Chapter 214: Afterwards. From 1 to 1,000.
Japan, which possesses 12 of the 89 dimensional gates on Earth, has had all its dimensional gates closed.
This meant that all imports of goods other than those obtained through Cloyd were blocked. This would undoubtedly deal a major blow to Japan's alchemy market, which relies on extensive exchanges of technology and materials with other regions.
- Japan's 12th Dimensional Portal Sealed!!!
- Is the Japanese Government in Panic?!
- Criticism of the Japanese Government is Rising Daily. The Current Administration's Approval Ratings are Declining!
The impact of the statement released in just half a day was truly immense. "...We will not tolerate anything that threatens our relationship with the person who spearheaded the Reversal Treaty..." In particular, the harsh criticism from Senruk and the emperor in the second half of the statement, while not directly mentioning Japan, was clearly aimed at it.
Following the summit, Jin Seo-woon received significantly more media requests than before.
- ... The Japanese side continues to criticize Jin Seo-woon's unfair actions while praising their own technology and player quality.
- ... Now, let's hear it from the owner of Super Match.
"Jin Seo-woon is a former player whose glory days are behind him. Unable to showcase his talents, he's using his connections from the time he signed the reversal agreement to exert unfair influence over Japan.
This is an unforgivable act of hostility towards Japan. Super Match, including me, will never tolerate this and will not stand idly by. They will inevitably pay a heavy price."
That was all the Super Match owner had to say... "The price...?" Ki-chan put down his chopsticks and looked at Seo-woon as he said these words. He used to smash the TV, but since Seo-woon's return, he hadn't cared what people outside said. Now that he was back, it didn't matter what anyone said.
"The price. What you do comes back. I guess I'll have to go pay the price."
Two weeks had passed since the leaders of the two dimensions had met. Shuttling between his parents' house and the mountain where the three of them were training, Seo-woon pulled out his phone after saying these words.
"Karina. Tell the Japanese side... No. Tell Super Match. Tell them I'll be participating in the match. It doesn't matter if they bring a hundred or a thousand players." After a moment of silence, Karina's resounding response was heard.
- Jinseon challenges Super Match, who criticized her!
- The battle of the century! Jinseon VS Super Match! Who will be the challenger in the Super Match?
- It doesn't matter if it's a hundred or a thousand!
Karina quoted Seo-woon's words verbatim, and the Super Match side fell right into the trap. "Didn't he say that the number of opponents he faces doesn't matter?!" "That doesn't mean we'll let him face countless players! We need to protect our reputation!"
Dozens of officials were engaged in a heated debate in the conference room. These were the Super Match officials. "So... what if we do this?"
The Super Match owner nodded in satisfaction at the words of a middle-aged man who looked like a thug. "But this..." Some officials voiced their concerns, but the owner was adamant.
"Everyone knows that the government also considers this match important. Our strong global influence against Japan is at stake in this match. If we make a mistake, Japan could lose for a long time to come." The officials who had voiced their concerns remained silent. This was not a fair match or a matter of worrying about the eyes of outside spectators.
With the national crisis looming over them, this match could not be lost. "The stadium for the match has just been completed. Why don't we use it?" The owner nodded at the words of the middle-aged man who had first suggested it.
- Super Match Agreed!
- Match of the Century! Will it happen?
- Will the hero's skills be sufficient?
"...So they say. Personally, I think we should never agree to such a match." Karina's resolute words made Jin Seo-woon smile. "Why? Perfect. Come to think of it, it was exactly the same when we destroyed Subaru Jin and his guild in our first guild war."
Ki-chan couldn't hide his smile at Seo-woon's words. The stress he'd been under because of them was indescribable. If this match could finally release all the anger that had accumulated over the past few years, there could be nothing more refreshing.
Seo-woon accepted Super Match's proposed match, and there was constant discussion about it for a few days. In particular, Super Match's newly introduced "conditional match" attracted a lot of attention.
- A conditional match similar to a guild war. What's Japan's real intention in proposing a conditional match right now?
- A conditional match? Is it mandatory like a guild war?
- What impact will this match have on the world?
- Fluctuating stock market prices. Predictions on how the match results would affect stock market prices...
"Wow! Look at this." Ki-chan whistled while watching the TV while eating dinner. Seo-woon nodded as he watched the TV as well. "They're talking absolute nonsense."
"It's not just nonsense." Jin Seo-woon sighed at Ki-chan's words.
"Why would the stock market fluctuate just because I'm fighting a war?"
"Why wouldn't they? There are even theme stocks related to you."
"Theme stocks? What do you mean... Do I own stocks? Or do I run a company?" Ki-chan looked surprised by Jin Seo-woon's words.
"The stocks of all the alchemy-related companies in our country fluctuated because of you. After Japan started its economic retaliation, the stocks crashed every day, but they recovered after you met with Guanggun and the emperor."
Jin Seo-woon quietly asked, finding meaning in her words. "So... which company's stock will go up if I win?"
Ki-chan smiled widely at Jin Seo-woon's question. Ten days later.
- Hello everyone. This is the Tokyo Super Match Dome. Thank you to the 160,000 Super Match fans who filled the stadium. I'm commentator Shino.
- And I'm commentator Kin-ya.
- Today's commentary will be given to our special guest, Super Match champion and active player Ito Kin.
Thanks to the magic of communication, Ki-chan, who was watching Seo-woon's match with his family in Wonju, frowned. "As expected, no Korean commentators." Usually when a Super Match is broadcast, each country would have its own commentator and commentator, but this match was broadcast as is, with a Japanese commentator and commentator.
Since a serious bias was expected in the commentary, Ki-chan couldn't enjoy the match. "Let's go together, oppa." Ki-chan smiled as he saw Jung-eun caress his swollen belly and look at him with concern. "I told her to stay home and I'd be right back. If I leave my wife at home like this, she'll nag me forever."
Seo-woon left, leaving Ki-chan, who insisted on coming with him, so Jung-eun wouldn't worry. "Don't worry. I'll be back soon."
Finishing his words, Ki-chan turned his gaze to the television. He was worried about Seo-woon's parents, who were watching the television with tense expressions, tissues in hand, but he didn't think they would be relieved no matter what he said.
Super Match was incredibly popular, but there were still some elderly and mentally sensitive people who didn't watch it. This was because the fight between the magician and the knight was broadcast without a filter, meaning all the violent scenes were shown uncensored.
Watching people burn to death or have their limbs ripped off live was no easy feat. Of course, these intense scenes were what made Super Match so popular.
- Just as I was about to say that, today's rules were announced!
- By the way, rules weren't set by Jin Seo-woon this time... Anyway, he accepted them. Please don't misunderstand.
- This is all the price of Jin Seo-woon's arrogance.
The two of them spoke excitedly, following each other's rhythm. "This is ridiculous!" Ki-chan, watching at home, cried out loudly with a grimace. Because the rules of this Super Match were a game of survival where the last person standing in a limited area would win.
The match, where 1,001 people fought until only one remained in a relatively small area surrounded by forests, rivers, and plains, was actually a 1,000 vs. 1 battle. Moreover, all the participants except Jin Seo-woon were the top 1,000 Japanese players in the Super Match's top Japanese rankings.
- Then, the newly introduced conditional match! The conditions are now being announced.
- Ah!!! These conditions are too harsh. Jin Seo-woon is finished!
The moment the commentators and analysts saw the conditions announced, they were excited, assuming Jin Seo-woon had already lost. The conditions floating in the dome were simple.
– The loser loses all their abilities. Lost abilities are converted into items and returned to the eventual winners.