The Third District.
And, among it, Roan.
"Did you see it?"
"Seriously, what the hell happened?"
"I know, right? They're saying they still haven't finished suppressing the situation at the museum."
People who had gotten up in the morning as usual.
Or people who had been forced awake because of the incident that broke out that morning.
Every last one of them looked at the news and newspaper headlines and talked about the "Transparent Museum Explosion."
It did not matter whether they were old or young, n or won.
At ho, at work, at school, online.
Anywhere people gathered, they talked about it.
In fact, it was not just Roan—
the entire Third District was covering the incident.
"Wow, this doesn't look like so simple case."
Because there was simply too much to talk about.
"No, but are they saying the museum was actually so completely different building?"
The Transparent Co. building that had been disguised as a museum.
"More importantly, why did President Anlomann show up there?"
President Anlomann, who had suddenly appeared.
"But who was that superpowered person? No, that fire? I couldn't make out the exact features because they were wrapped in that red aura, but the power was insane."
"Exactly! Isn't there any video shot from closer up? We should recruit them into our guild!"
"Oh, co on. They were obviously on Anlomann's side. Why would they co to us?"
A new superpowered figure with trendous power.
"But isn't this terrorism?"
"Is Anlomann fighting Transparent?"
"Can they even do this?"
"No, but more than that, who was that black-clad person? They looked like a different force from that mage."
"Yeah. They said it was Dark, right?"
"The God of Chaos? It looked like so group that worships that thing. Isn't it basically a cult?"
The appearance of the God of Chaos religious group called Dark.
"This is insane. What a total ss."
"Hey. I don't know what it is, but this is kind of fun."
"This is fun to you? We don't even know what's going to happen to Roan now!"
"No, but just the other day Transparent hit one of Anlomann's aides. And now this ti it looks like Anlomann is doing sothing."
"Exactly, which is why I'm saying it's a disaster! A total disaster!"
People's conversations spread out in more and more directions, and every kind of speculation ran wild.
It could not be helped.
"Any follow-up reports?"
"No idea! Both sides are keeping quiet right now!"
Transparent Co. and President Anlomann's side alike.
Not a single one of them said a word.
The news dragged in all sorts of experts and kept reporting on the morning's incident.
But there had still been no proper follow-up report on anything.
At least until now.
"Oh!"
And then, all at once, whether they were looking at their phones, their TVs, or their computers—
everyone got the sa news.
"It's Transparent! Transparent finally spoke!"
On the TV screen, Transparent Co.'s dia spokesperson appeared and began speaking.
"What happened this morning was all an unmistakable act of terrorism."
Transparent Co. had drawn its blade against President Anlomann.
"President Anlomann personally mobilized ard force and attacked the Transparent Museum, which Transparent Co. had created for the people. We demand severe punishnt for this, and furthermore—"
The spokesperson's gaze fixed directly on the screen.
"We also demand the arrest and severe punishnt of the unidentified individuals who committed terrorism against the museum together with President Anlomann."
People reacted imdiately.
***
—Holy shit. Is Anlomann really throwing down with Transparent?
—Would that even count as a fight? Who can beat a transcendent corporation?
—But then what about Dark? Are that guy in black and that red superpowered person all on Anlomann's side?
—How would we know? That part isn't exactly clear.
—Idiot. The red superpowered one escaped in the helicopter with Anlomann, didn't they lol
—Then what about the black one? The one who used that firebolt and smashed everything up. Wasn't it actually him who destroyed the museum?
—...Huh? That's true.
—Exactly. If you think about it, Anlomann and the red woman only exposed the museum shell, right? The disguise?
—...Right?
—Anyway, this is going to turn into total chaos lol
—You psycho, how are you laughing right now?
—Then what, should I cry?
—Fair point.
***
While all sorts of comnts flew around, a few people watched Transparent Co.'s spokesperson with rather strange expressions.
"...Doesn't it feel like Transparent is trying to skate past the important parts here?"
"You felt that too?"
"Yes. They're only focusing on the museum explosion, but they're not saying a single thing about the museum disguise, or the identity of the exposed building, or why Anlomann acted like that in the first place."
"Exactly. And one of those mysterious people clearly said his faction was called Dark. So why aren't they ntioning that at all, while openly going after Anlomann?"
"Exactly. This feels like—"
The political world, the business world, the superpowered guilds, and everyone else who was watching this incident more closely all realized sothing.
"This is strange."
"It is."
Transparent Co.
A giant transcendent corporation with influence over not just Roan, but the entire Third District.
