Past Life Returner
chapter-406

Jonathan was surrounded by the flames that surged up from his body. The King of Hell had descended. The flames writhed with the potential to burn everything around in a single breath, and in the next breath, they were sucked into his body altogether. Now, flames like wisps rose from Jonathan’s entire body.

“I asked what authority you will wield to put me on trial, Jack Benedict.”

Jack Benedict started to tremble horribly as Jonathan questioned him as if he was scolding him. The congressman’s face stiffened because the subject of his relentless interrogation had transformed into a supernatural being, tinged with red flames.

The fire quickly engulfed the table where Jonathan had been sitting, so it was only a matter of time for it to collapse and turn into black ashes.

“Are you qualified to command me? Do you have the power to enforce it?”

Jonathan’s voice wasn’t filled with anger. On the contrary, he was incredibly calm.

“Probably not because the reality is different from your wildest dreams. You guys need my consent to put me on trial, just like when I accepted the hearing today.”

Nevertheless, the heat that had started to fill the air became more terrifying, and even more frightening was the fact that he had revealed a portion of his dreadful abilities in an official setting, watched by the entire world. The representatives realized that Jonathan could turn the room into hell at any moment, depending on his mood, and that they had no means to stop him.

What could have led to this far, where even the slightest provocation triggered an explosion of Jonathan Hunter? What had awakened the financier, Jonathan Hunter, into the King of Hell?

The answer was simple. The politicians looked at Jack Benedict with a mixture of fear and pressure. However, he could neither stand up nor utter a single word.

Everyone quieted down. They were afraid that the sound of a sigh or the slightest movement might cause their heads to explode. Therefore, the hall was eerily quiet, and Jonathan’s voice became even more prominent.

“Two months ago, Awakened and civilians were burned to death in the occupied territory of the RMC Group, the Franklin Duchy. The association classified the creature that attacked them as a transcendent being. You may feel fear of me now, but I am afraid of that attitude. The monster’s flames will be fiercer than mine, and it will be full of aggression without any mercy.”

The flames blazing on Jonathan’s body responded steadily to his voice.

“Such transcendent beings exist among our enemies. Who can be sure that none of them will attack us? Even Odin, the strongest of the Awakened, cannot guarantee that.”

Jonathan stepped forward.

Although the only destroyed areas in the room were the immediate vicinity where Jonathan had stood and the distance he had walked, his appearance that the camera captured seemed like he was standing in the center of a battlefield. The ashes under his feet flared up into embers and spread in the air quickly.

“Now that I mentioned transcendent beings, I think it has resolved the doubts about Odin’s whereabouts to those who have been wondering. The association has promised peace and prosperity, and we have been working to keep the promise.”

Jonathan looked at the representatives and the audience, then continued, “The results are well known to everyone. Alien invasions are being treated as trivial issues in public, and the wealth I have created has been defined as a new enemy. All of this is possible only because our world is peaceful.”

“...”

“That was why the entire association board, including myself, had to be more cautious. That was why we refrained from mentioning transcendent beings. We didn’t want to provoke a sense of crisis in the barely regained peace.”

Jonathan’s voice continued to be gentle as if he was trying to soothe the audience.

“I am not denying our current peace. Why would I? All I desperately want is peace for all of humanity. But that doesn’t mean I’m turning a blind eye to what hasn’t happened yet. Right now, I am talking about the reality that every single one of us is facing.”

Crack-!

“The uncomfortable truth that everyone wanted to ignore.”

***

For a moment, Jonathan felt the weight of the burden Sun was carrying, and his heart grew heavy. His expression revealed this emotion as well.

“Transcendent beings are not an immediate threat to humanity because Odin is directly and the Awakened are indirectly blocking their attacks. However, if they fail and our world turns into a battlefield, can you imagine the aftermath of that day?”

He became silent for a long time after saying that. Quite some time passed before he spoke again.

“Jack Benedict.”

The assemblyman was still overwhelmed by the fear. When he came to his senses, he found himself politely responding without even realizing it, “Yes…”

“What is the current state of the global stock market?”

Jack Benedict answered after checking his smartphone, “Well…it’s on a downward trend.”

By the time the hearing had started, the once-thriving market had reversed its course.

Jonathan continued, “It is because I mentioned the term ‘transcendent beings.’ It is also because no one can predict which direction I will take. The markets are going down because there is fear that the world will change for the worse from today on. This calculator might even include your deaths. So if I really start to burn you all down in this fire…”

Sparks gathered in Jonathan’s clenched fist. Of course, he understood the things that Sun wanted to protect, but it was true that he couldn’t truly empathize with Sun.

