Cores as a Greeting Gift
Beep beep bleep.
"Finally here."
I checked the alarm on my smartwatch. The sender of the message, delivered through the black market, was someone I already knew by face.
"Oh, in person?"
Not quite presidential weight, but this guy's got a pretty heavy ass.
I immediately pulled myself up from the railing.
Third time already?
The first two weren't intentional meetings on my part, but with this one, we approached first.
"First meeting—gotta bring a gift or something."
I tapped my smartwatch to summon the lighthouse.
On the screen, he looked like he'd just been about to sleep—lying in bed, he jolted upright in surprise and straightened his posture.
"Yeah. Weren't you just about to rest? Did I wake you?"
"Called 'cause I've got business elsewhere for a bit."
A spark seemed to light up in Ji-hwa's eyes, the whites around his inverted demon eyes suddenly veined with bloodshot intensity.
I pulled up another screen to check the coordinates sent by IncheonPeddler—Baek Sang-woo.
"Heading to Incheon real quick. He's our new supplier for materials and funds for the organization."
"...Yeah, well, can't go empty-handed, right?"
I recalled the report Ji-hwa had sent up.
"Gonna pack some gifts—put 'em all in bags and bring to the rooftop. Everything."
"Yep."
Ji-hwa's eye twitched.
* * *
S-rank heroes could be called a nation's true power.
They were human nuclear weapons—no exaggeration. And in the original story, there were fewer than 200 S-ranks worldwide.
Korea surprisingly had eight S-rank heroes. For a small landmass with 50 million people, that put Korea in the top tier of hero superpowers.
Then, in 2012, the fall began.
The Pyongyang Incident—all S-ranks mobilized. Excluding Snow Flower Princess, then an elementary schooler, the seven crossed the 38th parallel to resolve the crisis in Pyongyang.
Result: total wipeout.
Pyongyang's monster took down five of the seven S-ranks. Korea's top hero, Light Sword, barely escaped with grievous wounds and returned to Seoul. Another S-rank vanished without a trace, not even a body left.
In the end, Korea was left with one battered hero whose return was uncertain and a child not yet a teenager. Doubts about entrusting the nation's future to them spread. With the president resigning over responsibility for the Pyongyang Incident and the capital moving to New Seoul, Korea's power plummeted.
Fortunately, Light Sword recovered, and Snow Flower Princess grew into a star.
Seon Ui-cheol, then opposition leader, gathered forces in New Seoul and appealed to the people:
"Place Light Sword in New Seoul, Snow Flower Princess in Busan. Build our strength there.
Base our hero training on these two stronghold cities."
Monsters feared S-rank heroes. The sheer presence of their mana kept monsters from raiding cities—or territories—where S-ranks lived. Like hyenas fleeing a lion's domain.
New Seoul and Busan became safe.
Only New Seoul and Busan.
"Head to New Seoul or Busan—we can live free from monsters!"
New Seoul and Busan's populations exploded.
Seon Ui-cheol shouted to the liberated residents:
"Once we've built our strength, we'll reclaim Seoul.
Restore our past glory.
The moment we reclaim the glory of the old S-rank powerhouse, Seoul will be ours again."
That fervor turned the "Seoul Reclamation Operation"—until then just a plan—into reality over the years.
* *
"Pleased to meet you. Shin Jin-gwang."
The short white-haired man saluted crisply. Every movement reeked of the military.
"Pleased to meet you, Minister of Monster Countermeasures. I'm Executioner Yoo Yeong-ho."
"I've heard of your reputation. That ingenious tactic in Gangwon became a textbook for our military too."
"As expected from a military man."
"Indeed. Appointed minister of Monster Countermeasures from the dregs of a hollowed-out army—I'll give it my all, shatter my bones if needed. Looking forward to working with you."
Yoo Yeong-ho shook hands with Shin Jin-gwang, his expression sour.
"...A word of caution: tactics against monsters differ from modern warfare. Especially regarding hero command."
"Enough. I've taken plenty of flak for that in hearings already. Don't want to hear it again."
Shin Jin-gwang released his grip. Yeong-ho sighed inwardly.
Another one gone soon.
He couldn't even remember if this was the second after the one who fled to Japan or what.
Yeong-ho sat across from Shin Jin-gwang.
"So, Minister, what are your thoughts on the Seoul Reclamation Operation?"
"It's a presidential order—we carry it out, of course. Can't leave Seoul in monsters' and villains' hands forever. Haha. This op will succeed without a hitch. Haha."
Yeong-ho's brow furrowed slightly. Among the ministers he'd seen as association tactical planner and rep for Korean commanders, this half-bald middle-aged man gave the worst first impression.
Yeong-ho suppressed the urge to bolt.
"The association will cooperate fully. Over 80 heroes have already volunteered on rumors alone."
"Excellent. The more the merrier, right?"
"Light Sword among them."
Shin Jin-gwang's laughter froze, discomfort plain.
"Absolutely not. Light Sword guards New Seoul. Who protects it if he leaves?"
"Lee Seung-hyung's there."
Shin Jin-gwang snorted derisively.
"Ha! Overprotecting a kid not even 30. Even if he's the president's nephew—no. You really think Bear can fill Light Sword's shoes if he goes to Seoul?"
"Fire Fist. Dragon Slayer. Light Sword himself declared him S-rank."
"Enough. I know Light Sword rates him highly. But His Excellency doesn't want Light Sword leaving New Seoul. He wants Lee Seung-hyung in Seoul."
