Tokyo: The Player Behind the Scenes.

Chapter 282, Section 28: Cell Division

"Hey, you bastard, stop twitching all the time."

In the cramped cells of the detention center.

The guy on the top bunk had just started to feel sleepy when he was completely jolted awake by the nervous, trembling sounds coming from the metal bunk bed beneath him.

He cursed under his breath in frustration, propped himself up, and, full of anger, poked half his head out to look down at the lower bunk.

The dim light from the emergency lights seeped in from the aisle, barely outlining the scene of the lower bunk.

Upon seeing this, his heart skipped a beat.

Park Min-woo was like a fish that had just come ashore, lying stiffly on the bed.

His face turned bright red, his cheeks bulged from clenching his teeth, veins popped out on his forehead, and his body trembled violently uncontrollably.

Those wide-open eyes, with pupils unusually bright in the dim light, shone with a frenzied excitement.

He grinned in a creepy, unsettling way, a stiff, eerie smile that seemed less like a living person and more like some cheap, terrifying doll.

"I'm...sorry." Park Min-woo's voice was squeezed out from between his clenched teeth, hoarse with a kind of suppressed emotion. "I...will control myself."

The guy on the upper bunk was speechless at the sight, only muttering a couple of curses before reluctantly turning over, covering his ears, and trying to block out the unsettling noise.

On the lower bunk, Park Min-woo gasped for breath, each inhalation feeling like his lungs were about to burst, and each exhalation accompanied by an uncontrollable tremor.

He forced himself to slow down, little by little, suppressing the excruciating pain that felt like it was about to burst through his skull.

If not long ago he still doubted that he was dreaming.

The intense pain of using his supernatural abilities made him realize that this was reality, and he was not delirious.

Besides, what dream can last for half a month straight and be logically sound?

In his view, the probability of this is even lower than becoming extraordinary, since extraordinary people have indeed stirred up the world in the past six months.

So much so that the television station would report on it every day.

Experts meticulously analyzed the knight's movements frame by frame, speculating with great seriousness that he might be of Southern Dynasty nationality.
News reports frequently mention the discovery of what appears to be a cave dwelling of a practitioner from the time of Dangun, prompting authorities to intensify their research.

Online, marketing accounts are everywhere, as if superhumans are as numerous as hairs on a cow and are everywhere.

Upon closer examination, it becomes clear that most of these are simply scams to recruit people into the religion.

Park Min-woo majored in English and spends a lot of time surfing mainstream foreign websites, so he considers himself fairly clear-headed. He can distinguish the authenticity of most news, and knows that the only confirmed supernatural phenomena seem to be concentrated in Japan, while other places are mostly just rumors, and some even involve AI special effects.

Within the Southern Dynasty, there isn't even a single truly visible superhuman being; otherwise, the US military stationed here wouldn't be so quiet.

He once fantasized about how wonderful it would be if he became extraordinary, so he could punish evil and promote good like Superman.
And now, the fantasy has come true.

He, Park Min-woo, has truly undergone a complete transformation; he is no longer an ordinary person.

But he also discovered that it was impossible for him to reach the level of Superman, and he couldn't understand the Superman he once admired at all, only finding him disgusting and a saint.

The law can only restrict ordinary people. From this moment on, he is free, at least in his heart.

It's truly a miracle!

He couldn't help but bring up the virtual screen again. This was the umpteenth time he had read it word by word, and no matter how many times he read it, he never found it boring.

You have successfully completed the game – Silver Cup Manor.

Overall Rating: B

[Final Reward: Ability - Cell Division (I am everywhere)]

[Potential: B, Growth Requirements: Pain, Hatred, Pleasure]

Basic capabilities:

Thousands of "me" (generating fist-sized flesh and blood, known as "split bodies") can be temporarily placed inside the body. During splitting, the original body can infuse its own consciousness into the split body, making it the true "original body." Currently, including the original body, the maximum number is 5. The splitting process is extremely painful, and the original body is weakened for 30 minutes afterward. The split body falls into a deep sleep ten kilometers away from the original body.

Initially, the offspring possess the mobility of a typical mollusk; during their growth phase, they resemble cats or dogs, possessing an exoskeleton and combat abilities; in their metamorphosis phase, they become human. They can rapidly grow into human form by consuming fresh meat/protein.
Flesh and Blood Fuel (Actively burn your own flesh and blood to gain explosive strength, speed, and pain desensitization for a short period of time, like a tireless zombie that ignores pain.)

