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Chapter 54 : Chapter 54
Chapter 54
It was enough to drive her crazy.
According to the frame January had set up, she was in a position where she had no choice but to be the traitor.
To think that the only way to appeal her innocence was to defend Lee Ju-seong.
Could there be a more breathtaking irony than this?
‘Lee Ju-seong, how is it that that man can harass a person so sophisticatedly even when he isn’t around? At least leave me alone when you’re not here!’
A specialist in harassment.
She could only describe him that way.
January spoke as he walked slowly with his hands behind his back.
“August, I personally like your work attitude. You have always done your best without shying away from dirty work if it was an order from the organization.”
“If you know that, then you would also know that there is no way I would betray you.”
“But humans are creatures who do not know when or how they will face a change of heart. August, you are no exception.”
He recognized me because he is outstanding…… She sensed that the defense she squeezed out as a last resort did not work.
At this rate, January would report to the upper management of the organization that August had betrayed them.
What kind of people were the big heads of the organization?
They were extreme individuals who took pride in being a privileged class and regarded all humans other than themselves as inferior.
There was no way those who treated even dealers as mere slaves and tools would leave a traitor alone.
August clenched her fists tightly.
Snap!
A sound was made as the rough surfaces unique to leather gloves meshed together.
The gloves spoke for the sound of her grinding her teeth.
“January, didn’t you realize while watching Round 3? Lee Ju-seong could have killed me at any time, but he didn’t. Everything was to copy my ability. Didn’t you notice what that implies?”
She wanted to convey that he is an outstanding existence to the point where the superiority of abilities is meaningless, and if he is such an outstanding existence, it is not unreasonable for him to remember the characteristics of the dealers and see through them.
However, January remained stubborn throughout.
“The opinion of our dealer team is that all of that was acting and a part agreed upon in advance.”
“I am not included in ‘our dealer team.’ Are you ignoring my opinion?”
“Circumstantially, there is a basis to prove my claim, but there is no basis to prove yours.”
She almost lost her temper.
But even though she did not take any separate action, all the dealers except January took a combat stance.
It was because everyone knew August’s personality well.
She looked cool and quiet on the outside, but everyone knew her personality was often emotional deep down.
August finally chose to compromise.
“I don’t have any basis I can present right now. That being said, the basis January presented cannot be called perfect either.”
“This should be sufficient as a basis, shouldn’t it?”
“It’s just circumstantial evidence after all. It’s unfair this way, so give me a chance.”
“Please speak more specifically.”
“If you give me time, I will prove my innocence. Isn’t it enough if I approach Lee Ju-seong and make him spit out the truth himself?”
She almost burst into laughter because it was absurd even after she said it.
Since she had failed the mission, she thought she would never be entangled with Lee Ju-seong again, even if she were reprimanded.
But to think she would voluntarily declare that she would approach him.
But what could she do?
If she couldn't prove her innocence, she would end up in a state worse than death.
She was in no position to choose means and methods.
If necessary, whether it be a bribe or a honey trap, whatever it was, she had to mobilize everything.
January groaned while worrying and then asked for the dealers’ opinions.
“What are your opinions?”
Opinions were divided among the dealers.
“To say Lee Ju-seong was outstanding and recognized August, and used that fact to create the existence of a traitor…… You should say something that makes sense. I can only think of it as nonsense spat out because she’s in a hurry.”
“I wonder if there’s a need to handle it hastily. She says she’ll clean up the mess she made herself. It’s not too late to judge after watching.”
“Then what will you report to the higher-ups? Surely a cold answer will come back.”
“The higher-ups told us to keep Lee Ju-seong from leaving. It doesn’t seem like Lee Ju-seong will leave right away, so we can just report that there is no problem.”
The higher-ups only told them to make it so Lee Ju-seong couldn't leave, and the specific method was left to January, the field manager.
And that January had ordered the operation to August.
Since August failed the mission, January could impose sanctions on his own, but the higher-ups didn't care about August’s situation at all.
Whatever the process was, as long as Lee Ju-seong didn't leave the game, there was no reason for the higher-ups to be troubled.
In short, for now, it was safe to say that the higher-ups would not hold January or August accountable.
January integrated everyone's opinions and reached a conclusion.
“Since Lee Ju-seong hasn’t left, your opinion is that there is grace time. Good, August. I will give you a chance to prove your innocence. And separate from August’s activities, we will continue to attempt operations to reduce Lee Ju-seong’s balance.”
Permission was given to August to return to her status as a dealer but to approach Lee Ju-seong personally whenever necessary.
Whether approaching him outside the game as a dealer or inside the game as a player.
They decided to leave the method entirely to August’s judgment.
The operation to drain Lee Ju-seong’s balance was to be taken over by other dealers.
In the end, August was alienated among the dealers.
August nodded her head reluctantly with a sullen face.
“Thank you for giving me the opportunity. I will definitely get a confession from that man by any means necessary.”
She narrowly bought some time, but on the other hand, worry preceded her.
Psychological warfare against Lee Ju-seong.
Could she succeed?
