Chapter 18 - Mercenary Contract
Mercenary Contract
━ I’d like to talk about a mercenary contract. Would it be possible to meet sometime soon?
A message like that arrived from Kim Baek-dong.
Had coordination with upper management finally been completed?
If so, there was no reason to delay any longer.
━ Then let’s meet today.
Lee Jeon-seok replied immediately and set up an appointment with Kim Baek-dong.
And two hours later—
Lee Jeon-seok headed straight to the Hunter Association.
He was able to meet Kim Baek-dong there right away.
Kim Baek-dong guided Lee Jeon-seok to a reception room.
“This room is usually used to receive distinguished guests.”
Distinguished guests.
Although Kim Baek-dong said that, the inside of the reception room was bleak beyond measure.
There were no windows and no decorations—
only gray walls completely enclosing the space.
It resembled an interrogation room.
At the center sat an old desk and two chairs.
“And—”
As expected.
Kim Baek-dong spoke while locking the door.
“We also use it often when discussing confidential matters.”
“It certainly looks the part.”
“Haha.”
Lee Jeon-seok played along.
Kim Baek-dong let out a faint chuckle.
After the two sat facing each other—
“You’ve become quite the celebrity.”
Kim Baek-dong suddenly spoke.
Celebrity?
“Me?”
“Didn’t you know?”
Kim Baek-dong asked back, looking surprised by Lee Jeon-seok’s reaction.
“The hero who suppressed a dungeon break at Bukhansan and rescued people from a villain in Yeongdeungpo. If you check online, there are several articles about it every single day.”
Kim Baek-dong casually showed his phone.
Indeed—
Though his name wasn’t directly mentioned, Lee Jeon-seok’s actions had been turned into articles and uploaded online.
[The Tragedy of Bukhansan… An Unexpected Miracle and a Hero.]
[‘He looks scary? But thank you for saving us.’]
[A Hunter who boldly stepped forward to subdue the Yeongdeungpo villain. Who is he?]
Every single headline was embarrassing.
Not just the articles—
the comments were the same.
There were some malicious comments, but only a few.
Most people seemed to be praising Lee Jeon-seok.
‘Hmm…’
Lee Jeon-seok felt awkward.
After all, he had lived his entire previous life as a villain.
He had received far more criticism than praise.
At some point, fear replaced criticism, and people became reluctant to even speak his name.
And now, he was being treated like a hero.
‘…You really never know how life will turn out.’
Lee Jeon-seok let out a dry chuckle internally.
Still, it wasn’t entirely unpleasant.
They say praise can make even a whale dance.
It wasn’t wrong.
“Guild scouts, agencies… especially reporters—they’ve all been going wild.”
Kim Baek-dong added,
“Of course, you seemed to dislike interviews quite a bit, so I blocked all of them on my end. I hope that wasn’t overstepping.”
At Kim Baek-dong’s quiet words, Lee Jeon-seok shrugged.
“I’m not particularly fond of that kind of thing either, so it’s fine.”
In truth, it wasn’t that he disliked it—
he hated it.
Perhaps that attitude had been clear when they first met in Yeongdeungpo.
“Then that’s a relief.”
Kim Baek-dong said as he put his phone away.
He then took something out of the briefcase he had placed beside him.
“First.”
His tone became more serious.
“It took some time, but I’ve successfully obtained the contract from upper management.”
A single document was placed on the desk.
“Please review it.”
A mercenary contract.
Lee Jeon-seok carefully examined the document Kim Baek-dong handed him.
At a glance, there was nothing strange.
The clauses were the same as any standard contract.
He wasn’t well-versed in law, but even he could tell that much.
To begin with—
‘If the Association tried to stab me in the back, their credibility would collapse immediately. There’s no reason for them to pull something like that.’
Once credibility fell, authority would shake.
The Hunter Association stood at the center of South Korea.
If it faltered, the very foundation of the nation could become unstable.
“The contract period is two months. In your case, you’ll be affiliated with the Villain Response Division as a temporary inspector.”
While Lee Jeon-seok reviewed the document—
Kim Baek-dong gave a brief explanation of the contract.
Even as a mercenary, there was little difference from a regular position.
He would operate in a two-person team like other inspectors, and aside from the contract fee, additional compensation would be paid depending on the scale and discretion of resolved cases.
