Chapter 7
Chapter 7
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Tampering (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The next morning, the air on the way to work felt unusually cold and biting.
Siwoo sat in the back seat of the taxi, gazing indifferently at the scenery flashing by outside the window.
His face was expressionless, but his eyes were lost in deep thought.
However, the smartphone in his hand wouldn't stop vibrating, growing hot from constant notifications.
‘Ruthless Boss Han Siwoo’, ‘Modern-Day Slavery Contract’, ‘F-Rank Hunter Scam Artist Feeding Off the Weak’.
Provocative headlines flooded the main pages of portal sites, and the comment sections overflowed with profanity too vile to repeat.
It was a frenzied public opinion campaign orchestrated by Jenia Management's paid commenters and riled-up netizens.
Bzzz.
At that moment, a message notification chimed. The sender was Lee Jia.
[Representative... I saw the articles. It's because of me again... I'm so sorry. I'll clarify everything right away.]
The text seemed to carry all of Jia's emotions.
She clearly couldn't bear seeing Siwoo get trashed because of her once more.
Siwoo stared at the screen for a moment before slowly typing a reply.
[Jia, I appreciate the thought, but stay put. If you step in now, you'll get dragged down too. I'm fine.]
[But...!]
[I'm really fine. Even if I take the heat, it's my fault. It's absolutely not yours.]
Siwoo hit send and pocketed his phone.
The taxi pulled up in front of the Hunter Association's Central Awakening Center.
The moment Siwoo stepped out, piercing glares rained down on him as if they'd been waiting.
At the building entrance, Park Manager and Jenia Management's agents were lying in wait.
"Well, well, who do we have here? Isn't it our famous Miracle rep, Han Siwoo, king of the bait-and-switch?"
Park Manager greeted him with exaggerated gestures. The agents around him snickered and closed in on Siwoo.
"Man, your mental game's on another level. With all those hate comments piling up, you still show up to hustle?"
"Scammers need thick skin to make a living, right?"
"Hey, Han rep, who’s the next sucker you're gonna bleed dry today? Season 2 of slave contracts?"
They shouted on purpose, loud enough for everyone to hear.
It was blatant mobbing, aimed at the lobby full of aspiring awakeners and guild staff.
All eyes turned to Siwoo.
Gazes mixed with contempt, suspicion, and disgust.
The people waiting subtly backed away, putting distance between themselves and Siwoo.
Like they were avoiding a plague carrier.
Siwoo didn't respond at all.
He simply straightened his clothes with an impassive expression and walked through them toward the waiting room.
"Hey! Ignoring us? Must've hit a nerve, huh?"
Park Manager's furious voice barked from behind, but the corner of Siwoo's mouth twisted upward ever so slightly.
‘Bark all you want.’
Siwoo entered the waiting room.
Dozens of aspiring awakeners sat there, anxiously awaiting their turns, faces tense.
His arrival chilled the air instantly.
People whispered and stole glances at him.
"That's the guy? From the news..."
"Yeah. The one who paid 100 million for an F-rank and locked 'em in a slave contract."
"Better steer clear."
Siwoo ignored them and activated Insight Eye.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 📛 Name: Kang Min-su ⭐ Predicted Rank: E ✨ Potential: E ⚔ STATUS ⚔ 📛 Name: Choi Soo-jin ⭐ Predicted Rank: D ✨ Potential: D Today, like always, most were average—or below-average talents.
Siwoo slowly scanned the waiting room.
Park Manager and the Jenia crew trailed behind him like shadows, stirring trouble.
"Hey, kid! Watch out! Don't listen to that guy! His contracts probably hide poison clauses!"
"Miss, stick with proven outfits like our Jenia Management. Go to some no-name hole-in-the-wall like that, and you'll ruin your life."
Whenever Siwoo even glanced at someone, they'd butt in and chase him off.
It was clear business interference, but Siwoo didn't stop them.
If anything, he egged them on, scanning the crowd even more deliberately.
And finally, Siwoo's gaze locked on one man.
A young guy in the corner seat, wearing worn-out sandals, leg jittering nervously.
Shabby clothes, dazed eyes.
He looked like someone backed into a dead-end alley of life.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 📛 Name: Yang Min-hyuk ⭐ Predicted Rank: F ✨ Potential: A-Rank Re-awakening / D-750 📋 Special Note: Possesses Delayed Awakening Syndrome ‘Found him.’
Siwoo's eyes flashed. Another A-rank re-awakener.
But what caught his attention more than the re-awakening was the timing.
750 days. Over two years from now meant living as an F-rank for those two years.
And rookie hunter contracts were typically two years.
Jenia Management, in particular, stuck to the two-year initial contract as ironclad policy.
‘Time to test it.’
Siwoo schooled his expression, putting on an act.
Like a man spotting an oasis in the desert—or like when he'd first found Jia.
Pupils dilating, lips bitten slightly, a mix of desperation and greed.
He approached Yang Min-hyuk like a hyena stalking prey.
Park Manager didn't miss a beat and stuck close.
"Excuse me, a moment?"
"Me? Huh?"
"Sorry to intrude, but could we talk? I'm from Miracle Management..."
"Whoa! Stop right there!"
As Siwoo predicted, before he could even pull out a business card, Park Manager dashed in, blocking the space between them.
"See? See this? Starting up again! Han rep, have some shame. With all these eyes on you, trying to scam another one?"
