Chapter 95
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: The Mayor and the Ninja
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Perfect.
Pro-Japanese collaborators, traitors, ninja sympathizers, Neo Incheon's Hokage.
What a feast of provocative keywords this is.
The Black Clouds are the very storm cloud that will cast a shadow over my political career.
I'll raise them with my own hands and forge them into a sharp blade that will destroy me.
I pulled out my smartphone from my pocket.
I pressed the shortcut number 1 firmly, as if it were second nature.
Ring ring-
[You've only been away from your desk for two hours, and you've already caused trouble, haven't you, Mayor?]
A cold voice flowed from the receiver.
My capable, beautiful, but terrifying secretary, Seria Park.
"No, it's not trouble. It's a heartwarming story. I just met some really pitiful people. They're our ethnic kin from Japan, and their story is so heartbreaking you can't listen to it without tears..."
[They're not ethnic kin. They're foreigners.]
Seria cut my words like a knife.
A trivial fact-check. But that's not what's important right now. What's important is the emotion.
"Anyway! They have nowhere to live, so I'm going to provide them with some city rental housing. Find a place they can move into right away. You know, on humanitarian grounds!"
[According to Article 17, Paragraph 2 of the Neo Incheon City Housing Supply Ordinance, special allocation of rental housing to foreigners is possible at the mayor's discretion.]
As expected of my secretary. The ultimate cheat key. Seria-mong.
[However, to do that, you must go through the formal paperwork procedures.]
"Paperwork? Yeah, just prepare whatever's needed."
[Refugee status application, temporary residence permit application, foreigner registration certificate, and finally, a character guaranty.]
Character guaranty?
[For the character guaranty in particular, a Neo Incheon citizen who meets the city's designated qualification level must act as guarantor. In other words, you, the mayor, must personally be their guarantor.]
Seria's voice from the receiver was even more businesslike than usual.
[The guarantor bears joint liability for all legal issues arising during the guarantee's stay in Korea. If these people commit crimes, you, the mayor, cannot escape responsibility. Fines, damages, and depending on the severity...]
Wait. What?
I doubted my ears.
If they commit crimes, I'm responsible too?
Joint liability?
Jackpot!
This isn't just good.
This is a gift from the heavens.
The sky is literally handing me a blessing saying, "Please just ruin yourself already."
I barely suppressed the cheer rising inside me.
I bit my lower lip to stop the corners of my mouth from twitching upward.
A budding assassin clan trained in murder techniques.
Of course they're going to cause trouble. They're born killers! Violence is etched into their DNA.
This is a 100% guaranteed gamble! No, it's not even a gamble. It's a predetermined future!
"Lee Garam-dono... Does that mean..."
Elder Genji called out to me in a trembling voice.
He must have heard the entire conversation on the phone.
"For people like us, for the daimyo to personally... You can't take on such a dangerous burden."
"It's fine! We can survive on our own!"
"We're already deeply grateful just for the daimyo's kind heart!"
He tried to kneel on the floor again.
The others around him did the same.
The uniquely Japanese culture of polite refusal. Meiwaku.
Their virtue of not wanting to impose was now trying to sabotage my perfect plan.
No way. I can't let this opportunity slip.
"Great!"
I yelled into the receiver at the top of my lungs.
"I'll be their guarantor! Neo Incheon is a city that gives opportunities to everyone! No matter your past or origins, everyone has the right to start anew. That's the Neo Incheon I dream of!"
So I have the right to flee to the South Pacific and start a new life too!
Ah, just imagining it makes me happy.
[......]
There was a brief silence on the other end.
[Haa...]
What followed was Seria's deep, long sigh.
[Understood. But don't regret it later.]
"Regret? I never regret my decisions!"
I boasted boldly and ended the call.
"There, all problems solved."
I looked around at the Kurokumo clan triumphantly.
They were all frozen stiff.
"How... How can we repay this grace... For shadows like us, to take on such a heavy burden..."
"It's fine. I'm the mayor of Neo Incheon, after all."
And soon to be impeached.
"Ah, aah... aaa..."
His voice cracked.
Thud.
