Surprise Package for the President
6 PM. Yeouido C Hotel Lounge.
"The Seoul reclamation operation has failed. We sincerely apologize to the citizens."
"They're cutting their losses quick. I was prepping for round two."
Phoenix smacked her lips in disappointment. In the video, Seon Ui-cheol kept his head bowed, showing no sign of lifting it. Kim Ji-hwa quietly lowered his hand, deactivating his ability.
Phoenix shot him a subtle glance.
"It's not over yet. After this, he might claim it was 'all a ruse to deceive the enemy' and launch a night raid."
"I'm sorry..."
Kim Ji-hwa pressed his hand back to his eye. His bloodshot demon eye was filled with exhaustion.
Once again, Kim Ji-hwa's ability activated. A map of all of Seoul materialized on the table.
"Impressive. Can you really grow to this level?"
Haneulseong stroked his goatee in admiration. This was leagues beyond the Lighthouse he remembered.
"At this rate, I can't keep calling you Lighthouse forever."
"No need to slap a new nickname on him anyway."
The map shook. Lighthouse swallowed back bloody tears. Phoenix fidgeted awkwardly with her veil.
"Hit S-rank, and I'll give you a cool new epithet."
"What difference does it make if Lighthouse evolves?"
At the Architect's snide remark, Phoenix patted Lighthouse's back with firm thwacks.
"Of course it does. The moment Kim Ji-hwa hits S-rank, I'll bestow an epithet. So buck up. Until then, subordinate No. 3's title stays Lighthouse. Thud thud thud."
Like a judge slamming a gavel, Phoenix nailed down his epithet, then turned her eyes to the battlefield. South of the Han River was already a silent wasteland devoid of human presence. The villains too scared to fight had fled, and those who fought to the end had retreated into Yeouido. The wandering monsters prowling the city center had been slain by heroes or hunted by the rank-and-file under Kim Ji-hwa's command.
Abandoned territory. Excluding Yeouido, where Cheonghwa-dan had set up base, and the Dongjak Underground swarming with refugees, Seoul had become a true 'ghost city.'
"The heroes retreated to Suwon. The president declared the first operation a failure. They probably won't launch another large-scale assault until the heroes recover."
"There'll be stragglers now and then. Hunters too. What's the plan now?"
At Haneulseong's question, Phoenix slid over a small screen. A news panel was ranting about the causes of defeat.
"—So Professor Do is saying the Seoul reclamation was too hasty. Right?"
"Exactly! It's only been a week since the dimension gates appeared, and they launched the op so carelessly. As I said before, they should've at least scouted what changes had occurred in Seoul."
The professor on screen pulled up some data. It showed a monster with half its body engulfed in green flames.
"No Hellhound like this exists anywhere in the world. Leaving aside hypotheses like a superior species commanding Hellhound zombies, look at this."
The screen data shifted. A flame giant unfazed by Unsa's Greed Cloud in Guro. The Black Flame Dragon in Gangnam shattering Poong Baek and Usa’s joint attack with an aerial kick. At Gwanak Mountain's peak, the Azure Flame Phoenix facing off against Snow Flower Princess.
"I don't think their appearances are coincidence. How many fire mages are there worldwide? And suddenly in Korea—in ruined Seoul, no less?"
The professor tapped the paper in his hand.
"Even the first demon from the dimension gate was a Fire Demon Dragon. Anyone can see it: fire! Flames! This can't be coincidence. In my old paper, 'The Seven Attributes of Mana Theory,' the rare fire attribute has finally exploded in Korea..."
"Professor Do, pushing your personal theory here..."
Beep. The video cut off.
Phoenix turned to Haneulseong.
"What do you think, Professor Haneulseong?"
Haneulseong furrowed his brow.
"I'm curious why you're showing me that in this situation."
"As a member of Cheonghwa-dan. About our next moves."
Haneulseong let out a low hum. He adjusted his fedora, which he hadn't removed indoors, looking somehow uneasy. Phoenix quickly guessed why.
"I see. Still hesitant to join Cheonghwa-dan fully?"
"...Yeah."
Haneulseong straightened up.
"Grateful for the save in Gangnam when I nearly got caught. Don't know about that summoner I haven't met yet, but reviving the Hellhounds as combat assets was impressive. Overwhelming Snow Flower Princess was downright shocking. However..."
He hesitated, reluctant to say it outright.
"Gwanggeom and Seon Ui-cheol. You've turned both men you can't afford to make enemies of in Korea into your foes. Can you handle that?"
"I can handle it, so I'm doing it. Want me to fetch Gwanggeom's head while you nap, Haneulseong-ssi?"
"...Excuse me."
Kim Ji-hwa cautiously interjected. The sparks of argument between Phoenix and Haneulseong fizzled out.
"Gwanggeom aside, the president will scheme something immediately. Since you killed some heroes, Phoenix-nim, the government won't stay quiet."
