If Only You Come (1)
A short while later, after the meal, we headed to the hotel's suite. If anyone asked why we were going to a suite instead of the house just thirty minutes away, it was because we needed a quiet "business room," not an overnight stay. A place that cost tens of millions of won per night. A space where even the staff wouldn't casually come and go. We were given exactly that.
"As you can see, this is the proposal Incheon Devils can offer Miss Lee Hana."
A meeting regarding Lee Hana's entry into the KCL League. Chairman Song Juhyung had rented not a seminar room but a suite, and the hotel had immediately provided an empty one. If asked why a suite specifically... it was something of a custom. "Negotiations with superhumans have always taken place in hotels since the Hunter era."
A five-star hotel suite had its own reception area. Especially in places where national leaders stayed during overseas visits, there were dedicated business spaces. Those rooms had become the domain of superhumans, and the custom had solidified. It spoke volumes about their status.
"A guaranteed annual salary of 55 billion won. A 3+1 year contract."
Look at that. The industry had been expecting around 50 billion, yet they were offering far more.
"During her minor years, she will play for Incheon Devils for three years, with a player option for one additional year. We understand how important that first year of adulthood is."
"A player-friendly contract... At this rate, the salary cap would be irrelevant."
The salary cap. The league's limit on total team payroll. Even with annual adjustments, once the combined salaries of a team's superhuman players exceeded 70 billion won, luxury taxes kicked in. Penalties for exceeding the cap. Factoring in additional expenditures, the team would likely spend close to 100 billion won per year.
"That's fine. We've already decided to pay the luxury tax to its limit. Recruiting Miss Lee Hana by gutting our existing roster? That would be absurd."
He was right. Even if Hana could carry the team single-handedly, the superhuman league was full of problems if teammates couldn't support her—both on the scoreboard and in public opinion.
"Father, would you like to see another condition? We plan to prepare a separate residence for Miss Lee Hana."
"Separate? I was under the impression Incheon Devils emphasized communal living."
"Everything becomes an exception in the presence of Miss Lee Hana. We intend to purchase a 100-pyeong penthouse in Songdo. It will be provided free of charge during the contract period. This also ties into bonuses—if the team wins the league championship, we will transfer ownership of the property and cover all related taxes."
Win the Korean championship and receive a house. Not just any house, but one in Songdo.
"That's not all. We will hire a dedicated chef exclusively for Miss Lee Hana. If needed, we will bring in a new A-class healer to the healing care team and assign a dedicated mana masseuse. Most importantly... we will replicate the mana training room she used with the New York Tyrants. For her exclusive use."
"Oh, really?" Hana, who had been quietly listening, perked up.
"That room... no one else can use it because of my unique mana frequency."
"Exactly. It will be 'exclusive' in every sense."
"Wow..."
"Would you take a look at this?" Chairman Song Juhyung pulled out a tablet and adjusted the screen so only I could see it. Hana could have looked if she wanted, but she politely turned her gaze away, lifting her teacup at his gesture.
"This is..."
"Articles about Miss Lee Hana."
"Malicious ones. I even see some names from the press conference."
The headlines were so unpleasant I didn't even want to mention them.
"Yes. Those... ahem, excuse me. To handle them, we plan to assemble a dedicated risk management team for Miss Lee Hana. About twenty members, monitoring domestic and international communities, SNS, and media outlets around the clock."
"Quite thorough. In that case... I have a question."
One difficult aspect of negotiating with Incheon Devils.
"What do you intend to do about the Soakma?"
The Incheon Devils' fan club, Soakma (Little Devils). Especially the most extreme members—essentially hooligans with keyboards. One of the three most notorious toxic fandoms in the country. They called themselves "the satanic bastards living in demonic Incheon" while never putting down their keyboards.
"Of course, we will manage them directly as well."
"Hmm... Understood."
We didn't go into specifics. I had my reasons, and Hana had already mentioned this issue to me before.
