Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Tampering
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By the time Han Siwoo arrived at Lee Jia's place, his watch read 1 a.m.
He sent a message without hesitation.
[I'm here.]
The moment he hit send, a noisy clatter came from inside the firmly shut front door.
A moment later, the cheerful click of the door lock disengaging rang out, and the door swung open.
"P-P-President...!"
Lee Jia peeked out from the gap in the door.
Siwoo momentarily wondered if he'd come to the wrong house and had to double-check the nameplate.
The usual her was marked by baggy sweatpants, messy hair, and thick horn-rimmed glasses.
But the woman standing before him now was someone entirely different.
Her neatly combed-back hair gleamed with luster, and instead of a loose T-shirt, she wore a snug white cotton tee paired with jeans.
Her face was bare of makeup, but thanks to her skin's newfound clarity after re-awakening, it seemed to glow on its own.
Even as an A-rank hunter—one of the top 0.0001% in Korea—she still acted like a fresh-faced new hire in front of Siwoo, shrinking back timidly.
"S-Sorry. The place is a bit messy..."
She bowed her head shyly and stepped aside to let him in.
Siwoo slipped off his shoes and entered.
The studio apartment was small, but it was neatly organized, just like her personality.
"Sorry for the late hour."
"No! Thank you for coming. I asked you to."
She hurriedly pulled out a dining chair and sat him down.
Then she fetched a glass of cold water from the fridge.
Her hands trembled faintly.
Siwoo took the glass and examined her closely.
Her shoulders were still hunched up tight.
"First off, congratulations again. Re-awakening is nothing short of a miracle."
When Siwoo offered his sincere congratulations, Jia gave an awkward smile and tucked her hair behind her ear.
"I-It's... all thanks to you, President. If it weren't for you, I..."
She bit her lip, unable to continue.
Then, as if steeling herself, she pulled out a thick stack of document folders from under the table and set them down in front of Siwoo.
They hit the table with a heavy thud.
Siwoo opened one with a puzzled look.
His eyebrows twitched the moment he flipped to the first page.
[Sun Guild Scout Offer]
[Daesung Guild Scout Offer]
[Star Entertainment Exclusive Contract] ...
Dozens of contracts.
The names of Korea's top guilds and management firms were listed one after another.
Each offered jaw-dropping terms.
They'd cover the penalty fee as a baseline, provide a dedicated vehicle, a penthouse, even support for her family's livelihood.
Their desperate bids to snag an A-rank re-awakened hunter were etched into every page.
The problem was that all these contacts were blatantly illegal.
Under hunter law, no guild could approach a hunter under contract with another.
Contacts were only allowed a year before expiration.
But they'd ignored the law entirely, bypassing Siwoo's Miracle Management to approach Jia directly.
This was clear-cut tampering—a violation of the no-prior-contact clause.
"What... is all this?"
Siwoo feigned ignorance.
Jia hung her head, her voice barely above a whisper.
"The moment I got my re-awakening certification and left the hospital... the calls flooded in. Unknown numbers nonstop, people showing up at my door... even stuffed in my mailbox."
Terror filled her face.
The burden of suddenly becoming the world's center, the raw desire from massive powers—it was suffocating her.
"They all said... not to worry about the penalty. That my contract with you was unfair and could be voided with a lawsuit, and they'd handle everything..."
Her eyes reddened as emotion welled up.
With trembling hands, she pointed to the contracts one by one.
"Look. Fifty billion. Some offered a hundred. Just sign, and my life changes. They said it's nothing compared to the support from a small outfit like yours."
Her voice shook.
Not from temptation, but fear of this surreal situation closing in.
Siwoo silently took a sip of water.
The cold liquid soothed his heated throat.
Silence fell. Only the clock's ticking broke the heavy quiet.
Lee Jia kept her head down, clutching her hands tightly in her lap.
Her knuckles were white.
Like someone steeling for a big decision, her lips trembled.
"President. No, sir."
She finally spoke, the title shift creating distance.
"I... I don't think I can keep this contract going..."
Thud. Siwoo's heart plummeted.
Was his worst fear coming true?
With A-rank wings, it was natural she'd want to leave the narrow cage for wider skies.
No matter the trust built, billions could shake anyone.
But Siwoo held onto hope.
Her eyes held remorse and guilt, not greed.
The words "contract termination" hadn't left her lips.
Siwoo waited silently for what came next.
Jia pulled a crumpled sheet from her pocket.
