Chapter 52

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 52

Chapter Title: An Offer They Can't Refuse

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The entire nation of South Korea was in an uproar.

No matter what channel you turned on, the main news was plastered with stories related to the White Tiger Guild.

[...The so-called 'White Tiger Secret Ledger,' which contains evidence of the nation's largest guild, White Tiger Guild, handing over astronomical amounts of illegal funds to key figures in politics and officialdom, has been made public, causing a massive stir.]

Along with the anchor's impassioned voice, a mosaic-covered portion of the ledger flashed by quickly. Densely packed numbers and names. It was ironclad evidence with no room for escape.

The screen switched, showing the photo line in front of the prosecutor's office. Amid a swarm of reporters, a single black luxury sedan pulled up.

The car door opened, and a stern-faced middle-aged man stepped out. It was Rep. Park Jong-cheol, a four-term heavyweight from the ruling party.

Flash! Flash! Flash!

Camera flashes exploded without respite.

- Rep.! Do you admit to receiving illegal funds from White Tiger?

- What was your relationship with Guild Master Cheon Hyuk-jin? Were there any favors requested?

- Is the amount listed in the secret ledger accurate?

The reporters' questions rained down, but Park Jong-cheol kept his lips tightly shut as he hurried into the prosecutor's office under the protection of his security detail. The arrogant, confident demeanor he usually displayed before the cameras was nowhere to be seen.

I sank deep into the sofa, munching on popcorn.

"Whoa..."

I recalled what CEO Seo Ihyeon had casually mentioned at the end of our call last night. Things might get a bit noisy for a while.

'A bit? How is this just a bit?'

I shoved a handful of popcorn into my mouth and picked up my smartphone from beside me.

The scroll seemed endless.

As White Tiger's corruption was exposed in detail, Rabbitfoot Company's status—which had resolved the crisis and supplied potions—skyrocketed in tandem.

"Hmm."

The public opinion praising me felt oddly satisfying. The corners of my mouth crept up.

Ding-

At that moment, a message notification popped up at the top of my smartphone.

The attached photo with the message showed a small vial containing a liquid emitting a brilliant blue glow.

"...Already?"

A few days ago, she had suddenly texted me a thank you.

I didn't know what for, but I told her to let me know if she needed anything—nothing to lose, right?

She asked me to get her some Divine Beast's Tears.

And she actually got it? In just a few days?

I quickly replied with thanks.

"......"

If even an S-rank mage was dealing with this, where the hell did she go?

I stared blankly at the screen in bewilderment when another message arrived.

This time it was the CEO. I immediately hit the call button.

"Yes, sure... What's up..."

- It's about something I need to report to you, Seha-ssi.

Seo Ihyeon's voice coming through the smartphone sounded much more relaxed.

- We're planning to completely overhaul our political connections with this incident.

"O-overhaul?"

- Yes. Cut out the rotten ties and bring in new partners who share our vision. I've attached profiles of the key figures we're approaching. Take a look, and if there's anything you don't like...

It was all stuff I wouldn't understand anyway. As usual, I let the CEO's words flow in one ear and out the other while lost in thought.

"Recruitment, huh..."

Winning over politicians wouldn't be easy. Of course, the CEO would handle it as always...

'But wouldn't it be easier with a solid bait?'

Something they couldn't refuse. Something only I could provide.

"W-well, then should I whip up some simple potions? Something useful even for normals..."

- If you did that, it would make things much easier. A potion made by you personally would be more powerful than any bribe.

The CEO's voice noticeably brightened over the smartphone.

"...It's not that great..."

- Nonsense. Your abilities always exceed expectations. I'll be waiting for good news.

After hanging up, I scratched my head. Things seemed to be snowballing.

"...Hmm."

A gift for politicians.

"Chun-sik-ah, what would you want?"

"Carrot."

Chun-sik, who was reading webtoons on the tablet next to me, replied half-heartedly. Useless. Totally useless.

I needed crowd wisdom. I opened [Alchemy Gallery] and posted.

'...Hair loss treatment?'

I almost laughed it off, but just in case, I checked the list the CEO sent.

The top one. The man in the profile photo had a spirited gaze befitting his young age for a politician.

But.

'...It's wide.'

An M-shaped deep receding hairline. The crown mysteriously sparse. Clear signs of artful styling to hide it, but it couldn't fool an alchemist's eyes.

I let out a hollow chuckle.

"...Do I really have to make this?"

Private membership bar. In a luxurious room bathed in soft lighting, two men sat facing each other.

"CEO Seo, you're riding high these days. Every news channel's talking about Rabbitfoot."

Rep. Kim Hyun-su tilted his whiskey glass, his face showing clear signs of fatigue.

He had been swamped lately preparing for the White Tiger Gate hearings. As the icon of reform leading the charge against White Tiger, the pressure on him was immense.

"It's all thanks to you paving the way, sir."

Seo Ihyeon bowed politely. An untouched glass sat before him.

"You know who'll fill the void once White Tiger crumbles."

"Rabbitfoot will take that role?"

"We just want to align with the new era of common sense you envision. A transparent, fair, and above all, safe hunter society."

Kim Hyun-su stared silently at Seo Ihyeon.

Seo Ihyeon. Professional manager of Rabbitfoot Company. The man before him was no pushover.

A razor-sharp edge hidden behind a soft smile. He was one of the primary culprits in sinking the White Tiger battleship.

"Fine. I'll consider your proposal positively. The Awakened Management Agency bill... With Rabbitfoot's help, it's not impossible."

Kim Hyun-su finally gave a positive signal.

Seo Ihyeon, keeping his smile, pulled out a small shopping bag from under the table. From it, he carefully extracted an elegantly packaged black box and slid it toward Kim Hyun-su.

"This is...?"

"Our owner is always grateful for your hard work, sir. This is a small token specially prepared by the owner for you."

Kim Hyun-su's eyes narrowed. A bribe? Even from Rabbitfoot, this was too blatant. Disappointing.

He cautiously opened the box. Inside were two hefty-looking crystal ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠vials.

One held a clear red liquid.

The other... a sticky, pitch-black liquid.

"What... is this?"

'Genesis Noir' was written on the black one's label.

Kim Hyun-su picked up the black vial, looking puzzled. It didn't look appetizing at all. More like poison.

Seo Ihyeon smiled softly, meeting Kim Hyun-su's eyes directly.

Then, in a low, intimate whisper:

"The red one is a Vitality Elixir that washes away fatigue. And the black one..."

Seo Ihyeon paused. Kim Hyun-su unconsciously swallowed hard.

"The owner said he deeply understands your heavy responsibilities... and the private struggles they cause."

"...Struggles?"

"Just apply it. Twice a day."

Seo Ihyeon's gaze briefly flicked to Kim Hyun-su's forehead. He instinctively reached to fix his disheveled hair but stopped.

"......!"

In that instant, Kim Hyun-su's pupils shook as if hit by an earthquake.

Private struggles.

No way.

It couldn't be.

"C-CEO Seo. What do you mean by..."

"Rabbitfoot's technology is already proven, isn't it?"

Seo Ihyeon drove the nail home with confident eyes.

"You can trust it. I guarantee the effects."

Kim Hyun-su gripped the black vial with trembling hands. Desperation, like clutching a lifeline, radiated from his fingertips.

"......"

The eyes of a heavyweight politician eyeing the presidency shook violently over a mere potion vial.

"Then, I'll await your positive reply."

Seo Ihyeon stood up.

Kim Hyun-su, forgetting to see him off, stared entranced at the black potion vial.