A few days later, at a hotel in Seogwipo, Jeju Island. The lounge of Desmond Fayegreen’s residence.
“Senior, did you hear about this? They say if you lose sexual function, you lose your ability too.”
“Technically, isn’t it when the genitals are destroyed?”
Baek Seol-hee cautiously shared her thoughts with Yoon Iseon, who was sitting beside her.
The destruction of reproductive organs.
Considering the significance of such organs being destroyed, this wasn’t a topic to be casually discussed in an open, public space.
However, for ability users, losing their abilities ant death.
If a sniper from sowhere were to destroy a single body part, causing them to lose their abilities entirely, it was naturally an issue that ability users needed to prepare for.
Above all, with the upcoming October Ability World Cup, the host country had another concern to stress over.
“How should we teach this to students?”
“Well, shouldn’t we just tell them the truth? It’s a fact that’s already out there. No matter how hard you try to hide it, it’s an issue that can’t be hidden. It’s better to give them detailed information now so they can protect themselves.”
“True. It makes sense that individuals can protect vital parts of their own body more reliably than relying on soone else.”
Your body was your responsibility.
As obvious as that sounded, the recent revelation about the loss of abilities had shaken the world enough to warrant attention.
Unlike cases of becoming a demon or Zenros, this was sothing anyone could potentially experience.
“By the way, isn’t it absurd? Losing abilities because your brain or heart is destroyed makes sense, but who would’ve thought about losing them from this kind of destruction?”
“Don’t point with your hand.”
Baek Seol-hee felt slightly embarrassed even as she spoke.
“There’s so much information out there that you can’t casually talk about. If they just kept it PG-15, it would’ve been fine. But dig a little deeper, and it’s suddenly R-rated content.”
“Talking about ability-related or dical issues isn’t necessarily R-rated, is it?”
“Not for the speaker, but the listener might think differently.”
Exactly.
Even among the reporters near the hotel, especially those who weren’t ability users, interest and curiosity were rampant.
If soone suddenly lost their abilities one day, it would imply that part of their body had been destroyed.
Now, people worldwide were concerned about whether sexual functions were operating correctly or if prolonged inactivity might lead to other problems.
“It’s honestly ridiculous. Iseon, if you get an interview request from Haegneul Daily, just reject it imdiately.”
“Why? Do they ask weird questions? I got a request from them for this afternoon.”
“Not just weird, outright rude. The association even censored their questions on the spot.”
“For the association to censor questions for Haegneul, how outrageous could they have been? Was it an interview with you?”
“No, with Brain Emperor. They must’ve been scared of because so of my information is already well-known.”
Even a junior reporter would’ve received instructions from above.
For instance, touching Baek Seol-hee carelessly wouldn’t sit well with the higher-ups.
She was soone even the Haegneul Daily president and chairman avoided displeasing, so how could a junior reporter casually approach her?
But if it were an S-class woman perceived as less untouchable than Baek Seol-hee, they might attempt a jab.
Especially those who believed that for the sake of the national interest, such questions were entirely justified.
“Oh, she’s here.”
When Baek Seol-hee pointed behind Yoon Iseon, Kim Yun-ji was approaching with a stiff expression.
“Sister, welco. How’s security duty? Is it your break ti?”
“No. Other S-classes from abroad are currently in talks.”
“Isn’t that dangerous? If they interact too much with other S-classes, it feels like Phoenix’s Feather could end up in their hands.”
“Fayegreen’s chairman is fully intent on auctioning it off. The S-classes eting with him now aren’t the type to outright demand it for themselves. They’re just negotiating the amount they’ll bid for once it’s on auction.”
“Negotiating, huh.”
Baek Seol-hee glanced at the reporters around them with a calm expression.
“Who will offer what terms to obtain Phoenix’s Feather? That seems to be why so many people are gathered here. Especially….”
“There they are!”
At the reporters’ shouts, the three turned their gaze toward the hotel lobby.
“It’s ‘Hayabusa!’”
The Japanese S-class ability user who had recently visited Sejong Island was entering.
Her face was slightly stiff, and she was flanked by agents from the Korean Hero Association, appearing almost as if she were being escorted.
To fend off the reporters rushing toward her, she released a surge of magic power, halting their approach.
“Hayabusa, is it true? Did the Japanese governnt order you to marry Fayegreen Corporation’s chairman?”
“That’s absolutely false.”
Although Hayabusa responded with a sour expression, the reporters seed even more excited.
“Is it true that Japan intends to pay for Phoenix’s Feather with a marriage to an S-class ability user?”
“Does the statent from the Japanese Hero Association align with the governnt’s official stance?!”
“There’s only one man in Fayegreen Corporation, the chairman himself. Is it true the Japanese governnt intends for you to marry him to….”
“Enough.”
Hayabusa finally raised her magic power, pressuring the reporters who were crossing the line.
“I am here representing the Japanese Hero Association, not to sell my body to buy Phoenix’s Feather like so prostitute.”
The reporters lowered their microphones as Hayabusa, visibly flushed, pointed inward.