"As for the contract terms—"
"There's more."
"Pardon?"
Chairman Song Juhyung smiled. The main course was just beginning.
"Superhuman contracts are registered with the association, and some association staff leak them to outsiders. So this is essentially the public version. The real contract is this one."
"A double contract?"
"This is how it's done in the KCL. I don't know about America, but..."
"America isn't much different either."
Hana, who had been listening quietly, nodded lightly.
"Someone in Boston signed a contract that would grant immunity for one drug-related offense within the state."
"Ah, hahaha. Miss Lee Hana, that's not what we're proposing."
"What if," Hana said, raising her voice slightly, "I committed a crime that went against Korean public sentiment?"
She gripped my hand on the table and stared directly at Chairman Song Juhyung.
"Would you still shield me just because I'm an Incheon Devils superhuman? Or would you shield me regardless?"
"There's a saying in the KCL... As long as it's not sexual assault, our ace is innocent even if they kill someone."
That was certainly true.
"Of course, that only applies when they have the skill and achievements to back it up. There are already various cases in Korea. Every team has a few superhumans with red lines drawn around them. Though no superhuman in the KCL has actually committed murder."
"Don't worry. I won't kill anyone."
Hana released my hand and quickly scanned the double contract.
"Hmm... Roughly 400 billion won."
"Yes. The 'bonus' we can provide on the back of the contract for Miss Lee Hana."
A contract salary of 55 billion. Under-the-table money: 400 billion. This was the hidden contract, designed with public sentiment in mind. Hana handed me the document she had skimmed, and I quickly reviewed its contents.
"Upon contract termination, we will transfer 5% of Incheon Devils' ownership stake. There is a Worlds qualification condition, but that's hardly a condition at all. I actually argued against including it..."
"Once every three years. If it happens every year, that's 15%?"
"Ah, hahaha..."
At my light joke, Chairman Song Juhyung's expression brightened slightly.
"If we win Worlds, 20% would be acceptable. Yes."
...He seemed more serious than I expected. After this meeting, he would probably scold the team that drafted the contract. One joke had doubled the ownership stake, but that showed how earnest they were.
Victory bonus: 100 million won. Round MVP: 500 million won. And...
"Even for me?"
"Yes. We will recruit you, Mr. Lee Dokyung, as our 'Chief Strategic Advisor and Deputy Director-level Committee Member.' We guarantee an annual salary of 3 billion won."
Support extended even to me. It didn't mean much to me personally, but Hana smirked. Chairman Song Juhyung and the Incheon Devils delegation's eyes lit up.
'They prepared thoroughly.'
As expected of Incheon Devils. A team where everything except superhuman skill and league performance was perfect.
"Did you hear this from the New York Tyrants?"
"Hahaha. I have some connections in America. Their deputy director was my Oxford classmate."
They had truly gone to great lengths to recruit Lee Hana.
"And two more things. These aren't in the contract."
Chairman Song Juhyung lowered his voice.
"Incheon Metropolitan City will soon revise an ordinance called the Incheon Special Act for Superhuman Public Development, which will set a flat 10% income tax for superhumans residing in Songdo/West Incheon."
"......"
I glanced sideways. The Incheon Vice Mayor, who had stood beside the mayoral candidate giving supportive speeches during the last local election, gave a brief nod and smiled.
"That's not all. An 'Incheon Superhuman Development Fund' will be established. As for who receives the fund... heh."
"That would make a perfect headline: 'The Lee Hana Law.'"
"Father." Chairman Song Juhyung spread his arms. "Anywhere in Korea, it would be similar. As long as it doesn't violate national law, politicians and business leaders from each region are gathering to recruit Miss Lee Hana."
I knew. While I was meeting with Incheon Devils, I had also received information from people contacting me personally about Hana's destination.
Honestly speaking...
'I'm actually closer to the political side.'
How much did Chairman Song Juhyung know? That I had already grasped every detail of this contract, including the parts not written down.