For a brief moment, a murderous intent beyond the flames passed through Jonathan’s eyes, which were fixed on Jack Benedict. Right then, Jack Benedict tightly closed his eyes. Despite the considerable distance between them, Jonathan’s flames seemed dangerously poised to fly toward him at any moment.

However, all that spread out was the sound of Jonathan’s voice.

“Fear will burst out in the market. It will be stopped at once, and the financial market will be temporarily paralyzed. However.”

The flames were retrieved back by Jonathan’s fists.

“It will quickly stabilize as long as I don’t dispose of our group’s assets, and as long as the capital forces called ‘Defenders of the Day of Advent’ don’t join their ranks.”

Jonathan didn’t stop there.

“Whether it is transcendent beings or even greater threats, I will always bet on the safety of humanity.”

Then, he shifted his gaze from the assemblyman to the audience.

***

“I understand the meaning of the protest starting in America, in front of our group’s headquarters. But I also wondered why there were no voices speaking up for me, and if the protestors truly represented the voice of the Americans. These so-called Americans only cried out about wealth inequality, but why didn’t they say anything about how the Jonathan Group was making America stronger?”

The second story about the uncomfortable truth began.

“The reason why the current president was elected in the last elections was due to the desire of Americans who wanted to see a stronger nation.”

Jonathan continued, “Our group had no choice but to secure a large number of shares in global groups while defending the Day of Advent. These shares make up 22.3 percent of the global stock market.”

The audience stayed silent.

“Remember that the Jonathan Group, unlike other financial groups, does not have its headquarters overseas. We are an American company, and we can proudly say that we have been faithfully paying our taxes.

“Then, what does it mean that our group holds 22.3 percent of the global stock market? This year, we have the right to receive dividends from global companies at that proportion, and the U.S. government has secured thirty-five percent of those dividends in corporate tax revenue.

“As the market expands into outer space and the global companies’ operating profits increase, the U.S. government’s national budget will also increase each year. However, this is only about dividends. If we consider the amount Jonathan Group is making in China, how much will the U.S. government’s national budget increase from that?

“As a result, how far will the United States become wealthier, and who will benefit from it? It is the Americans, you guys, who are currently condemning the wealth I possess.”

Jonathan suppressed the urge to shove his face toward the audience.

“The Awakened still have a vague concept of the nation as they are accustomed to the days when they belonged under the name of a captain, under the name of a powerful corps commander. It is the same for me as well, but why am I talking about America’s prosperity now? At least Americans should have looked back at reality once more before condemning the wealth I possess.”

There wasn’t even a sound of a single breath from the audience. No one could dare to have the courage to question Jonathan right in front of him. Their initial fervor had faded in the heat emitted by Jonathan.

“There are monsters that grow by eating the corpses of their fellows among the Kciphos Corps. The process of achieving my current wealth is similar to that. I have swallowed up large financial forces, and their capital accumulated as my wealth.”

“Americans are talking about the extreme concentration of wealth, but the notion has taken place for a long time. You, ordinary citizens, can’t say that I have robbed your pockets. What has changed in your lives? There is no difference from before.”

At that point, Jonathan somehow calmed his rage down. As the story went on, emotions were gradually overlapping, increasing his anger. He wanted to scold not only Americans but also the entire world, but decided to stop. He had gone far enough.

“I apologize sincerely for drawing out the power of the Awakened in the official hearing. There will be no such thing in the future.”

If I was Sun, I would say this and not lower my head…

Jonathan frowned inwardly and lowered his face toward the audience, politicians, then the cameras. Then, his voice that burst out was even more settled.

“However, that is the reality. Transcendent beings exist, and you have no power to put me on trial. What means can you command me by? Even under the UN, I am a person not subject to the law.”

Jonathan swallowed some saliva.

“But I will stand on trial. I am here today because many Americans were crying out for John Doe. I will accept the judgment of the judiciary for using anonymous transactions. Even if you doubt my sincerity and attack me like this just by looking at my wealth, I will show that the Jonathan Investment Finance Group is not above the law. Neither am I. If that is the way to maintain the order we have kept, I will gladly accept it. Why not?”

Srrr-

The red flames rising from Jonathan’s body disappeared. Jonathan finally looked towards the chairman.

“Please notify me of the date. I will attend the court.”

It was a single phrase that changed the situation at once.