บท 100: 100
"Hunters"
The most influential media outlet in the Gate era.
Despite carrying such arrogant epithets, no one could deny or refute anything about it.
Simply put, modern Korea was a country that overcame the Gate incident in the shortest possible time through the Velvet Academy and the Hunter Administration, garnering attention worldwide.
Therefore, it was not an exaggeration to say that Hunters, Korea's representative media outlet, led global public opinion.
Rrrrrrr─
"Yes, yes, we've changed our phone. Yes? That matter has been confirmed on our end."
"Oh, you want the article taken down? If it's about articles already published, please submit complaints in the appropriate format, and we'll review and handle it."
"We cannot assist with any contact with the Utopia Party!"
Inside the office, phones were ringing incessantly. Various indicators and graphs were displayed as holograms, fluctuating in real-time.
Amidst the chaos, only one team maintained tranquillity.
"Assistant Choi, about the special case you mentioned. You said it's coming soon, but when exactly?"
The woman with glasses sat with her arms crossed, glaring at the man. Her voice was tinged with heavy annoyance.
"Well, ju-just a bit more waiting, it's coming soon…"
The man replied, bowing his head deeply, his voice shrinking.
"Huh, Assistant Choi, how many times have you said that already? You said there's a bombshell related to the Hunter Administration, and now, because of your word alone, our entire team's work has stopped, do you realize that?"
As if representing her, around ten employees around her raised their hands from their keyboards, staring at him.
She glanced around, scanning her subordinates, then sighed deeply.
"Sigh…"
"Assistant Choi, let's not do this. Do I need to explain again how badly we got burned from following up on the Utopia Party-related article last time?"
Despite the persistent discomfort, the man cowered even more in front of the woman pressing her temples.
"No, it's not like I'm going out there to get it myself! Is it reasonable to wait for just one call!? Really, is the information about that person reliable?"
"Y-yes, it's reliable!"
The man hurriedly nodded.
"And who exactly is this person?"
"I… I can't say."
"Ugh, it's better to die than suffer like this."
Despite enduring a series of rebukes, the man swallowed his discomfort, silently cursing inwardly.
"Darn it, Ryu Jinju, you nuisance! You should've contacted me sooner!"
In fact, the man's true identity was a spy embedded in the media outlet.
By now, she should have confirmed the manipulated data and the bombshell should have exploded, ideally in the late afternoon.
"Why isn't there any contact yet?"
But Ryu Jinju remained silent as ever. The man bit his lip in frustration.
According to the original plan, Ryu Jinju was supposed to confirm the information and immediately submit a tip-off to this media outlet. With the firepower of Hunters, it would set the media ablaze, while hidden operatives would support her in reclaiming the Hunter Administration.
This could yield three benefits:
First, by removing the current, formidable Hunter Administration leader, Kim Jiwon, and her followers, they could easily manipulate and control the next Hunter Administration leader, the somewhat naive Ryu Jinju.
Second, by having her, the head of the Gate Site Management Department, as a mere figurehead, they could handle internal matters of the Hunter Administration without attracting undue suspicion.
Third, they could incite the Hunter Administration to develop hostile sentiments towards the Velvet Academy voluntarily.
After considerable effort, the opportunity to completely uproot the Hunter Administration had finally arrived.
But Ryu Jinju's contact was still missing.
"Darn it! Has something gone wrong? Could it be that simpleton has gone straight to Kim Jiwon…!? Should I just write the article myself?"
Having manipulated and coordinated all the data, he had a rough idea of the information. But soon, he found himself nodding involuntarily.
"No, that'll only complicate things. It'll raise suspicions about the source of the information, and it'll give the Velvet Academy time to respond. As expected, Ryu Jinju submitting the tip-offs directly to us is the best scenario."
Then it happened.
"Huh!? W-what's this!"
The woman, sitting with her legs crossed, looked at her phone with a face contorted in annoyance, her eyes widening.
"Corruption in the Hunter Administration? Whoa, this data seems quite convincing. They even exposed the names… Are they implying that the Velvet Academy will take responsibility?"
