As expected by Sato and other foreign police officers.

In Korea’s political sphere, countermeasures against the drunk driver killer were already under discussion.
Aimed at placating and soothing the killer’s rage.

“So…”

In an office for lawmakers at the National Conference Hall.

Park Han-jae, the current ruling party leader, scratched his head.
At the request of fellow lawmakers who’d suddenly come to him.

“You’re saying we should amend drunk driving laws? Make the actual penalties much harsher than now?”

“Yes, Party Leader.”

“The situation’s dire. We need to act quickly.”

“I get why you’re saying this…”

With society in uproar over an indiscriminate killer, he acknowledged the need to respond.

The culprit had clearly demanded an end to drunk driving.
Ignoring it forever wasn’t an option.

If hundreds of citizens kept dying daily, their approval ratings would tank, wouldn’t they?

As politicians who lived off approval ratings, they had to at least make a gesture.

“But doesn’t that mean we’re submitting to a criminal?”
“We have to move because some Awakened lunatic is running wild without restraint?”

Still, the dynamic didn’t sit right with him.

The government and National Assembly bending to the demands of an unknown criminal?
Didn’t that make them feel like underlings?

For someone addicted to the authority of ruling a nation, it was utterly humiliating and infuriating.

“But what choice do we have? The longer we resist, the more danger we’re all in—not just the public, but us too.”

“You’re not exactly squeaky clean yourself, Party Leader.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

At Park Han-jae’s retort, a three-term lawmaker responded.

“Your nephew was arrested last year for drunk driving and speeding, wasn’t he?”
“There’s no guarantee the killer will only target real scum forever.”

“…”

“If they expand their targets… half the lawmakers, including you, will be busy attending funerals.”

It’s a well-known fact that lawmakers, among all professions, have an unusually high number of criminal records.

Even if the lawmakers themselves are clean, their associates or acquaintances often aren’t.

In essence, they were all at risk of being directly or indirectly harmed by Kim Sua.
Two lawmakers had already died after being caught in her net.

“At the very least, we need to make a gesture. Show we’re taking the situation seriously and working on improvements.”

“Tch…”

After a moment’s thought, Park Han-jae gave instructions to the lawmakers.

“Let’s do it this way.”

“Go ahead, sir.”

“Pretend to comply with their demands. Make it look like we’re amending laws and toughening penalties.”

Having rolled in politics for years, they all understood exactly what he meant.

“You mean stall for time?”

“Exactly. It takes months to draft and pass a bill, doesn’t it?”

Legislation through proper channels takes at least three months.
Reviews, votes—there’s a lot to do.

Unless the killer’s a legal expert, they likely don’t know the ins and outs of the process.

If they see a bill being drafted, they’ll be satisfied, and then we can drag it out.

And in the meantime…

“Even if the police are incompetent, give them a few months, and they’ll catch the killer, right? With police forces worldwide working together.”

Once the killer’s caught and dealt with, the threat’s gone.

After that, they could quietly scrap the bill.
Or tweak a few clauses to render it toothless.

In the end, they’d change nothing while securing their safety.

A textbook politician’s tactic.

“It’s our specialty, isn’t it?”

“True enough.”

“We’ll prepare as you wish, promptly.”

Soon, news spread nationwide that laws would be amended in line with the killer’s—Kim Sua’s—demands.

“These guys are pulling a fast one, huh?”

Unfortunately, it didn’t work on me.

The world has changed a lot.

In the past, a nation’s might was its military; now, it’s top-tier Hunters.
A country’s global standing hinges more on its number of Hunters than its economy or technology.
Hundreds of deaths used to be a catastrophe; now, it’s just a tragic incident.

But some things never change.
Politicians, for one, are a prime example.

“Why do these guys always stick to the same playbook?”

–It’s the arrogance of those in high places. They think they’re the greatest, so they can easily fool the masses.

“There are countless examples proving otherwise. Don’t they learn from history?”

