As Planned
Progressives and the Innovation Party have always been a bunch of thick-headed idiots. In the game, just looking at their quests made it obvious—every single one spat out weird conspiracy theories, Anarchki, and all sorts of bizarre crap. On the flip side, the "Equality Freedom Constitution Party," with its suspiciously on-the-nose name, was actually a legit political group seriously researching ways to balance equality, freedom, and the constitution, complete with a solid operational philosophy.
Compared to that, the Progressives and Innovation Party? They slap "progress" and "innovation" right in their name and then go full retard denying both. You can tell just by looking at their toad faces. In this day and age, a high-society figure who's climbed all the way to ward chief without anti-aging treatments, letting their face sag and their body balloon with fat? No fucking way that's normal. If they just took their meds on time, obesity wouldn't even be possible. But their ideology's rotten to the core, so they get high off worthless conspiracy-fueled social movements, reject scientific advancements, and end up looking like that.
That's how dense they are, so when they pull some shit, they do it without thinking ahead. This time's no different—they're shoving their spoon into someone else's laid-out feast like the dogs they are.
"One shot? Two shots? Or a pulp? That is the question."
Namdong Industrial Complex wasn't far. On the way there, I kept mulling it over. What to do with the ward chief. Well, truth be told, I'd already decided. Now I was just thinking about the cleanup afterward. It'd be a bit of a headache.
The ward chief might be limited in scope, but they effectively have military authority delegated to them. The silver lining? Namdong's chief is weaker than most others. Blame the industrial complex—such a huge chunk of the district (Namdong Industrial Complex) producing jack shit naturally weakens their power. Same principle as why Kim Eunji, the assemblywoman for Namdong Gap, gets the cold shoulder from her party.
Maybe that's why she's pulling this desperate move. Finally, in her term, there's a sign of the industrial complex recovering. If she doesn't grab a huge helping now, she figures there won't be another shot at climbing higher.
Of course, that doesn't mean I'm forgiving her.
"Am I Häagen-Dazs, you fucking bitch? Keep your spoon to yourself."
That was when the AV was entering the airspace around Namdong Industrial Complex. I was about to jump out swinging the second we landed—
"…."
It was my aunt herself. What the hell now??
"Yes, Aunt. Ko Mu-yeol here—"
"Is there any reason for you to go there in person?"
'Ah.'
Her voice was cool, laced with worry. She'd probably called the second she saw me heading into the Namdong Industrial Complex ops zone, even in the middle of her busy schedule.
'…She's still keeping tabs on me, huh.'
She must know everything I'm doing there. Hell, she might've been helping behind the scenes.
"Aunt, my secretaries and knights are with me. Plenty of troops on site too. Nothing to worry about."
"That's not the point. The point is you're heading into a danger zone."
"…."
She was seriously worried about my safety. Can't blame her. This was Namdong Industrial Complex, of all places, with a massive battle brewing. And given the situation, those fuckers might open fire first without warning. Meaning shells could drop right around me.
But!
"Aunt, as the grandson of the great Goryeo Group, getting used by someone? That's not happening."
"Damn right."
"This Namdong Industrial Complex redevelopment plan is something I poured my heart into. The ward chief's trying to claim it as her achievement. I can't let that slide."
"…."
No matter how dangerous, I couldn't overlook this. Immediate payback was a must.
Aunt went quiet for a bit.
"Heading over to give her a solid punch. Gotta vent somehow."
"…Is that so?"
Her tone grew heavy. Even I got chills.
"Nothing for it then."
Oho. She gets it! A man's pride!
"Still, be careful. If you get hurt, it's all over. Don't worry about the aftermath. I'll handle it."
"Whoa."
Aunt handling cleanup? That's solid backup!
"Aunt…."
"?"
"Wanna see a pic of my dick?"
"W-what?!"
Her icy voice turned adorable in a flash. Can't wait for our December reunion.
"I'll send it after this is done. Thanks."
"…."
She went silent, then murmured super softly, "Alright… I'll be waiting…," before hanging up.
"Ha. You're fucking dead, toad."
"Unbelievable."
"Tell me about it."
The ward chief had even set up a podium, fielding reporters' questions and spewing all sorts of bullshit. That alone was pissing off a ton of people. Most didn't know Ko Mu-yeol was behind this massive op, but they knew the prosecution's grand resolve laid the foundation. They knew the police had rolled up their sleeves despite losing their chief, and the Public Safety Restoration Committee—sidelined as they were—had finally forged the key link for urban recovery.
And they knew the ward chief had just stamped the final approval.
"Our own staff haven't said shit yet, and here she is yapping like she did it all."
"Politicians, am I right~?"
Sure, she'd requested troop deployment, letting a mechanized division mobilize fast. Credit where due. But the Committee had already made the same request, and for this op, the Better Future Party was backing Kim Eunji. Their request likely got approved too. It smoothed things, but it wasn't some masterstroke.
Yet there she was, hogging the spotlight first, grandstanding harder than anyone. Made her repulsive.
Even the grunts were frowning. They were the ones risking their necks on the front lines, and some fat politician shows up to steal all the glory? Infuriating.
"Beloved and respected citizens of the ward, I—"
"Long time no see, Madam Ward Chief."
Mid-speech, Kim Eunji sidled up to interrupt. Reporters' shutters went wild.
The chief scowled briefly, then plastered on a neighborly auntie smile to greet her.
"Oh my~ If it isn't our Kim Eunji assemblywoman~ Goodness. Coming in so suddenly like this. Hehe."
The plump Yeo Chae-rin patted Kim Eunji's shoulder, beaming at the press and waving to flaunt their "friendship." Kim played along.
"Didn't expect you here personally, Madam. Aren't you swamped with construction projects? This has nothing to do with you."
"Oh dear? Nothing to do with me? If the ward chief isn't involved, who is?"
Smiling at each other for the cameras, but trading barbs underneath. Basically, "Why the fuck are you here?"
'She won't last long.'
Seo Hyunju watched them, bored, already writing off the chief's future. Anyone screwing with Ko Mu-yeol's plans—especially by using him—was toast. He hated that shit most. And that's exactly what she was doing. No survival path in sight. Even if she dodged today, payback was inevitable. That's Ko Mu-yeol.
'Should I pre-write an article sniping the ward chief?'
That's when a massive AV whooshed in from the sky, ignoring the AV pad and landing right in front of the podium.
Familiar ride.
"Wha—? N-no way!!"
Seo Hyunju realized and bolted for cover in shock. This fast??
"Kyaaah!"
"What the—?!"
"Who the hell's the psycho—?!"
Reporters scattered in panic. The AV descended like it aimed to flatten people.
"Eek!!"
Escorts swarmed the podium to shield Kim Eunji and the chief. The AV touched down safely.
As pissed-off stragglers glared, the door hissed open.
The chief shoved off her guards and stormed over.
"Hey!!"
"Madam! Danger!!"
"Can't you see people here? What the hell is this reckless—"
Seo Hyunju saw it. A foot shoot out from the AV and boot her in the face.
"Shut your fucking mouth, bitch."
The chief went "Kweeeek!" and tumbled backward.