Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Government Deals and Jin-ah's Temptation
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Kim Jin-ah had come to visit.
I'd already heard the rough details from Hanna.
"Someone from the government stopped by?"
Previously, the guy had bragged nonstop about being sent by the president, so I'd roughed him up a bit. Now it seemed he'd reported back to his superiors at the presidential office.
It was a welcome development.
"So he wants to meet? When?"
"They said anytime if you wish, Mr. Park. Also, Flame Guild Master Flame Emperor Kwak Sang-hyun wishes to see you."
"Why him?"
"I suspect it's about the Jeju Island incident."
The Jeju Island raid had been temporarily suspended.
The Flame Guild had frantically insisted it wasn't their fault.
They even released footage showing they hadn't touched anything.
It showed an egg cracking open, a monster emerging, and flying straight into the sky.
It was unusually hatched from an egg.
The silver lining was that it wasn't an A-rank dimensional rift.
Whether it was meant to hatch anyway or was triggered by the Flame Guild's approach—who could say.
If it was simply time for it to hatch, then it was like a ripe persimmon falling into their lap; the guild had every reason to feel wronged.
But the truth didn't matter.
In the wake of that disaster, they were already branded as sinners.
Public opinion overwhelmingly blamed them for poking around Jeju Island and unleashing a monster.
That said, the backlash wasn't as fierce as one might expect.
For one, their guild master was one of the only four A-rank Awakeners in the country.
Hammering them too hard risked driving him overseas, which would be a massive blow.
And their massive investment in recovery funds had helped smooth things over to some extent.
Dealing with celebrities and Awakeners was no joke.
Still, I couldn't fathom why he wanted to see me.
Bottom line: I'd cleaned up the mess he'd made, so maybe he wanted to offer some thanks?
'If he just slips me some cash, I'll be satisfied.'
Things had been noisy enough around me lately; I was sick of it.
And he wasn't some pretty girl—just an old guy I had zero interest in meeting.
"Should I meet him?"
"You could skip Flame Emperor Kwak Sang-hyun, but meeting the chief of staff at least once would be wise."
Fair enough. Unless I planned on turning villain, it made sense to take whatever perks the government offered.
That meant showing my face and hashing things out.
"When does he want to meet?"
"They said they'll come whenever you call."
"Anytime?"
"Yes. You could even summon him here if you wished."
Still, I didn't want some stranger invading this private space of mine.
"Fine. Strike while the iron's hot—let's meet him now with Hanna."
Handling it alone would be a hassle and exhausting.
Conveniently, I had someone who could assist.
I planned to give her some guidelines and let her take over.
At the company, Hanna greeted me with a beaming smile and lavish hospitality.
"Welcome to our humble abode, esteemed guest."
I spotted a tidy middle-aged man in gold-rimmed glasses in the reception room.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Im Jae-won, chief of staff to the president."
This guy was the president's chief of staff.
"Park Un-ho."
I had no intention of dragging this out.
And it wasn't like I was desperate enough to squeeze every last drop from him.
The more perks I took, the more obligations piled up.
If I accepted S-rank benefits, I couldn't just ditch everything and slack off.
If that wasn't my style, I could always decline.
But those benefits were too good to pass up.
Especially this one—I couldn't let it go.
No beating around the bush; I cut straight to it.
"Tax exemption, right?"
"Pardon?"
Tax-free status was standard for S-rank Heroes in other countries.
"What, no good?"
"Ah, no. Yes. Of course it's possible."
The chief of staff looked stunned by my blunt fastball but gave the affirmative.
There were probably other perks, but I didn't know the details.
For someone raking in cash like me, nothing beat tax exemption.
Especially with the A-rank monster corpse from this haul—its value would be insane.
The more you earned, the fatter the tax bill.
So tax-free was non-negotiable.
And I wanted to minimize my commitments as much as possible.
"I'll handle any missions you deem too dangerous."
"Ah... yes."
That was standard anywhere.
No country would lavish perks on an S-rank just to hold onto them without promising protection in crises.
And those crises didn't come every meal—one a year was a lot.
I had no interest in meddling otherwise.
