Chapter 54: The Collapse of Break Line
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 54: The Collapse of Break Line
The Break Line collapse.
A new world record.
The previous record of 26 minutes was slashed to 21 minutes because of us.
Since I never had anything to do with records in my previous world, I felt a small sense of accomplishment.
But still, it was only a D-rank dungeon.
The high-ranking heroes probably looked down on D-rank heroes bickering over records as something laughable.
I also wondered if this was really worth all the attention I was getting.
Being a man probably played a large part in it.
Does it even make sense that male A-rank heroes account for less than 5% of the global total?
Because of that reality, even more eyes were drawn to me, as I looked like a Special-Grade Prospect.
Currently, Kwon Ye-jin and I have climbed to 2nd and 3rd in the prospect rankings, respectively.
If we keep clearing dungeons like this, reclaiming the 1st place spot isn't far off.
Anyway, thanks to that, I’ve become quite famous.
Foreign clans and media outlets are showing interest in me.
The Americans, in particular, were paying more attention to my gun techniques than my support skills, and a major US clan even contacted me directly.
It seems Square Garden isn't the only one interested in supporters.
Well, the US is currently the strongest in terms of hero power and the most active in research.
Even if they lack offensive power, they must be researching supporters who can handle a party's sustainability.
For the record, South Korea's hero power is ranked 9th.
Considering the number of countries in the world, it’s strong, yet it feels like an awkward position to be in.
"Recruitment is 70% complete. We've reached our initial target. We can take it slow from here. Good work, Han Ju-hee."
"I think we can bring Hero An Min-ah over if we push just a little more."
"Yes, let's try for An Min-ah, and after that, we'll plan recruitment on a yearly basis."
Han Ju-hee nodded at my words.
Even if we were replacing the B-rank heroes, I didn't intend to do a complete generational shift right this second.
Though they were unstable, Park Sung-jun's party could still function. Even if I achieved 100% recruitment now and reorganized everything around Han So-ye, it would be difficult to manage properly right away.
Then again, I wondered if there was even a point to doing all this.
It was all going to be shattered to pieces anyway.
"Are you going to become a hero now, Manager?"
"Yes, it looks like it. Thanks to you, I was able to work comfortably. Thank you."
Han Ju-hee, who had been looking at me with a hint of regret, shook her head with a small smile at my words.
"Intern Baek Bo-min will be sad. For my part, it was an honor to work with you, Manager."
"I didn't really do much to help you."
"Just showing your face in the media helped with recruitment. And since the clan didn't just give you recruitment duties, it was only right that I eased your workload."
Damn. Han Ju-hee really was the model of an excellent subordinate.
To think Break Line was wasting a subordinate with such high loyalty and perfect skills—they really need to reflect on themselves.
"Oh, and I'll recommend you for the position I'm leaving behind."
"What? But for me to take that on..."
There’s no one else but you.
Everyone else is just filling a seat. If Han Ju-hee isn't qualified, everyone else here might as well pack their bags and leave.
"Don't feel pressured; it's just a recommendation. I don't know if my word will carry weight at the top, and they might already have someone in mind."
"Thank you. Thank you for looking out for me until the very end."
Han Ju-hee bowed deeply in gratitude.
A talent like her would eventually rise to a high position, but she needed to be given authority and allowed to work actively as soon as possible.
That way, she could bring in the heroes I wanted later on.
While we were creating a warm, touching scene, Park Su-jin, who had been on her smartphone on the sofa, was staring at us with an expression that said we were full of shit.
Unlike Baek Bo-min, Han Ju-hee thoroughly ignored Park Su-jin, never even glancing her way unless it was for business.
Since Park Su-jin did nothing, there was no reason for Han Ju-hee to run into her for work. The only thing she had said to her since she arrived was to ask her to move out of the way.
Today was no different. Treating Park Su-jin like she didn't exist, Han Ju-hee said her goodbyes and left the office.
Looking at the report Han Ju-hee brought, I gauged Break Line's current strength.
Even if Park Sung-jun's entire party left, excluding Han So-ye, it wasn't bad.
The fact that there wasn't a single A-rank hero was a bit of a downside, but as far as human resources needed to run a clan went, it wasn't bad at all.
