The Player Who Eats Steel - Episode 25
25. Seoul Station, F grade and S grade - 4
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“Hey, look over there! The dome is disappearing!”
People gathered around Seoul Station,
Soldiers, players, and reporters all sighed..
Less than 5 minutes after King Han Taeseong entered, the dome began to wash away like a lie..
“······As expected, Tahoe is a lazy tiger, but when he wakes up, he surprises the world.!”
Reporters from broadcasting companies who were broadcasting the scene nearby began to urgently report the situation..
Of course, the one most mentioned in their mouths was ‘King of Power’ Han Taesan..
“But it's still too early to rejoice. What's important is how many civilians stranded inside Seoul Station can return safely, so we'll have to wait and see..”
There was an overwhelming feeling that the case had been solved, but it could not be considered good news yet..
What was important was not that the dome disappeared, but the safety of the people stranded inside it..
Therefore, positive messages about the current situation had to be postponed..
But the next moment, Seoul Station Square, and by extension the Republic of Korea, could not help but be filled with joy..
“uh! Yes, people are starting to come out.!”
This is because immediately after the dome completely disappeared, a huge number of people began to walk out in an orderly manner from Exit 1 of Seoul Station, escorted by AMT soldiers..
hell is finally over.
Dozens of cameras captured the scene in its entirety..
“Look over there! Fortunately, there seem to be a lot of survivors..”
And, somewhat strangely, they all seemed perfectly fine. The paramedics who had been waiting in advance, anticipating a bloody hell, also looked at each other with puzzled expressions..
and······.
“······yes? Are you serious??”
The reporter then asked someone behind the microphone and then looked at the camera again..
His expression was complex and subtle..
Although it was stiff, there was also joy somewhere in it..
“Dear viewers... You may not believe it, but······.”
He was silent for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth..
“······It's called everyone, everyone's survival.!”
It was a statement that was difficult for anyone to believe..
“······I say it again! All of the civilians who were isolated within the Seoul Station Unlucky event area have returned to us in very good health! AMT's operation was a complete success! The details are not yet known, but it appears that AMT has done a great job.!”
Since the internal situation was unknown, it was assumed that at least hundreds of people were killed..
But when the veil of Dome was lifted, the best twist of all was revealed..
“Really, it seems like a miracle has happened!”
Yes, it was close to a miracle..
This spread all over the world and began to become news with titles such as ‘Seoul Station Miracle’..
Meanwhile, Lee Hyun-wook was in the front row of the citizen procession leaving Seoul Station..
It was quite nice to see the AMT guarding the front and rear of the citizens, but it was obvious that it would be a pain if they encountered Han Taesan again, so they took the lead and got out early..
however······.
“Hello, we see you again?”
A woman leaning on one side of the stairs leading down to the station square spoke..
The woman in the white suit was Yoo Hae-na..
She slipped down her purple sunglasses and smiled..
As she was the head of the Seoul strategy department of the guild in charge of this area, she seemed to be on standby at the scene..
“······Iknow, right.”
“I told you so. We will inevitably run into each other often..”
she grinned.
“Anyway, you're lucky. I was stranded in there and survived. I heard you were grade F.?”
“······.”
“Ha, what is it?······.”
He smirks, the corners of his mouth rise..
It was a blatant ridicule..
“······.”
“How did you know? I used this phone like you told me to. But the grade F makes me a bit disappointed. I still thought it was a C grade and even handed him a business card.······.”
“Yes, I was just totally lucky today and then on Orc too..”
After saying those words, Lee Hyun-wook passed by her..
“You have my business card, right? Just in case, I didn't throw it away... Of course I wouldn't, but my business card might bring you good luck. And I don't know what kind of luck I will have in the future..”
Even though it's insulting, it subtly hints that you should contact me..
That way, you remind yourself that you are above..
However, if Lee Hyun-wook really contacted her, she would feel a brief moment of satisfaction, play with it a little, and then throw it away miserably..
To make you acutely aware of the overwhelming gap between you and yourself.······.
Lee Hyun-wook knew that that was the bad taste of that spider-like woman..
“Well, it's unfortunate that he's rated F, but he's still good at fighting. If you're interested, please contact me..”
After saying those words, Yoo Hae-na turned her back and walked away.
And secretly grinned.
‘You can't help but be intrigued by it..’
She recalled the moment Lee Hyun-wook rejected her business card..
It was so embarrassing..
So, even more so, I wanted to properly subdue him..
‘Even an F grade... what kind of guts did they have to refuse my business card??’
So, when I just happened to find him, a nameless fire in my heart ignited again and I lured him into calling by mentioning his business card, baiting him into taking the bait..
‘The moment you can't resist the temptation of Cheonghwa, I'll make you realize the difference between my position and your position, so take the bait quickly.······.’
Her greatest weapon was the two letters blue and flame engraved on her business card..
The name today meant 'power', 'honor' and 'money'.
Cheonghwa is a world that every player wants to enter, and it is also her castle, so the moment you set foot on Cheonghwa, no matter who you are, you have no choice but to fall at her feet..
In other words, Yoo Hae-na possessed the power to capture and sway the desires of almost all players..
However, that rule did not apply to everyone..
“hey! Hae Hae-na!”
A loud voice made Yoo Hae-na cry..
‘Hantaesan Mountain······.’
However, even the surname Cheonghwa was an exception..
S-rank player······.
They were beyond all rules.
“As promised, he came right away and took a leap! Let's eat dinner together tonight.?”
“······no.”
“huh? why! I'm sure you're not going to keep your promise again.?”
She put back on the sunglasses she had taken off for a moment..
“You can eat it later... For now, I need to report this incident and post it..”
