3: Rehabilitation Treatment
ACT 3 Rehabilitation Treatment
“Phew, yesterday was really dreadful.”
His eyes were half-closed and his hair was like a magpie’s nest. Hyun-woo finally crawled out into the living look looking like a shabby person after the sun had already risen for ages. He was always in such a state thanks to the chaos space in New World. It was a life where he played the game for 20 hours before sleeping for a little bit! It wasn’t an exaggeration to say it was a hellish relay. The physical and psychological damage wasn’t small. It had reached the point where he felt sick after seeing the colour red because it reminded him of lava!
“…… But it’s still not there yet.”
This was what made Hyun-woo different from other users. Most users thought of it as an online game while Hyun-woo thought of it as a different dimension. A few hours? A few days? That was a level where it was just enjoyment. In the first place, Hyun-woo had no concept of time. Once he started an area, he would stay until he judged that there was nothing left for him. It was squeezing out everything he could from his labour. And he was able to.
“Why so far……?”
Some people wondered this. But it was to get ahead of others. He considered New World his job so he needed to get ahead of other people. He had to be stronger and receive a lot more than other people.
“Yes, I don’t have time to be doing this. I have to quickly exercise and enter the game.”
Then he heard the sound of his front door opening. When he turned around, Gwon Hwa-rang was entering while pushing his mother’s wheelchair.
“Oh, you came to visit?”
“Did you just wake up?”
“Before I noticed it was already 5 o’clock in the morning.”
“Act moderately…..I will not say that.”
Gwon Hwa-rang grinned and muttered. Recently Gwon Hwa-rang had been visiting once every two days, and he alternated with Hyun-woo to help take his mother to the hospital for treatment. When Gwon Hwa-rang first visited, Hyun-woo had accompanied them daily. But when Gwon Hwa-rang’s eyes seemed to indicate ‘Hey, are you trying to interfere?’ then Hyun-woo only accompanied his mother every second day. She didn’t say it but his mother’s expression indicated that she liked it too. But it was slightly strange today. His mother was silent and Gwon Hwa-rang was looking perplexed at his mother.
“What have you been doing?”
“That….. Let’s have a cup of coffee first since you seem tired.”
At Gwon Hwa-rang’s suggestion, the three of them sat down in the living room. Hyun-woo was reminded of something while sipping coffee and suddenly asked.
“Ah, did you find what I was looking for?”
“What you was looking for?”
“I asked Gwon Hwa-rang for something.
“Then you must be referring to New World.”
His mother smiled wryly and lowered her mug. When thinking back, he should’ve noticed it at the time. However, Hyun-woo didn’t notice his mother’s subtle expression change and continued looking at Gwon Hwa-rang. Again he didn’t know why but Gwon Hwa-rang hesitated for a long time before replying.
“Are you talking about the evidence from before?”
He was referring to evidence that there was a relation between the Hermes alliance and the lawless port.
‘There is no doubt that the Hermes alliance is associated with the lawless port. And there’s bound to be some traces left in New World. An agreement between Hermes and the Nakujuk or some proof that they were receiving the pirates’ goods……’
If there was even one of those things then he would be able to prove a relation between the Hermes alliance and the lawless port. Previously Hyun-woo had found a link between Alan and the secret religious society of Ankh, causing them to be ruined. The reason that was possible was because laws also existed in New World. In New World, ‘everything was possible.’ It was a game which offered infinite degrees of freedom. In the game there was the ability to become a general or help NPCs in a coup against the King. Of course it was also possible to harm soldiers……But just because anything was possible didn’t mean that it was recommended. Laws to defend the balance of New World also existed and those that broke the laws would be penalized. And the penalty was proportional to the size of the crime. That was why Alan had been ruined and lost his followers.
‘If I find some evidence of a coalition between Hermes and the lawless port then their fates will be similar to Alan’s. If they are branded as a criminal group then they will also lose their rights to the Lordship of Silvana.’
So Hyun-woo had asked Gwon Hwa-rang to find evidence while sweeping through the lawless port. However, Gwon Hwa-rang just shook his head.
