Chapter 243 - Justice And Chivalry

"Then, I'll begin the meeting."

With Celeste's words, the meeting began.

And in turn, as always, a flood of various information entered my ears.

Of course, as usual, it was interesting but not particularly useful information. It was a bit funny to hear that a new hero was hiding at the top of the Eiffel Tower in France, watching over the city. They even gave a serious warning not to attempt terrorism in Paris since this guy was supposedly one of the strongest among the new generation of heroes.

Well, I just spoke briefly and moved on this time. I'll reveal the real stuff next time anyway.

Actually... what I focused more on was that Chinese villain.

"....."

A man wearing red Chinese-style clothes with his hair swept back. Li Xiaopeng.

He's a very unique villain.

He shares Katana's desire for government collapse, but the difference is that while Katana has a clear purpose of bringing down a corrupt government to make Japan powerful again... Xiaopeng just seems to want to twist and collapse the government for its own sake?

'Well... how many ability users in China actually like their government anyway.'

China takes an extremely harsh approach toward ability users.

Most notably, anyone with special abilities must join the Chinese Ability Army as part of the government.

This is the most distinctive difference from other countries that allow ability users to freely live as heroes or lead normal lives as they choose.

For reference, hiding your supernatural ability naturally results in punishment for three generations of your family, making enlistment essentially mandatory.

'That's probably why the Association's influence is so low there.'

Korea, where the Association and government kept each other in check.

Japan, where the Association and government worked together to commit corruption.

And China, different from both, where the government completely consumed the Association.

'When the Chairman is appointed by the President... that says it all.'

They naturally had bad relations with the International Association, but recently, as the International Association has been weakened by various terrorist attacks, China has been running wild.

Of course, just as strong oppression leads to strong resistance, it's also a country with many villains. Fortunately, thanks to another country serving as a buffer to our north, they don't cross over.

Anyway, Li Xiaopeng is the leader of Huolong, the most exceptionally powerful organization among the many Chinese villain groups. Their influence is so tremendous that even the formidable Chinese government is wary of them. A villain alliance, of all things.

But that's not what's important.

I thought about the Li Xiaopeng from the original work.

'...In the original work.'

Li Xiaopeng. He was a person optimized to become a villain.

Unlike others, where family members would be punished by the government if someone became a villain, Xiaopeng was originally an orphan with no family.

And before you ask "Couldn't they take the orphanage hostage?"—he never even made it to an orphanage and lived on the streets.

Of course, during that process, he befriended another ability user, who was later killed by the government... and so Li Xiaopeng vowed revenge against the government. A predictably cliché story.

Anyway, that's how he grew and established a villain alliance using his abilities.

'The conclusion is...'

In the end, Li Xiaopeng ultimately wins.

He simply overthrows the government and establishes a new one. Actually, the latter part of the original work was a mess, so he basically got a free win when the central government collapsed, but a win is still a win.

So what should I do?

Simple. Recruit this villain to my side as well.

'...First, let me think about Li Xiaopeng's personality again.'

According to the original work, he aspires to be a character pursuing "daeheop" (great chivalry).

In other words, he wants to be a man overflowing with righteousness and brotherhood. His villain organization "Huolong" is also operated on the basis of righteousness, so it makes sense. The fact that he formed such a large villain alliance is thanks to his ability to summon a red oriental dragon. It's quite impressive. That's why he's also very well-known among villains.

Anyway, the conclusion is that he's not the type to ignore a debt if he has one. If he's decided to pursue righteousness and brotherhood, can he ignore help he's received? This is the path of righteousness you've chosen...! Endure it...!

While I was running these simulations in my brain...

"Then, we'll end here for today."

With Celeste's tired-looking expression, the meeting finally ended.

...But I don't know why Celeste looks tired. Did something happen?

Well, I shouldn't worry about S-rank villains, that's not my problem. I have more pressing issues right now.

With such thoughts, I fixed my gaze directly on Li Xiaopeng.

He was exchanging words with the men sitting on either side of him. Those must be his close associates.

"Let's get up now."

I could hear him saying that as he finished his conversation with them and stood up.

Right. He's leaving now. This is my chance.

"Excuse me, I'll be right back."

"Yes. See you later."

I said that to the two beside me.

Since I had already explained that I would be talking with the other party, they weren't particularly surprised.

I walked confidently toward where Li Xiaopeng was.

"....Hmm?"

As he was walking with his hands behind his back toward the corridor he had come from, one of his subordinates noticed me approaching and whispered to him, causing him to turn his head in my direction.

Seeing him, I put a smile on my face and naturally extended my hand while saying:

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Li Xiaopeng. I've been wanting to introduce myself since we operate in neighboring countries, but I'm only getting the chance now. I'm Egostic."

I spoke smoothly while extending my hand.

The reason I did this was simple: to see how he would respond.

In Katana's case, when I first greeted him, he tried to ignore me and walk away saying he was busy.

I wondered how Li Xiaopeng would react.

And making my thoughts seem foolish...

Li Xiaopeng, who had been wearing a serious expression, smiled and shook my hand, saying:

"Mr. Egostic, is it? Nice to meet you. Yes, I am Li Xiaopeng. I should have greeted you earlier, I'm too late, haha!"

He laughed heartily.

The handshake was just a normal, firm grip with no sense of a power struggle at all.

...He seems more friendly than expected. Has he looked into me?

Anyway, if he's responding like this, I can proceed with Plan A without needing to turn back.

With that thought, I continued speaking while maintaining the smile on my face.

"No, not at all. I've often seen you through the media, and I know you must be very busy running a large organization like Huolong. So I was hesitant to approach you, but I'm glad I finally did, even if belatedly. Haha."

"Oh no, not at all. Haha."

