Chapter 199
Chapter 199
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 199
Chapter Title: Potential Allies
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Now that Jo Won-hoon has openly announced that "South Korea has received a love call from the Erosion Cores," how many options do we really have left?
Actually, quite a few. We hadn't completely ruled out the possibility of him pulling something like this.
"What are we gonna do from here?"
At Jeong O-hoon's question, Han Sang-ah spoke up before I could.
"Announcements like that always split people into two camps: those who stand to gain from it and those who lose out."
I nodded at Han Sang-ah's words.
"And if we rephrase the ones who lose out from President Jo Won-hoon's announcement..."
Han Sang-ah took a sip of her hot chocolate and replied to me.
"Our side."
Clean and simple. At least for now, that makes them our allies.
"Who do you think would be getting worried after President Jo Won-hoon's statement?"
Jeong O-hoon seemed to have caught on now. Arms crossed, he answered right away.
"People who don't want the current situation to change. In other words, the big-shot hunters doing well right now."
"And the scrap dealers,"
Han Sang-ah added.
"Among the companies, the ones relying on hunters won't like President Jo Won-hoon's move either."
After going around in circles, just like Han Sang-ah said... all those people could potentially become our allies.
"Including Wonder Club, pretty much all the top hunter companies in Korea are a safe bet, right?"
"Yeah."
There's plenty of value in reaching out.
If they refuse, oh well. But if they don't, we could end up like with Gonzalo—good friends again, working together beautifully for our mutual benefit.
I contacted Choi Yeo-reum first.
— Sounds good.
I hadn't even said anything yet, but she shot back an answer immediately.
"I haven't even told you what I wanted yet."
— I know what you're gonna say. That crazy bastard President Jo Won-hoon. Daring to touch my rice bowl? Our interests align, and our skills are already proven. No reason not to team up.
As expected from someone who handled diplomacy in Seonhyeon, her situational awareness was spot on.
She clearly understood that if she didn't act fast now, she'd go from a powerful, thriving hunter to just another nobody.
— After all the hell I went through to climb this high. You think I'm gonna let some washed-up old geezer spout off to the press and wipe it all away?
Choi Yeo-reum's fighting spirit was overflowing. The more you have to lose, the greater the fear of it slipping away.
I didn't even need to persuade her. This time, with the foundations of all her rice bowls under direct attack, she was more than eager to cooperate fully.
Next was Seong Si-hoon. His reaction was much the same. The only difference was that he seemed to hesitate a bit.
But in the end, I got his commitment to cooperate.
"Choi Yeo-reum and Seong Si-hoon... our first meetings with them weren't great."
Somehow, our interests kept aligning, pulling us into working together. Well, there's no such thing as eternal enemies or allies in this world.
"Zanabi next."
At my words, Han Sang-ah waved her phone.
"They called you while you were on another line, so they hit me up. Asked if everything's okay and said to let them know if we need help."
Great people, seriously. Unless we're about to commit mass murder, we can always count on Lee Se-eun's help.
"As for the companies..."
Sandra & Gupta and Geumyang Group are locks. And Sa Seung-hee's support goes without saying.
If Korea makes a non-aggression pact with the monsters, her personal revenge goes completely down the drain.
Beyond that, the three of us busily made calls, poking at others chained to the same interests as us.
"Bottom line, it's not a huge number."
Han Sang-ah said, checking the chart she'd put together.
"But it's not exactly small either."
"Size is relative," Han Sang-ah replied to Jeong O-hoon. "You have to evaluate it in context. Plenty of people are tempted by the idea that Korea could enjoy permanent peace."
Simply put, it's about a 3-to-7 ratio.
I couldn't say it's precise, but roughly 70% of South Korea hopes we fail to take down Shadei Club.
"Public opinion's gonna suck."
"Eh, public opinion flips fast."
I told you—don't take it too seriously when people praise you as heroes they'll remember forever.
Anyone who truly buys into that ends up regretting it big time.
"Shadei Club, huh. We were gonna do it anyway."
I hadn't expected this forced deadline, though. On the bright side, it means we get to knock out something we had to do anyway that much faster.
"What about your promise to my grandfather?"
"We keep it. That's priority one."
It's what we have to do. The moment we succeed in raiding Shadei Club, we expose Blue Wrench's black ore smuggling and their ties to the Korean government at the same time.
