Chapter 156
Chapter 156
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: A Visitor at Iron Fortress
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Iron Fortress.
Yoo Seongwon, who had been staying at the fortress every day, had business there today as well.
It wasn't anything else—the guild disputes escalating over the Blue Dragon Guild's legacy had caused damages to spread across multiple areas, so the government and association had come once again to persuade him to step in and restore order.
"Do I really need to get involved? You've been handling things fine. Besides, as you saw in the agreement, we're not working for free. You praised our frontline city project, and now this... it's a bit much."
"The situation is serious right now. Guilds are even forcibly dragging in Academia students to create PVP battlegrounds. Heaven Class kids are already being thrown into real combat..."
"Heaven Class are B-rank and above, so they're basically more capable than active hunters. Earth Class just lack experience, and Human Class kids... they're practically civilians, so surely you're not mobilizing them?"
"Not yet, but... if things get worse, they might."
Yoo Seongwon wore an incredulous expression at the association staffer's grave face.
He couldn't fathom how things had spiraled this badly.
"What the hell happened to make it this serious?"
"The problem is there are no decisive victories. All these A- and B-ranks are clinging to their lives too much. If one or two die and then their opponent suddenly promotes to S-rank, it becomes uncontrollable... so it's just a war of attrition."
"...At that point, the Blue Dragon Guild legacy is meaningless anyway, right? Jeez."
"Anyway, the damages are bad enough, but the declining number of domestic hunters is a real crisis. So please..."
The association staffer begged earnestly, but Yoo Seongwon thought things were going exactly as planned.
Yeah, the association, which had never done a proper job in its life, was scrambling now that it was falling off a cliff.
Instead of clumsily stepping in to help, the best move was to dangle bait and encourage them to try harder.
"I think this is actually a good opportunity."
"An opportunity, you say?"
"Among the three major guilds, only the international Olympus remains. With Seoul and Blue Dragon—those old cronies—gone, there's no pure Korean guild at the center anymore. Why not have the association step into that role?"
"Pardon?"
"If you bring in Jeon Ji-a, that's two S-ranks including the association president. No other guild can stand against you right now, so couldn't you unify the Korean hunter world around the association? That's what I'd do."
The association staffer's eyes lit up at Yoo Seongwon's words.
He was right—this was the perfect time for the 'association' to bring all guilds under control.
They could start by convincing the Ministry of National Defense to let the association manage hunters, then pitch a vision of transforming into something like Japan's special forces. It was worth a shot.
"A-are you serious?"
"Nah, just thinking what I'd do in your shoes. If I stepped in, I'd have to put all Korean hunters under me to feel satisfied, and could you even handle that?"
The association staffer had no choice but to believe Yoo Seongwon was serious, faced with his overwhelming presence and the majestic knights standing aligned to his left, right, and behind him.
Their forces alone could already conquer the Korean hunter world.
"There's that saying about chasing a fox and attracting a tiger. So think it over carefully."
"Y-yes. And... we heard some kids awakened here...? Normally, they'd need training at Academia or registration with the association..."
They hadn't meant to reveal it, but the association grew suspicious from the food and supplies entering Iron Fortress, plus the hunter gear and combat manuals for the newly awakened kids. The truth came out.
Of course, the association wasn't in a position to complain about the cover-up.
"They weren't managed by you guys, got abused in those shit protection facilities, I rescued them, and they awakened with the 'compensation' I got from fighting the Blue Dragon Guild master. I can't hand them over empty-handed. How much per kid? These are kids who received power from the Blue Dragon Constellation. Plenty of potential."
"H-how can you put a price on people...?"
"I'm not keeping them—I'm giving them to you. Kids who haven't even gotten over their trauma from the facilities—do you think they'll blindly pledge loyalty to the country and buy into order and justice? You'll just breed more Scavenger wannabes. Anyway, I won't let them go cheap, so pass that along."
"Eeek! U-understood."
The association staffer failed to negotiate on both the order maintenance issue and the awakened kids, getting chased off empty-handed again today.
Once he was gone, Yoo Seongwon slumped and let out a deep sigh, then started complaining to the knights behind him.
"Hey, I can't keep doing this crap."
"You did great, Your Majesty."
"I was just reading the script you guys wrote. The guy was scared from the start, so no rebuttals."
"That's how you build it up over time."
"What's the point of leveling up intimidation skills? And what was that line about selling the kids? That's crossing a line. Even knowing it's not real, it leaves a bitter taste~"
Yeah, he was from one of those damn protection facilities himself—would he really sell out kids?
Sure, he'd slipped in that he'd pay the kids, but it still came off as an excuse, like he was just pocketing the money.
Even if it wasn't sincere, Yoo Seongwon felt a pang of conscience, but Yucheong soothed him.
"That one line built a justification to protect the kids. You've consistently played the materialistic type, so this is the most effective way."
"Fair enough. And now they'll have to properly manage kids in other protection facilities."
