The Returner

Chapter 253: Find Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk (3)

“Hello, it’s the Blue House.” (Chief Secretary)

The gazes of everyone present focused on the Chief Secretary.

There were quite a few people here who didn’t quite understand the significance of that phone call, but then again, they could still figure out that it must’ve been something extraordinary if the Chief Secretary tried to answer it no matter what even under the current situation.

“Yes.” (Chief Secretary)

The Chief Secretary’s expression became sombre as he listened.

“Yes, I understand.” (Chief Secretary)

He put the phone down and looked around the office with a slightly sheepish expression on his face. Which only elicited puzzled looks from everyone else.

“What happened?” (President)

The President questioned his employee, and the latter hesitated for a bit before making his reply.

“It was from the Americans, sir.” (Chief Secretary)

“Alright, so what did they want?” (President)

“.....They are requesting for Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk’s dispatch.” (Chief Secretary)

Yi Ji-Hyuk?

Everyone’s gaze now shifted over to Yi Ji-Hyuk next.

“Argh, what now?!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“..........”

Why was someone like him blessed with such incredible abilities?

It’d been so much nicer if it was someone with a modicum of patriotism or loyalty. Or something along that line.

“I’m not even Jjanga, so why am I supposed to go there just because they called?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk) (TL note at the end)

“....That is true.” (Chief Secretary)

The Chief Secretary smiled embarrassedly.

“However, this matter is of national interests.” (President)

“National interest??” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

President Yun Yeong-Min’s words were met by Yi Ji-Hyuk’s snort.

“It is indeed so. It’s in our national interest. And that comes before everything else.” (President)

“Why?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“....Excuse me?” (President)

“Why does ‘national interest’ come before everything else?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Well, that is.... because, you... will be benefiting the majority of the fellow countrymen....” (President)

“No, why should I do something so annoying for the majority of the fellow countrymen?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“.........”

If you come out like that, then there’s nothing more to say.

Wouldn’t such a problem be excused by everyone else?

Like, with the thoughts of patriotism... Or something like that? (President’s inner monologue)

“Isn’t sacrificing yourself for the majority a noble act?” (President)

“Ah!”

Yi Ji-Hyuk shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t know that.

“Oh, does that mean....” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Yes?” (President)

“....I look ‘noble’ to you, then?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

I’m sorry.

I made a mistake. Normally, I’d just let it slide because it can’t be helped, but... (President’s inner monologue)

Yun Yeong-Min could only sigh in resignation.

He had already been informed that this youth couldn’t be reasoned with.

This young man was utterly selfish, one couldn’t understand what his goal was, and had no fixed pattern to his behaviour.

In a word, chaos – that’s what he was.

“I request you in the name of the President elected by the people of South Korea. Right now, the United States has sent us an urgent request for help. If you go over there, surely, we’ll be able to get many things in return as compensation.” (President)

Yi Ji-Hyuk dug his ear and blew away the resulting matter off of his fingertip.

“Huh. I’ve heard that line way too often.... Can’t you come up with a different, fresher-sounding pitch?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“........”

“It’s always ‘We’ll get something, it’s a big profit’, but I can’t see what has improved for me, you know? I mean, I worked my a*s off but nothing has changed on my end.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Well, things don’t change that quickly, you see.” (President)

“If it ain’t gonna, then why should I go through that hardship?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“.......”

What is up with this punk’s way of addressing me?

I’m still the President of this nation, so why does he keep speaking so rudely to me? (President’s inner monologue)

“It is a good thing for....” (President)

“It’ll be good only for your side.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

What did he mean, ‘your side’!

Yun Yeong-Min’s patience was reaching its breaking point.

“Groan. So, you don’t want to, is that right?” (President)

“Yep.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk sought out an empty spot on the couch and plopped his butt on it. He leaned his head against the cushion and spoke up again.

“By the way, you don’t even serve stuff like coffee to a guest here?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“W-we’ll get one ready.” (Chief Secretary)

“I want Cola.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“....Of course.” (Chief Secretary)

The Chief Secretary shuffled to the rear and whispered to a secretary standing around utterly flustered.

“Go and fetch some Cola. Put some ice in it and make it look good.” (Chief Secretary)

“B-but, sir, we don’t have any Cola.....”

“Is it the end because we don’t have any?” (Chief Secretary)

“We’ll go and buy one right away.”

“That’s right.” (Chief Secretary)

The secretary hurriedly dashed outside the office, and the Chief could only sigh helplessly. This youth would be the first in history to ask for Cola after coming for a visit in the Blue House.

“But, why don’t you want to do it?!” (President)

Yun Yeong-Min jumped up from his seat and loudly yelled out, his face extremely red.

