Chapter 55
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MJK
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Clucky
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Late afternoon, in the Blue House's main reception room.
Chairman Lee Jin-seong had arrived a bit earlier than the appointed time and was waiting for the president. Seated on the sofa, he examined the report just sent by Executive Director Shin Seung-ah with a serious expression.
[S-Rank Hunter Yu Jin-hyuk: Cured of the Dragon Curse.]
[Healing Medium: Special crop provided by the unidentified Gorani-man12.]
[...This crop contains an unknown power that far surpasses all existing elixirs and recovery magic...]
Closing the report, Lee Jin-seong fell deep into thought.
Yu Jin-hyuk's full recovery.
It was great news for the guild, of course, but a blessing for the entire nation as well.
And at the center of that miracle stood the enigmatic figure known as Gorani-man12.
The mysterious hero who had saved Japan from disaster and now cured an S-Rank hunter's incurable disease.
'A person of this caliber...'
Lee Jin-seong steeled his resolve.
It was time to honor his promise.
"Chairman Lee Jin-seong, the president will see you now."
Lee Jin-seong sat across from the president.
On the table lay a report on trade negotiations with Japan.
"...And that's the situation. This round of negotiations with Japan looks set to yield the best results in history."
"Well done, Chairman Lee. It's all thanks to that person."
The president gave a wry smile and gazed out the window.
Lee Jin-seong waited a moment before speaking leisurely.
"Thank you for so graciously granting my request for a meeting, sir."
"Haha, what are you saying? Even without special circumstances, I can always spare time for a cup of tea between us."
"Your words alone are an honor. However, sir."
"Hm? What is it?"
Lee Jin-seong continued.
"...May I ask for your thoughts on Gorani-man12?"
At the mention of the name, the president's expression turned grave.
"Our government owes that person a tremendous debt. The lifting of Japan's trade restrictions and the acceleration of our tech agreements with the U.S.—it's all because of them. Yet we've given nothing in return. We can't just keep receiving forever; it'll come back to bite us someday."
His voice carried the profound sense of obligation felt by a national leader.
Lee Jin-seong seized the moment, laying his cards on the table.
"Sir, if there's a way to alleviate that debt... what would you say?"
"Is there a method?"
"Yes. My S-Rank hunter, Yu Jin-hyuk, has been fully cured thanks to their help. Three years ago, I promised to give half my fortune to whoever healed him, and I intend to keep that promise."
"Half of your fortune, Chairman Lee?"
The president's eyes widened.
"Excluding my MK Group shares, all my personal assets under my control—roughly 7 trillion won. I'd like to hand them over to that person."
"...Chairman Lee, do you realize what you're saying?"
"Of course. But I'll need your assistance with any issues that might arise in the process—things like gift taxes or investigations into the funds' origins."
A discreet, irresistible proposal.
The president fell silent for a moment before speaking with resolve.
"I'll create the justification. Any problems? I'll sweep them all away. Even if I have to enact a special compensation clause for anonymous contributors to national security, I'll make the gift tax effectively zero. I'll take every measure possible to maximize what Gorani-man12 receives."
In that instant, a secret deal between the nation's two most powerful figures was sealed.
To repay their debt to the enigmatic benefactor known as Gorani-man12.
As if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The Republic of Korea's highest authority began to move for one invisible individual.
A mountain path thick with blue pines.
The crisp phytoncide scent mixed with the earthy smell permeated deep into the lungs—a refreshing morning.
"Whew, it's weird. Every time I come to this mountain, the air feels different."
A group of hikers climbing the back mountain that weekend morning marveled.
Amid the dense pine forest, the air was exceptionally clear and invigorating.
"Tell me about it. Coming here makes my body feel lighter. Even my chronic headaches vanish."
"Next week, I should bring our mountaineering club's elder. He hasn't climbed a mountain in ages because of his bad knees, but he'd love this place."
The mountain was changing quietly but unmistakably.
Pure vitality welled up from the soil, and the trees refused to shed their green leaves even with winter approaching.
The entire mountain was transforming into one vast, living domain.
Rustle, rustle!
At the peaceful foot of the mountain, one creature desperately fled for survival.
A native chicken.
Flapping its small wings frantically, it darted through bushes and tree roots.
Chasing persistently behind was a starving raccoon.
The animals on this mountain were strange. There wasn't a single tiger among the predators, yet every beast was strong and cunning.
Oddly, they never harmed humans like hikers.
As if trained by someone.
But the chicken was an exception.
Snakes, weasels, raccoons—every one saw it as a tasty meal and lunged.
"Kwaaang-!"
To make matters worse, lately a massive moon bear straight out of Mount Jiri had appeared, as if word had spread.
The chicken barely hid in thick underbrush and held its breath.
Another grueling day of being chased.
I want to live.
All it desired was one thing.
To lay eggs in peace, just once!
The chicken's desperate wish echoed silently, but terror-stricken, it couldn't even cluck.
As despair set in, a massive shadow loomed over the bushes.
This enormous shadow, this terrifying presence... it was the moon bear.
This is the end.
"Kkiyooooot!"
But before the despairing chicken appeared...
A mountain of a giant water deer standing tall and proud.
I was turning the soil in my field.
Thanks to the [Lazy Fairy's Teardrops], the earth was soft. Using my new hoe, I dug deep to aerate it.
Planting crops, watering, fertilizing.
And finally harvesting, stacking them neatly in the shed.
That simple cycle was my greatest joy these days.
