Chapter 144
Chapter 144
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: Saintly Image
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Association Headquarters.
No matter how much money you threw at it to keep information from leaking, some things were too important to hide from the government and upper echelons of the Association.
It was almost comical that it had taken half a day of restraint before the news reached them, but scavenger incidents were a dime a dozen anyway. Still, to suddenly cause another massive scandal right after—it was absurd.
“…What the hell is it this time? Why go after a protection facility like a welfare center out of nowhere?”
“‘We uncovered human trafficking while tracking scavengers,’ he claims. But from our perspective, it’s personal vengeance.”
“Vengeance? Oh…!”
“That guy came from an Association protection facility himself. Probably hit a nerve digging into it. It connected back to his scavenger investigation. With Russia aid commitments piling up, we absolutely can’t touch this. We just… have to ask him to handle it quietly.”
Even after the news hit the Association, they concluded they couldn’t interfere with Yoo Seongwon.
Externally, the Russia situation tied their hands; internally, the facilities had committed the unpardonable sin of human trafficking with scavengers—plenty of justification to let it slide, if not cheer him on.
“Better to send dedicated staff for administrative support. It’ll improve our image. We can work on mending relations bit by bit.”
“Do it.”
The Association president nodded at the executive’s suggestion, rising to gaze out over the city.
Once threatened even by the walls, the city felt far safer now that the constellation Slaughter King had backed off. Scavenger rampages had quieted too.
‘…Chaotic and headache-inducing, but he’s ultimately doing good.’
Too soon to judge fully, but in the half-year-plus since, Yoo Seongwon’s impact on Korea had been massive.
Beyond neutralizing constellation threats, he’d dismantled the mega-cartels and Three Great Guilds that wielded unchecked power over corporations, judiciary, and lawmakers.
Now he was crushing scavengers and rooting out hidden corruption.
The methods rejected government systems outright, but that made them most effective.
Under cartels bound by school ties, regional loyalties, bloodlines, and bribes, exposés would’ve been futile anyway.
‘A potent cure works fast… but one misstep turns it into deadly poison.’
Good results so far, but it could flip anytime, targeting them.
Shaking off the thought, the president refocused on work.
***
The next day, Iron Fortress.
Yoo Seongwon’s bloody whirlwind hadn’t been confined to Chungcheong Province.
To finish before other regions caught wind, he swept through protection facilities with issues in Gyeongsang and Jeolla too, while summoning Eldraen to gather all the children here for safety.
“…I specifically told you not to cause a scene. How do we handle this sudden influx? Sigh~”
“That’s why we’ve got our kids, Eldraen, and even the Goblin Empire handling food and supplies, right? Besides, it was something we had to do anyway…”
“The order’s backward! The order! I never said not to do it! The plan was: float acquisition offers everywhere first, take them over smoothly for good PR, then hit ’em from behind as scavengers—recover funds, fry them, whatever! We mapped it out in detail, and you signed off…”
“I planned to play nice too… but at zero distance, spewing that crap—how do you hold back?”
『Physical? Oh, a hunter? I get you’re desperate for awakened kids, but tell ’em none have awakened yet. If you need girls urgently, grab some from the rooms and eat out…』
Yoo Seongwon played the recording he’d brought back.
He’d claimed preemptive recording to intimidate them—a bluff. Actually, he’d recorded the deals to review for mistakes later.
Even so, this deviated from the plan. Baek Gayeon pinched her forehead and sighed deeply.
“Fine. Whatever. Iron Fortress can house ten thousand kids easy—built for it. But what about the image?”
“Oh, that’s handled. Look.”
[Jungu Daily—Shocking Truth! Protection Facilities Selling Kids to Scavengers!]
[Goryeo Daily—Korea Transformed Thanks to Hunter Yoo Seongwon!]
Incredibly, the media overflowed with praise for Yoo Seongwon. Baek Gayeon alternated stares between him and the articles, face screaming disbelief.
“How the…?”
“Waved some cash, and they delivered. Oh, and unfavorable pieces? Paid up, and they yanked ’em right away.”
“What in the…?”
“Buy ad space too? They said pick your wording.”
Everyone knew the media’s rot ran deep, but puppeteering it like pay-to-win in a game? Laughable.
Well, Yoo making 30 trillion to begin with was otherworldly.
No snags in the plan, so Baek Gayeon had nothing left to say.
“…Haa~ Fine. Do as you want. As long as things don’t derail.”
“Saw blood first, so from tomorrow, back on schedule.”
“Yeah. I’ll go tend to the sudden kid boom. Ayoung and Somi’ll flip. Ten thousand new siblings overnight… Whew~ Tough.”
“I’ll leave Yucheong with you and hand over all knights and Eldraen for command.”
Feeling a twinge of conscience, Yoo Seongwon transferred the knights, Thousand Sword Army soldiers—everyone—to her and left Iron Fortress.
Drones handled internal automation fine, but external supply runs needed boots on the ground.
Plus, merging kids from multiple facilities required hands-on mediation to prevent clashes.
