Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Spending Two Million (3)
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[High above, inside Air Force One en route to the United States.]
"Patrick."
"Yes, Mr. President."
"With this one photo, can I smooth over everything that happened during this emergency visit to Korea to some extent?"
"Not just smooth it over—we can use it as a card to pressure them."
Aide Patrick displayed the photo large on the in-flight TV.
"Everyone in America—no, the whole world—will analyze this photo. That you're conducting positive negotiations with the 'Master.' And the existence of the 'Master' being assisted by Mrs. Elaine."
"...No reflections in cups or sunglasses, people's pupils, or any such traces?"
"As you can see."
When Aide Patrick zoomed in on the president's sunglasses in the photo, it reflected the figure of someone sitting cross-legged, facing him directly.
"Judging purely by build, we could infer a 'young man in his mid-twenties,' but thanks to Miss Elaine's 'ability,' we can't observe the face or hair. The hand resting on the knee... the skin is quite pale, so one might assume Caucasian."
"We deliberately took the photo to reveal just a hint. For later."
"Yes. Personally, I preferred hiding it completely, but..."
"Still lacking, Patrick."
President Luigi grinned at his aide while fiddling with the ring on his left ring finger.
"Since this photo will spread far and wide in the international community, there's all the more reason to reveal his presence. As the maid's Master—his 'Master' self."
"To gain political presence?"
"That's part of it. And I can't just stand by while my woman takes a photo alone with another man. Even if that man is the president of the United States."
"......."
"Anyway, with this photo, can I get through the hearing as smoothly as possible? Procedural issues from scrambling the plane, troubles with Korean politicians, that sort of thing."
"It'll only intensify."
"What will?"
President Luigi's hand paused as he was about to pour a bit of whiskey into his glass.
"Why?"
"Because they'll all be curious. How did President Luigi manage to make contact with that 'S-Rank Hunter' in Korea whom no one else could approach first? How did the conversation go, and what negotiations took place?"
"They don't expect me to spill everything myself, do they?"
"You launched the plane in such a rush that not only the opposition but even your own party's congressmen have banded together now. Key senators are constantly reaching out, asking 'what happened.'"
"I suppose. From their perspective, it'd feel like I kept it secret from them too. Enough to feel slighted."
President Luigi took a short sip of his whiskey.
"I'll handle the response to them. You figure out how to send support to the 'Master' without the other aides noticing. Make sure hackers from China, Russia... or anywhere else don't catch on."
"Understood. That said, Mr. President."
"Something else to discuss?"
"After the photo went up, everyone's saying... maybe..."
"Three months."
President Luigi gripped his glass with thumb and forefinger, extending his remaining three fingers.
"In three months, he'll raid Pennsylvania's S-Rank Tower."
"......!"
"There'll be plenty of support, and plenty more negotiations ahead. The most immediate result we can announce publicly? Our own S-Rank Tower in the US."
A hunter who solo-cleared an S-Rank Tower.
That's the thought it'll spark.
Maybe for us too...?
"I'll make the official announcement once I'm back at the White House. Give a heads-up to the Senate and House. What we offered stays classified, but say that in exchange for the special privileges, he's agreed to come to the US in three months and clear one S-Rank Tower."
"Understood. I'll pass it along to the other aides. ...Why three months, though?"
"It's the benchmark."
President Luigi leaned back in his chair as he replied.
"If I said one month, the whole world would start clamoring every month for him to clear S-Rank Towers everywhere."
"......."
"Besides, there's still an S-Rank Tower left in Korea. Of course, if they pull a classic Korean 'hurry up and get it done' on it, he might come to the US even sooner than three months."
"So, after the threats in Korea are cleared to some extent, then the US."
"Exactly. The Master is more favorable toward America than you'd think. Or should I say he distrusts his own country. We got really lucky. That he reached out to me first, of all people."
Slumping into his chair like a ragdoll, President Luigi shook his smartphone.
"I'll catch some shut-eye until we land. Snap a photo and post it to SNS. Just the words 'Mission Success.'"
"Do you really have to...?"
"That's the only way I'll actually get some peace to sleep."
President Luigi handed his smartphone to Aide Patrick and closed his eyes.
"This should buy me about four hours. ...If the Master contacts while I'm out, wake me right away. Put his calls on Code Red from now on."
"I'll remember. Rest well."
Aide Patrick held the smartphone horizontally and adjusted the angle.
Click.
Click click.
Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-click-click-click.
Twenty minutes later.
The best edited shot—the one of the US president with eyes closed next to the words "Mission Success"—went live on SNS.
As if something had burned it stark white.
He hadn't died.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Riding a limousine to a specific spot, switching vehicles two or three times, and suddenly I was home.
"Whew."
"You've worked hard, Master."
"You did all the work."
I threw myself onto the bed the moment I walked in.
