Pax Corporation
Pax Corporation. America's premier hero enterprise and its largest bioengineering firm. Even before The Paragon, the company had fielded multiple hero teams that embodied the very image of "America" itself. Through gene recombination, DNA manipulation, and artificial organs, it had amassed enormous wealth. On the surface, that was all true. Beneath it, however, lay a monster born of unchecked capitalism and golden-calf worship—a corporation where grotesque human-rights violations were routine.
Just look at Great America. Her instability, arrogance, and violence? Anyone locked in a lab for over twenty years, burned, frozen, and stabbed with weapons would break. Pax Corporation treated that as business as usual. They had even installed hidden cameras in my quarters and sold the footage. If I felt any goodwill toward this company, I would have to be out of my mind.
While I was sifting through those memories from my previous life, one of the executives—CEO Brooke Vender—spoke with supreme confidence.
"So, what exactly is it that you wish to say, Mr. Jun?"
"What do you think, Mr. Vender? First, remove the cameras."
I answered him directly, my displeasure plain. Vender merely shrugged, utterly unconcerned.
"I understand not wanting one's privacy invaded."
"Glad you see it that way."
"But you are a product. One we purchased from the Korean Hunter Association—a Pax Corporation product."
"And what of it?"
"You know why you were allowed to join us, don't you?"
"I have no idea."
"Then allow me to explain. You are Asian, and you happen to look like a K-pop idol. We signed the contract because of your face—your appearance."
Vender's tone remained perfectly calm, yet his gaze swept over me from head to toe, appraising. It took that kind of nerve to keep Great America under control. Unfortunately for him, I was no slouch when it came to words either.
"In that case, let's terminate the contract."
"...What?"
"I haven't debuted yet. That means I still retain a certain degree of freedom."
"..."
"I'll reimburse you for the few days I used the quarters and for the damage to the conference room. Beyond that, our agreement ends here."
I possessed the kind of looks that could ride the K-pop wave without issue. While I had yet to build a proper fandom in the States, back home I had already gone viral through media and social media. To these capitalists, I was a valuable asset they would hate to lose.
"Where exactly do you think you'll go if you leave? The Korean Association? They're in our pocket as well."
My analysis was proving accurate.
"Still, I'm willing to offer additional compensation. How much to keep quiet about the surveillance footage?"
From Vender's perspective, I was merchandise worth keeping. In my previous life I might have groveled for a connection to Pax, but why bother now? Plenty of other companies would recruit me.
Even as a mid-tier A-class hero, Pax's stock jumped five percent the day my recruitment was announced.
That put our positions in a delicate balance.
"So you do intend to sell the footage from those damned cameras."
I held a slight edge, but I had no intention of stopping there.
"It seems Pax Corporation needs a rather severe shake-up."
"...What?"
I had come from the future. I knew exactly what atrocities Pax had committed and why the world began to collapse. Great America would go mad and commit atrocities daily, spawning countless supervillains. Pax's "karma" would erupt at every turn, plunging the world into chaos. Now was the time to trigger that karma.
"All the 'failures' who never became Great America."
"...!"
"As I understand it, there were 1,204 of them."
"That's nothing but a malicious rumor—"
"If you don't want that exposed, you'll accept my terms."
I pressed harder. Physical evidence? Of course I had none. This was information I had uncovered through investigation before regressing—a bluff. Yet to the people who had personally overseen the project, the number 1,204 carried weight.
"..."
They fell silent.
"I suppose I should say this outright: we have never conducted such experiments."
"Of course you haven't."
"Great America is a natural-born ability user whom we nurtured with the utmost care."
"Is that so?"
Vender seemed to realize I was bluffing, but the specific number 1,204 clearly rattled him. His heart must have skipped a beat, yet the seasoned old man kept his expression firm.
"However, I acknowledge that your ambition and ability exceed expectations. Let us reconsider the contract terms."
The conversation had shifted exactly where I wanted it.
"Excellent, Mr. Vender. First, transfer field command of The Paragon to me."
"That is unacceptable. Great America is our pride—"
"Do you truly believe that lunatic can lead?"
