Chapter 60

Chapter 60: Main Story (3)

When the appointed time came, the Association's vehicle arrived.

A staff member stepped out of the car.

He was a man of more gravitas than the employee from yesterday. His rank also appeared to be higher.

"A pleasure to meet you, Professor Cha. I'm Andrew of the US Hero Association."

Andrew extended his hand for a handshake.

We didn't engage in the childish act of competing over grip strength.

But just touching his thick, rough hand, I could feel the weight of this man's years.

Could he have been a Hero who'd made quite a name for himself during his active days?

"Please get in."

It was the same type of limousine as yesterday.

It might be the standard vehicle used by the American Hero Association.

We boarded the limousine one by one.

Inside the car, Jo Seongung asked bluntly.

"Mr. Andrew, could you explain why you've called us here?"

"Yes. I'll explain on the way."

The answer was affirmative.

As expected, he was a high-ranking individual.

"We detected unusual mana near the Pacific Ocean starting three months ago. Then a few days ago, it began surging even more violently."

"Don't tell me......"

"Yes. At dawn yesterday, a Gate opened there. An SS-rank Gate."

"That can't be!"

"S... SS-rank......"

Jo Seongung and Lee Yeeun were horrified.

Jo Seongung had probably anticipated something like this, but for Lee Yeeun, SS-rank would've far exceeded the worst-case scenario she'd been imagining.

An SS-rank Gate.

It was a name that had left an immeasurably deep wound on humanity.

"We would like Professor Cha to serve as an external advisor and provide counsel to the command staff."

"That's not difficult at all."

Edelin grumbled.

"Hmph. Forget 'external advisor' -- it would be better to give the Professor full authority over tactics and strategy. Unicorn guarantees Professor Cha's abilities."

"I've heard that Unicorn Guild benefited from Professor Cha's work, but... isn't he still lacking in experience? The command staff for this operation includes world-class experts with proven track records, so please don't worry."

Andrew drew a firm line.

The appearance of an SS-rank dungeon might look like nothing but a catastrophe from a civilian's perspective, but the Association saw it a little differently.

Containing an SS-rank dungeon with minimal casualties.

For them, there was no greater medal.

Successfully closing this out would mean a free pass in the next election and guaranteed unconditional support for at least ten years.

They simply didn't want to share that delicious pie with an outsider.

"Tch, so that's what it was."

Jo Seongung clicked his tongue.

His remark about the treatment being lacking was apparently no idle complaint.

The American Hero Association hadn't wanted me here in the first place.

It seemed Edelin had aggressively pushed to have me placed as an external advisor.

I answered modestly.

"Does the role really matter? What matters is everyone doing their best where they stand."

I had no desire to wear a gold necklace around my neck.

For me, achievements as a Hero were take-it-or-leave-it.

"I'm glad Professor Cha understands."

Andrew smiled.

His coming here in person wasn't out of consideration for me -- it was to draw the line early.

Only my oblivious student was excited, chattering away cheerfully.

"Wow, you look like such an important person, Professor."

But something was strange.

Factional struggles had likely filtered out forces unfriendly to the current American Hero Association from this operation.

But no matter how rotten things were, with Unicorn participating, there should be enough firepower to suppress an SS-rank Gate.

So why, in the game, had America fallen so catastrophically that it couldn't recover?

An ominous premonition crept over me.

There was something more.

No matter how formidable an SS-rank Gate was, it couldn't drive America to the brink of destruction on its own.

"Professor, we've arrived!"

What snapped me out of my thoughts was Lee Yeeun's voice.

Where we'd arrived was the deck of an enormous warship.

"What in the world?"

"It's a US Navy aircraft carrier."

Andrew answered.

Coming to America and experiencing all sorts of things.

Me, boarding an aircraft carrier.

Lee Yeeun and Jo Seongung were more surprised by something other than being on an aircraft carrier.

"Oh my god! Isn't that John Dickell?"

"Hasumi and Wang Sheng are here too."

"And over there, that's Jake!"

"Gasp! Isn't that Roberto?"

