Don't Interfere with My Business
Incheon city councilors were a cut above the typical ones in other cities, who got cursed out daily for being useless freeloaders who should just be scrapped. Incheon was such a massive metropolis that it wielded significant autonomy and even independent legislative powers, naturally elevating the status of its councilors.
To put it simply by comparing to pre-possession Korea, it was like: Incheon Mayor = President, district heads = mayors of other cities, city councilors = members of the National Assembly. That made it easy to grasp.
So the young woman in front of me was, at least on the surface, perched at the pinnacle of Incheon's political power—and someone with real clout across the entire Republic of Korea.
Of course, she was still a rookie councilor without a solid base, nowhere near enough to defy the Goryeo Group's influence. But if she got a little prickly or raised her voice in audits or hearings, I'd let it slide to some extent.
"You're... developing the Namdong Industrial Complex?"
"Yes."
"H-how...?"
"I'm going to bulldoze the whole thing."
"!!"
Kim Eun-ji's eyes widened in shock as she blurted out her response. She clearly couldn't believe what I was saying.
"That'll start a war! I don't know if you realize, sir, but the estimated criminal population holed up in Namdong Industrial Complex is pushing 50,000. There are countless unidentified weapons too. Securing the complex without urban casualties is damn near impossible."
"It's possible. If you and your fellow councilors help me out, it'll be more than doable. I've already squared things with the prosecutors, and the police won't back out either. Plus, I've got my personal PMC and Militaris backing me up."
"The prosecutors and police...? When did you...?"
"Because my words carry that much weight."
"..."
"So, will you join me? Even without your help, I'll push ahead with the plan. But if things go smoothly later, I won't let you dip your spoon in just because it's your district."
"..."
Kim Eun-ji bit her lip, deep in thought. What I wanted from her wasn't much. Just borrow the authority of the Public Safety Restoration Committee she sat on to request police and city forces deploy. And maybe some side help with my business.
Of course, it wasn't a powerhouse committee, so it might not fly—but they couldn't outright ignore it. They'd probably send a few battalions for show, and that alone would be plenty helpful. All I needed right now was to keep the gang scum from scattering and wipe them out inside.
"I'll... think it over."
"The sooner you give me an answer, the better."
"Yes... Um, what's that noise we've been hearing?"
"?"
Thud-boom!
The familiar roar echoed out—now so routine to me.
"This?"
"Ah."
It was the knights from the Go Min-ji squad hard at work clearing the forest. I'd grown numb to it after hearing it nonstop, but first-time visitor Kim Eun-ji on the artificial island seemed pretty bothered by it.
"Right, I forgot to show you that."
I snapped my fingers and stood up. Kim Eun-ji rose with me.
"Let me show you something insane."
I took her to the AV and headed to the opposite side of the island. With a total area of about 10,000 hectares—one-tenth the size of Incheon itself—an AV was the way to go for quick travel.
Kim Eun-ji pressed her face to the window, taking in the view.
"Seeing it like this, it really is huge... Owning something this massive personally. You can feel the Goryeo Group's prestige."
A dry tone, devoid of real emotion—like forced admiration. Not what I'd meant to show her.
"Councilor, not that side—look over there."
"?"
I pointed to where the knights were in full swing clearing the forest. Fifteen mechs were periodically blasting railguns and such, shoving the trees aside.
"Th-that's...?!"
"Hard to believe, I know, but two weeks ago, this island was a dense jungle rivaling the Amazon. See those trees? Thirty meters tall. Thirty. They were packed everywhere."
"..."
"But you can't use it like that, right? Gotta build structures, make a harbor—can't do shit with a thick forest in the way. So I figured, bulldoze it all. But as you can see, those trees aren't the easy-chop kind. Even heavy machinery barely makes a dent; they're a huge pain that requires massive equipment just to clear."
"So you used... knights??"
"Gotta use your head."
Kim Eun-ji creaked her neck around and stared at me like I was insane.
"Heavy machinery takes too long? Then use mechs!"
"That's ridiculous...!"
"Hey, even I think it's a genius idea. And look—cleaned up spotless in just two weeks. Almost done now. Just that far edge left. So what happens to those fifteen knights?"
I glanced at Kim Eun-ji.
"They run out of work."
"!!!"
I picked up the earlier thread to her stunned face.
"Now, if I deploy those fifteen knights from the exclusive carrier to Namdong Industrial Complex? Still impossible?"
"...!"
Kim Eun-ji gulped, face frozen in shock. She alternated stares between me and the window for a while, then suddenly hardened with resolve. She shot to her feet, straightening her clothes.
"I'll offer a deep bow, young master."
"?"
Then she bowed to me out of nowhere.
"If you take me in!!! I'll devote my absolute loyalty!!!!!"
"Shit, you scared me."
"S-sorry..."
What the hell was with this chick?
"Councilor."
"No formal speech! Just call me Kim Eun-ji casually!!"
She replied with her head still glued to the floor. Tough stomach for a place with shoes traipsing around. Even her aide was watching—and the aide lady hesitated before bowing to me too.
"Well, damn. This is awkward."
Tsk tsk.
"A city councilor dropping to her knees so easily."
I kicked off my shoes and socks. Hey, if she wanted to serve me, no need to refuse—but just accepting felt off. Needed some symbolic loyalty oath.
"Hey."
I tapped her head barefoot.
"Y-yes... Huh??"
She peeked up and froze at my foot. I rubbed my sole on her nose.
"Loyalty's just empty words."
"Ah..."
Her lips trembled, parting wider bit by bit.
"Sweep complete. Chief."
"Good work. Wrap up and head back."
"Yes."
Sua ended the call and sipped the coffee her aide handed her. She'd just ordered the deaths of subordinates she'd known for years with one command, but no guilt gnawed at her. Thugs weren't colleagues to her—they were just inconvenient, useless lumps she'd inevitably crossed paths with during her police days.
This time, she'd gotten some help, though.
"Gave 'em 30 million in dirty cash, so they better not hold grudges~."
Washing away their memories with her coffee, Sua reviewed the progress report. After Ko Mu-yeol's nudge to speed up, they'd secured a whopping 70% of the Namdong Industrial Complex land—but the rest was tricky.
"About 7% is overseas-owned, and the remaining 23% has owners inside the complex."
"Ha. Lawless scum owning land?"
She said it, but she'd expected some owners inside Namdong. "What do we do? Rushing in could cause issues."
They might get attacked, or even if not, stupid rumors could spread. She wanted this clean, so no thanks.
"Handle overseas with a dedicated team... Who's owning inside the complex?"
"A woman named Danto holds most of it."
"How much?"
"Roughly 500,000 pyeong."
Sua mouthed a silent 'wow.' Considering she'd secured about 2 million pyeong herself, that was insanely vast for one person.
"Nearly 18% all by herself... Was it hers from the start? Or did she end up slumming it here because of the land?"
"Nah, not that. Estimated she steadily accumulated it over the last few years as a fixer."
"Useless land?"
Did she have some foresight?
"Probably lottery mindset. Hoping it'd gain value someday."
"Makes sense. Dreamers everywhere."
Whether it'd pan out? Who knew.