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CHAPTER 144 – PREPARING FOR A TRIP
For several days, Ryu Min carried out on-site training with the CPF unit members.
When an actual report came in, they turned on the siren and arrived at the scene as quickly as possible.
They quickly swept their eyes over the crime scene and grasped the situation at a glance.
It would be best if they ran into the culprit on-site, but most of the time, the culprit had already fled.
In that case, they used [Area Scan] to follow the culprit’s traces.
If they found the culprit that way, good—but what if they failed?
They looked for witnesses or visited shops and conducted inquiry searches.
Of course, if another report came in during the process, they had to hand the search off to regular police and leave.
Because the most urgent priority was to eliminate as many criminal players as possible.
On the other hand, if they did find the culprit, they subdued him and then put handcuffs on him.
Of course, not ordinary handcuffs.
“These are player-only handcuffs supplied to regular police. They’re strong enough that you’d need roughly Strength 150 to barely break free.”
After catching criminals with the cuffs the commander gave them, they handed them over to the police and left legal punishment to the system.
Wasn’t it dangerous to leave a player to regular police?
Since the state had authorized firearm use against players, regular police were fully capable of standing up to criminal players.
Because no matter how much of a player you were, you still couldn’t dodge bullets.
Not yet, anyway.
Of course, even if you had a gun, a player who hadn’t been cuffed was dangerous.
Still, since they could execute them on the spot if they acted threateningly, a police officer with a gun could manage them to a certain extent.
‘At this point, it’s fine to end the training.’
Ryu Min felt relieved as he looked at the unit members.
After several days of real field work, they were solving cases on their own even without him stepping in.
They killed multiple criminal players as well.
Even if they looked innocent, they had already been through Round 4, so they had less aversion to killing.
‘And on top of that, they became police out of contempt for criminals.’
At the very least, there wasn’t a single member who hesitated over on-the-spot execution.
“You all worked hard for a week. With this, both the theory and practical training are finished. Now I can leave, trusting you.”
“Huh? Leave?”
“Did you think I’d watch your backs forever? I’m busy too, in my own way.”
A week ago, he had already notified the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport that he would charter a plane all the way to Nigeria.
Right now, he was simply waiting for the flight route authorization.
He even had a passport made under Lost Ark’s identity.
You could say he had already finished preparing for the trip in his mind.
“Even without me, there’s no problem catching criminal players, is there?”
“…….”
That was true, but no one opened their mouth.
They didn’t say it, but the members had grown attached in that one week.
It was true that they trusted, followed, and respected him as their commander.
A mental pillar.
Hearing that such a commander was leaving made them feel hollow and bitter.
“Don’t feel too sad. I’ll drop by whenever I have time and keep an eye on whether you’re doing well.”
Saying that, Ryu Min left each member a few words of advice.
“Go Nam-cheol. In one week, you completely fixed your dialect. Anyone would think you were a Seoul native.”
“Haha, you flatter me, Commander.”
“Hwang Man-gi. Your performance has been good lately. Don’t forget that I always have high expectations for you.”
“Thank you, haha.”
“Kang Si-hyeok. You’re always doing well. Keep it up just like now. Hm? Your eyes are red—don’t tell me you’re crying because I’m leaving?”
“N-no, how could that be?”
Despite his words, Kang Si-hyeok turned away and dabbed at his tears with his palm.
“You all worked hard. Work in three teams on a two-shift rotation, just like I laid out. It’ll be hard to play vigilante 24 hours a day. If anything happens, contact me anytime. Understood?”
“Yes! Commander! Thank you for your hard work!”
“This is like I’m retiring or something, the way you’re acting.”
Smiling behind his mask, Ryu Min turned his back.
He had dependable unit members now.
[The newly established Anti-Player unit CPF has begun operations for the first time this month. It has shown an unexpectedly strong start…….]
[New unit CPF handles 52 players in one week! Lightens burden on police officers…….]
[Is it the CPF effect? Crime cases down 32% compared to last week in just one week…….]
[Have you heard of the CPF unit? A newly established player vigilante force!]
[A unit that executes criminal players on the spot exists? Everything about CPF!]
└So this is that unit that catches players? The one that can do on-the-spot execution?
└It definitely seems effective. They say the number of players committing crimes dropped sharply.
└Of course it’s effective. They say if you commit a crime, they just kill you.
└Holy shit. If you commit a crime and get caught, you die? lol fuck, I’d stay locked in my house too.
└They’re not killing randomly—only vicious criminals, apparently. And they kill you if you do dangerous shit too.
└The country’s insane. Players are people too, and they just kill them like it’s nothing.
└Ar———–rest
└There’s a criminal up there defending criminals.
└If you leave them alone, bigger 피해 happens, so you kill them to prevent it, isn’t that the point.
└Criminal trash bastards should die. Yeah.
└Should’ve done this earlier. Tch. Government clowns always closing the barn after the cow’s gone.
└Seriously. Either way, Representative Lee Seong-hyeon did something for once.
└They say the commander is that famous Rank 1 among players? Nickname Black Scythe?
└If it’s Black Scythe, that must be the guy who saved Representative Lee Seong-hyeon last time.
└So he got in with the rep’s backing lol.
└What backing. The decision power for the unit is with the Police Commissioner.
└They say Rep Lee Seong-hyeon actually recommended him. If you look up the article, it’s there.
└He’s got the skills and he’s got a track record of saving people, so they probably special-hired him.
└Either way, that’s backing. Tch.
└Still, seeing how the unit isn’t causing trouble and is handling work well, the commander position doesn’t seem like it’s just for show.
After reading the comments, Ryu Min lowered his phone.
‘Overall, the reaction to CPF is good. Since it’s showing visible results, I guess that’s only natural.’
