[AND THE ANSWER IS… THE
THE POISON]
[THE SUM GOES TO KI-MOON]
score : K 09 - A 06
The screens of our watches cast a bluish glow on our faces.
The commentators were shouting, the spectators were waving digital flags, and tweets were flying:
- Korea is going to sweep everything up!
- Ki-Moon has the answers in advance!
- This guy is something else, he reads the game like an open book!
For a moment, I thought I could breathe. Just for a moment.
The dry vibration returned, the one I dreaded more than the cries of the dead.
A message appeared on my bracelet.
Private message
*[Revolutionary]
*[Make Korea lose]
[Why ?]
*[You've already gained their trust, they'll all follow you, make them fall.]
[Why should I do that?]
*[to find out…..]
[know what?]
*[I'll tell you why you, Ki-Moon, are in this game.]
I barely looked up. Around me, the others were laughing.
-HA!
Kang-Dae, ever faithful, placed a hand on my shoulder, making me jump:
- You seem distracted.
I forced a smile.
- It's nothing
But in my head, only one sentence kept repeating:
"Make Korea lose."
Why? Why a Revolutionary? What does he gain from doing this? And why me, a player with no buyer, and no interest?
I looked up at the arena sky: there was only one answer, a tool that can be easily disposed of.
Only the countdown begins, and the rumble of a new round.
[NEXT ROUND: AMERICA]
a formidable mechanism: the one who inspired confidence could lead everyone… towards victory or downfall.
To be honest, I never knew how to guess.
I always had the answers
But this time, my due was over, so I no longer had an advance response.
A-09 retrieved the ball and made a simple gesture
Bang
It fell straight into the cup
Easy.
The man in black points at the glass
And everyone turns to stare at me.
Waiting for the correct answer
But my mouth says something else:
- I think it's... the fish
They all looked at their watches, happy.
Seo Hwan frowned.
- Are you sure? It's not like you to share something like that.
-..... Is that what you think?
Am I obligated to help this revolutionary even if I owe him money?
They're scrutinizing me.
And drink the contents in front of me.
[THE VOTES]
[KOREA: THE POISON]
[LIBERIA: THE POISON]
[RUSSIA: THE POISON]
[AMERICA: A REMEDY]
[BELGIUM: THE POISON]
[THE CORRECT ANSWER IS... THE REMEDY] .
And Korea lost its last decisive point
On the screens, the numbers came to life:
America: 6 → 7.
The laughter turned to whispers.
The comments explode, as do the negative looks:
- Ki-Moon?
"It's no use," Seo Hwan sighed.
I lowered my eyes. A slight dizziness came over me.
I had barely started when I regretted my plan.
[NEXT ROUND]
A triviality.
I knew it was over.
But I say:
- poison .
"You think we're still going to believe you?" Seo Hwan sighed.
Again.
And yet, they followed me.
Another defeat.
The faces around me hardened.
Kang-Dae clenched his fists.
- Ki-moon, Two mistakes in a row?
I shrugged.
- It happens, the next one will be the right one.
But within me, shame and truth clash.
I wasn't sure about betraying
I only knew that I could and wanted to know the truth.
Score : K 09 - A 09
One last deliberate mistake.
And the verdict will come, implacable:
One last throw from us, a completely...
[ THE VOTES
KOREA: A POISON
BELGIUM: A REMEDY
SEO HWAN : A REMEDIES
RUSSIA: A REMEDY]
The cameras focused on me.
And my screen, saturated with commentators, was shouting:
- That's it! Ki-Moon pulls them down!
- Don't listen to him anymore!
-Am I going to lose everything?
[ IS THE ANSWER IS…
my victory
[A POISON]
HAAAAAAAAA
"Did we win? WE WON! HAAAAA!" Kang yelled.
While we celebrated our victory, the nations were ablaze, the buyers' room vibrated with a cold rage.
The walls were covered with warning messages.
The lolita doll appeared in a giant hologram, her eyes like shards of glass.
- What have you done? You dare to tamper with my game?
An American buyer timidly raised his hand:
- … we didn't do anything …
A cracking sound was heard.
The screen behind him shattered, a red line running through it.
"Did nothing?" repeated the doll, her voice colder than an abyss.
-so I'm blind and stupid
And she disappeared.
The room remained silent.
No one dared to reply.
But it wasn't out of fear of the doll, but rather of this strange character among them.
On the field, Korea erupted in joy after so much tension.
Kang-Dae turned towards me, panting:
- Tell me you're doing this on purpose, I thought I was going to die.
I stared at him.
- I didn't do anything.
"Then explain." Sronda Seo Hwan sneered, giving him a nasty look.
I remained silent.
Not now.
In the final round I had doubts.
I then made a questionable choice.
I sensed the subtle change: my teammates hesitated.
They will no longer follow me.
Trust was cracking.
And that was exactly what the Revolutionary wanted.
But that's what I wanted too
America finished third with only A-09.
Korea, first.
Liberia in 4th
Russia in second place
And the Belgian public roared with rage.
He betrayed us!
- No, it's a brilliant move!
- He's a manipulator!
I remained seated, motionless, staring at my screen.
Everyone around me was silent.
Kang-Dae lowered his head, Kim Young was glancing at me, almost hurt.
I was staring at my watch.
The silence was strange for a victory.
Calm, feigned.
And yet, beneath that mask, I was disappointed.
I thought back to the message.
"Then I'll tell you why you, Ki-Moon, are in this game."
Difficult to understand
Why not another one?
I'm not the only one, is that unimportant?
I overthink things
I stood there, lost between anger and curiosity.
I no longer wanted to obey. But I wanted to know.
And this "wanting to know" had become my new addiction.
Stronger than survival.
DING
The doll
[I ACCEPT YOUR VOLUNTEER COOPERATION AND ASK YOU TO BE MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT THE SMALL ITEMS THAT GO OUT OF THE LINE]
[Everything deserves a reward, even if it is not great]
[COOPERATION DOES NOT DESERVE A REWARD]