Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 012
Chapter Title: The Mayor's Proposal
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Before that, I tested Byeon Jeong-tae once more, this time in a softer tone.
"Is that so? It seems like the mayor has something else entirely in mind for our chat."
But Byeon Jeong-tae, the branch chief listening to me, didn't agree so readily.
"How often do you get a meeting where both sides share the same goal?"
If you're lucky, both walk away happy. More often, just one gets what they want. And if luck's really against you, neither does.
"We can't keep the mayor waiting. Before that, mind if I take your business card?"
He didn't seem like a bad guy. Sure, he could be rotten to the core despite the smooth talk... but you'd only find out through experience.
"Ah, the business card."
Byeon Jeong-tae rummaged in his pocket and handed one over.
"Thanks. You have my contact, right? If you ever feel like working together, give me a call anytime."
Now, time to meet the Incheon mayor. I was curious what kind of man he was. While the car rolled along, I pulled out my smartphone and looked up the current mayor of Incheon.
"We've arrived. Incheon City Hall."
As I stepped out, a group of people was waiting up ahead.
"First time meeting you. I'm Lee Pil-je, the Communications Liaison Officer."
"Yoo Chan-seok."
The mayor was waiting in his office, they said.
"The mayor's been looking forward to this meeting. I got the report at dawn and nearly freaked out myself."
Lee Pil-je said with a chuckle, lowering his voice.
"He even canceled his entire morning schedule."
"Really? He could've taken it slow. It's not like I did anything that groundbreaking."
He made a tsk sound at my words and waved his hand dismissively.
"Don't say that. A rookie hunter soloing an Erosion Core—and a Grade 3 at that? There's only been one precedent like it in history."
Yeah, figures. Without Paradox Flame's unique properties, that core would've been beyond me alone. And one precedent? That guy's the real monster.
They're really hyping me up. I had my guesses about why, but I'd only know for sure after meeting the mayor.
"Goodness, you must be tired from the long trip."
The door opened as we entered. A middle-aged man in a suit, who'd been working at his desk, stood up with a smile and extended his hand.
"I'm Park Geon, mayor of Incheon."
"Yoo Chan-seok."
"Come, have a seat and let's talk."
He gestured to a spot on the sofa for me.
"Get us some coffee here."
Lee Pil-je left to prepare it at Park Geon's request.
"You've done a huge service for the nation this time, Hunter Yoo Chan-seok. I canceled everything and waited as soon as I got the report."
I gave a simple reply to the mayor's words.
"Everyone's praising me so much, it's honestly leaving me a bit dazed."
He burst out laughing. "Kahat-hat!"
"As Incheon's mayor, Gyodongdo was nothing but a thorn in my side. We had to deal with it, but mobilizing a bunch of hunters felt like too much hassle."
"Glad it got handled this time. Solved the problem at a fraction of the cost."
Park Geon nodded at my words.
"Securing citizens' safety is cause for real joy. Looks like my eyes didn't fail me."
"Hunter Lee Se-eun gave me the chance, so that's a relief."
Park Geon nodded right away.
"Zanabi LLC has made monumental contributions to defending Korea's Erosion Zones. Hunter Lee Se-eun is one of its pillars—and a sturdy wall protecting the nation."
He clapped once with a sharp smack.
"But this isn't about praising her efforts."
Park Geon fixed his gaze on me after speaking.
"I arranged this meeting for several reasons, but first off—I hear this was your debut request, Hunter Yoo Chan-seok."
"Yes, it was."
He hummed thoughtfully and nodded.
"For someone like you to emerge in Korea amid such tough times—it's a great blessing for the country. And that your first feat happened in Incheon? As mayor, I'm proud."
His eyes gleamed as he finished.
"I have no doubt you can handle even greater things. I know how harsh and rugged the hunter's path can be."
As if you know, when you've never tried it yourself.
He stood and stared at the Incheon city map on the wall.
"The safest country in the world: the Republic of Korea. And here's Incheon. It's always had top-notch infrastructure like Incheon Airport."
Incheon Airport had become one of Korea's key hubs for endless logistics.
"On top of that, the Free Economic Zone projects have foreigners lining up to invest in places like Songdo and Cheongna—too many to pick from."
Despite the original intent, it had devolved into foreigners basically buying Korean permanent residency by pouring in cash.
"It's been seven years since gold was the only currency with credit surpassing the Korean won."
Erosion Zones had flipped the world upside down, and the economy was no exception.
One single nation completely free of that threat. The immense credibility from that title naturally extended to Korea's currency.
