LIGHTNOVELONLINE Episode 147 - 「White Blood」 (7)
After finishing his conversation with Seo Ji-eun, Yeon-woo checked the message from Han Hae-woon.
[Han Hae-woon: Team Leader, your prediction was correct. There have been companies aggressively buying up LN Entertainment’s stock recently.]
It seemed likely that the attempt to plant Jeon Ki-hoon and hinder the success of 「White Blood」 was groundwork for a takeover of LN Entertainment.
Yeon-woo reviewed the list and the companies’ information sent by Han Hae-woon and noticed that the attackers were primarily using investment firms with unclear sources of funds.
Thanks to the favorable turn of events brought about by Yeon-woo’s actions, the volume of traded shares had increased, and the attackers had quietly accumulated a significant amount of stock.
“Hmm, the best defense at a time like this is a preemptive strike.”
No matter what the attackers did, they couldn’t overcome the control of Representative Kim Joo-seong, who held the majority of the stock.
If the show had failed, the stock price might have plummeted due to the volatile nature of entertainment stocks, which are heavily influenced by the success or failure of projects, and shareholders might have questioned Kim Joo-seong’s management abilities…
6″In that case, the solution is to drive the company’s stock price even higher.”
For that, 「White Blood」 had to be a definite success.
This episode was crucial as the main and supporting cast of four were all coming together, and the scope and scale of the world were expanding, leading into the main content of the story.
Yeon-woo put down his smartphone and resumed the video for monitoring.
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The trade city of Trachea was vast.
Akhenaton was busy inquiring about the whereabouts of the red blood cell king of the Liver region while also looking for a small spaceship to enter Cardiac.
Meanwhile, Do-jin and Ella had gone out near their lodging to shop.
The purpose wasn’t simply to enjoy sightseeing; Do-jin’s shirt was tattered, and he planned to buy a new one and also get a brooch for Ella, especially since Akhenaton had given them a generous amount of oxygen.
They entered a clothing store, and Do-jin was surprised when he tried on a shirt.
“…Why is the color changing?”
“Of course it changes! Every cell is born with its own unique color.”
Seeing Do-jin’s confusion, Ella, who seemed excited to finally know something, puffed out her chest and strutted about.
“You don’t even know that, mister? Hmph.”
Ignoring Ella’s remark, Do-jin fell into thought.
He had entered the clothing store to see if wearing a red robe like the red blood cells would reduce the chances of being detected by the white blood cells. However, as soon as he put on the clothes, they turned black.
‘So, all the red blood cells wear red, and Akhenaton revered me as a god just because I wore black.’
It turned out that red blood cells didn’t wear red clothes; any clothes they wore turned red.
While it was unfortunate that he couldn’t blend in among the red blood cells, he realized that drawing attention was inevitable if he wanted to ascend.
“Ella, have you chosen your brooch?”
“Uh-huh. I’m torn between this one and this one!”
Ella was holding a brooch with a green gem in a round socket in one hand and a diamond-shaped brooch with a white gem in the other.
“…Hmm? Could it be?”
Do-jin subtly brought his black sword close to the white-gemmed brooch, but there was no reaction.
“Of course, something said to be at the bottom of the sea wouldn’t be lying around in a place like this. Ella, I’ll buy you both.”
“Really?!”
Do-jin shrugged nonchalantly and jingled the pouch Akhenaton had given him.
“It’s not my money, so why not.”
Thus, Do-jin changed into new clothes for the first time in six years, and Ella, thrilled with a brooch in each hand, left the store.
On their way back to the lodging, they happened to meet Akhenaton returning.
“You’ve changed your attire.”
“Ah, it was too tattered. Any progress?”
“Yes. It has been confirmed that our kingdom’s king entered Cardiac, but there are no records of him coming out.”
Do-jin tilted his head in puzzlement.
“That’s strange. Is it common for a king to be absent for so long?”
“Usually, it is not. The Red Blood King’s meeting held in Cardiac every ten years usually concludes quickly.
“The Red Blood King’s meeting? Do you know of any red blood cell kings named Cardiac?”
“Hmm, that’s the first I’ve heard of it. A name like Cardiac.”
