“Review? Plans? Promises? Do you think I came here because I wanted to hear that shit?”
Han Woo-hyun growled.
"···."
A chilling silence spread among the politicians.
“Do not just sit there like mutes who swallowed honey. Answer me.”
"···."
―Shift.
―Shift.
Soon, the gazes of the people who had been dawdling and looking at one another gathered on the president.
Even the gaze of the opposition party leader, his political enemy.
For now, he was the highest-ranking person in this place.
As if telling him to do something.
“Th··· then, wait a moment.”
In the end, with an expression as though he was about to burst into tears, the president accepted the documents with trembling hands.
Then he turned the pages one by one.
“Wh-what is this?”
Then his face turned deathly white.
“Immunity from arrest? Immunity privilege? What is this supposed to mean?”
“More. Read more.”
“···L-let us say that is one thing. But tax refusal rights and special investigative authority? Authorities like this do not exist in law!”
“Is that so?”
Han Woo-hyun did not care about his shock in the slightest.
“Then you can make them. Proclaim the law.”
“The president does not have legislative authority···.”
“You can proclaim it as a regulatory order through presidential decree. Did you not make good use of that at the end of last year?”
He pressured the president, who tried to slip away as though it were naturally not within his authority.
“Wh-what do you mean?”
“Did I say something wrong? Hey, you there, opposition party leader.”
“M-me? Why suddenly?”
“You gave an interview last month saying the president was abusing his authority, didn’t you? What did you say back then?”
“Th-that, I do not quite remember.”
“You two are playing a very amusing game.”
Han Woo-hyun sneered and looked back on the knowledge in one corner of his mind.
People who knew little about politics thought the president could do anything.
People who knew a little about politics knew that even the president could not do everything.
People who knew a great deal about politics came to understand that while the president could not do everything.
In truth, he could do almost everything.
Korea was nominally under separation of powers, but the judiciary’s judgment was effectively beneath the shadow of the executive branch.
Laws at the level of ordinances rather than truly important laws could be proclaimed, withdrawn, and interpreted by the president at will.
“Above all, it is not as if I am placing responsibility only on you.”
"···."
"···."
At those words, the ruling party leader and opposition party leader also bit their lips.
In the Republic of Korea, which was close to an imperial presidency, they were the heads of the only institutions that could resist the power of the executive branch in any meaningful way.
Naturally, Han Woo-hyun had no intention of merely letting them watch.
He intended to include them as witnesses to every one of these treaties.
“These are benefits unimaginable even under a military regime, no, even in a wartime situation! We cannot grant something like this.”
“You seem to be mistaken. Do you think I came here to ask permission?”
"What?"
“What do you mean?”
Their mouths, which had opened in fear when they were being tortured, opened now for a different reason.
“I came here to notify you.”
As he made that shocking declaration, Han Woo-hyun felt deep contempt.
Until just a moment ago, they had not even been in their right minds, let alone in any position to negotiate or review anything.
Yet the moment he gave them a little time and opportunity, their attitudes changed as they tried to avoid the situation.
“Law? Authority? What importance does that shit have right now, in a situation where the world is overturning and falling apart?”
"···."
“And you have not seen the most important part.”
Perhaps he had seemed, at least somewhat, like a person they could talk to.
―Flutter.
They would soon realize that was not the case.
―Thud.
Han Woo-hyun unfolded the final page of the document in his hand.
“Autonomous operational authority. Armed right of resistance. These are the most important.”
“What nonsense!”
“Madness!”
“E-even if we are representatives, we cannot guarantee such insane rights···!”
The opposition party leader and the ruling party leader rose from their seats with their mouths open wide, and the prime minister shouted as though crying.
“Is that so?”
However, Han Woo-hyun sneered.
“Not only the president, but the ruling party leader, the opposition party leader, and the Speaker of the National Assembly are here too. The executive and legislative branches are gathered together. Should I bring in the judiciary as well?”
At those words, the expressions of the opposition party leader and ruling party leader twisted.
“Do you understand what the authorities you are speaking of mean?”
“Do I have to say that with my own mouth?”
"···."
In truth, the politicians who spoke that way all understood.
Because if he had not understood the meaning of those authorities in the first place.
He could not have pointed them out so precisely and demanded them.
