Magic Monopoly: Reborn as the Sole Magic Tower Master-Chapter 199: Episode

"Don't touch Garam directly. Maintain this stance," Frost commanded. "Keep tightening the screws so they can't even breathe. Put all-out pressure on Alchemia and block every distribution route. Keep putting Kim Yusin's confidants and the magician team into re-education camps and make them grind dungeons. Bribe the party members they go with, and if they don't take the money, pressure them into messing with them. You know what I mean? Make those kids realize the world has changed and make them regret siding with Kim Yusin!"

"Yes, I understand," Blackjack replied.

Just then, Secretary Ahn bowed his head and spoke. "Mr. President. I have something to say."

"Speak."

"Just as we are reluctant to terminate our contract with the Bien Group, the Bien Group will also fear severing ties with us. Let's pressure CEO Shin Nara to make Kim Yusin's kids leave Garam."

"Hmm." Frost crossed his arms with a troubled expression.

Secretary Ahn pressed on. "Kim Yusin's people number fewer than ten. If he were alive, it might be a different story, but on their own, they hold little value. There's no need to even discuss which is more important: a few rank-5 hunters or the Unix Group."

Frost closed his eyes and thought. "...Yes. You're right. I'll contact CEO Shin."

"A wise decision."

"Get the Enforcement Bureau ready, too. Once they're out of Garam, use any means necessary to find out the truth about the potions. If they're uncooperative, I authorize the use of more... primal methods of persuasion."

"That's my specialty, boss."

After Secretary Ahn and Blackjack left, Frost immediately picked up the phone.

—"Yes. This is CEO Shin Nara of Garam."

—"CEO Shin. It's the Association President."

—"Ah, Mr. President!"

A sly smile spread across Frost's face.

—"There's something I need to discuss with you urgently. Are you free this evening?"

* * *

At a high-end restaurant in the S Hotel, Frost and Shin Nara sat facing each other.

"Wow! This is my first time meeting you personally like this, Mr. President! I'm so happy. A private meeting with the president is an opportunity you couldn't get even for a king's ransom!" Shin Nara treated Frost with the utmost respect.

Her attitude pleased him. Garam was a solid enterprise, a national-level force with three certified rank-3 hunters. It possessed the firepower to crush the lower-ranked guilds in the Top 10, yet it always took a step back, maintaining a bystander's stance. Very wise, Frost thought. The Top 10 guilds held the powerful reputation of representing South Korea, but with it came great responsibility—overseas dispatches, mandatory mobilization during disasters. But Garam, simply by being a management company and not a guild, had avoided the Top 10 spot and its various constraints.

'Well, they'll be down to two rank-3 hunters soon enough.'

Frost lightly wet his throat with wine. "This is a place I frequent. Putting everything else aside, it guarantees absolute privacy."

They had an entire large room to themselves. A magnificent chandelier hung from the ceiling. Luxurious furniture, a variety of tableware, waiters with graceful movements—it was the epitome of an upper-class restaurant.

"Oh my, I'm looking forward to it! What could you possibly want to discuss?"

Frost didn't rush, slowly swirling the wine in his glass as he chose his words. "I don't like beating around the bush, so I'll be direct."

"Okay!"

"There are some individuals I would like you to expel from Garam."

Shin Nara's expression didn't change. "Are those the people Hunter Kim Yusin brought with him?"

"I like that we can get straight to the point." The two met each other's gazes seriously.

"May I ask why? Expelling hunters is a sensitive matter for us as well," she asked.

"For the sake of peace." The corners of Frost's mouth lifted. "I do not wish for a conflict between Unix and the Bien Group."

He was coming on strong. Shin Nara took a sip of water. "What will happen to the expelled hunters?"

"There is no 'what will happen.' They will fight monsters for the sake of the country, as they always have."

He asked a question, but no answer came back. Shin Nara knew very well what that meant.

"Then, before I give you my answer, would you take a look at this?" She took some documents out of her bag and spread them across the table.

Frost's eyes, which had been casually scanning the papers, suddenly shot wide open. "This is...!"

They were documents obtained directly from the headquarters of the former Top 10 guilds, Blackguard and NIX. There was evidence of Unix's prior contact with them, and even shipping records for 'anti-personnel equipment' rather than 'monster hunting' gear.

Most damning of all was the shipping certificate for 'melaith's spore gas,' which had been prepared to target Hong Yul—an item almost never used in monster hunting. There was also a statement from the Russian hunters regarding the attack on Kim Yusin, a completely different account from the media's report. And below the statement was the signature of none other than Grizzly, Russia's star hunter and a certified rank-2. Each document was explosive enough to cause a massive scandal if released.

"CEO Shin! This is—!"

"Did you really think I'd just stand by and do nothing after what happened to my hunter?" Shin Nara smiled. "It's an open secret that you're the one behind the plot to kill Kim Yusin."

IBN, the Bien Group's flagship, was a major broadcast network and a media giant with countless subscribers. No matter how powerful Frost and Unix were, they couldn't stop IBN from broadcasting on its own channel. He had been too hasty. His opponent wasn't a herbivore; she was a predator.

