How A Mythical Holy Knight Lives As A Villain (Novel) - Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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A few days after the incident at the auction house.
-Saman Convention terror incident, was it targeting the Goldian auction? The mastermind behind it…
-Attempted theft of legendary items, is Black Gate a sign of the black realm?
Everyone was talking about how darkness had enveloped downtown Seoul.
Those who had even slightly been involved were reportedly still unable to regain their senses from fear, and even without their testimony.
-Black Gate, must be approached with caution.
Various concerns and worries about Gate invasions and this unprecedented phenomenon since the emergence of Gates and Players dominated public opinion.
-Goldian’s official statement.
And then Goldian made its move.
-As you suspected, the terror at the recent convention was indeed an attempt to steal legendary items, and what happened afterward…
Unlike his previous casual attitude, Richard approached the press conference with a respectful demeanor, as if consoling those injured that day.
-It’s presumed to be related to legendary items, specifically what we call evil objects.
-What are evil objects? Could you explain what that means?
-Black Gate, as is well known, is the discovery of new monsters called demons, and demons themselves transformed into objects. That’s all I can say for now.
-I don’t quite understand. Do you know more about Black Gates or demons?
-I can only tell you one thing.
Although they hadn’t discussed anything with Goldian yet.
“Is this what it means to be the head of an organization like Goldian?”
They seemed to understand exactly what Go Johan wanted.
-Do not recklessly pursue evil objects. They are not tools for your growth but the touch of evil leading to destruction.
They clearly warned.
Following Goldian’s warning, the excitement about the new gate seemed to gradually subside.
-Here is the image of someone who participated in the terror and held an evil object.
A horrifically damaged body that should have been pixelated.
It was truly the appearance of a body destroyed by the influence of the evil object itself.
-We strongly warn. All players must clearly recognize this situation.
Perhaps because of this.
-News that Go Johan appeared at the Goldian auction house.
-Shinsung had already declared non-participation in the Goldian auction…
Stories about Go Johan were discussed very simply.
On the night of the press conference, late at night.
Richard and Samuel secretly visited Johan Church.
“Were you satisfied with the conference?”
A confident voice and attitude.
However, it was Samuel, Richard’s personal guard, not Goldian’s chairman Richard who spoke.
“It was satisfactory.”
“Johan, may I call you that?”
Since Richard had received permission, Samuel asked again.
“Of course.”
“Thank you.”
And then.
“Master.”
Richard, dropping his usual arrogant expression, said with an extremely cautious face while stepping back.
“Please have a comfortable conversation.”
It was the moment when one of the secrets unknown to the world revealed itself.
Goldian’s chairman Richard was merely a stand-in.
The actual chairman of Goldian was…
“Let me introduce myself again. Johan, I am Samuel Golden, the owner of Goldian.”
It was Samuel.
* * *
Taking in the sight of the church, Samuel walked.
Though nothing was revealed.
“Indeed… remarkable. Even Goldian’s headquarters isn’t quite like this.”
As a top-ranked player, he seemed to sense something.
Even that would be just a fragment.
“I’m not sure where to begin, but first let me ask. Johan, what is the Church’s relationship with Shinsung?”
“There is no relationship.”
“I see.”
Samuel nodded.
“I suppose Shinsung is to you what Richard is to me.”
At that moment, a subtle change appeared on Go Johan’s face.
“Please don’t misunderstand. Though Richard calls me Master, we’re essentially like business partners. Inseparable.”
Samuel said.
“I believe you’ll understand. Johan, now that you’ve revealed yourself.”
Samuel stopped and spoke.
“It started with the movement of massive capital. A very secretive and dangerous movement.”
It was about three years ago.
“And I learned that some shares of Goldian had fallen into the hands of an Asian girl.”
Samuel first saw it then.
“The more I secretly investigated, the more surprising it became.”
Goldian, counting among the world’s wealthiest in terms of assets.
“The fact that 20 percent of the American player world was in someone’s grasp, and that same hand also held parts of Europe.”
“……”
“And the starting point.”
Greed said.
“The fact that it was this small South Korea.”
Samuel was said to be almost the only person who had glimpsed the true nature of Greed through his own abilities.
“Also.”
Flutter.
Samuel trembled.
“I was thrilled.”
