Chapter 31
Chapter 31.
A day ago, at the Tower Management Office Director's office.
There, Tower Management Office Director Shin Gyeongcheol and.
"Truly an impressive player."
A middle-aged man with graying hair was watching Lee Ganghan's achievement completion through the monitor placed in the director's office.
"It's just unfortunate that he has a time limit."
The middle-aged man said while drinking coffee placed on the desk. He was National Assembly member Joo Yongwan, who had come to review the Tower Management Office's budget.
"Director, the exception clause you mentioned for the Special Management Target conditions... is it because of that Heavenly Demon?"
Special Management Target.
A special contract management that the country proposes to players who receive S-grade or higher traits.
Free rental of new apartments.
Basic allowance starting from at least 3 million won.
Plus bonus allowances given for tower entry and dramatic tax benefits.
It was definitely filled with conditions that favored players.
Since such conditions couldn't be given to just anyone, the Special Management Target had a firmly established criterion of 'S' grade traits.
However,
'Even if it's not an S-grade trait, there are quite a few outstanding talents.'
Even aside from the Heavenly Demon displayed on the monitor, there were a small number of players below S-grade who deserved special management by the country.
To prevent these individuals from being stolen by other countries, an exception clause needed to be established for 'Special Management Target.'
Only then could they be treated well and kept tied to Korea.
"The Heavenly Demon is also an important player, but among A and B grade players, there are many that the country must definitely secure. So I would like to establish a Management Office recommendation clause in the Special Management Target provisions."
"Hmm. I understand the Director's heart for cherishing talent, but... the country's budget isn't that abundant. The taxpayers' money going to Special Management Targets is enormous, so shouldn't the standards at least be clear?"
"But still..."
"Moreover, that Heavenly Demon, he's ultimately time-limited, isn't he? Right now he's achieved great merit, but..."
Swish.
Joo Yongwan slightly raised the corner of his mouth.
"Eventually he'll lose his abilities and become an ordinary person. Then wouldn't it be more heartless to suddenly confiscate the benefits given to Special Management Targets at that time?"
"..."
"Rather than having benefits and then losing them, it's better to end in a state where there were none to begin with."
Shin Gyeongcheol hardened his expression upon hearing those words.
Since Lee Ganghan's abilities would soon end due to the time limit, they're saying not to bother putting him in Special Management Target and just drag out the time.
"Wouldn't it be fine to just give him a suitable commendation certificate? As for prize money... let's see, specially measure about 10 million won. From the Heavenly Demon player's perspective, this might be better."
Joo Yongwan suggested making a show with prize money.
For a player who destroyed towers around the world one by one and increased score acquisition by 20% for 6 months, the benefits being offered were far too meager.
"...What if foreign countries make naturalization proposals to the Heavenly Demon? I think designating him as Special Management Target would be appropriate."
"Foreign countries? To the time-limited Heavenly Demon?"
Joo Yongwan chuckled as if hearing an interesting story.
"They all have their own thoughts too, so would they really recruit a player with limited time?"
"But... due to this recent activity, many countries have begun watching him. There will definitely be countries making naturalization proposals."
"Then well... we'll pretend to hold onto him appropriately and then let him go. Since he's a player whose abilities will disappear anyway, how could we waste taxpayers' money?"
Joo Yongwan emphasized taxpayers' money.
However, as one of the influential members of the ruling party, he was famous for wastefully spending budgets in his own constituency.
'If taxpayers' money was so precious, he should save it in his constituency too...'
Shin Gyeongcheol thought so, but.
"More importantly, I heard there are many among the Special Management Targets who aren't faithfully engaging in player activities. Shouldn't we change the allowance system?"
While dealing with Joo Yongwan who was trying to cut the Tower Management Office's budget by any means, he couldn't continue the conversation about the Heavenly Demon.
After one round of budget review ended, Shin Gyeongcheol, who had seen off National Assembly member Joo Yongwan, sighed in the director's office.
"Whew..."
In the end, getting Heavenly Demon Lee Ganghan incorporated as a Special Management Target failed.
Regarding matters related to him, it ended with raising the ridiculous prize money of 10 million won to 100 million won.