“Argh, that startled me!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk also raised his voice, looking surprised for real.

“Excuse me, ahjussi, you are too damn loud! Why are you trying to bite my head off? Did I do something wrong here?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“N-no....” (President)

“So, why are you shouting at me like that without a reason?! Are you going through menopause or something?!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“....Wha?! What!!” (President)

The Chief Secretary hurriedly ran over to the President and supported his boss’s wobbling frame.

At this rate, the top politician of the land was about to have a heart attack. His face was so red that it’d not be strange to see him suddenly pant laboriously out of breath.

“Hey, it must be true.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“No, it’s nooooooot!” (President)

“Look! You see? If it’s not, it’s not! But look at him shout! I’m telling you, that must be a sign of menopause, am I right?!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk ‘asked’ others, but no one dared to answer him. Besides, it was rather unclear who’s side one should be on, to begin with.

“It’s nooot!!” (President)

“Sir, please calm down.” (Chief Secretary)

The Chief Secretary tried to calm his heavily-panting boss down, and President Yun Yeong-Min began sucking in deep, deep breaths.

“Groan....”

Yi Ji-Hyuk studied this scene and tilted his head.

“By the way, why is that geezer getting so worked up like that?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“..........”

How should one go about answering that?

What a troublesome matter this was....

“It’s true that the Americans have sent in a request, but is there really a reason for us to agree to that, everyone?” (Defence Minister)

The Defence Minister tried to change the topic.

“What do you mean by that?” (President)

“We’re no longer in a situation where we must agree to whatever the Americans demand from us, yes?” (Defence Minister)

“When were we ever in such a situation?” (President)

“Sir, we certainly didn’t deploy the missile defence system because we wanted to back then. We only went along with it because if we didn’t, there would be no answering the aftermaths.” (Defence Minister)

“...........”

“However, the circumstances have changed. We don’t need to worry about the American’s moods anymore. However, dispatching Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk without even establishing suitable compensation terms is akin to lowering our status, Mister President.” (Defence Minister)

“H-mm....”

Yun Yeong-Min nodded his head. That did make sense.

But then, Yi Ji-Hyuk chuckled loudly.

“Well, that sounds nice and all, but....” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Yes?”

“When did I say I’ll go?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“........”

“I ain’t going nowhere, so you guys take care of it yourselves. Do I look like someone who’d come and go just because I’ve been told to?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“.....Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk, please. You’re in front of our nation’s President....” (Chief Secretary)

“So what?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“No, well, it’s not that we want something particular from you....” (Chief Secretary)

Yi Ji-Hyuk snorted again.

A President, was it?

Pre-si-deeeeent~??

A dang President of a country that didn’t even occupy 1% of the landmass on this planet, plus the number of citizens that got somewhere close to the 1% mark to the overall human population would not be able to pose any sort of threat to Yi Ji-Hyuk.

Indeed, he was someone who would make fun of the Emperor lording over the entirety of Berafe, the land that was at least twice the size of Earth, right in front of his face. Oh, and he’d not hesitate to flip the bird to the man who wielded twice as much power than the Emperor, the Pope of Latrel, too.

If it was dudes with political power, then he had already experienced enough of their antics that he was now almost fed-up by them.

But here was a man who wasn’t even a king, but an elected official who could hold office for only five years. It was impossible for such a person to hold any authoritative power over Yi Ji-Hyuk.

“I, I’m the representative of this nation’s citizens!” (President)

“Okay, so?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yun Yeong-Min’s entire body began quivering next.

“Just because the citizens ordered me, I should do it? Huh. I get beaten up everyday by mom because I don’t even do what she asks me to do.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Well, that is also true.” (Chief Secretary)

The Chief Secretary unknowingly voiced his agreement, but after being subjected to piercing glares, he sheepishly dry-coughed to clear his throat.

Of course, Yi Ji-Hyuk didn’t care about any of that.

“It’s the saaaaame old story, every day. Why are you telling us to sacrifice and endure? Why don’t you do that instead?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“There is no meaning in us sacrificing ourselves, is there?” (President)

“Oh? Then, why don’t you get a salary cut to match that?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“K-h-hmm....”

As if he was done talking, Yi Ji-Hyuk stood up from the couch.

“Whatever. Don’t forget the reason why I came here today. I’ve been holding it in because there happens to be an excellent hard worker right next to me, but if that dude keels over from overwork, let me tell ya, I shall show you what the true chaos looks like. Capiche?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Are you threatening me?!” (President)

“Yup.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Wait, it really is a threat??” (President)

“Yuuup.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“.........”

What the hell? Now normally, shouldn’t you be saying stuff like, “No, this isn’t a threat per se, but...”???

