Chapter 379

〈 Kang Taesan (3) 〉

There was a reason why I did not touch areas other than violent crimes.

No matter what, what I wield is also violence.

People would be less reluctant to impose stronger and more overwhelming sanctions on acts of violence committed with someone’s malicious intent, such as murder, robbery or rape, but if the government were to use drastic measures in areas beyond that, there was a high possibility that they would react more sensitively than they do now. .

‘Even now, when we only respond to violent crimes, public opinion for and against the private sanctioning of vigilantes is growing. If we go any further, there will be 100% problems.’

Unless I had complete control over everything in Korea, I could never ignore the flow of public opinion.

Maybe it was something that could be done more actively at the national level, and it was obvious that it would be a hassle in many ways if that happened.

Of course, an investigation headquarters related to this had already been established, but its members were more of a perfunctory type of person than seriously involved in crackdowns.

In any case, the existence of vigilantes was making a great contribution to the security of Korea, and those on the front lines knew this fact best.

‘So I was thinking of leaving it to the people to figure it out...’

My thoughts changed.

I had a premonition that if I continued to wait for society’s midnight like this, it would not be possible even after a lifetime.

The people around me had already been swept away, and it just didn’t suit my temperament to just ignore it like I had done so far.

‘But even if the ruling is decided, the execution process needs to be delicate. If we just solve it with force like we have done so far, things will get complicated.’

There was nothing they couldn’t do if they put their mind to it, but in any case, they were a company operating under the guise of a normal company on the outside.

If we recklessly use violence to destroy such a place, the political and business community, which has been quiet until now, will start running wild like a wild boar with a fire in its tail.

To do this, it was necessary to do things neatly their way.

‘Smart as they prefer. So, I was planning to collect information first, but...’

Cheonjong Construction.

After an investigation by the clan, it was the organization that was identified as the mastermind behind this incident.

On the outside, they were ordinary small and medium-sized businesses, neither too big nor too small, but in reality, they were nothing more than corporate gangsters who did all kinds of dirty work.

“But I don’t think this is the end for these guys?”

A few hours have passed since I met Kang Tae-san and Park Mi-young.

In the middle of the Cheonjong Construction headquarters in the middle of the night.

Not only the guards guarding the building but also the employees on duty had all fallen asleep as if in a faint, and there was a figure standing proudly in the quiet office.

His entire body is covered in armor that glows blue like a complex electronic circuit on a smooth metal surface, and the wires running from his shoulders are connected to all electronic devices around him.

〈Device hacking complete.〉

〈Data collection and classification work is in progress. Current progress is 34%.〉

〈We will organize the necessary information and print it out first.〉

The progress of the work that emerged in Hesperon’s “Inside the Machine: Callicas” is rapidly increasing, and the information is clearly organized on one side for easy reading. .

From minor accounting errors to tightly hidden corruption data.

If it had already been computerized and stored, there was no information that could escape his eyes.

‘I felt it last time too, but this really isn’t a joke. ‘Maybe it will be more useful on Earth than other transcendental avatars.’

The AI of “Inside the Machine: Callicas,” which grows together with Hesperon through the “Chain of Covenant,” has long since far surpassed its existing performance.

Thanks to becoming one with him, it receives various growth corrections, including the 『Elixir of Growth』, and is a super artificial intelligence that evolves in real time according to the surrounding environment.

It was nothing short of a disaster in modern society, which was unable to overcome the differences between dimensions despite being exposed to various scientific and technological civilizations through the awakened.

〈All data downloading and organizing work has been completed.〉

〈Based on the collected information, we will trace the remaining movements and funds on the web.〉

「Mechanical Plan: Calicas」, which absorbed all the information from Cheonjong Construction’s internal intranet, continues. I accessed the external internet and started researching everything related to this place.

Not only does it follow the flow of funds and raid overseas tax havens, but it also collects and restores data that has been secretly moved and deleted.

Oooh,

as the work reached its peak, the circuits flowing on the surface of the full-body suit worn by Hesperon, ‘Titan’, glowed even more loudly.

In fact, the fact that the current work is progressing smoothly was all possible thanks to this titan, which is the essence of magic engineering created by the dwarf Howard and is no different from a small space ship.

No matter how good the AI performance was, it was impossible to process this vast amount of information using only the power of the machine, which had limitations in energy sources and the size of the artificial eye.

‘This is probably possible because both sides are linked through the “Chain of Pact.”‘

About thirty minutes had passed since we stormed into the office of Cheonjong Construction.

“...found.”

He was finally able to find out who was really behind this.

“It’s the Great Dragon Group... It’s quite a large group.”

