Martial Arts Returnee’s Game Broadcast

Chapter 253

1.

Impostors.
This term refers to those who seek to gain from the popularity and authority of others.
In that sense, those with transformation abilities, such as the awakened ones with shapeshifting powers, were all potential impostors and were under strict surveillance by the Awakener Association.

“So, it’s definitely not the work of an awakened one from the Association. They're not just a regular villain.”

If you didn’t want to get caught by the awakened ones from the Association who would suddenly break down your door and barge in, you should never do something like that.
Naturally, most impostors mimic the appearance of ordinary people or those who can’t be easily discovered by the Association.

“An unregistered, unauthorized awakened one. Among them, the Unknown transformation users will even change their appearance while fleeing.”
[Sounds like a skilled Hao Moon.]
“I’m not sure what that means, but I get the point. Catching these people is nearly impossible.”
[That doesn’t mean we can just let an impostor mimic me and get away with it.]
“I understand, but for now, there’s no effective way. Would an awakened one dare to mimic your appearance unless they were looking to die? That transformation user must have some support from a certain organization, hiding themselves and moving around with confidence.”

Even though the National Security Agency had already begun investigating, they only had a single photograph to show for it, which proved just how thorough the opponent was.

“If we receive any concrete sighting information, I’ll report it to you immediately, Guild Master.”
[Got it. Then please turn the car towards the broadcast station.]
“…This is just a precaution, but you’re not planning on making a public wanted poster or declaring war on them, are you?”
[Don’t think of me as thoughtless. I’m just going for a little venting.]
“Sorry, I was being overly cautious.”

Though he wasn’t sure about it himself, what could be done when a woman who feared nothing said she was just going to vent her frustration? It was the fault of the Ten Guild for giving her the reason to vent.

[Teen Guild Executive-Only Room]
[Monitoring Room]

In the monitoring room where staff from the Teen Guild’s Ten Entertainment gathered, they were watching the footage of the trainees' dormitory as a means to avoid conflicts with Haenampa. The directors of each entertainment agency were watching the camera feeds that captured the participants’ group training.
Contrary to the image that whenever Teen Guild members gathered, something shady or dirty would be planned, the directors were enjoying themselves.

“Wow, look at how our kids dance. We really picked the right batch this time.”
“Our Hayeon looks beautiful even when she’s just drinking water.”
“If I had a daughter, I’d want her to be like that. But instead, in my house, there’s some gorilla hugging a rice cooker and eating two servings in one sitting, sigh…”
“Ah, Director Im, come on now. Why are you going on about family matters? We were almost forgetting about that until you brought it up again.”
“I wish my daughter would act cute like that when I didn’t give her allowance. She was so cute until she was four.”

The despair of comparing idols to their own children was somehow balanced out by the healing they received from the idols. They were caught in a zero-sum game of healing and despair.
Their time in front of the monitors was interrupted by a knock.

“Is it a staff member?”
“Guard. Just do your job as the doorman.”
“……”

Kim from Taebaek Entertainment suppressed his rising anger.
After rumors spread that only Taebaek Guild’s headquarters chief had survived under the Silent Swordsman’s torture, people started speculating whether they had teamed up, causing Taebaek Entertainment’s position to take a major hit.
They couldn’t treat someone who might be a betrayer too kindly, but they had to keep him around, not knowing when he would make his move.

‘Because of that bastard, Gwak Do-jeong, what kind of humiliation is this for me at my age?’

Having once been humiliated, Taebaek Guild didn’t use force anymore, learning from the fate of the vice guild master from Asan Guild who got killed after retaliating.
Instead, the middle management targets of the Ten Entertainment, such as Kim Jae-hoon, were now being used as bait.
Kim Jae-hoon himself was aware of his position, which only made him more irritated.

“I’m kind of busy right now, so if it’s not urgent, can it wait?”
“Yeah, we’re busy watching our kids sing and dance.”
“Hahaha, what a loser. This is so funny.”

Kim Jae-hoon turned red, now the target of blatant mockery.
He thought this would be enough to make them leave, but the knock from earlier turned into an even louder banging.
The directors’ faces crumpled.

“Damn.”
“Can’t even get rid of one staff member?”
“Kim, don’t you know we’ve been cutting you a lot of slack? Or do you think we’re easy to mess with?”

Kim Jae-hoon, his face stiffened, shouted outside.