Unlike his usual elegant and relaxed tone, his voice was very stiff..
And there was a look of wariness in his eyes..
This was because it was something he could not do anything about..
“huh? What kind of guild daughter is posting reports by hand? Hey, I came this far to ask you for a favor, so you don't have to buy me a meal.?”
“We decided not to ask about ownership of unlock event rewards. I'm satisfied with that for now?”
If it was an unlock event, there was a high possibility that a hero grade item would come out, and it was not necessary to check that the item would have been returned to Han Taesan..
however······.
“······Oh, that?”
Taesan Han played with his head with a shy expression..
“······Hey, I'm not number one.?”
Yoo Hae-na tilted her head at those words..
“What are you talking about? Boss monster, you didn't catch it?”
“That's right, it's definitely true... but I don't understand something... I mean, I beat the boss monster into dough, but before that, someone stabbed me with a knife.?”
“······.”
“When it was all over, I was in second place.······.”
“······.”
In other words, the hero-grade item was given to another player..
······But who on earth can beat Han Taesan and get that??
‘AMT Rescue Team, there are talented people among players below level 15.?’
Yoo Hae-na put her sunglasses back on..
And turned around.
“Anyway, okay. See you later.”
“Hey, I'm really not going to buy you food.?”
“I'm really busy today, so call me later.”
“okay! Then you must buy it next time!”
Yoo Hae-na walked away from Hantaesan and clicked her tongue inwardly..
‘That bastard, what on earth do you mean, second place? It would be really funny if this became known.······.’
Cheonghwa Gil and other S-class members showed up in style and saved the citizens of Seoul Station.,
That image was destined to take me to the mountains..
And about 30 minutes later······.
“······What did you just say??”
While Yoo Hae-na was reviewing the interim report on this incident, she heard surprising news..
“yes? Which part should I repeat??”
When Yoo Hae-na's reaction was not the same as usual, the investigation team leader asked nervously..
“That AMT soldier just played a major role in this incident.?”
“Yes, their identities have not yet been confirmed, but this is what the isolated citizens said in unison..”
“Are you a rescue worker who was sent in later??”
“Well, I'm not sure yet, but according to the station security guard at the scene, he is a soldier who was at Seoul Station from the beginning..”
“no way······.”
It wasn't exact, but Yoo Hae-na somehow felt like she knew who that soldier was..
A soldier who was ‘isolated’ and not deployed as a rescue team.······.
Lee Hyun-wook’s face came to mind..
‘what? I was lucky...?’
Looking back, even that strange sense of leisure was annoying..
As far as she knew, that was an expression an F grade couldn't have..
‘If it's really him······.’
The look on her face that showed a strange composure at that time seemed like it would really irritate her..
Her feelings became a little more complicated..
***
Meanwhile, Lee Hyun-wook was facing the battalion commander..
Kim Kang-seok looked at Lee Hyun-wook with a stern expression..
“There's a lot I want to hear from you..”
It had to be that way..
“What happened inside, how was all this possible?······.”
All experts around the world said in unison that it was inevitable that there would be a large number of victims..
Honestly, Kim Kang-seok had no choice but to agree with that opinion..
‘Honestly... I thought it would be a success if I could save even half of it..’
Even if it was only a small hope, I tried hard not to give it up..
If he, the operation commander, gives up hope, the direction of the operation will be disturbed.······.
‘however······.’
······A surprise occurred in every way..
No, it was more than an accident, it was a miracle..
Everyone survived, and Lee Hyun-wook's performance seemed to be more than just wit..
Now it was beyond my expectations and I was starting to have doubts..
‘Lee Hyun-wook, what on earth is this guy??’
Kim Kang-seok believed in Lee Hyun-wook..
His unique side······.
But this case wasn't something that could be done alone..
So, I had my doubts..
And to some extent, Kim Kang-seok knew that ‘doubt’ is the first step to ‘wonder’..
‘This isn't the first time I've felt this way.’
He was one of the first players.
However, the player's world was not a world where one could become the best just because it was old..
He has watched countless players who awakened late surpass him..
‘Han Tae-san, Ki Baek-jun, Seo Eun-ha, and perhaps Choi Young-jun will also appear in the future.······.’
When they first appeared, the world's first impression was one of suspicion..
However, as proof continued, the world's gaze changed to 'faith' and 'admiration'..
Hyunwook Lee didn't even know if he was in the process..
The process of becoming a hero, not just a capable officer.······.
‘But it's grade F······.’
Those mentioned above are constantly growing..
However, Lee Hyun-wook has clear limitations..
In the end, it would break in the face of fate..
Kim Kang-seok suppressed his bitterness and looked at Lee Hyun-wook..
“Corporal Lee Hyun-wook, there are many things I want to ask you, but first... there is someone you need to meet..”
Kim Kang-seok turned his head somewhere..
It was Seoul Station Square..
“Everyone stay out of this area! A teleport will open!”
An officer was shouting like that, clearing a large space, and next to him, a wizard-type warrant officer wearing a headset looked up at the sky and started shouting..
“······Ready! three! two! one! We are open!”
At that moment, a blue beam of light poured down from the sky..
T-uh-uh-uh-
It was a massive teleportation.
All eyes in Seoul Station Square were focused on that place..
And out of that light, a group of AMT soldiers walked out..
At the center stood the 3rd Port Horse Brigade commander, General Choi Jeong-cheol..
Kim Kang-seok stood up and adjusted his clothes..
Then he turned to Lee Hyun-wook and placed his hand on his shoulder..
“······The Brigadier wants to meet you..”
There was a bit of tension in Kim Kang-seok’s voice..
However, a different thought was floating around in Lee Hyun-wook’s head..
‘A one-star reward fell from the sky..’
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