Like the satisfaction of a salaryman diligently saving, watching his bank balance grow.
The earth was honest.
It always rewarded effort and care with bountiful fruit.
"Ah, refreshing."
A sip of spring water after the work.
Thirst and fatigue vanished in an instant, my labor-hardened muscles filling with even greater firmness.
Finishing up, I glanced at the barn taking up space in the yard.
Gorani used it as a bed, but the vast space felt emptily cavernous.
Thud, thud.
"Hm?"
Speak of the devil—Gorani approached, carefully carrying something in its mouth.
"...A chicken?"
One wing was bent unnaturally, likely injured from fleeing a predator.
"You're hurt?"
Lately, Gorani had been ruling this area like top dog.
It often brought useful finds from the back mountain—like [sparkling ore] or [fragrant tree roots].
But a live animal was a first.
"Good job bringing it."
I stroked Gorani's head.
"Thanks to you, we can fill this empty space. And helping an injured one without passing by—well done."
I happily decided to care for the new family member.
"Pii... piik..."
In my hands, the chicken let out faint, dying whimpers as it fainted.
Dull, lusterless feathers; a skeletal frame; tiny eyes squeezed shut in fear.
Its pitiful state spoke volumes of the harsh life on the run.
Muryong and Hasuo would surely pity this small, frail bird too.
A high-end Korean restaurant in Seoul, private room.
Park Jin-su tremblingly received golden liquid poured into his glass.
The pourer: Park Min-cheol, assemblyman and heavyweight politician touted as the next presidential frontrunner.
"Team Leader Park."
"Yes, Assemblyman."
"Do you know how much this liquor costs per glass?"
"...I'm afraid not."
Park Min-cheol chuckled derisively.
Of course, it was a rhetorical question meant to boast.
The liquor was expensive, just empty flexing.
"Right. No reason a man like you would know. It's pricier than your monthly salary, Team Leader Park. Just keep that in mind."
Park Jin-su's hand shook heavily as he held the glass.
Lately, he hadn't produced any notable results.
Park Min-cheol was disappointed, the pressure choking him.
"So if you're drinking it, you need to earn its worth."
"......"
Park Min-cheol smiled, but his eyes didn't.
Park Jin-su could only bow his head in silence.
"That A-Rank you recruited recently—Kim Tae-seong, was it? Reports say he's been lackluster."
"I-I'm sorry! Results will come soon!"
"Enough about that guy."
Park Min-cheol downed the rest and smacked his lips.
"What's the point of stuffing them with money if they lack patriotism? Bureau affiliates should devote themselves to the nation, no? Like Yu Jin-hyuk."
"Y-Yes, exactly. Wise words, sir."
Park Jin-su mouthed agreement while sweating bullets inside.
To Park Min-cheol, Yu Jin-hyuk was a reverse scale.
MK Group.
The biggest thorn in his presidential path.
With massive capital and media control, they constantly tripped his policies—a real eyesore.
And Yu Jin-hyuk was MK Group's symbol, the S-Rank hero.
The higher Yu's fame, the stronger MK's influence; narrower the government's and Bureau's footing.
Deep down, he was desperate to topple him.
"That noisy Gorani-man12 lately."
"Pardon?"
"The top hero of the Okinawa rift closure. He's Korean, isn't he?"
"Y-Yes! Absolutely!"
Park Jin-su flinched at the ominous hunch.
"Haha, why so jumpy? You think I'd shamelessly order you to recruit Gorani-man12 for the Bureau? When I know you lack the chops?"
Park Min-cheol sneered.
"Those... byproducts from Okinawa."
"Pardon? Byproducts?"
"Right. Great rifts leave behind mutated remnants infused with chaotic energy. Treasures beyond monetary value."
Park Jin-su's bad feeling was materializing.
"How about persuading them to donate even a portion of the Disaster Flower's remnants to the nation? Wouldn't that be true patriotism?"
Absurd.
He himself clung to this seat for greed and ambition, not country.
"You can do it, right? Don't tell me you've forgotten how hard I fought to give you that Bureau power."
"O-Of course! I'll do exactly as you say, sir!"
"That's the spirit."
Park Jin-su had no right to refuse anyway.
His power wasn't self-earned.
It came from what Park Min-cheol tossed him, and the taken demands repayment.
He had to obey.
"Ugh, damn it!"
After the drinking session, staggering outside, Park Jin-su punched the air.
"Fuck, how am I supposed to bring that in? I don't even know their face!"
The more he thought, the more ridiculous it seemed.
Patriotism? Donating to the nation?
What hunter would do that?
But since he'd taken the bribes, he had to at least pretend.
Otherwise, his position would crumble soon.
'First... I need to track down that Gorani-man bastard.'
Stumbling, Park Jin-su pulled out his communicator and called a contact.
An info broker he knew.
"It's me. Search for Gorani-man12 on Dang-geun-tap. Cost doesn't matter. Find them by any means."
-Huh? Even for you, Team Leader Park, that's tricky.
"What? Fee issues? Don't worry, I can pay generously this time. Take as long as needed..."
-No, it's not that. Thanks to their crops, my lifelong urinary incontinence that plagued me like a chronic illness is gone—how could I? Anyway, I can't. Try another broker. And don't contact me again.
"W-Wait! Hey? Kim! Kim! Damn it! Hanging up like that?!"
He stared incredulously at his smartphone as the call ended.
Park Jin-su still didn't know.
That the Gorani-man he hunted was the E-Rank nobody he'd scorned and fired: Jang Kang-hyun.