Hoarding In Hell [EN]: Chapter 190

190. One Goal, Different Paths (5)

‘This… if I do it right.’

Hyeon-woo had planned to proceed with his scheme during this expedition from the start, but it seemed he had found a way to carry it out much more neatly.

It seemed he would need a little help, but he could think about that later. Hyeon-woo hid his thoughts for now and opened his mouth.

“An irreversible final measure? All kinds of death are irreversible anyway.”

“It’s something different from that.”

He wouldn’t be talking like this over a mere massacre. Hyeon-woo once again checked the status window of Adam Fault he had seen earlier.

[Adam Fault (LV )]

The level was not visible.

It was surprising, but not shocking.

If there were items to analyze, it was natural to have items that hid them.

What surprised Hyeon-woo was that Adam Fault was being displayed as a proper noun, not a race name. He had only seen this in two cases.

Either a named monster, or a direct subordinate of a star like ‘Kawaro.’

There was no way he could be a monster, so Adam Fault was definitely someone related to a star.

And at a considerably high level.

And he became more curious about what kind of person Professor Keller was, who had such an Adam as a henchman.

She really was the ‘final measure.’

Hyeon-woo was convinced that Amini was serious when she said that if the attack failed, she would end it by any means possible. And he could guarantee one thing.

The Chinese army’s attack will fail.

And eventually, Adam Fault will execute the final plan.

***

“Did they go back?”

“They left.”

Lee Ji-tae accepted Chrome’s demands with a displeased look.

Amini couldn’t know what they talked about behind the scenes. But it didn’t matter.

It was enough if they were convinced and didn’t act arbitrarily.

Anyway, whether Hyeon-woo and his group accepted it or not, there was no room to intervene if it was something decided between governments.

Xiao Chie also returned with the Chinese army general, leaving only Adam Fault and Amini on the terrace.

“I’m glad the Korean team didn’t insist. Of course, it’s not just because of personal feelings, but if an emergency occurs and you have to step in, Kang Hyeon-woo or Lee Ji-tae could get caught up in it.”

Adam Fault fiddled with his gas mask and said to Amini.

“With this, the area north of the Daedong River will be under Chinese control.”

“Of course, retaking Pyongyang is the priority before that.”

“How likely do you think it is?”

Amini looked at the Ryugyong Hotel visible in the middle of Pyongyang.

Complex emotions and calculations flashed through her mind.

Besides Amini, there were many people in the Special Inspection Department working on this matter. And Xiao Chie’s team was strong.

It was more likely than going in with the Korean team, and it was also safer in case of an emergency.

But Amini found it hard to be optimistic.

“Fifty-fifty.”

Adam Fault tilted his head.

“That’s a stingy score.”

“The reason she became the best in China is because she kicked everyone off the ladder. Xiao Chie has become the highest upper limit in China to become the best herself. There are no competitors. Thanks to that, her team is undoubtedly the best team for this attack, but…”

Xiao Chie had been building her own team for a long time with Chrome’s support.

She had committed morally unacceptable acts to build that team.

But now, a sharp knife was needed, not a scabbard.

There was no choice but to turn a blind eye.

“It’s precisely Xiao Chie’s extreme behavior that bothers me. Diversity exerts power in unexpected situations.”

Amini looked at Adam Fault.

“Well, the advantage is that we don’t have to worry about Xiao Chie when a ‘what if situation’ arises.”

Amini turned to Adam Fault.

“The fact that Chrome sent you for the ‘what if situation’ means he sees a high probability of failure, doesn’t it? I didn’t expect you to come in person.”

Adam Fault watched expressionlessly without answering.

Amini respected and even admired Adam Fault and Professor Keller, but as time went on, all she had about them were questions.

And fear was growing in the corner of her heart.

The UN Special Inspection Department was relying on most of the information, going beyond seeking Maria Keller’s advice.

Chrome’s power was astonishing the more she knew about it. Xiao Chie’s team alone was comparable to the military power of a small to medium-sized country.

