Chapter 76
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: The Mayor and Approval Ratings
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Neo Incheon City Hall, Mayor's Office.
The world being at peace shows up in all sorts of ways.
For instance, the city hall staff's footsteps grow more leisurely, or the shouting in the complaints office drops off sharply.
But the surefire proof is that I, Lee Garam, mayor of this city, finally have the leisure to secretly check my smartphone and pull off some paycheck Lupin antics.
Ignoring the mountain of documents piled up, I placed my phone atop the fluffy belly of Nero, who was dozing off with his head drooping on the desk.
A live stream with a familiar title.
My Twinkle Little Star, Han Sia.
Her broadcasts were the one and only solace amid the endless drudgery of paperwork.
Meow...
Nero let out a tiny sound in his sleep. He seemed to quite enjoy the dazzling light show on the screen.
Or maybe he was just scolding his butler for slacking off. Either way, it didn't matter. Carpe diem. I had to savor this moment.
On the screen, Polaris was locked in fierce combat.
Her opponent was a B-rank villain, Octopus Gorilla.
A gorilla-like brute with eight arms, just as the name suggested. But with his raw strength, he could fold a sloppy C-rank hero in half like it was nothing—a straightforward, brutal villain.
But today's Polaris was different.
With a short grunt, Polaris kicked off the ground and soared into the air.
A barrage of fists raining down from all eight arms.
Attacks that would have sent her flying after a hit or two in the past—she dodged them all by a hair's breadth, like a sheet of paper slipping through.
No, "by a hair's breadth" wasn't right.
There was conviction in her movements. As if she could read every attack trajectory in advance.
"Good girl, Sia. Holding your own so effortlessly against a B-rank villain."
A pleased smile tugged at my lips. Was this how a dad felt watching his daughter's school play?
She'd grown stronger again.
Ever since that moment facing off against the S-rank monster Kraken over the West Sea.
Getting stronger every time she brushed with death... Was her race some kind of alien warrior folk?
Her blonde hair was suspicious too... Next time we met, I'd have to check for a tail. Heh heh...
With Polaris's shout, dazzling starlight condensed at her fingertips into a single point.
That light slammed precisely into Octopus Gorilla's solar plexus.
Boom!
A flash of light, and the ape's body hurtled backward, smashing into the wall.
She flashed a V-sign to the viewers beyond the screen.
"Haa... haa... Everyone! Did you see that? Your North Star, Polaris! Mission accomplished today too!"
Whoa, soloing a B-rank villain ㄷㄷ
Lmao total beast
Lol gorilla got wrecked
That movement was insane
Noona I'm dyingggg
GodSia! GodSia!
D-rank doing this? ㄷㄷ No way
Sis you're so cool!
"Everyone! And... and finally!"
She shouted in a voice thick with emotion.
"I've been promoted to B-rank! Woo-hoo!"
Polaris bounced around like a kid in pure joy. The chat exploded into a festival at her innocent display.
Viewership had already surpassed 100.
Whoa she actually hit B-rank ㄷㄷ
Congrats!!!
Promotion congrats!!!
B-rank monthly salary now?
Finally escaping cup ramen life?
You earned it Sia ㅠㅠ
"Yes! Everyone! Cup ramen days are truly over now! Sob... No more discarded lunchboxes every day... And sometimes, just sometimes, I can even buy discounted pork belly...!"
Tears welled up in Polaris's eyes.
"Plus, my convenience store part-time is done as of today! B-ranks get plenty of hero subsidies from the Association!"
My heart ached.
Getting that emotional over pork belly.
How tough had her life been?
No way around it. Next time, I'd sponsor some hanwoo beef. On the corporate card, of course. City budget.
Then Polaris clenched her fist with resolve.
She pulled out her smartphone and dialed somewhere.
No way.
A irritated middle-aged man's voice came through the speakerphone.
Who the hell's that guy?
What a boomer jerk
Dude lecturing on social life can't do it himself
Record it Sia!
Classic sleazy boss
Where's that store? Gonna raid it
Wait, villain up top?
Reported
I clenched my fist.
That boomer manager. I'd send Kang Pro for a tax audit...
No need. Polaris had a far more powerful weapon.
Polaris's voice turned ice-cold in an instant.
[......]
Silence flowed from the speakerphone.
A long, deep, heavy silence.
Finally, a trembling voice broke through intermittently.
The voice flipped 180 degrees. Dripping with sycophancy and groveling.
