Chapter 64

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 64

Chapter Title: The Mayor's Shenanigans

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Frontier Development headquarters, VIP lounge.

Luxurious leather sofas, crystal chandeliers, and abstract paintings adorning the walls. Everything screamed, "We have money to burn."

It was kind of funny going from the Black Goat House in Magpie Village to a place like this in a single day.

From a dingy little eatery steeped in the struggles of the common folk to the opulent lounge of a massive corporation. Was this the true life of a politician?

Sitting across from me was Jeong Jaehyeok, head of planning at Frontier Development.

"Mayor, I'm sorry for keeping you waiting."

"No need to apologize, Director Jeong. I showed up unannounced without an appointment. But you look unwell. Is something wrong?"

I put on a genuinely concerned expression. Of course, the expiration date on my concern was 0.1 seconds.

Jeong Jaehyeok rubbed his dry face and let out a sigh.

"I apologize for showing you such an unseemly sight. Last night, our legal director and PR director were attacked by intruders at their homes and are now hospitalized."

"Good heavens! That's horrific!"

I made a sincerely sympathetic face. Of course, there was no need to mention that the intruder went by the name Kang Hyunwoo.

"For you to come all the way here from city hall and worry about us... I don't know what to say."

"Think nothing of it. A company's safety is Neo Incheon's safety, isn't it? Anyway, let's get down to business. I just met with the residents of Magpie Village myself."

I lifted my coffee cup, pretending to savor the aroma, and continued.

"The situation is far more serious than I thought. You were right, Director."

At my words, Jeong Jaehyeok's eyes flickered subtly.

"They're not just simple speculators. From what I've gathered, some of them are practically organized gangsters. Dangerous types with records full of violent offenses. The attack on your directors is likely connected."

"No way... That explains their unreasonable negotiation tactics."

"Director, you've been negotiating not with innocent residents, but with a criminal syndicate."

Jeong Jaehyeok's fingers began tapping nervously on the table.

I looked straight into his eyes and delivered the killer blow.

"And several residents who had already voiced support for redevelopment inside the village have gone missing. No contact, and even their families can't find them. They're vanished."

"Mi... missing?"

His voice trembled faintly.

The mask of the cool-headed businessman cracked, revealing the face of a shaken human. My favorite moment.

"They're the type who'll harm even their fellow villagers for profit. Attacking your employees was nothing to them."

"My God..."

Of course, it was a story I just made up on the spot. But who cares? Truth doesn't matter. What matters is suspicion, distrust, and rage.

"There's no reason to negotiate with criminals like that. Mercy or dialogue is a luxury. You need to respond with force."

I said firmly.

"No more letting them drag you around. Mobilize every legal tool available. The evidence of their illegal activities is overflowing."

"But public opinion..."

"You need a PR campaign too. Expose the residents' true nature to the public. Greedy speculators, violent criminals. Let everyone know that's who they really are. Truth always triumphs, after all."

I played the righteous ally standing by his side, sharing his outrage.

"Don't worry. I, Lee Garam, will actively support this development project. It's essential for Neo Incheon's future, right? Eminent domain? Yes, I'll take responsibility and review that option too."

As I finished speaking, Jeong Jaehyeok let out a sigh of relief. With a voice full of gratitude, he said,

"As expected of Mayor Lee Garam. Wise and decisive, just like the rumors say. We'll put our faith in you."

Exactly the same line I'd heard at the Black Goat House.

That's right. Trust me. The axe you trust cuts your foot the deepest.

I hid my satisfied smile and brought the now-cold coffee to my lips.

Bat Operation Round 1 complete. Both sides now trusted me. They thought I was on their side.

Time to prepare for Round 2. Stoke the conflict, amplify the suspicion, nurture the rage.

From that day on, Neo Incheon was swept up in two storms.

Or rather, total chaos was a better word for it.

And at the center of that chaos was none other than me, Maestro of Mayhem Lee Garam.

Magpie Village community center.

"Village head! Big trouble!"

I burst through the door, panting. Pure acting, of course. I'd just gotten out of the car a short walk away.

"I've received info that Frontier Development is pushing for eminent domain!"

"What?!"

"Contact every residents' group in the country! We need a united front! Make it clear this isn't just Magpie Village's problem—it's a shared issue for all redevelopment victims nationwide!"

"Those scumbags worse than dogs or pigs! Contact every residents' group in the country right now! Spread the word and launch a nationwide united struggle!"

Park Chunbae's roar echoed through the hall.

Frontier Development conference room.

"Director! The residents are going completely berserk!"

I kicked open the conference room door and shouted.

"They're already linking up with residents' groups from other regions for a nationwide anti-corporate ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠campaign. Frontier Development is just their first target!"

Director Jeong Jaehyeok's face turned pale.

"If they succeed, every redevelopment project in the country will grind to a halt! It's not too late—strike first!"

Under my urgent pleading, Director Jeong slammed the table and stood.

"Legal team, start reviewing eminent domain procedures immediately! PR team, prepare materials to expose the residents to the media! And secure external security contractors ahead of time!"

The next day, Magpie Village.

"Village head! Big trouble!"

I ran up to Park Chunbae, gasping for breath.

"Confirmed intel that Frontier Development is calling in security contractors! They've already signed the contracts!"

"What?!"

"And they're gearing up for a massive media blitz to paint the residents as thugs! I'm doing my best to hold them back from city hall, but there's a limit!"

"Those bastards... You think we'll just take this lying down?!"

"We need a bigger alliance! Pull in civic groups, environmental organizations! Especially the enviro groups—they can rally around ecological destruction from the development!"

The next day, Frontier Development.

"Director Jeong! The residents' movements are getting dangerous!"

I urgently called Jeong Jaehyeok.