You could even use Korean won directly abroad without exchange, no issues.
"The massive funds flowing into our international cities, the goods shipped through the airport."
He stroked the map once more before turning to me.
"I can help smooth out your path as a hunter, Yoo Chan-seok."
"In return, I'd have to do something for you."
I leaned back against the sofa and said it plainly after he finished.
"Re-election?"
From what I'd looked up, Park Geon's term ended early next year. And the consensus was that re-election looked unlikely.
He chuckled and glanced out the window.
"Straight to the point, eh? Truth is, Incheon City Hall's approval wasn't strictly necessary for that request."
With the city's permit, I—who aced the Gyodongdo mission—could be framed as Park Geon's discovery.
Basically, tying me in and handing me a spoon at his laid-out table.
"Thanks to our international cities and airport infrastructure, as Incheon's mayor, I maintain ties with plenty of overseas and domestic companies."
He fiddled with his watch as he continued.
"Those firms often need hunters to protect their assets."
"You gonna introduce me?"
Park Geon nodded.
"Recommending the unskilled is trouble, but giving wings to the proven? No sin in that."
The door opened mid-conversation, and two cups of coffee were set down. Along with a box of mix coffee packs, for some reason.
Park Geon smiled and pointed at the box, featuring a pretty woman printed on it.
"A hunter with an exclusive contract for this brand. Someone I'm on close terms with."
He plopped back onto the sofa and added,
"Her contract's nearly up. I could introduce you—and you'd probably end up on the next boxes."
I sipped my coffee with a smile as I listened.
"I get the picture on your influence, Mayor. Impressive."
"A public endorsement might look too political. I just want to show some friendly ties."
Park Geon, flaunting his connection to a super rookie who soloed a Grade 3 Erosion Core.
That painted a nice picture. But the problem was... I turned to him.
"Guess I come off cheaper than I thought."
"Pardon?"
I set down my cup and said,
"Anything Mayor Park Geon can do for me, I can handle solo."
In simple terms, he was rushing it.
"The Gyodongdo Erosion Core was cleared last night. And here I am, meeting you alone this morning."
The value of what I did showed in others' reactions.
"Lately, the news is full of gloomy forecasts."
Would they just let a guy like me—who popped up amid all this—run free in Korea?
"The world needs a fresh face to shake up this drab mood."
And I'd dropped from the sky, smashing a Grade 3 that normally takes 10-15 hunters.
"What you're offering, Mayor Park Geon? I'd grab it naturally if I keep hunting."
Taking credit for that? A bit much.
"I can select safe, high-paying requests just for you, Hunter Yoo Chan-seok. I even have intel we don't share with other hunters."
"Not interested."
Reputation isn't built on handouts. You take the hard jobs, deliver, and earn respect.
I glanced at my coffee and smiled after speaking.
"That hunter with the brand deal's lucky. Looks like she can renew now."
An indirect way of saying I had no interest in working with you.
"It was a pleasure meeting. Staying up all night on the hunt's got me beat. Hope we cross paths again sometime."
I stood to leave the office after my farewell.
"Other hunters would jump at this chance without a second thought. You might regret it later."
"That a threat? Sure sounds like one to me."
Park Geon didn't respond. I pressed on.
"Some have told me I'll regret it down the line. But without fail, they ended up the ones regretting it."
He replied,
"To me, Hunter Yoo Chan-seok, it sounds more like a threat from you."
"Good to hear."
It was. And what're you gonna do about it?
I opened the door and left without waiting for more.
In a dark alley, a hooded man leaned against the damp wall.
"Results?"
"Sorry."
The reporting man avoided saying "failure" outright.
"Can't be helped."
"But there's good news too."
The reporter handed his smartphone to the hooded man with both hands, like offering tribute to an emperor.
"What's this?"
"You should take a look. It's footage from the Hunter Association qualification exam."
The hooded man reviewed it.
"..."
A man taking the hunter qualification exam was sparring with Lee Se-eun—one of Korea's pillar hunters defending Erosion Zones.
"Impressive."
The reporter nearly looked up. Praise from this man who took him in rarely went beyond "good work" or "you tried."
"That good?"
From him, "impressive"?
"Good news indeed. Especially since it's been coming up more."
"Yes, they seemed keen to hold off tests amid this mess."
The tests' purpose? Even the Korean government saw the need. But with Erosion Zones threatening the economy, they were a burden.
"The test failure caused the Gyodongdo Alpha to balloon into a Grade 3 Erosion Core. This Yoo Chan-seok cleared it—his very first request."
A smile crept onto the hooded man's lips.