A complete 180 in attitude, like flipping a pancake.
Disgustingly servile laughter.
Could any scene expose the human nature of being weak to the strong and strong to the weak more nakedly?
Viewers spammed the chat with lols, reveling in the satisfaction.
This was the logic of power. The harsh law of a city ruled by superheroes.
Polaris ended the call with a satisfied look.
"And everyone! I'm escaping the goshiwon too! The Association provides dorms for B-rank heroes! A two-room place! Two rooms! A house with a separate bedroom and living room!"
She smiled happily, like she owned the world.
Watching that smile warmed a corner of my heart without me realizing.
Alright. Time to double that joy.
I logged into my trusty "ComeHither" account and punched in a generous donation.
ComeHither donated 10,000,000 won!
[Congrats on B-rank baby♥ Two-room means room for oppa too right? Heh heh...]
The chat flipped out again.
Kya
10 mil ㄷㄷ
Chairman appears lol
Pervert uncle's back
I'm D-rank why no donation for me
Who even is that dude
Top 10 corp exec? Too much cash
Old fart soup get lost, reeks of broth
The last one stung, but I ignored it.
I wasn't broth. I was a donor. A fairy godfather uncle.
Polaris glanced at my donation message and flashed a practiced smile, like it was routine now.
Her reaction wasn't panic or disgust. It was showmanship.
I donated a million more.
ComeHither donated 1,000,000 won!
[Gaaah! Please no ban! Uncle can't live without Sia!]
Lmaooooooo
Ok banning you
Usual WWE routine
ATM machine lol
Ban him? Then bail money go go
Threaten ban and money duplicates lol
The expected back-and-forth. This was the fun of streams.
Polaris burst into laughter at my pathetic(?) plea.
After laughing for a while, she bowed deeply to the camera, overcome with emotion.
"Thank you all so much. Without you... I wouldn't be where I am today."
Her sincere gratitude made me awkwardly scratch under my nose.
I was cackling along, using Polaris's success story as a side dish to kill time, when...
"Having fun, are we?"
Still glued to the screen, I absentmindedly replied.
"Yeah, it's fun, duh~"
Of course it was. Our Sia hit B-rank.
A heartwarming tale of a D-rank hero overcoming trials to rise to B-rank.
What drama could be more entertaining?
"Ho ho."
Wait. Who was talking?
Nero? Had he finally awakened language skills too?
I slowly turned to look at the desk.
Nero was still curled up, tail swishing lazily.
No response. No ability or will to speak.
Then whose voice was...
Creeeak.
Like a rusty robot, I turned my head very, very slowly.
There stood my icy secretary, Seria Park, arms crossed, looking down at me.
Her turquoise eyes pierced like searchlights, exposing all my secrets and laziness.
"Uh, how long you been there?"
"Since you said 'Good girl, Sia' and started firing off those vulgar donation messages. I've been watching the whole time."
Damn. She'd seen everything from the start.
I hurriedly tried to hide the phone under Nero's belly.
Too late. Way too late.
Seria approached with graceful steps and leaned on the desk. A faint perfume scent brushed my nose as she tilted forward.
"Using a taxpayer-funded smartphone bought with taxpayer money in a city hall run on taxpayer funds to kill work hours with city power. Quite the efficient budget waste. A self-contained waste system, you could say."
Every word from her lips stabbed like a dagger into my heart.
A relentless barrage of words.
"N-no, this is hero activity monitoring! Real-time analysis of a newly promoted B-rank hero's combat data to reflect in city policy! Super important work!"
"Ho ho. And harassing donations under the nickname 'ComeHither' is part of city policy too? Neo Incheon's new welfare program?"
"H-how did you...!"
Busted. Completely read.
"Multitasking sex crimes and asset management, eh? The mayor's work style is beyond ordinary human comprehension."
"No! It's just a concept! For the stream's entertainment!"
"Entertainment. I see. Entertaining by dumping the mayor's filthy desires on a young girl. Thanks, I learned something new. The world is far more disgusting than I thought."
Ugh. Fact violence. Personality insult based on truth.
This wouldn't do. I needed a trump card to reverse the tide.
I shot a desperate look at the tri-color cat yawning on the desk.
Go Nero! You're my pick!
"Nero! Attack! All-or-nothing tackle!"
At my shout, Nero's eyes snapped open on the desk.
The fierce beast of tri-color fur. King of Catopia.
