Chapter 289
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 289
Chapter Title: Military Exemption Proposal
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Anyway, the reason the Awakener Management Agency and the National Intelligence Service had come looking for me was to "manage" me—the renowned creator of healing potions and a master alchemist.
And that "management" was one of the agency's primary duties.
The Awakener Management Agency was a central government organization recently established under some special act and presidential decree. Right now, their main job was preventing the outflow of high-level talent overseas.
While I was showering earlier, the women in my family had filled me in.
The agency's whole purpose was to manage awakeners domestically and internationally, which naturally included special oversight for top talent.
And of course, an alchemist who could produce healing potions fell squarely into that category.
Moreover, I wasn't just some guy who could whip them up—I was famous worldwide for mass-producing them like factory goods and crafting all sorts of other wondrous items.
Maybe the fourth sister was right; they were a bit late to the party.
After chatting about taxes and tax exemptions—basically roundabout funding support—we kept up some small talk until the agency staff awkwardly launched into a random conversation among themselves.
"Korea really is such a great place to live. The four distinct seasons... [Continued On Next Page]"
"...Yeah. Honestly, once you go abroad, you realize no other country is as livable as Korea, right?"
……
……
…
(Roughly a bunch of praise for Korea and patriotic appeals)
"...?"
The agency staff suddenly veered into effusive praise for Korea out of nowhere.
They bounced it back and forth among themselves, going on about how great it was to live here.
That's when the fourth sister whispered to me, "Oppa, they're laying the groundwork, saying Korea's a great place to live."
I whispered back, "I figured that much out myself."
I wondered what the point of that nonsense was, but after a bit, the agency staff got to the real meat of it.
"Alchemist Park Seung-ho, you're still unfulfilled on your military service, aren't you...?"
My expression, which had been indifferent up to that point, shifted—and suddenly, the mood changed for the NIS agents, the agency staff, and even the women in my family.
The military's a big deal.
I asked as calmly as I could.
"And?"
"...Haha, I should've led with this, just like I thought. The bosses upstairs still think praising Korea's seasons and appealing to patriotism works, but for the younger generation, it's all about direct benefits. Even you, sir—who hasn't asked a single question until now—perked right up. Oh, not that I'm blaming you, of course."
It felt like he was explaining that their earlier chit-chat wasn't their idea—it was just the higher-ups projecting their own views.
Which boomer old fart ordered that crap? These agency guys have it rough as civil servants.
I almost felt a little sorry for the agency staff, forced to awkwardly role-play whatever script their superiors handed them.
But it's a new agency—why fill the top spots with ancient boomers? Korea's organizational culture is a mystery... Don't tell me they stuffed it with clueless retirees like that game oversight committee, putting people who know zilch about gaming in charge?
I wanted to believe otherwise, but with Korea's track record of screw-ups, I couldn't be sure.
I wouldn't bat an eye if some higher-up at the agency knew absolutely nothing about awakeners.
"...You're doing critically important work for national industry. We can't have military service getting in the way. With that in mind, we're considering designating your workshop as a one-person defense contractor...?"
"My workshop as a one-person defense contractor...?"
"Yes. The NIS agents here can fill you in on the details."
My big sister whispered to me, "In short, they're offering a legal military exemption."
Hearing more, it turned out they'd treat our mansion—where I worked—as my workshop and specially designate it as a one-person defense contractor...?
Which meant this mansion I lived in would basically be the defense contractor. So just staying home would count as commuting to work there.
Exactly like big sis said: a legal military exemption.
"In exchange, since the designation requires healing potion production—even if just on paper—you'll need to produce them during the period to fulfill your obligations as a defense contractor."
"Ah, sure, of course."
It was just telling me to keep cranking out healing potions like always.
Sweet deal for me. Total win. Do what I always do and get legally exempted from the military? Jackpot.
Things looked like they'd wrap up nicely with the NIS agent.
But right at the end, we hit a major snag: they wanted to restrict primary sales of my items to domestic buyers only.
In other words, no overseas exports.
My second sister—who's sensitive about money—put the brakes on that immediately.
According to her, selling only domestically meant slashing prices to 1/20th or less—an exploitative contract from hell.
It was absurd, so she blew up right away.
She shot back like, "Sell at 5% of the price? Are you insane?" and even hinted that if they pushed like this, our whole family might emigrate to America.
"Banning overseas exports on products made by my little brother? In a free-market economy, that's an abuse and misuse of state power. We absolutely can't accept those terms."
"...Haha, don't see it that way. It's only for primary sales. Just sell first to domestic companies. You think we'd pull some tyrannical stunt like that?"
The NIS agent jumped in to smooth it over, saying it was just primary sales to domestic firms.
As a compromise we'd accept, he suggested my second sister's company, Hunter Auction.
In other words, keep listing and selling on her site like always—but make it official.
While designated as a defense contractor, no primary sales overseas.
It looked identical to what we'd been doing, so it was good for me. To outsiders, it seemed like a reasonable restriction—a win-win contract.
Second sis whispered that the bureaucrats probably needed something to show the public as the price for exempting me via defense contractor status.
Looking at her face, she saw this coming a mile away.
She'd probably anticipated it.
But to maximize my gains, she'd objected strongly from my perspective.
The fourth sister even hinted that if second sis hadn't pushed back, they might've forced sales exclusively on some no-name site... or worse, an NIS front company or shady post-retirement cash-grab by ex-agents, letting only them profit.
After some back-and-forth haggling, we finally agreed to draw up a contract.
The agency and NIS staff first suggested a verbal agreement instead, a few times over. But second sis pressed like, "Why should we trust you? Sign the damn thing," and they finally pulled pre-drafted contracts from their briefcases.
These guys...? Civil servants acting like sharp-suited gangsters without the knives?
Seeing them come prepared with contracts but try to dodge signing by pushing verbal-only—and potentially weasel out later—I knew second sis was right.
They chat all nice and smiley, but they're straight-up thugs. The type who drown you with a grin. Are all intel folks like this?
The NIS seemed to hold the real decision power. After contracting with them, we had a separate chat with the agency staff—nothing major, just "call if anything comes up."
Loose oversight, I guess...?
And for any issues, contact my assigned officer—a woman. The way she said it screamed "dumping it on the underling" civil servant vibe.
Kim Eun-chae? Hmm... Pretty cute. Maybe call her out later and fuck her... Awakener? Feels like she is. Can't use hypnosis. Gotta seduce her gently, build affection, then rail her. Once I stick it in, my aphrodisiac&drug semen will lock her down...
I started scheming to bang my agency handler when the time was right.
Not now—wait for a quiet moment, approach, seduce, bed her, then motel.
After the talks wrapped, the NIS and agency folks left. The fourth sister checked everywhere for bugs with gadgets and reviewed their movements on CCTV—just in case.
She was meticulous and reliable on this stuff.
The next day.
I hosted a bunch of overseas guests.
Americans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians, Brits, French, Germans, you name it... Businessmen from all over flocked to see me.
But they looked more like diplomats or intel agents disguised as businessmen. (Fourth sis confirmed it.)
Did the NIS and agency know about this and rush to me yesterday?
Anyway, these "businessmen" tried recruiting me to their countries.
Some offers might've tempted me without yesterday's deal.
But with military exemption and benefits on lock, plus no urge to leave Korea, I politely turned them all down and spent the day enjoying sex with the family at home.