“The appointnt ti has co, so I’ll be heading up now. Please base your articles on facts to avoid any unpleasantness.”
With a stiff tone, she left her warning and entered.
Although no reporters followed her to the elevator, so raced to the stairs, hoping to beat her upstairs.
It was understandable.
Japan had played an extre card—offering the body of an S-class ability user.
Considering the individual’s consent aside, the deed was done.
“Do you think Chairman Fayegreen would fall for a honey trap?”
“I don’t think so. Even if it’s an S-class, it’s not a one-on-one private eting, and the conversation happens in front of others.”
Currently, every move of Chairman Fayegreen was closely monitored by agents of the Korean Hero Association standing by his side.
While they were watching Chairman Fayegreen, they were also worried that soone might approach him with a suspicious proposal and snatch the Phoenix’s Feather before the auction.
In the United States, this could lead to a lawsuit for invasion of privacy, but Chairman Fayegreen seed aware of the circumstances surrounding him and accepted the association agent acting as his secretary without complaint.
In fact, the agent was practically glued to him, only stepping away when Chairman Fayegreen used the restroom.
The level of VIP treatnt he received rivaled that of a foreign head of state.
With such treatnt in Korea, other countries would need to offer far greater benefits to lure him away.
As a result, so countries took extre asures, and so, after formally entering Korea and reaching Jeju Island, were soon expelled.
It was practically a war.
“Phew. If Chairman Fayegreen were a woman, instead of sending female heroes, they’d probably send male heroes and use a charm offensive, right?”
At Yoon Iseon’s remark, Baek Seol-hee nodded heavily.
“Even if she were an older woman, if an S-class man served her, she’d probably give in right away.”
“Rather than it being about age, it’s more that the other party is an S-class man.”
“Unnie?”
“Just my opinion. It’s not like it’s a fact. Right, Yun-ji?”
“I think that might actually be the case.”
At Kim Yun-ji’s sudden response, Baek Seol-hee and Yoon Iseon both perked up their ears simultaneously.
The surrounding reporters, who might have overheard the conversation, also perked up their ears, but Yoon Iseon quickly scattered mana around to block the sound.
“What’s going on? Are they discussing sothing critical?”
“Probably so top-secret issue, like S-class demons showing up or hotel security matters.”
“Ability users have it nice. They can talk to each other even in crowded places like this.”
“Do they realize, though? Talking like that reveals they’re discussing sothing important.”
The reporters’ comnts reached all three of them, but Baek Seol-hee and Yoon I-seon couldn’t help but feel awkward due to Kim Yun-ji’s bashful attitude.
“Yun-ji, are you seeing soone?”
“No, but recently, I’ve been thinking, ‘If it’s this man, it might be okay.’”
“Who?”
“Goblin.”
The hotel’s atmosphere suddenly dropped.
While Yoon Iseon was pleased at the unexpected revelation of Kim Yun-ji’s interest in Goblin, Baek Seol-hee glanced nervously.
“Go… Goblin? Why suddenly?”
“I thought his fairness—treating both villains and demons without bias—was quite admirable.”
“Oh, that’s all? I thought you were romantically interested in Goblin.”
“I have no romantic feelings for him.”
“…Romantically.”
“Yes. I’m not sure about the justice he stands for, but openly sharing secrets that only they could use for the benefit of all humanity? That’s certainly sothing to respect.”
Secrets.
It was, of course, about the knowledge of disabling ability users.
“If the Secret Society had monopolized genital destruction techniques and not disclosed them, countless people could have suffered according to their agenda. They could have quietly dealt with things without anyone knowing.”
“That’s true. People like Goblin could snipe or assassinate others from afar, hiding their actions as much as they wanted.”
“Yes. But Goblin openly revealed everything in front of Baridegi. Whatever their goals are, acting in the universal interest of humanity is sothing to admire.”
Kim Yun-ji spoke with a flushed face.
“But that doesn’t an I condone Goblin. He’s committed many cris and must be punished in so way.”
“Specifically, how?”
“Well, I don’t know, but soone online suggested capturing Goblin, confining him, and using A-grade or higher won from that country to forcibly take his seed.”
“Wha… What…?”
“Japanese hero Nadeshiko reportedly said sothing like that.”
“Hehhh.”
The atmosphere chilled again, but the coldness wasn’t directed at anyone within the Jeju hotel.
“Interesting. Very interesting opinion. Co October, when—”
“Ah, that person!”
The reporters suddenly gasped in shock.
Their faces looked as if soone who shouldn’t have appeared had just shown up.
“…What?”
Baek Seol-hee was flustered.
Yoon Iseon was equally shocked.
In the hotel lobby, at the entrance, stood a woman with striking red hair.
“Oh my, why is everyone so startled? I’m just a hotel guest. Why are you all so surprised?”
“Are you from the Secret Society…?”
“Not the Secret Society.”
The woman smirked.
“Today, I’m here as a director of the ‘Company’—Red Rider, Yun Hye-ra.”
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