–You know how many idiots believe, “I’m different, I can do it!”

“Fair point.”

The “I can do it, it’s me!” rule always applies.
From ancient Egypt to modern Korea, it’s the same.

Sadly, this time was no exception.

[Ruling party spokesperson announces plans to broadly increase drunk driving penalties.]
[Capitulation to the killer’s demands?]
[Capital region to see sharp increase in surprise crackdowns. Taxi and truck unions express displeasure.]

They said they’d change the law. Made grandiose statements to the media, acting like they meant it.

But that’s all it was.
No specifics on what or how, no roadmap for legislation.

The kind of plan that’d exist if they were serious about reform.

So I quickly saw through the higher-ups’ scheme.

“They’re just trying to brush it off.”

–Probably.

“They think I’ll be satisfied and disappear if they do this much?”

To someone unfamiliar with politics, it might look convincing—just media play and done.

That way, they save face.

‘Clever move.’

My public support comes from the legitimacy of my actions.
I only killed blatant drunk driver scum, and my demands are reasonable.

In short, though extreme, people accept that my actions are needed to change society.

So they’re showing a pretense of compliance.
If the killer keeps killing despite their efforts, it’s not their fault—that’s their angle.

The public only sees the surface, so if the situation shifts, opinion against me could sour.

“It’s not just Korea pulling this.”

–What, did they coordinate or something?

“No, it’s just that politicians all think alike.”

It wasn’t just here.
China’s Communist Party, America’s Democrats, Germany’s Social Democrats, and more.

Ruling parties worldwide were making similar declarations.

Japan, Poland, and France seem somewhat reasonable, at least…
Guess it’s a relief some are starting to get it.

“No choice, then.”

I stretched while sitting in my chair.
Extending my short arms, they barely reached past the backrest.

–Nuuooong…

Leaning back in the creaking chair, I prepared to use my power.

For countries still resisting, force was the only way to prod them.
I’d have to make it clear: act right if you want to live.

‘Which famous drunk drivers are out there?’

Targeting civilians wouldn’t have enough impact.
For shock value, I needed well-known names.

The next day, the media erupted again.

[Killer resumes indiscriminate executions. How long will this continue?]
[‘Another’ wave of mass suicides… Public frustration grows, urging the killer to stop.]
[Tributes pour in for actor Han Seol-ah’s death. Some question why she’s being mourned.]

After a few quiet days while governments responded to demands, the killer’s ruthless judgments resumed.

This time, 300 people died.
Fewer than before, but the impact was far greater.

All 300 were prominent figures with social clout and name recognition.

“Celebrities, comedians, city council members, high-ranking officials… Damn, they hit everyone.”

“I heard the National Assembly’s in chaos. Someone died mid-banquet.”

“That’s nothing. In the U.S., someone took their life during a live TV cooking show.”

“Oof.”

For regular people, deaths happened at home, in lodgings, restaurants, or shops.
Shocking for those nearby, but the public didn’t see it.

This time was different.
The targets were people constantly in the media, always in the public eye.

Naturally, the number of witnesses skyrocketed.

A person, perfectly fine moments before, suddenly changed expression.
Then stabbed their carotid artery in front of millions.

“Another term you shouldn’t search for online.”

Thanks to reports, video sharing, and disturbing image spam*, it took less than half a day for the world to know.

Now everyone had truly witnessed Kim Sua’s methods.

–[Wtf, are they insane?]
–[Killing people like that? Why?]
–[Killer’s always used the same method, though.]

Even those who’d supported the drunk driver killer, Kim Sua, began to waver.
No one expected to see gore like that in real life.

But that aside.
What truly shocked the higher-ups was something else.

“Park Ho-cheon’s dead? Even with Han Hyo-jae there?”

“Yes.”

“That monstrous bastard…”

An A-rank Hunter was killed by the killer.
Despite being protected by another A-rank mental-type Awakened.