With an uneasy expression, Kang Jin-Ho observed the unfolding situation in front of him.

“I’m sorry, but you cannot come through here!”

“Step back, please! I said, step back!”

These crazy bastards!

The path leading up to a ride in this theme park was cordoned off with what looked like the police crime scene tapes! And men in identical black business suits were manning those tapes and busy pushing away the unhappy theme park goers.

“It’s this way, Mister Kang.”

“...”

...And then, the beaming Willie Reese greeted Kang Jin-Ho and Choi Yeon-Ha.

Rather unsurprisingly, the theme park goers who had been standing in the queue all glared in dissatisfaction at Kang Jin-Ho’s group. Even the one and only Kang Jin-Ho reflexively lowered his head to avoid meeting their hostile glare.

As for Choi Yeon-Ha, she had already put on a pair of large sunglasses and a surgical mask to hide her face like a criminal.

She whispered to him. “Mister Jin-Ho.”

“...Yes?”

“I’m about to die from all this embarrassment, okay?”

“...”

Kang Jin-Ho thought he and Choi Yeon-Ha clicked together well most of the time, but right at this moment? He couldn’t help but vehemently sympathize with her!

What the hell?! You didn’t have to go this far!

All Kang Jin-Ho needed was a pair of tickets, and he’d have taken care of everything afterward. He’d have used his abilities to worm his way through the queue, after all!

Besides, didn’t this particular theme park also have a fast pass system, like the ones found in South Korean theme parks? Although the availability of such fast pass tickets per day was limited, the Americans could have secured a few for Kang Jin-Ho and Choi Yeon-Ha’s use, and that would have sorted out everything painlessly, so why!

“Please step aside! This is official government business!”

The crowd shot back. “Official government business in a theme park? My ass!”

“Please cooperate, sir!”

The dissatisfaction was palpable on the faces of everyone standing in line, but they eventually stepped aside, knowing their hands were tied.

Such an abuse of power would have raised a huge ruckus back in South Korea, but judging from how the Americans backed off fairly easily, Kang Jin-Ho assumed that the government here enjoyed far greater authority over its people.

Of course, the government enjoying greater authority didn’t mean human nature would change accordingly, though. Every single person getting pushed aside all glared murderously at Kang Jin-Ho and Choi Yeon-Ha.

“...”

Even though he was innocent in this situation, Kang Jin-Ho couldn’t help but keep his head low. When was the last time he felt this embarrassed since his return to the modern era? Probably never!

Another theme park goer sourly muttered. “What kinda government business does...”

Willie Reese’s head snapped in that direction. “Go arrest him!”

The theme park goer hurriedly backed off. “N-no, wait! I’m getting out of the way, aren’t I?!”

Kang Jin-Ho inwardly screamed, Stop it, you bastards!

No sounds came out of his mouth, however, despite his lips flapping weakly.

Willie Reese noticed Kang Jin-Ho’s expression and apologized profusely, his own expression stiff.

“My sincerest apologies, sir. We should’ve secured the area before your arrival, but we weren’t able to book the rides as we didn’t know which one you’d be interested in. Please forgive us.”

Kang Jin-Ho finally forced his voice out. “Why... Why would you secure the rides?”

“Mm? It’s for you and Miss Choi to enjoy the rides in peace, of course.”

Kang Jin-Ho almost reflexively blurted out, Don’t you understand that you’ve made it impossible for us to enjoy anything in peace?!

Hah?

Is the American definition of enjoying something in peace different from what I know? Is that it?!

Kang Jin-Ho deeply furrowed his brow and replied, “You... don’t have to go this far.”

Willie Reese chuckled genially. “Hahaha, it’s not a problem, sir. In fact, it’s a simple matter for us, really. Honestly, we’d have loved to do more for you, but doing so might come across as tactless and inconsiderate, so...”

Tactless? Inconsiderate?

What on Earth was this dude even talking about!

Was he trying to say this was an act of consideration? When people in the surroundings were glaring at Kang Jin-Ho and Choi Yeon-Ha as if they were some kind of extraterrestrial creatures?!

Seriously?!

“No pictures! Anyone taking unauthorized pictures will be arrested!” 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

“You over there! Put your phone down! Now!”

This situation was getting even more embarrassing by the minute!

While being stabbed by people’s glares, Kang Jin-Ho began envying monkeys in a zoo for some reason.

Choi Yeon-Ha muttered dazedly. “It was going so well when we’re riding on the helicopters, so how...”

