WeTried Translations

Translator: Yasi

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Precious Demon King

Chapter 79: How About WWE?

Logan Hayes. Once the strongest man in the human world, a hunter who had been ranked 1st had now plummeted to 451st.

In the United States, a land rife with conspiracy theories, all sorts of rumors swirled.

[ Discord Among Guardians. Was Jose and Arjun's Disappearance Logan's Fault? ]

[ Guardian Club Infighting. A Fight Among the Three Left Them Injured and Their Rankings Dropped. ]

[ Jose Ramirez and Arjun Mehra, Appearing to Have Fallen Beyond Rank 1000. ]

[ Ranking Collapse. 451st. Logan in Seclusion? Logan Hayes Disappears from Public View. ]

The United States' hunter management agency, Sentinel, made the exact opposite choice from Taiwan regarding Logan Hayes's treatment.

[ Logan Hayes Currently Participating in Research in Cooperation with Sentinel. ]

[ Logan Hayes Never Left the United States. Recently Circulating Conspiracy Theories Dismissed. ]

[ Logan Remains Core Hunter Resource. The United States Does Not Abandon a Hero Who Served His Country. ]

It wasn't entirely empty rhetoric. Logan Hayes was indeed cooperating with the Sentinel's Los Angeles branch on research. Of course, there was a somewhat coercive aspect.

"...So when will my house arrest be lifted?"

"Logan. The situation isn't good, you know that. Paraguay and India are applying heavy pressure."

"Just admit everything. They merely returned to the Goddess's embrace."

"Oh, Logan! You want to disclose everything about their deaths? That would be a poor choice."

The Los Angeles branch director let out a heavy sigh.

"I brought them in. I have no intention of avoiding responsibility. If I'm at fault, I will take full responsibility."

"Logan. I can't get used to that."

The director clutched his head. Logan Hayes's unwavering optimism was driving him crazy.

"What are you, some kind of Buddha? What on earth happened in Japan?"

"I've told you everything. I've never spoken a single lie."

"No, I don't mean the facts of that day. I'm asking what happened in your head."

"I simply accepted the Goddess."

"Oh, for God's sake!"

The director waved his hands in the air. Their conversations always went in circles.

It was the United States government that officially approved the Mad Monarch assassination operation. It was Logan Hayes who secretly called Jose Ramirez and Arjun Mehra, and this was carried out with the United States government taking the lead.

The three entered Japan as G-rank hunters, holding officially issued United States citizenship.

Now, Paraguay and India were pressuring the United States. These countries weren't as cooperative as those in Asia.

"They think we kidnapped them to the United States–G-rank hunters, no less."

"But that isn't true, is it?"

"It's because we can't reveal the truth!"

We didn't scout your hunters. We went on an assassination operation together, and they died.

Would anyone believe that? No–whether or not they would, the United States couldn't be the one to say it. They knew the truth, but they had to pretend otherwise.

"I understand my country's circumstances."

"So, have you changed your thinking?"

"My resolve hasn't changed. The place I belong is at his side."

"Oh my God. Logan, please come to your senses."

"I'm perfectly normal."

"Shit."

The director shot to his feet in anger. He knew Logan Hayes was normal. He had undergone every psychiatric evaluation, and a hunter who specialized in lifting status abnormalities, such as curses or hypnosis, had even been brought in to examine him. He was normal. That was the problem.

"Logan, you are America! You are this country's pride and symbol!"

"There are many G-rank hunters in the United States."

"Oh, come on. Stop the wordplay. That petty numbers game."

"..."

"Tell me, Logan. Does ranking serve as an indicator of strength?"

"..."

"Now that Sophie Giraud is ranked 1st, are you truly unable to defeat her?"

"..."

The director shook his head.

"Logan. I don't know about anything else, but one thing has certainly changed for the better since your personality changed–you never lie."

Even when he remained silent about unfavorable topics, he never lied. Logan Hayes's new attitude–acting like a pure paladin–was infuriating, but the director appreciated it.

"That silence of yours is the reason I cannot let you go."

A ranking drop? He only went from 1st to 451st. Had Logan Hayes really lost all his Guardian power?

Sentinel's judgment was no. Logan Hayes was still a hunter with potential.

"This is pointless. After all, my place is at the apostle's side."

"Hahh."

The director looked straight at Logan Hayes. Staring into his calm, unwavering eyes, which were utterly impervious to persuasion, the director asked.

"Do you really have to go to South Korea?"

"...Because that's where he is."

A strange gleam flickered in the director's eyes.

What if we brought Kim Junyong here to the United States?

Logan Hayes would never leave. No–certainly not.

But how?

The plan to incite Japan to stir up South Korea came to nothing. No one expected Japan to submit to South Korea so easily.

Furthermore, the president of the United States, who had seized control of the White House, even moved to ease tariffs on Japan.

In exchange for a single awakening ticket.

What a sorry state this country is in.

In any case, the director's mission was singular: to find common ground where Logan Hayes and the United States could coexist.

Currently, Logan Hayes would not leave by force. It was Sentinel that stood in the way of the president's attempt to openly pressure South Korea.

Logan Hayes was aware of Sentinel's contribution. If he were forced to leave for South Korea, there was no telling what the United States might do.

And then he would...have to fight against his beloved country.