Do-jin nodded and gestured for Akhenaton to continue.
Akhenaton resumed speaking.
“I thought he couldn’t return because he couldn’t use the Hepatic Vein, but it’s indeed strange that he hasn’t come back since going to Cardiac.”
“We’ll need to investigate that while we’re there. What about the ship?”
“Yes, I’ve secured it. It’s a small vessel with a capacity of four.”
It would have been a disaster if Akhenaton hadn’t been brought along. His efficiency was impressive.
“Good job. Let’s go inside and rest for now.”
Meanwhile, at that moment…
Dipangdal, who had been transporting passengers, had pulled his car over to the side of the road and was staring blankly at the sky, thinking about the foreign prince and his companions he had driven earlier that morning.
“Love, huh…”
As he shifted his gaze to the young woman in the photograph, an unfamiliar emotion welled up inside him.
It was his first time feeling such an emotion, and he didn’t know what to call it.
His friend Emilin, in the photo, had grown up with him and they had never been apart. Six years ago, Emilin was suddenly drafted and sent to the upper world, forcing them to part ways, but such occurrences were common in the life of a red blood cell, so he tried to forget it.
“Sigh…”
He let out a deep sigh, trying to control his emotions, but something warm fell onto his hand, which was resting limply on his thigh.
“Hmm?”
Looking in the rearview mirror, he saw tears streaming down his face.
[Love is wanting to see someone, missing them terribly when you can’t, and wanting to give them everything, even if it means sacrificing your own.]
The words spoken by the black-clad guest who had ridden with the foreign prince echoed in his mind.
His heart pounded as if he were ill.
The tingling sensation started from his fingertips and spread throughout his body, making it unbearable.
He missed Emilin terribly and longed to see her again.
He felt that he could sacrifice his current life if it meant seeing her once more.
As that thought crossed his mind, his tears stopped, and Dipangdal’s eyes hardened with resolve.
He turned the car around and pressed the accelerator, heading back to the place where he had dropped off the guests.
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Meanwhile, Do-jin, who was resting in the lodging, sensed something amiss.
“Narrator, check if any white blood cells are approaching.”
After being chased daily for six years, his developed sense of detection reacted sharply whenever they neared.
[White blood cells are approaching. Judging by their route, they will soon arrive at the building where you are.]
“…As expected. What level?”
The city is large, and there is a lot of interference. I couldn’t detect that.
He shook Akhenaton, who had fallen asleep from exhaustion after a day of running around.
“Akhenaton, wake up. We need to move.”
“…Huh? Already? It’s still evening.”
“White blood cells are approaching. Their goal is to eliminate me.”
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Akhenaton’s expression hardened.
“…I’ll prepare immediately.”
Akhenaton took out a crystal orb and some cards from his pocket and scattered them into the air.
“I’ll temporarily hide our location so the white blood cells can’t detect us right away.”
As Akhenaton chanted a spell with intricate hand gestures, a green barrier surrounded them, and they began packing their belongings.
“Get Ella.”
“Yes.”
Akhenaton went out into the hallway to call Ella from the adjacent room, but the door was locked, and there was no response.
Returning to the room, Akhenaton spoke with concern.
“…She seems to be asleep.”
“There’s no other choice.”
Given that the white blood cells were heading directly for the building, it was likely they had all the necessary information.
Leaving Ella behind would mean she could be captured and subjected to who knows what.
Do-jin punched the wall next to Ella’s room with all his might.
Crash—.
The wall crumbled enough for a person to pass through, and the loud noise startled Ella awake, her eyes wide as she sat up in bed.
“Huh, mister?”
“Get up quickly. We need to leave right now.”
“How can you just destroy someone else’s house!”
“If we don’t leave immediately, this entire building will be obliterated.”
Meanwhile, in the first-floor lobby, the white blood cells entered and looked around before approaching the counter.
[We are searching for this individual. Cooperate with the investigation and tell us where he is immediately.]
The counter staff frowned at the mechanical voice of the white blood cell, which displayed a hologram of the wanted individual.
“This is the trade city of Trachea. It’s not under the control of the white blood cells. We cannot provide guest information.”
