The Protagonists Are Murdered by Me
chapter-141

When Taylor Nine rebuked Yoo Haram the moment the discussion started, some of the attendees had an expression as if saying ‘Oh, that crazy bitch is starting again’. However, most of them looked at her with a feeling of ‘It’s better this way’. Because ‘Hell Gate Expedition’ was not something they wanted to discuss.

Most of them still remembered what happened 7 years ago. At that time, numerous guilds sent their members into the Hell Gate. But most of them ended up dead.

However, Lost Day was an exception. Few hunters under their banner returned alive, they even got an enormous amount of materials from the Hell Gate thanks to their hunter, ‘Lyton.’ The existence of those materials was hidden from the world just until recently when Lost Day announced that they were studying about Hell Gate.

‘That is why he is pretending to be an expert.’

Taylor snorted as Yoo Haram laughed leisurely against her argument.

“Haha, yeah. Certainly I also know very little about the unknown place called Hell Gate. However, just like what we announced recently, we have been constantly researching Hell Gate, and we have been able to obtain quite a bit of information about it. But we don’t know if that will be poison or medicine for humanity, though.”

“Hooo…. Are you pretending to be an intellectual after researching someone else’s belongings? Well, I always knew that you were someone like that, so I’ll try to understand.”

“I don’t think it is right to throw a baseless accusation in this place.”

“Eh? When did I ever make any baseless accusations? Everything I say is always fact.”

That’s right, Taylor’s act of saying anything she wanted had earned her a nickname of ‘Fact Bomber’. Although what she said was at first glance disturbing, they were all words based on true stories.

In other words, Yoo Haram couldn’t let Taylor Nine, who had a strong image of a fact bomber, to say anything against him.

However, Yoo Haram was calm. ‘People who appeared here are mostly on my side anyway…’

“I don’t think it’s good to have a fight like this in a discussion, Taylor Nine Hunter-nim.” Yoo Haram regained his composure and smiled.

“Yeah whatever.”

Taylor waved her hands. Even though she wanted to rebuke him some more, she was aware that it was time to listen carefully.

Soon after, Yoo Haram presented data on the screen in the air. It was statistics and geometrical graphs full of jargon that was too hard for Taylor to understand.

“Everyone knows that Hell Gate has always been treated as an abnormal phenomenon just like a rift”. People nodded at Yoo Haram’s words. “However, the truth is, Hell Gate is different from rift. While rift has a ‘Core’ inside, Hell Gate doesn’t. If Hell Gate was a rift, it would close once we destroy the core…. But, according to 47 members of the expedition who returned four years ago, they could not find or track core energy at all.”

Taylor wanted to rebuke it by saying ‘it could be the machine’s problem’ just like what Yoo Seodam told her. However, if she said it, it would lead to an even more in-depth talk which she was sure that she would lose against. Taylor Nine was someone who always liked to win, and she didn’t have a hobby of fighting a losing battle.

“But, the core does exist. If you look at the screen, you can see the change in Hell Gate’s energy over the last 7 years. On a yearly basis, its energy is gradually increasing. It is evidence that Hell Gate’s core is growing. And, as you all know, whether it’s a crack or a dungeon, when the energy threshold is exceeded, whatever they contain inside will pop out into reality.”

Yoo Haram looked around with a firm eye.

“I’m sure everyone in the industry is well aware that if the monsters from inside the dungeons and rifts come to Earth, it’s more difficult to defeat them.”

In practice, it was extremely rare for a monster to become stronger just because it came out to Earth. However, on Earth, they had civilians to protect, and it was never easy to fight a war while making sure there was no damage to both civilians and property. And in some cases, when a monster with invisibility or undetectable ability bypasses the defence line, martial law would be applied and the city would be paralyzed.

‘That bastard really came with a plan.’

Taylor had to agree that no one had ever investigated Hell Gate as closely as Yoo Haram. Even if there were, they would probably side with Yoo Haram.

