Terms on the Table

Saturday, 6:00 PM.

The Awakened Persons Management Bureau headquarters, located in Hannam-dong, Seoul.

Weekdays or weekends made no difference—the complex was always teeming with crowds, and that was precisely where I had just arrived.

I feel like I’m going to drop dead of exhaustion.

Over the three days spent preparing for this meeting, I hadn’t skipped a single Tower climb. As things stood, the Bureau had no clue that I was the EX-Rank Clearer. I had debated whether to reveal that fact during this meeting, but ultimately decided against it.

Joining the elite team would certainly guarantee unconditional backing from the government, but...

Is there really any need for that?

The benefits I stood to reap from a potion supply contract alone would be more than enough.

In fact, the potions might actually matter more than an EX rank.

Even if they lacked an EX-ranker, capable elites like Hunter Lee Sehwa were already holding the front lines. When it came to potions, however, I was the sole producer in the entire world. In a sense, keeping it quiet was the obvious choice.

Besides, my real reason lay elsewhere.

Above all else, I wanted to protect the plants I was raising.

If I step into the spotlight as an EX-rank Awakened, the kids' identities will inevitably be dragged into the open.

No matter how airtight government security might be, once that information leaked, there was no telling what kind of threats might come knocking. Someone might attempt to abduct them for scientific research, or approach us with ulterior motives to exploit an EX-rank conquest. At the very least, I had to consider the prospect of witch hunts and toxic harassment online.

Maybe I’m jumping to conclusions.

Even so, a little caution never hurt. There was zero guarantee that the rest of the world would love them the way I did. Therefore, I decided that if I ever revealed myself as the EX-Rank Clearer, it should only happen once I possessed enough sheer ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠power to protect them beyond any shadow of a doubt.

Regardless, pushing through daily climbs for that very reason left me bone-tired. Naturally, I had already cleared today’s quota as well. On the bright side, it left me with a comfortable stash of mana stones.

Which brought me here two full hours ahead of the appointed time!

Time to cash in some mana stones.

Ever since Spiky started gorging inside the Tower, my mana stone reserves had plenty of breathing room. Currently, lowest-grade mana stones went for about 100,000 won per kilogram, and I had 36 kilograms stored away. Reserving 10 kilograms as extra feed, I resolved to sell off the remaining 26.

That came out to a whopping 2.6 million won. Thanks to the rewards scaling up with each ascending floor, climbing just up to the 8th floor had netted me a full month's salary.

Should I seriously quit my part-time job?

My schedule was only going to get tighter from here on out, and I needed to concentrate on the Tower anyway.

Besides, earning through mana stones is ridiculously more lucrative.

The higher one climbed, the richer the bounties waiting above. Right then and there, I made up my mind to tell the owner that this month would be my last.

"Verification for twenty-six kilograms of lowest-grade mana stones is complete. Shall we transfer the payment directly to your account?"

"Ah, yes. Please do."

Seeing my bank account—which had been pinched tight by mounting expenses—suddenly plump up in an instant was deeply satisfying.

...Yeah, I'm definitely quitting that gig.

Suppressing a creeping grin, I spent a good while wandering about the hall and checking out the facilities. That was when Commissioner Kim Han-soo’s call came through.

"Hello?"

"Yes, I’m already inside the building."

"Haha, please, there's no need. I’ll make my way directly to the room you mentioned."

After repeatedly waving off Commissioner Kim Han-soo's insistence on greeting me downstairs, I headed up toward the Commissioner's Office on my own.

Never thought I’d see the day I set foot in the Commissioner's Office.

The awkward sentiment lingered for only a second. Taking a steadying breath, I rested my hand against the doorknob before me.

Click.

The moment the latch gave way, two figures seated inside rose to their feet in unison.

"Hunter Yu Jisoo!"

"Mr. Yu Jisoo?"

Faces I had only ever seen through a television broadcast were staring straight at me.

Under normal circumstances, my nerves would have flared up, leaving me stuttering like a fool. Yet right now, not an ounce of tension held me.

Before heading out, I had applied the essence of the Peace Fragrance onto my skin—a blend with extraordinary potency when it came to dispelling mental strain and steadying the mind.

This stuff really works wonders.

Even though I made it with my own hands, the efficacy was wild. Calm composure welled up so effortlessly that it felt as though I were meeting people I bumped into every single day. Glancing between the two, I bowed my head slightly.

"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Yu Jisoo."

Slide.

A crisp stack of white documents was laid out across the luxurious dark-brown desk.

"This is...?"

"The contract terms we have prepared."

"Is this an elite contract?"

"It differs slightly from a conventional elite contract," Commissioner Kim Han-soo began to explain, leaning forward. "First and foremost, while you will hold the rank of an Elite Hunter, we intend to classify you under the support division—completely exempt from any obligation to climb the Tower."

