The Vice Chairman of Ohsung Group and the Prime Minister's Pride
“Cheonnuri?”
A perfectly groomed hairstyle, sharp eyes, a high-bridged nose, and a jawline sharp enough to slice through paper. He was the only son of Baek Giseong, the founder of the Ohsung Group. His name was Baek Junhoo, the current Vice Chairman of the Ohsung Group.
He read the report lying before him once more. If his eyes weren't deceiving him, the contents were absurd.
“Cheonnuri has decided to purchase all the magic stones coming out of the Hunter Management Department? Is that even possible?”
According to the report, Cheonnuri was a solid mid-sized company. Nothing more, nothing less—just an ordinary mid-sized firm. And such a company had pushed aside the conglomerate Ohsung Group to secure the contract?
“Th-that is…”
Executive Director Oh stammered. While other employees might think the Baek Junhoo before them was merely a kind person, his inner circle knew better. They knew just how terrifying and ruthless he could be. And unfortunately, Executive Director Oh was one of those inner-circle members.
Then, Baek Junhoo spoke in a soft voice.
“Answer me, Director Oh. What on earth is going on here?”
“As a result of an intensive investigation into the company called Cheonnuri, we have identified the person behind the professional manager they put forward.”
“And who is that?”
“It is Hunter Cheon Yooshin.”
At the mention of Cheon Yooshin, Baek Junhoo’s expression shifted subtly.
“…That Cheon Yooshin from the Hunter Management Department?”
“Yes, that’s correct. I am certain. I have verified this multiple times.”
“I see. That makes sense. That explains how a mere mid-sized company managed to snatch the magic stone purchasing rights from the Hunter Management Department.”
It was no exaggeration to say that the Hunter Management Department currently revolved around Cheon Yooshin. Naturally, his influence would be immense.
“Set up a meeting with Hunter Cheon Yooshin.”
“W-well, that is…”
It wasn't that Director Oh hadn't tried. He had spoken to Hunter Cheon Yooshin on the phone. However, he had been treated like a common peddler, told that the hunter knew nothing and that he should deal with the CEO of Cheonnuri, before the call was abruptly cut off. He had tried calling several more times after that, but it seemed he had been blocked, as the calls wouldn't even connect.
As Director Oh relayed the facts, Baek Junhoo nodded.
“I see. Hahaha… This is why hunters are such a problem.”
This was why it was so difficult to deal with idiots who only had brute strength. To Baek Junhoo, hunters were nothing more than uncontrollable beasts. Indiscriminate power, unbridled abilities, and the arrogance to ignore existing order and social norms as if they owned everything. There wasn't a single thing about them he liked.
Baek Junhoo slowly stood up from his seat.
“If we can't see the head, let's meet the person he moves. Contact that professional manager person.”
“A-all right.”
Watching the back of Director Oh as he bowed and left, Baek Junhoo’s eyes deepened. Whether it was Cheonnuri, the Hunter Management Department, or even Cheon Yooshin himself… they couldn't act like this against the Ohsung Group. At least, not in South Korea.
That was when it happened. A commotion began outside the door of the Vice Chairman’s office.
“I told you, you can't! You have to make an official appointment; you can't just barge in like this!”
Despite the female secretary’s loud protest, the door was forced open with a bang. And the person who entered was—
“Who is that?”
Baek Junhoo, who had been sitting on the sofa, asked. Director Oh frowned slightly.
“It was one of our subcontractors… their contract was terminated recently.”
Baek Junhoo nodded. But why were they here?
The man who had entered shouted abruptly.
“Vice Chairman! My name is Kim Youngjun of Samyoung Enterprises. I’ve been a subcontractor for your company for 10 years.”
Director Oh approached Kim Youngjun with a twisted expression.
“Hey! Do you have any idea where you are! Get out of here right now. What do you think you’re doing?”
Director Oh grabbed Kim Youngjun’s arm to drag him out the door, and Kim Youngjun resisted desperately. Watching them struggle, Baek Junhoo stood up.
“Director Oh, you shouldn't do that. He’s someone who has worked as our partner for 10 years.”
At Baek Junhoo’s calm but firm voice, the scuffle stopped.
“Sit down here.”
A look of relief flashed across Kim Youngjun’s face, while a look of bewilderment appeared on Director Oh’s.
Baek Junhoo sat back down.
“Let’s have a cup of tea first.”
When Baek Junhoo pressed the bell, the female secretary entered.
