Chapter 47: Guan Yu Descends

The Eye of Truth was once just an ordinary private detective guild.

But now?

It’s a respectable subcontractor under the Labor Management Office Head.

Since I’m working all the way in Beijing, I can say that with confidence.

“Of course, I can’t say that out loud.”

“They’re at it again.”

“Seriously, if you tell anyone outside that you’re subcontracted by the Labor Management Office Head, you’ll get kidnapped right away.”

Well, that’s true.

The whole world is out there hunting for the Labor Management Office Head…

Especially those bastards.

[Regarding the objectives and main tasks of the Chinese secret government organization, Special Operations Division]

“The more you learn about the Special Operations Division, the crazier they seem.”

“At this point, I’m both curious and scared about what could be hidden down in their basement.”

“What’s in the basement?”

Ugh… That scared me.

‘Why does that damn bear pop up out of nowhere and cause a fuss?’

My heart almost stopped.

Still, since it’s the main contractor, I couldn’t just get annoyed.

“There might be some kidnapped people down there—”

Quickly, I managed my expression and turned my head.

A face I hadn’t seen before.

‘Who is that?’

I tilted my head in confusion, then froze.

“Uh…”

A new face.

But… somehow familiar.

Tall, long beard, reddish face.

Definitely from somewhere—

“It’s been a while. I heard from the bear that you’re doing well.”

“01?”

‘He knows me?’

And that speech pattern, similar to the bear’s but smoother.

“Are you perhaps the benefactor?”

“If you mean the benefactor who saved my ankle, then yes, that would be me.”

Huh.

That’s not the face I saw back then.

‘Could it be a disguise?’

“No. This is the true face of the original mage.”

“No way… That can’t be… Th-that…”

‘If this is his original face, shouldn’t it not be?’

I think I’m starting to understand…

Honestly, at first, I was doubtful.

No. It can’t be the person who immediately came to mind at first sight.

But… seeing the weapon in his hand gave me a strong feeling.

“Cheongryong Eonwoldo…”

“This is it? I got a pretty good staff.”

A staff?

That thing?

“Well, since I’ve heard there’s something in the basement, I’ll be going now. I promise to return before the coffee gets cold.”

Before I could even react, he slipped away.

Just like before, as if he really used magic.

“Crazy… Hey, Minwoo Lee, what do you think of that guy just now?”

“Hyung, did you maybe think of Guan Yu?”

“…That can’t be, right?”

“No way… But since I’m a Romance of the Three Kingdoms fan, I gotta say, he does look quite similar.”

‘Right?’

It doesn’t add up.

If that really was Guan Yu, why would the Labor Management Office Head be hiring heroes?

Haha.

“Ah, come on… That can’t be…”

Right?

***

‘Worker Warlord, make it as flashy as possible, please.’

I clearly remember what Todd the Bear said as I was leaving.

“Ha ha.”

As flashy and eye-catching as possible.

‘What if I’m not sure how?’

‘If it’s the Worker Warlord, just staying in his natural form will automatically draw attention.’

That guy…

He’s pretty clever when you think about it.

‘How does he get it right every time?’

“What’s this, cosplay?”

“The quality is insane.”

“Oh…”

Everyone passing by kept glancing over.

Just like the bear said, this should be enough to run with.

But…

‘It’d be even better if you summoned a horse and rode it. It might be a bit slower, but it’ll stand out more.’

Right.

If I’m gonna grant requests, let’s do it properly.

The lively girl Rani made me a staff.

It has two functions.

One of them: [Hwayeomma Summon]

“Come forth.”

Hiiiiing~!

Lightly mounting the fiery horse’s back in greeting.

The reactions of the onlookers?

“A horse from thin air…”

“Insane.”

“I don’t think this is cosplay anymore.”

Tall, long beard.

Reddish face.

Yeah.

That much, I could understand.

Just dress up and you’re done.

‘Cheongryong Eonwoldo?’

Same thing.

Just a prop, right?

But suddenly, a flaming horse appears out of nowhere?

That’s beyond cosplay level.

And the majestic appearance instantly reminded everyone of a famous scene.

“It’s the general… The general who came to save China in person…!”

An old man shouted.

“General! Thank you, general!”

Another old man cheered.

Then the excitement spread to the young spectators who had been doubtful until then.

“General…?”

“Could it be Guan General?”

“Cheongryong Eonwoldo and Red Hare… Looks like it.”

“No way! It’s real?!”

Oh ho.

That bear is really clever.

Thanks to him, the atmosphere was set.

Now to finish it off with a flourish.

“Alright, let’s go!”

Hiiiiing!

***

“There’s an uncle here, and an uncle there! There are two uncles!”

“Yeah, and that broadcast has tons of viewers too.”

Yoon Hajun’s job is Labor Management Office Head.

‘What is he doing now?’

Monitoring top-tier workers.

And watching internet broadcasts.

[Guys, look at that! This is amazing! See? Riding the Red Hare! It’s really Guan Yu!]

[Crazy lolololololol]

[I thought it was fake until I saw the notification that the broadcast was live]

[But isn’t he in China?? How did he even start a broadcast lololol]

[There’s always a way!]

[Won’t he get caught and dragged off? lololololol]

No.

Our top-tier worker is on an internet broadcast.

‘How can I resist watching?’

‘Curious, I turned it on right away.’

Wow.

The popularity was insane.

