Chapter 234

“Why does the conclusion turn out like that!?”

“Do you not want to do it?”

“……!”

Of course I don’t want to do it!

You call that a question right now!?

Kim Cheolsu wanted to protest like that immediately, but the moment he met the eyes of the man standing before him, the words that had risen to his throat slipped right back down.

Aaron Stingray.

The Crown Prince of this city.

‘FuXk, he’s scary as hell……!’

There was clearly no explicit class system in this city, yet I felt like I understood why Aaron was called the ‘Crown Prince.’

The expression “so handsome even a man would fall for him” was far too cliché.

There was something about him—an ‘aura’ that couldn’t be described with words—and just breathing the same air in the same space made me feel crushed.

He was an opponent I could never defeat.

Like beasts instinctively exposing their bellies in submission before a stronger predator, I, too, found myself shrinking in front of this man. I was afraid that even uttering a single word might offend him.

‘The world is truly unfair.’

When a man like that glared at me openly, even something I should say as “I don’t want to” turned into a meek “Yes.”

If I exaggerated a little, even in a situation where I should be shouting ‘No violence!’, I might instead bow flat and say, ‘Yes, please beat me as much as you like.’

‘Is it because of his face?’

If I got plastic surgery too, could I create that kind of aura? No, just the face wouldn’t be enough.

His tall stature and the muscles packed tightly beneath his suit also played a part in shaping Aaron’s presence. I’d probably have to overhaul my entire body, not just my face. That would cost an absurd amount of Credit. If it was roughly 1 billion Credit and I saved my entire salary without spending a single coin……

‘Ah, no, this isn’t the time for that.’

They said when people were pushed to extreme stress, they became stupid instead. Even though this wasn’t the time at all, random thoughts kept popping up.

I shook my head violently to regain my senses. At this rate, I was about to get swept along without realizing it. That couldn’t happen.

To survive in this city, I had to protect myself. It might already be a little too late, but that didn’t mean I could just do nothing.

I squeezed out every ounce of courage and barely managed to speak.

“N-No! At, at least give me a reason I can accept!”

“…….”

Gasp.

I’m fXcked. He’s glaring like crazy……!

It seemed I had offended this man’s nerves.

Yeah, thinking about it, I should have considered my position a little more. A mere bug who could have his head blown off with a flick of a finger dared to talk back—of course that would piss him off.

Ah, what I had just shown wasn’t courage but recklessness. Farewell, world. It was a fairly enjoyable life……!

As I swallowed my tears and internally said goodbye to the world, Aaron soon opened his mouth with an expression that suggested he didn’t particularly care.

“It seems you didn’t understand, so I’ll explain it step by step.”

“Pardon?”

“First.”

Huh?

Did I survive?

While I blankly thought that, Aaron began his explanation.

“At present, I am looking for Evangeline and Guardian. Kara is searching for the two of them, but it seems it will take some time. If they have entered Sector E, it will be even more difficult to find them. You understand why, correct?”

“B-Because public authority doesn’t reach there?”

“Correct. It’s useless to request the police there. Each district is ruled by Mafia families, so if someone like me goes around personally trying to find people, information will immediately reach them. Do you understand?”

“Ah…… yes…… I understand.”

“Then second.”

Aaron continued speaking calmly.

“It seems Kallia is preparing for war against me. She has likely reached out to large organizations, including the Black Dragon Gang, asking for their cooperation. This is a problem that must be resolved. Do you understand?”

“W-Wait a moment.”

Kim Cheolsu hurriedly shook his head.

“W-With power like yours, couldn’t you wipe out every organization in the city? You could wage war alone, so what’s the problem…….”

“War is not something one fights alone. Just because you possess nuclear weapons, do you think you can end a war? Even if you drop a nuclear bomb on the city, not all the cockroaches will die. They will burrow deeper into places that are harder to find.”

“Ah…….”

I understood what he meant.

What made criminal organizations like the Black Dragon Gang frightening wasn’t simply that they possessed powerful weapons.

They were the type who would ignore the city’s rules or even basic human decency and do anything to achieve their goals.

Of course, they didn’t have the strength to confront Aaron Stingray head-on. Even if the Gang Leader of the Black Dragon Gang went mad and armed every member with powerful weapons and ordered them to kill Aaron Stingray, he would likely slaughter them all with contemptuous ease.

But the Mafia had other methods.

There was no need for them to confront him directly.

“‘The easiest method would be terrorism.’”

It wasn’t about targeting me, Aaron Stingray, directly—but about thoroughly destroying everything around me.

They could carry out a terrorist attack at the Academy and kill the students I held dear. Or they could pressure the politicians and media outlets connected to me, shaking the foundation of power I possessed.

Of course, some might say that no matter how powerful the Underworld’s big players were, attacking the Crown Prince in such a way made no sense…… but the problem was that ‘Kallia Stingray’ stood behind them.

“‘If I were to oppose her and respond with force, Kallia would seize on that point again. She would claim that I was unfit to serve as Chairman of the Stingray Foundation, that I was a madman with murderous impulses.’”