And—
“Since you’ll be affiliated with the Villain Response Division, you’ll also participate in large-scale operations going forward.”
Large-scale operations.
The very incident Lee Jeon-seok had mentioned along with his foresight.
The worst catastrophe—one that would result in roughly two hundred casualties.
“However, you haven’t officially signed the contract yet. Even now, if you wish, you can withdraw your decision. …What will you do?”
Kim Baek-dong asked in a low voice.
It almost sounded considerate.
Naturally, it was completely unnecessary consideration.
Swoosh—
Without a word, Lee Jeon-seok picked up the pen beside him.
He immediately signed the contract.
Perhaps because of that—
Kim Baek-dong smiled awkwardly.
“That was a foolish question.”
Kim Baek-dong retrieved the contract and extended his hand.
“Though it’s a short period, I look forward to working with you as colleagues.”
“Likewise.”
Lee Jeon-seok shook his hand.
The contract was now finalized.
For the next two months, Lee Jeon-seok would operate as part of the Association.
“We’ll explain the department details later when the team gathers…”
Kim Baek-dong spoke with a serious expression and tone.
“Let’s get to the main point.”
The main point.
Without a doubt, it was about the foresight.
The story Lee Jeon-seok had brought up a few days earlier.
“One month and fifteen days from now. The Association plans to launch a large-scale subjugation operation against the villain group ‘Gaebyeok Union.’”
Gaebyeok Union.
A literal alliance of villains—
formed by dozens, even hundreds of them.
“This operation is being handled with utmost secrecy, and only a handful within the Association are aware of it. For that reason, the Association plans to raid the Union’s headquarters with a small elite force composed of A-rank and above hunters, but…”
Kim Baek-dong trailed off and looked at Lee Jeon-seok.
Lee Jeon-seok finished the sentence for him.
“Most of them will probably die.”
Kim Baek-dong nodded, as if that was expected.
But was that really all?
No.
The tragedy Lee Jeon-seok remembered was far worse.
“First of all, I should say this—the operation was flawed from the very premise.”
Lee Jeon-seok drew an X on the desk.
Kim Baek-dong looked puzzled.
“The premise?”
“Yes. Attacking the Gaebyeok Union’s headquarters with a small elite force sounds good on paper, but in the future I saw, the Union was already aware of the operation.”
In other words—
The assumption that the Union wouldn’t know about the operation—
Was wrong from the start.
“…Surely not.”
Kim Baek-dong’s face filled with shock.
Fortunately, Lee Jeon-seok shook his head.
“There’s no spy. It’s just that the Union has someone exceptionally skilled at gathering information.”
“At least there’s no traitor… but for the operation to be leaked…”
Kim Baek-dong looked utterly incredulous.
Naturally so.
The Association’s security was infamous for being airtight.
Comparable even to the U.S. Department of Defense.
That was the Association’s level of security.
And yet—
Information from such a place—classified information at that—
Had leaked.
There was no way he could easily accept that.
“Due to the information leak, the Association’s entire force and strategy are analyzed, and they end up being counterattacked by the villains.”
Kim Baek-dong losing his arm was damage sustained during that process.
“The Association urgently requests support from other guilds and agencies, but an operation that went wrong from the start had no chance of functioning properly.”
Lee Jeon-seok recounted everything he knew, as though telling an old story.
“The Association realizes too late that information has leaked and attempts countermeasures, but by then, the casualties already exceed dozens. On top of that, the Association building itself is attacked by the Union, and the situation spirals completely out of control.”
Of course, the Association didn’t collapse.
They had Yeon Seon-hwa.
They were outnumbered, but their overall power far exceeded that of the villains.
Lee Jeon-seok had only learned this much later through the news, but—
Yeon Seon-hwa had wiped out the villains storming the Association in a single strike.
However—
Even so—
“Due to the Union’s indiscriminate terror attacks, the death toll surpasses two hundred, and as major Union figures escape, the operation ends in failure.”
After that—
The Association was harshly criticized by the public.
Strictly speaking, it was an operation initiated by the Association.
The damage wouldn’t have occurred if not for them.
Countless people hurled stones at the Association.
As a result, the Association President and most high-ranking officials resigned.
The Association was driven to the edge of a cliff.
‘That’s when Hwasan truly begins moving to take the Association’s place.’
The starting point of South Korea’s descent toward national collapse.
