Chapter 1399. Making A Deal (4)

“We... couldn’t find a lawyer, sir.”

Wiggins squeezed his eyes shut when Lee Hyeon-Su made that report. It felt like a needle was stabbing him in the side of his head.

Lee Hyeon-Su continued with his report.

“Worse still, even the lawyers who showed an interest in defending the Assembly Master all backed out as well. They are saying it’ll be difficult to win.”

“It’s that bad?”

“It sounds like the pressure from our dear government exceeds our imaginations, sir.”

Wiggins groaned deeply. Why wasn’t he surprised to hear that?

A government was basically an amalgamation of all the disparate powers humanity possessed. Usually, things like individual rights and the duty to protect its citizens kept the government in check. However, when those restrictions no longer applied?

No individuals or organizations could fight and win against a government in that case.

Even the top corporations people thought were running South Korea would get dismantled in less than a month if that was what the government wished, the storm of controversy that would follow be damned!

As such, fighting against such a determined government would be incredibly difficult. What made this task especially trickier was that this was not an actual battlefield. In other words, this was not an area the Martial Assembly was familiar with!

I’d prefer fighting an army over this!

There were plenty of ways to fight off numerically superior enemy forces. As a matter of fact, there was the option of going out in the blaze of glory, too!

However, that option was not available in this situation.

“It’s not only us, but even MK is trying to form a defense team, but... It sounded like they were also having a tough time,” said Lee Hyeon-Su.

Wiggins contemplatively nodded. “However, we don’t have a choice but to keep trying our best, Mister Lee. How are we doing on the evidence-gathering front?”

“Well, we’re trying, but...”

“Dammit.”

It felt like they were sinking ever deeper into a bottomless quagmire.

Lee Hyeon-Su asked cautiously. “What about the EU, sir?”

“It’s not looking good, either,” Wiggins replied with a groan. “My lord’s prolonged absence is finally catching up to us. Despite dragging their feet, we haven’t responded appropriately yet, which has made them wonder if my lord will ever get out of prison.”

“Sounds like... things are moving toward the worst outcome, then.”

“Indeed. The Master is trying his hardest to control the situation over there, but... It seems getting the Knights to cooperate wholeheartedly is proving quite difficult right now. In other words, he’s rapidly turning into a toothless tiger.”

Lee Hyeon-Su gritted his teeth before chewing his words out. “Master... No, Director Wiggins.”

“What is it?”

“Don’t you agree that we’ve exhausted all the other avenues?”

“...!”

Wiggins couldn’t bring himself to reply. He wasn’t a dummy, so of course he knew. He knew they had failed here.

Winning against the enemy using their rules on their chosen battlefield would always be impossible. Worse still, the enemy possessed the authority to alter the battlefield as they saw fit, too.

A hundred times out of a hundred, the Martial Assembly would lose. Make that a thousand, and it still had no hope in hell of winning this war!

Lee Hyeon-Su grimly spoke. “Sir, it’s about time we make that decision.”

“When you say that decision...?”

The iciness in Lee Hyeon-Su’s eyes intensified.

“Maybe it’s time we flip the table and cause chaos, sir.”

“...”

“It won’t be difficult, sir. Give me permission, and I’ll make it happen.”

“What are you thinking of, Mister Lee?”

“I’ll get rid of Kim Myeong-Chan, sir.”

“...Eliminating Kim Myeong-Chan isn’t going to be enough to end this situation. Do you honestly believe he alone could have done this?”

“Then, we will kill every single one involved, as well.”

Wiggins chuckled hollowly. Not because he found Lee Hyeon-Su’s suggestion absurd, no, but because a similar thought had taken root in his own heart some time ago, too.

“Sir, we might as well do something instead of sitting on our hands and letting them destroy us. I... I’ll kill them all and pay for the crime by surrendering myself to the cops,” said Lee Hyeon-Su.

“Your idea of saving the Martial Assembly might kill this country.”

“Let it die, then.”

Wiggins furrowed his brow. “Mister Lee... No, Chief Lee.”

Lee Hyeon-Su didn’t shy away and stared straight at Wiggins. “Sir, one’s country is supposed to protect its tax-paying citizens, or am I wrong about that? Such a country is viewing us as an enemy, so why should we be nice to them? Destroying it first before it does the same to us is the correct move here.”