It was the original exclusive contract with Miracle Management.
The one with the 100 million signing bonus and insane 9:1 split—Siwoo's heartfelt promise.
She placed it carefully on the table.
Handling it like fragile glass.
Siwoo took another sip to wet his parched mouth.
Then Jia looked up, meeting his gaze squarely.
Her eyes wavered, but her resolve was firm.
"Adjust the revenue split... and re-sign with me."
"...Pardon?"
Siwoo doubted his ears. Re-contract? Not termination?
"You... believed in me to the end. When everyone mocked me as F-rank, you were the only one who took my hand. Without you, I couldn't have endured that hell."
A tear dropped from her eye.
"But... I can't take 9. It doesn't make sense. You gave me 100 million, even borrowed to support me... If I take 9, what's left for you? You'd go bankrupt."
She sniffled on.
"Looking at the other guilds' offers, I get it now. Their best is 8:2, 7:3. But you gave me 9. I finally see how insane a loss that was for you."
She burst into sobs.
When countless guilds came with sweet talk, it made her realize Siwoo's sincerity bone-deep.
They saw her value and bid money; he saw her potential and bet his life.
Even when she was treated like F-rank trash, he'd protected her pride with that foolish 9:1 deal.
Gratitude and guilt overwhelmed her.
"So... please re-contract with me. 5:5 split. Or I'll take 4. Make it 5+5 years instead of 5. Raise the penalty too. That's the only way I'll feel right."
She begged earnestly.
This wasn't just a terms tweak.
It was her way of repaying kindness, confessing she wanted to stay with Miracle long-term.
Siwoo stared blankly at her.
The goodwill he'd given had returned not as greed, but faith.
His chest warmed.
Proof his judgment in choosing Lee Jia was spot-on.
After hearing her out, Siwoo took another sip to steady himself, then slowly shook his head.
"...President?"
"No."
His voice was firm.
"I absolutely won't agree."
"What? Why? It's way better for you! More money..."
Jia blinked in shock, eyes wide.
She'd expected joy, not refusal.
"Jia. I won't propose a slave contract like that."
"Slave contract? I'm offering it!"
"5:5? For an A-rank, that's exploitation. Ten years? It's chaining her prime years. Other guilds would call me a ruthless shark."
Siwoo smiled wryly.
Of course, temptation gnawed.
5:5 with an A-rank was a goldmine.
But it was wrong.
For his beliefs, and Miracle's long-term future.
"But...! I owe you!"
"Pay it back slowly through activities. Even at 9:1, the earnings are huge—plenty for me."
"No! It'd bother me too much!"
Jia dug in her heels.
The gentle lamb showing stubbornness for the first time.
Siwoo pondered, then met her eyes squarely with a proposal.
"Instead, make one promise with me?"
"Yes?"
"Miracle Management is still small. Just me as staff, you as our only hunter. No flashy support like big guilds."
Siwoo paused.
"But I'll grow Miracle for sure. Give me three years. Exactly three. If after that, we're Korea's top management—not embarrassing you..."
"...Then?"
"If your feelings hold, and you still trust me, I'll propose a re-contract then. On your terms—or better."
Siwoo's gaze was unwavering.
Choosing future trust over immediate gain.
He saw her as a growth partner, not a cash cow.
Biting her lip at his resolve, Jia realized he wouldn't budge.
But she didn't back down.
"Then... I have a condition too."
"Go ahead."
"For that re-contract... give me what I want. No refusing."
Her eyes sparkled.
"...As long as it doesn't stray far from industry standards, I'll accept."
"Just not straying from standards?"
Jia held out her pinky.
Childlike innocence mixed with grit.
Siwoo chuckled and hooked his pinky with hers.
"Deal. Promise."
"You promised! No backing out later!"
Jia finally beamed.
A radiant smile on her tear-streaked face.
"Alright, that's settled. I'll take these illegal contracts and do my job. Rest up—you've got a packed schedule starting tomorrow."
Siwoo gathered the strewn tampering offers.
Leaving a wistful Jia behind, he said goodbye and left.
Click.
As the door shut, Siwoo's smile vanished.
Replaced by icy rage.
'They dare ignore me and try tampering?'
He crushed the contract bundle in his fist.
The big guilds' arrogance—treating a newbie agency like nothing—disgusted him.
If Jia had wavered even slightly, he'd have lost everything overnight.
They'd crossed the line.
Siwoo pulled out his phone.
His tapping fingers tensed.
He found a saved number and hit call.