"...Now, let's not get emotional. Think carefully, CEO Shin." Frost quickly switched to a more conciliatory approach. "We have important business between our companies. There's no need to let a squabble between kids affect our main operations. If the Chairman of the Bien Group finds out about this..."

"Of course I asked my grandfather—I mean, the Chairman—first," she said with a bright smile. "He told me to do whatever the hell I want."

Frost gritted his teeth.

"So, to get back to the point, my answer to your earlier proposal is no. Instead, I have a new proposal for you, Mr. President." She placed her elbows on the table and interlaced her fingers. "If you don't want to see this data go public, then stay away from my hunters."

* * *

Frost left. Once the tense moment had passed, Shin Nara let out a long sigh and made a call.

"Yes, it's me. Mr. Jeong. My talk with Frost went well."

"Well done."

"Mr. Jeong, that data you gave me was absolutely perfect! Frost couldn't even open his mouth."

The plan had been conceived by Jeong Seojin and executed by Shin Nara.

Even now, the two of them were still gathering data that could be used to corner Frost.

"Why don't we just leak this now?" Shin Nara asked. "We could create a scandal around the Association President and undermine Frost's authority."

"It's a matter of timing," Jeong Seojin replied. "In any case, the situation will be completely reversed once the Tower Master returns. For now, holding on to this card is the best way to keep everyone safe."

Shin Nara's hand, holding the phone, trembled slightly.

"This plan for Hunter Kim Yusin to return from the dungeon with the Association President… you really think it will happen?"

"Of course."

Jeong Seojin's voice was devoid of hesitation.

"The Tower Master has never followed convention—always seizing control when it matters most. I believe we'll witness another miracle, just like with the Labyrinth Dungeon."

She nodded. "Okay. I'll believe in that, too."

* * *

The day of the Resistance operation had finally arrived. I was hidden in the cargo bed of a truck.

Winslow was devouring a chocolate bar. He might look like a slender, handsome man, but his appetite was another story.

"Is it okay to be making that much noise?" I asked.

"Yup, of course! My soundproofing magic is flawless!" Winslow declared.

Beside us, Bellica quietly ate a sandwich. I rested my chin on my hand, watching Winslow unwrap another chocolate bar.

"No one seems very worried. Is this operation really going to work?"

"Of course!" Winslow thumped his chest confidently. "It's me, Winslow! Don't you trust me?"

'That's exactly why I'm asking—because I don't.'

"The security system the androids built is airtight," he continued. "But being too perfect is both a strength and a weakness. When something unexpected happens, they follow their programming to the letter. So, if we know their manuals, we can exploit any situation!"

Logically, he had a point. One couldn't expect intuition or proactive thinking from the androids.

"Commander! Operation preparations are complete."

A voice came over the comms. Winslow's expression hardened with resolve.

"Let's begin."

* * *

Dr. Hylde was a pioneer in android research. His contributions had been instrumental in developing the near-perfect androids of today. Even the supremely intelligent Eve held his abilities in high regard.

"This way, human," an android instructed.

"Yes, thank you," Hylde replied.

Of course, no matter how brilliant he was, he was still human and therefore had to obey the androids. That was the rule. That was this society. That was the way of the world.

'It feels strange to be back.'

Guided by the android, he arrived at the building—Queen Victoria, the core structure of Polis where Eve resided. It was on such a vast scale that it was said to contain a city within its walls. The complex was divided into six sectors, with Eve located in the deepest, 'Sector 6'.

Hylde approached a gate made of a shimmering blue membrane. If anyone not on the access logs tried to pass through, their body would dissolve into nothing, not even leaving bones behind.

His expression tense, Hylde stepped through. He felt a viscous sensation wash over him for a moment before he found himself safely inside.

"Ah."

He took a moment to reminisce. It had been a long time.

"Human! What are you doing? Hurry."

He had cooperated with Eve to protect humanity, to prevent a disaster. But which side was the real disaster? It hardly mattered now. What mattered was that humanity needed the freedom to choose.

"Human! Any further suspicious movements will be met with lethal force!"

The android aimed its weapon and barked the order, but Hylde simply smiled.

"You can't shoot me. How long do you think it would take to get clearance to dispose of a class-1 protected individual designated by Eve herself?"

A wide grin split his face. And then… 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

The bag he'd set down popped open and exploded. An unearthly blue current erupted in all directions. Every android in the vicinity froze, and the horrific blue membrane guarding the entrance vanished. The power died, the lights flickered out, and every computer screen went dark. A state-of-the-art EMP device had just detonated in the heart of Queen Victoria.

"Good work, Doctor."

From behind him, more than a hundred armed members of the Resistance poured through the deactivated gate.

"Leave the rest to us."

"I'm counting on you," Hylde said, his voice thick with emotion. "Bring freedom to humanity."

The man nodded with grim resolve and shouted, "We have endured and waited for so many long years! Go, comrades! Let us show them our fury!"

"Destroy Eve!"

Bullets tore through the neutralized androids. Those who were being managed had now murdered their managers. Humans had killed their android overlords—an act unforgivable in this society. The world was now bound to change, one way or another.

* * *