‘Who are you trying to push into Hell Gate?’

Taylor knows that this discussion was broadcasted all over the world in real time, thus, she was aware that Yoo Haram deliberately mentioned civilian damage in order to heightened their sense of crisis.

And in order to close Hell Gate as soon as possible, a team of elite would be needed. If someone refuses here… their image would certainly get damaged. Even if there were some people who wanted to refuse it, the atmosphere wouldn’t allow them to.

The moment Yoo Haram’s words ended, some guild masters promptly responded.

“We, from Cheongdan guild, will support Hell Gate expedition.”

“I am the master of Lujiao guild. Our guild is also totally in favor of the expedition.”

Most of them were guilds from China, however, they were not the only ones as guilds from other countries started to show their support.

“Lane Killer Guild also agrees with the opinion of recruiting an elite hunter.”

“This is the Blue Iron Guild. Can I ask about the criteria for selecting a hunter?”

“I am the master of the Velvet Guild. Our guild will also support the expedition to Hell Gate.”

Words of opinions poured out one after another. Half of the Masters of renowned Guild as well as S rank hunters accepted the proposal.

Of course, not all guilds could participate in the expedition just because they expressed their intention to participate, and it is said that they would form an elite team through a thorough screening. The topic progressed at an overly fast pace.

‘Crazy bastards…. They are using this opportunity to advertise themselves.’

Only about 5% of the hunters in the discussion agreed to the proposal, but the problem was that 5% were the strongest of the bunch. Hunters below A rank, who couldn’t even carry a guild on their backs, shed cold sweat as they remained quiet, and other S rank hunters also shut their mouths when the atmosphere became strange.

The same was true for SS rank hunters. Yoo Haram had set the rhythm by being the first one to come forward about the expedition, so if the other SS rank expressed their refusal, they would be criticized by the public.

‘What the hell are you going to do by touching Hell Gate again… No, don’t tell me?’

Taylor suddenly came up with a thought and looked at the place where Seol Jungyeon was. She was still looking at Yoo Haram with her cold eyes as numerous Chinese officials watched her.

‘It seems like those guys really held a grudge against that auntie….’

Last time, China’s image was greatly damaged due to the Saekma, their ridiculous claim of ‘Mugong Ownership’ as well as the incident on America’s soil that happened because of Murim Hohyanghoe. At the centre of it all were Murim people.

So, in other words, China is thinking of getting rid of Murim people altogether.

“So, I’m curious what Murim Lord’s opinion is….”

With those words from Yoo Haram, Taylor sighed as everyone’s eyes focused on Seol Jungyeon.

It was a sly attack by Yoo haram. Taylor pondered about what option Seol Jungyeon should choose.

If she refused, she would be condemned for not agreeing to work to keep the peace of the planet. On the other hand, if she accepts it, they will try to put as many Murim people as they could inside the Hell Gate. If that’s the case, of course, they would also try to put Seol Jungyeon inside. No matter how many strong people Murim had, they wouldn’t be safe inside the Hell Gate. However, if she refused to do so, the image that Murim Alliance had painstakingly built would go down the drain.

Seol Junyeon sighed. It was a difficult question. She had heard stories about Hell Gate from Yoo Seodam quite occasionally. And, he, the most reliable man in the world for her, had always said that, ‘it was a place more like hell than hell itself.’

Seol Jungyeon couldn’t let her people be included in such a dangerous gamble even if there is a possibility of Hell Gate bursting open. She smelled something fishy because she could clearly feel the prickling sensation of pure ‘malice’ on her skin.

“It’s a sensitive problem, so I’ll think about it before giving my answer.”

The only thing she could do right now was to postpone the answer.

However, Yoo Haram would not allow her to do that.

“Haha, there is no need to hold your answer. This is a discussion, anyway. You could freely voice your opinion. I believe everyone is curious about the opinion of the strongest superhuman on the planet as well as an SSS rank superhuman.”