It was a trembling of either fear or ecstasy.
“It felt like witnessing a massive monster living in the world’s shadows, behind the black curtain.”
Pause.
“Beyond moving world capital in the past, a massive force holding world military power itself. Incomparable to something like Goldian…”
Go Johan looked at Samuel.
“Church.”
Something.
“How long has Church existed? Is South Korea really its starting point? I can’t understand.”
There seemed to be a misunderstanding.
“At least hundreds of years. No, is its predecessor the Illuminati? Freemasons? Or perhaps the Bilderberg Club…? Or is there something hidden in Asia?”
Go Johan had no chance to speak.
“I focused on Church’s movements. They seemed to have some grand purpose beyond just accumulating power and money.”
Samuel spoke as if intoxicated.
“Is it God’s will?”
Go Johan paused again.
“You are…”
“Wait.”
“Johan, what position do you hold in Church? What you showed that day was a feat no other player in the world could achieve.”
Samuel approached Go Johan.
“Are even you just a part of Church? Or…”
That’s when it happened.
Flinch.
Samuel stopped in his tracks, sensing something.
“I won’t forgive disrespect towards the Captain.”
Lee Ha-yeon revealed herself from a corner of the church and spoke.
“… Captain. I see.”
Samuel nodded.
“I want to be part of it too.”
Samuel’s talent that had built enormous wealth.
“If you wish, I’ll dedicate Goldian to Church.”
That instinct told him.
“Investment… I’ll invest everything I have.”
That Church’s massive power would become an unstoppable force.
“Captain, I’ll handle this.”
Greed, who had approached unnoticed, said so.
* * *
Goldian left.
“There are quite a few like Goldian.”
Lee Ha-yeon spoke as if tired.
For days, Samuel had kept visiting the church.
Lee Ha-yeon had handled such matters.
And on the day he left.
Shudder.
He bowed deeply to Go Johan, trembling like an old man struck by palsy.
His face suggested he would kiss Go Johan’s feet if desired.
“What did you tell him?”
Go Johan asked, looking at Vermut’s floating nail.
“I only told him what was necessary. As you saw, he’s quite useful.”
Useful.
“Thirty percent of the world’s item market is traded through Goldian. It’s clear they’ll be a great help in finding and managing evil objects.”
Of course, they hadn’t fully accepted Goldian, she said.
There would be evaluation and control, wasn’t that it?
Whatever it was.
“Good work.”
It seemed necessary to acknowledge that the efforts of the apostles, including Lee Ha-yeon, were beyond expectations.
Whoosh.
At Go Johan’s praise, Lee Ha-yeon’s face bloomed with a smile as if flowers had bloomed.
It was a sight that would have shocked anyone who knew her.
“If it helps the Captain…”
“I’m not just saying this.”
Go Johan grasped Vermut’s nail.
Woong!
Though it vibrated violently as if trying to reject Go Johan, it eventually submitted and fell silent.
“I don’t have talents like yours. Not in the past, not now.”
“…Don’t say that.”
“I’m serious. All I can do…”
At that moment.
Crack!
Vermut’s nail began to crack.
“Is destroying and cutting things.”
When evil objects first appeared in the world.
-This is mine.
-How can a holy knight covet others’ possessions?
Michael didn’t know what to do.
By the time he hesitated, evil objects had already spread throughout the world.
“I won’t stop you.”
The apostles had already proven their skills and abilities.
“Do as you wish. If you need a sword, I’ll be that sword.”
They would know most accurately what he wanted.
Then.
Crack!
The completely shattered Vermut’s nail scattered across the floor in fragments.
This was just a part of what could be called the genuine Vermut’s nail.
‘None of the recovered items could be called evil objects.’
However, among those not recovered.
‘There is a real Vermut’s nail.’
When it reveals itself, chaos would strike again.
Fortunately, as long as this part was here.
“Prepare defenses. So you can protect it even when I’m not here.”
The genuine article would follow its part here.
“…When you’re not here?”
Once again, for the first time, Lee Ha-yeon showed a face like a girl her age.
Her face showed anxiety, like a child hearing parents speak of a long journey.
“The demon invasion is just beginning.”
And.
Flash!
The divine eye emitting light.
“The next phase will begin soon.”
Traces of a Black Gate incomparable to any opened before could be felt.