Chapter 60 : Ripples on the Lake (3)
Chapter 60: Ripples on the Lake (3)
Lee Taebaek arranged to meet Kim Changsik.
There was no reason to postpone it.
The meeting would be today.
His body and mind felt so drained that it seemed a single shove would knock him over.
But they said to strike while the iron was hot.
Besides, once word of what had happened with Dojon spread through the organization, he'd lose his freedom for a while.
Resistance members would be lining up to meet him.
So it had to be today.
If he really felt like he was dying, he'd stop for an IV drip before heading home.
It would clear his head.
Just like the sky was now.
To be honest, since he had gotten Red Hare, he wanted to take it for another ride and get used to it.
Earlier, he hadn't had the luxury to properly enjoy it.
Vroooooom...!
The motorcycle tore down the elevated highway.
People on the streets turned at the savage roar of the engine, but by then, Lee Taebaek had already vanished.
There was no way anyone could follow a motorcycle traveling at 400 kilometers per hour with the naked eye.
So this is why nouveau riche people drive sports cars.
The envious gazes felt exhilarating.
I could get addicted to this.
Thanks to its speed, bordering on the speed of sound, he arrived in no time.
The address Kim Changsik had given him was District 33.
“I should stop around here.”
The scenery wasn't much different from the neighboring districts.
After getting off Red Hare, Lee Taebaek wheeled the bike by hand.
Guess I'll have to go on foot from here.
He entered a dim alleyway.
Taking out his terminal, he sent Kim Changsik a message.
“You've come a long way! Thank you for making the trip!!”
Not long afterward, someone approached.
Kim Changsik came jogging over with a friendly smile.
“We saw each other just a few hours ago.”
“But those few hours weren't exactly ordinary hours, were they? You crossed blades with Dojon—”
“Enough with the fuss.
And stop smiling.
I'm getting attached.”
Kim Changsik trailed off with a suspicious grin.
Whatever was actually going through his head, everything he did looked suspicious.
“Isn't getting attached a good thing?”
This bastard, seriously.
“Hearing that from someone in your cult is creepy as hell.
Don't joke about things like that.”
Kim Changsik smiled brightly before turning around.
Unlike usual, he wasn't wearing his wingsuit.
Apparently, he normally kept it off.
“Hm.”
He glanced at Red Hare.
He didn't seem particularly envious.
Then again, he had a wingsuit.
“Now then, please follow me.
I'll personally escort you to the Order.
It's only about a five-minute walk.”
Kim Changsik led the way.
Normally, Lee Taebaek would've had his thumb resting on the activation button of the Para Blade.
Ever since arriving in this world, he'd suffered from chronic distrust of other people.
He's not shameless enough to betray me.
Don't trust Kim Changsik as a person.
Trust the actions he's taken, Lee Taebaek.
Whatever his true intentions, he'd still helped.
Sure, he might've planned to stab him in the back.
When Lee Taebaek had been fighting Dojon, Kim Changsik had been presented with the perfect opportunity.
Yet Kim Changsik—
The Lilith Order—
Had cooperated with Lee Taebaek.
If he'd simply calculated the balance of power, betraying Lee Taebaek would've been the correct decision a hundred times over.
There was absolutely nothing to gain by making an enemy of one of The 10 Wings.
As he'd said...
The Lilith Order had been on his side.
If so, then the least he could do was respond with an appropriate attitude.
A voice from the back of his mind slipped out.
“There's something fishy about all this, though......”
“Hm?
Did you say something, Mr. Taebaek?”
“Nothing important.”
Lee Taebaek slowly shook his head.
“Now that we're talking about it, can I park this bike inside your building?
I can't exactly ride it in while meeting your Cult Leader.”
“No need to worry.
We've got plenty of space.
If you'd like, why not have one of our mechanics take a look at it?”
“I don't like leaving my beloved bike with strangers.”
Kim Changsik looked back over one shoulder.
“Didn't you get it from someone else anyway?”
“......”
“You never know.
That Galaxy-Brained Mage might've installed a tracking device since it was originally her bike.
Hm, now that I think about it, that could expose not only you, but us as well—”
“Fine, fine.