Along with the secret secrets they desperately tried to hide.

‘This is enough. ‘I’ll make you pay dearly for bothering me.’

After finishing his work, Hesperon’s steps headed toward the rooftop.

The remaining traces will be erased by the high-ranking vampires of the clan who helped secretly occupy this place.

All he had to worry about was getting this done as quickly and safely as possible.

‘I told you in advance, but Riley will say something if you leave for too long.’

She must have been under a lot of stress as she began her duties as the imperial princess in earnest, and it was her daily routine to often visit him and chat about trivial things.

Considering Riley’s personality, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that that moment was her only break.

‘Well, if I could become acquainted with the next emperor through such trivial things and even provide him with mental care, it would be a much better business.’

Hesperon, who arrived at the rooftop, lightly shrugged his shoulders.

Tiring—

until that text came.

“huh? Reply already... “Isn’t it?”

The sender of the text was a senior member of another team in the criminal investigation department that was currently investigating the case in the news.

I have something to tell you, so let’s meet for a moment.

He must have been busy as he was in charge of a case that became a hot topic, but it was an unexpected call.

‘Are you so busy that you’re trying to ask for support?’

If that were the case, the contact would have been made through the team leader here.

Taesan Kang, who thought for a moment, shrugged his shoulders and walked towards the interrogation room where the senior was.

You’ll find out what’s going on when you go anyway.

Since we were on the same floor of the same building, it wasn’t that far from here.

“...yes? “What did you just say...”

But what I heard from my senior after arriving there.

It was something he had not expected, as he came with a light heart.

“Kuhm—eh, so. “How should I say this...”

The senior cleared his throat a few times and let out a sigh, then let out a sound like a bolt from the blue.

“Cho Hyun-jin... I guess the name Park Mi-young is more familiar to you.”

“yes? “Who?”

A word that changes him from an observer one step away from the incident to a direct participant.

Kang Tae-san was having a great time recently with his first girlfriend.

It was the day he unintentionally returned to solo life.

***

〈Check variables...nothing special.〉

〈Finish the task.〉

“Finished.”

A low voice came from a deserted place.

It was Hesperon, a man in a metal suit who was connected to the Internet with stealth mode activated.

‘The matter has grown to this point, so it won’t be resolved easily. I have no intention of leaving it like that. And if that happens...’

Even if something unfortunate were to happen to the leadership of Daeryong, who later resigned, no one would step forward.

It was not simply a punishment based on force, but a perfect shot that fit the mold of society.

‘If I didn’t have hacking skills, I would have had to go through a more cumbersome process.’

It was intentional not to attack the Great Dragon group from the beginning.

They are also one of the large corporations that occupy a corner of the Korean business community.

Of course, they also have influencers in all walks of life, including the media.

However, the situation was different for companies including Cheonjong Construction, which they treated like their hands and feet.

In the first place, the connection was completely blocked so that the chain could be cut at any time, so even if that side was attacked, they could not take active action.

‘As expected, the moment it exploded, I immediately cut off the tail and got busy erasing the traces.’

But even for a moment.

As news about other companies began to break out one after another, they too must have realized something was wrong.

I thought only Cheonjong Construction had been robbed, but other minions were also being dragged to the surface by their hair.

‘I would have started to respond hurriedly only then...’

but it was already much too late.

While they were working hard to erase the connection, wasn’t he already using all his means to stoke the fire to the fullest?

Growing the business wasn’t that difficult.

Although the current situation was not specifically envisaged, the enormous amount of money that the clan invested in devouring Korea’s shadow and establishing Howard Industries was enormous.

To the extent that it can be done without any hesitation in highlighting a case that is not falsely accused and has clear evidence.

‘If we get there, the game is over.’

If the matter had grown to that extent, there was no use belatedly mobilizing personal connections.

The evidence they thought they had erased in a hurry had already been backed up by Hesperon, who had been busy the night before, and had also been cleaned up for easy viewing.

What more can one do in a situation where even small clues that even oneself had overlooked were clearly presented?

‘...It seems like the matter is bigger than I thought.’

Would anyone believe that this major scandal that shook Korea was brought to light only because of one woman who tried to play a trick on her friend?

It’s been a while since he responded to Kang Tae-san’s text message expressing concern about him, but he hasn’t received any response.

By now, she would have probably gone mental after finding out about the identity of her former lover.

‘Still, Taesan will recover quickly. That’s just the way he is.’

I quietly closed my eyes and prayed for his recovery.

‘Welcome back to solo, my friend.’

I somehow felt refreshed, but I guess it was just my mood.

maybe.