Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Rewards and Changes (1)
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Of course, it wasn't a completely impossible method.
However, if considered realistically, it was an absurd approach.
Who would plan things with such long-term foresight?
There were plenty of newly established mercenary companies.
If you joined one and seized the right opportunities, you could rise to fame on this planet alongside the company's growth.
However, that was purely idealistic.
Mercenaries didn't flock to major companies for no reason.
Even if advancement within the company was difficult, they offered far more stable conditions.
On Cameron Planet, a single mistake could cost your life.
Unless someone was obsessed with climbing the ranks, they wouldn't deliberately join a fledgling company in hopes of that.
“That doesn't seem to be the important point right now.”
“What's that supposed to mean?”
“Instead of agonizing over this, wouldn't it be faster to just call Recruit Kim Suhyun and ask him directly? I don't think he's that complicated of a person……”
Most recruits were like that, but Lee So-hee held a favorable view toward Suhyun.
Everyone in this company was someone who had once owed their life to Suhyun.
“……”
Jo Seung-hyun fell deep into thought.
Certainly, rather than wracking his brain here over what Suhyun wanted, calling him in for a straightforward talk suited his personality better.
That said, he needed to prepare before summoning him.
“If your guess is right, what could I possibly offer him?”
At the question, Lee So-hee shrugged her shoulders.
“I can't think of anything off the top of my head either. The company barely has any money to begin with, does it?”
“Don't rub in the facts like that. It's not my fault. We can't tweak the profit distribution any further. We're already splitting every bit of incoming revenue.”
Jo Seung-hyun wasn't praised for his character without reason.
He didn't hoard the profits but distributed them proportionally among the mercenaries.
That was how he had been able to gather mercenaries connected through personal ties to form the company.
“What about the team leader position?”
“…You know we don't have a 2nd Team, so what are you talking about?”
“I mean 1st Team. My team leader spot.”
Jo Seung-hyun was genuinely shocked.
Lee So-hee was bringing up something he hadn't even considered.
“What?!”
“I didn't think it was that shocking. If he came here seeking opportunity, isn't the 1st Team leader position the most solid answer?”
“True, but…… There are a ton of issues to hash out. First off, are you okay with it?”
“I wouldn't mind handing it over to someone else. My responsibilities wouldn't change anyway.”
The model soldier, a soldier among soldiers.
Jo Seung-hyun had always viewed Lee So-hee that way, but this display surprised him anew.
No matter how disciplined, did she really have zero ambition?
“If that person has the chops to lead, I'm more than willing to step aside. And Recruit Kim Suhyun overflows with leadership potential.”
“That much?”
“I recall putting it in the report I submitted.”
“I read the whole thing…… But experience aside, he's too young. It's questionable if the others would even accept him. Being team leader isn't something you can just hand over.”
“I'm pretty young myself.”
“You've got solid credentials.”
“When it comes to experience, no one feels it more clearly than the team members themselves—that Recruit Kim Suhyun is more adept than any of them.”
The recruits who had already synced up with Suhyun in battle knew it well.
How pointless it was to wave around their service records in front of him.
No matter how many years they'd toiled in the military, when it came to Cameron Planet, none of them could hold a candle to Suhyun.
“I don't think the team members would reject him.”
“Don't underestimate those guys. They follow orders without fuss, but they aren't exactly meek pushovers.”
“That's not what I meant.”
“?”
Lee So-hee had sensed from the occasional glimpses Suhyun revealed that he wasn't just the polite type he usually showed.
If any clashes arose, Suhyun would handle and resolve them.
And in her judgment, he had more than enough ability for it.
“If we're making changes, now's the time. Once the company scales up, it'll ripple everywhere.”
“Ugh…… Fine. Let's call him in first and hear it from the man himself.”
With Lee So-hee's concession, the biggest hurdle was cleared.
Jo Seung-hyun resolved to summon Suhyun for a direct talk.
* * *
“Let's be straight with each other. With your skills, you could've joined plenty of other outfits. So why here?”
“Large companies don't give rookies much chance.”
“…!”
Jo Seung-hyun felt a chill run down his spine.
He'd heard Lee So-hee's hunch, but he never imagined someone would pick the risky, narrow path for that reason.
“Just that?”
“Isn't it reason enough?”
“You call that a reason? Hey? There are companies that'd snap you up right this second……”
Mid-sentence, Jo Seung-hyun realized he was digging his own grave.
