NOVEL ONLINE FREE C8
# 8. Legal Defense Trial -1-
Cheongang Tower.
This massive building, towering in the center of Cheongang Special City, is a symbol of power for the Cheongang Group that rules the city.
A gigantic tower that flaunts its overwhelming presence, visible even from the outskirts of the city.
This was originally a sort of reward given to Cheongang by Noah, the ruler of Minos City.
Because thanks to Cheongang’s medical techniques, the human lifespan, which had decreased exponentially with the disappearance of the sun, had somewhat recovered.
“Damn it! It’s those guys again!”
Cheon Taewoo, the CEO of Cheongang Group, threw the pad he was looking at.
On the pad’s screen was an article about an enhanced human rampage incident that occurred at a department store in Cheongang’s downtown area.
“Those first-generation rat bastards! Where the hell are they hiding while doing these things! Just wait until I catch them! I’ll shove nanomachines into every hole in their brains!”
-Bang!
Unable to control his anger, Cheon Taewoo this time slammed his desk.
The reason Cheon Taewoo was displaying such anger was none other than the unidentified first-generation enhanced humans.
The first-generation enhanced human experiments that were reportedly conducted somewhere in Minos City.
People were talking nonsense, speculating that these might be traces of experiments Cheongang had secretly conducted before perfecting the Chrome-ware technology, but Cheon Taewoo swore to heaven that he knew nothing about those experiments.
All he had done was complete the current Chrome-ware technology using the experimental draft he had fortunately acquired.
However, Noah decided to recognize Cheongang’s ownership of the Chrome-ware technology but also made Cheongang take full responsibility for any issues related to the first-generation enhanced human experiments.
Even though Noah Group, which monitors every move in Minos through invisible eyes, would surely know that what Cheongang had done was merely using the byproducts of the first-generation experiments.
“We’re the ones who recognized the value of an abandoned stone and transformed it into a jewel! Why the hell do we have to clean up all this mess!”
“Father.”
His daughter, Cheon Yusil, who had been watching Cheon Taewoo’s anger all along, spoke softly beside him.
“Please calm down for a moment and look at this.”
“What now? I bet it’s another article criticizing the safety of nanomachines? The nanomachines are operating normally! Cheongang Group doesn’t produce defective products like some others!”
“No, it’s similar but different. This time it’s a story you might like.”
At those words, Cheon Taewoo jumped up and received the article Cheon Yusil handed over and read it.
It was written like this:
“A civilian catches an enhanced human? Does this make any sense…? Wait a minute.”
Cheon Taewoo stroked his chin thoughtfully as he read the report.
“Has there been any technology leaked from our company without our knowledge?”
“No.”
“Fuck, then!”
Cheon Taewoo’s face lit up.
“That’s right, it must be the work of a first-generation.”
“Damn, of course! They can’t stay hidden forever! These rat bastards!”
Cheon Taewoo, eager to see the face of the troublemaker who had been plaguing the city almost every day, said with trembling excitement:
“Get this bastard brought to me right away through the police!”
But things don’t always go as planned.
“That’s impossible, Father.”
“What? Why not!”
“This person has saved too many civilians. Heroic stories are already spreading on social media. If we try to issue an arrest warrant in this situation, there will be protests.”
“Over something like that?”
“That’s not all.”
Saying that, Cheon Yusil showed Cheon Taewoo a certain video.
The video explicitly showed the entire process of the rampage incident.
From an enhanced human using a barrier to defend civilians, to a late-appearing first-generation settling the situation at a speed that even cameras couldn’t follow.
And the platform where this video was uploaded was “Ark,” Noah Group’s video platform used by everyone in the city.
“Fuck…The view count has already exceeded a million…”
Cheon Taewoo immediately ordered people to remove the videos from the internet.
Then he drank the water on his desk in one gulp, as if trying to swallow his anger.
*
In the emergency room of a university hospital near Cheongang downtown was a woman comfortably lying on a rigid hospital bed, tapping on an electronic device.