“Prepare a cup of tea here.”
Before long, a hot cup of tea with steam rising from it was placed in front of Kim Youngjun. Baek Junhoo smiled and said,
“All right. Let’s hear why you’ve come all this way.”
Kim Youngjun stared at the teacup in front of him for a moment. His heart burned as hotly as the steam rising from it. He slowly began to open his mouth.
“Vice Chairman, I cannot understand why our company was suddenly excluded from this subcontracting contract.”
“I see…”
Baek Junhoo nodded slightly, adopting a listening posture.
“In 10 years, we haven't had a single delay in delivery, nor any issues with quality. Yet, we suddenly received this notice.”
“It’s certainly a partner company with no issues…”
Baek Junhoo’s gaze turned to Director Oh.
“Why did that happen?”
Cold sweat beaded on Director Oh’s forehead.
“There were some issues with the contract. I told them to cut costs by 5% for the sake of cost reduction, but…”
“5%? What was last year’s contract amount?”
Kim Youngjun interrupted.
“It’s 10 billion won.”
At the word “10 billion,” the smile that had been lingering on Baek Junhoo’s lips vanished.
“Wait! 10 billion? Not 100 billion?”
Baek Junhoo’s voice turned sharp. Kim Youngjun blinked, seemingly flustered by the sudden change in atmosphere.
“Yes, that’s right. It’s 10 billion. So, 5% of 10 billion won is 500 million won…”
“Stop!”
Baek Junhoo raised his hand to cut him off. Silence hung in the office for a moment. Director Oh only rolled his eyes, assessing the situation. Then, Baek Junhoo broke the silence.
“Ha! Damn it, this is ridiculous.”
The air in the room began to freeze instantly.
***
Tokyo, Prime Minister’s Official Residence.
The night view of Tokyo visible outside the window was nothing short of spectacular. However, to those who knew that chaos was unfolding beneath that view, the city’s nightscape was merely hollow.
Prime Minister Kenji stood by the window, downing a glass of high-proof whiskey. Was it because of the high proof? It stung his tongue, bitter and sharp. But the reality he felt, which was harsher and more bitter than the taste of the whiskey on his tongue, left Prime Minister Kenji unable to even taste the drink.
On the TV in the residence, news reports played incessantly.
[Fear of B-grade Gates, citizens fleeing overseas]
[Mass exodus from provincial cities begins]
[Foreign investors sell off all Japanese stocks at once]
[Japanese stock market continues to plummet]
[Japanese real estate market in panic, Yokohama residential areas down -90%]
[Japan’s blue-chip companies go bankrupt one after another]
Prime Minister Kenji turned off the TV roughly. Collapsing onto the sofa, he squeezed his eyes shut. This was something unimaginable before the B-grade Gates appeared. Japan was an economic powerhouse and a hunter superpower. But that was now a thing of the past.
“Damn it.”
He regretted it. He should have maintained a good relationship with South Korea early on. No matter how much money they offered, South Korea remained unmoved.
In Prime Minister Kenji’s eyes, white papers scattered haphazardly on the floor came into view. Solutions proposed by the US and UK. But that was nonsense.
“Drop a nuke on our own country with our own hands? Those damn bastards.”
But there was no other way. And he couldn't even be sure. No one knew the type of monster that would appear this time. So, even if they fired a nuke, there was no 100% guarantee.
Another breaking news report flowed out. This time, it was about a supermarket being attacked.
“Damn it.”
It was just as Prime Minister Kenji was squeezing his eyes shut again. Suddenly, the door burst open, and a secretary rushed in, gasping for breath.
“Prime Minister!”
Prime Minister Kenji turned his head to look at the secretary.
“What is it?”
“Prime Minister! It’s unbelievable news. South Korea, South Korea says they will help with the B-grade Gate raid!”
For a moment, Prime Minister Kenji’s eyes widened.
“What? Are you sure?!”
Why all of a sudden? South Korea, who had firmly refused and suddenly cut off all contact—why?
The secretary quickly operated the remote to turn on the TV. The Blue House briefing room in South Korea appeared. A woman, appearing to be the presidential spokesperson, was standing on the podium speaking. And Japanese subtitles were scrolling across the screen.
“Ahead of the gate break scheduled for tomorrow, our government has decided to provide full support for Japan’s B-grade Gate raid. Hunter Cheon Yooshin, who represents our country, and hunters from the Hunter Management Department are scheduled to fly to Japan today at 18:00. For reference, considering Japan’s current situation, we clarify that this is clearly a decision made on humanitarian grounds.”