He couldn't continue and slammed his forehead to the floor.
Dogeza. Prostration.
The most profound human gesture of gratitude, throwing one's entire body to the ground.
"Neo Incheon Daimyo!"
"Incheon-no-kami-sama!"
"Lee Garam-dono!"
His action was the signal.
Dozens of people in the house prostrated themselves all at once.
Thud, thud, thud.
The sound of their foreheads hitting the worn linoleum echoed through the room.
Sobs burst out.
Wretched, joyful, grateful sobs mixed with all emotions.
Nyaa-
At that moment, Nero, who had been watching lazily, yawned and stepped forward.
The cat took position like a monarch in front of the prostrating crowd.
Subordinates bowed at its feet. The cat reigning above them.
Elder Genji bowed his head deeply once more, his face overcome with emotion.
"The divine beast acknowledges our loyalty...!"
No, the cat just likes people bowing in front of it.
It's the most arrogant cat in the world.
Creak, creak.
Lee Garam's footsteps faded completely down the old hallway.
Silence.
Elder Kurokumo Genji slowly lifted his forehead from the floor. His pitch-black sclera and pure white pupils gleamed eerily.
"Everyone, rise."
A low but powerful voice.
At his words, the dozens of clan members prostrated on the floor stood up simultaneously.
Genji closed the rickety door and latched it. Only the dim bulb light filled the damp semi-basement air.
"Elder."
Kurokumo Yuta, the clan's young blood, opened his mouth.
Kurokumo's legitimate heir. Next family head. The clan's successor.
His eyes still held lingering wariness and suspicion.
"Can we trust that man?"
"Trust."
Genji smiled bitterly. The deep wrinkles around his mouth grew more pronounced.
65 years of life. 547 assassinations. The marks of those years.
"Nothing is more foolish than trusting a powerful man's sympathy. Whether Japan or this Neo Incheon, those in power all reek the same."
A cynicism honed over centuries living as the blade of power.
A deep-rooted distrust of those living in the world of light.
"Then what does he want from us?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
A gruff voice interjected.
"Our 'skills,' of course. That Lee Garam may claim to have purged all corruption from the city on the surface, but where there's light, shadows grow darker. He must have darkness he needs handled too."
"His eyes were a bit different from other power brokers. But in the end, he's just trying to use us."
"He'll definitely have us do his dirty work."
"Doesn't matter."
Genji said firmly.
"If we can gain a power broker's protection, at least the children won't starve. If we have to live shedding blood here too, better under a lord who pays properly for it."
The fact that it wasn't selfless goodwill actually reassured them.
There's no such thing as a free meal in this world. That simple truth was the only one that held for the clan.
It was the Kurokumo clan's way of survival, honed over centuries in the shadows.
The adults' conversation evolved into detailed discussions of assassination plans.
As if competing to imagine the most wretched and filthy missions.
In the midst of the clamor, two young people stood a bit apart.
Yuta, the next head of the Kurokumo clan. And the girl with talent equal to his, Tsubaki.
They were the ones who had caught Lee Garam's eye in Caltopia.
"It's because of us. The daimyo must have followed us here after seeing us. I... might have brought disaster."
Yuta murmured lowly. His lips were pale.
"Because I said we should look at the cats... the whole clan ended up in the daimyo's sights."
"Pointing fingers now is pointless, Yuta."
Their gazes met in the air.
They confirmed the same resolve in each other's eyes.
"What's important is responsibility. We started this, so we'll end it."
"For the children."
"For the clan."
"We can kill anyone."
"We'll get our hands dirty. So the children can live in the light."
One week later.
The Kurokumo clan left their old, damp semi-basement and moved into rental apartments provided by the city.
"Wow!"
Exclamations burst from the children's mouths.
A spacious living room filled with sunlight. Plush sofas and beds smelling of newness. A shower spewing hot water at the press of a button. The fridge packed with fresh food and sweet snacks.
It was abundance beyond their wildest dreams.
The city hall assigned one apartment per four households, fully furnishing them with all appliances, basic furniture, and even daily necessities. They even provided interest-free living stabilization loans and enrolled everyone in K-health insurance.
