Chapter 99: Chapter 99

[NO, we shouldn’t antagonize APA yet...]

Wonhee didn’t expect the Big 4 to react the same way to protect her.

Fortunately, Yool wasn’t affected by the crushing pressure because Graham and Song Moonho put a barrier around her friend.

But she was still worried.

[As a former Civilian, I know how much the Civilians trust APA. If APA suddenly declares the Big 4 as public enemies, then South Korea will be divided.]

Half would support the Big 4 since the Big 4’s influence was still at large.

The other half would support APA because APA did a good job establishing itself as the symbol of peace and order.

[Civilians wouldn’t want to return to the time when our country became a lawless nation. After all, Civilians don’t have the power to protect themselves– either from monsters or the bad people who take advantage of the weak.]

It was APA who brought back the peace and order to the country, hence many Civilians had placed their faith in the government once again.

Big 4 played a huge part in maintaining peace and order, but the Big 4 was too busy raiding dungeons back then. Hence, it was APA that became the ’face’ of safety for the ordinary people.

That was how APA gained the public’s trust.

[Plus, the Big 4 members have been losing their popularity little by little over the years because of how frequently they break the law...]

And then Yejun, Korea’s #1 Hunter, suddenly became an X-Class.

Millions of won in damage.

Hundreds of Civilians hurt.

That was the result of Yejun’s rampage a year ago.

The Civilians weren’t happy about that, naturally.

[To simply say, this is not the right time to fight APA!]

"Yejun-ah," Wonhee said, removing Yejun’s hands from covering her ears that didn’t make sense because she heard him curse earlier anyway. "We need to–"

"What the hell do you think you’re doing?"

Wonhee was relieved to see Soobin and Geon. "Oppa."

Semi, Graham, and Song Moonho stopped their aura from leaking.

Wonhee could tell because her suddenly got inactive.

"If you’re going to fight, make sure our Hee-ya isn’t in the vicinity first," Soobin said, walking past the people from APA (who were quickly standing up one by one) and the Big 4

"I’m alright, Oppa," Wonhee said. "This is my fault. President Kwon wanted to put Yejun in cuffs, and Yejun was willing to comply. But I didn’t want them to do that to Yejun. I’m here, and I’m responsible for him."

"Don’t feel bad, Hee-ya," Soobin assured her, and then he turned to the APA President. "Kwon Jiwoong, let Yejun participate in the press conference without the cuffs. I’ll take responsibility if something happens."

Kwon Jiwoong let out a frustrated sigh. "Fine."

"HEE-YA, we still have thirty minutes before the press conference begins, so stay here in the meantime."

Wonhee nodded at what Soobin said. "Okay, Oppa."

After their encounter with Kwon Jiwoong earlier, Soobin ushered Wonhee’s group to the VIP Lounge Room while waiting for the press conference to begin.

The room was big enough for their group.

Of course, Wonhee was still with Yool and the Big 4.

Soobin and Geon, too.

And, this time, Ahyeon had joined them.

"Oppa, how about Billie Unnie and Momo Unnie?"

"Your manager and stylist are in the next room," Soobin said. "We turned half of the room into a temporary dressing room for you so you could change your clothes later."

There would be a small party after the press conference.

Hence, she brought her manager and stylist with her.

"There are bodyguards guarding their room," Geon added to what Soobin said. "Food and drinks for your manager and stylist are also provided. The room has a TV, so they can comfortably watch the live broadcast of the presscon later. Don’t worry about them too much, Hee-ya."

Geon smiled and patted her head, but his expression suddenly turned cold when he glared at the person behind Wonhee. "How long are you going to stick to our Hee-ya like a koala hugging a tree, Hwang Yejun?"

"Leave me alone, Geon Hyung," Yejun complained, hugging Wonhee from behind while his face nuzzled against her shoulder. "I need to recharge since seeing Kwon Jiwoong’s stupid face drained my energy."

Geon and Soobin both sighed and shook their heads at the same time.

"I know that hugging is normal in Guiding," Semi said, crossing her arms over her chest. "But it’s still irritating to see that crazy bastard cling to my baby sister so possessively."

"Right, Noona?" Soobin agreed with Semi. "That crazy bastard is acting like he owns our Hee-ya."

"Soobin Hyung and Semi Noona are being too protective of Chu Wonhee," Graham, who was busy feeding Yool with grapes while Yool was playing on his phone, said. "I can’t imagine how you’d react if Chu Wonhee said she was getting married."

"Nah, that won’t happen yet," Yejun said, raising his head. "I need to take back all my possessions first to buy Wonhee the engagement ring that she deserves."

Wonhee sighed when Soobin and Semi glared at Yejun. "Yejun-ah..."

"Wony-ah, did you push Lee Seodam’s mother?"

Everyone turned to Yool because of his question.

"A video of you is going viral on the internet right now," Yool said in a calm yet worried voice, showing the video playing on his phone. "It was posted on a gossip site anonymously."

It was a five-second video where Wonhee was clearly seen pushing Lee Sook-ja.

But it was edited in a way that made it look like she pushed the madam on purpose.

"That video is e-edited," Ahyeon said, frowning while clenching his hands. "Hwang Frost-nim and I were there... but we were edited out..."

"Ahyeon is right," Wonhee said, nodding. "I didn’t push Mrs. Lee on purpose. She tried to pour kimchi on me–"

"That ahjumma did what?!"

