Somebody Stop the Pope – 76



Episode 76

23. What Happened at the Beach

1.

The two-day Korea-Japan summit ended successfully.

Prime Minister Sasaki apologized to the people of the Republic of Korea from beginning to end and promised compensation for the damages suffered during the colonial period.

Although most of the actual victims who could demand compensation from the Japanese government have already passed away their promise to compensate was the biggest hurdle to overcome in Korea-Japan relations.

The two countries declared that they would begin exchanges in various fields including economy diplomacy and culture starting with the issue of the awakened.

Experts say that it would be difficult to overcome the history of hatred that has continued for a very long time overnight but that just opening the floodgates on this occasion was a sufficient achievement.

How do people react?

Unfortunately the attention of the Korean people was divided. This was because of the articles that broke out immediately after the summit ended.

“The horrible truth about a daycare center. The terrible tragedy revealed by Irregular Kim Si-woo!”

“A huge corruption case involving villain public officials and large guilds!”

“The ugly truths that rule the shadows of the Republic of Korea are revealed.”

“President Seo Shin-woo holds an emergency press conference and apologizes to the nation. ‘I will use the remaining term of my term to eradicate the malignant tumor in the Republic of Korea. ‘”

“The ruling and opposition parties agreed to convene a special session of the National Assembly. The main agenda item is the ‘Irregular Special Act.’”

The ripple effect of the Korea-Japan summit was short-lived and as the truth about the daycare center incident I was involved in was revealed the entire Republic of Korea was engulfed in anger.

Five years after the opening of Dimension.

As the era of the Awakened arrived and society changed all the accumulated negative elements began to burst out all at once.

To summarize the Irregular Special Act that is being discussed in the National Assembly it is a story about granting me various privileges.

“Brother Minsu have you heard about the special law?”

“I know this is the most controversial part on the Internet. The clause that states that if His Holiness the Pope personally participates in an operation to subdue villains he will be exempt from all legal liability that occurs during the operation has caused a stir in various communities.”

It was just as Minsu explained.

In a word the Irregular Special Act can be said to be a law that justifies my use of force.

Of course I wasn’t granted immunity at any time.

Partial immunity that is activated only when there is a request for cooperation from the government.

To take an extreme example if I commit a crime against an innocent civilian the privilege does not apply.

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I don’t think that will happen but it does mean that it could happen for example.

“What is public opinion?”

“Most media outlets are already supporting the passage of the bill citing the example of the U.S. irregular law. Some media outlets are publishing critical articles but public opinion is already moving in favor of the bill. See for yourself.”

This is the conference room of Minsu’s company located in Hapjeong.

Minsu pressed the remote control and a community site appeared on the screen.

<Title: What the heck is the problem?>

Content: Stop the monster wave all by yourself. Take care of the terror attack last time. Go to Japan and catch the devil who’s in a national crisis without any compensation. Hahaha. Isn’t this enough to get a free pass? On top of that I’ll even help clean up the villains. Are the guys who say they’re going to stop this idiots?

-Who is keeping Kim Si-woo in check?

Hahahahahahahahaha why do we have to hold back?

So are you going to sell the country to Kim Si-woo?

Don’t feed this kind of guy. King Hwang is doing well. You’re a son of a bitch who’s hungry.

-Japan and the US have already expressed their active welcome. It is natural to give special privileges to irregulars.

-I heard China is expressing regret again?

nChina’s regret = doing well

“As you can see even on sites where good words don’t come out often there are a ton of shields attached. The same goes for comments on portal sites and some fandoms are even protesting.”

“It’s friendly but why protest?”

“I heard that means pass the bill right now.”

When I think about it I feel like I’ve done a lot of things up until now.

In a way the fact that public opinion is favorable to me is proof that I have been working hard.

Starting from the Kuro-gu Gate to the subjugation of Yamata no Orochi and even the recent orphanage incident.

We’ve solved a lot of big cases.

I let out a small breath as I listened to Minsu’s explanation.

“Do you think things will go well Brother Minsu?”

“Of course. The current situation is not good enough for the Jeon Kak-ryun to intervene. Some of the Jeon Kak-ryun guilds are involved in this incident so they cannot be free from responsibility either.”

According to Aiden there was a power struggle going on within the Jeon Kak-ryun with factions divided.

It was said to be related to Baekmyeonggyo but in the meantime a huge issue broke out.

As a result the Jeon Gak-ryeon was thrown into great confusion.

We might be able to unite in the face of a crisis but it didn’t really matter.

Just need to get a few more shots in before they group up.

Minsu gave me a brief report on the current situation and I smiled softly at him.

And he said in a quiet voice.

“By the way don’t you regret not being baptized?”

Minsu was not baptized at the last baptism ceremony.

Instead five employees of Minsu’s company were baptized. I thought Minsu would be baptized but baptism was not applied.

I don’t know the exact reason but I thought it was because of the seed of divine power that took root in his body right after he welcomed Limen.

“I think Limen-nim has a purpose.”

“I will definitely ask you to provide after-sales service later.”

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“I am grateful for your consideration.”

Limen must have plans too.

I could ask about it later. I was just worried because I hadn’t heard from Limen lately.

Anyway I’m telling you that I can’t contact you when I need to?

“by the way.”

I changed the subject of conversation.

“Are you free this evening?”

“I finished filming the Goblin Guild video yesterday so I don’t have any plans.”

“That’s great. Let’s go see the Incheon beach together this evening. I have something to do there.”