“I couldn’t find it. Those fellows thoroughly hid it.”
“Hmm. As expected, it couldn’t be settled that easily. Was there anything different?”
“Different?”
“The amount invested into the lawless port by the Hermes alliance should be significant. They would dispose of the pirate’s stolen goods and then take the profit. If the lawless port collapsed then they should’ve lost their investment fund. That kind of damage would not be enough to make them resign.”
“I also think so as well……”
“Hmm, we won but I am still slightly uncomfortable.”
“There’s no need to worry. The strategy to clean up the lawless port is a success and we can turn it into a military base for Seutandal. Those guys won’t be able to use the same scheme again.”
“Military base?”
Hyun-woo asked with curiosity. The change in Seutandal was important for Hyun-woo. Seutandal was one of the places in Hyun-woo’s triangular trade scheme so he needed to build a trading post there. But he had been so busy hunting the wendigoes that he hadn’t had a chance to ask what was happening in Seutandal.
“Ah, you still don’t know yet. Although it was originally the lawless port, when I looked around the terrain conditions were very good. The cave can easily store 50 battle ships we can use the buildings that the Hermes alliance has already built. So it will be converted to the headquarters of Seutandal’s navy.”
“Navy Headquarters?”
“Seutandal is an island so it requires a navy to protect it. Even with the lawless port gone, we will still need to deal with the pirates from the continent. If we increase the navy then the current harbour won’t be able to hold it. Separating the headquarters from the harbour will make it easier to manage.”
As expected, Gwon Hwa-rang’s tactics were completely different from Hyun-woo’s ideas.
“The lawless port is a natural fortress. Well, the Hermes alliance is familiar with the surrounding terrain but if we take precautions then it won’t be an easy place to attack. At least it is a hundred times better than Seutandal’s current harbour. Budget is also no problem thanks to the profit we got from sweeping up the lawless port.”
At first Gwon Hwa-rang hesitated a bit but then he started babbling on. Then his mother who had been quietly listening moved her wheelchair.
“……I’m tired after going to the hospital. I’m going to rest for a short while.”
Gwon Hwa-rang flinched and jumped like a frog.
“I-I…..!”
“No. Just continue. I don’t understand entirely but the criminals sound important to Hyun-woo. I’ll be fine by myself.”
His mother moved her wheelchair and went to her bedroom.
‘Eh? What’s this? Didn’t Mother just say something that seemed really stinging?’
Hyun-woo turned his head to peek and winced.
“Ow, ow, ow, w-what have I done……?”
Gwon Hwa-rang squeezed his head while muttering helplessly.
“W-what happened?”
“It’s just…. In fact…..”
Gwon Hwa-rang trembled and explained the circumstances. Something had happened when Gwon Hwa-rang took his mother to the hospital. He was talking happily with Hyun-woo’s mother when he received a telephone call. Like Gwon Hwa-rang said, Seutandal was currently in the midst of turning the lawless port into the Navy Headquarters. Gwon Hwa-rang was an expert in tacts so of course he was in charge. If there was even a small problem then the rehabilitation members would call him.
“What? The fort installations are insufficient? Did you consult Isabel? Then return to the entrance for the necessary materials since completion of the fort is the most important thing.”
After it disconnected, the phone rang again. While at the hospital, he received over 6 telephone calls. It interrupted Gwon Hwa-rang’s conversation with Hyun-woo’s mother. But his mistake was after that.
“Isabel? Navy Headquarters? What’s going on?”
“Ah, So-mi ssi doesn’t need to know about it.”
Gwon Hwa-rang unconsciously said. He belatedly noticed what he said but it was too late to take it back.
“No, I mean….. It’s really complicated…… That is…..”
“That’s okay. Please drive.”
Hyun-woo’s mother replied normally. But his mother was a person as well. Gwon Hwa-rang’s insensitive words definitely hurt her. So he kept his mouth shut while heading back to the house. That’s why Gwon Hwa-rang’s expression wasn’t good when entering the house. It was also why he hesitated when Hyun-woo asked about New World.
“Wahhh, what did I do……?”