If they had been stupid players, they would have simply caused chaos and acted one-dimensionally, demanding money.
"···."
But Han Woo-hyun was a different human from those stupid lunatics. More precisely, he had once been one of them, but now he had changed.
“I demand it once more. Examine them properly.”
Immunity from arrest and immunity privilege.
Privileges only National Assembly members and equivalent high-ranking officials could possess, making them half-immune to criminal punishment.
Of course, naturally, it was not complete immunity.
“This goes beyond violating the right to equality. It is at the level of destroying the Constitution···!”
“How amusing. Coming from bastards who do not truly believe all citizens are ‘equal’ in the first place.”
“That is sophistry···!”
Han Woo-hyun was, ordinarily, someone who found those privileges extremely displeasing.
However, the reason he demanded those privileges was not something childish, like wanting himself and the guild to become equivalent to National Assembly members.
“It seems you still have many complaints.”
"···."
Each National Assembly member was a national legislative institution. They were individual citizens, and at the same time, state institutions.
Therefore, if they were all caught up in every trivial criminal investigation, they would become bound only by political strife among themselves, and proper legislative activity would become impossible.
There were side effects, but the privilege certainly had a reason for existing.
So, if seen only by itself, even if it was a privilege, it would be difficult to say it was beyond the law.
“Should I truly bring the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the President of the Constitutional Court as well?”
“Wait, wait···!”
But what would happen if another authority were added to that?
Tax refusal rights.
The authority to evade every regulation and restriction that would be placed upon the guild, which would become a global enterprise beyond even a conglomerate.
Special investigative authority.
The granting of independent investigative authority, also commonly referred to as a special prosecutor.
In other words, the insane claim that an ordinary private organization would take the authority to investigate, arrest, and punish players.
All those authorities ultimately converged on one conclusion at the end.
Autonomous operational authority.
The authority to conduct military operations anywhere in the country without the consent of the Ministry of National Defense, and to requisition resources.
Moreover, that organization was an armed organization of players, who could overturn the earth and split the sky with skills.
Armed right of resistance.
In name, it meant they would resist “unjust” orders or situations. In reality, it meant they would not be forced to obey any order.
It was a blatant intent that he would not tolerate anyone trying to stand above the guild.
“All of this is merely the foundation. The minimum required for an organization that can gather players.”
In other words.
Han Woo-hyun was openly saying, in the heart of the Republic of Korea.
That he would create a warlord faction.
And that the government and National Assembly of the Republic of Korea should “officially” recognize and uphold the existence of that warlord faction.
“Do you understand?”
"···Kgh."
"···What is this?"
The president, National Assembly members, ministers, and vice-ministers might be incompetent, but they were not stupid.
They understood the intent and ripple effects of all of it.
“Wow···.”
“Does that make sense?”
“No, I think it’s not that impossible.”
“Don’t National Assembly members have those rights too?”
“Right. He saved their lives too.”
“Something like that doesn’t seem like a big deal.”
“Mm, I don’t think it’s exactly not a big deal···.”
Rather, the players murmured behind him.
They looked at Han Woo-hyun, who was power-tripping over the politicians, with admiration.
The greatest beneficiaries of those authorities were the very people in this room who understood their meaning the least.
“It seems you do not understand at all.”
“···Even so, this is impossible. I am not saying it is absolutely not allowed. Rather···.”
The president watched Han Woo-hyun’s mood, then spoke in a voice that nearly crawled into his throat.
“Hey, everyone!”
Han Woo-hyun raised his voice.
“Step outside for a moment. Take all the ones tied up here with you.”
“Pardon? Even without us···”
“Of course it’ll be fine, dumbass. What did we do? Get out.”
“Uh··· yes!”
“Now, this way!”
A few players hesitated for a moment, but soon seemed to accept that he was going to have some important conversation.
―Rumble.
―Rumble.
Soon, like the tide flowing out, every player poured out into the garden in front of the Blue House.
“It will not take long. Watch the neutralized players carefully and wait a moment.”
“Yes, we will stand by.”
―THUD.
―CRACK.
Leaving Cha Jung-hoon’s answer behind, Han Woo-hyun gathered the remains of the door, hardened them with Force, and roughly sealed the entrance.
