Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Preparation (3)
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However, Suhyun remained calm. He responded to Kim Chang-sik's gaze with one of his own.
'Show them.'
'Show off this superpower for real?!'
Kim Chang-sik couldn't comprehend it. Hadn't Suhyun agreed that both he and his superpower were ambiguous? Demonstrating his power in front of a true superpowered individual like Choi Jae-ho would only invite humiliation, unless he was deliberately trying to embarrass himself.
'Did I do something wrong?!'
"You awakened?"
"Yes, I got lucky."
'Is that something you can just chalk up to luck?'
He wanted to argue, but Choi Jae-ho was a man with strong self-control. Instead of pressing, he kept quiet and waited for Suhyun's next words.
"May I ask what your superpower is?"
"I've worked alongside Jindo before, so of course you can ask. But it'll be easier to understand if you see it rather than hear about it. It's similar to yours, Team Leader Choi Jae-ho."
'Flame-based, huh.'
"Is it okay to use it here? If you only just awakened, control might be..."
Realizing a power that didn't exist before and mastering it perfectly right away would be even more astonishing. Even superpowered users needed time to fully handle their abilities after awakening.
"No. I've already mastered it completely. If I make any mistakes, I'll take responsibility."
The artifact storage room wasn't just secure—it was also exceptionally durable. Even moderate superpowers wouldn't leave a scratch on its structure.
The real concern was the artifacts. They weren't as fragile as glass cups, but given their value, he couldn't act recklessly.
"No, no... Still, it might be better to demonstrate outside."
"Is that so? Then I'll show you outside. After this is over."
Suhyun pretended to relent and accepted Choi Jae-ho's suggestion. There was a reason for dragging out the conversation like this. It was to deceive Choi Jae-ho. No one would suspect a fake superpower after such a discussion.
"Then, the Ring of Confusion?"
"Yes, I'd really like to have this one."
There was no reason to refuse if Suhyun wanted it. Choi Jae-ho inwardly sighed in relief.
A Rock Spear superpower user and the Ring of Confusion. Suhyun might change his mind, but these two seemed set. His interest made it clear.
If things ended smoothly like this, the company would feel the sting, but they could wrap it up.
'Hurry up and pick the third one.'
"Hm. Team Leader. But..."
"Yes?"
When Suhyun suddenly spoke up, Choi Jae-ho was startled and slightly stuttered. He had something to feel guilty about from his perspective.
'He hasn't noticed, has he?'
Not all the artifacts here were everything Jindo had. Large companies usually kept the truly valuable ones secret, not even disclosing their acquisition.
He hadn't thought they'd figure it out, but he was still cautious.
"I have a proposal."
"?
* * *
"You're giving up one artifact...?"
"Not giving up—yielding it. Honestly, isn't three artifacts a bit much?"
'He knows.'
Choi Jae-ho muttered inwardly as he studied Suhyun's expression. He couldn't read what this young guy was thinking. His words made sense, but Uncle Jo Company held the advantage right now. There was no need to yield.
"You're probably wondering why we're yielding."
"!"
"I don't want misunderstandings from holding back, so I'll explain. We want to stay on good terms with Jindo."
"...?"
"It'll be hard to operate alone here forever, right? We'll need help when necessary. Like when we gathered other teams to hunt that Calcutta Gorilla last time. Especially for a company like ours, that help is crucial."
"Hm..."
Only then did Choi Jae-ho understand Suhyun's intent. If the deal ended like this, Jindo and Uncle Jo Company had almost no chance of a good relationship going forward.
"But if that's the case, why not just say so officially from the start?"
"You're right. The reason I brought it up separately is to ask a favor of you, Team Leader Choi Jae-ho."
"?
"Tell Jindo that we yielded one artifact due to your persuasion. In return, I'd appreciate your help in future matters."
"...?!"
Choi Jae-ho, listening without much thought, flinched in surprise. What was this unexpected proposal?
"It's not like we're bribing you or anything..."
"Bribe? What are we giving you personally, Team Leader Choi Jae-ho? The outcome is the same. It's just whose credit it is that changes, and that doesn't matter much to us. So, it's better to have someone who feels good about us."
"Uh..."
Suhyun's proposal struck precisely at Choi Jae-ho's weak spot. Suhyun had already sized up the man.
A man proud of his position in Jindo Team 2, yet harboring an inferiority complex toward the Team 1 leader. For him, this was bait too tempting to resist.
This mess had started with a blunder by Jindo Team 1. If they hadn't all gone missing, Jindo wouldn't have made such a self-inflicted wound. If Choi Jae-ho managed to resolve it through persuasion and negotiation?
His evaluation would rise, unlike Team 1 Leader Lee Jung-woo's.
"I'm curious what you mean by 'a little help.'"
'He's hooked.'
Someone uninterested wouldn't even ask. Suhyun suppressed a smile and replied.
"Oh, it's nothing much. We'll probably team up with Jindo for joint operations someday, right? If someone internally opposes it emotionally, just persuade them logically. That's the kind of help I mean."
Choi Jae-ho's mind raced. His heart was already half-won over. No evidence, no risk, but plenty of gains. No reason to refuse.