It claid to want "severe punishnt," yet its actual behavior was oddly passive.
"And in sothing this big, they only send out one dia spokesperson?"
"Exactly. I don't think that spokesperson ever ca out for sothing this huge before."
"...I think we need to dig into this."
A strange current was beginning to form.
Cale lowered the tablet and looked toward the TV screen.
The spokesperson was still talking about sothing, but Cale opened his mouth.
"Looks like this is inconvenient for Transparent too."
"Of course it is. From their perspective, it's better to focus on going after Anlomann alone."
Alberu set down the teacup in his hand.
"Hmm. Still, I didn't expect them not to ntion Dark either."
Choi Sun Hee, president of Sun Co., shook her head with a dissatisfied expression.
"Maybe they can't carelessly expose the existence of the God of Chaos."
Rosalyn said that with a faint smile.
At the mont, the four of them were enjoying a brief tea ti in the top-floor office of the Sun Building.
"Well."
Choi Sun Hee still looked unconvinced.
"I don't know about Honorary Chairman Han Taeksoo, but I thought Han Seo Hyung, the executive director, would step forward."
The current chairman was little more than a puppet for Han Taeksoo.
It was an open secret in business circles that the true successor was Han Seo Hyung.
Rosalyn spoke.
"The hunters probably don't want the public to know there really is such a being as the God of Chaos. And if they bring up the God of Chaos the wrong way, it'll obviously create problems inside their own ranks too. Rather than announcing it like this, they'll probably try to gather proper information behind the scenes."
"Hmm."
Choi Sun Hee fell silent for a mont, then continued.
"Even so, they can't just let this pass in vague terms. Kang Geunmok betrayed them, and they know we took the information. If they simply leave all of this alone—"
"It only benefits Anlomann's side."
Alberu said that and picked up his teacup again.
The cup hid his mouth, but everyone could tell he was smiling.
"Transparent isn't made of amateurs. They know that well."
Swallowing down a shallow smile, he continued.
"That suspicion stays suspicion. And that truth can sotis get buried beneath the voices of the people who shout the loudest."
"Ah!"
Rosalyn's brow tightened slightly as she realized sothing.
At tis like this, she was reminded that she was not suited for politics—
and that Alberu Crossman was, in fact, soone of royal blood.
Then—
"There he is."
The silent Cale pointed at the TV screen.
The scene on the screen was growing noisy.
Because soone had appeared.
Executive Director Han Seo Hyung.
Known publicly as the grandson of Honorary Chairman Han Taeksoo.
And the Young Master of the Transparent Blood family.
The man Cale had greeted had now appeared on screen.
"This is his first ti appearing in a setting this official."
Just from Choi Sun Hee's comnt, it was clear how significant the appearance of the executive director was.
Han Seo Hyung looked into the cara with a stiff face and spoke.
"As Transparent is a corporation that began here in Roan, we have tried our best not to create more chaos than necessary. But now that actual violence has occurred, I felt I had to step forward and tell the people both one truth and the reason Transparent ca under this attack."
"Executive Director!"
"Executive Director, you can't step forward like this. Later, first we should—"
"No. I can't simply remain silent like this."
The dia spokesperson and a secretary approached to stop him, and the whole thing was transmitted live.
"Oh, he's acting pretty well."
Alberu admired him sincerely.
And as if responding to that, Han Seo Hyung beca even more youthful and impassioned—
like a capable man who loved Roan and cared for Transparent's future.
Each word was solemn, yet filled with fervor.
"President Anlomann is currently colluding with the cult of the God of Chaos, and has been behind acts such as the murder incident at the closed elentary school involving Senior Aide Mary. Furthermore, working with them, he seeks to seize Roan and destroy Transparent, which has been trying to stop them. That is why he committed what happened this morning!"
His voice, which had been trying so hard to remain calm, gradually rose until in the end Han Seo Hyung was practically shouting in desperation.
"We must stop that ruthless Anlomann, who wears the mask of a hero, and the force cooperating with him—Dark! If we fail, horrible chaos will descend upon us!"
Wow.
President Choi Sun Hee let out a sound of admiration.
"If he cos out that boldly, then even if Anlomann tells the truth, people will still end up uncertain."
"Hm."
Rosalyn let out a low murmur and glanced to the side.
Cale was staring fixedly at the tablet.
"Young Master, is there sothing?"
"As expected—"
Grin.
Cale smiled.
"People really are smart."
"What?"
While Rosalyn was left puzzled, Cale switched off the tablet screen.
The last page he had been looking at was the NaSoJeol community.
***
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