Somebody Stop the Pope – 24



Episode 24

8. Ground Zero

1.

The second floor of an old building located around Ground Zero.

In front of the door of a teahouse that looked like it had been out of business for quite some time Team Leader Kim Dong-sik of the Talent Management Department straightened his suit once more.

And he carefully opened the door and stepped inside.

Daughter-

The paper hanging on the door creaked open and Team Leader Kim was shown the scenery inside.

Inside the hall there was only an old gentleman with white hair slicked back.

He was looking out the window at the massive wall of Ground Zero with a steaming cup of coffee in front of him.

Team leader Kim Dong-sik carefully approached the old man and bowed to greet him.

“Minister.”

The old gentleman nodded in response to Team Leader Kim Dong-sik’s greeting.

“You’re here. Sit down.”

“Then excuse me for a moment.”

Team Leader Kim Dong-sik swallowed hard and sat down in front of the old man.

I tried not to be nervous but it wasn’t as easy as I thought.

That would be the case because the old man in front of him is the one leading the current Department of Abilities Management.

Minister of Personnel Management Yoo Seon-ho.

Despite being an unawakened person he is a master who coordinates the current awakened people of South Korea with his outstanding political skills.

If he hadn’t been there the Ability Management Department would have clearly become a useless organization long ago.

“Are you having a hard time these days because of Kim Si-woo’s awakening? I heard you can’t even get off work properly. The father has a really hard time.”

Minister Yoo Seon-ho poured coffee from the teapot into Team Leader Kim Dong-sik’s cup and said.

And at his words Team Leader Kim Dong-sik bowed his head while holding the glass with both hands.

“No. I have never felt more rewarded since I became a member of the Ability Management Department.”

“Haha you should at least put some spit in your mouth.”

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“I’m serious.”

“Okay okay the coffee is lukewarm so I’ll moisten my throat with this.”

Team Leader Kim Dong-sik took a sip of coffee. It was served in an old-fashioned cup but the contents of the cup were mixed coffee.

A sweet yet bitter taste began to spread in his mouth.

Thanks to that the fatigue that had been building up seemed to have slightly receded.

“It’s been like this since the old days but I don’t like the coffee that young people drink these days. I wonder why they drink something so bitter.”

Minister Yoo Seon-ho smiled kindly and then met Team Leader Kim Dong-sik’s eyes.

“I heard you were against my decision.”

“…sorry.”

“I didn’t call you here to question you. I just wanted to ask you what you think. Could you tell me the basis for your opposition?”

Team Leader Kim Dong-sik could not help but hesitate for a moment in answering the minister’s question.

But he soon opened his mouth.

“It’s an area where at least five guilds are fighting. There are many risk factors that we haven’t yet figured out. We decided that it wouldn’t be right to deploy the first Irregular in South Korea to such an area. Isn’t the Irregular something that we’ve been waiting for for five years?”

Unlike Disaster-class returnees or S-class Hunters who have been measured to some extent Irregular-class returnees cannot be measured.

Even among the irregular returnees no one can predict the outcome until they face each other.

That’s why irregular-level returnees have a deterrent effect just by existing.

Like old-time nuclear weapons.

Because the symbolism of the irregular returnee was so great Team Leader Kim Dong-sik did not feel the need to expose him to unnecessary threats.

“Heh heh.”

Minister Yoo Seon-ho smiled briefly at Team Leader Kim Dong-sik’s story. Then he looked at Team Leader Kim Dong-sik and said.

“As you said this is the Irregular we’ve been waiting for for five years. But does it make sense that such an Irregular would retreat because he’s scared of a fight between large guilds?”

“but….”

“Think about why Chinese irregulars are not recognized as proper irregulars in the international community.”

No matter how impossible it is to measure an irregularity it is still possible to make rough measurements through comparison.

Irregulars from the US and Europe have proven their worth by solving massive Chaos Gates on their own.

Minister Yoo Seon-ho took a sip of coffee and spoke in a much calmer voice.