Ordinarily, Elite Hunters were legally bound to push forward with clearing the Tower. After all, tackling the Tower was a hunter's foundational job description. Furthermore, elites under state contract received immense privileges in recognition of their potential, meaning 'parking' on safe floors was strictly forbidden.

"Then in exchange for being excused from the climb, I assume I will have an obligation to brew potions?"

"Well, as for that..."

"It's quite all right. I fully anticipated that condition."

Over the next several minutes, I scrutinized the document line by line, but failed to uncover a single toxic clause.

Wait... isn't this basically free money on a silver platter?

An annual base salary of three billion won. State-provided elite housing, personal security details, hefty discounts at the official Hunter Shop, and much more.

On top of that, exhaustive accommodations and security measures were extended to my immediate family so that I could focus entirely on potion crafting.

I was also granted full access and advisory privileges regarding all ongoing national initiatives related to the Tower.

Dedicated staff and facilities to assist in the manufacturing process were thrown in as well.

To top it off, the Bureau pledged to purchase every healing potion I produced for a staggering one billion won apiece. For any newly developed potion types, the price would be formally determined after field trials and value assessments conducted by Elite Hunters.

It took sheer effort to prevent the corners of my mouth from lifting into an uncontrollable grin.

If not for the Peace Fragrance, I might have passed out right here.

These were numbers on a scale I had never laid eyes on in my life. With this kind of backing, not only could I raise the little ones in the best possible environment, but...

I can try out every single thing I’ve ever wanted.

I could wipe out my parents' debts completely and still have more than enough left over to move into an entirely new home. Still, nodding along too eagerly would make me look desperate. I decided to bring up the question that weighed on me the most.

"Is it truly all right to proceed like this, though?"

"...You are referring to the Special Pharmaceutical Act, aren't you?"

"Yes."

The Special Pharmaceutical Management Act for Awakened Persons. In my case, what I had done flew entirely in the face of that legislation.

Sigh.

Letting out a heavy breath, Commissioner Kim Han-soo spoke.

"You need not concern yourself with that."

"Is there a way around it?"

"The Special Pharmaceutical Act is so riddled with problems that I was already planning to overhaul it sooner or later."

Wait, is he really pushing this through just for me?

As I stared squarely at Commissioner Kim Han-soo with that thought in mind, Lee Sehwa spoke up.

"It's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the truth. That law was fundamentally warped right from the start."

"Hunter Lee Sehwa...!"

"Commissioner, I'm sure Mr. Yu Jisoo already knows all about it. Every citizen in South Korea is well aware of how absurd that statute is."

...Actually, I didn't know at all.

Deciding it was best to read the room, I refrained from offering unnecessary commentary.

"Phew. Well, that is certainly true," the commissioner admitted.

Seizing the moment, Lee Sehwa pressed on.

"To begin with, does it make any sense that potions are the only thing entangled in the Special Pharmaceutical Act? On top of that, the regulatory criteria are just shoddy cut-and-paste modifications borrowed from conventional drug manufacturing guidelines."

"......"

"Even when an Awakened crafts a potion with verified, undeniable effects with their own hands, they're barred from selling it because of a single piece of paper. That's pure nonsense, isn't it?"

Perhaps because of the fiery rhetoric she had thrown around during her recent interview, meeting her gaze head-on felt surprisingly overwhelming. Keeping a stoic face, I simply gave a nod.

"...See? What did I tell you, Commissioner? He came here knowing the whole score already."

"Ahem. Forgive my presumption, then."

"Not at all."

Man, the pressure here is intense. I need to get this contract signed and get out of here.

"Then I will assume there are no legal issues on that front."

"Yes. Shall we move forward with the official signing, then...?"

"Before that, there is one thing."

"...?"

"I have a condition of my own."

Generous as their terms were, I still had to secure what I truly wanted.

"I would like to establish an independent enterprise."

If my work got swallowed up under the umbrella of some vague national project and my abilities weren't properly compensated, I knew I would end up bitterly regretting it.

Inside the Commissioner's Office of the Awakened Persons Management Bureau.

The two individuals left behind remained silent for a long time.

"...We must secure him no matter what," Lee Sehwa broke the silence, tucking a strand of her neatly tied platinum-blonde hair behind her ear. "By any means necessary."

"...I agree."

Kim Han-soo gazed quietly at the potion sitting on the desk.

The young man had been remarkable from the very first phone call. He had handled every turn of the conversation without a flicker of hesitation, as though he had foreseen every development in advance.

"Just where on earth did ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠such a prodigy come from...?"

The same held true throughout every moment of the meeting.

Hunter Yu Jisoo, who introduced himself as a potion crafter, exhibited neither fluster nor unrest. Lee Sehwa had felt it just as keenly. As the reigning Rank 1 Hunter of South Korea, her sensory perception far surpassed that of ordinary humans.

"Perhaps he anticipated this entire situation from the moment he posted on the community forum."

Commissioner Kim Han-soo couldn't dispute her assessment.