'What will they do if his abilities don't disappear after treating him so poorly...'
Actually, Shin Gyeongcheol also knew in his head.
That among SSS-grade traits, the exceptionally strong trait 'Heavenly Demon Constitution' receiving an E grade must have conditions like 'time limit.'
However, just in case. If by any chance Lee Ganghan's abilities were maintained as they are, and if he went to another country and achieved great things, how would they handle the aftermath?
Especially.
"Director, FIPA has contacted us."
"FIPA?"
"Yes. They want to hold a special awards ceremony for player Lee Ganghan at the federation level. They seem to highly evaluate the achievements he made this time."
"Hmm..."
In contrast to Korea, FIPA seemed to be planning to reward Lee Ganghan's achievements more extensively.
This would make the comparison too obvious.
'For now, I'll have to step forward directly and persuade him well... I'll use my influence to help him become a Special Management Target, so I hope he won't think about emigrating.'
Shin Gyeongcheol, who was both the Tower Management Office Director and Korea's top player, tried to use his position fully to persuade Lee Ganghan favorably.
So he arranged a meeting through his daughter, who had become his agent.
However.
"Director!"
He never thought that his daughter, who was the agent, would be the problem.
"As an agent, I absolutely cannot accept those words."
***
Just before meeting the Tower Management Office Director.
In the car that came to pick them up from agent GLASS.
"Heavenly Demon, no matter what proposal you receive today, please don't accept it easily."
"Proposal? I thought we were meeting about the commendation certificate today."
"Yes. But while bringing up that topic, they might also mention your future plans."
Future plans?
"Due to clearing this achievement, the whole world has come to pay attention to Lee Ganghan. Until now, they didn't make immigration recommendations because of the low trait grade, but... proposals might come now."
Shin Yuri then asked Lee Ganghan.
"Ah. Or perhaps, are there any proposals that have come from other countries?"
"None. And I don't particularly plan to emigrate."
"Ah... would you not consider going even if the conditions differ greatly?"
Condition differences.
I don't know how much 'greatly differing' means, but.
'Right now, with mother's situation and all, I don't feel like moving away from home and the surrounding environment.'
Maybe after finding mother's whereabouts, but before that, I didn't particularly want to leave Korea.
However.
"For example... if Country A proposed 10 billion won, but Korea still offered the same conditions."
"10 billion won?"
That's quite a lot, isn't it?
Lee Ganghan was about to immediately answer that he had no intention of going, but hesitated for a moment.
Korea was only treating him as an ordinary player, but if foreign countries made such huge offers, it might be worth considering.
Usually, he wasn't particularly greedy for money, but.
'Money is needed to strengthen abilities.'
Ten Thousand Demon Battle, which was like a money-eating machine.
Right now, what he earned was manageable, but once he started leveling up Ten Thousand Demon Battle facilities, it would likely cost quite a bit of TP.
So the more money, the better.
"Of course, they won't give it as a lump sum. They'll be concerned about your trait being E grade... they'll probably try to pay in installments. But if I negotiate well..."
"Ah. The trait grade has risen to D."
"What? D, D grade?"
"What? Really?!"
When Lee Ganghan casually answered that his trait grade had risen, both Shin Dongseok in the driver's seat and Shin Yuri sitting next to him turned around in surprise.
Trait grade increases were extremely rare occurrences.
Moreover, it was known that only traits with the phrase 'grade can increase' in their description could rise.
But for Heavenly Demon Constitution, which didn't even have such a phrase, to have its grade increase...?
"No... when did your grade increase?"
"It's been a few days. I woke up and it had risen."
"Wow, crazy... This means it might not be time-limited?"
"Ah, uncle. I've told you so many times it's not, really."
"After seeing that scene yesterday, do you think that's a normal trait? Where is there an E grade that bursts a hundred orcs with one punch!"
Lee Ganghan listened to their conversation and thought.
'There's no need to mention that the grade drops by one each time I die.'
I don't plan to die anyway, and there's no need to reveal my weakness.
After Lee Ganghan revealed that he was D grade.
"Then... the situation has completely changed."
