The Road to Glory Chapter 177 - The Halo Dispute

[HALO’s Surprise Guerrilla Performance at a Pub After London Concert]

[“Why is the Prince Here?” The Circumstances of How Prince Arthur of England Was Caught Doing a Guerrilla Performance with HALO]

[Should We Consider This a Signal of Return?]

Last night was already buzzing with interviews of London citizens about Halo, Prince Arthur, and the British Royal Family.

Like any other country wouldn’t, reporters tried to dangerously capture everything from the restaurant Halo visited to the clothes he wore and even just where he was looking.

Especially since the British had a special meaning to Halo, the coverage density was high, and thus from the moment Halo arrived at Heathrow Airport for the London concert, British citizens could see Halo’s name every day.

In the midst of this.

There was a surprise guerrilla performance.

Since he caught a cold after getting caught in the rain in Korea, this was welcome news for London citizens who were disappointed that Halo would be staying in London for such a short time.

Of course, since only a limited number of people could enter the restricted space, there weren’t many who could actually enjoy it – those who stood waiting for half a day hoping people would come out shed tears of blood – but the mass media exploded with responses.

Especially when it was revealed that it wasn’t just Halo’s guerrilla performance, but that Prince Arthur participated as the drummer. It seemed like every reporter in the world had gathered. It was as if some country had declared war.

Why was Prince Arthur playing drums on Halo’s stage?

Was this news about Prince Arthur returning to the entertainment industry?

Also, was he returning as Halo’s member, or was this just a coincidental participation?

Various questions and speculations poured out.

Above all, it was about how these two people, who seemed to have no major commonalities, came to meet.

The eyes of all the Commonwealth, and furthermore European citizens, were focused on them.

If Halo had been a woman, or if Prince Arthur had been a princess of similar age, there would have been more sensational articles.

The most curious thing was this:

How was the Royal Family taking this situation?

Just as the tabloids were speculating whether Prince Arthur had used coercive means to perform with Halo.

Prince Arthur appeared at Heathrow Airport and said:

[British Prince Arthur, “England Always Wants You (HALO)”]

The incident took another turn.

Until now, if the main points of discussion were ‘is the Royal Family allowing Prince Arthur’s band debut’ and ‘why is Prince Arthur there anyway’, all points were flipped.

Whether Prince Arthur was returning to entertainment wasn’t the important issue.

What was important was how far the meaning of that comment, spoken through Prince Arthur’s mouth, extended.

Was it simply about the concert?

Or was there a bigger meaning?

[Why even mention it? The Royal Family has already met Halo. Why would they meet?]

[Was Prince Arthur standing as a Royal spokesperson?]

[Citizenship offer to HALO? Citizens’ opinions on this? Absolutely in favor]

[It was suspicious from the start. Compare the response when HALO arrived at Heathrow Airport with other star responses]

The mass media used plain sentences while sensationally escalating the matter.

Since they once thought of Halo as British, and thus were disappointed when it was revealed he was Korean, this incident where the Royal Family stepped forward first to represent their same opinion stirred up desires that had been submerged below the surface.

[Honestly, The Sun’s soul is in Britain!]

[Come to the country where the sun never sets]

[I support Prince Arthur and the Royal Family! Please, come to England!]

There were even enough people who dreamed of what would happen after Halo naturalized to Britain, seeing how he was more actively promoting in his home country Korea – that’s how it looked to them – and seemed to care more about his country – this too is speculation.

[This might not be simply about citizenship, since there’s talk about honorary medals, isn’t that why Prince Arthur stepped forward?]

[There’s been talk about medals. I’m totally in favor of Halo becoming British and receiving medals]

[Sir Halo… what a beautiful name]

Halo’s home country, Korea, which had been quietly observing this situation, was ready to flip.

Until now, it had been a month of shouting cheers until their voices went hoarse, with news about how each country welcomed Halo during the world concert, how many people waited to see him during guerrilla performances, how the world-famous metal band Scorpion treated Halo with such respect, and now articles about even a British prince playing drums for him.

[Life like Halo(Roh Haeil)]

Roh Haeil performing guerrilla concert with Prince Arthur… (article shared)

This is really crazy

└ What? Is he really a prince? Why is a prince playing drums?

