Recruiting a Hacker
He'd done enough.
He'd taken care of Mitanu, turned his master-rank awakener cronies into mana rejectors to hobble their movements, and disbanded the capital defense command.
Before heading back to the Samhan Empire, Taeju met separately with the resistance leader, Ma Woongsan.
"Let's make just one promise. The MRC treatment..."
"We'll normalize it. For those who need it, at the set price."
"Good. I hope it really happens that way."
And one more thing.
"You know who I am, but keep my visit here a secret. Make sure your comrades keep their mouths shut too."
"I won't tell a soul."
"And we'll say Mitanu fled overseas after being chased out by the revolutionary forces. But he won't be coming back. Ever."
"Ah! Yes, sir."
"Anything else you need...?"
Ma Woongsan replied with a resolute expression.
"This is more than enough. From now on, we have to spill our own blood and fight. That's the only way we'll win true freedom."
Taeju nodded.
Judging by his face, he'd manage.
It wouldn't be easy, of course.
How could anyone excise a cancerous military dictatorship that had taken deep root overnight?
Still, he'd done plenty.
He'd crushed the military's heads and neutralized their core forces.
And above all, money.
Even a revolution needed funds.
The assets in Mitanu's secret vault would more than fill the resistance's gaps.
Taeju had gained something too.
A laptop and a deep web access device from the secret room in the bastard's vault.
Mitanu had probably used them for illegal MRC resales.
Through the countless brokers and contractors active on the deep web.
Truth be told, illegal MRC dealings were nothing.
Even a quick scan of the posts revealed content that would enrage heaven and earth.
'I'm no vigilante...'
But having seen it, he couldn't just look away.
Not if he was human.
Time to head to the Samhan Empire.
Stop by New Seoul before Gurye.
New Seoul.
The moment Igor Baranov heard Taeju was visiting the Leaders Club, he bolted to the lobby like a shot.
"Chairman!!!"
It was an overly effusive welcome, almost burdensome.
"We've been waiting endlessly for your visit."
"Been a while, huh? I've been swamped. Oh, dues time again, right?"
"Dues? How could I ever charge you? You're a lifetime free member, Chairman. Just don't quit on us."
Kim Taeju, diamond member of the Leaders Club.
Igor was reaping the full benefits of that halo effect.
Just having Taeju as a member had cemented the Leaders Club's status as the ultimate luxury spot.
Even inquiries from abroad were pouring in.
It was evolving into a global social club.
In this situation, what dues?
He'd have to pay Igor to accept them.
"Um... I hate to bother you, but could I ask for a quick autograph?"
"Autograph?"
"Something like, 'Wishing infinite prosperity to the Leaders Club.' As big as possible, with your personal signature. Haha."
He'd clearly planned ahead—ink, brush, and a huge sheet of paper ready.
"...That's a pretty big sheet."
"I'll treasure it forever."
Probably planning to hang it somewhere prominent.
Like the lobby.
It wasn't hard, so no reason to refuse.
Taeju dipped the brush in ink and dashed off the characters in one fluid stroke.
Finally, his signature: Taehong Bio, Kim Taeju.
"My, what calligraphy. Is there anything you can't do?"
It was worthy of the praise.
In the murim world, Dang Gunak's handwriting was renowned even among literati.
Well, it was a skill Taeju had absorbed automatically through their soul link.
Right then.
"Nyaaaa..."
Ilbaek stirred in Taeju's coat pocket, poking his head out at the commotion.
"Oh!"
Igor's eyes widened in delight.
"The famous cat."
"...You know about him?"
"Of course. Your companion pet, right?"
The little guy had gotten pretty famous too.
Ilbaek hopped out, sniffing curiously at the ink scent.
Something sparked in Igor's eyes.
"How about the cat leaves a mark too?"
"Nyang?"
"Even just a paw print."
"Nyaaaa?"
Ilbaek tilted his head at Igor's words.
Then he dipped a front paw in the inkwell and...
Splat!
Stamped it right next to Taeju's signature like a seal.
He clearly understood what Igor wanted. A spirit beast was still a spirit beast.
"That's your signature?"
"Nyang!"
Taeju glanced at Igor.
"This okay?"
"Hahaha, perfect."
Now for the real business.
Taeju met Igor alone in his office.
"Think you could recruit a hacker for me?"