Lee Jeon-seok explained that this was the future he had seen through his foresight.
‘Strictly speaking, it’s something I later heard from Kim Baek-dong…’
Now, Lee Jeon-seok was telling that story to Kim Baek-dong of the past.
“…That’s a hard story to believe.”
Kim Baek-dong rubbed his face with trembling hands.
The Hunter Association’s failure and collapse.
The rise of Hwasan.
And the downfall of South Korea.
Everything Lee Jeon-seok described was overwhelming.
Too difficult to accept as reality.
“I don’t know more than that. But if this operation fails, South Korea will be plunged into unprecedented chaos.”
“…Indeed. Based on what you’ve told me, it certainly seems that way.”
Kim Baek-dong sighed and nodded.
That was partly why Lee Jeon-seok had joined the Association.
The chaos of South Korea.
Not simply to protect the nation, nor to accumulate good karma.
But to avoid losing his family.
That alone was his driving force in correcting the Association’s failure.
Having returned to the past—
What mattered was his family’s safety.
And anyone who tried to destroy that—
He would erase them from the world without leaving a trace.
“First of all… as a member of the Association, thank you sincerely for providing this information.”
After taking a deep breath to steady himself, Kim Baek-dong bowed formally.
He looked as though he had aged several years in an instant.
His expression was heavy with worry.
Unfortunately, this was something Lee Jeon-seok couldn’t help with.
Kim Baek-dong understood the Association’s internal affairs best—and only he could persuade the President, directors, and executives.
“Based on the information you’ve provided, I’ll propose a restructuring of the operation to upper management. …Though I expect convincing them won’t be easy.”
Kim Baek-dong let out a dry laugh.
Naturally.
Changing an already-decided operation without any concrete evidence or testimony was no easy task.
Especially when lives were on the line.
And that wasn’t the only concern.
The information leak.
Where the operation had leaked from.
What abilities the enemy possessed.
Thorough investigation and management would be required.
Still, there was no choice.
Otherwise, what awaited was collapse, national ruin, and total devastation.
‘As for the Dawn Council… there’s no need to bring that up yet.’
Kim Baek-dong would notice soon enough.
That the Dawn Council was hiding carefully beneath the surface.
There was no need to run his mouth unnecessarily.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
After that—
Lee Jeon-seok left the reception room at Kim Baek-dong’s direction.
And—
At the Association’s main entrance.
Just before Lee Jeon-seok stepped outside—
“Since tomorrow is the weekend, you can start work next Monday.”
Kim Baek-dong said.
Even mercenaries report to work.
This applied specifically to the Villain Response Division.
‘…How annoying.’
It was his first time having a proper job.
At most, he had only ever worked part-time jobs.
For someone like Lee Jeon-seok, having to show up early on Monday morning was genuinely bothersome.
Still, skipping work on the first day wasn’t an option.
“Understood.”
He nodded in response to Kim Baek-dong.
Just as he was about to leave the Association—
“Oh, right…”
Kim Baek-dong stopped him, as if something had just occurred to him.
“The Association President asked me to pass along a message—asking when he might receive your answer.”
“Ah…”
Only then did Lee Jeon-seok recall Yeon Seon-hwa’s proposal.
Of course, he had already made his decision.
“Tell him I’ll give him an answer soon.”
※
As the sun slowly dipped toward evening—
Lee Jeon-seok checked his bank account after leaving the bank.
A sum of 50 million was printed there.
It was the contract payment from the Association.
Even if he was F-rank, he was still an inspector.
Receiving that amount was only natural.
If anything, being F-rank yet receiving no reduction was noteworthy.
‘Maybe we should go out to eat as a family.’
Seeing the balance, Lee Jeon-seok thought.
The upcoming weekend.
Wouldn’t it be nice to take his family somewhere expensive?
Like a five-star hotel restaurant.
Before or after regression—
His entire family had never once gone somewhere that pricey together.
This might be a good opportunity to create such an experience.
And—
‘I should buy something for my parents too.’
His younger sister?
Wouldn’t she be happy with about five million in cash?
No matter the era, cash was practically an immutable truth.
Was there anyone who disliked it?
At least Lee Ji-hye would like it.
She had always been quite money-conscious and diligent with part-time work.
Having money opened up many possibilities.
And besides—
‘There was an item that increases mana…’