Although they hadn’t booked it ahead of time, they still got a ride to the grand canyon on a helicopter. And another, more dedicated helicopter was waiting for them when they got there. Which was all great, since taking in the sights of the magnificent Grand Canyon from the air was one of the most memorable experiences in her life, after all.

Things after that were also wonderful. They got on a different helicopter and returned to the city in one go while bypassing the city’s congestion.

Even the one and only Kang Jin-Ho felt his heart sway a bit from such a consideration.

How nice would it have been if they had stopped there, though!

Didn’t these people know what moderation was? This situation felt like... As if Kang Jin-Ho had encouraged someone who didn’t know how to have fun and praised them for trying, only for them to go absolutely berserk and lose all restraints!

To think these Americans would go so far when there were so many eyes watching!

Willie Reese tutted while scanning the crowd. “Maybe we should’ve rented the entire park out in the evening instead.”

Kang Jin-Ho inwardly cried out again. I said, stop! For God’s sake, man! Stop!

“Oh, finally! Looks like the path has cleared up. Shall we head in, sir, ma’am?”

“...” Kang Jin-Ho cautiously scanned his surroundings before asking Choi Yeon-Ha. “So... What do you want to do now?”

Choi Yeon-Ha pushed her sunglasses higher up her nose. “Leaving now will only get us noticed even more. Pretend you don’t care about anything and hurry on inside. Hurry!”

“...Got it.”

Kang Jin-Ho put on his best attempt at looking unflustered while entering the building. But he still could sense glares filled with dissatisfaction and curiosity in equal measures stabbing him and Choi Yeon-Ha.

Kang Jin-Ho reflexively looked away whenever he spotted an Asian among the crowd.

Yup, I’m simply not the type who enjoys theme parks, am I?

He was suddenly reminded of that large-scale incident the last time he went to a theme park back in Korea. Since the Americans had mobilized soldiers to cordon the area off, ostensibly to offer escort to Kang Jin-Ho and Choi Yeon-Ha, there shouldn’t be another incident like that, but...

Was this the case of Americans thinking big? Or were they simply thoughtless? Maybe even simple-minded?

Kang Jin-Ho just couldn’t figure out how the Americans operated. At all.

Willie Reese grinned. “You seem uncomfortable, sir.”

“...”

Kang Jin-Ho glanced at the American with a slight pout. That only deepened Willie Reese’s grin.

“I can’t help but think that you’re surprisingly modest, sir.”

“...? Modest?”

“Yes. You seem more inclined to humble yourself, despite your position or the power you possess. Some Middle Eastern royalties usually make demands like emptying out the entire theme park so their families can enjoy the facilities in peace, you see?”

Were they goddamn insane? And why did it feel like Kang Jin-Ho’s thoughts were getting more and more potty?

“Some people actually demand such things? And you humor them, too?”

“Of course we don’t humor them, most of the time. The government authority isn’t enough to chase away every theme park goer, after all. This theme park isn’t a government property, for one.”

“Sure, that’s obvious, but that ‘most of the time’ bit sounds rather suspicious.”

Willie Reese grinned wryly. “Two times. We had to humor their demands precisely two times. What choice did we have, when it’s our job to prioritize the national interest over our citizens’ enjoyment?”

“I guess you have a point there.”

Kang Jin-Ho helplessly shook his head. Those who only did as their bosses ordered them to didn’t deserve to be blamed. But the ones making such absurd demands certainly deserved a thorough psych evaluation, didn’t they!

Kang Jin-Ho curiously asked, “Are there many people demanding such things?”

“Yes. More than you think, actually. Even if they don’t demand such a thing, they will invariably demand something else just as absurd.”

Willie Reese grinned weirdly.

“However, that’s to be expected, sir.”

“Expected? Really?”

“Yes, sir. After all, aren’t you the same as well?”

Kang Jin-Ho cocked an eyebrow. “I’m the same? How?”

“When a man holds a treasure sword, he will be tempted to unsheathe it. Even if he’s not going to use it against his fellow men.”

Kang Jin-Ho clamped his mouth shut. Even he couldn’t dispute what the American had said. Because he agreed that that was human nature, after all.

“The same logic applies to authority, sir. Authority you don’t use is the same as not having any authority. The folks wielding great power all know that abusing their power would get them in deep trouble. Yet they just can’t help themselves. They can never win against temptation.”

Willie Reese’s weird grin deepened into a smirk.

“Who would want to possess a sword that can never be unsheathed?”

“...Yeah, I hear you.”