Even though she knew it would be difficult, she had no choice but to do it.
If not that…… she would have to turn another dealer into a traitor even by force and throw them to January.
While her thoughts were many, the interrogation of August ended, and the dealers dispersed.
***
After leaving the Game Tower, No Tae-jin and I headed straight for the Shopping Mall.
The direction of movement was the same, but the purposes of the two of us were different.
I was there to check into the hotel, and No Tae-jin was there to buy a boarding ticket for his return to society.
When we arrived in front of the Ticket Office, No Tae-jin’s face brightened.
“Finally, the fee has dropped. I was going to endure even if it was 50 percent, but this is great.”
The price of the boat ticket was written on a standing sign placed in front of the Ticket Office.
[Regular Ship Fare : 40 percent of current balance]
The 10 percent difference was very large.
No Tae-jin’s balance was 350 million won.
Originally, he was in a position where he had to pay half and return with 175 million won left.
But as the fee decreased, the amount he could take back increased to 210 million won.
A 35 million won difference could never be ignored.
No Tae-jin grabbed both of my hands with both of his and expressed his gratitude.
“It’s all thanks to Ju-seong. If you hadn’t been here, my debt would have only increased by now.”
I pulled my hands strongly from No Tae-jin’s handshake and took a businesslike attitude.
In the end, No Tae-jin had never perceived me as a comrade even once during rounds 3 and 4.
Considering that he could regard me as an ally but not as a comrade, I maintained a psychological safety distance.
“It was No Tae-jin yourself who decided not to turn me into an enemy. You received the price for your own judgment, so it is your own merit, Tae-jin.”
No Tae-jin stared blankly at his suddenly empty hands.
After hesitating for a moment, he spent some time gauging my reaction.
Then he asked carefully.
“Uh…… Ju-seong, are you not going back?”
I answered immediately.
“Yes.”
“I said this when Round 3 ended as well, but this place is the deep sea among deep seas. The atmospheric pressure of the deep sea changes creatures into something malformed.”
“It’s not that I don’t know what you’re trying to say.”
“If you know, wouldn’t it be better to go back right now? Before a malformed sensibility becomes fixed, pressed by the pressure of the deep sea.”
No Tae-jin’s opinion was reasonable.
However, to apply No Tae-jin’s opinion, there had to be a ‘place to return to.’
Could I create a place where I belong by returning an ambiguous(?) amount of money?
A family relationship that is not mine, a friendship that is not mine, and past tracks that are not mine.
I could not be satisfied with living while slightly upwardly adjusting the life of a person with the same name.
Did he say the pressure of the deep sea changes creatures into something malformed?
But what if I am a deep-sea fish suitable for living in the deep sea?
To keep a deep-sea fish in a tank in the sunlight, there must be overwhelming facilities and funds.
With the amount I had now, it was hopelessly insufficient.
I shook my head firmly.
“I hope everything you do goes well. Out there.”
Sensing that there was no room for persuasion, No Tae-jin laughed awkwardly.
We did not share any separate farewell greetings.
Acting close just for the sake of form tends to produce the opposite effect.
Instead of a greeting, I shook my arm a couple of times with a restrained motion to part while having only good memories of each other.
After parting with No Tae-jin, I stopped by the Hotel Desk and checked in for today in advance.
‘They still haven’t told me how long this rest period is. It must be because the games in other game sites haven't ended yet.’
According to what November told me as I came out of the Game Tower, we were the second fastest team to finish.
Every time a game ends, the injured will pour out from inside the Game Tower.
Even a child could predict that the medical facilities would be crowded.
I should get an examination by taking advantage of the lull before it gets crowded.
I scratched over the bandage wrapped around my forearm while heading toward the medical facility.
‘My right arm is split quite deep, so it’ll probably need stitches. I’ll have to get a blood transfusion as long as I consume blood. Considering that I’ll have to restock small blood bags later…… I’ll be seeing the Doctor’s face quite often in a short period of time.’
Imagining the Doctor who would be disgusted every time she greeted me, a chuckle naturally flowed out.
Despite this and that, she was the only person in this Money Game who maintained a relationship unrelated to the game.
Doctor versus patient.
It was a human relationship that wouldn't change much even if moved exactly as it was to society.
When I stopped by the medical facility expecting the Doctor’s reaction, the Doctor was actually away.
The nurse who greeted me instead of the Doctor informed me.
“If you’re looking for the Doctor, she’s giving first aid at the Hall. It’ll probably take an hour before she returns.”
I replied that I understood and stopped by the Hall to look for the Doctor myself.
The Hall was quieter than I expected.
At a time close to evening, the sun was cast long through the gaps in the building shadows.
Just as the nurse said, the Doctor was devoted to giving first aid in the Hall, accompanied by nurses.
The white gown with red stains spreading on the shoulder told me that she was doing her best under limited conditions.
However, regardless of her hard work, the player receiving treatment was acting harshly toward the Doctor.
“If you’re a doctor, you should act like a doctor! Didn't you become a doctor to save people! You bitch who only knows money!”