“Would… you like to continue? Huff. Huff.”
The man was out of breath. His helmet and stab-proof vest were damp with sweat, but he had to remain armed until Jonathan granted him permission to stop. Jonathan looked through his helmet’s face shield in order to check his watch. When he confirmed that he could call it a day, he sank into the ground first. He placed the dagger in his hand on the floor and took off his helmet.
It was like a real match. Sweat poured down like rain, and their T-shirts underneath their vests were soaked and stuck to their skin. When Jonathan took off his vest and shirt, he revealed a set of bulky muscles. He had worked out hard for a long time, so his body was by no means inferior to that of his opponent’s. He had not only increased the amount of muscle on him but also focused on getting a well-balanced body.
Huff. Huff-
Miyagi, the man, and Jonathan caught their breath in silence. At the same time, Miyagi looked at the world’s richest man who was absorbed in this extreme hobby. He thought Jonathan had been doing this for a while.
Miyagi had come to Jonathan’s mansion half a year ago. Even at that time, Jonathan had a supremely fit body and had also mastered fighting skills, including kickboxing and jiu-jitsu[1]. On top of that, he learned how to use a dagger in fighting from a professional special forces instructor, and his skill was on the same level as Miyagi’s. The only thing he needed to improve on now was his physical limitations.
I can’t understand the rich.
Miyagi marveled at Jonathan inwardly. Although he had been training Jonathan every day for the past six months, the other man’s madness toward this hobby was difficult to understand. Moreover, it wasn’t only the motivation that kept the busiest person in the world taking the time to train himself. If he felt a threat to his own safety, he could have hired people like Miyagi. Also, there were already such people guarding Jonathan’s mansion.
***
Jonathan took shower and came out. He checked his phone and email just in case, but Seon-Hu still had not replied to him. His partner had not contacted him for more than half a year since the last email.
Tap, tap.
Jonathan created a document online and updated his recent progress on the report. He was in front of the fireplace, and there was a warm teacup in his hand which had been brought over by an employee. His entire body was exhausted as he had just used up his strength to its limit, but he had lots to do. He put away the tea and asked the employee to bring him a beer cold enough to give him brain freeze. The sound of typing continued in the room without stopping.
He rubbed his sleepy eyes after he finished dealing with some important issues. When he stretched and tilted his head, he saw a shadow in the corner of his room. Jonathan was quick. He grabbed the pistol attached to the back of his desk and accurately aimed it at the person’s heart. Seon-Hu was grinning with his hands held up.
“Sun…”
Jonathan walked toward Seon-Hu with a hollow smile. Then, he heard another sound from the opposite corner.
“I’m here too.”
There was a young Asian woman standing to the side, and Jonathan only noticed her after turning his head the other way. His smile became even more hollow.
“Every time I see you, I become depressed. Who would ever think that we are actually the same age? Don’t you think so?”
Yeon-Hee retorted, “Really? I envy you, Jonathan. In my opinion, you have become more handsome. I guess it’s the beauty that comes with middle-age. It’s a charm that Seon-Hu and I will never experience.”
He grumbled, “Don’t say that. It doesn’t comfort me at all, you vampires.”
“I have a nice gift for you, but are you going to keep calling me that?”
There was no better present than the visit of his friends he hadn’t seen for a long time, but Jonathan’s face slowly stiffened.
“Always wear them. I purposely only put things that aren’t noticeable,” Seon-Hu said.
Jonathan took a ring out of the pouch. It was no different from the commercially available rings other than its elaborate inscriptions. He knew what kind of object it was as Seon-Hu had told him.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure not to lose it or have it be taken away by anyone,” Jonathan said.
“Make sure you don’t rely too much on the item,” Seon-Hu replied.
“Yes, that too. If you are not too busy, why don’t you take a seat?”
The three moved in front of the fireplace. Woo Yeon-Hee’s body began to lean toward the right side of the armchair as she hadn’t felt this comfortable for a while. As soon as Seon-Hu told her to sleep, her eyes closed tightly.
“Still?” Jonathan asked while looking at Woo Yeon-Hee, who fell asleep right away in a pitiful manner.
“Yes. It’s the worst kind of work ever. I’m so sick and tired of it…”
Seon-Hu swept his hair up, and Jonathan could read nervousness in the youth’s eyes. During a moment of silence, the sound of the crackling fire became louder. Jonathan talked as he rummaged through the fire with kindling., “So, do you think you can make it on time?”
“Yeah, somehow.”
“I won’t be able to keep you here that long,” Jonathan said.
Seon-Hu responded, “I will contact you frequently, but today will be the last time we meet face to face.”
“Time flies by so fast… On that day… I still remember that day, when you showed me the stark truth on the last day of the 2009 Jeon-il Conference.”