“Is it because of the composition mission? All the S-level and A-level composers are under contract with us, so you can’t get their help. Stop bothering us with a finished matter and leave!”

Despite saying this several times earlier, he couldn’t let go, still clinging to the issue.
As he complained about the persistent ones, the sound outside stopped abruptly.
Just when he thought they had finally given up and left, the door creaked open with a sound like metal being bent.

“Kim Director isn’t going to last.”
“That idiot.”

The directors’ eyes turned vicious.

“If it’s not urgent, we’ll talk later!”

As Kim Jae-hoon, furious, approached the door, ready to slap the cheek of the staff member who couldn’t take a hint, he suddenly gasped and collapsed.

“Idiot.”
“What are you doing?”
“He’s the one embarrassing the Ten Entertainment.”

The Ten Guild had monopolized all the S-level and A-level composers for the composition mission of the competition program, dealing a blow to PD, Haenampa, and the Royal Club.
Now, the conflict between the Ten Guild and the production staff was causing even more embarrassment, as Kim Jae-hoon, sitting on the floor in a pitiful state, had become as useless as trash.

“Damn, what’s got into him that he’s acting like that?”
“What the hell is he doing? Acting like a fool.”

Two directors, who had been by the door, approached and froze as if they had seen a ghost.
It was then that they realized this was no ordinary situation and stared outside the door with tense eyes.

“Huh? Wait a second. Didn’t we put a steel pipe in the door?”
“Is that a steel pipe?”

One of the directors pointed to a piece of metal flattened like a crushed soda can wedged between the wall and the door.
Only an awakened one could do something like that.

“These crazy bastards, are they trying to threaten us with their strength?”
“Oh, well, they’re asking for it. I don’t know who they are, but I’ll deal with them.”
“Hey, come with me. This can’t go unpunished. We’ll have to beat up these cocky fools like we used to.”

The B-class awakened ones, who were assigned as action leaders by the guild to prevent idols from disrespecting normal managers or staff, walked towards the door with their excellent combat skills.
But they stopped in their tracks.

“?”

Ha Eung Eung, standing before them, met their gaze with a look of surprise, as if wondering what was going on.
When a person faces a terrifying being in an unexpected position, their legs go weak.
It was no surprise that Kim Jae-hoon and the other two directors who had tried to maintain discipline collapsed.

‘This is bad.’

The three B-class awakened directors, who had relied only on their strength, didn’t fall to the ground, but they stood frozen in place as they saw Ha Eung Eung raise a hand and simply curl her fingers.
Behind her, Min Woo-seong, dressed in a suit, looked at them with a disappointed expression and spoke.

“The Guild Master said, if you want to live, bow your head.”

Although Ha Eung Eung’s official rank was C-class, her actual rank was rumored to be S-class, and at that moment, the directors, knowing the dangerous situation, lowered their heads in submission, lying flat on the floor.
In front of someone who could easily snap their neck with a flick of her finger, they had to become obedient dogs to survive.

“The Guild Master asks the one who shouted the loudest to come forward.”

Just a slight movement of her finger, and Min Woo-seong interpreted her thoughts perfectly.
Kim Jae-hoon, realizing he could not escape his fate, got up with a pale face, knowing what kind of thoughts were running through Ha Eung Eung’s mind.
Should she cut off his arm? His leg? How many of his limbs would she take?
Just thinking about it sent a chill down his spine and even made a tear escape from his eye.

‘Still, the courage of the servant who faced Boogeyman is impressive.’

In reality, Ha Eung Eung wasn’t that severe in her thoughts.
Although the rookies had insulted her due to their rough ways, no one, not even the servant, would dare to insult her to her face.

‘By the way, why is Woo-seong acting as a translator when he’s not even a translator?’

As she folded her arms, pondering, Woo-seong pushed his glasses up with one hand and coldly replied.

“Guild Master said, if you have any excuses for the tricks you played in the composition mission, speak now.”

Ha Eung Eung acknowledged it.
This man was truly competent.
He had the kind of hospitality skills that could speak what others wanted without them having to say it themselves.
She could only hope that the head of the demon faction's guest service department learned this skill.
He was indeed a man suited to be the head of Haenampa's guest service department.

‘This guy is so strong that even with mind-reading abilities, I can't read his thoughts. Is he interpreting it correctly?’

The fact that Woo-seong was guessing based on tact rather than using any supernatural abilities was truly impressive.