Shin Yuri's eyes sparkled.
"Heavenly Demon, would it be okay to make this fact widely known?"
"You mean about rising to D grade?"
"Yes. It would be even better if you showed it openly during the next game."
"Hmm. Actually, I do have strong thoughts about staying in Korea."
"I'm also Korean, so I hope you'll continue to stay. But you should receive appropriate treatment."
Shin Yuri then opened her mouth.
"Actually, given the Management Office's nature, there's a high probability they'll just make a show for you. Since you're E grade, they'll say there's no need to treat you well for long."
"Yuri! No matter what, would my brother do that?"
"No. Last night at home, he was lamenting while drinking, saying they're being too stingy with the budget."
"Mmm..."
As Shin Dongseok made a groaning sound at the insider testimony, she continued.
"Father will probably appeal to patriotism today. Then he'll ask for some time, saying he'll work to improve treatment."
"Well, I could wait for that much..."
"No. In this neighborhood, if you wait like that, they treat you like a pushover."
Shin Yuri smiled bitterly.
"Like our father."
"There's that story again... Hey, hey, your father has power!"
"Is it having power to have to set aside urgent work and curry favor with National Assembly members to secure budget?"
"That's..."
"Even now, he does all the dirty work, and the guild father created became state-affiliated so they work him to the bone. Everyone tells father 'We only trust you, please sacrifice for the country,' but..."
Shin Yuri, who seemed to have a lot built up, poured it all out.
"Working as an agent, I clearly realized. They're just treating him like a pushover."
"...Hey, the fact that you did well as an agent was thanks to your father in the beginning, actually. But isn't it too much to keep saying pushover, pushover?"
"I think it's not even 1/10th compared to what my father has devoted to the country. That was also something I actively worked to obtain."
Tower Management Office Director Shin Gyeongcheol.
Despite receiving an SSS-grade trait, he remained in Korea and stabilized the Management Office, making him a player with very high public support.
But looking at the reality, the country had exploited Shin Gyeongcheol's patriotism and dedication, working him to the bone.
"So I hope you won't lower your worth like father did. You have to make them recognize you're not an easy opponent for proper treatment to follow."
"So you're saying to actively PR that the trait has risen, and to at least listen to foreign proposals."
"Yes, yes, that's right. You can't be treated as 'fish already caught,' right?"
"Sigh... isn't the daughter being too much?"
"What? I'm the Heavenly Demon's agent. I have to separate public and private matters. So."
Shin Yuri smiled slyly.
"If I call father 'Daddy~' it's a good proposal, if I call him 'Father' it's an ordinary proposal, and if I call him 'Director' it's a proposal you can just leave."
"...What?"
"Please listen carefully to how I address my father. If I shout 'Director!' you can just get up from your seat."
Ah.
It's a kind of signal.
Lee Ganghan nodded.
And.
After arriving at the Tower Management Office.
"Player Lee Ganghan, your magnificent performance was truly impressive."
After shaking hands with the benevolent-faced smiling Shin Gyeongcheol, Lee Ganghan exchanged brief pleasantries with him.
And soon.
"Player Lee Ganghan, actually, the reason I wanted to meet like this isn't just because of the commendation certificate."
The main point came out.
"Yes. I heard there's also the FIPA matter."
"Ah. There's that too, but... actually, the Management Office recommended player Lee Ganghan as a Special Management Target."
Swish.
The document Shin Gyeongcheol handed over had the title [Special Management Target Player Registration Report].
'This is the same as what I saw before.'
The report that gave various benefits but had a 6-month departure prohibition condition.
As Lee Ganghan quietly stared at the document.
"However, since there's no precedent for players who aren't S-grade traits... the benefits probably won't be immediately provided. But I'll handle things as quickly as possible, so trust me as the Director..."
What?
So ultimately, I can't receive the benefits given to Special Management Targets, and I only have to observe the 'departure prohibition' on this side?
'This is a bit problematic.'
The Special Management Target conditions don't seem that great either.
As Lee Ganghan frowned.
"Director!"
Shin Yuri stepped forward with a cold expression.
"As an agent, I absolutely cannot accept those words."