"Hacker? Computer expert, you mean?"
"Yeah. Someone tight-lipped."
"Hmm."
Igor pondered.
For pure hacking prowess, no one beat the Imperial Intelligence Agency in the empire.
And they were very cooperative with Taeju.
One word from Chairman Kim Taeju, and the whole agency would mobilize.
'But he came to me specifically...'
It probably wasn't exactly legal.
Igor's guess was spot on.
Taeju had no intention of involving the agency.
No matter how cooperative, it was a government organ.
His future moves would involve far more illegal ops than legal ones.
The deep web users weren't ordinary folk.
They could be deep in the Samhan Empire's government, parliament, judiciary—core power structures.
If word leaked that he was probing the deep web, expect tail-cutting and evidence wipes.
Time to secure an independent intel channel.
Someone as good as the agency.
"Black hat okay? Someone who doesn't mind dirty jobs."
"If they're skilled."
"One moment."
Igor pulled a smartphone from his drawer and handed it to Taeju.
"This...?"
"Call that number. Only one saved. Goes by 'DeathDesu.' Money talks, and he'll pull any info."
"Reliable skills?"
"Paranoid to a fault, but the best I know. Mention 'EB' sent you."
DeathDesu?
What a cringey name.
'Meet first, decide later.'
Taeju stepped outside and dialed with Igor's phone.
Ring, ring. Click.
"Hello. ...That you, DeathDesu?"
- Not the phone's owner.
"Got referred."
- By who?
"EB."
- Fine. Address and password in three hours. Spill the job there.
Click!
"Hah, rude prick."
Hung up after saying his piece.
The address from hacker 'DeathDesu' led to a rundown residential area slated for redevelopment—sparse population, an abandoned building's basement room.
Door locked.
Taeju punched in the password sent with the address.
Inside: a single chair in the center, camera facing it.
"What? Empty."
Suddenly!
- Sit in the chair.
A mechanical voice from somewhere in the room.
As Igor said, the guy was paranoid.
Remote handling via camera and speaker, no face-to-face.
Taeju was no different.
Not his real face anyway.
No point showing his true self before confirming the job.
He sat as instructed.
Mechanical voice again.
- What's the job?
Whoosh!
Taeju pulled out Mitanu's laptop.
- Subspace bag? You're loaded.
"Yeah. Money's all I got. Job's hacking this laptop."
- Laptop? ...Hmm, bring it closer to the camera.
Taeju held it forward.
- Sides, back. Open it.
He spun it around, opened it up.
Then.
- Yours?
"Nah."
- Not found, then. Stolen?
"Close enough."
- Ballsy bastard. Hacking a deep web rig—what for?
Rough mouth.
But skilled, clearly.
Knew what it was at a glance.
"Wanna pull deep web intel. And IDs of the operators."
Snicker!
A mocking laugh.
- Then what? Expose 'em?
"None of your business. How much? Name your price."
- Crazy rich prick. Think a deep web rig hacks itself just 'cause you have it? Impossible if it's someone else's.
"So much for top hacker. Disappointing."
- Ignorant fuck. Needs owner's fingerprint, retina, face, even expressions to boot. Gotta turn it on first for any hacking. One wrong auth, and boom—the thing explodes.
"I can handle that."
- You? Then why hire me?
"No hacking skills."
- ...What? Dumbass, fuck off if you're gonna bullshit.
"One question. If I boot it, can you hack?"
- Hahaha, once networked? Guaranteed! But obvious you can't.
"Hmm."
Confidence in the speaker voice.
- Booting that laptop? That's the toughest firewall. No way a punk like you pulls it off. Give up, go home, jack off.
Hah, cocky bastard.
Taeju decided to show him.
How to pass auth.
He'd practiced plenty.
Mitanu's prints, face, eyes, even expressions from videos—perfect replicas.
"Watch."
Shifting,
Taeju's face changed.
Skin tone, eye size, nose height, brows, even a tiny facial scar.
"Like this."
Silence.
Then.
- ...Mitanu of the Burma Republic?
"Sharp eyes."
- Know about the revolution. But you're not him. Spill. Who are you?
"Why tell you? You won't show yourself."
- Fair. Talk's over. Can't trust you, and that face ain't real anyway.
Taeju pondered.
Reveal himself?