I'll leave it with you.
But your mechanic had better be good.
This isn't an ordinary machine.”
Kim Changsik smiled so broadly that wrinkles formed around his eyes.
“Our mechanic is excellent.
They're the one who maintains all our wingsuits.”
“Wingsuits...?”
“Yes.
They used to work for Daeseong Group.
While working there, they were moved by the words of the Goddess of Chaos, resigned from the company, and joined us as our mechanic.
Now they're one of our most devout believers.”
Daeseong Group was a MegaCorp primarily dealing in home appliances.
Their technical expertise was so exceptional that, despite being a South Korean company rather than one from the G7...
They had entered the City...
And risen to the rank of a MegaCorp.
Granted, they were still at the very bottom of the MegaCorps.
But even that was impressive.
There were countless companies backed by global superpowers that couldn't even lick Daeseong Group's boots.
Incidentally, Daeseong Group had originally been created as a patriotic element within the game.
A Korean-made game full of MegaCorps with only English or Japanese names would've felt wrong.
There should be at least one homegrown company.
That had been Lee Taebaek's idea.
Since the game was being made in Korea anyway, why not add a bit of patriotic flavor?
Team Leader Seo had looked at him as though asking, 'So you're that shallow?'
—Well...
In the end, she'd agreed.
Even if people mocked it with, 'This again?'
A bit of patriotic fan service always felt strangely missing without it.
Daeseong Group had been the only MegaCorp without a member of The 10 Wings.
That was why they ranked last among the MegaCorps.
They had tremendous technology and capital and could provide support in every conceivable way.
Yet they never managed to recruit one.
For all he knew, the other MegaCorps had probably been sabotaging them somehow.
In short...
Daeseong Group led the electronics industry.
And one of their outstanding engineers had joined the Lilith Order.
Which was why Kim Changsik was telling him to leave Red Hare without worry.
Lee Taebaek slowly nodded.
“If they're from Daeseong Group, then I can trust them.”
“Exactly.”
Kim Changsik agreed enthusiastically.
“The other MegaCorps are unbearably oppressive.
They claim to uphold order, but it's nothing more than an excuse to establish an absolute surveillance state.
Compared to them, Daeseong Group is practically the conscience among those dogs.
That's why we accepted our mechanic.”
At least...
At least the one MegaCorp that could still be called the City's conscience lacked a member of The 10 Wings.
As a fellow Korean, Lee Taebaek unconsciously muttered with a hint of regret,
“It'd be perfect if Daeseong Group just had one member of The 10 Wings.”
“Haha, wouldn't it just?
That would certainly throw the stagnant balance of power among the MegaCorps into chaos!
From our perspective, that would be wonderful news.
Come to think of it...
If Daeseong Group did recruit one of The 10 Wings, who do you think would be the best choice?”
It was quite an interesting question.
Lee Taebaek carefully considered his answer before speaking.
“Dojon Muyachi.
Someone like him would actually fit pretty well.”
Kim Changsik nodded in agreement.
“As it happens, I was thinking the same thing.”
Ripples began spreading across the Lake.
[#1 Minor] Version 1.9.0 Patch Notes
◈ Main Patch
• 「The 10 Wings: Dojon Muyachi」 affiliation changed from 「Freelancer」 → 「Daeseong Group」.
• Foresight has increased, greatly increasing the proportional scaling coefficient of the 「Faith」 stat (+16.8%).
〉〉 Auto S◆v§ng......
〉〉 App1y1ng th3 p4tch
Beep-!1
[The laws of the universe have been excessively distorted.]
[Due to the instability, a 'Bug' has occurred.]
[Delete the Bug to obtain additional EXP.]
The Lilith Order's building was remarkably respectable.
The signboard was neat, and the plasterwork had been well maintained.
It almost felt like a waste for people who handed out contraceptives to come and go from such a place.
“Hey.
What exactly do you people do inside a building like this?”
“......Well, various things.”
Kim Changsik replied while rubbing the back of his neck.
Oddly enough, he became unusually bashful whenever that subject came up.
Is this guy personally leading the condom distribution because he's an executive?