“The National Awakening Federation which is comprised of large guilds is already requesting verification of the Irregular rank of Awakener Kim Si-woo.”

“That’s enough at Yeouido Gate and Guro-gu Gate…”

“Both places were areas that our Ability Management Department had been controlling from the beginning so they raised the possibility of manipulation. I heard they’re even diligently preparing a press release. It’s all because our Ability Management Department lacks power.”

The balance of power had long since shifted toward the large guilds.

The only way to stop the large guilds that had the capital of large corporations was through regulation but they cleverly reached out to the political world to block regulation.

If it weren’t for Minister Yoo Seon-ho the Ministry of Ability Management would have been disbanded long ago.

“I spoke to the chairman of the Jeon Gak-ryeon yesterday. Do you know what he said?”

“I don’t know.”

“He told me to take responsibility for the manipulation and be prepared to take off my clothes. They had already decided that we had manipulated it. Even if it wasn’t manipulation they were going to force it. So do you know what I did?”

“…no way?”

“I told you today that Kim Si-woo the awakened one will enter Ground Zero. Aren’t you curious about the results? This old man’s heart is beating wildly.”

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Team Leader Kim Dong-sik was able to realize why Minister Yoo Seon-ho known as a natural businessman accepted Kim Si-woo’s request without hesitation.

‘Then that’s right.’

As expected there is no such thing as a free lunch.

Team Leader Kim Dong-sik whose thoughts had reached that point followed Minister Yoo Seon-ho and looked at the huge wall.

And then I carefully asked Minister Yoo Seon-ho.

“Wouldn’t Kim Si-woo be angry if he found out that we leaked the information?”

Then Minister Yoo Seon-ho answered as if nothing had happened while drinking his coffee.

“Well you don’t have to worry about that. The awakened Kim Si-woo already knows.”

“…yes?”

“Even though I look like this I’m a businessman with a conscience. Haha.”

2.

A person named Yoo Seon-ho Minister of Ability Management.

Even in Eden there weren’t many people who fit the expression ‘veteran’ better than him.

Last night a handsome old gentleman came by out of nowhere while I was quietly jogging alone.

It wasn’t hard to recognize him since I had already met him once.

I’ve heard quite a few stories from him.

The current location of the Ability Management Agency in South Korea and the reason he gave me access to Ground Zero.

And right away he offered me a deal.

-We will have the Ability Management Department guarantee everything that Kim Si-woo the Awakened One will obtain from Ground Zero. In return could you give us a little more strength?

So I readily accepted the deal.

Since I was going to Ground Zero anyway I wanted to get more out of it.

But you know.

“Did I get caught with a stick?”

No matter how I look at it it seems like I’ve lost out.

I frowned and looked at the cracked sign here and there.

“National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul”

It was hard to find intact buildings in this area perhaps because the gate first appeared five years ago.

This ruin which would once have been an art gallery was also in a state of complete collapse except for a few buildings.

Unlike the world outside the walls where order was relatively well-established Ground Zero was a place that fit perfectly with the word post-apocalypse.

The problem was that not only the scenery but also other elements resembled the post-apocalypse.

[Passive skill <Ki-gam> detects clear hostility towards you.]

I said raising the corners of my mouth in a bitter manner at the magic power of the other players I could feel among the ruins.

“About thirty people? This seems like a really losing deal Leo. What do you think?”

“It seems best to resolve this with words. Force should always be the last resort.”

“I don’t know about other people but it feels a bit strange when you say it like that.”

Even though I had urged him to wear it plainly Leo insisted on wearing his priestly attire until the end.

Of course the guy’s beast-like upper body muscles are bulging out above the clinging priest’s robe.

Leo said carefully putting the monocle he was wearing back into his pocket.

“But I just can’t understand why you would harbor hostility towards us without reason. Aren’t we all human beings?”

To that I replied patting Leo on the back.

“That’s because they’re human. In Eden there was a common enemy called the devil but on Earth there isn’t.”