The SS-rank Gate expeditionary force.

The deck was filled with a spectacular roster befitting the name.

S-rank Heroes gathered from around the world -- in the hundreds.

Of course, I didn't recognize most of them.

How would I know NPCs whose names didn't even appear in the game?

[New master, I'm shaking with excitement. So many strong ones! Ohehe, imagine how amazing it'd feel to play with them?]

An excited Jeivult spewed nonsense.

What part of the earlier conversation did this thing even hear?

I spoke in a low voice so those nearby couldn't hear.

"We're not here to fight. These people are allies."

[But any enemy that would require gathering this many Heroes must be incredibly powerful!]

"I'm not going out to fight."

[Why? Why why why? New master, are you a coward?]

Was this thing trying to get me killed?

How would I even enter an SS-rank dungeon?

I smacked the sword handle to tell it to shut up.

The S-rank Heroes gathered here were eyeing each other with curiosity too.

"Why are there so many S-ranks?"

"Being here makes me feel so insignificant."

"Brick, long time no see."

Famous Heroes everywhere.

S-ranks weren't common even on a national level. Some countries didn't have a single S-rank Hero.

So it was only natural for S-rank Heroes to marvel at each other.

Among them, the most attention was drawn to our group.

To be precise, to the Unicorn Guild Master standing among us -- Edelin.

"Look, it's Edelin."

"Then we're fine."

"Even if it's SS-rank, if Edelin's here, I'm not worried."

Positive assessments were plentiful, but there were negative ones too.

"Isn't Edelin just America's overhyped bubble?"

"If we fought without rank insignia, I think I could take her."

"Give me a break. With your skill?"

The person in question was used to it, apparently, and brushed it all off.

The greatest Hero title wasn't for just anyone, after all.

The Hero Association employee who'd brought us, Andrew, announced loudly to everyone.

"The first meeting for the Pacific Dungeon expeditionary force will begin shortly. Heroes, please come inside."

We entered the meeting hall.

Seats were separated by country, so Edelin went to the American side.

Lee Yeeun, Jo Seongung, and I headed for the seats with the Korean flag.

Japan was to the left, China to the right.

Lee Yeeun said in a small voice.

"Ugh, I'm so nervous."

"Why be nervous? It's not like we'll have any reason to speak up in the meeting anyway."

"R-Really?"

"Yeah. Just do what you're told."

Though whether there'd even be anything to tell was another question.

"Heheh, what a cute delusion, young lady. You think a small nation's Heroes will get a chance to speak at this meeting?"

The voice belonged to the man in the seat next to us.

Wang Sheng.

An S-rank Hero from China.

[What a scrawny man. Looks boring.]

Jeivult muttered.

My thoughts exactly.

He was an S-rank Hero, but I didn't sense particularly strong energy from him.

Whether or not that mattered, Wang Sheng kept running his mouth.

"Not all S-rank Heroes are the same tier. A great nation's Hero and a small nation's Hero are-- ow! Lie Xiao, you!"

The man sitting next to Wang Sheng, called Lie Xiao, smacked Wang Sheng hard on the back of the head.

This one also seemed to be an S-rank Hero from China.

"I apologize for the rudeness. He's not a bad kid by nature, just a bit stupid."

"St-Stupid? Why you!"

[Oh, now this big brother looks like he'd be fun to play with.]

Lie Xiao.

Even Jeivult could sense it -- a powerful fighting spirit radiated from him.

He seemed stronger than Wang Sheng, and even stronger than Jo Seongung.

Even in this gathering of elite Heroes, not many seemed to match Lie Xiao's strength.

Among the upper echelon of S-ranks.

An impressive aura.

Jo Seongung recognized him too and greeted him.

"Meeting the Dragon of China here. It feels like gaining a thousand cavalry."

"You flatter me. The honor is mine, meeting the great Master Jo."

"Ahem, you're too kind."

Lie Xiao seemed to know Jo Seongung as well.

But Wang Sheng apparently didn't.

"Lie Xiao! You're here representing a great nation, so act like it! Lowering yourself before some random old man makes the great nation look bad!"