Before he knew it, Prime Minister Kenji had jumped to his feet. He was saved! If the secretary next to him weren't there, he would have felt like cheering. But he couldn't. He had the dignity of a Prime Minister to maintain.
Prime Minister Kenji watched the screen intently while giving instructions to the secretary.
“Prepare to welcome the South Korean hunters with the treatment befitting state guests. Especially Hunter Cheon Yooshin…”
Now, there was no one in the world who didn't know him. The man who had raided the B-grade monster Apocalyptor all by himself.
Prime Minister Kenji felt a bitter taste in his mouth. If only Japan had such a hunter, they wouldn't be going through this situation. He shook his head quickly to clear his distracting thoughts. And just as he was about to open his mouth to give further instructions—
The spokesperson on TV spoke with a cold expression.
[However, before our hunters cross over to Japan, there are conditions that the Japanese government must fulfill in advance.]
Conditions to fulfill in advance? Prime Minister Kenji’s expression hardened. In this situation, for conditions to be attached meant…
[First, an official apology and compensation for the comfort women issue. Second, the fact that Dokdo has been South Korean territory from the beginning, and all claims to sovereignty related to Dokdo must be stopped immediately. Third, the plan to discharge fully contaminated water from Fukushima must be completely scrapped and treated safely according to international standards. Finally, we demand the cessation of historical distortion and the revision of history textbooks. If the Japanese government leaves a document officially stating that they will fulfill these requirements, the plane will depart for Japan immediately.]
Prime Minister Kenji’s face turned red in an instant.
“Chiksho! These damn bastards! In a situation where the country is going to ruin, they put forward such conditions!”
If he accepted the demands they just mentioned, he might have to step down from his position as Prime Minister. Or he might be assassinated while walking down the street.
Prime Minister Kenji looked at the secretary.
“Prepare a press conference immediately!”
“But Prime Minister, in this situation…”
“Just do what you’re told! Are you saying I should accept those demands! Hmph! Nonsense. It’s better if we all go down together!”
30 minutes later.
In front of the Prime Minister’s residence, cameramen and reporters with tense expressions looked at Prime Minister Kenji standing on the podium.
“Citizens. And to our friends around the world, I speak to you.”
His voice trembled with rage.
“We, Japan, will never yield to monsters or anyone else.”
A murmur broke out among the reporters. If what the Prime Minister said was true, it meant he was flatly rejecting South Korea’s offer of raid support.
Prime Minister Kenji’s voice began to grow agitated.
“We, Japan, are a country full of pride. We are not a country that kneels, even if we die. We have stood firm against any foreign power. This time, too, we will overcome this crisis. The unity of our people—that alone is enough. From now on, we will shift the disaster response level to an emergency state, and we will mobilize all of Japan’s hunters to attempt the B-grade Gate raid!”
As soon as the press conference ended, similar headlines began to appear in every Japanese newspaper and on internet sites.
[Our pride cannot be touched by anyone. Full rejection of South Korea’s raid support]
[Prime Minister Kenji expresses ‘Japan’s history and voluntary will to defend sovereignty’]
[Prime Minister Kenji will not yield to unjust external pressure. That is Japan!]
After Prime Minister Kenji’s press conference, the streets of Japan were plunged into a frenzy of excitement. Citizens gathered in various places, waving the Rising Sun flag and shouting,
“Long live Japan! Long live Prime Minister Kenji!”
On internet communities, the phrase “We will never yield. Just as we always have.” spread explosively.
A citizen living in Osaka wrote on their blog,
‘I applaud Prime Minister Kenji’s decision. Isn't this the true samurai spirit?’
University students in Tokyo held an impromptu rally on campus.
“We will protect our future with our own hands!”
“Is South Korea really a normal country to present such unreasonable demands when their neighbor is in a difficult situation!”
An elderly couple in Fukuoka teared up.
“Thanks to Prime Minister Kenji, my wife and I are once again proud to be Japanese.”
There were 20 hours left until the gate break, but the atmosphere in Japan, which had been filled with despair until now, was quite different. People who had been trying to flee overseas canceled their flights and returned home. The whole nation cheered once again at the news that all of Japan’s hunters had boarded planes bound for Fukushima.
In the evening news, they began to praise Prime Minister Kenji’s decisive choice and the Japanese hunters who were trying to save Japan day after day.