Haneulseong nodded at Kim Ji-hwa's words.
"Right. They'll throw everything at silencing us. We're witnesses to civilian massacres, after all. Pine Tree Unit's true nature—they'll come to murder and erase to keep it buried. That man will."
"Silencing us, huh..."
Phoenix twisted her veil, then shot up from her chair.
"Then we'll silence them first. Architect!"
The Architect, who had been silently listening, raised his hand. He lacked even the energy to reply.
"Make me a marble box. About 100L, nice and roomy."
The Architect lowered his hand in acknowledgment.
Phoenix's gaze shifted to Kim Ji-hwa.
"Lighthouse. You gather everything I ordered earlier?"
"Yes. Found what you specified, and collected everything else without missing a thing, but..."
Lighthouse looked horrified. Haneulseong didn't seem comfortable either.
Clap.
Phoenix clapped her hands.
"Perfect. Lighthouse, bring it all here. Once Architect makes the gift box, stuff it in. I'll handle the wrapping and lock."
"Gift box...?"
Haneulseong's face twisted.
Phoenix shrugged.
"A surprise present to shock whoever opens it?"
6:30 PM, Yeouido C Hotel Lounge
The Architect bustled about. Cheonghwa-dan members stood ready beside him, prepared to prop him up if he collapsed.
"Hold up, let's take a break."
The Architect raised his hand. The intricately fitted marble box needed only its lid now.
"Is this what you need?"
One subordinate handed over a ParkkaO glass bottle. It wasn't ParkOss, but its contents outdid any over-the-counter tonic.
The Architect recoiled at the sight. He'd downed enough today to fill the box.
"Wait. I'm human. A person. Even in a black company, you gotta guarantee break time..."
"She said it's a potion that brings the human body to peak condition at any moment. You're already feeling the effects, aren't you?"
A drink made by grinding raw monster cores. This core-infused stamina booster restored not just physical fatigue but mental vigor too—a magical item. But the Architect had chugged so many he'd lost count, working nonstop.
> "Supply infinite cores, and he'll work himself to death, right?"
The boss's sly smile flashed in the Architect's mind. The welfare advocate supplied him 'infinite' mana, driving him relentlessly. No budget shortages to halt work—funds poured like a bottomless pit. All that remained was the overworked engineer, no rest in sight.
"Can't I at least get a smoke break? Rebuilding this hotel's been mentally exhausting."
The Architect griped. Years of hero-monster clashes around Mapo Bridge had left Yeouido mostly rubble. Only large buildings remained intact.
> "We'll base in central Yeouido!"
> Cheonghwa-dan, shifting from the National Assembly, requested Architect's aid. Restore the ruined hotel from basement to penthouse.
> Architecture. An ultimate ability for design, construction, even restoration—with enough mana.
> Architect quoted: Minimum 10 A-rank cores.
> "How the hell did you scrape 20 together in 30 minutes!!"
The sofa-lounging Architect flopped like a dying fish. His thick-bearded hanbok look soured the subordinates' faces.
"What? You snuck off for a personality drink? Arghhh!!"
The moment Seon Ui-cheol announced the op's failure, Phoenix commissioned the hotel rebuild. She delivered the cores, and Architect poured his soul into restoring it perfectly—his pointless artisan spirit shining again.
He needed mental peace. As the Architect wilted, a subordinate recited the magic words.
"She said again."
"What!"
"Finish the gift box, and you're free to clock out—"
"Hyah!"
The Architect lunged at the box. The subordinate nodded, grabbing the radio.
"G12 here. Packaging nearly complete."
G12's team leader sighed in relief at drawing Architect duty.
"No. Wrap outside. Move to the gift box once ready."
G12 killed the radio. Architect would need time to finish.
Click-clack, click-clack.
Heels echoed from the lobby. G12 fiddled with his PraModel pistol—impossible in this silence—and headed over.
"......Whoa."
A goddess descended the spiral stairs. Her off-shoulder cyan-white dress gleamed. The mask adorning her head hinted at her identity.
"Team leader? What's up?"
A team member peeked into the lobby. His breath caught too. She evoked a red-carpet actress at a film festival. Naturally—she was an actress. But her silver-gray eyes and pallid skin carried a decadent allure.
Click-clack, click-clack.
White heels pressed the marble floor through her ankle-length dress. Only those echoes filled the lobby as she entered the lounge.
"Where's Phoenix right now?"
Her half-lidded gaze was ominous. G12 recalled their commander's report on the deputy's last movements.
"Finished meeting with Haneulseong-nim and headed to the penthouse."
"I see?"
Ga-eul scanned the lounge, then strode to the elevator.
Click-click. Of course, it wasn't working.
"........."
Her footsteps stormed up the stairs, laced with fury.
Only the Architect's tinkering echoed in the lounge.