Chapter 179

Central Area of Region 3’s Fangju.

Inside the eerily quiet office, a middle-aged man clutches his head.

The large frame that once inspired respect now appears shrunk, with his shoulders hunched inward.

The face that once looked bored with excess leisure is now contorted in distress, and streams of cold sweat run down his wrinkled skin.

Tap.

“Damn it…!”

The middle-aged man, Grozay Abil, wipes away the sweat droplets from his desk, his frustration evident.

As a regional legislator of Fangju 3 and former collaborator with the ex-President, known for his arrogance, Grozay found himself in a situation akin to being abandoned like a duck egg in the Nakdong River after a certain incident.

This incident was none other than the President’s death.

The sudden passing of the sole giant leading the political coalition caused great confusion, effectively rendering the coalition irrelevant.

Grozay taps on the panel set aside on his desk.

[Legislator, did you call for me?]

“What about what I told you to do? Have you heard anything from the other legislators?”

[Well, I have contacted them…]

The secretary trails off.

“Damn cowards!!”

Grozay slams his fist on the desk, his anger still unspent as he repeatedly pounds it again, feeling nothing but pain in his palms as a result.

[…]

The silent secretary.

Sensing this gaze, Grozay speaks in a feeble voice.

“Alright, I get it. Let me know immediately if anyone contacts you.”

[Understood.]

The communication ends.

Grozay gazes upward at the ceiling, reminiscing in the silent passage of time, and just as his inner turmoil begins to calm somewhat, it once more boils furiously.

“God damn it, they were so annoying when I needed them!…”

His muttering, however, is tinged more with frustration and injustice than anger, a mixture of resentment.

This is because Grozay knows well why the other legislators are ignoring him.

The reason traces back to an old event when, to further solidify his position within the political coalition, Grozay undertook a minor operation.

An action performed during the crisis of Invader invasion to help General Ryu while also achieving results that would pressure the Academy.

Especially since they had intelligence that the monster had left the Academy, Grozay moved quickly, but the operation ended in complete failure.

No gains were made, instead only more problems arose.

The only relief was that after the President’s death, the matter he had been handling faded away into obscurity, preventing a worse situation, but upon reviewing it now, there were still suspicious points.

It was during this operation when Grozay secretly reached out to the group using a covert communication channel.

“Nyonyon Sect here, what business brings you, Brothers and Sisters?”

“Huh? The Nyonyon Sect? Aren’t you supposed to be the Eternal Life Sect?”

“Ah, there was a time we called ourselves that indeed. But now, reborn, we are the Nyonyon Sect.”

“Nyonyon Sect?”

“That is correct, Brother. Have you heard of Nyonyon? They are truly wonderful…”

Click.

“What the hell? Are these guys insane?”

A sect directly chosen by the President to induce controlled chaos in Fangju, but they seemed to have changed into something else.

“…I need to investigate further.”

While Grozay was distracted trying to piece together the entire situation, a girl continued to fight relentlessly.

And when Grozay came back to his senses, that girl had already achieved an unprecedented victory and become the most influential presence in Fangju.

– Fangju’s little hero! Today, about his day….

– Breaking records as the youngest and fastest-ranked….

– Despair Fortress falls! Hero Edu’s….

Media outlets were ceaselessly praising the girl.

And that wasn’t the end.

“Have you all seen Diamong’s kids’ clothes line? They apparently have Edu as a model…”

“Hey, do you support Edu, Chief?”

“How could I not support the girl who works hard despite being sick? We must help her however we can.”

“I want to be Edu!”

“No, I will!”

Edu, Edu, Edu — a name mentioned without discrimination across all demographics.

Beyond mere popularity, this girl had become everyone’s main topic of discussion, and Grozay felt fear as she gained prominence.

“What is this happening to me alone…!!”

A shout filled with anguish echoes.

The girl, nothing unusual about her except for being somewhat pretty, happened to be the new hero leading Fangju?

“Urgh…!”

With a searing headache, Grozay grips his head.

Lost in a wave of injustice, he twists and turns his body when the panel before him flickers and a hologram appears.

[Legislator!]

“What is it?”

[A visitor has arrived.]

“Visitor?”

Confused by the unexpected visitor, Grozay tilts his head.

At that moment, a devil appears in front of the secretary.

[Legislator? Can you see me?]

“You, you!!”

Flowing snow-white hair, a childlike but beautiful appearance, and a bright smile that enhances her beauty even more — the little hero of Fangju, Edu Numbersday.

“Why are you here…”

[We have some business. Could I see you briefly?]

“Th, that-”

Grozay trails off.

Then, Edu moves slightly revealing another voice.

[Hold on, Edu.]

[Ah, yes.]

The figure Grozay recognizes appears on the screen.

“S, Simonia?”

Behind her sunglasses, her vertically split golden eyes shine, and Simonia licks her tongue once before speaking in a heavy voice.

“Hey, open up.”

“Y, yes!”

The automatic honorific slipping out of Grozay’s mouth.

The door to the office opens shortly after, and Simonia walks in holding Edu in both arms.

“Here I am.”

