Chapter 34, Korea's Strongest
Chapter 34, Korea's Strongest
"Number 1 complainant-nim! Please come to counter 1!"
At my call, the man sitting in the very front row of the waiting area shot to his feet.
He swept his gaze over the hundreds of hunters packing the waiting seats.
A blatant winner's smile hung on his lips.
He threw his shoulders back wide open, strutting toward counter 1 like he was showing off.
"Fuck... I'm so damn jealous."
"Should've come earlier..."
"Haa..."
Everyone ground their teeth watching that smile.
Right at opening time, the ticket dispenser at the entrance showed number 320.
You couldn't snag number 1 without lining up since dawn.
That single digit 1 was the symbol of envy in this warzone of a Civil Complaint Office right now.
"Come on in. How can I help you?"
I flashed a businesslike smile and greeted the man as he sat down.
He pulled a crumpled wad of paper and his Hunter License from his pocket and handed them over.
"The premiums are too damn high. Can you recalculate them for me?"
"You're talking about recalculating your Hunter Health Insurance premiums, right? One moment."
I politely took the documents he offered and looked at my monitor.
Tap tap tap.
I typed away on the keyboard, entering his info into the system.
[Name: Jeong Han-su]
[Rank: C-class]
I quickly scanned the data on the screen.
Based on last year's income, his monthly average was about 13 million won.
His premium rate, set two years ago, had been 12%.
But with last year's income factored in, this year's rate had jumped to 13.5%.
"Hmm, let me see..."
In raw numbers, the difference was huge.
Two years ago, it was 1.56 million won a month, but this year it was 1.755 million won.
A whopping 12.5% increase.
Unimaginable for a regular office worker, but par for the course for high-earning hunters.
Of course, that didn't mean the money wasn't missed.
"The current amount is properly calculated based on last year's income. No errors in the system."
At my dry announcement, Jeong Han-su's face fell instantly.
The winner's leisure he'd been flaunting toward the waiting area just moments ago? Gone without a trace.
"So recalculation's impossible? I'm seriously gonna starve this month... Isn't there any way?"
"No, it's not impossible at all."
I shook my head and pointed at the monitor screen with my finger.
"Recalculations are usually for changes in current assets or sharp income drops. Let me check your recent income real quick."
"Please do."
I tapped the keyboard again to pull up his income history for this year.
The graph drew a clear downward curve to the bottom right.
The guy who'd been pulling in 13 million won a month last year was way off pace this year.
Recent three-month average: just under 8 million won a month.
'8 million a month...'
From the perspective of a low-paid Grade 9 Civil Servant scraping by, it was an enviably tear-jerking amount.
Especially for me, taking home barely over 2 million won after taxes.
But hey, everything's relative.
If you're used to 13 million a month and suddenly drop to 8, it feels like half gone.
Installment payments and fixed expenses could get brutal.
Plus, income down but premiums up? No wonder the guy couldn't sleep from the injustice.
"Your income this year is way down from last year. That's plenty to qualify for recalculation."
"R-Really!?"
"Yeah. I'll check your current assets and process it right away."
"Thank you!"
Jeong Han-su bowed so deeply he nearly jumped out of his seat.
Hunters usually had egos sky-high; it was rare for them to show this much respect to a mere civil servant.
C-class wasn't some rank to get looked down on anywhere, and his attitude was top-notch.
For polite complainants like this, the rule was to process fast and send 'em off smiling.
I quickly started checking his assets.
[Vehicles: None]
[Owned home: None]
[Financial assets: Savings 2.3 million won]
Clean as a whistle.
No real property taxes in sight.
Classic finances for a hunter living off his body—assets not accumulated yet.
Savings under 50 million won? Perfectly met the recalc criteria.
"Your assets qualify too. So we'll base it on your recent 8 million won income, not last year's 13 million."
"How much will it drop...?"
"The rate adjusts to 12%."
I hit enter with a tap, and the numbers on screen whirred and changed.
"Recalculated amount: 960,000 won a month."
"9—960,000 won?"
"Yeah. Down about 790,000 won from the old 1.75 million."
I handed him the freshly printed notice.
His face lit up the second he saw the number on the warm paper.
