The 12 Vassals

It was a sprawling lot large enough to hold dozens of five-ton trucks.

At its center rose a container building, three stories of massive shipping containers stacked end to end. Ringed by scores of five-ton trucks, it looked less like a building and more like a colossal logistics hub assembled entirely out of steel boxes.

"Looking at the photos, I thought Shine Mall's headquarters seemed too shabby for the name. But seeing it in person—the scale is overwhelming."

"Simple as it is, something this vast still packs a visual punch."

Shine Mall. One of the giant distribution conglomerates born after the world changed. Operating purely online, with no brick-and-mortar stores, it had built a nationwide logistics network so vast that it held exclusive supply contracts with the Dungeon Logistics Centers. It was no exaggeration to say that every piece of equipment a hunter used passed through Shine Mall. Back when Jeong-Hoon worked at a Dungeon Logistics Center, he had hauled hundreds of Shine Mall boxes a day.

"I never once imagined a company like that belonged to us."

"To be precise, it belongs to the Gaju. And have you never wondered why a Shine Mall convenience store sits inside Lumen, even if only as a partner brand?"

"…A convenience store? I saw the underground department store with the duty-free shops."

Jeong-Hoon cast his mind back to the basement levels, trying to recall a convenience store. All he could picture was Lumen 24, the five-story subterranean department store.

"The previous Gaju called it a convenience store. Therefore, it is a convenience store."

"…Knowing Shine Mall is family property makes me realize the family's real power has no bottom."

"If you complete every trial, even founding a nation would be within reach."

Unwilling to argue over whether the underground complex was a convenience store or a department store, Jeong-Hoon changed the subject. Steward Ju smiled gently.

The trials. The homework left behind by his late great-uncle, the previous Gaju.

In truth, Steward Ju had intended to reveal them as slowly as possible—only when he judged Jeong-Hoon ready. But yesterday's press conference had changed his mind. When Jeong-Hoon declared that he would make the world remember his name, the steward decided the time had come. He informed Jeong-Hoon that the family possessed businesses beyond Lumen, each led by one of the core figures among the vassals—the 12 Vassals. He also made clear that even as the current Gaju, Jeong-Hoon could not freely command those enterprises until he passed the trials left by his predecessor.

Of course, Jeong-Hoon's grand declaration at the press conference had been pure heat-of-the-moment bravado. But words once spoken could not be taken back. Under Steward Ju's insistent encouragement, he had set out on the trials—and the first of them was the one that would put Shine Mall in his hands.

"That whole 'founding a nation' bit—that only counts the businesses' power, right? Not the three thousand vassals?"

"The three thousand vassals are also attached to those businesses. Naturally, they are included."

Jeong-Hoon gave a bitter smile at the word included.

Three thousand vassals, and the twelve who represented them. Steward Ju was the chief of staff among the 12 Vassals—an SSS-class Awakened. Head Maid Jeong I-Yeong was S-class. Every one of the 12 Vassals was S-class ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠or higher; in other words, the twelve who would answer Jeong-Hoon's finger-snap summons. And the remaining three thousand were all A-class Awakened. With that kind of force, Jeong-Hoon wondered, what couldn't you do?

"I opened my mouth for nothing, and now look at the mess I'm in."

Even if almost no one had been left in the family, the fact that his great-uncle had installed a completely ordinary outsider like him as Gaju made Jeong-Hoon suspect there might be a safety lock on all that terrifying power.

Inside, Shine Mall looked far too polished to be a mere stack of containers. Exposed steel beams remained visible, yet rather than feeling unfinished, they seemed like deliberate design. If you ignored the colossal exterior, you could almost mistake the place for a brand-new startup. Only the throngs of sales representatives and the army of Shine Mall staff dealing with them reminded you that this was the dinosaur of the distribution industry.

Companies desperate to climb onto Shine Mall's logistics network, and Shine Mall employees coldly appraising them—it was a battlefield. Jeong-Hoon and Steward Ju crossed it without effort. As the chairman of Lumen and one of its directors, they were important guests even here; they reached the representative's office without a hitch.

"Steward Yeo Tae-Hyeon! The Gaju is here!"

The shout was so brazen that Jeong-Hoon wondered whether the family even kept secrets. Even if the family owned Shine Mall, not every employee was a vassal. Secrecy was maintained even at Lumen, where the Gaju resided. Jeong-Hoon scanned the office carefully—and relaxed when he saw only a single person inside.

A two-block cut with the bangs swept up in a regent style. Slightly slanted eyes, a sharp jawline. A light-gray suit paired with a necktie patterned with roaring flames. Somehow, the middle-aged man looked faintly like a street thug.

Despite being in his own office, he stood at a forty-five-degree angle from his desk, facing the door as if waiting for his master. He broke into a broad grin and started to raise a hand in greeting—then sensed Steward Ju's gaze and hesitated.

"Gaju, this is Steward Yeo Tae-Hyeon. As I mentioned, he is one of the 12 Vassals—and, for what it's worth, an SS-class Awakened."

"That is absolutely not a 'for what it's worth.'"

"Pleasure to meet you. Name's Yeo Tae-Hyeon."

"Huh? Ah—likewise."

"Steward Yeo!"

There ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was not a shred of formality in Yeo Tae-Hyeon's tone. He thrust out a hand for a handshake. Jeong-Hoon almost took it on instinct—until Steward Ju barked at the man.

"Ah, sorry about that."

"You're getting on in years. Isn't it about time you dropped that attitude?"

"I keep it professional when the occasion calls for it."