“Chief Lee, you need to calm down.”

“No, sir. I’m perfectly calm here. While trying to sort this crisis out, I had plenty of chances to think about our options. The bastards are using other citizens of this country as hostages against us. They think we won’t eliminate them, no matter how much harm they cause us.”

Lee Hyeon-Su loudly gritted his teeth.

“There is only one realistic way to stop a lunatic running wild, sir. Either we crack their skull open or put that bastard in a straight jacket. If they refuse to put on the straight jacket, we beat the living daylights out of them. Simple.”

Wiggins closed his eyes and sighed. His heart told him to agree with Lee Hyeon-Su, but his head said this was impossible.

“Permission denied.”

“But, sir!”

“If you’re dead-set on this path, get my lord’s permission. Then I’ll say yes, too.”

“You know he’s never gonna agree to this plan.”

Wiggins shook his head. “If you know already, why insist on this course of action?”

Lee Hyeon-Su clenched his teeth again. “Yes, the Assembly Master would never grant his permission, since it’d only benefit him but put everyone else through a wringer. You know what he’s like in things like this!”

“...”

“But we’re different from him, aren’t we? Are we not determined to shoulder any burden for his sake?!”

Wiggins wearily rubbed his eyes. “I get what you’re saying, Mister Lee. I’m not saying we must keep taking all these hits without fighting back. But this type of response needs us to... be more prudent.”

“Master!”

“Do you think I’m happy about this, too?”

“...”

“I’d dearly love to put a new air hole in their heads right now. Perhaps a lot more than you, Mister Lee! Because I used to do similar things as them. Regardless of what, a man should have principles. And the enemy has trampled on those basic principles!”

It was now Wiggins’ turn to grit his teeth. The loud gritting noise echoed in the office.

“So... Be patient for a little longer, Mister Lee. I’m about to run out of patience, after all.”

Just as he said that, the office door was abruptly shoved open, and a giant folded himself through the doorway.

“No need to waste time, then,” said the giant.

Plenty of people walked this Earth, but only one man had to fold himself to enter a doorway like that.

Lee Hyeon-Su and Wiggins greeted the giant.

“Sir Vator!”

“You’re finally back!”

“

Mm

. My bad for the delay. It seems the Chinese were interfering with me leaving Mongolia. I didn’t think the Mongolian government would be so mindful of China’s sentiments. It had never happened before, you see?”

A bitter grin was etched on Vator’s face.

His expression conveyed the guilt he felt for staying

comfortably

in Mongolia while all this was going down. Of course, no one here believed he was having a comfortable time back home, but still...

Vator glanced at the two men. “Time for patience is over. I’ll go and get my master out of there.”

“Sir Vator, please calm down and think rationally about...”

“Do I look agitated to you?”

“...”

Wiggins was unable to reply to that. After all, he could see that Vator’s eyes were cold. Sharp. Focused. The big man displayed not a single hint of agitation.

Well, that’s not all that surprising.

Vator had always been someone like this, anyway. His massive physique and manner of speech made people forget sometimes, but he was a surprisingly thoughtful and intelligent man.

“The longer we wait, the harder it will get. Why? Because you’ll start to think all the time you’ve already spent waiting would be too precious to throw away. Sometimes, you need to be bold with your decisions,” said Vator.

“...”

“You think taking the Assembly Master out of prison will create friction with the government? That’s the wrong mindset. Just like how we can’t do much to our enemy, they also can’t do much to us.”

Wiggins frowned. “However, that will destroy the Assembly Master’s life.”

“Indeed, but he must resolve himself to deal with the consequences. Trying to avoid it will only lead to an even worse catastrophe down the line.”

“Sir Vator...!”

Before Wiggins could say something, Vator abruptly raised his hand. “The time for dialogue is over.”

“...”

“I’ve already made up my mind. Not as a director of the Martial Assembly, no, but as a human being. Want to stop me? You better take me out first.”

Wiggins sighed deeply. Who in this room would dare stop Vator?

The only person who could do that was Chang Min, but he hadn’t returned from Japan yet. However, even if he was here, would he try to talk Vator out of doing this?