Like he'd scored a rare item in a dungeon.
"Whoa... I'm saved. Thank you so much! I can make it through this month thanks to you."
"Oh, and hold on a sec."
I pointed at the red alert window in the corner of the monitor.
"You've got two months of unpaid premiums right now. Gotta pay those to finalize the recalc."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah. Can't process till they're cleared. Can you pay now?"
"Oh, yeah! Right now—I'll transfer immediately."
He fumbled out his phone and fired up the banking app.
Moments later, ding!—the alert sounded, and my monitor's red light flipped green.
"Confirmed. Processing complete."
"Seriously, thank you. You'll be blessed for this."
"Nah, the blessings go to you hunters. Always working hard."
He stood, bowing a full 90 degrees one more time.
Then he headed out of the Civil Complaint Office with light steps.
One down in about 10 minutes.
Not a bad pace at all.
'Next.'
I hit the call bell out of habit.
Ding dong~♪
Like he'd been waiting, number 6 complainant got up and headed over.
That's when it happened.
A shout that hit the eardrums exploded from the next counter over.
"No way! Why can't I get it but my buddy over there did! They did it at the Hunter Support Center!"
Instantly, the marketplace-bustle of the Civil Complaint Office went dead quiet.
Hundreds of hunters and civil servants all snapped their eyes toward the noise.
Yeah, figured.
A malicious complainant flipping out after getting denied recalc.
"Excuse me, sir. Please calm down. That's the regulation."
"Calm down? My income dropped too—I'm struggling! Why won't you cut my premiums! Discrimination?"
My colleague at the next counter, Section Chief Park Seong-ho, was sweating bullets with a pained look.
I snuck a peek at Park's monitor.
The raging hunter's info jumped out.
[Income change: None (stable vs. last year)]
[Assets: 2 Gangnam apartments, 4 foreign luxury cars]
[Financial assets: 900 million won cash]
Fucking ridiculous.
Income steady as last year, assets overflowing.
These types were a dime a dozen.
Earnings same, but spending out of control—money crunch.
Splurged on a fancy car, got into gambling, whatever.
Blaming the country for their own spending issues.
Income fine, but extra outflows hurt, so they come bitching.
While refusing to sell off their own assets, of course.
"Sir, your income's the same as last year, and assets exceed the limit. You don't qualify."
"Hey! Fuck the rules! I'm dying here and you're hiding behind regs? How much tax have I paid!"
Park explained hard, but the complainant's voice just got louder.
Soon he started pounding the counter partition with his fist. Bam bam!
Enough to shake the reinforced glass.
His eyes turning feral—like he'd pop an attack skill any second.
'No good.'
I sighed deep and hit the red button way under the desk.
Emergency call button.
Press it, and the Management Bureau's hunters—the so-called Enforcement Unit—deploy.
Armed force on standby to subdue hunters threatening civil servants.
Sure enough.
Less than two minutes after I hit it, the Civil Complaint Office entrance got rowdy.
"Excuse me. Make way, please."
The Enforcement Unit pushed through the murmuring crowd.
But today's vibe was off.
Usually just the squad rushing in, but today a massive guy led the pack.
A man in a pitch-black coat billowing as he strode in.
Just walking crushed the air around him with overwhelming intimidation.
'Seo Sang-hyeok?'
Alias: One-Man Army.
Management Bureau S-Rank hunter.
The monster among monsters rumored to take on all Korea's S-Ranks solo.
Korea's strongest.
His appearance silenced the Civil Complaint Office instantly.
Seo Sang-hyeok's presence was that absolute.
No wonder talk swirled that he broke the hunter ecosystem's balance.
Downgrade other S-Ranks to A? Or create a new SS-class just for him? Serious debates.
Guy was that much of an outlier in strength.
Seo Sang-hyeok marched right up to the rager.
Silver handcuffs dangled rattling in his hand.
That simple metallic clink echoed chillingly through the whole office.
"Uh, uh..."
The hunter who'd been slamming the desk and bellowing froze at the sight of Seo Sang-hyeok.
Face not just pale—practically transparent.
Already drenched in cold sweat, eyes glued to the floor, not knowing where to look.
Seo Sang-hyeok spoke in a flat tone.