That comparison helped Kang Jin-Ho understand a bit better now.

The public denounced those in power who dared to abuse their authority. But human beings and their nature meant simply holding on to power but not using it would be near impossible.

After all, human beings would want to flaunt their power, no matter how tiny it was!

With things like that, maybe... Maybe the ones with enough power to move countries were being considerate when they demanded for some random theme park to be emptied out of the commoners.

“And that’s why I keep thinking that you’re a strange man, sir.”

Willie Reese shrugged when Kang Jin-Ho glanced at him.

“You possess incredible power, yet you don’t have any desire to flaunt it. Sir, I’ll be honest. If you had told us to rent this whole place out, we would have. Without hesitation.”

“...” Kang Jin-Ho chuckled hollowly. “I’m not the type to demand such things, okay? Besides, it sounds like you overestimate me.”

“Not at all, sir.” Willie Reese shook his head. “The thing about power is that it’s not fixed. It sure can be flexible, depending on who is in need of something. And the one who holds that something will gain all the necessary power. For us, you’re arguably the most important figure in this situation, the one who holds all the power.”

Kang Jin-Ho smirked deeply. Who Willie Reese meant by “us” in that sentence was an important part, now wasn’t it?

“Are you okay with telling me all this? Nothing good would come from letting me know I hold all the power, after all.”

“If this had been a one time trade, then yes, you’d be right. But we wish to form a permanent and fruitful friendship with you, Assembly Master. However, if someone as important as you fails to recognize his status and enters a loss-making relationship now, we might benefit in the short term but suffer considerable losses in the long term instead.”

Kang Jin-Ho studied Willie Reese’s expression while narrowing his eyes. How... open and honest this was.

The way Willie Reese talked, it was as if the Americans really were interested in forming a genuine friendship with Kang Jin-Ho. Of course, everything the American had said couldn’t have been what he really felt, considering his profession.

Still, he and other Americans were doing their best to leave a positive impression on Kang Jin-Ho. That much was certain.

Willie Reese bowed slightly. “Are you not interested in this ride, sir?”

“No, I’m going in.”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded slightly before walking toward the building’s entrance.

Even now, they must be analyzing me.

Showing a flustered face just now was the same as giving away freebie information on how much Kang Jin-Ho didn’t like doing things this way.

Then again, he didn’t have a reason to hide it, anyway.

This is getting interesting.

Up until now, the ones Kang Jin-Ho had dealt with tried to crush him through power. Some of them tried to be all friendly and nice on the surface, but inwardly, they all schemed to take him down somehow.

But the way these Americans did things was a first, even for Kang Jin-Ho. Experiencing it first-hand proved rather entertaining. Of course, there was still a chance that Kang Jin-Ho’s current state of mind was what the Americans had been aiming for all along.

However, it doesn’t matter.

A soft smirk crept onto Kang Jin-Ho’s lips.

So, you think I don’t use my authority, huh...?

Willie Reese had accurately pointed out one of Kang Jin-Ho’s many facets. However, could he claim to have accurately seen through Kang Jin-Ho? The answer would be a no. A resounding no, as a matter of fact.

Why? Because Kang Jin-Ho wasn’t someone who held himself back from wielding his authority. No, he simply wasn’t interested in doing that.

...And that was because he was already addicted to wielding a different type of power.

To Kang Jin-Ho, what mattered to him wasn’t authority. No, it was violence, the physical power!

The satisfaction derived from wielding one’s authority was nothing compared to the ecstasy of knowing you were getting even stronger than before.

I hope you already know that, Reese.

Kang Jin-Ho, too, possessed the inclinations of powerful rulers from Willie Reese’s story. That was what Willie Reese needed to understand.

The only difference between Kang Jin-Ho and those rulers was that, unlike the rulers who searched for opportunities to flaunt their power, Kang Jin-Ho always hankered for a chance to unleash his martial might.

If the Americans understood that, then they shouldn’t have a problem. However, what if they didn’t?

Then, they will learn.

They would learn how badly Kang Jin-Ho thirsted after a chance to unleash his destructive power!

Choi Yeon-Ha glanced back at Kang Jin-Ho. “What are you doing? You gotta hurry!”

“Oh. Sorry. I’m coming.”

Kang Jin-Ho followed her into the building’s entrance. For now, he should just enjoy today’s...

“Just who the hell do those people think they are?!”

Kang Jin-Ho fake-coughed and straightened up his collars to hide his face better when he heard a theme park goer complain loudly.