└ Yes, it’s really the Prince Arthur. The Queen’s grandson

└ Wasn’t Prince Arthur famous for doing music before? Thought he quit but he’s playing again

[But how did they meet and end up doing a guerrilla performance? Can you just meet royalty on the street in England?]

└ Can you meet celebrities on the street in Korea? Maybe the prince just wanted to meet him?

└ I heard they’re talking about abuse of authority in England because of this

[I don’t care about anything else, just… wow… Have we ever had a star like this in our country?]

└ Never before and probably never will

└ For real, the Royal Family directly responding

└ Seriously, Halo is legendary

[Halo’s music is special in England. From their perspective, he revived Britpop that had been completely dead]

└ How is Britpop dead? Are you ignoring other bands and singers?

└ It’s true that Halo elevated England like the Beatles era

└ A K-pop singer who put British music back on top…?

Then.

At first, Koreans were happy that even a British prince came to greet Halo, but soon they turned serious.

[Isn’t this just asking for more concerts? Something felt off about how they were being clingy to Haeil, living up to their reputation as a country of pirates]

[England always wants Haeil? Do they think our country doesn’t? Suddenly getting really pissed]

[Their imperialist era habits are showing again, after territorial disputes now they want to dispute over people too?]

└ Keep getting pissed because China and Japan keep saying Haeil is their bloodline

└ For real LOL they even say Halo’s music was influenced by them. What influence exactly?

They had heard rumors about foreign countries targeting Halo before, but when such direct talk of ‘naturalization’ came up, the reaction in Korea was explosive.

[But isn’t naturalization totally possible? And now our country recognizes dual citizenship too. Whether it’s naturalization or citizenship, if he becomes British, looks like they’ll give him a title too, and it would solve his military service issue]

└ Hey but aren’t we reading too much into the prince’s words? It’s not like an official Royal spokesperson gave an interview

└ No, no, the possibility is high, if the prince speaks this openly it means the Royal Family’s stance is the same

└ Is this idiot not thinking? Who’s higher, a Royal spokesperson or a prince?

[What medal? Does he think our country doesn’t have medals?]

└ And using medals as an excuse, there are cases of foreigners receiving honorary medals

└ What title conferment in the 21st century

└ In Korea where 99% of citizens are from noble families

And then another incident occurred that added fuel to the fire.

Originally, it should have been digested as just one of many national pride news items.

However, given the situation, it was enough to be interpreted with impure intentions.

[Hé, mon garçon. How’s Paris?]

The BlueBird post by the French (former) actor and (current) congressman, which called “boy” – the nickname used most often for Halo after The Sun and Glory – rather than tagging Halo directly, seemed to be addressed to Halo.

Especially since the timing coincided exactly with Halo’s arrival at Charles de Gaulle Airport in France, and it was just hours after Prince Arthur made that comment which had now become the Royal Family’s official stance.

Of course, it could have been meant with purely innocent intentions asking how he was doing, or maybe it wasn’t even directed at Halo.

Still, Korea, already on fire, reached only one interpretation.

[What’s with this bastard now]

[Okay, I’m going to submit a national petition asking for a constitutional amendment to ban Halo’s naturalization]

└ LOL the Constitutional Court would probably pass it unanimously

└ You idiot, the Constitutional Court doesn’t make constitutional amendments, but I agree about the unanimous passing

[But what does the person in question say about this situation?]

└ If we knew that, would everyone be freaking out?

└ Roh Haeil’s personality is really unpredictable so I really don’t know

└ Maybe he doesn’t even know about this situation?

Half was correct, and half was wrong.

“Wow, I thought it was just a simple greeting, but people think about it this way.”

“Well, it’s not just anyone, but a prince who said it.”

Since he had monitored the Korean situation after returning to his accommodation.

“What do you think about this situation?”

When Moon Seoyeon held up a new spoon like a microphone, Halo hmm’d. After pretending to think seriously, he responded as if giving an interview.

“It’s not even something to consider.”

It was a statement that would make Koreans flip if they heard it, but it was true. While it wasn’t wrong that his soul was British, he had no intention of naturalizing to Britain now. He had adapted well to Korea, and even in the past, he had no pride or patriotism as a British person.

He was just always Halo, and only he mattered to himself.