The man couldn't hide his surprise at her words.
"That nuisance! Asked for contact here, then goes and leaks it to another outlet!"
Still, it seemed Ryu Jinju had made the information public. So, the primary goal was achieved.
"Assistant Choi, is this what you mentioned…?"
"Yes, yes! I-I think so! But why… Why did they not give it to us and leaked it to another media…?"
The man nodded hurriedly.
"Yeah, it's bewildering, but we can follow up with subsequent articles. I've already got reporters on standby to fuel the fire."
"This… This article was written by the Velvet Academy?"
"Umm… Yes?"
"What? Did Ryu Jinju actually tip off the Velvet Academy with that data? Even if she's dumb, would she make such a choice?"
Clearly, the data given to Ryu Jinju included content that targeted the Hunter Administration for persecution by the Velvet Academy. But submitting it to the Velvet Academy?
Assistant Choi sensed something was off. However, before he could voice his doubts, the woman's eyes turned cold.
"Sigh, monopolizing, huh? I trusted you, idiot. Fine, for now, the scoop about the Hunter Administration is correct. We may not be able to publish it exclusively, but we'll be the first to follow up! Everyone, get ready!"
"Yes!"
Thus, the reporters, who had their hands poised on the keyboard, responded with resounding voices.
"Assistant Choi, what are you waiting for? Go quickly and do your part."
Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap!
The sound of typewriters pouring out like a downpour. Against this backdrop, the Demon hurriedly sat at his desk.
And as he clicked the mouse to check the published article, his eyes widened.
"…W-what in the world…!"
.
.
–
It was like a nuclear bomb suddenly dropped without warning.
One of the two pillars upholding Korea.
Articles about the Hunter Administration poured out.
Moreover, unlike the usual tone, these articles meticulously detailed various corruptions.
"The Hunter Administration's Gate"
"Revealing the 'truth' hidden within the Hunter Administration!"
"The long-awaited 'truth' of the Hunter Administration…!"
"Bribery suspicions, Hunter list."
"Scum obstructing Director Kim Jiwon's path."
Damn, these people are insane.
They've been getting away with so much at the Hunter Administration?
Military service corruption? Can't believe she pretended to be an Awakener when she wasn't?
She even bragged about her upcoming admission to the Velvet Academy.
But she failed, right? Checked and found out, turns out she has a son too, who was supposed to enrol next year under the male quota. Gotta look into that bastard too.
Damn, what a waste of taxes.
"Kim Jiwon deserves sympathy. According to that, she hardly had any autonomy."
"Yeah, that's why Kim Jiwon suggested having votes to select Hunter Administration personnel before, but the elders completely ignored her."
"Kick out all the semi-officials!!!!"
The public's anger towards the incident grew uncontrollably.
Despite the past salvation efforts of the Hunter Administration for Korea still vaguely shining, the truth was, ordinary citizens harbored considerable resentment towards the administration's governance.
This sentiment was fueled further when major media outlets like Hunters focused their firepower on the issue.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on the perspective, specific individuals were directly targeted rather than the Hunter Administration itself, concentrating the backlash on corrupt individuals.
In the original timeline, manipulated information would have surfaced first, followed by belated rebuttals from the Demon Assassination Squad, gradually mitigating the impact. But thanks to Jin Yuha and Baek Seol-hee's quick actions, the order was reversed.
Moreover, with the backing of agitated major media outlets incited by Demons, there was no way to stop the onslaught.
What was planned as a scheme to bring down the current administration head, Kim Jiwon, ironically turned into a purge of the trash within the Hunter Administration.
Truly exquisite timing.
And amidst the situation unfolding in complete contradiction to his original intentions, one Demon let out a silent scream.
"…No, this can't be! How did this happen!!! Stop…!!!!"
But the journalists who had taken the bait couldn't be stopped.
"Why aren't you typing! Assistant Choi, move your fingers faster!!!!"
.
.
.
Meanwhile,
Swish, swish─
The sensation of fingers running through hair.
"But, Instructor… When exactly do you plan to stop petting my head…?"
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
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