“I understand that the Earth is also being invaded by demons.”

“That’s what I mean. Even in that situation it’s amazing to see you do that. That means you haven’t come to your senses yet. Isn’t that what greed is all about? It can turn a sane person into a blind person. Well… Still should I talk to you like you said?”

I nodded slightly and slowly walked forward. Then looking at the shabby ruins I shouted.

“The weather is nice let’s talk and see each other’s faces!”

Those hiding among the ruins did not even flinch at my words.

My patience isn’t that great.

So just.

Kwaaaaaaaah!

I lightly rolled my feet and the ruins before my eyes collapsed. Soon the players who had been in the gaps began to appear one by one.

“It’s so nice when you come out and say nice things. It doesn’t tire either of us right?”

I didn’t notice it when I only detected it with magic power but when I checked it with my own eyes I saw something unusual.

“You must be very shy because you are all wearing masks.”

All the guys had their faces covered.

That mask was also evidence of what was happening at Ground Zero.

Things you can’t do with your face uncovered.

That’s why they’re hiding behind anonymity.

I glanced at them and then said with a smirk.

“We just came to inspect the temple grounds. Our Lord Limen is a man who truly loves peace. So if possible please stay out of our way brothers and sisters.”

I wonder if my gentle request for conversation was effective?

One of them stepped forward. Then he immediately took off his mask and proudly revealed his evil face.

From her tiny sparkling eyes to the bizarre tattoos proudly engraved all over her face.

It’s not easy to look so villainous.

Anyway to anyone who saw it that villainous man pointed his sword at me and spoke.

“Can’t you get out of my way?”

“Why?”

“How could they allow a cult leader’s kid into such a prestigious place? I had high hopes because Jeon Gak-ryeon said they would pay a generous deposit but when I actually looked at him he was just a worthless brat.”

I think he thinks all the strength I’ve shown him so far was manipulation.

What Minister Yoo Seon-ho of the Ministry of Personnel Management said seemed to be correct.

What was unusual about it was the amount of magical power that the man possessed. His magical power was comparable to that of the leader of the Goblin Guild that I had seen last time.

If that’s true then you’re an S-class hunter so I should know something about S-class hunters.

I shrugged my shoulders and asked casually as I put on my gloves.

“Brother what is the basis for your judgment that I am a worthless brat?”

“I just called a retard a retard after seeing one do you need proof? Hehe. It’s not like it’s the first time I’ve seen you scammers.”

“Your face may look like an ass but you definitely have a talent for spitting shit out of your mouth brother. Does your mouth look like an anus?”

“I’ll wait and see if your tongue is still intact even after cutting off your arm. I’ve already ordered the Jeon Gak-ryeon to turn you into a half-cripple.”

The man licked his lips with his tongue as he said that.

One thing was for sure these guys had killed quite a few people. You could tell just by the vicious aura they gave off.

I glanced at them then turned around slightly and asked Leo.

“Do you still think conversation is the best option?”

Leo nodded and answered.

“I think we should at least be given a chance to repent for our sins.”

“Will those guys ever repent of their sins?”

Instead of answering Leo threw both hands into the air.

Then soon.

Kkwaddeuk-!

“Kuaaaaaaaaaah!”

One of the masked men hiding around us with magical powers was folded in half by Leo’s hand.

It literally folded in half.

If a person’s left and right shoulders are touching then isn’t that folded in half?

I asked Leo again who had put on an unexpected show of force.

“How does that give you a chance to repent? When a person is folded in half he dies.”

Leo answered my question with a still blunt expression.

“Have you not left a mouth through which you can repent of your sins?”

“…That’s amazing.”

“Your Holiness you are very complimentary.”

What a crazy guy.

It was my fault for asking this guy’s opinion.

I took a deep breath turned my gaze and spoke to the masked men who had now frozen like statues.

“That’s why I said let’s talk about it. You guys are the ones who refused?”

Our Pope please stop this