Chapter 13: Protect the Georeserve
As the sun finally rise, both Rick and Mariana are present to see the Sea of Clouds and they were amused about it.
"Look at the clouds, they were so nice."
"There's no need to amuse about the clouds. We have to diffuse that time bomb. Look the bomb squad is still with us while posing as civilians just to stop that bomb. This dirty asshole needs to be apprehended right now." Rick said in disappointment.
With his statement, the group decided to find the time bomb which was hidden within the Masungi Georeserve as the song "Yugyugan Na" has been played. They meet one of the caretakers of the Georeserve named Kim Yuzon who guides them to show the way. Rick remembers that sometimes the rebel forces are also present in the area to kidnapped their victims in Baras. Rick eventually detected the bomb that was left behind within the forest of the Georeserve.
"This is it..."
"So who's responsible for abandoning a bomb here? It's gonna cause a wild fire and more animals will be dying from suffocation." Kim asked which Rick knows who it is.
"We're still hunting a Korean bomber just wanted to cause terrorism within Metro Manila. And now he's going to do on other provinces near the National Capital Region." Rick said confirming it was Jang-geum who set this bomb as one of the bomb squad immediately takes the bomb and successfully diffuses it.
"At least we diffused the bomb right away. I'm glad that these bomb squads are come and handy."
"When did you decided to stay at the Georeserve? Since you're our guide how come you decided to join with a lot of environmentalist here in this reserve."
"The DENR is the one who wanted to put all of the forest and mountains back to its former glory. But because a few people living in this reserve, they are caused trouble too. I heard that one of the ranger got killed by people who was involved in the illegal logging."
Suddenly, a rebel group which was armed with heavy rifle and firearms and they take a girl as a hostage.
"Kuya!" (Brother!)
"Don't get any closer! And this woman is toast!"
Kim was furious after seeing his sister was taken hostage and Rick knows why the rebel group had no demands whether it was a kidnapping or killing their victims as he lifts his grenades on his right hand.
"We're gonna save your sister, Kim. Besides, thanks for guiding us when we've met at the main entrance." Rick thanking Kim for guiding them to find the time bomb.
The bomb squad immediately contacts the AFP referring about the NPA rebels as Rick, Kim and Mariana decided to battle them as the song "Candy in My Ears" has been played for a brief period. Rick quickly throws a smoke grenade when one of them attempts to shoot them with M-16. Because of their open fire, the trio immediately disarms them as Rick uses his grenades to kill them as one of them attempts to shoot him which Kim demonstrates his Ssireum skills by grappling him with an abdomen throw. Mariana eventually shoots them and also demonstrating her moves. Rick eventually battles its leader to rescue Kim's sister and he demonstrates by throwing a grenade from behind to knock the leader down in explosion. The AFP battalion squad arrives to apprehend the rebel group as one of the lieutenants warn them to be careful.
"These NPA rebels are highly dangerous, so be careful. They are also known to ransack our high-grade weapons when they infiltrated within our battalion units."
"Sure..." Rick said accepting their warnings and Kim thanking them for rescuing his sister.
"Thanks for rescuing my sister... She is also working at the souvenir store within this Masungi Georeserve."
"You're welcome... now that this reserve is finally safe, we can follow some of our comrades and they are going to the Laguna Caldera." Rick said nicely and Kim knows about that island.
"I've been taking research about this Laguna Caldera. It is within the center island of the Laguna de Bay. I might decided to join up with you. We're also Rizalenos living within Rizal province." Kim said decided to join with Rick and Mariana to aid Brian and Ibrahim on their mission.
"All right... you can come with us." Mariana said which Kim accepts to join with them.
Back at the World of Tekken, the song "Sorry, Sorry" has been briefly played until the song itself was stopped from turning off the cellphone. The man reveals to be Hwoarang who turned off his own cellphone after hearing this music, showing his disinterest over K-Pop music while sitting on his motorcycle. He remembers how both Rhima and Crimson are present when he tells stories about the boybands in his place in Korea when they are going to the 999 mall in Divisoria.
Flashback:
"I guess I was lucky enough that I became a Taekwondo student under my master Baek Doo San as well as Crimson's dad."
"What do you mean, Hwoarang? After seeing Crimson who is hooking over getting posters and stickers of those guys like you." Rhima asked pointing out about the Korean boy and girl bands which makes him sigh.
"If Kazama would see this, he's uninterested. You see these guys like me in terms of physical appearance, they worked from different music entertainment companies at my place. Look this is in real-life, but not like our world with Kazama. Whoever works somewhere on these industries that I mentioned, it has strict rules, they strictly can't leave to see their respective parents at home to focus on the job as well as strict diets so that they remain to be physically fit." Hwoarang explained to Rhima about the dark side within the K-Pop entertainment industry. "Most of these idols like this are always living at the dorms."
"I heard that in Korea there was a highest number of celebrities are dying from suicide. You know this?" Rhima asked which Hwoarang closes his eyes and became saddened.
"Yep... that's what my master had sensed this ordeal especially to my street friends from street hustling. A lot of celebrity guys or girls had committed suicide for many reasons such as overpressure, scandals and mental depression. That's why entertainment businesses like in my place can be suck at times which led them to suffer mental health."
"..."
"Listen, other Koreans like Ryan Bang can refuse these offers because in your place in the Philippines it was considered my second home too. Whenever I rode my motorcycle, I've seen a lot of Korean people like me somewhere around the Metro or any places here." Hwoarang said smirking until Crimson shows the poster between two members from a different Korean boybands, much to his annoyance and dismay while shaking his head.
"I guess Crimson just wanted you to pick for her." Rhima said as Hwoarang points the picture of 2PM's Wooyoung in reluctance.
"Wooyoung from 2PM, he looks like me when I went to the South Korean military and I also admired this guy. But since Super Junior's Lee Dong-hae and Choi Si-won they had a similar build as mine unlike other dorks in their group. If we get older, our looks never change only just our physical build."
Flashback over:
Hwoarang can't forget what he had spoken to Rhima about the dark lives of the K-Pop entertainment industry in his place as he thought.
Rhima must be around in our world... I guess she must be in Kazama's clutches. If I see him, I would glad to fight him equally.
Hwoarang smirks and soon rode off his motorcycle to find them both.
Trivia:
*Kim Yuzon made his appearance of this chapter and he is based on the late ASTRO's Moonbin as his sister is based on his younger sister Billlie's Moon Sua. His fighting style is both Taekwondo and Ssireum and his abdomen throw is based of how Moonbin easily beats taekwondo practitioner and trot singer, Na Tae-joo with an abdomen throw in Knowing Bros.
*Kim's love of environment is how TV show hosts and voice actor Kim Atienza did in his Eco-show Matanglawin in 2008.
*Hwoarang also made his appearance from this chapter in his new main outfit in Tekken 8 which was seen in his gameplay and reveal trailer.
*Hwoarang also reveals to Rhima about the lives within the K-Pop industry including its darker side since his home country in South Korea is the highest number of deaths from suicide which are celebrities and members from a different girl or boy band groups.
*The way Hwoarang smirks is how he smirks on his rival, Jin Kazama on their unique intro of the game.