Park Manager bellowed.
"Kid, you know who this is, right? Didn't you see the news? The sleazy boss who ruined an F-rank's life!"
Park Manager draped an arm around Yang Min-hyuk's shoulders, playing protector.
Yang Min-hyuk blinked in confusion, looking back and forth between them.
"S-scammer? But I don't even have anything..."
"That's why he's worse! Leech sucking the life out of the poor."
Park Manager glared at Siwoo with a smug grin.
His eyes screamed: ‘Whoever you pick, I steal. You get nothing.’
Siwoo feigned panic but stood firm, gazing earnestly at Yang Min-hyuk.
"Say what you will. But kid, trust my eyes. You've got special talent. Contract with me and..."
"Oh, here we go with the ‘special talent’ crap again! Tired of that routine yet?"
Park Manager cut him off and shoved his business card at Yang Min-hyuk.
"Kid, you know Jenia, right? Industry number three! Loaded with capital, perfect hunter care system—a real top-tier firm. Worlds apart from some rinky-dink shop."
Park Manager glanced at Siwoo.
Seeing the anxiety on Siwoo's face fueled his confidence.
‘He's clinging this hard, so this kid's got something. Can't let him slip like Jia.’
"We don't just talk big. We prove it."
Park Manager pulled out his checkbook.
And with a flourish for Siwoo's benefit, he scribbled a number without hesitation.
"Here—signing bonus, 100 million."
"!!!"
Yang Min-hyuk's eyes went wide.
Onlookers buzzed.
Park Manager waved the check smugly.
"What do you say? Jenia Management drops 100 million no sweat—no loans needed. Unlike some people."
He jerked his chin at Siwoo mockingly.
"Still wanna sign with that trash outfit?"
It was perfect mirroring.
Copying Siwoo's exact playbook with Jia, meant to crush his pride.
"Contract's clean two years—industry standard. No five- or ten-year slave chains here. Sound good, kid? Best deal out there, right?"
Two years. Siwoo bit his lip to stifle the laugh bubbling up.
‘Yes... please go for two years. Just two.’
Yang Min-hyuk's options were lopsided.
100 million cash and the industry #3 powerhouse versus the infamous shady startup boss.
No rocket science needed.
"I... I'll go with Jenia! Thank you! Really, thank you!"
Yang Min-hyuk grabbed Park Manager's hand. Park Manager shot Siwoo a victory smirk.
"Smart choice!"
Park Manager handed over the contract.
Yang Min-hyuk signed without a second thought.
Siwoo hung his head, playing the perfect loser.
But a faint smile played on his lips.
Then, the large TV screen in the center of the waiting room switched.
Regular programming cut to breaking news subtitles.
📰 Breaking News A-Rank Hunter Lee Jia Holds Emergency Press Conference... “Clarifying Miracle Management Controversy” "Huh? What's that?" "It's Jia!"
Eyes turned to the TV.
Park Manager, Yang Min-hyuk, Siwoo—all watched.
On screen, Jia stood at the podium.
Tense but resolute.
She opened her mouth firmly amid a forest of microphones.
"Everything reported in the media is false. Representative Han Siwoo never forced a slave contract on me. If anything... it was the opposite." "What? What’s that mean? Ha, must've forced her to say it. Tsk tsk."
Park Manager clicked his tongue.
"I'll present evidence. This is a recording of my conversation with the rep last night." Jia held her prepared smartphone to the mic.
Static crackle.
Familiar voices spilled from the speakers.
[...I... I don't think I can keep this contract...] [Let's adjust the revenue split... and renew...] [......Huh?] [Boss... you believed in me and protected 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 survived that hell.] Jia's choked voice echoed through the waiting room.
[But... taking 9 feels wrong. ...... 8:2, 7:3... that's the top industry rate. And you gave me 9. I just realized how insane a loss that is for you.] As Jia's voice continued, Park Manager's face twisted.
[So... please renew with me. 5:5 split. Or even me taking 4. Make it 5+5 years instead of 5. Raise the penalty too. That's the only way I'll feel right.] That instant, everyone in the waiting room went slack-jawed.
Not even 5:5—she was begging for a 4 share.
Then Siwoo's firm voice followed.
[No. Absolutely not.] [Huh? Why? It's way better for you!] Click. The recording ended.
On screen, Jia's eyes welled up.
"Hear that? Rep Han Siwoo turned down my offer for 5:5 or 4:6. Our current deal's still 9:1. Is that a slave contract? Where's the ruthless boss taking just 1%?" Her impassioned plea flipped the room's mood in a heartbeat.
"Whoa... 9:1?"
"Hunter gets 9? No way that exists."
"And he rejected her? Man's a real one..."
"So the articles were fake news?"
As reactions built, Park Manager's head drooped.
People pulled out phones, rechecking articles, murmuring. Eyes that saw Siwoo as trash now shone with respect and envy.
And the looks at Park Manager—who'd slandered and obstructed Siwoo—turned to outright contempt.
Park Manager's face drained to dirt-gray, lips quivering.
Siwoo ignored the trembling man and turned to Yang Min-hyuk.
"Kid, even in two years, if you're open to Miracle Management, please reach out."
Yang Min-hyuk fumbled, taking Siwoo's card.
"Park Manager. Raise him well."
Siwoo patted Park Manager's shoulder twice and strode out.
‘Yeah, raise him good. No re-awakening for two years anyway.’