Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: There Must Be a Reason
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Jo Ayoung felt like her face was about to burst at any moment.
Her mind was in no state for rational thought, and Woojin's firm arm resting on her shoulder burned like fire.
In Director Jeong's eyes, the sight of her was nothing short of a 'girl smitten with love.'
Ayoung's shy wriggling was pure, unadulterated sincerity—impossible to fake with any acting.
Moreover, Director Jeong had considerable confidence in reading people's true intentions.
'Ha... they've really locked eyes. Well, at that age full of youthful vigor, it's only natural.'
Director Jeong clicked his tongue inwardly.
If it had been a straightforward scout for securing talent, he would have remained suspicious to the end, but with such blatant personal feelings involved, the story changed.
Interpreting it as the typical melodrama where capable men throw all caution to the wind for romance, Director Jeong finally eased his suspicions a bit.
"Hmm, I see."
"Well, that's how it happened. So, have her quit. It doesn't look right for my girl to keep handing over my info to the government, does it?"
"Mmmph!! Mmph!! Mmmph!!"
Jo Ayoung was truly on the verge of losing her mind.
She wanted to scream at Woojin's outrageous declaration of 'my girl,' but in a flash of wit, she clamped her own mouth shut to stifle it.
Director Jeong cleared his throat at her bizarre reaction and nodded.
'Tsk tsk... must be that irresistible... Throwing away a hard-earned civil service job over a momentary fling. Kids these days really have no foresight.'
Watching Woojin's utterly relaxed demeanor, he even felt a pang of pity for Ayoung—she'd surely suffer heartbreak over woman troubles later.
But that was personal business, unrelated to the nation's interests.
"Ahem, understood. I'll handle Junior Jo's resignation as quietly as possible under my authority. But we can't just let a talented asset slip away without some compensation. And I'm not entirely convinced of how cooperative you'll be with the government going forward."
Woojin, as if he'd been waiting for that very question, leaned in toward Director Jeong with a sly smile playing on his lips.
"That's why I have something important to discuss, Director."
Woojin's voice dropped low as it drifted toward Director Jeong's ear.
Director Jeong felt a twinge of worry about what this man might say next.
Yet Kim Woojin's abilities were indispensable.
In other words, he had no choice but to play along.
Director Jeong asked in a low voice.
"...What now?"
Woojin leisurely held up two fingers.
"Two requests."
"Ahem... let's hear them."
Woojin smiled.
"First, the house Ayoung's living in right now. Transfer it to her name, or at the very least, guarantee she can keep living there even after quitting her civil service job. That's well within your authority, right?"
It was a brazen request, but Director Jeong accepted it.
"...I'll guarantee at least two years. Anything more would be difficult. It's national budget, after all."
"That's plenty. Oh, and when you dispose of that house, sell it to me."
"...Fine. Anything else?"
Woojin wiped the playfulness from his face and asked gravely.
"Player Seo Joohee. Arrange for me to meet her."
Director Jeong's eyes sharpened keenly.
Seo Joohee. One of only thirty players in all of Korea, possessing the rare 'Artisan' class.
Already a jeweler in the real world, she worked under the government in exchange for generous terms and personal security guarantees.
She'd been unremarkable at first, but lately, with materials pouring out of gates, her value had skyrocketed.
"Hunter Seo Joohee... How did you know? That she's working for the nation."
"Isn't it obvious? It's because of Kang Seung-hyuk."
Director Jeong's pupils wavered at Woojin's words.
"Kang Seung-hyuk?"
"The wyvern dagger you asked me to enhance before. It's a tough item to wield while staying sane. Yet Kang Seung-hyuk's been awfully quiet, hasn't he? No reports of him rampaging."
"Ahem...!"
Woojin continued with a sly grin.
"That means someone crafted an accessory to suppress the bloodlust side effects. And from what I know, Seo Joohee's the only artisan in Korea capable of making jewelry like that."
Director Jeong fell silent.
It was an admission of the truth.
Woojin could have asked Eirin for help, but she was his last resort.
He had no idea what kind of terrifying 'price' she might demand in return.
Even forging a slave—no, bodyguard—contract had required 'holding her still for 30 seconds.'
For a matter involving Sangjin's life...
'She might even demand I stamp a marriage registration. Can't let that happen.'
Woojin shook off the thought and pressed on.
"I'm not asking for items. Just let me meet her. If she owes me one, I'll be even more cooperative later, right?"
This demand was even more audacious, but Director Jeong had no choice but to nod.
At a glance, it seemed heavily tilted in Kim Woojin's favor, but that wasn't entirely true.
As Woojin himself said, if he made demands of the state, he'd have to give back equally.
Director Jeong's decision was swift.
"Very well. But one additional condition. Meet Hunter Kang Seung-hyuk before Seo Joohee. They're quite curious about you over there."
"Okay. That's no trouble."
Kang Seung-hyuk, once hailed as Korea's top talent before Yoo Jihyun appeared.
Meeting him wasn't a bad move for Woojin either.
With the negotiations concluded, Director Jeong rose from his seat.
