MRUCM 06

Chapter 06

*Creak…*

Black sedans came to a halt one after another.

The stillness of the old public apartment complex was shattered.

Car doors opened, and men in suits took their positions.

Soon, the door to the main vehicle opened, and a middle-aged man appeared.

Association President, Go Jin-hyuk.

He walked slowly toward the playground.

Min Seol-hee fidgeted nervously and bowed her head.

“President, for you to come here directly…”

“That’s enough. I’ve already received the situation report.”

Go Jin-hyuk raised his hand to stop her.

His gaze wasn’t on Min Seol-hee, but fixed on one man sitting on a swing.

Baek Gang-jin.

According to the data, he was a missing ordinary civilian.

But in reality, he was a wizard who had instantly melted a Class 7 monster that nearly annihilated Seoul.

*‘I can’t feel… any mana.’*

Go Jin-hyuk clicked his tongue inwardly.

He himself was a former S-rank Hunter.

When the strong meet, they can detect each other’s mana wavelengths just by making eye contact.

But he felt nothing from Baek Gang-jin.

He was as ordinary as a pebble lying by the roadside.

This was one of two things.

Either he was a fraud, or he was a transcendent being beyond even measurement.

Combining the on-site situation and Min Seol-hee’s report, the answer was the latter.

“Are you Mr. Baek Gang-jin?”

Go Jin-hyuk asked politely.

Baek Gang-jin nodded his head.

“Who are you?”

“I am Go Jin-hyuk, President of the Korean Awakened Association.”

“Oh… Is that so?”

Baek Gang-jin’s reply was curt.

Min Seol-hee gasped and swallowed her breath.

Addressing the mighty Association President informally from the very first meeting.

But for Baek Gang-jin, it was only natural.

His resident registration age was mid-30s, but adding the years he’d spent in the other world, he was 152 years old.

The man before him was barely in his fifties.

It would have been stranger for him to use formal language with someone who wasn’t even old enough to be his grandson.

“…I see.”

Go Jin-hyuk didn’t even bat an eyebrow.

Instead, he bowed his head even more politely.

“Welcome back. And I extend my deepest gratitude for saving Seoul.”

“Enough. Just state your business.”

“This isn’t a place to discuss such matters. Please, allow me to escort you.”

Go Jin-hyuk pointed to the limousine behind him.

Baek Gang-jin was about to snort dismissively but paused.

It was because of his nephew beside him.

“…….”

Ha-yoon shivered, clutching her thin clothes tightly.

The night wind was chilly.

Moreover, a faint growl came from her stomach.

It was clear she hadn’t had dinner and had been chased out.

*‘First things first, let’s get her fed.’*

Baek Gang-jin stood up from his seat.

“Fine. But I have conditions.”

“Name them.”

“Prepare a meal. The kid is hungry.”

“Of course. I will take you to the finest establishment in Seoul.”

Go Jin-hyuk smiled and personally opened the car door.

It was an unprecedented level of protocol.

—

A 5-star hotel overlooking the Seoul cityscape.

It was a penthouse said to be accessible only to VVIPs.

The floor was covered in plush carpet, and even the air felt different.

“Wow…”

Ha-yoon’s eyes went wide.

Having lived her whole life in a moldy-wallpapered home, coming to a place like this felt surreal.

“Ms. Ha-yoon, your meal is prepared in the room over there. Please make yourself comfortable.”

The hotel manager guided her politely.

Ha-yoon hesitated and looked at Baek Gang-jin.

“Go eat something. Your uncle has some things to talk about with this gentleman.”

“…Okay. Got it.”

Ha-yoon went inside, leaving only the two men in the living room.

Go Jin-hyuk personally picked up a decanter.

An amber liquid filled the crystal glass.

“Louis XIII Black Pearl Anniversary Edition. I hope it suits your taste.”

“….”

Baek Gang-jin lifted the glass and smelled it.

Not bad.

But it didn’t particularly impress him either.