"Your crew members all decided to stay in the United States."

"I respect their free will."

"Damn it, they're a team that only came together because of you!"

"Director."

Logan Hayes's gaze briefly sparkled. For the first time, a trace of yearning could be seen in his eyes.

"I still love my country and cherish my comrades."

"..."

"That is why I haven't left by force."

He couldn't let his beloved country make the wrong choice.

So that his homeland would not be destroyed by that person's hand. So that his precious comrades would not perish in that person's wrath.

"Haa...I'll leave it at that for today."

"I hope you recognize it soon. The moment you turn him into an enemy, the United States will face irreversible consequences."

"Yeah, I wish that line would work on the president."

The United States' hunter management agency, Sentinel. Caught in the middle, they were equally troubled.

When Logan Hayes was alone again, he took out his hunter phone. Since a hunter's phone was bound to its owner, it could neither be confiscated nor destroyed. It vanished the moment the hunter died.

The hunter phone was a device that connected the Demon Realm and Earth.

Tap, tap–

In the Guardian Club's secret chat room, now down to just four members after Sophie Giraud left, Logan Hayes once again tried to persuade his friends.

– It's not too late. Go to South Korea right now and beg him for forgiveness.

– The hell, Logan! One crazy bitch like Ryu Jai is more than enough!

– I can't stand this. I'm quitting the Guardians. Just watching over Africa is fulfilling my duty, as I see it. Let the world take care of itself.

– Jabari Okoye has left the room.

– I'm leaving too. If you want to contact me, do so through Sentinel.

– Vikram has left the room.

Now, only two people remain in the Guardian Club chat room.

– Ryu Jai, what are you doing?

There was no reply.

– You must be busy.

Ryu Jai was the only one who understood his solitude, his mission, and this sacred feeling.

He had hoped that Jabari Okoye and Vikram would also become comrades who shared in this rapture...

It must all be fate.

Whether one submitted to the apostle and was given an opportunity, or clashed and vanished, it was all fate.

"Hahh."

He could only hope that his homeland would soon realize that submitting was the path to survival.

* * *

G-rank hunter Vikram. Originally from India, he became a naturalized American citizen after returning to Earth.

Life in the United States, with its generous financial support and privileges, wasn't bad. But there was one thing that strangely grated on his nerves.

Logan Hayes. A white hunter, born in the United States. And on top of that, rank 1st.

He had everything Americans adored, and he was always the star while Vikram was often relegated to backup. Quietly, resentment had been piling up, and then an incident occurred.

Ryu Jai, who had gone to South Korea to verify the Demon Sword's authenticity, returned broken. Meanwhile, Logan Hayes, Jose Ramirez, and Arjun Mehra visited Japan but were defeated.

Logan Hayes and Ryu Jai became fervent followers of the Mad Monarch, while Jose Ramirez and Arjun Mehra died.

"Fucking, getting attached to a broken toy..."

Sentinel was still covering for Logan Hayes. They were busy defending him to the government, insisting that he would make a comeback.

"He's beyond saving."

Following the Mad Monarch, of all people...Now, the Demon Sword's authenticity no longer mattered.

Wasn't that so? Everyone only cared about their own life. Who gave a damn about world peace? It was all a show, nothing but business.

As long as I don't go to South Korea, I'll be fine.

As long as he didn't meet the Mad Monarch, he would be fine.

Finally, the perennial second, always treated like a shadow beneath the star, had his chance to be the protagonist!

[ Sophie Giraud, 1st ]

[ Vikram, 2nd ]

[ Jabari Okoye, 3rd ]

So what if a French girl held first place? He was American.

Now, the hunter representing the United States was not Logan Hayes but Vikram! He hoped the United States government and Sentinel would realize that soon.

He was quietly growing dissatisfied with the current situation, where they refused to push Logan Hayes aside and put him at the forefront.

Ring–

G7 secret chat room.

"Here we go again."

Annoyance surged. Logan Hayes, that bastard.

No longer even a Guardian, yet still acting like the protagonist. An R-rank worthless hunter.

"So the King of Africa left."

There was no reason to stay in this psychiatric ward anymore.

Tap, tap–

– I'm leaving too. If you want to contact me, do so through Sentinel.

He posted the message and immediately left the chat room. A thrill ran up his spine.

"Heh."

Now he was the strongest in the United States.

The world's strongest? Mad Monarch?

Bullshit. Save the world or wreck it? Whatever.

"I'm the best."

He would live for pleasure. Number one might be French, but he was American. A national-level hunter, backed by the support of the strongest nation–this was his chance to stand at the top of the world.

The method wasn't difficult. Public opinion in the United States was already heated.

Jose Ramirez and Arjun Mehra had gone missing. Ryu Jai and Logan Hayes had fallen in the rankings.

The void created by the departure of four G-rank hunters. The security gap caused by that. Anxiety over dimensional invasions.

And at the same time, "that Korean hunter" rose to prominence.

"Then I'll be his rival."

Why fight like an idiot? He just had to position himself as the man's adversary.

The idiots were the ones who went to face him in person. Why bother going at all?

"I'll just take the fame."

That was all a show was. On this global stage, the show, as always, brought enormous glory and wealth.

"Only idiots fight."

Vikram smirked slyly.

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