Chapter 69
Chapter 69
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: An Unconventional Boss
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I grumbled about how those businesspeople should just work together, but Nova said they were practically on the same side.
Meanwhile, Haon was working to make the "Eun Haon Gang's" headquarters and District 1 a little more livable.
A warehouse surrounded by large steel racks was converted into a charging station and storage for the Dudus, and the main headquarters building was turned into something resembling a community center.
She made it so that if the residents of District 1 had any inconveniences or suggestions, they could bring them to a counter on the first floor of the community center.
The Dudus would handle anything that could be dealt with immediately.
The rest of the space was mostly empty, and an office for Haon, Nova, Chacha, and Bani was set up on the top floor, though she wasn't sure if they would ever use it.
Bani, who had been looking around the building, let out a small sigh.
“I knew you were a genius, but… being smart is really cool. I wish I'd studied more.”
“You still can. Are there no schools in the Old District?”
“There are, but not in District 1. And you can barely call them schools.”
At those words, Haon sat up.
In this dimension, compulsory education only went up to elementary school.
Starting from middle school, it cost a considerable amount of money, so most people either took out student loans or dropped out.
Hadn't Bani said that after graduating from elementary school, she had nothing else she could do, so she followed her cat burglar father around, robbing empty houses?
Haon thought for a moment before asking.
“Bani. Do you want to study, by any chance?”
“It's not exactly that, but… I feel like it would be good to learn a little more about something.”
Mumbling, Bani fiddled with her bun hairstyle, looking embarrassed.
“It's weird for a kid who used to rob houses to say something like this, isn't it? I feel weird, too.”
“It's not weird.”
“R-Really?”
Seeing Bani's hesitation, Haon made up her mind.
'I should set up an academy on one of the empty floors of the community center. I'll make a few educational cranes and teach everything up to the high school level.'
The desire to learn was a natural thing for anyone to have.
She hoped that Bani and the children here would realize that.
Just then, Blue flew a circle around the office.
[Haon. A Dudu says you have visitors.]
“Who is it?”
[The ever-welcome guest and the hero River have requested a meeting.]
“...!”
Haon gasped and scrambled to her feet.
She had heard from Nova and Chacha that Hero Headquarters would come to assess the situation, but she hadn't expected Juyeol to show up.
“Tell the Dudu to bring them both here.”
[Understood!]
Blue fluttered back and landed on Haon's shoulder.
“Bani. Do you want to go to your room? It must be uncomfortable meeting heroes, right?”
“No. I'll stay here.”
With a determined expression, Bani pulled a chair up behind Haon and sat down.
“Huh? Are you sure?”
“I'm an executive in the Eun Haon Gang, too.”
She said it so seriously that Haon had to suppress a laugh and just nodded.
Soon, a Dudu brought the two heroes up.
When the door opened and Juyeol walked in, Haon was overcome by a very strange feeling.
To think she was facing him not as his engineer, but as the boss of District 1. Her heart pounded at the sound of his approaching footsteps.
She hadn't done anything wrong, yet a wave of nervousness washed over her, making her hands turn cold.
“J-Juyeol. Hi. Welcome, River.”
“...”
Before Juyeol and River could reply, the excited mechanical hamster made a grand entrance.
[Ttiyong is here, too!]
Haon's expression brightened instantly.
“Ttiyong! Hi. Are you broken anywhere?”
[I'm sturdy!]
“That's a relief.”
Haon patted Ttiyong's hard head before gesturing to the seats across from her.
“Both of you, sit here. What do I need to do?”
Juyeol scanned the colorful and cozy office before taking a seat.
River stood behind him, her hand resting naturally near the weapons on her hip.
“...”
“...”
As Haon floundered in the awkward atmosphere, Juyeol rubbed the bridge of his nose and spoke first.
“I don't know how much you've been told, but when a new boss takes over in the Old District, we have to meet once a week for a while.”
“A meeting… once a week?”
“Yes. You don't have a choice, even if you don't like it…”
He was explaining it matter-of-factly but trailed off. Haon's face was overflowing with unconcealed delight and anticipation.
“I-I don't dislike it. I'm happy about it.”
“...”
“Does that mean we can see each other every week?”
“...”
“O-Or not…?”
Juyeol's gaze wavered as he looked at Haon, then he averted his eyes.