"Then I'll be off. I'll contact you within a few days."
"Yes, take care. We'll finish these drinks before we go."
Director Jeong nodded and headed out.
Suddenly, a question occurred to Woojin.
'Hmm... now that I think about it, aren't there disproportionately few Korean players pulled into Unriworld relative to our population?'
Korea's player count was a mere thirty, far too low compared to the hundreds held by the US or China.
Woojin recalled the world of Unriworld he had known.
Then he slapped his knee.
'Ah? Could it be that they're all hidden classes from the start?'
What kind of people were Koreans?
A nation that rerolled games dozens or hundreds of times for peak efficiency, betting their lives on gacha pulls for legend-grade items.
As a result, Korea boasted an overwhelming number of hidden-class players per capita.
'Well... not really important now anyway.'
Woojin patted Ayoung's shoulder dismissively.
"See? All sorted out nice and easy."
Ayoung was now truly free—or rather, Woojin's lifelong slave.
She remained rigidly embraced by Woojin, sipping her coffee without moving.
She made no request to lower his arm.
"Y-y-yeah!? It r-really got solved so easily?"
"Why so tense? He's a big shot, but surprisingly reasonable."
Mistaking Ayoung's stammering for lingering tension from Director Jeong, Woojin kept his posture, humming a tune as he drank his beverage.
He wasn't even aware he was holding her.
But for a mere twenty-year-old like Ayoung, this level of physical contact was overwhelming.
Had she ever been held by a man?
Her dad was the only memory that came to mind.
Yet it didn't feel bad at all.
She wanted to savor this fluttering, pounding heartbeat just a little longer.
'C-coffee... sip it slowly...'
Such were the adorable thoughts running through Jo Ayoung's mind.
Meanwhile, at that very moment, outside the coffee shop beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.
"Cheolsu, that's President Kim Woojin, right?"
Catherine pointed with narrowed eyes toward the interior of the shop.
Kim Cheolsu and Catherine were currently enjoying a sweet vacation.
It was a special leave granted by Eirin, citing the need for someone to care for Cheolsu during his prolonged injuries.
Today, Kim Cheolsu had been fully healed and discharged from the hospital. Coincidentally, Eirin and Yoo Jihyun were away preparing for a subjugation.
Thus freed, the pair was openly savoring a delightful street date.
"...? Yeah, it is."
Cheolsu lit up as he peered inside, then froze solid.
"Wait... who's that woman? Huh? Isn't that Jo Ayoung...?"
Kim Cheolsu and Catherine had already thoroughly investigated the people around Woojin.
But this was a bizarre scene.
Not sitting face-to-face, but side by side with a hand on her shoulder?
A flicker of unease gripped him, and Cheolsu hurriedly checked Catherine's expression.
"!!!"
Her face had rapidly turned icy.
A smartphone was already in her hand, and the shutter sounds came in rapid succession.
Click—
Click—
Click—
"President Kim Woojin... I never pegged him for this. The moment Eirin-nim and Jihyun are away, he starts fooling around!"
This was a bomb.
A megaton nuclear bomb, no less.
If those photos got sent to Eirin or Yoo Jihyun, who knew what catastrophe would unfold.
"C-Cath-Catherine! Calm down! There must be some reason! President Kim isn't the type!"
Cheolsu broke into a cold sweat defending Woojin, but it was like pouring oil on the fire.
Catherine shot him a glare with eyes sharp as axes.
She yanked their clasped hands apart with a flick!
"Huh? A reason? Sounds like you're saying you'd hug another woman if you had one too!"
Damn. Foot in mouth.
Kim Cheolsu felt cold sweat trickling down his back.
Sweat he hadn't shed even against the merman.
"N-no way!! I-I'd never!"
"Right?"
"Of course not!"
"Exactly. So President Kim Woojin is cheating right now. You wouldn't, even with a reason."
"......"
The logic was thoroughly twisted, somewhere along the line.
Kim Cheolsu suddenly recalled seeing scenes like this in the trashy soap operas neighborhood elders loved.
'Damn, it wasn't just drama! The reality reflection is insane!'
The moment when a soap opera gained documentary-level persuasiveness.
But Kim Cheolsu had no way of knowing it stemmed from Catherine binge-watching those very Korean soaps since arriving here.
Catherine snapped close-up shots of them.
Click—
Click—
The bashful Ayoung, Woojin beaming brightly.
A picture-perfect image of an affectionate couple, undeniable.
Kim Cheolsu gave up on trying to stop her.
'Sorry, President Kim Woojin... Can't go back to the grave after barely surviving...'
He prayed for Woojin's soul in his heart.
'Should I just head back to the hospital?'
Pretend the injuries lingered and lie low a few more days.
Then maybe dodge this mess.
But contrary to Kim Cheolsu's hopes, Catherine was already meticulously detailing the situation in a message.
'We're doomed...'
Kim Cheolsu gazed wistfully at the sky.
Wonder if rain was coming tonight—dark clouds were rolling in from afar.
But to Kim Cheolsu, they weren't mere thunderclouds.
A storm was brewing.
A massive, terrifying storm.