Adam Fault opened his mouth.

“Professor Keller is always preparing for the worst, but she hopes that moment will be as late as possible.”

“……”

“But everyone knows that whether that time is late or early, it will come someday.”

Adam Fault patted Amini on the shoulder and turned away.

“Pray that Xiao Chie’s team succeeds.”

Amini was left alone on the terrace after Adam Fault left.

Amini quietly looked up at the yellow sky and took out a photo from her pocket.

It was a photo that a senior inspector had accidentally obtained. The photo contained the same ocher sky as now.

The desolate desert and ocher sky made it difficult to distinguish even the horizon, but a uniquely black line was drawn as if playing a prank.

In a different place and time, she would have thought it was just a printing error. But if you knew the location where this photo was taken, you couldn’t just pass it over.

The location of the photo was South Sudan.

Unlike what was known, Adam Fault did not quietly resolve the situation with words when she went to South Sudan.

She quietly but surely used force and forced the South Sudanese government to change its actions.

No traces remained anywhere, but the aftermath remained.

The South Sudanese government was eventually annihilated by coup forces led by ability users, and even now, a civil war continues in South Sudan, washing blood with blood.

Amini was speculating that something called the ‘Tepes Case’ had occurred on a very small scale in South Sudan.

‘For the sake of humanity, we must succeed in the Pyongyang Recovery Plan at all costs.’

Amini thought, clenching her lips tightly.

The enemy is not just monsters.

The foundation of human civilization was being twisted beneath the surface.

Perhaps the Pyongyang Recovery Plan could be a major turning point in a great era.

***

‘Hmm, Adam Fault. Adam Fault, huh….’

After the meeting, Hyeon-woo wandered around the vacant lot near the Martyrs’ Cemetery, lost in thought.

If he was someone related to a star, the closest was Lee Ji-tae.

Lee Ji-tae said he had heard the whispers of a star going ahead.

But he had never seen Lee Ji-tae being so noticeably strong or exerting transcendent power.

Of course, Lee Ji-tae is strong. There was no doubt about that.

But that was a power comparable to Park Do-ryeong or himself. Or Ha-hyeon.

But compared to Kawaro, who was a subordinate of the starving star Yogulem, it was child’s play.

‘Maybe there are grades even among the subordinates of stars.’

“Ha-hyeon!”

Swish, with a light rustling sound, Ha-hyeon appeared.

Ha-hyeon, who was good at hiding his presence, was guarding Hyeon-woo’s rear in preparation for an emergency whenever he met other ability users.

Ha-hyeon frowned slightly and said.

“Just think in your head to come out. Don’t call me like a servant like that.”

“It looks better this way.”

Hyeon-woo sat down anywhere. Ha-hyeon glanced at where Hyeon-woo was sitting and said.

“They say this is some kind of Revolutionary Martyrs’ Cemetery. That’s like a grave.”

“Really? But the people who come here to commemorate are all dead. It’s okay.”

“I don’t think that’s the problem…”

Ha-hyeon gave up arguing.

“You said you were a subordinate of the Whispering Star, right? Can you tell me how you became a subordinate of the star?”

Until now, Hyeon-woo had paid little attention to how to become a subordinate of a star.

From the beginning, he had no intention of becoming one.

But after reaching level 50, he felt strange when it was difficult to even know the existence of the star’s whisper.

Besides, he couldn’t help but pay attention when people related to the stars appeared around him.

“If I only talk about my case, my memory is vague… but I know roughly how it works.”

Ha-hyeon said, making a model with cobwebs.

“If there are people among humans who have achieved special achievements or stand out, the star contacts them. And if they have something in common with the star, they start whispering. Telling them to become their subordinates.”

“Hmm, so?”

“Once you become a subordinate… you inherit some of the star’s authority. Your abilities also become stronger. And as you perform the star’s orders and gain recognition, you gradually become stronger, and your body evolves to match the form the star wants as you receive more of the star’s authority.”