Juyeol gnawed on his lip before finally managing to speak.
“I'll be coming every week for the time being. Today, I'm just here to assess the size of your gang.”
“What do I need to tell you?”
“The total number of gang members, what kind of business you're considering, and whether you'll properly attend the regular bosses' meetings. You just have to answer things like that.”
“Do the other bosses share that kind of information with Headquarters?”
“Of course. They don't want heroes raiding them without warning. If you want to collect protection money here without any trouble, you'll cooperate.”
“I don't really want to collect it…”
Haon muttered, her eyes suddenly gleaming.
“If I don't answer, will I not be able to collect protection money? Then I'd be forced not to collect it, so would the other district bosses leave me alone?”
“...?”
Juyeol stared at a spot on the ceiling for a moment before letting out a deep sigh.
“Don't complicate things. Just collect it.”
“Okay.”
Haon nodded with a disappointed look, then tentatively asked.
“Do you want to see how District 1 is changing? I can give you a tour.”
“...Fine.”
At the delayed reply, Haon stood up, eager to go immediately.
River, who had already surveyed some of District 1 with him, looked at Juyeol in disbelief.
He paid her no mind and spoke nonchalantly.
“Also, I understand there are some smuggled goods that haven't been dealt with yet.”
“How did you know about that?”
As Haon's eyes widened, River muttered, "Oh, right," and answered.
“One of Cue's subordinates was getting paid to report back to Headquarters. We need to check on that today, too.”
“Reporting to Headquarters…?”
Recalling Cue's subordinates with a sour expression, Haon thought she had made the right decision not to accept them into her gang.
* * *
Haon and Juyeol walked through District 1, which was much cleaner than before.
River went with Chacha and Bani to the container warehouse where Cue's goods were stored, and Nova, who had gone to organize the containers at the dock, hadn't returned yet.
“I'm thinking of painting a crosswalk here, too. Since it leads to the shopping district—”
While Haon gave a tour of District 1 with Blue, Juyeol eyed the mechanical cranes suspiciously.
“Those machines won't kill people, will they?”
“Of course not. The Dudus subdue violent people, but they never kill them. Ttiyong is the same.”
'That thing looks like it could kill someone.'
Juyeol swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue and glanced down at the mechanical hamster trotting after them.
It was the kind of creature that would roll into a ball and slam into a villain's foot or headbutt their forehead.
It wasn't nicknamed the 'murder hamster' for nothing.
“Oh, Doctor!”
Just then, a middle-aged woman ran out of a bakery, her face lighting up.
“M-Ma'am! Hello.”
“Are you doing your rounds through the neighborhood again today?”
“Yes. Someone from Hero Headquarters is here for an inspection.”
“Oh my…”
Only then did the woman realize the large man standing next to Haon was Ghost, and she recoiled in surprise.
“It's okay. He's big and scowling, but he's a good kid.”
“...?”
“...?”
Juyeol and the woman both looked dumbfounded, but Haon seemed to be serious.
“I-I suppose so? Since he's a hero.”
The woman, exercising the social skills of a small business owner, forced a smile and handed Haon a paper bag.
“Here, try this. It's a freshly baked loaf of bread.”
“Oh. You don't have to give me this. Thank you. I'll enjoy it.”
Haon, looking a bit awkward, gently held the still-warm paper bag and bowed her head deeply.
Since it was unheard of for a district boss and residents to be on such friendly terms, Juyeol wondered what was going on.
He assumed she had just become particularly close with the bakery owner, but that was only the beginning.
As they explored District 1 with Haon as their guide, person after person greeted her and gave her things.
People even made impromptu civil complaints just because they ran into the district boss on the street.
“Doctor. Could you extend the community center's hours? It's closed by the time I get back from work.”
“Ah! That makes sense. I'll extend the operating hours by two hours.”
He couldn't tell if she was a community center employee or a gang boss.
The residents of District 5 were friendly toward Weaver, but not to this extent.
Even if she had lost her memories, Dr. Eun Haon was a notoriously infamous figure, so it was astonishing that this was even possible.
“That witch!”
Just then, an indignant shout rang out.
“You think it's all fine just because you can't remember? You think that makes your hands clean?”
A man stood with clenched fists, openly expressing his hatred.
Haon looked at him with a startled expression, then lowered her head slightly.
“Ah, hello.”