[Growth I: Group Network (Maximum of 10 people increased; Splits can execute complex commands, and their speed and responsiveness depend on their distance from the main body; The main body can switch between players through physical contact)]

Growth II: The Night Before Parasitism (Maximum number of people increased to 100; Splits can transform into mucus to invade wounds and orifices, and manipulate parasitic organisms; The larger the animal being parasitized, the weaker its resistance needs to be)

Growth III: The Day of Unleashed (Maximum capacity increased to over 1000; allows all split entities to enter berserk mode, execute simple commands, and have their abilities overdrawn for enhanced power; allows for fusion)

Park Min-woo still has a vague understanding of the power hierarchy in the extraordinary world.

He only knew that ordinary superhumans probably couldn't withstand heavy firepower, but with their extraordinary mobility and unpredictable abilities, they could at least escape unscathed when encountering small armed forces.

Moreover, his ability is incredibly flexible, maximizing his survivability.

Once it develops, as long as the host can survive, it is very difficult to kill it completely.

A 10-kilometer radius is sufficient; in densely populated Seoul, even if you lock onto that area, it's difficult to do much.

His clones can have their appearance sculpted when they grow into humans.

However, once fixed, his appearance can no longer be changed; for him, it's simply a matter of splitting off another one.

The only problem now is how to get the initial split groups out of the detention center.

His first thought was to enter the underground water network through the toilet, but it would most likely be sent to the sewage treatment plant, making it difficult to evade machine monitoring.

The only remaining option is the journey to court, but security is tight and there are too many variables. Or...
Park Min-woo's brow twitched, as if he had thought of something, but he couldn't quite get over it.

But now he doesn't have many options. The split body is very weak in the early stages, and even a cat or a dog can carry it away. Its only advantage is that it is soft and has the ability to disguise itself.

To ensure that the splitting organisms can survive the most dangerous initial stage, they must be given "feed" to help them get through the initial stage so that they can have the ability to forage for food on their own in the city.

He closed his eyes, touching the location of the newly split off part of his abdomen, and an idea slowly took shape.

The next day.

Today is the day of the court hearing.

His blood and energy were very poor, and his face was as pale as a ghost.

This drew frequent sidelong glances from the other people in the detention cell.

"Mr. Park Min-woo, your application has been rejected." The prison guard led him out and delivered the notice.

Park Min-woo paused for a moment before remembering what he had applied for.

He wanted to pay respects to his father before the trial.

The other party kept delaying their response until the day of the court hearing. How ridiculous!

His father has already been buried in the columbarium, which is somewhat like the multi-tiered niche-style shelves often seen in Hong Kong movies, with photos and birth and death dates displayed.

That's the fate of people who are poor, but not so poor that they can't afford to eat.

In life, one toils away in a cramped pigeon coop, and in death, one can only afford a cramped pigeon coop as well, as if something has blurred the boundary between life and death.

He had a general impression of the place; although he didn't remember attending a funeral, he had visited the columbarium to pay his respects.

Not far away, within sight, lay the luxurious tombs of the wealthy, perched high on the hillside, their living space even larger than that of the poor during their lifetime.

"I see, thank you."

"Okay, get ready. The legal department will take you to court later." The prison guard nodded, glancing curiously at the man's strange expression, but didn't say anything more. Having spent so much time in the detention center, he had seen far more miserable people. After breakfast, he wolfed it down.

Hungry, very hungry.

In one night, he had already split into four clones.

We've just reached the maximum quantity limit.

He was numb with pain, but what was even more intense than the pain was a hunger that felt like a spasm in his stomach.

"Can I have some extra food?" he asked the chef, holding a plate that was completely empty.

The chef frowned and glanced at him twice: "Wait a minute."

After saying that, he found a prison guard to talk to, glancing at him every now and then.

"That's all we can add."

After he finished speaking, the chef scooped him a spoonful of rice, a handful of kimchi, and two slices of meat.

"Thank you."

He quietly found a corner to continue eating until he finished, at which point his hunger was somewhat reduced, but he was still very hungry.

Shortly afterward, bailiffs came to verify his information and took him for a medical examination.

"Moderate malnutrition?" After the medical examination results came out, the bailiff looked at Park Min-woo's gaunt face and then at the report.

It does seem that it is indeed possible to tell.

According to the records, the last physical examination only showed a slight case of low blood sugar.

How come you've gone straight to moderate illness after only half a month?

Are the meals in detention centers really that bad?

If it's that amazing, they could open a special weight loss class.

"Get some protein powder and mix it with water for him on the way." The doctor took out a packet of protein powder and a few bags of glucose.

Park Min-woo has successfully embarked on his journey.

I took some protein powder on the way, and my face regained a little color.