That'll drag Jo Won-hoon down from the presidency.
"Schedule's gonna be insanely tight."
I clicked my tongue at Jeong O-hoon's words.
"Like we ever had a leisurely time clearing Erosion Cores."
It's just the usual packed schedule, same as always.
"President Jo Won-hoon will pay for his bad choice."
Just like always. We gave him a chance—he blew it. No mercy for second ones.
"We'll be landing in Korea soon."
Time to meet Han Sang-cheol and Shuriya right away. Time's short, so no wasting a single second.
"...See? I love this about people."
The first thing we saw upon arriving in Korea was a picket sign reading "Naga."
I really do love this about people. They're selfish. And I adore that.
Selfishness is what brought human civilization this far, shaping the Earth I so desperately wanted to return to.
And right now, that same selfishness is pouring out as hatred and anger toward us.
"Ignore it."
I brushed it off. Public opinion sways like reeds in the wind anyway.
In the end, all we have to do is smash Shadei Club in Israel. Then opinion flips back to cheers of "You guys are our heroes after all!"
And strictly speaking, that wasn't hatred or anger aimed at us.
It was just hope that Korea might become totally safe, mixed with fear that we could ruin it—expressed as hate and rage.
"Can we pull this off?"
"Yeah, we can. We're super capable."
No need to dwell on the downer stuff. And it's not like I'm lying.
"Think simple. Head to Israel, rip off the monsters' heads, chow down the Erosion Core. Same old."
"Plus, you'll achieve your goal too."
"Right."
Han Sang-ah agreed immediately. As we talked, we gazed at the banners hanging everywhere like artwork.
Some said get out now, but others read things like "We remember your hard work."
"Not everyone hates us."
"Impossible to be hated by all."
Even that infamous Hitler has crazy fans. No matter how many hate us, we can't get everyone.
Besides, it's not like we haven't done anything for Korea. Far from it.
We've done so much that "not nothing" doesn't even cover it.
Point is, some want us gone ASAP... others think kicking us out is too much, forming divided opinions.
And they're fighting among themselves over it. No need to care. It'll sort itself once we wreck Shadei Club and come back.
We headed straight to Geumyang Group's headquarters to meet Han Sang-cheol and Shuriya.
"Media's in a frenzy, people's going nuts."
At Han Sang-cheol's words, I got right to it.
"We need some help."
"Can't exactly say no in this situation. What?"
I said in a smooth tone,
"Spread a rumor that hunter associations from the UK, China, US, etc., have made contact with Headhunter."
Han Sang-cheol gave a curt reply to my request.
"Looks like they've got a viper farm in their belly."
"They love kicking us out themselves, but hate losing us to someone else."
Han Sang-cheol pondered my words before speaking.
"Could backfire and paint you as traitors."
"We haven't done anything. It's just that foreign hunter associations reached out to us first."
And it's all a "rumor." Media and papers love that stuff.
Take it or leave it.
Oh, suddenly craving some king-size castella cake.
Anyway.
"Since we didn't initiate contact, no reason for backlash."
But suddenly shoving us out like this—doesn't that feel like a waste? That's the thought we plant.
Han Sang-cheol, who'd been listening, spoke up.
"One question."
"Yes, I'm listening."
Han Sang-cheol poured a glass of water and said,
"Why aren't you actually planning to leave Korea?"
I gave Han Sang-cheol an incredulous look.
"Where's better to live than Korea right now?"
"Doesn't feel like that's the reason."
I wiped the playful grin off my face and said,
"If Korea falls, it's game over."
Not saying Korea's doing great. But it's the focal point—that's fact.
If Korea crumbles now, Earth is done. Go elsewhere and wait for the next chance?
No next chance.
"All those other countries trash-talking Korea? None really want it to collapse."
They know their end comes right after. Nothing left.
No matter how much the world denies it, most hope hinges on Korea now.
"Building a base elsewhere? How many years would that take?"
And that's not all.
"How much time does Earth have left?"
We saw what Gonzalo was prepping in Seonhyeon while Korea slacked off.
Uncertainties: years to rebuild elsewhere, time till Earth ends.
Nothing known.
No house? Build one. But got one? No need to ditch it and start over.
"Fixing the crazy parts while doing what needs doing here is way faster than starting from scratch elsewhere."
That's why we're here. More efficient. Build a new house, or patch the leaky roof?