With Simonia’s help, Edu stands in front of Grozay.

The door closes behind them, and silence falls.

Unlike Edu’s relaxed demeanor, Grozay’s cold sweat increases several-fold.

As the silence extends, after some careful consideration, Grozay tentatively speaks.

“T, to what do we owe this visit…?”

An extremely respectful attitude.

All traces of arrogance are gone from his posture.

“Just thought I’d check on you, you must be stressed lately~”

Edu replies while grinning.

Grozay’s expression wrinkles.

What was this girl, the reason behind his troubles, even talking about?

But soon enough, his furrowed brow softens.

“What’s wrong with my expression? Don’t you like it?”

Threat contained in Simonia’s words, involuntarily Grozay forces a smile.

“A, no.”

“Are you sure?”

“O, of course.”

“Alright, let’s work well together.”

Simonia continues to pressure Grozay, who was once her colleague, showing no mercy.

There’s nothing more terrifying than when an ally becomes an enemy, but despite the bitter realization, Grozay speaks once more.

“Judging by your appearance, I’ve been doing well, yes.”

“Oh? But that wouldn’t be right.”

Grozay’s heart sinks upon hearing Edu’s words.

With a start and stiffened posture, Grozay watches Edu smirk.

“Ah, just kidding. Just kidding.”

“Haha, ha… really?”

“Yes.”

The devilish eloquence strikes.

Regret floods in for Grozay, who unknowingly challenged this opponent in the past, but such regrets change nothing now.

“Shall we move on to the main topic?”

“Yes, please proceed.”

“Grozay, how much have you been keeping hidden until now while serving as legislator?”

“Eh?”

Taken aback by the sudden direct question, Grozay sees Edu tilt her head.

“Did you not hear?”

“No, but-”

“Hey, answer faster!”

Startled by Simonia’s prompt, Grozay stammers.

“Ke, keeping hidden? I haven’t-”

“Pfft, we both know everything already, no need to beat around the bush. At the very least, we know how much you’ve extorted from the Royal Blood faction.”

At her confident declaration, Grozay is dumbfounded.

Terrified by the little girl who knows his financial flow so precisely.

“H, how do you know that?”

“There are methods that everyone knows, so how much exactly?”

Edu grins while Grozay twitches his lips. The clicking sound of Simonia pulling out a pistol from her waist silences him.

“…This much.”

A hologram screen displays the number of zeros, and Edu claps her hands in delight.

“Woah! So much!”

Amazed Edu.

Seeing Edu’s satisfied expression that breaks into a cheerful smile, Grozay inwardly breathes a sigh of relief.

“Then, we’ll confiscate one. Now show us the next.”

“Ah?”

“Pfft, this can’t be all, right? Show us the next one quickly.”

“No, that’s all. There isn’t-”

“What? You’re saying Edu is lying?”

“No, that’s not what I meant, but-.”

At Simonia’s fierce reaction, Grozay immediately shrinks back.

“Well, then what is it? Tell us directly!”

Simonia continues to press.

Though extremely aggrieved, Grozay feels that he’ll be in even deeper trouble if he doesn’t hand over something, and reluctantly reveals more of his financial holdings.

“R, right here.”

“See, there was more, wasn’t it?”

Edu counts the numbers with a grin.

Watching his privately accumulated funds being taken away, Grozay’s eyes well up with tears, and unfortunately, this was only the beginning.

Edu’s hand reaches out to Grozay again.

“Then, what’s next?”

“N, what?”

“Pfft, there’s definitely more. Come on.”

“No, there really isn’t!”

“Ugh, the electric shock pain I got at the court the other day is coming back…!”

Edu exaggerates her discomfort.

Hearing this, Simonia’s expression becomes menacing.

“Electric shock at the court? Hey, what’s this story Edu just mentioned?”

“T, totally unrelated! Here, take this too!”

Sensing an imminent threat to his life, Grozay quickly throws over his maintenance allowance.

Edu’s face seems to brighten with a smile before darkening again.

“Ugh, I feel slightly better, but just a bit more would help….”

“Ah, understood. I’ll give everything!”

Ultimately, Grozay becomes penniless, handing over every penny of his private savings.

“Is that all? It feels like there’s more…”

“Ugh…!”

The endless cycle of “take it, give more, take it” continues.

A while later, when Edu’s beaming smile emerges, Grozay’s pockets are empty.

“Wow, financial therapy really does work. I’ll ensure these donations go to good use.”

With a sly grin, Edu collects everything Grozay threw her way.

“Since we’ve thoroughly… not scammed, but received enough donations, shall we move on to the next stop, Simonia?”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

Simonia flashes a warm smile.

After picking up Edu again, Simonia shoots Grozay a cold gaze.

“Do right, we’ll be watching.”

“Y, yes!”

Grozay bows his head.

As Edu and Simonia leave the room and Grozay is left alone, he sighs deeply.

“Phew…”

For some reason, a smile appears on his face despite losing everything.

Grozay’s body slowly turns toward the chair but collapses onto the ground instead.

Thud.

“Legislator?! Wake up! Legislator!!”