And so we continued with hearty laughter and casual small talk. Just the kind of brief conversation two men meeting for the first time in business might have.

Though it was just a short time, I caught something about Li Xiaopeng.

...He definitely seems to know about me in detail. Otherwise, this reaction wouldn't be possible. He seems to think that I, merely an A-rank, am on the same level as himself, who is at the top of S-rank. Probably because of the various information revealed at Kathedal, or perhaps he investigated separately. Probably both.

This makes things much easier.

Thinking that while inwardly smirking, I continued the conversation with an outwardly bright smile.

Soon enough, the conversation started winding down.

"Haha, this is my direct number, so please contact me anytime if anything comes up."

He gave me his number first, and I exchanged mine with him as the conversation seemed to be coming to an end.

Right.

And now is my chance.

"Yes, haha. I feel good about making a good friend on this occasion. Ah, and..."

As we were about to part ways, outwardly smiling at each other,

I naturally took out a CD in a case from my pocket and gave it to him.

"It's modest, but this is my gift as a token of friendship. I've included some of what I know about the Chinese government, so please use it well."

"Oh my, what is this? Haha! Thank you."

He accepted it naturally without asking further questions.

And so we exchanged final greetings before turning our backs and parting ways.

The last thing I saw was him walking with his hands behind his back, in front of his two subordinates.

And I also returned to where Atlas and Katana would be waiting.

...Haha.

'...So that's how he acts.'

I thought to myself, laughing inwardly.

Li Xiaopeng.

Judging by what I just saw, he seemed quite magnanimous, almost like Atlas.

But I know through the original work.

In reality, he's the opposite.

'...Li Xiaopeng.'

He is actually more calculating and cold-blooded than anyone.

Did he rise from a street orphan to the top of China's largest villain organization for free?

With his innate calculating mind and cold analytical skills. He stands at the top based on all of that. The image he shows now is also an act he puts on normally to gain public support. You could say he's playing the role of a hero.

But he has already received that CD-ROM.

I wonder if he has a disc player to run it in the 21st century, but I'm sure he'll figure it out.

'...Given his calculating nature, he definitely won't feel genuinely grateful to me, but...'

Because of the "righteous hero" concept he's created for himself, if he owes me a debt, he'll have to act to repay it.

In other words, I've got him.

'Regardless of your will... you'll have no choice but to be bound to me.'

I thought with a smirk.

***

The headquarters of China's largest villain organization, Huolong (Fire Dragon).

Hualongcheng (Flower Dragon City).

At the top floor of that tower-like structure with red roofs, the leader, Li Xiaopeng, sat quietly in his seat, lost in thought.

'Pleased to meet you, Mr. Li Xiaopeng. I've been wanting to introduce myself since we operate in neighboring countries, but I'm only getting the chance now. I'm Egostic.'

"Egostic..."

With a serious and cold face, showing none of the smile from earlier,

Li Xiaopeng muttered.

Egostic. How could he not know him?

A villain who has virtually taken over the peninsula of the country right below his own.

"...Hmm."

Li Xiaopeng's most ideal form, a villain with the power to overthrow a country with public support, was none other than Egostic. From his estimation, the Republic of Korea was essentially in Egostic's grasp.

Additionally, the fact that he knew about the top-secret information regarding the American time traveler that he had released previously, and provided information about dimensions, clearly showed he was an extraordinary individual. If Egostic hadn't approached him, he was planning to approach Egostic soon.

So, that aside.

"...."

What could be the identity of this CD-ROM that Egostic gave him?

"Are you finished?"

"Yes, yes sir!"

"Then you may leave."

"Yes sir!"

After the employee who finished setting up the computer hurriedly left the room.

In the antique room surrounded by red and gold decorations, he inserted the disc that Egostic had given him into the out-of-place old computer.

And after a moment, with the whirring sound, the monitor turned on and showed the files.

After clicking the mouse to check the files on the disc,

Several dozen minutes later, he found himself laughing loudly.

"...Hahaha! Yes. Indeed, indeed! So that's what it was."

What was in the file?

Confidential documents of the Chinese government.

No, it was as if someone had ripped apart the entire data center of the Chinese government—all government documents were haphazardly included. It was amazing how all of this could fit into such a small disc.

All of these were exactly what Li Xiaopeng, who wanted the collapse of the Chinese government, needed and desired most.

He didn't know how such a vast amount of data had been extracted through the strict security of the Chinese Ability Army.

"This... Yes, I've certainly received a favor."

He wiped away tears that had unconsciously formed while laughing, and muttered.

Whether it was a gift to become friendly with him, or if there was some other ulterior motive, regardless.

He was genuinely grateful to Egostic.

'If I've received a favor, I should repay it.'

Contrary to public suspicion.

Because he truly valued righteousness and brotherhood.

"What... can I do for him?"

He muttered such words.

Even though government-led media occasionally slandered him, claiming his righteous character was just an act by his calculating personality.

Ever since he read Romance of the Three Kingdoms that was lying on the street during his childhood.

Not once had he been insincere about righteousness and brotherhood.

***

After parting with Atlas and Katana, at home.

'I wonder if Xiaopeng has seen it by now?'

I thought, leaning back in my chair.

With his calculating personality, he'd surely appreciate receiving it, but he must be wondering how to repay this.

Who told you to pretend to be righteous and brotherly with a knife to your throat?

'...Well, anyway, I know from the original work that it's all a lie.'

It had already appeared in passing in a scene in the media within the work. His outer personality was all an act, and he was actually calculating and cold.

That's why I prepared more meticulously. Like openly saying I'm giving information about the Chinese government in front of his subordinates. So he can't escape.

A strategy called falling into your own trap. Perfect.

'...Anyway, this part is done now.'

I naturally went to Stardust's fan cafe.

...I was starting to miss Stardust.