Are you a member of the World Hunter Association?”
Sang-woo asked cautiously.
At that, Ashley giggled.
– The World Hunter Association? It’s not like that. That is, whenever there is a request from the association, it is paid for and taken care of. Could it be a contractual relationship?
“I thought it was because you predicted disasters and disasters every time, but it wasn’t.”
-yes. Rather, the group I belong to must have heard the name once. It’s called ‘Anti-System’.
“ah!”
anti system.
It was a group with extremist inclinations and ideas to destroy the portal itself, such as terrorizing and destroying the portal’s dungeon cores.
It is defined as a terrorist group in most countries of the world.
And Sang-woo knew that name.
Because I’ve already met properly once in China.
“I know, Anti-System. A terror that destroys all the dungeons… It’s that place, after all.”
Sang-woo was about to say that it was a terrorist group, but hurriedly changed his words.
-that’s right. You know. Well, the other day, our colleague ‘Sonmi’ talked about Sangwoo. I almost got lost in the dungeon because of an unexpected crisis, but Sang-woo saved me.
“Ah yes. What was it?”
At that time, Sang-woo and his master Raven went to China to finish a betting contract with the Kanus Guild and went on a raid on A-rank monsters.
And there, he encountered the forces of the swordsman, who was hostile to Raven, and succeeded in escaping with Sonmi just before the dungeon portal disappeared.
Of course, to be precise, Raven was suspicious of her and brought her out on purpose.
‘It was definitely a woman who used the ability to hide in the shadows. If we meet again, I want to brand it with jealousy and gain the ability.’
While Sang-woo’s thoughts that lead to the stealing of his ability in the battle come to mind.
Ashley’s words continued.
-Anyway, thank you for the job. Anyway, the story took a different route. Back to the point, our colleagues from the Anti-System are currently trapped in Arcatraz. And Lucas promised to hand them over and he did. Do you know what this means?
At those words, Sang-woo was lost in thought.
‘Have you proven that Lucas’ ability is good? no, it wouldn’t be that simple. But how did Lucas get someone out of prison? Legally with the cooperation of the government? Or illegally?’
And Ashley’s behind-the-scenes words solved Sang-woo’s doubts.
-Lucas used his teleportation ability to get my comrades out of Alcatraz. And they’re inside me now.
Ashley didn’t say anything after that.
But even if she didn’t say anything, Sang-woo could tell.
“He has committed an offense.”
– That’s the correct answer.
Yes.
Lucas was not a man of integrity and innocence, contrary to his outward image.
He was a man who could tolerate breaking the law for the sake of a purpose.
‘Somehow, something was clumsy.’
Although they became close recently, Sang-woo originally kept his distance from Lucas.
Because of his intuition.
But Ashley’s words added confidence to his intuition.
-Can you guess how many hardships and statics Lucas must have had while creating the Enlighten Group by merging numerous subsidiaries? He is a man who has overcome it all and rises to the top. No one knows how cold and cruel he can be. Only I, who peeked into his past, knows. Even he can’t see what he looked like before he returned. And…
Ashley stopped talking and was silent.
Curious, Sang-woo urged.
“And what?”
-…The problem is that everything Lucas does has a purpose.
“What is your purpose?”
to power and wealth and honor power.
Does Lucas still have a goal to reach, who seems to have achieved everything he could have already achieved?
-The purpose… is to save mankind. what a good thing to say
“Salvation of mankind… Well, looking at Lucas’ actions, I understand. But what about bad words?”
– To put it badly, that’s ‘madness’. The madness of giving all of humanity to the unknown.
“Sacrificing humanity? What do you mean?”
A man who wants to save mankind is trying to sacrifice all of mankind on the contrary?
Sang-woo couldn’t understand Ashley’s nonsensical words.
– Literally. Sangwoo, are you a system user?
If you go beyond the portal and go through the forced awakening program, you will become a system user unconditionally.
In other words, Sang-woo is also a system user who uses the system.
I couldn’t see Sang-woo, but I nodded involuntarily.