"Most spectacular twelve hours of my life, in every way."
A mere everyman like me: resigned to the section chief that morning, met the US president around lunchtime, became a dual citizen by afternoon, and came home.
"What would you like for dinner?"
"Elaine."
"...Yes?"
"You come rest here too."
I grabbed Elaine's hand as she headed for the kitchen and pulled.
Plop.
Elaine lay down on the bed without any resistance.
"Master. Dinner time has long passed. Even if you skipped eating with the US president for safety..."
"I'm lying here still—if you're the one moving around to make my food, it makes me uncomfortable."
"......."
"Let's just rest like this for a bit."
Elaine didn't budge.
I turned my head toward her while still lying down.
"No idea how America will play this, but once we rack up some achievements, we'll tell some game company to pour in massive capital."
"......."
"Then buy out the game company and control everything about you to some extent. Ah, 'control' sounds off—more like making sure no one can mess around with you."
Nerfs or whatever.
Bans or whatever.
...Server explosions or whatever.
"Right now, when summoned through the ability-awakened Grimmore app on my phone, you're insulated from their side. But boot up the game on the computer with the original launcher, and who knows—it might sync differently, right?"
"A form of 'synchronization'?"
"Yeah."
The Elaine in my phone's app is offline data.
The sub-phone was live server until I 5-stacked weapons into top-tier gear, but after transferring it to my main phone's Grimmore app, it's offline server status now.
What if the game company hits Elaine with a nerf like 'critical hits reduced to 0%' right now, and she syncs back to the game world for even a moment?
Can't let that happen.
Whether I know it or not, I have to watch over the game company.
Make sure they don't nerf her, delete the character, or pull any crazy stunts regarding Elaine—even buffs are fine, but nothing else.
Above all, protect the servers themselves.
To keep anything from happening to Elaine.
Overkill worry, maybe—but better safe than sorry.
"Master."
"Yeah."
"If you'd taken the photo holding the agreement with the president, couldn't that have completely hidden your presence?"
Elaine asked.
A question straight out of the flawless Perfect Maid, ever thorough about my safety.
"Elaine."
"Yes, Master."
"Stay just like that."
I pulled out my smartphone, switched to selfie mode, and snapped a two-shot of us lying on the bed.
"See?"
"You mean the photo?"
"Yeah. Who's with who?"
"Me and Master."
"Photos like this or whatever—no doing stuff alone with a guy except me. Got it?"
"......."
Elaine's expression stiffened for a moment, then she smiled faintly and scooted closer to me.
"This angle will come out better. Shall we take another?"
"Sure."
Click, click.
"Oh, right. We signed a contract with the US president and got the advance payment for once—want some late-night snacks?"
"I could make some..., but we're short on ingredients, so delivery sounds good."
"Order whatever ingredients you want while we eat. Set it for tomorrow delivery—they'll bring it right to the door. And not just ingredients; we've got so much shopping to do."
I quickly scanned Elaine up and down.
"Your casual clothes too..."
"Too?"
"And your underwear too."
"...One of your hoodies is plenty for me."
A sudden twinge hit me somewhere.
"That'd just trouble you, so I'll make sure to dress properly. But Master—where's the money...?"
"About that—they said it'd be tested for about a week."
I pulled out my wallet and extracted a black credit card.
"If it's tracked, we'll figure something else out. If not, we use this right away."
"Is this part of their economic support?"
"Yeah."
Something like that.
Up to two million, spend freely—no issues.
Two million dollars.
The advance contract payment.
"...Not sure if the government will track purchases, but for now, it's fine."
I pulled out my card, not the one from them.
"Credit cards get paid a month later anyway."
Like how the gacha money didn't come straight out of my wallet.
"Let's blow it first. Go wild. Not just dollars—up to two hundred, no, two thousand in won; spend like crazy."
"Two thousand? Dollars already came in?"
"Not dollars—won."
The dream of every quitter.
"Time to flex with the severance pay. Pool my savings and severance—really go nuts."
Spend freely on all the severance-pay dreams.
"First things first..."
"First...?"
I picked up my sub-phone.
"Filial piety."
Launch. The game Elaine came from.
"Buy a ton of stamina with cash, then gear you with the endgame relics and accessories set. That'll make you even stronger."
As Elaine's summoner, I've got one job.
"Elaine. You can get stronger. Way stronger than now."
From this rundown house corner, by playing the game.
"I'll make you the strongest in this world. More than anyone. But in return..."
"In return?"
"You'll stay with me. Forever?"
Instead of answering, Elaine took my finger.
"Of course, Master."
Hooking pinkies.
"I'll be by Master's side forever."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 🤖 AI THOUGHT 🤖 [Whine~.] [Only one summon stack left...] Inside the smartphone.
The AI was deep in thought.