A concise deduction.
No, not a deduction—fact.
Su-ho stated things exactly as they were, and Hiro, quick on the uptake, grasped the situation in an instant.
Su-ho added,
“Looks like Sumiyoshi has made an enemy of the Japanese governnt.”
“Made an enemy?”
“Since long ago, the Japanese governnt has disliked foreign companies gaining influence on their soil. You know this. Even when foreign companies set up joint ventures with Japan’s conglorates, once their influence grew too large, the governnt would intervene to seize the foreign stakes.”
It was true.
Under the guise of protecting dostic industry, Japan had repeatedly interfered in the market with outrageous moves, and this seed to be another such case.
But Hiro thought differently.
“...Even so, it can’t be to that extent.”
“Would you like to check?”
“Check?”
“I’ll show you sothing interesting.”
Su-ho activated Qi Perception, scanning the surroundings.
The ryotei was full of people, but thanks to Mini Fear’s effect, no one was moving.
So they’d all fainted.
Perfect.
That ant he could tidy things up quickly.
Su-ho pressed the paralysis points on the nine unconscious assassins, then returned to the table and did the sa to the collapsed Nakamura.
Oota, however, he left untouched.
Instead, he pressed a pain point to wake him through agony.
“Aaaargh!!”
Director Oota scread.
He didn’t die.
The only reason he had endured Mini Fear was because he too was an Awakened.
Unlike in Korea, Paranormal Ability Agency employees in Japan could only be Awakened.
More precisely, only Awakened could get promoted and hold key positions.
Locking eyes with the now-awake man, Su-ho cast Charm.
[ Enthrallnt is activated. ]
There were always ways to torture for information.
But this situation didn’t call for escalation—he wanted efficiency and speed.
Su-ho turned to Hiro.
“I have a hypnosis skill. Director Oota is currently under it.”
“Hypnosis?”
“It works well on Players weaker than ... you’ll see. Hey, na.”
“My na is Oota Isao.”
Director Oota answered obediently.
His usual arrogance was gone, posture stiff, manners perfect.
A look of shock spread across Hiro’s face. Satisfied, Su-ho went straight to the point.
“The n you brought—they’re all Yamaguchi, aren’t they?”
“Yes.”
“Why? Why is Yamaguchi Guild involved?”
“Our Agency recently ford a partnership with Yamaguchi. Simply put, we shield Yamaguchi, and in return they monopolize the market with our backing.”
“What market?”
“Raid business, and every other guild-related venture.”
“So suddenly? You were quiet until now—what changed?”
The governnt making use of Yamaguchi as attack dogs was conceivable.
Governnts had long used companies like hunting dogs.
But to suddenly act in a way they hadn’t even in his past life?
What wind had blown?
Su-ho’s question was answered by Oota.
“Because of the recent upheaval in the guild industry.”
“Upheaval? You an the Inagawa affair?”
“Yes.”
“I see.”
So it was fallout from Inagawa.
That explained it.
After all, one of the three major guilds had collapsed and been absorbed overnight.
Ti to change the line of questioning.
“All right. Next question—did Yamaguchi approach you first, or did the Agency approach them?”
The most important question.
This determined where responsibility lay.
“We approached them first.”
“You did?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“We saw an opportunity.”
“An opportunity?”
“The top three guilds in Japan are all yakuza-origin groups. Our governnt has long disliked that fact, but had no pretext to intervene. Then, when we investigated the Inagawa collapse, we found signs that Sumiyoshi and a Korean guild had acted together. We thought it a good case.”
“What do you an, good case? Explain.”
“We confird Sumiyoshi attacked Inagawa. But we couldn’t figure out why a Korean guild suddenly divided up Inagawa’s businesses, or why they established a Japanese branch with Sumiyoshi’s help. It slled suspicious, so we concluded Sumiyoshi and Union were colluding.”
With no evidence?
It was absurd.
“So you thought it a good case and dragged Yamaguchi in?”
“Yes. From our governnt’s standpoint, it was preferable to reduce three yakuza guilds to one. And no matter how much we dislike them, better to support a dostic guild than let a foreign—especially Korean—company carve up the market. So we decided to clean up Sumiyoshi at the sa ti and allied with Yamaguchi.”
The explanation was complete.
And with it, every doubt resolved.
This wasn’t a rogue director’s sche—it was a state-backed surgical strike.