Two minutes into the broadcast, the viewer count was… what the…

“100,000… 110,000… Wow, it’s rising in an instant.”

[I am who I am! Kim Jiho, a man serious about broadcasting! Even if I get dragged off, I can’t resist this!]

[lolololololol]

[So, 120,000 viewers just two minutes in]

[Probably more to come lololololol]

[But seriously, how the hell does Guan Yu just appear???]

The Chinese are saying it looks like he came to save them.

[Honestly, if it’s Guan Yu, I’d admit it. Like an S-rank dungeon clearing everything on 60 floors.]

[lolololololol]

[But why is it only Guan Yu? What about Admiral Yi Sun-sin!!!]

[We want saving too!!!!]

“But Admiral Yi Sun-sin didn’t appear…”

He’d only appear if it was to save us.

Anyway.

The world is fast.

Not even three minutes after the Warlord crossed over…

The broadcast was already live.

Over 100,000 people were watching.

In China, it’s even on the news.

“I didn’t expect the interest to spike this fast… The recognition of the Worker Warlord is amazing.”

“He’s really famous.”

“Yeah… seeing so many people following him like crazy…”

[Wow! Guan Yu is fast, really fast! Guys, look at this. At this speed, at least a hundred people are following him.]

The streamer swiveled the camera.

Wow…

It’s like a marathon, not an ordinary scene.

People filled the path behind him.

“Look, there are reporters too.”

“They said it’s on the news. I guess the cameras are already here.”

Everyone’s so fast.

Meanwhile, the internet broadcast’s viewers kept growing.

‘Did a rumor spread?’

Even some Chinese viewers joined, judging by the chat messages in Chinese.

‘What did they say?’

I clicked translate.

[Great powers are truly aided by heaven.]

[The only country in the world where a hero descends in person. What could that mean?]

[With the general here, China’s future looks bright.]

‘Is that so?’

Hmm…

I hope the chat ends there.

But no, there are haters and trolls too.

[This is the dignity of a great nation, you small countries.]

Great nation? Lololol, until this morning they were all crying, “Please help, Labor Management Office Head! Uuu.”

[The Labor Management Office Head? He’s nothing in front of the general.]

Ignorant small countries.

Uh… guys.

No, that’s not it…

Your general.

He’s on his way to destroy a building right now.

Someone’s gonna get shocked and collapse.

[Labor Management Office Head must be nervous too. The general’s about to retrieve the stuff he stole.]

Gotta get it back with interest too.

Hmm…

I don’t know.

You guys just collapse already.

Beijing, China.

A rundown building in a remote area, far from the busy district.

“Charge!”

The Warlord halted his horse.

“General, where is this place?”

Where?

Where else?

The Special Operations Division building.

***

Here he is, back after a long time, Hyunse, saying, “Let me take you somewhere nicer than this shabby place.”

“Hello! I’m a fan!”

“Please look this way just once!”

“Are you powerful?”

“General, you’re on national broadcast! Could we have a short interview? Or a conversation—”

“Hello, is that the Red Hare?!”

Chatter behind him.

***

While the world babbled ignorantly, the Warlord had already assessed the situation.

“Alright, there’s definitely something here.”

They said there might be kidnapped people in the basement.

Sure enough…

Weak auras could be felt.

‘Why didn’t I realize it?’

Probably the bloody stench stinging my nostrils right now.

“Ha ha…”

A few days ago, when I first came here, I thought:

If I ever return to this place, I won’t leave those bastards alone.

Now it’s time to keep that promise.

Luckily, I have a good staff.

“I can show its true power. Let’s see…”

Swish.

As I drew the staff downward—

Flare!

Appeared in the air.

[Cheongyeomryong (Blue Flame Dragon)]

A blazing blue dragon, true to its name.

“Gah!”

“Oh my… The Guan General summoned a Blue Dragon…”

“What? Someone’s inside the building?”

“In that old building?”

“Please save us! There are people inside! Stop the general!”

“Huh? General Guan! That’s dangerous! You’ve already shown enough force, please calm your anger!”

Anger?

Hmm.

If you feared death, you should’ve stopped when warned.

The warnings are over.

So, take it.

KRAAAASH!

The path the blue dragon swept through.

General Guan.

Leading countless people here.

***

The shocking presence that stunned everyone disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.

“Ah, no… What is this… Why would General Guan—”

“God…”

‘What on earth was that?’

‘Wasn’t Guan Yu the hero who came down to protect China?’

The remaining people were dumbfounded.

Blinking blankly.

“Damn, did you guys see that? Guan Yu just wiped out a whole four-story building.”

The Korean streamer, Kim Jiho, was less shocked.

So he had the composure to point the camera at the collapsed building.

“Huh? What’s that?”

The building was shattered.

Broken.

Gone.

All that was left was an empty space where the building had stood.

‘Or maybe just debris scattered around?’

That should have been it.

But beneath, something strange caught my eye.

“Guys, doesn’t that look like a prison?”

I flashed the light quickly.

“Is there anyone there? Please save us!”

“Wisi!”

“Help me!”

A call for help.

What the…

I peeked in, and—

“Holy crap…”

There was a prison packed full of people.

‘What is this place?’

I tilted my head, then froze.

‘Did I just see something?’

I posted a message in chat, and it came through.

[-Breaking News) Live Guan Yu just blew up the Chairman’s office in Zhongnanhai.]