"Father." Chairman Song Juhyung straightened his posture seriously. "No other Korean team can match this level. Seoul? Gyeonggi? Daegu? None have the capital we can mobilize."
"......"
Hmm. He didn't seem to know after all.
'If he knew, he wouldn't be saying this.'
It couldn't be helped. In this era of peace, ten years in. The fact that people in the light could speak this way meant our sacrifices hadn't been in vain.
"May I speak with Hana alone for a moment?"
"We'll step out."
* * *
After the Incheon Devils people left.
"Hana. What do you think?"
"Hmm, should we sign?"
Hana answered calmly, as if deciding on dinner.
"Where did they rank for you?"
"Third. After talking directly today, maybe second?"
"What's first?"
"The defending champions, Daejeon Eagles."
I had thought long and hard about what Hana needed.
'No one has wings as solid as the Eagles.'
Sorry to the fans, but as her father, I would have to use that.
"What about you?"
"First place."
"The Devils?"
"Because it's Incheon."
Hana pointed at me.
"It's close to home. Close to you. Easy commute."
"Really now. You're getting a 7-billion-won private residence and you want to commute?"
"Waaah. You're trying to force a minor to live independently!!"
Hana laughed playfully, then suddenly froze with her arms spread wide.
"...Do I have to move out?"
"Of course not."
I walked over and hugged her, gently patting her head.
"If my daughter wants to commute from home, why would I stop her? You've already worked hard for a year."
"...Hehe."
One year. The void she left had been quite large. Thanks to that, I had been able to handle some things that needed doing...
"Alright. Let's sign. Ah, but we should sign later, right?"
"Of course. This contract is meaningless anyway. We'll have them revise it and bring a new one."
After handing Hana the contract from Incheon Devils, I opened the door leading outside.
"Huh?"
Outside the door stood Yoon Jinseo, the A-class superhero of Incheon Devils known as Misty Lady, who was a bit younger than me.
"Miss Lee Dokyung?"
"Where did the chairman go?"
"Ah. He's at the medical office—well, resting. His stomach got a bit twisted from the tension."
"Oh dear."
I had known. He had been acting relaxed, but inside he was a mess of tension and anxiety.
"Is it because of this, perhaps?"
Yoon Jinseo briefly pointed a finger to her lips.
"No. I don't smoke."
"Oh my, I see. Um... Mr. Lee Dokyung."
"Yes."
"You raised your daughter very well."
"Of course."
A child I raised on 2 million won a month. I could confidently say no one had raised their daughter better than I had.
"She's my treasure."
"Raising that treasure alone for nearly ten years... you must have worked so hard."
"It wasn't hard at all. Haha."
"...Hmm. You're quite handsome, you know."
Yoon Jinseo reached into her chest pocket and pulled out a small piece of paper.
"Here, take this."
A business card. Not an ordinary one, but a superhuman's card.
"They say a four-year age difference doesn't matter for compatibility."
She kissed the card and slipped it into my pocket. I watched silently.
"Is this business?"
"That depends on Father's feelings? Hehe. Understood. I'll bring the chairman."
Yoon Jinseo winked and left.
"Not Misty Lady, but a succubus instead... Huh?"
"Dad."
Rustle.
Behind me, Hana was quietly folding the contract.
"I want to go to Busan."
"...Busan?"
"Yes. Busan."
She tore it exactly in half.
"Is that not allowed?"
"......"
A good father should understand his daughter's true meaning from her brief words and expressions. Reason? If Hana didn't like it, then she didn't like it. Whatever the reason.
"No reason it wouldn't be allowed. If that's what you want. Let's head home first and get ready to leave. We'll go by car."
"Yes, Dad!"
Whoosh.
Hana grabbed the contract and vanished with the wind. I stepped out of the room.
"S-Sir!!"
Chairman Song Juhyung came running. I approached him with a polite posture and extended my right hand.
"We'll give the contract positive consideration."