In an instant, only Han Woo-hyun and the politicians remained in the Blue House.
“I thought you would all be quick-witted people, but it seems we must talk further.”
“Is this not too much! If you do this, what difference is there between you and them···”
The opposition party leader shouted as though struggling desperately, his eyes full of fear.
“When did I ever say I was different?”
“H-hiiik!”
The ruling party leader, whose eyes met his for an instant, trembled in his hands and feet.
It seemed he was worried Han Woo-hyun would torture them again.
“And even if you force us to sign, something like that will not have legal effect!”
“If we sign something like that, the party will immediately move for impeachment and suspension of effect···.”
“Do you think I am a fool? Would a signature obtained by force have meaning? Do you think I do not know even that?”
Han Woo-hyun wore a pathetic expression.
“Why don’t you all sit down? It must be uncomfortable standing so long. You are all men of some age.”
―Thud.
He naturally sat at the head of the table that had been pushed aside nearby and added those words.
It was probably originally the president’s seat.
"···."
"···."
When it seemed that he was not simply trying to threaten them, the politicians exchanged puzzled looks.
“I told you to sit.”
Han Woo-hyun grew irritated again.
His insides did not feel well.
He had little leisure, and there seemed to be no particular need to control himself.
So he simply shouted in anger.
―Tap.
―Tap.
―Tap.
In an instant, the politicians nimbly gathered and sat around the table.
“Is there no tea? Preferably 88 Green Cake or Early Red Seal puer tea. If not, old-method tea or Anxi Tieguanyin.”
“U-um, all we can offer you right now is green tea.”
The Chief Presidential Secretary answered hesitantly.
“I don’t need that shit. Let us get to the point.”
They wasted taxes as much as they pleased, yet did not have those good teas? Useless bastards, as always.
After growing irritated once more, Han Woo-hyun glared at each of them in turn.
“Treaties. Do you truly think I made them only for myself, the guild, and the player superhumans?”
"···?"
“Let me put it differently. Let us assume those do not exist. Let us say players are treated simply as ordinary citizens.”
Han Woo-hyun sneered coldly.
“Then do you think control will be possible? Do you think you will be able to sleep with your legs stretched out?”
At those words, the ruling party leader was the first to look as though he had realized something.
“You mean···.”
“Only players can stop players. Ordinary people cannot stop them anyway.”
“How can you guarantee that they absolutely cannot be stopped··· Mmph.”
The Minister of National Defense muttered without realizing it, then stopped himself and covered his own mouth.
“Ha.”
It was fine. The Minister of National Defense? A bastard who was normally the target of great public outrage among people in their twenties and thirties, the main age group of players.
Seeing him spew shit from his mouth without reading the room, that seemed only natural.
“I do not lie about things like this. We would be fine even if struck by a nuclear weapon. We can only be harmed by these player skills.”
But Han Woo-hyun ignored him. Even responding was troublesome.
―Whooong.
Han Woo-hyun naturally made light bloom at the tips of his fingers and continued speaking.
“In the first place, the Blue House security team must have seen it when they had already engaged in combat. It was not that players were fine after being shot. There was no reaction at all.”
“···What is it you wish to say?”
The president, who must have personally seen that sight, answered with a groan.
He had realized that Han Woo-hyun had not begun this conversation simply to threaten them.
“I am not telling you to give us this because we want privileges.”
"···."
“I want to maintain the order of this society and nation. To do that, I must control those mad players.”
“···Mad?”
The prime minister asked back for a moment as though he had misheard.
“Yes, mad. Shut-ins who wasted their lives pouring over ten years into a game. Mentally ill bastards rotting in their rooms.”
In any case, within a week, the entire world would know what kind of species players were.
“That is what we players are. Superhumans who have become able to use the abilities of a game in reality.”
So giving them this much information was meaningless generosity.
“Perhaps you thought I was somewhat different from them···.”
He swung his sword and shield as though deliberately showing them.
“How long do you think I played the game? Player abilities are proportional to game characters, after all.”
The strongest player in the world.
“At the same time, just how much time, money, and mind must I have sunk into that damned trash game to obtain the kind of force that could neutralize dozens of players in a single strike?”
At the same time, the lunatic who had played that accursed trash game longer than anyone else.
Han Woo-hyun sneered.