Nero rose bravely and advanced on Seria.
His stately steps like a tiny knight charging a windmill.
Sacrifice Nero and escape in the chaos!
Sorry Nero! Your sacrifice won't be in vain! I'll build a Churu Memorial Hall in your name!
As my grand escape plan crystallized...
Swish-
Nero rubbed against Seria's leg.
Purrrr...
A deep, satisfied purr rumbling from his throat.
Seria casually bent down and scooped him up.
Nero melted into her arms, ramping up the affection.
That blissful expression under her touch.
Betrayal. Such blatant betrayal.
"Traitor! Nero you turncoat! Capitalist pig cat selling your soul for churu!"
Despite my anguished cry, Seria gently scratched under Nero's chin nonchalantly.
Purrrr...
"Nero's smart as expected. He can tell incompetent mayors from capable secretaries. Animal instinct beats human reason sometimes."
I sank deep into my chair. Defeat drained all strength from my body.
Then.
Ring ring-!
The office phone blared.
A lifeline? A ray of light to end this hell?
God hadn't abandoned this poor lamb yet.
This call had to be urgent city business.
Mass villain terror, lab explosion, whatever.
Any disaster to pull me from this suffocating mess.
Caller ID.
[Association President Jin Yeonhwa]
My heart sank.
No. Not a lifeline—a noose for my neck.
"Kieeeek!"
I recoiled from the phone like it was radioactive. Screaming like Kraken.
Don't answer. Jin Yeonhwa's calls always herald disaster. Signals of doom.
"Seria! Tell the president I'm not here! Say I'm on urgent overseas business! Or collapsed and hospitalized!"
"Understood."
Seria nodded and picked up the receiver.
"Yes. Mayor's office."
Her voice was a tone softer than usual.
"Ah, President. Yes. The mayor's right here."
Her glance screamed.
'Don't even think of running.'
I mouthed desperately.
'Amnesia! Say I don't know who I am!'
Seria ignored my pleading eyes and continued.
"Yes. Yes. Got it. I'll relay that."
Click.
Seria turned to me after hanging up.
"Mayor. The president set up dinner for tonight. Repayment for yesterday's beef—she'll prepare a full spread with a wild A-rank monster she caught herself."
"No! Absolutely not! I'm sick today! Mental trauma and physical aftereffects from yesterday's Kraken haven't faded!"
I clutched my head and collapsed to the floor, acting ill.
"I see. We'll head to the hospital right away then. I'll call the president to visit too. She'd be thrilled."
Visit?
Jin Yeonhwa?
Horrific visions flashed.
Me with an IV, chugging bomb shots poured by Jin Yeonhwa.
"No! I'm suddenly cured! Miracle! Even Jesus couldn't resurrect faster! Hallelujah!"
I sprang up, doing push-ups to prove my health.
Seria looked down pitifully.
"Your recovery is cockroach-level, mayor. One second dying dramatically, next alive. I'll concede your survival instinct."
Seria deemed me unworthy of further attention, cradled Nero, and went to the window to show him the view.
Dinner was unavoidable.
I slumped back into my chair.
Jin Yeonhwa.
Things went too well with her. Too successful.
Catching one Kraken and approval ratings break 60%? Makes no sense.
Neo Incheon was stuffed with stubborn boomers and extremists!
This city was a melting pot of every human type.
No, "melting pot" was too positive. Bibimbap.
A mess of clashing ingredients thrown in without mixing.
Just mention support budgets and in storm the powerhouse seniors with sword auras on canes. Their support? Impossible without doubling pensions.
Furry Evolution beastman terror groups, global secret society Erebos, villain orgs popping up daily.
Eco groups launching superpowered terror at every development plan for "environment first." Construction unions screaming tear down greenbelts for "development or die."
Mad scientists crawling from Songdo and Cheongna! No ethics—humans are lab rats to them!
Top 10 corps too. Facade of legit biz, but ready to grind city and citizens for profit.
Half the councilors corrupt politicians, the other half zealots gripped by extreme ideologies.
Chinatown Chinese villain syndicates, cults, anarchists.
Even anti-hero citizen leagues who convulse at "he" in hero. To them, I'm a corrupt politician in bed with the Hero Association.
Conversely, superhuman supremacists who see ability users as superior. To them, I'm inferior unawakened trash.
All these clashing groups breathing in one space: Neo Incheon.
How the hell do I have 60% approval in this dumpster fire city!?
This defies logic!