Seol Jungyeon frowned since she was being forced to answer. Her expression was captured in dozens of cameras and broadcasted worldwide.

‘Should I ask him a reverse question about his willingness to join the expedition at the forefront?’ Seol Jungyeon thought. ‘… it doesn’t seem right.’

Seol Jungyeon was aware that Yoo Haram was more proficient in politics rather than Hunting, so such a simple argument would be easily countered by him.

1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds.

Time passed as Seol Jungyeon sighed. She recalled the past when she was still Supreme Cheonma. That time, she did not have to involve herself with politics. Her one word would easily become the law. Therefore, she was vulnerable to this kind of politics where she had to pay attention to her ‘image’.

Seol Jungyeon would rather cut Yoo Haram’s throat right away with her sword… But unfortunately, humans were social animals, so she had to do it for Yoo Seodam’s sake.

‘…No matter how much I care about the image, I can’t send my people who are like my own blood and flesh to the place that Seodam told me not to go.’

Seol Jungyeon thought that it would be better to pursue safety even when she was aware that it was precisely what Yoo Haram and the Chinese nation wanted. Namely, reducing the Murim people’s image.

“I……”

However, the moment Seol Jungyeon tried to open her mouth to express her opinion, her eyes turned wide open, and she suddenly got up from her seat without knowing. Fortunately, her behavior did not receive much attention since she wasn’t the only one who stood up from her seat.

“I, I…!”

“He is……!”

In an instant, the camera focused on the entrance of the room.

Click! Click! Click!

Light flashed together with the sounds of shutter, and from the entrance, someone dressed in a suit was walking in while smiling.

It was a face Seol Jungyeon had never forgotten even for a moment.

“Yoo Seodam!”

Someone shouted his name on behalf of Seol Jungyeon, and Yoo Seodam raised his hand as if trying to answer him. Then someone gave him a microphone and he spoke.

“Sorry. I’m a little late… Oh, but will you accept late students here?”

But no one shook their heads. If it were usual, it would have been possible to place restrictions on admission to people who were late. But, how could they do that to Yoo Seodam? A man who reappeared after disappearing into the rift more than two months ago.

‘It’s a scoop!’

The moderator felt that it was an opportunity he couldn’t miss.

“Please… Please come in. There are many empty seats left.”

“Thank you then. I’ll sit there then.”

Yoo Seodam walked toward the F rank seat as he said that.

“Okay. So, what were we talking about? Oh yeah! I watched it on live broadcast on my way here. You were discussing about the ‘Hell Gate’… right?”

“That’s right. We also have a specialist here to discuss about Hellgate’s expedition.”

Yoo Seodam’s expression turned funny as he heard the moderator’s words.

“Specialist? Who is that?”

Yoo Seodam tilted his head as the moderator pointed at Yoo Haram before opening his mouth again.

“Oh, yes. When I was in Junior High School, I joined the ‘Pretty Pebble Collection Club’ and heard a lot of advice from a specialist. Really, these days, anyone can become a specialist if they want to, even without a license”

Obviously, Yoo Seodam said all of it in a sarcastic tone.

Then, Yoo Haram replied with a stiff face.

“Yes, that’s right. I do not have a license. But I believe that I have investigated the interior of Hell Gate through the material obtained…”

“Hell Gate’s material? Ah! The ones that I brought?”

Then it was complete silence.

Yoo Haram’s poker face began to crumble a little because he didn’t predict that Yoo Seodam, who had been missing for a few months, would reappear here.

“….Yes, that is the one. But the point I want to convey is that I have studied enough about Hell Gate and that I am well aware of the danger it possesses.”

In response to his words, Yoo Seodam didn’t say much.

He only said,

“Hell Gate? I’ve been there before.” After saying that, he continued.

“How about you?”

With that, the controversy over who was the specialist came to an end.