"Intel just came in—they're roping in environmental groups now! Even linking up with Gaia Circle, the infamous eco-terrorists!"

"Environmental groups too?!"

"They're planning to balloon the protests tenfold! Hashtag campaigns are already trending on SNS!"

"Damn it! What the..."

"Director, you need to act bolder. Before they make the first move!"

And so, I shuttled back and forth between the two sides multiple times a day, spreading false intel.

To Magpie Village, I revealed Frontier Development's ruthless advances. To Frontier Development, I warned of the residents' nefarious plots.

Both sides' rage erupted like active volcanoes, and the conflict became a ticking time bomb on the verge of explosion.

Residents swarmed the corporate headquarters, ramping up the protests. Centered on the Magpie Village residents' committee, twelve groups from across the country, environmental protection orgs, and even a college student alliance looking to pad their resumes joined in a massive coalition demonstration.

"Protect Magpie Village!"

"Stop the ecological destruction!"

"Don't steal the common people's homes!"

The chants blasting from megaphones shook the Frontier Development building.

Meanwhile, the media war raged fiercely.

The portal site homepages were plastered with Magpie Village articles. The comment sections turned into battlegrounds for politically obsessed keyboard warriors.

The company escalated with stronger measures. They erected steel fences and deployed not ordinary guards, but superpowered security contractors.

"Maintain a minimum distance of 50 meters. Physical force may be used if you approach."

Powered agents from Wolf Security surrounded the building entrance. In bulletproof vests and helmets, sharp claws extended from their hands.

Tension peaked between the superpowered individuals on both sides. One small clash could spark a major incident.

"Mayor, thank you so much!"

Park Chunbae grabbed my hand, eyes welling with tears.

"Without you, we'd have been defenseless!"

Meanwhile, Jeong ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Jaehyeok showered me with thanks too.

"If not for your intel, we'd have been completely duped. Thank you!"

Just words of thanks? Where's the sincerity gift?

Shouldn't they at least slip me an apology box in a situation like this?

Even kimchi or gochujang handmade by the Magpie Village grannies would do.

Anyway, both sides saw me as their savior.

Funny ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thing. I was their real enemy.

The arsonist of conflict. The artist of chaos. The maestro of mayhem.

That was me, Lee Garam.

Neo Incheon was turning into a powder keg battlefield.

The media covered the "Magpie Village Incident" as top news daily, broadcasting the standoff.

Leaning deep into my office chair, I watched a YouTube news stream of the uproar with a satisfied smile.

"See that, Nero? That's high-level intellectual strategy. Fool both sides into fighting each other, and in the process, play the fisherman... well, not exactly profit, but anyway! It's advanced tactics to achieve your goals!"

Nyaa?

Nero looked up at me, tail swishing.

"Not mackerel. High-level! Elite operation."

Nya?

"No."

I wasn't giving mackerel, so Nero melted back into a puddle on the floor.

This guy has no appreciation for his master's feats.

Tsk. My fault for trying to explain the aesthetics of politics to a cat.

I turned back to the screen.

A live protest camera zoomed in on an old man's face. It was Park Chunbae. Gripping the mic, he wailed like he was coughing up blood.

"Frontier Development, wake up! Drive out the corrupt corporation that bribed city councilors to deceive us!"

The old man's rage looked genuine.

But.

Something felt off.

Everything was going perfectly according to plan, yet a nagging sense of unease lingered in my mind.

The residents' reactions.

They were angry, sure. But the texture of that anger felt wrong somehow.

Like they were forcing themselves to rage louder to hide something truly important.

Acting.

Yes. That was acting.

I could tell because I spent every day hiding my true incompetent self as a mayor, suppressing my desire to get impeached, and playing the role of a brilliant leader.

Their rage ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lacked a core.

One more question.

Why was Mirai Corporation—one of the top 10 conglomerates—obsessing over rundown old Magpie Village, even mobilizing Frontier Development?

Simple redevelopment profits? The Metro Line 3 plan? Sure, big projects.

But not big enough for a giant like Mirai to get personally involved.

There was something more behind it. Something much bigger, much more important.

Then, a puzzle piece clicked into place.

The Cactopia truck terrorist. Instigated by Frontier Development, but originally a Magpie Village resident.

Kim Jintae.

He was the link who knew both sides' secrets.

"Kang Pro."

I pressed the intercom.

[Yes, Mayor.]

"Get the car ready. I have somewhere to go."

[Where to?]

"Neo Incheon Detention Center. Need to meet a guy named Kim Jintae."

[Understood.]

No more questions. Very Kang Hyunwoo-like. Simple and good.

And so we arrived at Neo Incheon Detention Center.

Gray building, high walls, dense barbed wire. A space designed to suppress freedom.

A foreboding premonition flashed that it might become my future home, but I shook my head to dismiss it.

No, I'll successfully escape and spend my leisurely retirement on some South Pacific island. Yeah, yeah.

"Alright, Kang Pro. You know the plan? You're the bad cop, I'm the good mayor."

"...I'm not a cop."

"Ahem. I know, I know! It's a figure of speech. Metaphor! So you're playing the bad guy. No need to say anything—just standing there is intimidating enough."

We passed through a dark, cold corridor to a visitation room sealed by a heavy iron door.

A haggard man sat at the table opposite. The Cactopia truck terrorist, Kim Jintae.

He must have been a normal citizen once, but now he looked like a different person entirely.

Beard unkempt, eyes sunken. Prison life really changes a person.

The moment he saw us, his face drained of color and he began trembling.

"Mr. Kim Jintae. You look startled. It's okay. We're not here to harm you."

I equipped my most benevolent, merciful smile. Like a mayor come to save an innocent citizen.

"I just want the truth. The real reason you were driven to that."