-(CCTV footage of enhanced human rampage incident at Cheongang Department Store)
-> What is that? The movement isn’t even captured by the camera?
-> Is it edited?
-> How can you edit CC footage, idiot
-> Can’t you?
-> Honestly, I don’t know
-> I’ve seen a royal inspector from Unhwa do a trick of cutting straw with a sword, it’s kind of similar
-> Is your eyesight better than a camera?
-> Why did that guy show up late and act cool? Is having better implanted modules than others something to brag about?
-> So twisted lol
-> Still way better than those enhanced humans just standing there doing nothing
It was me.
The first thing I did when I regained consciousness was to open the internet and spread the CCTV footage I had secured through hacking on social media.
It was a race against time.
If I had been even a little late, I would have been hit by Cheongang’s public opinion campaign to put a leash on Last.
Yes, striking first is important.
If it weren’t for the penalty of my ability, I wouldn’t have needed to hurry like this.
I almost missed the golden time.
Still, fortunately, I wasn’t late. Reactions are coming in as planned.
If things continue like this, I’ll be able to create positive public opinion about enhanced humans earlier than in the original work.
This means that I won’t have to see the frustrating early development where Last gets nanomachines stuffed into his head and is controlled according to Cheongang’s will.
I eagerly continued spreading the video with excitement.
*This post has been deleted by the administrator*
“Oh, they’re responding faster than I thought.”
Invisible forces have appeared and started wielding their knives but it’s too late to take down the videos now.
Because: ‘Once something is spread on the internet, it never disappears.’
If that was true in my world, it would be even more so in this damn high-tech city.
– (The same video, just without sound and with lower quality)
-> Seeing it at a lower frame rate makes it even more unbelievable lol
-> For real, that’s just teleportation
-> Has this person’s identity been revealed?
-> There’s a detective agency called “Help Me” near Cheongang downtown, he’s the manager there
-> Is there no such thing as human rights in this city? Is it okay to reveal personal information like this?
-> If you don’t like it, don’t sell your face on the internet and stay quiet^^
See, variations have already appeared.
Can Cheongang wage a public opinion war against Last in this situation?
Absolutely not.
I recalled how Cheongang put a leash on Last in the original work and clenched my fist.
‘Even insignificant enhanced humans cause this many casualties when they go berserk!’
‘How much worse would a first-generation be?’
‘Even though he’s a hero who saved many people, for safety’s sake, he must have nanomachines implanted!’
All bullshit they spouted just because they wanted to get a sample of the first-generation.
Wasn’t it because of those nanomachines that conflicts between humans and enhanced humans were intensifying in the first place?
I absolutely can’t let that happen.
Last will become a flawless hero.
“Patient!”
“Yes, yes?”
Suddenly my mind returned to reality.
This keeps happening lately. When I focus my mind on one thing, I can’t see anything else.
Is it because my body has changed?
“Your acquaintances have come to visit you.”
“Acquaintances?”
What are you talking about, nurse?
How could I have acquaintances in this world?
Come to think of it, I don’t have money, so who brought me to the emergency room?
“Unnie, it’s me.”
As I was thinking that, someone opened the curtain and peeked in.
“I came too.”
The Han Yu-jin and Han Cheol-ho siblings.
Where’s Last? I thought the three were a set.
Trying not to show my disappointment, I smiled brightly and said:
“Yu-jin and Cheol-ho! And…huh? It seems like someone is missing?”
“Ah…”
The siblings’ faces darkened in an instant.
“Did something happen?”
“Well…”
Han Yu-jin trailed off.
Unable to bear her hesitation, Han Cheol-ho spoke:
“Hyun-i was taken away by the police.”
The moment I heard those words, I could no longer smile.
“…What do you mean?”
“They came with a warrant, so there was no way to stop them. They said he’ll be sent to court immediately tomorrow.”
It was absurd news.
After spreading all that gossip, they still arrested Last?
How do they plan to deal with the consequences?