Hyeon-woo looked at Ha-hyeon.

Considering that Ha-hyeon was originally Song Yeo-un, his current appearance is completely different. To the point where you can’t find the original.

It’s said to be the taste of the Whispering Star, but it completely changes a person into a different being.

In an instant, Hyeon-woo opened his mouth slightly.

“Wait, then are you becoming a monster?”

“Is that surprising? You’ve already seen it. People who have become monsters.”

Ha-hyeon, and the Hungry Ones.

“…Then were all the monsters humans?”

“No. Most of them are just… objects created by mana. I don’t know where they get the originals from to just create them like that, but most monsters are not much different from crystal moss. They are created as mana gathers and deteriorates.”

It was no different from Kirson’s explanation.

Kirson said that goblins can reproduce, but they also naturally arise from among themselves.

It was nothing strange or surprising to them. He could also understand that they survive on mana alone without eating anything.

But Hyeon-woo was clear about one thing anyway.

‘Does becoming a subordinate of a star mean becoming a monster?’

It seemed right to think that it was gradually becoming so.

In that respect, Lee Ji-tae was clearly still at a weak level. Because he was only marked as ‘human.’

But Adam Fault seemed to have reached a certain level.

‘Star.’

The story became complicated.

Difficulty: In hell, the stars are powerful, and humanity is being swayed beneath them.

No, it’s a future where all those who can be called humanity have disappeared.

Then how on earth can we protect humanity?

‘It’s not like there’s no possibility at all, but.’

Hyeon-woo already realized that he was inwardly preparing for such a possibility.

Even if it’s full of filth, if there’s only one path, you have no choice but to walk that path.

It was a question of who would jump into the filth.

Fortunately, Hyeon-woo had already stepped into the filth.

“Someone’s coming.”

At that time, Ha-hyeon whispered. He felt someone approaching.

The moment he felt the presence, Ha-hyeon had already left his seat and disappeared.

The presence approaching from the other side of the cemetery was the woman from the Chinese side he had seen earlier.

A woman wearing a shabby hoodie, Xiao Chie.

He thought it was just a coincidence, but she came straight to Hyeon-woo.

“I was wondering where you went, but I didn’t expect you to be in such a gloomy place.”

Hyeon-woo couldn’t understand why Xiao Chie was talking to him so familiarly.

“Do you have business?”

“Ah, you’re straightforward. I like it. Kang Hyeon-woo of Korea. As someone who peeked into the Oseong Corridor [Likely a reference to a specific location or event within the story’s universe], I have a proposal. The moment I saw your eyes, I intuitively knew that we would be on the same page.”

“I’m sorry, but because I was born without a father, I don’t have ancestors to take care of separately…”

“…It’s not a cult.”

Xiao Chie said as if scolding.

“Kang Hyeon-woo of Korea. I have a proposal that you might be interested in.”

“A proposal?”

“Yes. I, Xiao Chie, propose an alliance to you.”

“An alliance?”

“Yes, an alliance. I’m sure we’ll be on the same page.”

“Page?”

“…I wish you wouldn’t just repeat the last word.”

“It’s too sudden, so I can’t keep up. If you’re sitting on a grave in a cemetery and someone suddenly appears and proposes an alliance, would you be able to accept it?”

Xiao Chie chuckled.

The gloomy eyes under the hood were so dull that they couldn’t find color, and they were dark, but they were eyes with a clear sense of purpose.

She was sure that Hyeon-woo would be on her side.

“I am sure that your plan and mine will coincide. Kang Hyeon-woo of Korea.”

“You know what my plan is?”

Xiao Chie smiled fiercely.

“The Pyongyang Recovery Plan is a miserable failure. You and I both want that. Don’t we?”

Hyeon-woo couldn’t help but smile back and raise the corners of his mouth.

That’s right.

If it’s for the sake of humanity.