Chapter 201: Bloodbath
[Chapter 201: Bloodbath]
"Extra! Extra!"
"Referee Moreno was butchered by the Italian mafia."
"Egyptian referee Gamal Al-Ghandour had his throat slashed."
"A bloody revenge at the World Cup."
"It's a declaration of war by the Italians and Spaniards!"
The controversy over the referee scandal, which had already ignited global outrage, intensified with the murder of two referees. However, unlike before, this breaking news was exclusively reported by Fox News, a subsidiary of News Corporation, rather than Carr Media Group. A fortunate reporter was chosen to carry this honor, effectively distancing it from Ian Carr.
The situation escalated dramatically, shocking the Korean side. They could have disguised the incident, maintained deniability, but now that two referees were dead, it fueled the fire, creating an even bigger spectacle!
The stakes were much higher than ever before, prompting FIFA and the Korean police to intervene. Naturally, the Koreans continued to stubbornly assert, "The matches were fair; the Italians have overstepped. We will find those responsible!"
The Italians celebrated, shouting, "This is what they deserved! The one who killed Moreno is our hero!"
FIFA scrambled to adjust referee assignments -- an action they had already planned -- though it was merely a cosmetic change. As for the murder case? That was beyond their reach; it was not something they could intervene in.
What about the Korean police? They couldn't even find the perpetrators, even if they could, it wouldn't matter. Ian had the situation under control easily -- through clever manipulation and illusions, he could create problems and handle them seamlessly with his power!
The Korean police even approached News Corporation, inquiring how they managed to capture such firsthand accounts of the scene.
The well-prepared reporter echoed Ian's sentiment: "Isn't it justifiable to retaliate against two corrupt referees? Isn't it normal to keep an eye on them?"
"Why didn't I stop it, you ask? What could a single reporter do to intervene?"
That was the quintessential Ian Carr attitude. As journalists, they were merely chroniclers of events; everything else was beyond their concern.
As for the whereabouts of the murderer? Sorry, they didn't have the guts to pursue that.
Their only bravery lay in capturing the shots; once that was done, they clocked out!
As the largest media conglomerate at the time, News Corporation held immense influence, the Koreans couldn't lay heavy hands on them. This was also why Ian was willing to give them a pass; he didn't need to offend them.
Ian subscribed to the idea of wielding a big stick while appearing friendly. Strong actions were necessary, but appearances had to maintain cordiality. "I, Ian Carr, will be a good friend to the Koreans!"
Now, Ian was becoming increasingly aware of the bigger picture -- no matter how ruthless he was behind the scenes, on the surface, he was just a good friend to everyone.
...
On June 23, Moreno and Gamal Al-Ghandour were murdered.
On June 24, News Corporation released new evidence proving that Korean coach Chung Mong-joon had bribed the referees, along with a plethora of internal disputes related to their coaching staff.
The bribed referees and internal dissent caused an uproar across the globe.
"Shameless!"
"The hypocrisy is shocking; they deserved their fate!"
"They should disqualify the Korean team!"
Public outrage surged. Countless voices called for the cancellation of Korea's finals qualification.
However, that was out of the question. Betting companies wouldn't allow it.
Bets had already been placed; if they nullified their victory, who would answer to the losers? You couldn't just go to the winners and demand your money back, could you? That would be a messy affair!
The betting companies wielded significant influence over events, so even FIFA stated they would thoroughly investigate the matter and punish Korea accordingly, but the results of matches that were already determined could not be changed.
While results might not alter, public anger certainly wouldn't fade! Especially among those who lost their bets; it hit their wallets and they were genuinely furious!
The Koreans had barely had joy for two days before they faced widespread condemnation. No matter how much they tried to deflect criticism, they found themselves unable to hold their heads high.
...
Consequently, due to this turmoil, fans across Korea rioted.
They banded together, storming public places, overwhelming the Korean police.
Despite official Korean calls for calm and promises of accountability, it was futile.
"What do you mean 'finding the murderer'?"
No! You can't find him; he's our hero!
Thus, the attacks became increasingly erratic, making it crucial for the Korean police to cope with the chaos.
Catch the murderer? They should be busy handling the riots instead.
In this environment, the World Cup descended into chaos, prompting countries worldwide to urge calm.
Only the reporters from Carr Media and News Corporation were reveling in the pandemonium.
"This is wonderful! The more chaos, the more news!"
The only disappointment for Ian was that he couldn't control this situation; he had to rely on his reporters' skills... If it wasn't an exclusive story, it wasn't a good story!
...
On the night of June 25, at 7:30 PM,
Seoul Sports Stadium.
Germany faced off against Korea.
Countless fans flooded in. Fans from various countries cheered and chanted:
"Shameless Korea!"
"Shameless Korea!"
"Shameless Korea!"
On this day, all fans set aside their differences and united in their disdain for the Korean team.
At last, a moment was present where soccer fans around the world rallied together.
Isn't that what the old saying goes? The Earth isn't united because aliens haven't invaded.
This Korean team had become the alien invaders of world soccer, drawing the ire of supporters everywhere.
Faced with such hostility, as the Korean team took the field, they were met with a cacophony of boos and insults.
Their mindset crumbled!
The bribery scandal had been confirmed, the internal disputes about coaching leaked, and even Guus Hiddink looked at these players with fiery indignation in his eyes.
With referee changes made, victory was no longer possible, and the Korean team lost all morale.
Amidst the long, furious crowd, the deafening boos made the Koreans feel as though they weren't even playing at home, nor were they in an away game... because there was hardly a soul supporting them.
Even the fanatical Korean supporters fell silent.
They were unsure whether continued support might invite even graver misfortune -- this could very well turn into a Munich massacre!
In this charged atmosphere, the match whistle blew.
Originally, this semifinal was expected to see Germany narrowly defeat Korea 1-0.
But everything changed in that moment!
Germany won, but not by 1-0; it was 12-0!
Devoid of spirit, the Korean team was crushed under the weight of the German machine. Moreover, Ian gave a little help in secret, because he bet heavily on a large German victory over Korea.
Almost everyone in the stadium cheered for Germany.
When Germany had beaten Brazil 7-1, they had received a warning not to win too much, fearful they wouldn't make it out alive.
But against Korea, they had no such concerns.
It wasn't Brazil they were facing; they weren't brimming with soccer thugs, and in light of their own shame, they probably wouldn't dare retaliate -- so why be afraid?
Kill as many as you can!
Thus, an unprecedented bloodbath unfolded in the history of the World Cup, directed by Ian.
With the whole stadium erupting with cheers for Germany, the Korean team fell apart entirely, losing all spirit, resulting in tears by the end for everyone involved.
They clinched victory and advanced to the semifinals, but what awaited them were endless insults and the crushing force of their opponents.
They would forever be etched in the annals of disgrace.
*****
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