Add to that three Special-Grade Prospects who were climbing the ranks at a terrifying pace, plus the secondary assets Park Sung-jun had built up in the clan...
A delectable clan had been prepared.
Now, all I had to do was figure out how to package it beautifully.
As I sat there lost in thought, I felt a gaze and looked over at Park Su-jin.
"What is it?"
"...Are you free today?"
"You know most of my schedule. I'm going to work out after I clock out."
"Because you're a hero now."
Park Su-jin spoke sarcastically, then hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth.
"Do you want to grab dinner together afterward?"
It was an unexpected proposal.
Was she planning to get me drunk and jump me?
As I stared at her silently, Park Su-jin avoided my gaze and muttered under her breath.
"I have something to tell you... and it won't be bad news for you either."
She was speaking like a shy schoolgirl, but I didn't think it was a love confession.
I thought about her strange attitude for a moment, then nodded.
"Sure, let's go."
"Really? There's a fine dining place I frequent. Let's go there."
Park Su-jin's face brightened when I agreed.
What on earth was she planning to talk about?
After finishing work and clocking out, Park Su-jin led me to the underground parking lot.
The brands here were all different, so I didn't know the exact names or models, but Park Su-jin approached a red coupe with a sleek, elegant design.
I had seen it a few times while walking past to get to the Thunderblue. So it was yours.
I hate to say it, but that red two-seater looked so expensive that you could probably sell dozens of Thunderblues and still not be able to afford a single door.
Perhaps her confidence rose after showing off her car, because Park Su-jin gave a cocky tilt of her head, told me to get in, and sat in the driver's seat.
She drove the coupe smoothly and guided me to the restaurant.
A stylish coupe and a fierce-looking pretty woman did make a good match.
I guess expensive cars really are the best, because Park Su-jin looked even prettier while driving.
After parking the coupe, Park Su-jin walked into the restaurant with a practiced stride, and the staff at the door greeted her and led us inside.
Passing through a narrow hallway, the staff led us to a private room with only one table.
Seeing the enclosed room, I immediately activated Mana Detection and checked my surroundings.
I had to stay alert at all times, as Park Sung-jun might have caught on to what I was doing.
"Is this your first time in a place like this? No need to be nervous."
Now that she was on her home turf, Park Su-jin let out a smirk of confidence and entered first.
It didn't seem like an act, so I decided to sit down and hear her out for now.
As I stared at the menu filled with extravagant words, Park Su-jin recommended what was good.
Once the waiter who took our order disappeared, Park Su-jin stared at me intently.
Her eyes were different from when she was moping around the office.
"You're gunning for my dad, aren't you?"
"...What makes you think that?"
Wow. Honestly, I got goosebumps.
I thought I had Park Su-jin completely cornered with the video, but she had seen through my plan.
Had she been acting like she was caught?
As I spoke while drinking the water on the table, Park Su-jin, who had been watching me closely, gave a mocking smile.
"I'm close with Department Head Kim Yun-ah."
"Wow, what a coincidence. I'm pretty close with her too."
Park Su-jin rested her chin on her hand and looked at me with intrigued eyes.
I wondered if Kim Yun-ah had betrayed me, but I couldn't read any emotions from Park Su-jin's face, which had regained its confidence.
"And to tell you one more thing, I hate my dad."
"Another coincidence."
As we sat there smiling at each other, the door opened and the waiter served the food.
A plate with a piece of meat about the size of two fingers was placed in front of each of us, but we didn't even glance at the food, keeping our eyes locked.
"Won't you delete that video?"
"I told you I'd delete it soon. Don't you trust me?"
"You're not exactly the most trustworthy person."
Park Su-jin smirked, relaxed her posture, and picked up her knife.
After skillfully picking up a piece of meat, she locked eyes with me and put it in her mouth suggestively.
"You're just like my dad."
"I've heard that one before too."
"The difference is, do you enjoy it? It feels like you're doing it because you actually like it."
What did I enjoy?
As I wondered, she began to ramble about Park Sung-jun.