After all, throughout the meeting, Yu Jisoo had answered every question smoothly and without a pause. Even when pressed with delicate inquiries regarding how he managed to brew such potions, he replied frankly and without hesitation. Naturally, he hadn't divulged the exact nature of his awakening traits, but they had enough decency not to push that line of questioning.

"...A support-type Awakened."

Among the hunters registered with the Bureau, support-types were not entirely absent. However, a trait specifically centered on crafting miracles like Yu Jisoo's was entirely unheard of.

"Then Hunter Yu Jisoo must not be the EX-Rank Clearer."

"Of course he isn't, Commissioner. Honestly, could they possibly be the same person? Besides, he said with his own mouth that his traits aren't suited for direct combat."

"I was merely entertaining the possibility."

Even if he wasn't an EX-rank Awakened, it hardly mattered. The fact remained that he possessed capabilities comparable to—or perhaps far more staggering than—an EX rank.

"If what he claims holds true, the entire world will be turned upside down."

"...That's an understatement. If we play our cards right, South Korea might just seize global dominance."

Difficult as it was to believe, it was the unvarnished truth. At this juncture, the world's economy hung entirely upon the Tower.

Mana stones procured from the Tower were only the baseline. Low-probability drop rewards, apparel and gear crafted from monster byproducts, and weaponry forged from otherworldly Tower minerals generated secondary value that rivaled the very task of averting the apocalypse. It was an undeniable reality that South Korea had risen to the forefront of East Asia precisely because its climb rate outpaced that of its neighboring rivals.

"Do you plan to test that during your next raid?" Kim Han-soo asked, gesturing toward the vial of dark-blue liquid resting before Lee Sehwa.

It was an item Yu Jisoo had produced from his inventory and handed to her while they were hashing out the potion supply terms.

"Naturally. If it truly bestows night vision..."

Her voice trailed off, but Commissioner Kim Han-soo understood her unspoken words entirely.

"Then clearing up to the 55th floor is practically guaranteed."

"Well, that's assuming this potion actually works, of course."

"What is your honest impression, Hunter Lee?"

"Of what?"

"The potion—and the man named Yu Jisoo."

Lee Sehwa let out a long sigh.

"Commissioner, have you ever noticed that you love asking questions when you already know the answer?"

"Haha, is that so?"

"You know it as well as I do. Even if this new concoction turns out to be a dud..." Lee Sehwa pushed forward another vial resting nearby, filled with radiant golden liquid. "This single bottle already makes his worth far exceed that of any Elite Hunter."

"......"

"And then there's this pouch."

The parting gift Yu Jisoo had handed to both of them before taking his leave. He had given them one each, noting offhandedly that he called it the Peace Fragrance.

"If this thing really has the effects he claimed, it will become an indispensable necessity for every hunter right alongside his potions."

The Peace Fragrance.

A scented sachet that diffused an aroma exceptionally potent at relieving mental stress and steadying the mind.

While the healing potion had been verified through firsthand experience, the two new creations Yu Jisoo left behind seemed almost too fantastical to accept. Or more accurately, 'too astonishing to believe' was the proper expression.

If his claims were true, it would effortlessly throw the globe into upheaval. Furthermore, it offered a vital key to resolving the harsh working conditions of hunters and the rampant societal problems born from their psychological trauma.

"To share my thoughts, I believe Hunter Yu Jisoo's condition was remarkably fair."

Yu Jisoo had stipulated only a single demand: absolute authority over the potions, accompanied by exclusive control over the entire manufacturing process.

In short, he wanted to found his own corporate entity.

Though he had refrained from stating it bluntly, he was preemptively cutting off any attempt by outsiders to research, analyze, or replicate his formulas. However, granting that request demanded significant legal groundwork.

Specifically, an overhaul of the Special Pharmaceutical Management Act for Awakened Persons—commonly known as the Special Pharmaceutical Act—was mandatory. The statute inherently mandated exhaustive public disclosure of every step in the manufacturing process.

"Is there really any problem with amending it? Most of the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Special Pharmaceutical Act was cobbled together haphazardly in the first place."

She wasn't wrong.

The Special Pharmaceutical Act was originally drafted through aggressive lobbying and backroom solicitations by Hanshin Group, the conglomerate holding the exclusive domestic distribution rights for Glorio. Consequently, public opinion had long been calling for the law to be scrapped and rebuilt from the ground up.

It was a piece of legislation destined for the chopping block anyway. If overhauling a corrupt law secured them Hunter Yu Jisoo, it was an outright bargain.

"It would be wise to push the revision forward without delay."

Their next meeting was set for one week later. That window was more than enough to draft a preliminary outline for the amended act, and ample time to field-test the new potions.

Without another word, Commissioner Kim Han-soo lifted the telephone receiver.

It was the exact moment the gears began turning on the newly revised Special Pharmaceutical Management Act for Awakened Persons.