The white blood cell then pulled out a laser gun and aimed it at the staff member’s forehead.
[Non-cooperation will result in immediate execution.]
At that moment, a bellboy, who had been observing, pulled out a laser gun from inside his bellboy jacket and aimed it at the white blood cell.
“I’ve heard from guests from the lower regions that the white blood cells have been extremely tyrannical lately. But you’ve completely lost it. I just told you that Trachea is not under your control.”
The bellboy’s face was the complete opposite of the kind smile he had when he received Do-jin and his party’s luggage.
Just then, the staff member at the counter pulled out a large railgun and aimed it at the white blood cells, and armed staff members poured out from all directions.
“Our hotel has excellent security, as we cater to first-class guests.”
And watching this scene with her mother, Han So-hyeon jumped up and down.
“Ah! What do I do! I’m on the screen!
“You have been an actress for years, yet you are making such a fuss.”
“But I’ve never done a shoot like that before…”
Han So-hyeon covered her eyes with her hands, peeking through her fingers to watch the screen.
[This is the trade city of Trachea. It’s not under the control of the white blood cells…]
[Our hotel has excellent security, as we cater to first-class guests…]
Listening to the lines, her face turned red.
“Ugh… I look ridiculous but kind of cool.”
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Yeon-woo, sitting on the sofa and watching the same scene, chuckled.
“Both of them really enjoyed filming that scene.”
He had worked with Son Jin-yuk as a cameo in 「The Stars Beyond the River」 and with Han So-hyeon as a lead in 「Master Plan」.
Since their debut, the three of them hadn’t appeared in the same frame, so they had fun reminiscing while filming.
“It’s already been three years since I debuted.”
Thinking about his debut naturally led him to think of Teacher Jung Chul-min.
Despite his acting skills, he had only been given minor roles, unable to truly shine.
He had only appeared briefly in the recent 「Sketch」.
Now, it was time for him to shine as Dipangdal.
On the screen, Han So-hyeon and Son Jin-yuk were in a standoff with the white blood cells in the lobby, and above them, the balcony burst open as Do-jin, holding Ella and Akhenaton in each hand, jumped down.
“What? They’re all just level 1.”
He set them down and, moving so fast that afterimages were visible, began slicing through the white blood cells in the lobby with his sword.
Zap—.
Crackle—.
Zap—.
Crackle—.
Like lightning, blue currents spread every time Do-jin moved.
Of course, it wasn’t Do-jin emitting the currents but the white blood cells bursting and releasing them as they were cut down.
In the blink of an eye, he had slaughtered all the white blood cells in the lobby.
Amazed by the overwhelming display of power, the staff member holding the railgun stood in a daze as Do-jin approached.
“Thanks for buying us some time. Use this to cover the damages.”
The staff member, caught off guard, accepted the pouch filled with oxygen orbs that Do-jin handed over.
“Well, we need to leave before this place gets even more wrecked.”
Do-jin turned and gestured for Akhenaton and Ella to follow, and they quickly ran after him.
“Wait a minute! This isn’t enough! Our hotel facilities are expensive!”
The hotel staff called out desperately, but the three were already running far away.
Meanwhile, with the vanguard destroyed, the white blood cells raised the alert level and began summoning higher-level white blood cells.
Whirr—.
From a distance, an oddly familiar engine sound could be heard.
“Hmm? They’ve sent level 3 units right away.”
These were the ones riding the magnetic levitation bikes that Do-jin had previously captured.
However, given their current situation with reduced mobility and the presence of Akhenaton and Ella, this was not a welcome sight.
Though these units weren’t particularly strong in attack, their agility made them a nuisance to deal with.
“Hey, mister. Where are we going?”
“Not sure. Akhenaton, where’s the boat you prepared?”
“Hmm, it’s quite a distance from here. There wasn’t an airfield nearby.”
Just then.
Screech—.
A magnetic levitation taxi drifted dangerously close to the ground, coming to a stop in front of Do-jin.
Clunk—.
The taxi door opened.
It was Dipangdal.
“Sir! I’m certain it’s love!”
“…”
Do-jin’s face twisted at Dipangdal’s sudden declaration.
“…What nonsense are you spouting now?”