Chapter 315
Chapter 315
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 315
Chapter Title: 70. Prestigious Family (7)
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"10 minutes? They're almost here."
Young-woo muttered as he glanced at the timer. Song Ji-seon shot back.
—10 minutes? Only 10 minutes left until those bastards arrive?
"Yeah. Did you handle that thing I asked you about earlier?"
The request.
It was about the return gift issue—essentially something Young-woo had subcontracted out.
Ji-seon immediately flew into a rage and slammed her greatsword into the ground.
Thunk!
—Agh, fuck. We've been busy fighting our asses off. You think I had time for that?
Even as she said it, she gazed up at the sky, prepping her next line.
She'd griped out of pride, but she did have a return gift in mind, her own way.
No matter how much her business partner pissed her off, she couldn't tank the whole venture.
—By the way, where the hell do these examiners come from? The space government? Or some specialist auditing firm?
"I don't know. But since the reset system's part of the universe's official framework, they're probably bureaucrats—high probability."
—What? Didn't you say return gifts are for high-status types?
"It's relative. From a backwater planet like ours, anyone showing up from out there is a VIP."
—Fucking pathetic.
"No helping it. That's why it sucks to be powerless."
Here was the son, Young-woo, boldly schooling his mother.
The very leader of a conglomerate that had once scrapped it out on the global stage.
—Hmmm.
Song Ji-seon stroked her chin with one hand. Then she looked skyward again and tossed out a question.
—What do you think it is?
"...Huh?"
—This return gift business.
"Well... it's literally a return gift, right? Something low-status offers up to high-status... like a cosmic ritual."
The universe Young-woo had pieced together so far was a rigid hierarchy.
He'd pegged return gift culture as straight-up submission to that class system.
But Song Ji-seon—fresh to this world, no preconceptions—saw it differently.
—Really? Just for face-saving? They announce it globally, telling everyone to prep return gifts?
Her words had Young-woo tilting his head this time.
"So what do you think? Spit it out—we're short on time."
[00:08:13]
Just 8 minutes until the promotion examiners arrived.
Young-woo prodded her to hand in her answer. Song Ji-seon finally snorted and laid it out.
—Here's my take...
She pressed her thumb and index finger together into a circle.
The universal money sign.
—This return gift? It's a legal shot at lobbying.
"...What?"
The curveball answer left Young-woo's eyes bulging.
Song Ji-seon pressed on.
—Why hand over the return gift upfront? Sure, thanks for visiting our planet—but you could wait till they leave, no?
"You're... overthinking the timing, aren't you? Could just give it early."
—'Just give it early'? Come on.
Song Ji-seon sighed in exasperation at her son.
—The word 'return' means paying back what the other side gave you, moron.
"Yeah, but..."
Young-woo still looked unconvinced. Ji-seon hovered her hand over the greatsword jammed in the dirt, like she might yank it free.
—Why are examiners even coming here?
"To decide if the planet gets promoted."
—Promotion decision ain't made yet. So why the return gift first? Thanks for what?
"Uh..."
Young-woo mulled it over.
Then he came close to her point.
"Because... we're getting promoted?"
—Bingo. 'Thanks to you, we'll be so grateful'—that's leverage. Pure lobbying. And the pressure scales with the cash.
"Hold on—so you're saying the return gift setup is built for lobbying?"
—What else? Looks like a legit lobbying system to me. Why force a formal 'thanks' otherwise?
"...Maybe."
Yeah, it kinda held up.
If higher-ups triggered a 'return gift' every visit to a lower planet, wasn't that ripe for wheeling and dealing?
Notorious villain drops by? Return gift begs for mercy. Examiners like now? Preemptive bribe for a pass.
—And lobbying's no biggie. Broadly, even saying hi to a buddy's lobbying. 'We're cool, let's keep it that way'—zero-cost variety.
Song Ji-seon hit the sophistry accelerator.