Since he could do what he wanted wherever he was, and could go anywhere if he set his mind to it, his nationality didn’t matter.

Also, while people focused more on nationality regarding Prince Arthur’s words, Halo interpreted it as an intention to remind him about the ‘title (medal)’.

Even though he said he didn’t need it. Wasn’t it saying that they would always give it if he wanted it? He had a seemingly plain but subtly persistent personality.

“Ah, yesterday was fun though.”

“Let’s do it again next time we go, boss!”

“But I play drums better.”

While in Korea they were now interpreting even Prince Arthur’s guerrilla performance participation as suspicious behavior, the members happily remembered last night and prepared for the upcoming Paris concert rehearsal.

The Accor Arena on the Seine riverbank in Paris’s 12th arrondissement was one of the larger venues among Halo’s world tour concert locations. The capacity was 20,300 people. Since other venues had been around 17,000, this could be seen as having the most relaxed ticketing so far.

That is, if only French people came to the concert.

But for the Paris concert, as the seats were spacious and it was located in the center of Europe, most European citizens flocked to it, and the size became meaningless.

And as word spread through golden ticket verifications and officials’ statements that there were 100 golden tickets per concert, it was in some ways the concert with the lowest probability of winning a golden ticket.

But, right after Scorpion’s Rill had thrown such a fit at the previous concert, and even now would appear at official events wearing ‘that watch’ mockingly, people became very sensitive or awakened their second personalities just at the sight of similar watches.

The reason for explaining this well-known situation in such detail was-.

“Um, is it really okay for us to receive this watch?”

Peter said, trembling severely.

His arm wasn’t just shaking, it was trembling as if having a seizure.

“Should I give it to MJ?”

“Th-that’s not what I meant-.”

Halo giggled.

Having finally watched Spider-Man, he understood what MJ meant to Peter, and thought it was quite a funny joke.

“So did the proposal succeed?”

“Uh…”

How could it have succeeded?

The person who was supposed to propose was in the bathroom at the time,

MJ saw someone else – in the video – not Peter singing, and the proposal became nonexistent.

Forget the proposal, MJ didn’t even point out that Peter wasn’t there. Rather, she grabbed their collars asking why only they got to see Halo, and when they said Peter was in the bathroom during that time, she clicked her tongue.

They were already living together, and marriage was already decided, but he wanted to make a special day. Instead, MJ was the one who made it special.

“We decided to have the wedding soon.”

Not hearing the long story, Halo, who understood it as the proposal being successful, nodded.

“But is it okay for us to go to Mr. Halo’s concert?”

“Wasn’t it fun back then?”

Who could tell Halo it wasn’t fun?

While what happened afterward wasn’t fun, the performance on the boat remained their life’s greatest achievement.

“It was fun, but-.”

Who are you to ride a boat with The Sun

Did you really not see The Sun’s face

Are you the ones who hit The Sun’s back

Many memories passed by like a panorama.

Peter and his group trembled.

“I think it might be better to just watch from afar…”

“Wouldn’t we be a disturbance?”

Receiving a watch and being stage guests too?

They were really scared of what might happen.

Of course, they had absolutely no intention of showing off the watch like Scorpion’s Rill. While there probably weren’t many people who could throw a fit in front of so many people… they were scared even of receiving Halo’s stage guest proposal.

However, Halo didn’t know much about their past.

The only past of theirs that remained with him was that one day when they laughingly had him sing on the gondola fleet, gave him good memories, and cleanly parted ways.

If they had directly said they were scared or burdened, it would have been different, but since they didn’t say that, Halo interpreted their reaction similar to Prince Arthur’s time.

Halo looked at them and asked.

“Don’t you want to do it with me?”

Now 17 years old.

An innocent(?) boy looks at them.

With eyes saying you actually want to, right?

While Hellygans were scary, The Sun crew members who were Halo’s fans couldn’t say no to their singer.

What fan would make their beloved singer sad or disappointed?

Not knowing that Halo was someone who would laugh haha and say you actually like it even if you said no, they walked straight into the tiger’s mouth themselves.

“No, we really like it.”

“Hic… it’s an… honor…”

“We’re just so happy to have met you, Mr. Halo.”

“Then it’s settled.”

The boy smiled brightly.