Upon arriving at the courthouse, he went to the private restroom and threw one of the split off into the toilet.

Then they waited quietly for the trial to begin.

When he came to his senses, he found himself unknowingly led into the courtroom, where the trial had already begun.

"The trial of Park Min-woo's quasi-rape case is now beginning."

Judge Lee Soo-yeon struck the gavel and glanced around.

There were quite a few people listening in tonight.

Courts typically do not open hearings for sexual violence cases, but today, since the plaintiff did not appear and the case has significant social impact, she opened the hearing to the public, hoping to let more people know about the ugliness of the perpetrator.

Yes, even though the actual trial has not yet been completed, she has already reached a verdict in her heart.

No male defendant will walk out of here.

What I did today was nothing more than going through the motions.

Her gaze fell on Park Min-woo in the defendant's dock behind the fence. His face was indifferent, like a bystander, as if the case being heard today had nothing to do with him.

She had seen too many of these feigned composures, and without exception, they all broke down when she finished delivering the verdict.

She was eager to see what kind of expression he would have when she made the final decision.

"Defendant, are you sure you don't need a lawyer?" Lee Soo-yeon asked, following procedure.

"unnecessary."

Lee Soo-yeon nodded, then looked at the prosecutor.

The prosecutor stood up and said, “I am Prosecutor Kim Min-na. On the evening of July 13, 2040, the defendant Park Min-woo drugged the victim, Ms. Cho, at a hotel in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, causing her to lose consciousness, and then forced her to have sexual intercourse. This act violates the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes and the Narcotics Control Act. Therefore, we are bringing this case to prosecution.”

Then, under Park Min-woo's gaze, Kim Min-na produced various pieces of evidence to prove that he had indeed entered the hotel and stayed for quite some time, and that he had indeed left many fingerprints, especially on the wine glasses and bottles.

As Park Min-woo recalled that day, a faint, mocking smile appeared on his lips.

This was once a nightmare for him, but now it makes him laugh.

The woman was one of his senior classmates, and they had been in quite a bit of contact recently. That evening, she invited him to dinner, and after dinner, she said she had left something at the hotel and would take him there.

He understood the other person's implication, of course, but being a novice and focused on his studies, he was somewhat at a loss. When he realized this was not a good idea and wanted to leave, the senior student coaxed him with a few words and poured him some wine.

But he didn't really do anything; he just poured her some wine, helped her find some things, chatted for about an hour, and then left.

He never dreamed that he would be taken away by the police the very next day.

He always believed it was a misunderstanding, that someone else might have done it after he left, and that he just happened to be there at that time. He thought it was nothing serious, that the law would give him justice, since he really didn't do it and didn't leave any crucial liquid behind.
Until he was formally detained.

Later, someone from the Federation contacted him and told him that he had been targeted by the Womad organization and had become someone's sacrifice.

At first, he didn't believe it. How could someone frame someone for no reason, just because of their gender?
And why should someone who has framed another person receive any benefits? Who gave them those benefits?
But when he saw the woman's tearful accusations in the news, he realized that what the federation said was true.

It was on that day that he truly realized that extremism can indeed disregard all objectivity.

Only extremes can deal with extremes.

"Park Min-woo, have you heard the prosecution's charges? Do you admit it or deny it?"

After the prosecution finished speaking, Judge Lee Soo-yeon looked at Park Min-woo and asked a question.

I deny it.

"Oh, so do you have any evidence to present, or anything to say in rebuttal?" Lee Soo-yeon seemed to be watching a fish struggling to survive after coming ashore.

“She bought the medicine, and she induced me to leave the marks. If you are willing to investigate her, you will be able to find the marks.”

Park Min-woo shook his head.

Lee Soo-yeon did not respond: "The prosecution continues."

The prosecution pressed their advantage, summoning witnesses to provide additional evidence, aiming to completely discredit Park Min-woo and leave him with no chance of recovery.

Whispers rippled through the gallery; in their view, the case was beyond redemption, no trial was necessary.

"The defendant, Park Min-woo, systematically used drugs to commit the assault, causing lifelong trauma to the victim. He showed no remorse and repeatedly denied his guilt. The prosecution is seeking a 15-year prison sentence for the defendant."

Kim Mina wore a relaxed victor's smile. The battle had been effortless, and she had once again become the hero, which would undoubtedly help her advance further in her career.

"Defendant Park Min-woo, is there anything you would like to say in the end?"

Park Min-woo glanced at the judge, then at the prosecution and the audience.

"I'm willing to give the law one last chance."

"And this will only happen once."

(End of this chapter)