“yes. I am a system user. Why?”
-Oh… that’s because the ‘system’ is the problem.
“A system?”
-yes. The reason is… systems are private property, created by someone.
“Is the system your personal property?”
Surprised Sangwoo.
But Ashley’s words continued.
-yes. And Lucas has a plan to make everyone in the world a system user. As if… to subjugate all of humanity to the masters of the system.
“What nonsense…”
Sang-woo couldn’t believe it.
Even though he is the chairman of a group, he is the first man to run when a disaster strikes.
A sense of justice that never fails to overcome injustice and always rescues those who are in danger.
Although he sometimes shows a cold and unfeeling side, it was Lucas who looked much more human than normal people.
-Of course, this is just my guess based on Lucas’ information, his past activities, and what I found out about the system. Not sure yet. But… I’m guessing it’s very credible.
“…….”
It was probably because of her skill, hacking, that she found out that the system was privately owned.
-It is for this reason that the group I created called Anti-System is active under that name. A system created by someone whose purpose is still unknown. In my opinion, they are currently dazzling mankind by giving only sweet fruits, but it is certain that they will reveal their true colors when the time comes. Think about it. It is a system that can manipulate the human body at will like a god, but what if the owner manipulates the system users with malicious intent? Humanity will be reduced to the property of one individual.
“I see…”
The Anti-System, which the World Hunter Association identified as a terrorist group, was an organization created by Oracle.
In addition, the Anti-System, which was simply known as a terrorist group, turned out to have a greater purpose than expected.
And through this conversation, Sang-woo didn’t completely believe Ashley’s words, but he realized his narrow thoughts.
‘As expected, there is no such thing as a good person or a bad person in this world. Everyone has their own purpose. If the interests are right, you’re an ally, and if not, you’re an enemy. The anti-system is the same. They weren’t just people with bad intentions. It’s just that they couldn’t follow the trend of the trend. If time passes and the theory of portal destruction gains momentum and Lucas’s Enlighten group’s power weakens, the anti-system may become mainstream.’
There are no permanent enemies or allies.
While Sang-woo’s thoughts continue like that.
Ashley signaled the end of the conversation.
-Anyway, Mr. Sangwoo, I don’t think you’re a closed person. I just don’t have enough information yet. Now that I know some truth, I believe I can judge what is right and what is wrong. And… I wouldn’t dare say that we should agree with our anti-system. Instead, don’t be too swayed by Lucas. Above all, I want you to know that the current situation of mankind and the entire earth is not optimistic. Just as there is our anti-system that opposes Lucas’ ideology, there is also a ‘Black Messiah’ who is sympathetic to his ideology, or rather crazy. So don’t slow down your tension. Enough then.
After speaking, Ashley immediately ended the communication without waiting for Sang-woo to greet him.
A room where only silence lingers as if a storm has raged and passed.
Sang-woo’s head was filled with complicated feelings.
‘Lucas…the system…the antisystem…and even an unheard-of group called the Black Messiah…it feels like they’re gradually stepping into the big game.’
Instinctively he realized that he had to decide his course from now on.
I already feel a little distant, but will I be with Lucas?
Or will it be with the anti-system that is stigmatized as a terrorist group that they claim to be right.
Aside from that, I don’t care about anything and I’m going to play as an individual like now.
Sang-woo pondered for a moment.
And the answer was already out there.
‘…There’s no need to get involved in a side fight and make enemies. As of now, as a hunter, all I have to do is hunt and train. I just need to keep my distance from Lucas. Also the anti-system. Above all, the system…what about this?’
Most of Sang-woo’s abilities were already dependent on the system.
If what Ashley Oracle said is true, Sang-woo’s abilities could disappear at any moment.
At worst, Sang-woo himself might be killed by the system.
In other words, since this is such a dangerous situation, what Sang-woo must do has been decided.
‘…We need to lower our dependence on the system.’
Sangwoo’s eyes narrowed.
< Disbelief (2) > End