"Meat! Hanwoo! But I prefer Wagyu."
"There's ice cream too!!"
The kids ran excitedly all over the house.
But the adults' faces were grim.
They gathered in the living room with serious expressions and began a meeting.
"This is too much."
A middle-aged man said in an uneasy voice.
"What kind of work do we have to do to deserve this welcome?"
"Probably assassinating some big shot in Korean politics."
"Or maybe Hero Association executives or resistant corporate leaders."
"Or perhaps he sees us all as disposable tools to use and discard."
All possibilities led to one conclusion: assassination. That was the only world they knew.
As their suspicions and anxiety peaked, a call came from the city job center.
[Tomorrow, 10 AM. Attendance required.]
The next day, at the Neo Incheon City Hall annex job center.
The entire Kurokumo clan arrived on time.
All combat-capable members except the children and heir Yuta.
Not knowing what dangerous mission awaited. Bloodline and future must be preserved.
They all wore matching black clothes as if by prior agreement, faces half-covered with masks.
The center interior was completely different from their expectations.
Fluorescent lights blazed brightly, and keyboard clacks and ringing phones echoed cheerfully from behind partitions.
Posters on the walls read things like "We support your tomorrow!"
The moment they entered, the eyes of waiting citizens turned to them all at once.
Soon, the counseling room door opened, and a young man with a "Kim Min-su, Specialist" name tag greeted them with a bright smile.
"Ah, the Kurokumo group? This way! The mayor specially requested you, so we pulled all-nighters for days to find jobs!"
Kim led them into the counseling room.
"Have a seat! Tea? Coffee? Green tea?"
"......No need."
Genji replied coldly. It might be poisoned. Assassins don't drink from strangers.
"Okay! Straight to business then!"
Kim opened his laptop.
"Based on the documents you submitted, we compiled your specialties. Wow, you're all so versatile! Just what Neo Incheon needs!"
While Kim chattered enthusiastically, the clan exchanged silent glances.
'Specialties.'
'They've assessed our abilities after all.'
'Here it comes.'
Kim projected a large PPT on the screen.
[Kurokumo Clan Customized Job Matching Program]
"First, Elder Genji! Your knife skills are top-notch. We'll place you as head chef at 'Live Fish Town' sashimi restaurant in Sinpo-dong! They've scouted you! Great salary too!"
"......Pardon?"
A reflexive question slipped from Genji's mouth.
Head chef? Sashimi restaurant?
Slitting fish throats instead of human ones?
"Tsubaki, expert in poisons! The hot Insim-dang Bakery Research Lab wants you for new menu development! They love your hazardous materials handling!"
Tsubaki's eyes narrowed.
"And stealth experts! Silent movement perfect for dawn delivery services—special hires!"
Kim rattled off jobs without breathing.
"Dexterous precision workers to Geodae semiconductor assembly lines! Fast-footed to pizza delivery specialists! Plus department store security, SME office assistants, and more!"
Thus, the Kurokumo clan was reassigned to Neo Incheon's workforce based on their 'specialties.'
Even those without standout skills got honest SME jobs.
Genji cautiously spoke up.
"Um... are there no special missions we must undertake?"
"Special missions?"
Kim tilted his head.
"Ah! Of course there are!"
Genji's eyes sharpened.
'As expected... these jobs are just camouflage.'
The real mission is separate. Covered in blood and screams, just like always.
"Occasional overtime! But don't worry! We pay overtime properly!"
Kim gave a thumbs up.
"And most importantly! Most of you start contractual, but 3 months in, regular position review! Work hard, everyone! Fighting!"
Kim finished his passionate briefing and handed out envelopes with their names and contracts.
Confusion.
The perfect word for the Kurokumo clan's mood leaving the job center.
Each clutched their bizarre 'employment contracts,' eyeing each other warily.
"This... is it really all? Actual jobs, not assassination?"
The ordinary daily life they'd longed for.
"It's a trap."
Genji declared.
"Follow orders for now. The real mission is hidden in this ordinary life."
Sunlight suddenly granted to those who'd lived centuries in shadow.
Now that it lay before them, they couldn't believe it.