Or bail and call in the agency?
- Pussy, that magic artifact won't save you. Get out if you don't wanna die.
No intent to play ball.
No choice.
Agency it was.
Right then!
"Kyaaak!"
Out came Sam-baek.
Mad at the hacker badmouthing Taeju, probably.
"Back in."
"Niang?"
Then.
Urgent voice from the speaker.
- W-wait.
Whirr!
Front camera lens zoomed.
- Th-that cat... n-no way?
What?
- I-is it? ...Looks like. Then?
Why the fuss?
Knew Ilbaek-Sam-baek?
Just a normal-looking cat.
- Ah, um, aaah...
Trembling voice.
- S-sorry, but could you... show true form? P-please.
Speech shifted.
Polite now.
- Please? Need to confirm. I beg you...
"..."
No point hiding now.
Shifting,
Disguise off, true form.
- Eek!
Speaker shrieked.
Crash!
Chair toppling with the scream.
Soon.
- Sh-should've said sooner.
"Huh? You know me...?"
- Of course! You saved my life.
Saved?
- I was a mana rejector. You gave me hope.
"Ah!"
- Wait a sec. I'll come explain in person. Be right there.
Felt like things would work out smooth.
The fearsome might of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
The work site was pacified, no exaggeration.
No one could match that storm-like pace.
Even the Blood Demon strove hard, but wasn't even competition.
And so, a piece of chicken and an ice-cold beer with makgeolli chaser.
'Whew.'
Deep breath.
The Heavenly Demon first sipped the beer cautiously.
Gulp, gulp, gulp.
Adam's apple bobbed; half the 500ml glass vanished in seconds.
Then,
Crunch,
Fried chicken batter shattering under teeth.
A single tear rolled from the Heavenly Demon's eye.
Too delicious.
All the more pathetic.
Heavenly Demon Reborn, All Demons in Mourning.
He who terrified the jianghu.
Now groveling in hell for chicken and beer.
Far off, on the building rooftop, Dang Gunak stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Yeomra, watching.
Utterly mortifying.
From the Multiplex's top floor, Dang Gunak watched the celestial world construction with Yeomra, feeling complex.
"Ho, Dokseon. When you said throw the Heavenly Demon into labor in Avici Hell, I had doubts. But look at him go."
"Yeah, way beyond expectations..."
Dang Gunak gave a wry smile.
What was the Heavenly Demon?
Demolished nearly every orthodox and unorthodox sect, routed imperial armies like weeds, a mere glance birthed mountains of corpses and seas of blood—the demonic cult leader, terror incarnate.
Yet scrambling like that for beer and chicken?
Well,
This wasn't the human realm.
Heavenly Demon or Blood Demon, no matter their demonic mastery, transcendents toyed with them like children.
And the reapers?
Even that sloppy-looking Kangrim was a monster on inspection.
Ten Heavenly Demons wouldn't scratch him.
Yeomra took a deep drag from his cigarette, exhaling smoke.
"Not as good as tobacco, but sweet and tasty."
Dang Gunak's gift: liquid e-cig.
Celestials were smoke-free, but vapes were okayed.
"Phew. Anyway, what's up? I was watching drama—results from the paternity test coming soon. Gotta go."
Why Dang Gunak called Yeomra aside.
It was...
"Great King, there's a Heavenly Peach tree in the inner garden of Peach Blossom Palace where Seowangmo lives, right?"
"There is."
"If... someone stole a peach, what punishment?"
Yeomra's eyes sparkled, staring intently.
"What's the intent behind the question?"
"Just curious."
"Heavenly Peach—not something you'd need, Dokseon. So... haha."
A dry chuckle, then long silence.
Finally.
"Easier to beg forgiveness than permission, as they say. One peach missing won't doom the upper realms."
"Is that so?"
"Hwangcheon backs you."
"...Thanks."
Yeomra met Dang Gunak's eyes before continuing.
"But treasures have owners."
"Owners?"
"Think that monkey punk stole it on his own? Heavenly Peaches are hard to pick without qualification—they choose."
"..."
Yeomra was right.
Jecheon Daeseong stole a Heavenly Peach.
But he fulfilled his destined task, ascending to the Western Paradise.
What about Taeju?
Would he earn a peach's choice in this otherworldly place?
Hacker Recruitment End