Why are you brazenly chucking threats around like this?! (President’s inner monologue)

“I am threatening you. So, do your best to not to rile me up, alright?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Are you aware that you have actually threatened the President of your own nation?!” (Defence Minister)

“Of course I do. I’m not a dummy so you think I don’t know that’s the President? So yeah, I am threatening a President.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Groan....”

Just what sort of stuff was filling up the head of this crazy b*stard?

Where would you find a guy saying things like that as if it was nothing?

With him coming out in a completely unexpected direction, it became hard for the others to think up of a suitable response. Besides, President Yun Yeong-Min had never thought there would be someone openly threatening him like this, not even in his wildest imaginations.

“I hope you aren’t thinking of walking away scot-free after saying something like that?? What you said just now is a huge crime, young man!” (President)

“Huuuul, really?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“That’s right! Don’t you even know the law?” (President)

“Oooh, so that’s how it was. Okay, so. Whatcha gonna do about it, then?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“N-ng?” (President)

“Why don’t you try to arrest me?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“............”

Arrest?

Arrest who, exactly? Yi Ji-Hyuk?

The Chief Secretary ended up chuckling softly.

A government capable of arresting Yi Ji-Hyuk would be designated as the world’s most powerful in an instant.

The Korean government trying to do something that not even the Americans could attempt? What a nonsensical notion that was.

Even if every single combat-capable personnel in this country was mobilised right now, it was unknown whether they could still subdue Yi Ji-Hyuk or not.

‘Unknown, my foot.’ (Chief Secretary)

Chief Secretary Park Du-Jin felt dumbfounded by his own thoughts and chuckled again.

Unknown?

The forces that could be mobilised right now were the Korean national army, the armed police, and the KSF. That was it.

Armed forces manned by regular, non-ability users wouldn’t work trying to suppress someone like Yi Ji-Hyuk. Which meant that the KSF would have to step forward, but that was....

‘....An impossibility, that’s what it is.’ (Chief Secretary)

The KSF would be completely annihilated when ordered to fight Yi Ji-Hyuk. Besides, there was a higher percentage of surviving by jumping into an inferno with a jerry can full of oil, so who would obediently say yes and do as they were told?

If it was ability users from other countries, at least they might have a go first.

The folks at the KSF knew best how scary he was.

And the core fighting strength of them was the NDF – which was pretty much Yi Ji-Hyuk’s hands and feet by now.

According to what the Chief Secretary managed to dig up, there was a higher chance of the NDF working alongside him, rather than hindering him, if Yi Ji-Hyuk decided to stage a coup d’etat tomorrow.

So, you wanted to order that NDF to stop Yi Ji-Hyuk?

How could that even work?!

“....Wow, what is this?” (Chief Secretary)

“Mm?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.” (Chief Secretary)

Now that the Chief Secretary thought about it some more, he realised that if Yi Ji-Hyuk decided to lop Yun Yeong-Min’s head off right now, the Korean government didn’t have any means to punish him.

No, never mind punishing him, this nation lacked any means necessary to even stop him.

‘So, this is what they call beyond the law.’ (Chief Secretary)

He lived as a citizen of South Korea, but at the same time, was completely unaffected by the Korea’s law.

Rrrr.....

It was then, the phone began ringing again.

Yun Yeong-Min sighed in relief. Somehow, this situation had rapidly devolved into a crisis of facing off against Yi Ji-Hyuk, but that crisis was proving to be a huge burden on the President himself.

Yi Ji-Hyuk shifted his gaze over to the ringing phone and that allowed everyone to breathe again.

“Isn’t this the office of the President?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Yes, it is.” (Chief Secretary)

“So, since when did this place become a Chinese takeaway? Why does the phone keep ringing?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“..........”

The Chief Secretary coughed again and picked up the receiver.

“Hello, this is the Blue House.” (Chief Secretary)

– “This is Christopher McLaren speaking. Is Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk there with you?”

“Yes, he is, but....” (Chief Secretary)

– “Please put him on. This is an emergency situation. Besides, why does he even bother to carry around his smartphone if he’s not gonna answer it?!” (Christopher McLaren)

Why are you asking me that??

You, him, the whole lot.... You just don’t want to let me be in peace, don’t you. Seriously! (Chief Secretary’s inner monologue)

< 253. Find Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk -3 > Fin.

(TL: This ‘Jjanga’ reference is a pretty obscure one, even in Korea. In the early 1970s, there was a mecha anime called Astroganger which aired in South Korea dubbed as, you guessed it, Astro-Jjanga. Incidentally, it’s the very first giant mecha anime ever produced, beating Mazinger Z by two months. There’s a page in Wikipedia dedicated to it, so check it out if you’re curious.)