"..."
"I guarantee that if she takes command, a major incident will occur before long."
"No such thing will happen. She remains fully under our control."
"I understand how important Great America is to The Paragon. She must become the face of America."
I clasped my hands behind my back and continued with absolute confidence.
"But she must remain the face. She can be the symbol, yet she cannot be the head. I am offering to become that head."
"...Hmm."
"Second, all cameras in my quarters will be removed, naturally. I also want my own personal training facility, and an 8:2 split on merchandise sales and deployment bonuses."
"8:2? Are you sane? No company would offer that ratio to a mid-tier Korean hero—"
"Which is precisely why I'm offering to sign. I'll bring Pax that level of revenue."
"...You are quite mad."
Honestly, I wanted every aspect of Great America's education, control, and meetings to pass through me alone. A beast should have only one master. But they already knew that, so for now I would have to compromise.
More importantly, my goal is to redirect the attention currently fixed on Great America toward myself.
The final trigger that had broken Great America in my previous life was the excessive interference from researchers during her early hero activities. Shifting that spotlight to me would allow her gradual rehabilitation. To fully grasp the leash of that rabid dog, I still needed time.
"This seems an inappropriate topic to decide on the spot."
Vender appeared ready to pause the discussion, but if either of us backed down now, I would lose the initiative I had seized.
"If you refuse, then we end the conversation here. I'll consider the contract terminated."
I applied every ounce of pressure I possessed.
"I won't bother mentioning how many followers I have on social media."
"...Haa. Very well. We still have time to negotiate revenue distribution, so I won't settle it today. However, I will grant you command of The Paragon."
With the most important concession secured, I smiled.
"Understood. The team meeting is about to begin, so let us head down together."
I turned and walked out of the executive office.
Meanwhile, in the conference room where The Paragon's members had gathered—
"Who the hell trashed the conference room like this?"
"How should I know? Just stay put."
"Aah, this is boring. So boring. When is that damned Asian finally showing up?"
The woman flicking a lighter between her fingers spoke with lazy sarcasm.
"Shut up, Napalm. You're giving me a headache."
The giant man over two meters tall answered irritably.
"Why so cranky, Atlas? Haven't been hit enough lately?"
Napalm glared at him with killing intent.
"Hit enough, my ass. Your pathetic flames don't even leave a scratch."
"Both of you, quiet. It's already noisy enough without you making it worse."
The slender, youthful man shot them an irritated look.
"Tch, you gloomy little brat. You really want to hear what's in big sis's head?"
Napalm merely teased him.
"...Haa."
Atlas, Napalm, and Eclipse—top-tier heroes even among America's elite.
"So, who is he?"
"How would I know? I can't read him with my ability, whatever his power is."
"...Heh."
—Grind.
They watched Great America, seated in the central chair and grinding her teeth, with curious eyes. Normally she would have snarled something like "Why are these insects opening their mouths without permission?" and beaten them down to assert dominance. Yet now she remained still.
What will happen to him? To Jun? What is he discussing with the executives...?
She was anxious. Anxious about what he might say to them, what he might do. If he spoke ill of her to the executives—
...Will I be sent back to the lab? Am I just another failure too?
She feared being discarded among the countless other failures. Awe toward Jun and terror of the executives swirled inside her, drowning out the others' chatter.
Then the door opened.
—Creaaak——!
"It's a pleasure to meet you all."
He—Jun—entered alongside the executives.
"Aside from Great America, this is our first meeting."
His gestures were exaggerated yet restrained. His appearance was almost effeminate and unremarkable, yet—
...The executives are watching him carefully?
She could see they were paying close attention.
"I am Ryu Hajun, from Korea. My hero name is simply 'Jun'—nothing grand."
"You may not know him, but the woman seated there, Great America, will serve as The Paragon's leader."
"Eh, what? That woman? The one who's been sulking this whole time?"
Great America found the scene utterly novel.
"However, field command will be handled by Jun."
The people she had always believed stood above her were now—
...Hah.
—bowing to him.