“‘B, but even so……!’”

“‘Yes. Even if she came at me like that, I could ignore it and smash everything. If I purged every bastard who opposed me, including Kallia, this matter would end simply. From the beginning, this was a game with an unbalanced power scale. No matter what she did, Kallia could never defeat me. But that doesn’t mean I would walk away without any damage.’”

For example, think of the United States and North Korea in the original world.

The United States could erase North Korea from the map whenever it chose, and North Korea could never defeat the United States no matter what it tried.

Yet despite that, North Korea could provocatively challenge the United States every year because they possessed Nuclear Weapons. It was their way of saying, ‘If you touch us, you won’t come away unscathed either!’

“‘Therefore, I want to avoid war as much as possible. If possible, I would rather coax and placate my younger sister and reach a suitable reconciliation. To do that, it’s best not to expose too many weaknesses to her. That’s why I intend to bring Evangeline and Guardian quickly inside the safe boundaries of the Academy. Do you understand?’”

“‘Yes…… up to that point.’”

Kim Cheolsu nodded with a somewhat uneasy expression.

“‘Th, then lastly, what role do I play in this plan? Why are you trying to make me the new Gang Leader of the Black Dragon Gang—.’”

“‘No, not the Gang Leader of the Black Dragon Gang.’”

“‘N, no……?’”

What was that supposed to mean?

As Kim Cheolsu tilted his head in bewilderment, I answered calmly.

“‘The Black Dragon Gang will devour several rival Mafia Families and grow into a new organization. And you will become the head of that organization.’”

“‘N, no, I mean, why……!’”

“‘You may choose the new name yourself, Boss.’”

“‘No, sir, please……!’”

Whether Kim Cheolsu was on the verge of tears or not, I continued laying out my grand plan.

It was obvious I was enjoying his reaction. Eventually, unable to watch any longer, Zyle Stormwalker, who was seated beside us, spoke up instead.

“‘This man wants to establish his own connections in the Underworld. In his own way.’”

“‘S, Stormwalker sir……!’”

“‘There is a high probability that Kallia’s influence has already reached the existing organization bosses. No matter what kind of relationship he forms with them, they could betray him. And even the attempt itself might become a favorable card for Kallia’s side. So the way to block all such variables is…….’”

“‘To introduce an entirely new character onto the board of the Underworld.’”

I finished Stormwalker’s sentence.

“‘In other words, since I don’t wish to join hands with the old powers, I will personally cultivate a rising force. It’s simple logic.’”

“‘And the most suitable person is you, Kim Cheolsu. You’re a member of the Transmigrator Alliance, and at the same time, someone who has already set one foot in the Underworld—yet until now, you’ve lived quietly without drawing much attention.’”

“‘Perfect for the role of a rising star.’”

“‘You could call him a dark horse.’”

“‘Why are the two of you getting along so well about this……!’”

Kim Cheolsu began to half-cry.

“‘S, Stormwalker sir! Please! You’re a politician who stands for justice, aren’t you! Why would someone like you support something like this!’”

“‘Mr. Kim Cheolsu, when you’re flustered, your speech resembles that of a career soldier nearing discharge.’”

“‘My way of speaking doesn’t matter! Shouldn’t you be stopping him instead!’”

“‘To clean something dirty, one must be prepared to dirty one’s own hands. I intend to use your organizations to weed out organized criminals and those who have made illegal solicitations from the political world.’”

Furthermore, if he could control the largest Mafia force in New Valhalla City, Zyle Stormwalker believed he could reduce various crimes throughout the city to some extent.

In other words, he wanted to create a fish farm where he could catch the big fish while letting the small fry go.

“‘Ah…….’”

Kim Cheolsu let out a sigh.

No matter how he looked at it, there was no escape.

Still clinging to a thread of hope, he bowed his head to the two of us one last time.

“‘S, sirs, please! I’m not cut out to be a Boss or anything like that! I don’t have what it takes! I’m not built for it!’”

What kind of position was a Mafia Boss?

Wasn’t it someone who ruled over subordinates through money and charisma, living in constant anxiety over assassination threats from rival organizations and pursuit from the police?

It was impossible for him.

He didn’t want to live that kind of life.

“‘I’ll just keep living like I do now, satisfied with being a low-level club janitor for the rest of my life, so please choose someone else instead of—!’”

“‘Kim Cheolsu, was it.’”

At that moment.

While Kim Cheolsu was passionately trying to change my mind, I cut him off.

When he lifted his head and looked at me, I spoke only a single word in a firm voice, my gaze cold.

“‘Do it.’”

“‘Yes, sir.’”

I will. Of course I will.

Kim Cheolsu Chorun had come to admire the title of ‘Mafia Boss’!!

“‘Uheuheuk…… heuheuk……!’”

Kim Cheolsu cried and cried again.

For a man who would soon become the ruler of the Underworld, the way he wept was truly pitiful.

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