“...”
Hiro fell silent.
Truth is always bitter. But to stare it straight in the face made his mouth taste foul.
Su-ho t his gaze and shrugged.
Then pressed on.
“So what exactly was today’s plan?”
“To kill the Sumiyoshi chairman on site and pin everything on the Union president.”
“And imprison him in Japan?”
“Yes. That way we could strike Union and eliminate Sumiyoshi at the sa ti.”
Politics is a frightening world.
There’s a reason they say people can be “suicided.”
But to attempt outright assassination and framing—
Though this wasn’t unique to Japan.
China, Russia—they were worse.
Su-ho nodded.
“Whose idea was this project?”
“Deputy Minister Miyamoto.”
Deputy Minister Miyamoto.
Su-ho rolled the na over in his mind.
It didn’t ring a bell—likely unimportant in his past life.
But if the idea ca from a deputy minister, that changed everything.
In Japan’s bureaucracy, there were higher titles—parliantary secretaries, ministers—but the true power was the administrative deputy ministers.
And the Paranormal Ability Agency was no exception.
If it was the idea of the strongest of the strong, then there was no room left for debate.
The Japanese branch plan had to be abandoned.
If this were just a director’s petty sche for bribes, Su-ho could enthrall him and steer him. But if a deputy minister was involved, the complications were too vast.
All Su-ho wanted was access to a handful of Japanese Gates.
Decision made, he looked at Hiro.
“Chairman, we’ll need to redraw the board. I hadn’t expected a deputy minister to be involved.”
“Yes, we’ll have to... What? Redraw? Not abandon?”
“Yes, redraw.”
“...?”
At the words “redraw the board,” Hiro looked utterly dumbfounded.
Then, closing his gaping mouth, he tried to explain.
“Vice President, perhaps you don’t understand—the deputy minister is the most powerful figure in any ministry here.”
“Yes, I know.”
“You know?”
“Yes. And I know what you’re worried about. That’s why I said redraw, not abandon.”
“No, this should be abandoned entirely. If you need raid profits, better to expand under Sumiyoshi’s na. I’ll even transfer so shares.”
“No, I don’t need shares. And I no longer need raid rights, either.”
“What do you an? We’ve already gone through the incorporation process, and now you say it’s unnecessary?”
“All I ever wanted was a few Gates. And now that I know a deputy minister is behind this, I have no interest in dragging Union or Sumiyoshi through it. I had hoped to resolve this quietly and peacefully, but it looks like that’s no longer possible.”
“Vice President, what are you saying?”
“I’m not a vice president.”
“What?”
The plan had gone awry.
But Sumiyoshi was still [N O V E L I G H T] needed.
So it was ti to reveal himself.
Su-ho released his Disguise.
And the mont his real face was revealed—
“...!”
Hiro’s eyes widened wider than ever before.
No longer Kim Su-ho, Union’s vice president—he was once again Korea’s Sword Saint, An Su-ho.
He introduced himself anew.
“This is our first eting in my true form. I am An Su-ho, Section Chief of the Special Division of the Grand Hunter Association of Korea.”
“Th-this is...”
Hiro’s jaw dropped.
At the real An Su-ho’s appearance, words failed him.
And—
Thump, thump—
His heart pounded wildly.
Frozen and speechless, Hiro listened as Su-ho smiled gently.
“Shall we move to another place?”
“Y-yes, of course.”
“But before that...”
Su-ho stroked his chin and looked around.
Nine Yamaguchi guild mbers.
Director Oota and Section Chief Nakamura.
What to do with them?
After so thought, he decided to take them along.
Killing them all here would make the incident too big.
At least for the Yamaguchi guild mbers.
Opening his Subspace House, Su-ho began tossing them inside.
Hiro’s eyes went wide again.
Yes, it was his first ti seeing a Subspace House.
Truth be told, Su-ho had never shown it this openly before.
He should consider it an honor.
Once all the Yamaguchi n were packed away like luggage, Su-ho woke Nakamura and enthralled him as well.
Then he ordered Director Oota,
“Clean this up, and once you leave the ryotei, report back to .”
“Yes, understood.”
Director Oota replied obediently.
With a perfect alibi secured, Su-ho disguised himself again as Kim Su-ho before turning back to Hiro.
“Let’s go. Now we really should move.”
“Ah, yes...!”
At last, Hiro followed him out.
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