"That kid sure has a foul mouth."

Jo Seongung chuckled.

Lie Xiao apologized politely.

"I apologize for disturbing your mood, Master. I'll deal with him later......"

"It's fine. S-rank Heroes who just made the cut always go through a phase where they don't know how wide the world is. It all piles up as dark history that comes back to bite you."

"By the way, Master, I'd heard you retired. What brings you here?"

"I'm not here to fight myself -- I came as Professor Cha's escort."

Jo Seongung pointed at me.

Lie Xiao's and Wang Sheng's gazes turned to me.

Wang Sheng, who hadn't recognized Jo Seongung, did recognize me.

"Professor Cha? Ah, that fraud from the small nation."

Lie Xiao smacked Wang Sheng's head again.

A gratifying blow.

Wang Sheng whined.

"What the fuck! Why!"

"I deeply apologize, Professor Cha. He's simply too stupid to comprehend the depth of your research. Please forgive his insolence."

"I won't take it to heart."

"Thank you for your mercy."

Wang Sheng's arrogant attitude rubbed me the wrong way, but seeing Lie Xiao's courteous demeanor calmed me down.

Imagining him going around constantly apologizing for that brat actually made him look pitiable.

Wang Sheng kept flapping his lips nonstop.

"Lie Xiao. You're a disgrace to the great nation, a disgrace."

Lie Xiao sighed and said with a grave expression,

"Wang Sheng, you're getting Third Disciplinary Action when we get back."

"Wh-What?"

Wang Sheng's pupils shook wildly.

I didn't know what that was, but judging by Wang Sheng's reaction, it wasn't something he'd enjoy.

Of course, I was enjoying it immensely.

"W-Wait. I was wrong, I'm sorry, so just not that, please--!"

"Apologize not to me, but to the Korean delegation."

"Nngh......"

Wang Sheng's lips trembled.

The message that he genuinely did not want to apologize reached me loud and clear.

"Sor(So)... sor(so)......"

Wang Sheng finally opened his mouth.

"Son of a bitch(SOB), you're the ones who started it! A small nation having the nerve to--"

THWACK!

The loudest smack yet rang from the back of Wang Sheng's head.

Lie Xiao sighed.

"I'm sorry."

In the span of moments, he'd aged several years and looked haggard.

Pitiful in every way.

But it wasn't over.

"Idiots, shut up."

A thin voice came from the Chinese seats.

Sitting there was a girl who looked to be around my students' age, if not younger.

She wore a china dress and had a single bun in the back of her hair.

"Who's this?"

When I asked, Lie Xiao answered.

"This is Zhuge Soyon, a genius who came representing China alongside us."

"What?"

We were all surprised.

A kid like this representing China.

She was even younger than Lee Yeeun, who'd come as my assistant.

Lie Xiao said proudly,

"In our country, Soyon is hailed as the reincarnation of Zhuge Kongming -- a genius among geniuses. A prodigy who grasped the principles of military strategy at a young age. No, she's a god of strategy."

"I see."

I didn't know much about China, but I knew Zhuge Liang.

If his name was attached to her, it meant Zhuge Soyon was regarded as an extraordinary figure in China.

Zhuge Soyon said,

"So you're that Cha Eunwoo?"

"You know me?"

"Of course. I read your paper. It was decent."

Given the talk about military strategy, her specialty seemed the same as mine.

If so, maybe we could have a productive discussion.

I had such thoughts once.

"I'll teach you soon enough that you're nothing. So sit tight and wait."

"This child -- Zhuge Soyon! Show some manners."

"Shut up, blockhead."

Zhuge Soyon raised her middle finger at Lie Xiao.

I could see Lie Xiao's fist trembling.

Lee Yeeun whispered to me.

"In China, Lie Xiao is nicknamed 'Director.'"

That felt like a nickname loaded with meaning.

"Ah, here they come."

The murmuring subsided as the Heroes focused their attention on the entrance.

It was finally starting.

The top figure of the American Hero Association, Chairman Daniel, entered.