Of course not. He’d most likely encourage the big man with a round of raucous applause instead!

So, in the end... This is how things will end.

Wiggins worked so hard to avoid this very outcome. But everything he had done was about to go down the toilet.

Lee Hyeon-Su quietly muttered, “Please do what you think is for the best, sir.”

Wiggins hurriedly turned his head. “Chief Lee!”

“But, sir! This might be the correct way of handling this situation. No, wait. Even if this is not the right way, I can’t bear it anymore. The mere idea of the Assembly Master rotting away in prison is killing me inside!”

Lee Hyeon-Su bit his lip, hard.

“Besides, this isn’t even a real imprisonment, sir. The enemy merely wants the Assembly Master to isolate himself from the people in his life! Things might have been actually

better

if he was an ordinary person with no power to free himself. Is this supposed to be some kind of nasty joke?!”

“...”

Wiggins sighed again. If everyone else except him thought the same way, maybe he was in the wrong this time. It wasn’t as if Wiggins absolutely trusted his judgment, after all. And he certainly didn’t view his opinions as absolute and infallible truth, anyway.

“Very well. However, please remember this. If you’re so set on breaking him out of prison, don’t leave any evidence behind, including video footage.”

Vator tutted. “That’s obvious. Let’s get started right away, then. Lee Hyeon-Su, you take the lead. I don’t know the way to the prison.”

“Understood. I will...”

Before Lee Hyeon-Su could finish his sentence...

BANG!

Wiggins shot an irritated glare at the office’s doorway when someone kicked the door in. Did this clan of martial artists actually teach its people to kick any door they come across?

Why did none of the idiots in this place open doors the normal way? Worse still, they should know who were in this office, so why...!”

“

Mm

? Director Bang?” Wiggins scowled at Bang Jin-Hun rushing into the office. “I told you last time not to kick the do...”

“Now is not the time to give a sh*t about that, Mister Wiggins! Hurry!”

𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Give a what now?

Just before Wiggins’ complexion could grow flushed with anger, Bang Jin-Hun reached out and hurriedly grabbed the Englishman’s shoulder first.

“Hurry! You gotta see this!”

“Release me at once!”

“This is not a prank, okay! It’s absolute chaos right now! Hurry!”

“

Huh

?”

Wiggins furrowed his brow at the flushed expression on Bang Jin-Hun’s face. Didn’t something similar happen not too long ago?

However, Bang Jin-Hun’s attitude seemed a little different from that time. Back then, he was completely pale, but now... It certainly was shock, but what could have shocked him to this degree?

That was when Wiggins realized that their situation had taken another nasty turn. He hurriedly ran after Bang Jin-Hun and eventually reached Bang Jin-Hun’s office.

Wiggins frowned deeply again. “Why are we even here?”

“There! Look! Look!”

“

Huh

?”

Bang Jin-Hun urgently pointed at a large TV adorning one of his office’s walls.

Wiggins almost yelled,

What’s so great about having a TV in your office?!

Only for him to belatedly notice the news broadcast currently playing on the screen.

“Mm? News regarding China? Did something happen over there?”

The images currently playing on the screen belonged to a Chinese Communist Party conference, with its President announcing something with a grave face. Wiggins scanned the image without too much thought, but then...

His eyes landed on the bottom of the screen, where texts were displayed in bright graphics. And when his brain finally registered the words written there...

Wiggins forgot his decorum, and his jaw fell to the floor.

[...Scenes from the CCP conference. High-Ranking Member of Central Military Commission Detained Under Suspicion For Colluding With South Korean Prime Minister.]

“W-what? What?” Wiggins gasped loudly as his eyes bulged nearly out of their sockets. “What is the meaning of this?! Is that a real news broadcast?!”

Bang Jin-Hun cried out, “Yes, it is!”

“C-Colluding with the Prime Minister? With Kim Myeong-Chan?! Seriously?!”

Even if that was true... No, it probably was true, but!

But why would such a thing be revealed this way? Unless the CCP had a collective mental breakdown, it’d never openly announce such a thing!

“What... What on earth is going on here?”

At least one thing had become certain at this point. This situation was shifting rapidly again. In a completely unexpected direction, no less!