Chapter 11

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 011

Chapter Title: Gate Shock (3)

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Gates possess immense economic value as indispensable new energy and material resources in modern industry.

However, before highlighting those advantages, let's look at the essence.

Gates are heinous enemies that threaten humanity.

Though they are suppressed and utilized through Hunters, they are not a free resource that guarantees 100% safety.

That was the reason Jeong-woo's actions were garnering public support.

Justification.

The Gate Shock issue, his position as the one who resolved it, and the character of the strongest who sacrificed greater gains for the greater good.

On the surface, Jeong-woo was clearly the more reasonable choice.

That made it hard for the guilds and management bureaus holding the interests to put the brakes on his actions this time.

In the end, it all came down to public support.

Especially in the current gate management system, which overlapped halfway with the political sphere, that was an element they absolutely could not ignore.

Above all, residential safety in Korea was directly tied to the massive interests of the real estate market, wasn't it?

With every issue becoming breaking news, it was hard to even stage any manipulations.

Jeong-woo was too public for them to move in secret.

More precisely, his summon, the Teddy Warrior, was moving too publicly.

The news screen showed the Teddy Warrior standing at a bus stop, mingling with citizens.

A sign and transit card hung around the teddy bear's neck.

『On official duty.』

The Teddy Warrior was patrolling gates without Jeong-woo.

While riding public transportation, no less.

Unlimited summon duration.

No restrictions on summon range.

And capable of independent judgment and combat execution.

These were the detailed abilities of the Teddy Warrior that had come to light over the past few days.

With a being that perfectly overcame all the chronic issues of summoning aptitude strutting openly through the streets, how could the public leave it alone?

"Take a picture with me!"

"Hug me!"

Pop!

"Eek!"

A friendly appearance aside from its terrifyingly powerful abilities.

Even trivial behaviors and actions beneficial to citizens.

The Teddy Warrior's popularity soared endlessly.

Online reactions were the same.

With actions that scratched the itch so satisfyingly, enthusiasm spread beyond Seoul to the entire Korean public.

Even overseas observers who had been watching him were already building fanbases thanks to the teddy bear's unique character.

Above all, Jeong-woo's approval ratings were surging.

Of course, think about it.

Based on the revealed abilities alone, Jeong-woo had the power to control all Korean gates single-handedly through that summon if he pursued personal gain.

Yet he used that power solely for the public good.

How great was the moral justification from that character?

In the midst of all that attention from everyone.

As gate densities reset like weeds under an unstoppable truck.

Naturally, there were those who hated it to death.

"Aigoo~! Mr. Bear Teacher! At this rate, we'll really starve to death!!!"

Pop!

"Please! Please! We'll lower the density, so no more environment resets pleeease!!!"

Pop!

In front of the Third Gate in Eunpyeong-gu.

The guild master clung to the Teddy Warrior's leg, dragged along pathetically while begging.

As a guild particularly aggressive in lobbying the management bureau, their master—who had been managing at shock high-risk density—knew it was over but made a final desperate struggle.

"I eat it!!! I really eat it!!!"

He even threw away all social face.

But...

Shake, shake.

The Teddy Warrior just shook its head, showing a firm attitude.

The guild master saw an endless abyss in the teddy bear's buttonhole-like black eyes.

Rage boiled up from within.

"You psychopath bastard!!! We'll all die at this rateeee!!!"

But that didn't make the already drawn sword go back in.

Vwoooom—!

"Kyaaack!!!"

A kind neighbor to citizens.

A psychopath teddy to corrupt guilds.

Jeong-woo's summon was giving its all to the job today as well.

Bam—!

A fist slammed down on the office desk.

It was a table worth far more than an office worker's salary, but now it lay scattered as worthless splinters.

Currently Seoul's mayor—and once a famed first-generation Hunter and former management bureau executive—Yoo Myeong-cheol growled low, veins bulging on his forehead.

"What the hell is that bastard doing right now."

To his question, Nowon-gu Hunter Management Bureau Director Kim Sin-uk answered.

"Hunter Shin Jeong-woo is handling duties within the Anomalous Disaster Response Agency. His summon is currently heading toward Yongsan-gu..."

"Stop him."

"...I'm sorry."

"I said stop him! How can you screw up this badly over one guy!"

"There's no justification to stop him. No power either. He's not an easy mark."

"This is all because you couldn't recruit that guy back then! Take responsibility!"

Sin-uk's head bowed deeper.

A glass ashtray crashed down on it—thunk!—blood dripping from his scalp, but Sin-uk didn't flinch.

He just said,

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry isn't enough—you need to find a way! Kim Sin-uk! You tired of eating government rice!?"

"I'll find a way!"

"You useless bastard...!"

Myeong-cheol's lips trembled before he bellowed.

"Get out! Don't show your face until you have a plan!"

"Yes, Mayor."

Sin-uk bowed deeper, then turned expressionlessly and left the mayor's office.

His aide waiting outside handed him a handkerchief.

Sin-uk pressed his forehead and walked on.

"Report."

"Funds aren't circulating smoothly. Several planned projects scrapped, which is delaying next election funding..."

"Not that. The elders."

"......"

"Those senile old fools got greedy again, huh."

Silence was affirmation.

Sin-uk glared into space with sunken eyes, murmuring.

"Should've known to eat in moderation. Bunch of guys who only know how to swing their dicks around grab power and this is what happens. If they'd saved ammo instead of blowing it all..."

No, pointless what-if.

The deed was done.

Sin-uk sighed in irritation.

'Damn it all.'

At least he had worried about this.

As a Hunter eyeing politics himself, Sin-uk belonged to that faction but was skeptical of its stability.