"When I was little, I thought my dad was so cool. A hero who fought monsters and protected people with a man's body... what kid wouldn't love that? I'd play hero at the playground, running around with the other kids, and people would adore me because I was a hero's daughter."
That was a childhood I never experienced.
Since I was in a position where I was managed just for being an Awakened, I used to spend my time after grueling training wondering why I had to be an Awakened unlike normal people.
"But my dad didn't actually have much talent as a hero. Being B-rank is impressive for a man, sure. But my dad wanted more than that."
I knew the rest of the story.
He betrayed his clan and founded Break Line.
Even though Break Line didn't have a single A-rank, rather than growing the clan by conquering monsters, he focused on the number of heroes and other things to increase its scale.
"Have you ever seen my mom?"
"I saw her once in passing a long time ago."
The memory remained in the body's original owner.
"That's my stepmother. And my real mom died at my dad's hands."
"...Is that something you should be telling me?"
"Shouldn't I tell you at least this much for you to trust me? Besides, you're gunning for my dad too, so it's fine. Eat before the food gets cold. The food here is actually pretty good."
Park Su-jin smirked and went back to eating.
I started my meal as well, and Park Su-jin continued to talk as if she were just making small talk.
"The reason he married my mom was to secure a funding source for Break Line. It wasn't a famous company, but my grandfather owned a few factories, so they had quite a bit of money."
It was a common villain story—marrying into a good family for success and then embezzling the entire inheritance after the grandfather died.
Since he only married for money, the marriage was naturally a mess, and Park Su-jin said she watched her mother suffer the whole time.
It made sense why she acted like such a brat.
Her home life was shattered, there was no one to educate her, and Park Sung-jun didn't care about his daughter. It was obvious what would happen to a kid who only had money and power without being taught the right path.
"Oh, I'm not asking you to understand me. I'm a fucking bitch, a bad person. If my mom were alive, she'd probably be heartbroken seeing me. Unlike me, she was a kind and good person."
As I stared at her, Park Su-jin laughed and belittled herself.
I actually liked this.
I find it pathetic when people sell their sob stories and make excuses like, "It's all because of my environment!"
If you've committed a crime, you should be punished, and trying to evade responsibility with a sob story is just what lowlifes do.
"Anyway, I hate my dad. So I have plenty of reason to help you."
"..."
I looked at her smiling face and thought.
Even if Park Su-jin's words were true, something important was missing.
She was someone who loved wealth and power and enjoyed being above others.
If Park Sung-jun fell like this, she would lose all of that.
No matter how much she wanted revenge for her mother, someone with her personality wouldn't want to lose her wealth and power.
"You have that look in your eyes that says you don't believe me. I find you sexy when you look at me like that."
"Can I ask one thing? Is your mother's revenge more important than money?"
"I'd love to say yes, but how could that be? I told you, I'm a total piece of trash."
Park Su-jin smirked and picked up her wine glass.
"Did you know? Heroes make a ton of money, but they can't have an image of being obsessed with it. People hate that. They think, 'We're fighting hard for the world, so why can't we take some money?' Humans are so fickle."
After taking a sip of the red wine, Park Su-jin let out a mocking laugh.
"My dad doesn't have any pride in protecting the world. He just wants to be successful and make a lot of money. But if he tries to increase his assets, people criticize him. So what should he do?"
"...Use a borrowed name?"
"Close. There's something even better. A blood relative who isn't a hero. I own several businesses in my name. My father entrusted them to me. To be precise, I just lent him my name."
So that's why she had so much money.
Even if he owned a clan, Park Su-jin lived like a second-generation chaebol, with a massive villa and security guards.
It was money that would be hard to earn from a mid-sized clan.
I had been investigating that area because I thought he was embezzling clan funds, but it turned out to be a waste of time.
"I stayed a submissive daughter and became my dad's wallet. But what if Dad falls so hard that he can't even use the connections he's built up? Then all the businesses in my name are mine. Is that enough of a reason for a bitch like me?"
"I see. You really are a bad person."
Park Su-jin smiled as if she liked my words, then stared at me intently and spoke in a sweet voice.
"Yeah. And this bad person has a few cards to play against her dad. I'll give them to you, so let's join forces."