Hunting efficiency in this world was too low to keep me motivated anyway.
"Discuss the rest with CEO Hanna."
"Pardon?"
I'd briefed Hanna in advance.
Wasting time haggling minutiae with this middle-aged guy was beneath me.
Showing up in person also signaled that I was empowering her to negotiate.
It carried more weight than a phone call.
"Don't skimp, and I won't go anywhere. No need to worry."
I wasn't patriotic, but sticking to familiar turf was comfy enough.
The chief of staff sat there dumbfounded, unable to get a word in.
No clue what he'd expected, but his face alone killed any desire to chat longer.
"Well, I'll be off then. Take good care of him, CEO Hanna."
"Leave it to me."
"Wait just a—"
The chief of staff tried calling after me, but I ignored him.
With that, I'd said my piece, handed off to Hanna, and bounced.
I rode in the back of the luxury sedan the company provided, heading home.
Kim Jin-ah was driving.
The sun was setting...
With nothing to say to her, I silently gazed at the sunset scenery blurring past the window.
"Have you eaten, sir?"
She broke the silence first.
"Me? Not yet... gotta grab something."
"......Care to join me for dinner?"
"........What......did you say?"
"I said I'd treat you to a meal."
Kim Jin-ah—who'd never budged no matter how much I'd flirted—was inviting me first. S-rank perks were real.
I wasn't that easy a guy...
Actually, yeah I was.
"Dinner sounds great."
A meal with a beauty was always welcome.
".........I'll guide you."
Kim Jin-ah led me to a hotel restaurant.
'A hotel? Does this mean I can get my hopes up?'
Excitement bubbled up.
And the place was already reserved.
'Hm... She figured I wouldn't say no?'
She'd seen how weak I was for beauties; predicting that wasn't hard.
Her plan was working like a charm.
'She must have something to say.'
I sliced into the neatly plated steak.
"Do I appeal to you?"
Kim Jin-ah was direct, so I answered honestly.
"Yeah... you do."
"I'm......not pretty. Even so, is that okay?"
She was a beauty.
'No self-awareness?'
Not as flashy as Hanna.
But that neat bob haircut reaching her neck.
Sharp, alluring eyes without double eyelids.
She had that classic, refined Eastern beauty vibe.
"You're a beauty."
"Me.......you mean?"
Her face flushed—maybe from the wine, maybe my praise.
Either way, it was cute.
"Weren't you interested in the CEO?"
"I am."
Hanna was a beauty too.
Denying it would've been a lie.
My frank reply left a flicker of bewilderment on Kim Jin-ah's face, but she sighed and got to the point.
"......Sigh......What a foolish question. I want to tie you to the company."
There it was.
'Knew it. But Hanna didn't put her up to it.'
They clearly trusted each other deeply.
She had an agenda, but that didn't bother me.
"I don't plan on being tied down."
No matter how good the girl, I hated being bound.
That was why I'd soloed as a Non-Awakened Hunter, scraping by as a Herbalist.
"As expected. Are you thinking of leaving the company?"
"Eh... not really right now..."
Who knew what the future held.
Honestly, I was content with the status quo.
My relationship with the company wasn't bad.
They'd mostly been the ones serving me, so they'd be fools to complain.
Now that I was officially S-rank, going solo or starting something might net bigger gains.
But that assumed I'd hustle.
And I had zero intention of that.
"So you're fine with how things are?"
"Yeah. Keep it up like this, and barring something crazy, nothing changes.... If Jin-ah puts in a little effort, I might even grow more attached?"
Seizing the chance, I subtly pitched myself.
"Sigh......You're impossible."
"So?"
Jin-ah nodded faintly, her cheeks tinged pink—embarrassed, maybe.
'Did she just......say yes?'
"What if I pretend I don't know you after?"
I could technically hit it and quit it.
"Then nothing to be done. I'd blame my own judgment."
She was offering herself up for her goal.
I wasn't some saint; I didn't care.
If she became my woman, I'd naturally pay more heed to her requests.
Either way, I inwardly cheered.
I shoveled the rest of the meat into my mouth and headed to the hotel room with Jin-ah.