If Suhyun wanted to roll the dice here, why push him toward safer pastures?
“W-well, I mean……”
“If my presence is a bother, should I head somewhere else?”
“No! Absolutely not!”
Jo Seung-hyun reacted in a panic to Suhyun's question, then flushed red seeing Suhyun's smirk.
Overreacting to a casual jab like that.
His true feelings were laid utterly bare.
“Alright, you were upfront, so I'll be too. Other companies will come knocking with offers. Healing ability alone makes you prime recruitment material. And we can't match that level of incentive.”
“Hmm. Go on.”
“Now I get it—you didn't stumble in here out of naivety; you calculated this. So let me flip it: what do you want? You mentioned opportunity. What kind?”
“Nothing big…… Just, when running the company, discuss decisions with me before acting?”
“Pfft!”
Jo Seung-hyun spat out the tea he was sipping.
Suhyun casually turned his head to avoid it.
“Co-co-management?”
“No. Zero interest in titles or legal status. Simply—don't go rogue on decisions; loop me in. And give me a say.”
“…?”
Jo Seung-hyun couldn't wrap his head around it.
Sure, it was major sway, but it brought Suhyun no direct gain.
“Why would you need that?”
“To stop you from pulling idiotic stunts without my knowledge.”
“When have I ever……”
“Anyway, that's the ask?”
“Not kidding—think it over seriously.”
“!”
“I won't put it in writing, but I'm not the type to let broken promises slide.”
“…!”
Being cowed in sheer presence by some early-twenties kid.
Jo Seung-hyun was incredulous at himself.
In all his years navigating society, he'd never been out-presenced like this.
The math was simple.
Talent like Suhyun in the fold? Discussing ops together was no skin off his nose.
Jo Seung-hyun had no ego on that front.
“Deal. That's doable.”
“Great.”
“Truth be told, there's one more proposal, but I'm not sure how you'll take it.”
“Offering me the team leader spot?”
“Pfft!”
“Ah, seriously.”
“S-sorry. How'd you guess?”
“With you and Team Leader Lee So-hee plotting, what else could it be?”
Even during that Calcutta Gorilla hunt, Lee So-hee's gaze had lingered oddly.
Like she was testing his leadership mettle.
And in the heat of crisis, she hadn't balked at his orders—in fact, she'd seemed to egg them on.
It was easy to anticipate.
“So? Thoughts?”
“Sounds good.”
“?!”
Jo Seung-hyun was floored yet again by Suhyun's instant reply, zero hesitation.
“For real? You've wanted this and you're glad I brought it up first? You already cleared it with Team Leader Lee So-hee, huh?”
“You're confident wrangling those guys?”
“Naturally. Think I'd float it without the chops?”
“……”
“I'll manage the recruits, so don't sweat it. Now that we're unofficial partners, let's talk shop on something else.”
“?”
“This Calcutta Gorilla mess. I figure we're in a spot to demand loudly on rewards……”
He'd personally taken down the Calcutta Gorilla, extracted the trapped rival team, and thrown in healing to boot.
Undeniable impact—no amount of nitpicking could erase it.
Client and rival mercs alike couldn't ignore that.
“Yeah. Was eyeing extra cash……”
Mercs loved cash, after all—a fair ask.
But Suhyun shook his head.
“Cash is fine, but timing's off. That Redwood Forest we found? Demand rights to it, no holds barred. Whole thing's a stretch, but partial's feasible.”
“Redwood Forest? Why?”
“No clue on why.”
“Hey……”
“But Jindo Dog Team dragging here unfamiliar turf for sure ties to it. Prime for claiming first. It'll pay off big later.”
Jo Seung-hyun's eyes lit up.
He wasn't thick enough to miss Suhyun's drift.
This reeked of opportunity.
“Jindo Dog came for the Redwood Forest?”
“Felt like they'd locked in a promise for it. Curious about the why, if we can dig it up……”
“That changes everything. Crystal clear now.”
Suhyun pondered.
Redwood was rare, sure, but procurable.
Yet Jindo Dog 2nd Team mobilizing personally meant some pressing need.
‘Issue with their supply zone?’
Reason could wait.
Priority was staking claim.
Jindo Dog would gripe, blindsided and robbed of their prize……
But Cameron Planet was that kind of place.