Hands Shaken, Moon Rockets Planned, Heroes Under Watch
I clasped hands with Eun Jae-min—or rather, Eun Yu-ha. It felt like too much time had passed, so Eun Yu-ha spoke through her puppet's mouth.
"With this, our contract continues. Don't forget to supply the agreed amount by the deadline."
She flashed a smile. Fitting his nickname of young nobleman, Eun Jae-min's appearance was perfectly gentlemanly. I had no idea what his real personality was like, but at least the version Eun Yu-ha controlled acted the part.
"By the end of May: 100 cores. All C-rank or higher. At least 10 A-rank. Right?"
"Yes. If you're tackling the snake in Seoul City Hall, you should secure that much easily enough."
Even gathering 100 C-rank cores would easily top 5 billion won in trade value. If it were 100 A-rank, it'd balloon into the hundreds of billions. Just core trades through the black market alone generated tens or hundreds of billions in profit. Once Seoul regained its functions, we could process monster byproducts too. Eun Yu-ha's Yuseong Group aimed to feed off Seoul's economy through our deals. If negotiations went according to plan, Haneulseong would swallow up Seoul's administration whole. Collusion between politics and business. And Cheonghwa-dan would become Seoul's shadowy backer, seizing immense financial power.
Eun Jae-min paused as if struck by a thought, clapping awkwardly.
"Come to think of it, doesn't Phoenix invest her funds anywhere? We've mostly delivered in physical goods, but I recall sending at least tens of billions to your accounts."
"What's there to spend money on in Seoul..."
The only real spending trips were quick jaunts to Incheon. Seoul needed at least two years to regain its former functions.
"Still..."
But as Eun Yu-ha said, letting the money just sit was a waste. I decided to go along with whatever scheme she'd floated.
"Now you're assigning me a financial advisor too?"
"I can't just sit by and watch money rot away, can I? Haha. I'll manage it personally. Trust me. I'll launder it clean enough to spend even in New Seoul."
"Then I'll invest in Yuseong."
"An excellent choice."
Was it my imagination, or did a won symbol flash in Eun Jae-min's mechanical eyes? He immediately pulled up a screen displaying various investment options.
I grabbed his wrist and shut down the screen.
"No need. The investment target's already decided."
"...Ho? You have a sure thing in mind, customer?"
"No interest in financial gains."
Eun Jae-min's eye twitched faintly. Saying no interest in profit was like telling Eun Yu-ha she had no interest in breathing. Aside from her one hobby, she poured every earned won back into reinvestments.
"Then where?"
"Miss Eun Yu-ha. You like stargazing, right?"
"...Of course."
True to Yuseong Group's name—like the flowing stars—and the Big Dipper imagery in her puppet master ability, Eun Yu-ha had deep ties to stars. Her passion? Astronomy.
"How do you even know my hobbies? I might have to report you as a stalker soon, oppa."
Her mind must be racing. How does she know? Is this a play to win me over? How much does she really know?
A girl's sigh escaped Eun Jae-min's mouth.
[So where are you planning to invest? Optical telescopes? Lens manufacturing? Or maybe a donation to New Seoul University's astronomy department? Research funding?]
Caught off-guard, Eun Yu-ha spoke directly via telepathy instead of through the puppet. I pointed at the ceiling.
"We're going stargazing ourselves. Build me a spaceship to the moon?"
[A spaceship?]
I rose from my chair.
"Yeah. Next time we've got free time, let's go see the moon rabbits."
[Space travel costs a fortune. Isn't that a huge waste for one date?]
"You know you can't skimp on money when it comes to hobbies or chasing girls."
Eun Yu-ha's giggling laughter echoed. If the screen were up, I'd probably see her rolling on the bed clutching her stomach.
[Ah, haha. Fine, let's do it. But I'll spend your money wildly, okay? I do what I say I will.]
"Spend as much as you want. But..."
I ignited a flame in my palm, shaping it into a form. Eun Yu-ha marveled as the flickering fire solidified.
[The moon.]
"Within the next five years minimum, build a rocket from Seoul that can reach the moon. Right here."
The deal was done. As soon as Eun Jae-min and Phantom's secretary returned to the conference room, the special envoy team swiftly evacuated the National Assembly building. The villain alliance proposed lunch, but Jang Hu-jeong cleanly refused, taking custody of the 10 heroes and leaving Yeouido behind.
Jang Hu-jeong scratched his head.
"What a headache."
All the envoy had salvaged were 10 heroes and a single unsigned interim agreement. They'd yielded as much as possible to the villains' not-quite-threats to end the talks, but now debates would rage in New Seoul over the terms. His head already throbbed at the thought.
"At least we rescued the heroes safely."
The Executioner glanced back at the trailing heroes with a relieved smile. The government would agonize, but from the association's view, it wasn't a bad trade. The one lingering issue: temporarily handing Seoul to villains. But they seemed more bark than bite—no plans to massacre refugees. Compared to extremists like Doggae or Black Flame Dragon, Haneulseong and Beacon were moderate enough to talk to.