“Suddenly Incheon… are you talking about that?”

“no I do not want?”

“That’s not true. But I think Leo or Luna would be more suitable to accompany the Pope than me.”

“Hey they have to teach the kids. And I think Brother Minsu will be much more reliable in this case.”

Minsu had no choice but to nod his head in response to my continued suggestions.

“Okay but if there’s any reason for you to go to Incheon….”

“Haha secret.”

Wouldn’t it be no fun if you knew?

I might run away.

Haha.

2.

“Your Holiness I have a question for you.”

“Please speak comfortably.”

“Didn’t President Seo Shin-woo personally ask you to be careful about your actions until the law is enacted?”

“Yes.”

“But this is…..”

“I told you to be careful I didn’t tell you not to. And this is just something to drink. Drink it.”

I spoke jokingly to Minsu whose face was pale.

I knew why Minsu was so worried.

That’s because the place we are now in is a secret shopping area formed around Incheon Port also known as a black market.

This is my first time here so I don’t know what it was like before the Dimension opening.

I had heard from Inwook that there was a place like this but when I came and saw it in person the atmosphere was completely different from what I had expected.

When we think of black markets we tend to think of a dark and secretive atmosphere rife with crime.

but.

“There are quite a lot of people for a black market.”

People walking around nonchalantly while wearing masks.

“Buy Monster’s Byproducts at the Highest Price!”

“We repair and sell various equipment. Come in and take a look!”

“Consumables including restoratives at low prices…”

People who solicit customers by claiming to sell monster byproducts or equipment.

Judging by the patrol units that seemed to be in charge of security it didn’t seem like a completely lawless area.

“I thought villains would swarm me as soon as I entered but that doesn’t seem to be the case. It looks like the security is better than it looks.”

“It used to be called the Black Market. Now it’s become a major route for players to acquire items. Players walking around wearing armbands are members of the Hive Guild.”

“Is this some kind of tacit agreement in society?”

“You saw it correctly. There are black markets like this in Busan and Mokpo. They are also facilities that are absolutely necessary for players. They were originally managed by the government but management rights were transferred to the Jeon Gak-ryun three years ago.”

If it was three years ago it seemed to be related to the incident where Jinyoung went to Japan.

Minsu added a brief explanation while looking at the people moving around busily.

“Players without a guild or players in the production industry as well as small and medium-sized guilds are the core customers here. This is where player-to-player transactions such as direct transactions using smartphone apps take place most actively.”

“It’s a place where money gathers without government influence.”

It was the perfect place for villains to hide.

I scratched my chin as I walked forward.

Because I was wearing a mask no one passing by recognized me.

What’s really good about divine power is that players on Earth can’t easily detect me.

In other words as long as you cover your face you can move around freely in places like this.

“The reason you didn’t bring other executives along is….”

“It’s obvious isn’t it? It’s obvious!”

Leo’s size is too obvious to hide. The same goes for Luna’s beauty.

Even with a mask Luna’s visuals couldn’t be hidden.

Moreover since both of them were ignorant about the black market in Incheon Minsu was the perfect person for this job.

Minsu’s expression hardened even more after hearing my cool answer.

I guess he finally realized why I came here.

“Your Majesty I suppose you didn’t come here to do any shopping?”

“Shopping? Is there anything you’re interested in? Just let me know. I can buy you anything. This is now a wealthy church.”

I would be willing to buy anything for Minsu an early member of the church.

Since I started on YouTube and have been indebted to you in various ways I can’t help but think that’s something I can do.

But it seems like this wasn’t the answer Minsu wanted.

Minsu sighed deeply and then spoke in a quiet voice.

“If something happens here we have no choice but to leave the Hive Guild… but His Holiness the Pope must have already come prepared.”

“In the documents my American friends gave me it was written that they saw traces of the Purifiers here. Incheon is right in front of us so how could we just pass it by?”

I walked forward with brisk strides taking Minsu with me.

The reason I came here today was simple.

I came here to trace the Purifier’s traces that is to track down the magic.

According to the information villains believed to be Purifiers were sighted somewhere here.

“I quite like my new friend’s abilities.”

“Do you feel anything?”

“Magic isn’t something that can be hidden so easily.”

The information provided by the United States was accurate.

“There’s something here. We should go inside and take a look.”

I could tell from the moment I arrived at the black market.

The magic felt from inside the black market.

It seemed as if someone had installed several devices to hide the magic but even if no one else knew they couldn’t fool me.

[A magical reaction is detected within your detection radius.]

[Accordingly the active skill <Magic Tracking> is automatically activated. The magic reaction is maximized and transmitted.]

Magi was felt from the inner quarters of the black market.

The amount of magic that could be detected was considerable considering that it was simply magic that someone was spewing out.

Are you even going through a ritual?

“Your Majesty. From this block forward even the Hive Guild doesn’t dispatch patrols. It’s that dangerous of a place.”

“It’s dangerous.”

I raised the corners of my lips at Minsu’s words. Then I spoke in a sly voice.

“Brother Minsu you already know that it’s not us who are truly in danger right?”

“…I wonder if it won’t be noisy.”

“Hey we need to handle this quietly and without making a fuss. We need to do our best to comply with the President’s personal request. We plan to handle this cleanly so that no one will say anything. Don’t worry.”

The dead are naturally silent so what could be a cleaner way to do it?

I passed a sign that said “Danger” my fist clenched slightly.

It looked like it was going to be a hot night for once.

Our Pope please stop this