Yeong-ho gritted his teeth. He'd discussed this with Seung-hyung long ago.
"You know he doesn't want it? Reclaiming Seoul without an S-rank is near impossible. Taking down that City Hall monster needs at least two S-rank powers."
Shin Jin-gwang smirked at Yeong-ho's point.
"His Excellency will convince Lee Seung-hyung. He guaranteed it. And the other power... you already guess, don't you? Since the association announced sending you to Busan."
Yeong-ho stiffened.
"...You're putting that child on the front lines? She's barely an adult."
"More experience than you. And..."
Shin Jin-gwang swiped up a screen. Color drained from Yeong-ho's face.
"Snow Flower Princess already declared her intent to join. You're in Busan to cover her absence. Right about now..."
Shin Jin-gwang chuckled at his smartwatch alarm and tapped the holo-call. The breaking news, titled simply, had posted 10 seconds ago.
* *
Crackle, pop.
Sparks lit the container's darkness. Baek Sang-woo coughed on the dust as he entered.
"Yo, Sang-woo."
"Sorry to make you come all this way, Chairman."
The burly man perched on a drum barrel welcomed Sang-woo. Ignoring the stares from the shoulder goons beside the chairman, Sang-woo sat opposite.
"The core you sent last time was perfect. Top condition. Have a drink."
The smell of grilling pork belly over charcoal tickled his nose.
"This coming out of my salary?"
"Nah, your bonus. Hahaha!"
Sang-woo glanced at the ceiling, then grabbed chopsticks. The chairman was still a cheapskate.
"If you stick me with travel expenses too, I'll bolt overseas."
"Can't have that. You're stuck in Incheon till your contract ends. Can't let a big fish slip away now, right?"
Big fish.
Sang-woo chewed, thinking of that villain, but even perfectly cooked premium meat felt off somehow.
"Sorry for cussing you out over those three A-rank reports last time. You get it, right?"
"I do."
Sang-woo himself could barely believe it seeing it in person—how much harder for someone in New Seoul viewing photos.
"Name was... what? Phoenix of the Azure Flame? Epithet sounds petty, but damn, what a whale. Hahaha!"
The chairman stroked an A-rank core beside him like treasure.
"Gifts something like this. Sang-woo, what kinda guy? Man? Woman? Hell, I almost fell for that boldness. Who tosses an A-rank core to an Incheon branch just saying 'deal nice from now on'? Heh."
"...Personality like a sky emperor."
Sang-woo recalled the whirlwind that swept his office. And the near-catastrophe on the black market three days ago—he downed his soju shot without thinking.
"Huh? Don't you not drink?"
"...Can't face that client sober."
"Oho, a drinker? Gotta down a crate to clink with me—"
Clang!
The chairman shot up. Pork and coals scattered, but no one mentioned it.
"Tail?"
"No."
The suited woman beside him answered; the chairman pocketed the core.
Knock, knock, knock.
Someone rapping the ceiling—someone was on top.
The chairman glared at Sang-woo, yellow eyes glowing.
"Sang-woo. You betray me?"
"...Chairman."
Sang-woo shook his head, plugging his ears.
"It's the client."
"What?"
Boom!
The ceiling exploded inward. The chairman's ability-user underlings charged the debris, powers flaring.
Sang-woo hugged the container wall.
Clap.
A crisp clap—and the underlings exploded, collapsing. The chairman ground his teeth at the carnage through the smoke. His elite few, bought at high cost, wiped in one blow. The ex-A-rank hero, expensive hire, writhed charred on the floor.
"Fuck. Who grills pork belly in a dump like this? Cancer waiting to happen."
A blue priestess-robed woman fanned smoke as she approached—Phoenix. The chairman gave Sang-woo a awkward smile.
"Her?"
"Yes."
"Looks like a cultist."
Sang-woo scratched his cheek at the jab. She'd sold the high school uniform somewhere; the client who'd burst through wore full priestess garb, veil and all.
"......Heroes or villains, trend's all about concepts these days. China's got Guan Yu revived, swinging the Green Dragon Crescent Blade, slicing monsters."
"Fair."
"Whispering what?"
Phoenix stomped; smoke and dust whooshed out the ceiling hole.
The chairman marveled at the precise mana control in that stomp.
"Pretty face."
"This face is pretty cute, yeah."
Phoenix shouldered two large duffels. Through the dark green fabric, lumpy protrusions gave Sang-woo chills of familiarity.
"Here, gifts. Meant one, but taking both."
Phoenix tossed the duffels to the chairman. He recoiled like they were toxic waste.
"Argh! Sweaty trash from—"
Roll roll.
Something translucent peeked from a tear, rolling to the floor. The chairman picked up the blue-membraned orb at his shoe, entranced.
"Sealed the mana leak like Baek Section Chief said. Just process into cores at your workshop."
"...Both?"
Sang-woo pointed at the bags alternately. Phoenix nodded, grinning.
"Yeah. Scraped every last one from Guro, Yeongdeungpo, Yeouido. Uh... 200 D-ranks? Around there."
The chairman tore the duffel's side with trembling hands. Multicolored monster cores glowed, blue-veiled.
Phoenix approached, offering her hand.
"Nice to meet you, Chairman."
"Uh, y-yeah?"
He shook reflexively. His pot-lid hand nearly swallowed her tiny one. He almost yanked back at the immense heat, but Phoenix's grip held like an eagle's talon on prey.
She smirked, right hand on left shoulder, bowing.
"Phoenix of the Azure Flame."