Soobin and Semi reacted the same way at the same time.

"I’m fine, Oppa, Unnie," Wonhee said to her older siblings. "Nothing bad happened because Yejun’s power protected me. Then Yejun and Ahyeon came. But it was edited out of the video to make it look like I pushed Mrs. Lee."

"This is a CCTV footage," Yool said, and then he scoffed. "Clearly, this video was edited and posted by Lee Seodam’s family. Lee Seojin won’t pull this shit on you, so it must be Lee Seorin. Lee Seodam’s mother isn’t tech-savvy, but I won’t be surprised if she encouraged her daughter to do this to you."

Wonhee hated to admit this, but she agreed with Yool’s deduction.

[Why do they hate me so much?]

She was starting to feel down when her phone rang.

It was Lee Seojin, so she picked it up.

<"Noona, I’m so sorry!">

"Seojin-ah, was it your sister?"

<"I saw Lee Seorin laughing like a lunatic while reading the comments under the video that she posted "anonymously." So, I knew right away that it was her who edited and posted the video to make you look bad. I tried to retrieve the original footage, but Lee Seorin has already deleted it. I’m trying to retrieve it now, but...">

"So, you’re saying that the original video is already gone?"

<"I’m really sorry, Noona. Should I do a live broadcast again to explain what happened that day?">

"No, you don’t have to do that for me, Jin-ah," Wonhee said. "I’ll deal with the problem, so don’t worry too much. Thank you for telling me that it was your older sister who did this to me. And I’d like to apologize in advance if my response to Lee Seorin’s actions hurts your family’s reputation."

<"You don’t have to apologize, Noona. You have my full support.">

After Wonhee ended the call, she noticed that the entire room was silent.

But she could practically hear everyone using their brains to get rid of the problem.

"Lee Seodam is APA’s rising star. He’s known in the Awakened World as APA’s new dog," Song Moonho said, breaking the silence. "That means Lee Seodam is on the Watchdogs’ list of people they watch out for."

The Watchdog Pack was a group of rebels that would pick a fight with APA all the time.

"If the fake carnivore is on the Watchdogs’ watchlist, then they have their eyes on him," Yejun said, detaching himself from Wonhee. "So, that Pineapple bastard must have planted spy cameras at Lee Seodam’s house." ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ noᴠelfire.net

"Bingo," Song Moonho said, and then he threw his phone at Yejun who caught the phone effortlessly. "Talk to him."

"The audacity," Soobin complained, smiling coldly while pointing at himself. "You’re going to ask a rebel for help in front of a government official?" He then glared at Song Moonho. "Why are you keeping in touch with a rebel, huh?"

Song Moonho just smiled and shrugged.

"Soobin-ah, you only act like a government official when it’s convenient to you, so don’t pretend you care," Semi said, patting Soobin’s shoulder. "This is for Hee-ya anyway."

Wonhee looked at Soobin with puppy dog eyes that she knew her brother wouldn’t be able to resist. "Oppa, I don’t like breaking the law, either. You can punish me after the press conference..."

"How could I do that to you?" Soobin said, immediately changing his tone. "We just have to change the law to fit your needs."

"Wow," Graham said sarcastically. "This is why I don’t trust the government."

"Everyone," Wonhee said, catching everyone’s attention. She smiled at them, hoping to get their approval. "Please listen to my plan."

<"ARE YOU gonna send me my two billion won now, Hwang Frost?">

Yejun remembered that Pineapple wanted two billion won from him or else Pineapple threatened to post the video where Yejun broke Graham’s arm.

He leaned against the wall while thinking.

Yes, he stepped out of the room because he didn’t want Wonhee to hear him say bad words.

"Are you that confident because you think I can’t find you?"

<"W-What do you mean by that?">

"The only reason I haven’t caught you yet is because I have no reason to catch your elusive ass," Yejun said in a quiet yet cold voice. "But if I want to, I could grab you by the neck right at this very moment."

"Seowon High School," Yejun said bluntly. "That’s where I can find you, right?"

Of course, he knew where Pineapple was hiding all this time.

He just didn’t care because it wasn’t a part of his job description to catch rebels.

"Do you still think I’m bluffing?"

Pineapple didn’t say anything.

He knew that the bastard was shaking in fear.

[I can tell by the sound of his ragged breathing right now.]

<"Y-You don’t have to send me that two billion I asked for. I was only pulling a prank on you anyway...">

"Did you plant spy cameras in Lee Seodam’s house?"

<"Is this about Chu Wonhee’s viral video at the moment?">

"Do you have the original video?"

<"I have, but you need to pay me five billion won–">

"I’ll give you five billion won in cash, but I’ll take one of your limbs. Do we have a deal?"

<"Our dear Customer-nim, I’ll send the original video to you free of charge!">

"Good," Yejun said, sneering. "I’d hate to torture a kid like you, after all."

<"FIRST of all, I’d like to apologize to Miss Chu Wonhee for the lie I told APA that almost ruined her life.">

Wonhee tried to keep her expression neutral while watching Choi Sumin’s apology video. It was the first part of the press conference: to play her accuser’s explanation in order to officially clear her name.

But, deep inside, she was shaken.

[That is not the real Choi Sumin...]

And it seemed like only Wonhee could tell.

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