Then why did he even join the Lilith Order?
Perhaps sensing Lee Taebaek's suspicion, Kim Changsik added,
“I know what kind of misunderstanding you have about our Order.
Honestly, I'd probably think the same if I were you.
But once you go inside, you'll understand.
We're not an Order that only does 'those kinds of things.'”
“Doing that inside a sacred place of worship isn't normal to begin with.
I don't care how different your doctrine is.”
“Urgh......”
Kim Changsik groaned like someone suffering from constipation.
Then, apparently trying to change the subject, he quickly pushed open the door.
The interior was spotless.
Too spotless.
It reminded him of a wedding hall.
He almost felt guilty for bringing a motorcycle inside.
I'd rather it had been a brothel.
Kim Changsik made a phone call.
A short while later, a woman appeared with grease smeared all over herself like camouflage paint.
Step.
Step.
Goggles resting on her forehead.
A shabby sleeveless shirt.
Powerful forearms.
She was the mechanic from Daeseong Group.
Lee Taebaek was genuinely surprised.
He'd never expected the mechanic to be a woman.
A female mechanic in a sex cult.
That certainly stimulates the imagination.
Feels like it'd make a decent noir novel.
It was a prejudice, admittedly.
Still, Laycons had never exactly been politically correct.
“Yes, Executive.
Did you call for me?”
“Sorry to bother you while you're busy, Miss Choi.”
Miss Choi greeted Kim Changsik.
As she wiped her hands on the towel hanging from her waist, she briefly glanced at Lee Taebaek before her eyes shifted to Red Hare.
“Oh.”
Her lips formed a perfect circle.
Kim Changsik continued.
“This is Mr. Taebaek.
He's here to meet the Cult Leader shortly.
So, Miss Choi...
If you're not too busy, would you mind looking after this motorcycle while Mr. Taebaek is with the Cult Leader?”
By then, Miss Choi was already crouching in front of Red Hare.
Moving around it from different angles, she carefully inspected every detail.
“This thing's specs are absolutely top-tier.
But judging by its condition, it hasn't been serviced in quite a while.
It's not producing anywhere near its full output.”
Miss Choi stood up as she spoke.
That alone surprised him.
So 400 kilometers per hour wasn't even its maximum output?
Red Hare...
You really ended up with the wrong owner.
Just like your original owner, Lü Bu, who chose the wrong fathers and exited the stage early.
“This thing has incredible potential.
How did it end up like this...?
You're Mr. Taebaek, right?
I apologize for saying this when we've only just met, and especially since you're the Cult Leader's guest...
But this machine definitely ended up with the wrong owner.”
“It wasn't mine until yesterday.”
“Then?”
“I stole it.”
Miss Choi let out a choked sound at Lee Taebaek's shameless confession.
Then she quickly accepted it.
“Well...
Stealing someone else's property isn't exactly a big deal in this city.
Alright.
While you're meeting the Cult Leader, I'll bring out this beauty's full potential.
Since you're an honored guest, I won't charge you.”
Miss Choi wheeled Red Hare toward the workshop.
Watching her leave, Lee Taebaek then followed Kim Changsik.
The two walked through the corridors and entered the main hall.
Quiet candlelight illuminated the passageway.
An ornate door stood at the very end.
They stopped before it.
Before opening it, Kim Changsik quietly whispered,
“I'll wait outside.
Only you may enter beyond this point, Mr. Taebaek.”
Opening the door, Kim Changsik stepped backward.
Beyond the doorway was far darker than the corridor.
The moment Lee Taebaek stepped inside, the door shut behind him as though it had been waiting.
Massive pillars supported the ceiling.
The hall's ceiling was dramatically higher than the corridor's.
As he sharpened his senses, a soft moan reached his ears.
“Mmmmh...”
At the center of the chamber stood a bed.
Then a pair of smooth legs extended from behind the curtains.
“I've been waiting.”
The woman's voice was as sticky as honey.
A piece of velvet concealed her expression.
“O Master of Chaos.”
Holding the hem of her skirt, the woman lowered her head.
Her upper garment slipped down to a dangerously revealing point.