He knew the internal affairs.

Like fat lions, the 'elders' who had all honor and power showed no thought that anyone might attack them.

It wasn't incomprehensible.

'With the one brake—the inaugural director—gone.'

15 years since the inaugural director vanished inside a gate.

With consensus he was as good as dead, they had no fear left to rein them in.

So the management bureau faction planned to suck the juice dry, solidify positions, and bail.

The problem was the incident blowing up first.

'Shin Jeong-woo. Shin Jeong-woo.'

From their first meeting, the guy had sent chills down his spine.

Too cunning for a lucky naive kid; something sly lurked inside.

In truth, his actions were brilliantly clever.

"Never imagined he'd come at us like this."

Before he could even think of countermeasures, the opponent struck first, fully prepared.

The speed and setup didn't make sense.

'Secured public support and sentiment first. Built justification with his character.'

That was why politics couldn't take further density measures.

Any restraint would frame them as holding citizen safety hostage for profit.

Had the guy known management bureau internals from the start?

Or was someone in the agency persuading and controlling him?

The latter seemed more plausible, but Sin-uk trusted his judgment highly.

'Feels like Shin Jeong-woo's scheme.'

From the moment of awakening, he knew how to wear his crown.

Eerily adept at wielding it.

Innocent and altruistic like his public image?

No way.

He had a goal for this.

So,

'That guy's capable of it.'

The thought wouldn't fade.

"Director."

"I know. Still gotta humor the old farts. We're all on death's door together."

Sin-uk sank into the car seat.

Lit a cigarette.

"Drive."

The car moved.

Sin-uk pondered endlessly for a way out, eyes murky.

Jeong-woo said,

"They probably can't move right away."

"Yeah, hole in the hive means patch it first to stop the honey leak."

Jin Ho-jong's metaphor fit the situation well.

A smile tugged at Jeong-woo's lips.

"I'll decide next moves based on their response. Prepping other stuff meanwhile."

In truth, hastening the management bureau's collapse—set for two years later anyway—was no big deal.

With the future as an answer key, he already knew the tools needed.

He was sharing that with Ho-jong, designing the stage.

Realizing midway: truly an unusual man.

"Hmm, you're awfully bold, Jeong-woo."

He didn't ask why.

Not why start this, or where the info came from.

Plenty suspicious, self-admittedly, yet he overlooked it.

Fixated on one goal, tolerating all.

That struck Jeong-woo as fascinating.

'Come to think, even pre-regression, why he charged the management bureau stayed unsolved.'

Beyond that, five years from now, after the agency fully replaced them, Ho-jong retired from public office outright.

Clean break, no lingering ties, news cut off.

So he idly wondered.

"A grudge?"

Maybe personal grudge against the bureau.

Subjectless question, but their rapport made it natural.

Ho-jong caught on instantly.

"And you, Jeong-woo? Eyeing the honey so poking the hive?"

Question for question.

Maybe time to share a bit.

"Slightly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠different."

Their vested interests held no appeal.

Crucial was averting the Zero Gate catastrophe.

The environment and info for that.

In his metaphor,

"Need the hive more than the honey."

Did the answer please him?

Ho-jong gazed out the window, murmuring low.

"Similar for me."

Still meaningful words.

"Hate seeing wasps steal a perfectly built hive full of honey."

Something clicked.

'Right, yeah.'

Anomalous Disaster Response Agency Director, A-Rank Hunter Jin Ho-jong.

First-gen Hunter from Millennium Shock, co-builder of public Hunter system with inaugural director.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

'The inaugural director...'

Too leap to connect there?

Yet unignorable info; inaugural director puzzle assembled in mind.

"Jeong-woo."

"Yes?"

"Curious why I don't question you?"

Straight to his doubt.

Jeong-woo nodded visually.

Ho-jong waved the leave request tucked in reports.

"As I said, I know about the attachment."

His usual languid air.

But words hit core.

"People who wanna make someone proud don't cross lines."

Jeong-woo stared at the leave form.

He wrote it himself; even he found the content brazen.

『Need to take daughter to zoo.』

Considered more professional phrasing, but this convinced Ho-jong easier.

In that moment, he understood.

Ho-jong had his weakness pinned.

He was right.

With Segi around, Jeong-woo could never turn truly evil.

"Director's pretty dark too."

"Just me?"

"Feels friendly. Just me?"

"Creepy, cut it. Married man here. Three daughters, two married off."

Ho-jong waved dismissively.

"Have fun. Make good memories with her."

Jeong-woo smiled softly.

"Yes, see you later."

For Segi's smile above all.

Tomorrow: their first outing together.

And simultaneously.

Maybe after tomorrow's outing, the next skill slot would unlock.

Of course, to proceed smoothly, he needed to finish today's work first.

'Gotta wrap up these papers quick.'

Employee nonetheless.

S-Rank or not, do your job properly—that's basic decency.

Jeong-woo sat at his desk.

With pre-regression experience, grasping duties was easy; adapted quick.

Reviewing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tasks when,

"Hunter Shin Jeong-woo."

"Ah, yes. Da-ye."

Command admin officer Chae Da-ye appeared with a stack of papers.

Fatigued face, sloppy ponytail, rumpled clothes—young woman whose first impression yelling at Ho-jong lingered awkwardly.

She handed the stack, saying,

"You haven't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠claimed your magic stones yet."

"Magic stones?"

He echoed, and Da-ye nodded.

"Yes, from the magic beasts you took down, plus special ones from the Champions—all of them. You never filed the claim?"

Then it hit Jeong-woo.

'Ah.'

Come to think, he'd wiped out swarms of magic beasts but never thought of the stones.