"The Gaju himself has graced us with his presence. It may feel casual, but this is still a family affair."

Even while being scolded, Yeo Tae-Hyeon managed to finish the handshake with Jeong-Hoon. He grinned and bowed his head.

"As the Chief Steward said, I'm Yeo Tae-Hyeon. Just call me Steward Yeo."

"Oh? But I already call Steward Ju 'Steward Ju,' so that might get confusing."

Besides, every one of the 12 Vassals except Head Maid Jeong I-Yeong was a man—and therefore a steward. If two of them shared a surname, the confusion would only grow worse.

"In that case…"

"You're the representative of Shine Mall, so I'll call you Representative Yeo."

"Gaju, there are others among those who lead the family's businesses who also hold the title of representative."

"…We'll deal with that later. For now, let's just distinguish 'steward' and 'representative' in this room."

"If that is the Gaju's will…"

"Doesn't bother me at all. Feels more like a nickname—kinda friendly, actually."

Yeo Tae-Hyeon planted both hands on his hips, shrugged, and looked down at Jeong-Hoon with a slight smile, chin lifted.

"Steward Yeo! What kind of insolence is that?!"

"Ah, my bad. The Gaju was treating me so easy I let it slip."

"I don't mind. Representative Yeo is about my father's age anyway."

"Come again? What are you talking about? I'm forty-two this year. Still in my prime."

"I'm twenty. If my father were still alive, he'd be forty-seven. So yes—about my father's age."

Yeo Tae-Hyeon's face went blank with shock. He had approached Jeong-Hoon like a buddy, only to be categorized as a middle-aged old man lecturing kids. For him, that was a serious blow.

"Perhaps we should wrap up the introductions here. There are more important matters."

"Hmm. So you're here because of the trial the previous Gaju left behind?"

"Yes. On Steward Ju's recommendation."

Jeong-Hoon nodded toward Steward Ju, who nodded back. Yeo Tae-Hyeon's expression turned solemn. He opened the office safe and drew out a small envelope.

"I will now read it."

"Is that…?"

"Yes. The trial left by the previous Gaju is written inside."

Yeo Tae-Hyeon held ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the paper envelope with almost sacred care. Steward Ju sank to the floor at the sight of the previous Gaju's final words. Jeong-Hoon seriously wondered whether he was supposed to sit as well.

"There is no need for you to do so, Gaju."

"…I'm grateful for that, but the way you're acting makes this feel like receiving a royal decree."

"Please don't trouble yourself over it. We simply do this because we enjoy it."

Watching grown men voluntarily perform something that belonged in a historical drama, Jeong-Hoon shook his head. Still, he recalled that certain famous guilds reenacted similar formalities as a concept. None of them meant it sincerely—it was branding. One such guild had become quite well-known for the gimmick, successful enough to rank just below the top ten. And because hunters were superpowered individuals, that theatrical image let them slip through a loophole in the Hunter Act—which limited commercial activity to dungeon clearances and monster hunting—and rake in advertising money on the side.

"So this is the same kind of game?"

"…Similar. The difference is that this particular game has been passed down from the founding Gaju through the two hundred thirty-seventh generation."

"That isn't a game anymore. That's a tradition."

Jeong-Hoon was the two hundred thirty-eighth Gaju. The first needed no explanation—he was the family's progenitor. What had begun then and continued unbroken to this day was not a game. It was tradition, pure and simple.

"Then I hereby abolish—"

Jeong-Hoon had been about to quietly abolish the whole thing, but Yeo Tae-Hyeon cut in and read the letter from the envelope, and the attempt failed.

"That is all. The Gaju's seal is stamped here. It is authentic, not a forgery. Chief Steward, if you would confirm."

"…Confirmed. This is without question the Gaju's seal."

Steward Ju took the letter and examined it. Jeong-Hoon stepped closer and looked as well. At the bottom of the page was a magnificent seal, its design so grand and ornate that Jeong-Hoon instinctively thought of the imperial seal of state. It bore no Chinese characters or readable text, yet it carried that same air of absolute authority.

"Steward Ju—does the Gaju inherit some kind of ancestral jade seal?"

"Not a jade seal, precisely, but something that has been passed down does exist."

The matter-of-fact tone sparked a sudden realization in Jeong-Hoon's mind.

The family was a hidden independent nation nestled inside modern society. A king called the Gaju. Twelve ministers called the 12 Vassals. And the remaining vassals as its people. That was why their scale always exceeded that of any ordinary nation. Military power capable of toppling a country. Wealth that could sway governments. The latent potential to found a state of their own. Their true peers were nations—not mere organizations or factions.

And the ruler of that hidden independent nation was a twenty-year-old orphan.

"…Maybe I shouldn't have done this."

Not becoming Gaju—agreeing to the trials. Crushing regret washed over him, until the piercing stares of Steward Ju and Yeo Tae-Hyeon snapped him back.

"Gaju, are you unwell?"

"No, just spacing out for a second."

"If the trial feels too burdensome, I shall ask Steward Yeo to grant you more time."

"There's no time limit on the trial. Whenever you're ready is fine—no pressure."

"That's a relief. Is that at your discretion, Steward Yeo?"

"Yes, it is. But I'll give you exactly three chances. You have to identify the most valuable object in this headquarters within three tries. For the record—it's not a person, not a building, and not the land."

Yeo Tae-Hyeon neatly eliminated the three things anyone might impulsively name as most valuable, then offered a bright smile—the clean, confident smile of a man who never once considered that the Gaju might fail.