—Amp up the 'hi' with effort, you bond faster. Society slapped 'lobbying' on it. So lobbying's just...
"...Paid hellos."
—There you go. Gears turning now?
"Yeah. Mom's been tossing bribes like casual chit-chat. Got it."
—You punk—lobbying's legal in America, period.
"It's illegal most everywhere else."
—But like America, it's legal in space. That's my stance. Space folks get it.
"......"
Mom dropped the mic. Young-woo was out of ammo.
You wouldn't know till you tested it, anyway.
—What, overthinking? Lobbying's nothing—just flashier hellos.
"No one shells out cash for hellos."
—Exactly why cash-backed hellos thrill 'em. Rare as hell.
"...Fuck."
Air-tight bullshit.
Worse, opponents were space weirdos bucking Earth norms left and right. Young-woo had to weigh it seriously.
If return gifts greenlit bribes, max it out.
Planetary rank hung in the balance.
"But space bureaucrats might be squeaky clean—see lobbying as evil. We could get dinged instead. No promo, even."
Young-woo's last push. Ji-seon wagged her finger like he was a dunce.
—You nutjob—why half-ass the crazy? Go big or go home. Swallowing this planet, but scared of a slap on the wrist?
"...Mom doesn't get it—space prosecution means 84% mortality in detention."
—...What?
Cold fact.
Tax guy Kubu said 84% of pre-trial detainees croaked in 'accidents.'
Toast before verdict.
"Things heading this way, I'll hit that detention center soon enough."
Young-woo scrunched his nose. Ji-seon crossed her arms.
Clank.
—Space detention mortality at 84%?
"Yup."
—So 16% walk out alive?
"......?"
Technically, alive for trial—but close enough.
"Yeah."
—No confidence in that 16%? Bail now. Earth, space—whole mess.
"What?"
—You wimp—how partner with a guy sans guts for detention? Beat reset pricks with that spine?
"No......"
Young-woo choked again.
Harsh dogshit, but spot-on.
"Not your funeral—easy to trash-talk, huh?"
—Dumbass chickenshit—you think big return gift = jail?
Song Ji-seon crooked her finger, jabbing it at Young-woo.
—Recipient gripes? 'Pure sincerity in our return gift'—done. System screams exploit me. Why pussy out early?
World-stage vet Song Ji-seon.
Loophole ninja.
Young-woo? Day-6 startup scrub. Outclassed.
—Worst? Blow cash on overkill gift. Best? Lobby lands, promo locked. Maybe jump ranks higher.
"So... we actually lobby?"
—No choice left? Time's flown, no?
Song Ji-seon tapped her bare wrist—time-check mime.
Young-woo flicked to the timer. Mom was right—seconds vanishing.
[00:01:33]
Examiners in 1:33.
Issue: Zilch prepped amid mom spat.
"1:30 left."
He clocked it for her. Song Ji-seon ripped the greatsword free.
Thud!
—Cool. We'll see soon. Space bureaucrats bribe-proof?
"Cash? Nationwide scramble—ain't hauling in under a minute."
Hyper-routes? Nope.
Ji-seon eyed her son.
—No coins? Anything money-ish?
"Coins?"
Mom's cue—Young-woo fished from his armor.
Swoosh.
Gold-shine coin.
Commemorative: Jeong Young-woo's mug and name. 10,000 karma value.
—......
Ji-seon twitched. Then rolled on.
—Use that for one of your fave products.
"Product?"
—Blank check. Post-exam exit: fill return amount.
"Too dicey? No clue what they'll slap on."
—Clean types? Ceremonial pittance. Big number?...
"Space lobbying confirmed."
—Yep. And market intel's gold.
"Market?"
—Space bribe rates.
"...Mom lost it?"
—Business 101: match their vibe. Crazies? Cross lines.
Market? Universe-scale.
Song Ji-seon—heart pounding like the glory days.
—But if it blows up insane-worse than we dream...
"Blows up?"
—Jail's on you, son.