With hunters killing each other in civil war, their numbers drop, value rises, and since awakenings can happen to anyone, anytime, treatment and policies for civilians will change.
No—they'll have to change, forcibly if needed.
Otherwise, the powers and wealth enjoyed by those strutting from on high will vanish.
"Anyway, cleared that boring association meeting. Next up... Hm?"
[Temporary administrator, new guests have arrived.]
"What? Suddenly? New guests? Who?"
[I don't know. She introduced herself as someone from Japan.]
"Japan? Show me on the monitor."
He was just standing when the sudden news of a visitor made Yoo Seongwon furrow his brow.
Of course, he'd gotten tons of spam-like emails, so he knew Japan was interested.
But he'd deleted them without opening, so he had no clue what they wanted.
[Waaah! Please~ Let me in~ I can't leave without seeing Yoo Seongwon. I'm really from the Japan Hunter Special Forces. Here's my ID. I went through hell with the man-eating ghosts to get here. Waaah!]
"A girl? And what's with that look?"
"She looks like a total bum."
On the monitor was a small girl, around Ayoung's age.
But her appearance was a total mess. A tattered suit with just a cape-like thing draped over, holding an ID card in one hand while sniffling and proving her identity.
Yoo Seongwon felt deflated at the sight and looked to the knights for advice.
"What do we do? Should I go out myself?"
"Good idea, Your Majesty. It's risky letting an unknown into the base."
"Oh, and I'll go alone. You guys eavesdrop from the sanctuary or watch via base cameras."
The knights nodded without objection to the sound orders and moved to their positions.
Yoo Seongwon grabbed some clothes for her ragged state, plus water, bread, and a few other foodstuffs, then headed outside to greet her personally.
Having cried herself out and collapsed pitifully under the camera, she lit up at the sight of him and rushed over.
"You came! Waaah, I thought I'd been totally ignored..."
"Take this first. I'll park a trailer right here, so wash up, eat, get ready, and then we'll talk properly."
"Y-yes! Thank you."
Unable to let her inside, he even called a trailer for a separate shower and meal.
Shortly after, the mysterious Japanese girl, changed into the clothes Yoo Seongwon provided, cautiously sat across from him at the table and immediately expressed her gratitude.
"Thank you so much for providing a meal and clothes to someone who showed up out of nowhere! Really!"
"I just felt bad for you. Alright, you're set now, so spill it—miss from Japan, what's your purpose?"
"A-ah! Yes! I'm A-rank hunter Hayase from the Japan Hunter Special Forces. Class is secret, sorry!"
"C-cough! What? A-rank?"
Yoo Seongwon's cool demeanor shattered instantly into bewilderment.
A Japanese A-rank hunter showing up out of nowhere? And a young girl Ayoung's age? Why come to Korea looking like that? It was all baffling.
"That's valuable manpower..."
"Well, the underlings all failed, so they sent an A-rank. If I fail, they'll probably deploy an S-rank? Even with the war going on..."
"So, what's the detailed purpose?"
"Cutting the bullshit—'We'll pay whatever you want, so please help us take down the 66 Demon Kings!' Oh, mind if I use paper and pen?"
Hayase the girl cut straight to the chase refreshingly.
Not content with that, she scribbled on a paper, and the contents were jaw-dropping.
[66 Demon Kings Core Dungeon Clear: 10 trillion yen]
[66 Demon Kings' Direct Apostles, S-rank monsters: 500 billion yen each]
[Recovering Western Territories, per prefecture: 10 billion yen]
[Other terms: All magistones and spoils from combat go to the combatants.]
"Th-this is the base offer! We can negotiate bonuses for high kills or achievements! And if you want, women, booze, full hospitality..."
"No thanks. I'll pass."
"Why~? Is something not to your liking? Not enough money? Or other conditions? My discretion is limited, but I'll try. We're really desperate~ Can't you help? Or is it national sentiment?"
Hayase pleaded desperately with imploring eyes at the firm rejection, but Yoo Seongwon clearly stated why.
"Nah. I just don't have the time? I've got a ton on my plate. Gotta build that frontline city up there, manage Iron Fortress here. National sentiment? I don't even like this damn hell Joseon... no reason to hate Japan."
After 32 years through association protection facilities, 'military service,' and working at Academia, Yoo Seongwon had zero patriotism.
That's why he'd rejected association and government overtures, pouring all his effort into screwing them over.
"No, wait, wait... Hmm..."
"W-what's wrong?"
"You're right. For this country, nothing beats Japan."
Yeah, there was that historical resentment toward Japan so deep that even if they ranked last in world soccer, it'd be forgiven if Japan was lower—and absolutely unforgivable otherwise.
Beyond modern history to the present, it was the reverse scale that ground teeth at the thought of reliving colonial humiliation, breaking bones and spilling blood to rise: Korea's pride, transcending all desires. That was Japan.
"I've got a good idea."