Jang Hu-jeong countered.
"You plan to just let those thugs hold Seoul's citizens hostage? I say we void this agreement and plan a second Seoul reclamation op right now."
The Executioner didn't deny his heated words—instead agreeing.
"Of course. The association hasn't abandoned Seoul. It's just..."
He trailed off, glancing around cautiously before whispering low.
"I don't mind temporarily allying with those fighting monsters and protecting people. They're Korean citizens—humans, at that."
Yoo Yeong-ho swallowed hard.
"That's just human Yoo Yeong-ho's personal opinion. Let it slide."
The trailing heroes flinched, exchanging uneasy glances, lost in thought.
"Um, Executioner."
C-rank hero Lee Gi-seong called out timidly. At the same time, the Cheonghwa-dan member's leader cleared his throat.
"...Ahem."
Lee Gi-seong startled. The heroes behind shot him warning looks. The Executioner stopped and turned.
"What's up, Agent Lee Gi-seong? You okay? They didn't torture you or anything, right? We'll check you out in New Seoul first."
His glare at the Cheonghwa-dan members was fierce. Lee Gi-seong waved it off after glancing around.
"N-no! It's not that. Just... heading back to New Seoul now..."
A bit further up the mountainside was Gwanak Mountain's peak. Past the dimension gate site, the Cheonghwa-dan escorts would turn back to Yeouido. Just beyond, the envoy's hero guards awaited their safe return.
"What, it hasn't sunk in yet?"
Lee Gi-seong's awkwardness was obvious, but the Executioner laughed heartily, clapping his shoulder.
"I get it. Brushed death and lived—emotions run high. But you're in big trouble now. Your girlfriend held a monster trash funeral for you at the minister's office. No escape. Book the wedding hall first thing back. And don't ask me to officiate."
"......Yes, sir."
The Executioner paused at Lee Gi-seong's slumped shoulders. For heroes kidnapped by monsters and rescued by villains, something felt off. Like he wanted to speak but couldn't.
His expression hardened.
"You don't mean—"
"Ah! We're here! Over here!"
Jang Hu-jeong waved and shouted. Heroes waiting in the distance emerged: Poong Baek, Unsa, Usa. The Three Evils and others from the Seoul reclamation op. They'd set foot in Seoul again to welcome back Lee Gi-seong and the 10 survivors.
"......!"
Among them were B-Team heroes from Gangnam—Pine Tree Unit members. Lee Gi-seong's face stiffened instantly. A hero behind whispered.
"......Dude, relax. We all get fucked if we're caught. Forget you heard it?"
"...No."
Lee Gi-seong forced a smile as Unsa rushed up. Bandages wrapped his body, but the team leader bowed deeply to the returned hero.
"I'm truly sorry! My shortcomings dragged you into danger!"
"It's not just you. Us old folks lacked the skill."
The heroes self-flagellated. Lee Gi-seong flashed a bright grin to lighten the mood.
"No way! It was my weakness. But thanks to you seniors' efforts, we're alive! So it's fine!"
He thumped his chest. Unsa looked up, face heavy with guilt and worry. The Executioner stepped in to chide him.
"Good day, Unsa Park Ra-on. All back alive—not a single loss. Reporters will swarm at Anyang, so smile even if you hate it. That's hero work."
"...Yes, Executioner."
Unsa twisted his lips into a smile. It looked so grotesque the heroes burst into raucous laughter.
"Haha, ha, ha."
Lee Gi-seong forced laughs too. Glancing around, he caught Pine Tree Unit heroes glaring subtly.
"Haha, ha... haa."
He shifted uncomfortably, ensuring no one spotted the small item in his inner pocket.
"......Yeah. This is all for justice."
Inside Lee Gi-seong's coat pocket. A blue canary peeking out chirped in agreement.
That afternoon, Seon Ui-cheol announced the safe return of the 10 missing heroes in a national address.
"Oh, great view."
Through the mini-Phoenix nestled in hero Lee Gi-seong's pocket, I could observe the hero party's journey back to Seoul. Transmitters or trackers would get spotted in searches, but a super-mini Phoenix—indistinguishable from natural mana—wouldn't raise alarms.
Selected exactly 10, so no slip-ups.
"If it does, we replan."
I severed the mini-Phoenix link and lay back on the bed.
"Fingers crossed it works."
The op assumed Seon Ui-cheol and Pine Tree Unit's leader hadn't changed much in five years from what I knew. It also bet on the heroes' trust once they learned Seoul's truths.
"Betray us, and boom!"
Lee Gi-seong and nine others. Using hellhounds, I'd kidnapped only high-potential prospects, implanting mini-Phoenix bombs like in Lee Seung-hyung. Overflowing with justice, they'd handle themselves once they knew Pine Tree Unit's reality. If not—if they sided with Seon Ui-cheol or Cheongsong—
The heroes would be a huge letdown.
"Please don't disappoint, heroes."
From the 63 Building's top, I overlooked Seoul, arms spread toward the sun.
"I'm watching you all."