"Choose."
"...Pardon?"
"Walk out on your own two feet, or get chained and dragged. Pick one."
His voice had no highs or lows.
Not angry, not annoyed—just business.
But that calm? It bred even greater terror.
The indifference of viewing someone like a bug made the complainer's legs buckle.
The thug nodded frantically, face ashen.
"I-I'll go! Right now!"
"Then get lost."
Seo Sang-hyeok nodded curtly, stepping back to clear the path.
The hunter bolted without looking back, ass disappearing fast.
Snickers leaked from the hushed waiting hunters.
Situation over.
S-Rank lived up to the hype.
No skills, just words, and done.
The storm of morning work finally ended, and lunchtime arrived.
[Current waitlist: 642 people]
[Processed complaints: 124 cases]
The electronic board numbers drew a sigh.
Long way to go.
Afternoon would swarm even more—could we clear 'em all today?
But what could ya do.
No matter the crowd, civil servants get lunch 'cause it's lunchtime.
Legally protected break.
The announcement blared, and groans and sighs erupted everywhere in the Civil Complaint Office.
"Ah, what? Making us wait an hour and a half?"
"I'm starving to death..."
"Hey! Eat in shifts!"
Grumbles popped up here and there, but the speaker steadfastly played the announcement.
These complaints were daily BGM in the Civil Complaint Office anyway.
Do not lose or discard your number ticket. Please keep it with you.
If lost or discarded, your turn is forfeited and you'll have to draw again.
Only after the announcement wrapped did I stand.
"Hoo..."
I stretched, loosening my stiff back.
Dealing with complainants all morning had drained me dry.
Cafeteria line'd be long too.
Gotta get some air first, then eat.
I opened the back door of the Civil Complaint Office and stepped toward the main building.
Then, I felt a presence next to me and whipped around.
"...?"
Someone was leaning against the wall.
Black coat.
Overwhelming bulk.
The guy who'd just cleared the Civil Complaint Office.
Seo Sang-hyeok.
'What the—why's this dude here?'
I froze mid-step, startled.
Enforcement Unit lounge was on the 3rd floor of the main building—why hang back here by the Civil Complaint Office?
Pretend not to see and pass?
Couldn't.
He called me.
"You there."
His low voice snagged my ankle.
I cautiously turned.
"Yes?"
"You're Lee Gyeong-ho, right?"
...How the hell does he know my name?
No way Korea's strongest knows a lowly Grade 9 Civil Servant.
My mind raced with every wild thought.
Did he catch my Hunter Gallery posts?
Or find out about Lee Ye-na's sexual tribute (fellatio)?
Or...
What else?
Anxiety piled up.
'Stay cool first.'
I nodded, playing it nonchalant.
"Yes, that's me. What can I—"
"Yeah, it is."
Seo Sang-hyeok eyed me up and down.
Like a predator sizing up prey.
Weird feeling, spine tingling cold.
"Heard about you from an acquaintance. Came to see what you look like."
"...Pardon? Acquaintance?"
"Yeah. You're as handsome as they hyped—quite the stir."
He muttered like to himself, nodding.
What the fuck was that?
Handsome enough to make noise?
Sounded like praise, but from Seo Sang-hyeok, it felt like a threat.
Who the hell talked about me?
No S-Rank buddies in my circle.
Mountain of questions, but grilling an S-Rank? Suicide.
Then, Seo Sang-hyeok pulled something from his pocket and tossed it.
"Catch."
I snatched it reflexively—a cold canned coffee.
Not cheap Lawson shit, some pricey brand.
"Th-Thank you."
"Keep up the good work."
He waved lazily, not looking back, and left.
I stood there blankly until his back vanished from sight.
Only when Seo Sang-hyeok was fully gone did the tension snap, relief-sigh exploding.
Legs nearly buckled.
"Hoo... Scared the shit outta me..."
Honestly, spooked.
Zero connection before.
I scanned around quick.
'No way I'm under surveillance?'
Half-expecting binoculars on me.
But just chattering staff passing by and the glass wall.
Dunno why, but free coffee? Count the win.
Pocketed the tab and headed to the cafeteria.
Lunchtime's precious.