***
Hours later, ‘Park Maria and Baby Lambs’ Shelter.
As mentioned before, alongside corrupt, scavenger-tied facilities, some struggled on meager donations but protected kids with genuine devotion and love.
This Park Maria Shelter was one: run by devout Catholic Maria Park even in the constellation era. Run-down facilities, but kids playing or studying wore few shadows on their faces.
‘Mm~ Proper places look like this.’
“Hmm… Facilities are outdated, but no stench of blood like that other place, Your Majesty.”
“Protection facilities shouldn’t reek of blood to begin with. Anyway, drop the ‘Your Majesty’ from here on… Stick to ‘Boss’ or something.”
No true harmonious home—inevitable lacks as an institution—but paradise compared to the hellish one Yoo Seongwon endured.
Seeing the head nun join cooking and eat with the kids, after reviewing docs from Baek Gayeon, eased his mind further.
No need to hesitate. He strode into the ‘Park Maria and Baby Lambs’ Shelter.
“Excuse me. Is the head nun in?”
“Who… Eek!”
No armor since not fighting—just a suit—but his face was nationally famous. The greeting nun recognized him instantly and freaked.
“Wh-wh-wh-what brings you? W-we’re not… that… the kind on the news…”
“Yes, I know. No need to panic. Haha. No harm intended—quite the opposite. Here with good news.”
“Oh… Th-then, please wait a moment.”
“Of course. Happy to.”
He beamed reassurance, but still scared, she dashed inside. Soon returned with an older nun to greet Yoo Seongwon and Yucheong.
Exchanging greetings, they followed the nuns into the shelter.
Kids inside fixated on the TV-famous duo. Mindful even small gestures could excite, Yoo Seongwon kept eyes forward on the nuns’ backs, straight to the head’s office.
“Um… Nothing fancy, just green tea… And the one behind you should sit too…”
“I am His Majesty’s—cough! I serve the Boss, so I stand.”
“Thanks for the hospitality on short notice. About your facility…”
Light pleasantries, brief facility chat, then Yoo cut to the chase.
Multiple stops today—time precious.
“Reason I’m here… to acquire this place.”
“Wait! Th-this isn’t a company or business. No profit in it. What are you thinking…?”
“Not for profit. Want to use the money I got for good—by acquiring it.”
“Then no need to acquire…”
“No. Keeps the daily leeches off. You know—the parasites who swarm aid for the helpless to exploit.”
They’re everywhere. Rare not to have them.
Even global charities, or groups eyeing comfort women granny donations.
To deter parasites: instill fear.
Ideally government and courts’ job, but they lived apart from common folk, feared scavenger retaliation too.
“Proper support and donations sound nice, but affluence breeds greed. Problems arise—legal battles, headaches all around. But my name? Known in not-so-nice ways, right?”
“…Y-yes.”
“Or relocate to a safe facility. Iron Fortress, built by legendary awakener Grandmaster. I’m interim manager with authority. Scavengers or monsters? Can’t touch it. No pressure, though. Stay here if preferred. Thoughts?”
“…Sudden, bewildering—all too good to believe. But in this turbid world, safer for the kids? I’ll take it gladly.”
“Understood.”
Thus, ‘Park Maria and Baby Lambs’ kids moved to Iron Fortress too.
Head nun’s persuasion worked; staff preferred safety, no objections.
Loading them into trailers, Yoo Seongwon delivered them personally, then hit more facilities, gathering and gathering.
***
One week later.
With major tasks wrapped, Yoo Seongwon accelerated his good-image ops as planned.
Rescuing facility weaklings was fine, but best PR? Aid everyday citizens’ lives.
From slum free kitchens to bridge builds, dam repairs, free portal detectors, wall superweapons, military magic stone gear donations, road fixes, funding honest local firms, school upgrades… Nonstop ventures, no breather.
“…Exhausting. But half-ass it? Nah—freeloaders’ll swarm. Gotta focus.”
“Hang in there. Public opinion’s soaring thanks to this. Even whispers we spend budgets better than government. At this rate, they’ll say paying you is worth it.”
“Not really about money for me. Demanded they stop bossing me…”
Pure public charity—zero self-interest, no fund recovery or turf grabs. Just cash dumps.
Perfect for those resentful of Seoul-centric development.
Image polished as planned—issue? No end to the grind.
“How long?”
“Three months minimum. But hiring ramps up—no worries.”
“Haaa~ Damn, no choice. To sucker-punch them… Government and Association still clueless?”
“Heh heh, obviously. They’re thrilled you’re splashing the cash—boosts tax revenue cycling back. Some whiners gripe southern provinces-only splits the nation… But that smokescreen helps.”
“Pfft! Not entirely wrong! Haha! Knowing that juices me up. Heh heh.”
Yoo Seongwon cackled wickedly, knowing none grasped his true aim.
Who’d guess? All pure goodwill—yet laying groundwork to royally screw the nation.
Even spilling truth now? They’d frame it as jealous slander.
His image stormed Korea like a hurricane—for the better.