He wasn’t lying. It was the most shocking reality he had ever faced, and every single word Seon-Hu said was still vivid in his mind. The youth’s supernatural power was appalling enough, but the monster he showed Jonathan was… That evil was… It often appeared in his nightmares from time to time. Whenever he had that nightmare, his bedclothes became soaked with cold sweat.
“What if I won’t?” Jonathan asked anxiously.
“About what?” Seon-Hu asked.
“What if I don’t end up awakening? Would I be able to adapt to the new world?”
Seon-Hu said, “That’s why you must succeed. If the global economy doesn’t collapse, our civilization will be preserved. The money we have accumulated will also stay. I can guarantee that even if you don’t awaken.”
In other words, Jonathan would have a large capital and be in a position where he could give commands to the Awakened. That was what Seon-Hu was talking about.
“In that sense, it would be fine even if you don’t become one of us. But Jonathan, you will awaken. So, survive no matter what happens in the Stage of Advent.”
Jonathan grumbled, “You are mean. That’s such a nice way to say that you will give me lots of work…”
Seon-Hu responded with a bitter smile, “If you become confident in surviving, then you should seek the hidden rewards.”
“Hidden rewards?” Jonathan asked curiously.
Then, Seon-Hu began explaining everything from the start, like the ‘inventory window’ for the hidden reward, to the end, also known as the Stage of Rest. He not only detailed what he had gone through but also the information about hidden rewards he had gotten after the Stage of Advent. Seon-Hu had repeatedly told Woo Yeon-Hee about them to the point that she had memorized everything.
The day was dawning even before Jonathan felt tired.
He commented, “You… seem to have been through everything.”
“That’s one of my abilities.”
Jonathan would realize the truth one day, but Seon-Hu had decided that now wasn’t the time. Seon-Hu’s last story was about important spirits, and he couldn’t emphasize that enough to the older man.
“They are the ones who govern the Stage of Advent under the System. They won’t look like it, but don’t forget they are the ones with authority. You will get pissed by them so many times, Jonathan.”
“Okay. I’ll make sure I do all I can so that I don’t fight against them. Even if I reach the level where I’m stronger than anyone else.”
Jonathan’s face had hardened to a serious extent. According to Seon-Hu’s descriptions, the Stage of Advent had to have been created by an absolute being in order to mock humans and obtain sadistic pleasure. It was definitely not a place for training.
“Whatever the reality is, you must remember that you have to take advantage of it.”
Seon-Hu got up. Everything was covered in white snow outside. It was a beautiful sight, but it didn’t feel that way to either of them. The snow would melt anyway when the sun rose like the days ahead of them.
“See you again in the new world, Jonathan.”
***
Jonathan focused on his work after Seon-Hu and Woo Yeon-Hee left. Before Seon-Hu entered the Stage of Advent and while he was conquering dungeons, Jonathan had a lot of stuff to do on the civilian side. He needed to take measures to make the capital available in the future and reply to the board members’ emails that were full of complaints and anxiety. In fact, Jonathan was on vacation now, but he had never had a proper break since he had heard the truth from Seon-Hu.
Jonathan put on his coat and went outside.
“Where shall I take you to?”
“The White House.”
They needed constant warning. He had to remind them that he had enough capital power to blow them up at any time. It was true that the Jonathan Group’s withdrawal from the global stock market had reduced its influence on companies. However, their financial businesses, including banking, had completed the most substantial empire in the world such that no one could challenge them.
But still…
The New Year’s greeting from the U.S. president was ridiculing his political opponents.
「I wish everyone, including those who had been brutally destroyed by me, a happy new year. I love you all.」
He had been elected contrary to the Jeon-il Club’s resolution, and he had posted such a message on his social media to deride Seon-Hu. Seon-Hu reacted calmly as if he had expected it, but Jonathan thought it was the triggering factor.
It wasn’t just the White House. Private groups were being created inside the club, and they were undoubtedly working on revolting. It was similar to the movement of Seon-Hu when he had dominated the Bilderberg Club. One side was busy pouring one’s enormous capital and life to save humanity, but the other side was busy playing politics to fulfill one’s greed.
Jonathan thought it would be better for such a world to collapse. He was mad but held it in for now. Whatever they were plotting, they would all be meaningless in the end. Also, the majority of them would not be able to remain at the club. The same applied to the current president who was immersed and relishing his temporary victory.
Jonathan hacked the social media system and grinned as he checked the U.S. president’s message posted last night.
「Happy New Year! Again, we are creating a Great America!」
「To all of my friends, supporters, enemies, haters, and even dishonest fake news media, I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year!」
He snorted and remarked out loud, “Ah, you must be living your best life. Enjoy your delusions while you can, you idiots.”
The first sun of the new year rose. It was 2018.
1. A self-defense ground-based martial art and sport that originated in Brazil. ☜