He smiled, satisfied, but compared to that, the fame of “Black Scythe” himself didn’t rise all that much.
Which made sense.
No matter how active a single unit was, people would only think they were doing what they were supposed to do anyway.
There was no reason for the commander’s name to become a hot issue.
Not unless he personally pulled off something big.
That was why he was going to Nigeria.
To pull off something big.
‘If I catch a public enemy in the name of Black Scythe, what happens? My fame would skyrocket. At least more than now.’
And if he asked Seo Arin—who was rapidly gaining traction—to promote it then?
The unit’s recognition and standing would rise even more.
And if that happened, the frequency of criminal players running wild would drop drastically too.
‘Looks like I’ll need Seo Arin’s help.’
Using Lost Ark’s phone, Ryu Min called Seo Arin.
He even took the meticulous step of transforming into Lost Ark’s face to distort his voice.
But then—
‘She’s not answering?’
Maybe because it was an unknown number, she didn’t pick up.
He called several times, but it was the same.
With no other choice, he sent a text.
[Seo Arin? It’s me, Black Scythe. I have something to say, so if you see this, call me.]
Had ten seconds passed after he sent it?
A call came in from Seo Arin right away.
So it really was that she didn’t answer because it was an unknown number.
-Are… are you really Black Scythe-nim?
“Yeah, it’s me. You can tell by my voice, right?”
-Ah… it really is Black Scythe-nim.
Seo Arin remembered the voice of the real-world Black Scythe she’d met before.
Maybe because he wore a mask, it stuck in her memory even more.
-How did you get my number? I never gave it to you……
“I’ve got someone high up above me, that’s how.”
-Ah, right. You’re the CPF commander, aren’t you?
“Looks like you’ve already seen the article.”
-Of course. There’s no way I’d miss an article with your name in it, Black Scythe-nim……
“…….”
-Ah, don’t misunderstand. It’s just… I was internet surfing like a habit, and I happened to see it by coincidence.
“I didn’t misunderstand.”
-R-really? Then why did you call? What’s going on?
“I was thinking of making you a proposal for advertising.”
-Excuse me?
“We’re thinking of filming a public service ad so our unit becomes widely known to people, and I thought you’d be perfect as the promotional model.”
-A p-promotional model? Me?
Seo Arin was flustered, but only for a moment.
-I’ll do it. I want to.
She accepted so easily it was almost strange—like she didn’t even think it over.
“You’re deciding that easily? You sure you don’t need to think more?”
-Is there anything to think about? If it’s something that can help you, Black Scythe-nim, then I shouldn’t ask or argue.
“Then the promotional model is decided.”
He’d worried she might refuse, so it was a relief she accepted gladly.
“I’ll contact you when the schedule is set.”
-Thank you. For giving me a chance to repay you.
“A chance, what. I’m the one who’s grateful.”
-Th-then… um… if you’re grateful, may I ask one favor? Ah, is that too shameless of me?
At the sudden words, Ryu Min blinked.
“A favor? What is it?”
-C-could we… maybe have a meal together? I-if you have time, I mean. If you’re busy, it can’t be helped……
“A meal while wearing a mask… that’d be difficult.”
-Ah… right. The mask.
No matter how much he transformed into Lost Ark, he couldn’t reveal his face to Seo Arin.
“And I need to go somewhere for a while, so I don’t think I’ll have time.”
-Really? Where to……?
“It’s hard to say that much.”
-Ah, s-sorry…….
She sounded so flustered it was hard to believe she was the same Seo Arin who had been so cold at the meat restaurant.
“Then I’ll contact you again when the ad schedule is set.”
-Yes, understood. Black Scythe-nim.
After ending the call, Ryu Min grinned.
‘Got the promotional model, and CPF runs fine without me.’
Things were going according to plan.
‘How are things going on the Plseba side?’
Since it came to mind, Ryu Min called from his own phone.
He heard Yamtti’s voice, bright with excitement.
-Master! What brings you to call?
“Are you at home?”
-Yes, I’m home. Are you perhaps thinking of coming to my house—
“Stop talking nonsense. How’s Plseba management? Is it going well?”
-Yes. I gave the chairman detailed instructions, so we’re accepting members without any problems.
“So everyone who has joined so far are members who passed the personality test, right?”
-Right. Thanks to you, Master, 처리-ing nearly a thousand existing members last month, the muddy water is gone and it’s been replaced with fresh water.
“That’s good.”
Through Ma Kyung-rok’s efforts and his own, Plseba’s trash had finally been completely cleaned up.
They filtered out the rotten water and only let in people with proper character, so you could say it underwent a complete transformation.
“Tell the chairman. Make sure management is solid so that, with a single word, we can move the café members anytime.”
-I already gave the instruction, so there’s nothing you need to worry about.
“More importantly, we can rent the chartered plane without issues, right?”
-Of course. I reserved the charter plane on the Nigeria route you applied for last week. We also got approvals from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and each airport.
The charter plane Ryu Min planned to ride was none other than the one prepared by Plseba’s chairman, Song Jae-gyeom.
He was overshadowed by Ma Kyung-rok, but he was still a top-tier chaebol himself.
Ryu Min had assumed the eldest son of the LC Group would have a charter plane, and he’d been right.
“Then as planned, we can leave tomorrow immediately, right?”
-Yes. But… what are you going to Nigeria for?
“That’s not something to talk about over the phone. I’ll tell you in person tomorrow when we meet.”
-Haaaah… a trip with you, Master, just the two of us. I’ve desperately wished for this moment to come. How can I be this happy!
“Stop overreacting and just prepare your suitcase and passport properly. So we can leave tomorrow morning.”
-Understood, Master! Heeheehee!
After hanging up, Ryu Min shook his head.
‘Maybe I should’ve just told her over the phone.’
He really hoped she wouldn’t get any weird ideas.