The secrecy bothered him, but he convinced himself.
'No one gets hurt by this, right?'
"Ah, but instead of giving up an artifact, I want something else."
"What?"
"We can't just give up an artifact outright. Not from our side, and Jindo would find it suspicious too."
Even Choi Jae-ho thought convincing them to forgo an artifact entirely sounded off. He asked in a slightly deflated tone.
"What do you want?"
"You know exactly what we lack. Manpower."
"A superpowered user?!"
Choi Jae-ho raised his voice without thinking.
"Surely you're not asking for a superpowered user? That might be more valuable than an artifact..."
"Ah, sorry."
Choi Jae-ho scolded himself for panicking and composed his emotions. The idea of trading manpower for an artifact had made him jump to superpowered personnel.
"Then what kind of manpower?"
"Just regular, non-superpowered members are fine. The Team 10 members we saw last time seemed decent. I'd like to take some from there."
Regular members instead of an artifact. It was a clear win no matter how he looked at it. However...
'No one from here would go there...'
Unlike artifacts, members were living beings. He couldn't trade them arbitrarily. Their consent was needed. And the odds of them wanting to join Uncle Jo Company were slim.
"Uh..."
"Is that too much?"
"Ah, no. Not too much, but could you give us a little time? If we're definitely trading members for the artifact..."
"It has to be Team 10."
"?!"
"Team Leader. No matter how much I want to get along with Jindo, I'm not taking unknown members instead of an artifact. Don't try anything funny. I can always revert the deal."
"...!"
He had forgotten. Suhyun currently held the initiative in the negotiation. Choi Jae-ho, who had been plotting to stall and recruit new members, flushed as his intentions were exposed.
Uncle Jo Company could just grab the artifacts and brace for a soured relationship if things went south. Jindo would be the immediate loser.
"Then the members... It'll be tough."
"Yes? Really?"
As Choi Jae-ho slowly spoke with a reluctant expression, Suhyun responded as if caught off guard.
"I think it's a really good proposal... But the members..."
"Ah, I see. Can't be helped then... Oh, how about this? Only those who want to come."
"Uh... Will anyone?"
"If not, oh well... As I said earlier, that's our ideal scenario. Even Team 10 members are Jindo's. We'd bolster our forces with solid personnel and smooth things over with Jindo... If not, we'll just take another artifact plainly."
In that instant, a plan flashed in Choi Jae-ho's mind. If it worked, he could erase the humiliation from before and resolve this deal.
"How about one person? Just one?"
"Yes? One is a bit..."
"The number isn't the point, right? We don't train our members weakly. I guarantee even one isn't weak firepower."
"It has to be someone we've seen. No unknowns."
"Don't worry. He's from Team 10."
"Really? Still, one is..."
"Uncle Jo Company's goal is relationship recovery, right? So, concede on the numbers... If you allow it, I'll definitely smooth things over."
It was a negotiation possible because Uncle Jo Company wanted to mend ties with Jindo. Suhyun stalled a bit and said.
"Then..."
Choi Jae-ho swallowed hard.
"I'll decide after seeing who it is."
'Yes!'
* * *
Kang In-gyu was dragged in with a dazed expression. While on a long-overdue vacation, Team 2's leader had appeared. When this sky-high figure spoke to him directly, he shrank in panic.
After that, it was Choi Jae-ho's specialty: sweet-talking easy marks. With flattery and veiled threats mixed in, Kang In-gyu soon nodded.
"Get your act together. Don't look sloppy in front of them!"
"Yes, yes!"
Unlike Lee Jung-woo, Choi Jae-ho paid attention to lower teams' members. Suhyun had predicted that pressing would make him think of Kang In-gyu, and it hit the mark.
"You've seen him, right?"
"Yes, but..."
"He's a promising rookie even in Team 10. But we're fully staffed now, so it'd take time to move up. He says he'll work anywhere if given the chance."
"He's like me, huh?"
"Exactly. Haha!"
Choi Jae-ho sweated bullets inwardly. Even he knew pushing one guy like Kang In-gyu for a manpower request was greedy. He was currently Team 10's most out-of-place, fumbling member.
"You'll definitely smooth things over with Jindo, right?"
"Of course."
"Good. Then we'll compromise here."
'Yes!'
Word was flying chaotically among company contacts. Choi Jae-ho had gotten approval for the sudden change. It was hectic, but no one refused his request. The revised deal was obviously profitable.
"You can come back in now that the talk's done."
Those who had waited outside for the deal returned. Kim Chang-sik and Choi Hyun-min looked curious. They'd been stuck in another room, twiddling thumbs while the two chatted.
"How'd it go?"
"It ended well. Here's the final agreement—take a look."
"...?"
Choi Hyun-min read the final terms and gave Suhyun an odd look. It defied common sense.
But Suhyun seemed extremely satisfied.
"Good deal. Oh, if it's okay, could you check out our member's superpower outside? Since the abilities are similar, your advice would be valuable."
In his current mood, he'd even offer a training session. Choi Jae-ho nodded.
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