Compared to the ‘Tears of the Earth’ brewed by the Dwarf King, or the ‘Fairy Wine’ that elves steeped with sap from the World Tree, it was bland.

Those 120 years had even made his palate picky.

“It’s just so-so.”

Baek Gang-jin took a sip and put the glass down.

Go Jin-hyuk’s eyes narrowed.

A bottle worth tens of millions of won, and he called it ‘just so-so.’

*‘It doesn’t seem like a bluff.’*

Baek Gang-jin genuinely looked unimpressed.

Further probing was pointless.

Go Jin-hyuk adjusted his posture.

It was time to get to the main point.

“I heard you’ve returned after 10 years. Where have you been all this time?”

“The other world.”

“Specifically, what kind of—”

“What does it matter? You want to hear war stories?”

Baek Gang-jin chuckled.

It was a cynical response.

“What I did there, what hardships I went through, isn’t important. What matters is that I’m back.”

“…….”

“Stop beating around the bush and get to the point. What do you want from me?”

Baek Gang-jin sank deep into the sofa and crossed his legs.

Truly not an easy opponent.

Go Jin-hyuk swallowed dryly.

The other party already held the reins of this conversation.

“I appreciate your candor. Then, I’ll make my offer directly.”

Go Jin-hyuk placed an envelope on the table.

“First, the process to restore Mr. Baek Gang-jin’s identity is complete. Your death registration has been canceled, and you have regained full citizenship.”

“Quick work.”

“And…”

Go Jin-hyuk pulled out a second document.

“Support for your only blood relative, Baek Ha-yoon. We will guarantee the nation’s best educational environment and safety. All expenses will be borne by the Association.”

“Oh.”

“Additionally, as compensation for the past 10 years of absence, we will provide you with 10 billion won.”

Ten billion won.

It was a fortune that an ordinary person would never see in their lifetime.

But Baek Gang-jin’s expression remained dry.

“That’s quite generous, President?”

“A small token of our sincerity.”

“Hah… There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Especially favors from those in power always come with a price.”

Baek Gang-jin’s eyes glinted coldly.

“So, what’s the price? My freedom? Or my loyalty?”

His words hit home.

Go Jin-hyuk smiled wryly and nodded.

“I won’t deny it. We need Mr. Baek Gang-jin’s power.”

“Why?”

“As you know… the current situation in Korea is not good.”

Go Jin-hyuk turned on a tablet PC and brought up a map.

It was a distribution map of Awakened in Northeast Asia.

“China has five SSS-rank Hunters, including Cheonma. Japan has the Sword Saint holding the fort. Not to mention the US or Europe.”

“…….”

“But Korea is notably lacking in top-tier power. We have a few S-ranks, but we don’t have a single transcendent power that can be called a national-level asset. As a result, we suffer disadvantages at every international meeting and keep losing in Gate ownership disputes.”

Go Jin-hyuk’s voice carried a deep sense of regret.

An era governed by the logic of force.

Without overwhelming military might, a nation becomes a pushover.

“Today’s Teheran-ro incident is the same. If Mr. Baek Gang-jin hadn’t been there, the Gangnam area would have been devastated. There would have been massive casualties.”

“So?”

“Please join our Association.”

Go Jin-hyuk bowed his head.

“We will treat Mr. Baek Gang-jin as the Republic of Korea’s sole SSS-rank Hunter. Your annual salary will be 1 trillion won. We will guarantee all other conveniences and authority.”

One trillion won.

An astronomical sum.

But Baek Gang-jin scoffed.

“One trillion…”

“Is it insufficient? If you wish, we can offer more.”

“No. The amount isn’t the problem.”

Baek Gang-jin tapped his own neck with his finger.

“No matter how high a price you pay, a leash is still a leash in the end.”

“A leash? That’s preposterous. It’s a mutually beneficial partnership.”

“Flowery words.”

Baek Gang-jin stood up.

The night view of Seoul was visible through the window.

Gorgeous lights.

But behind them, a giant gear called the ‘system’ was turning.

“Listen carefully, President. I don’t need money.”

“Excuse me?”

“I don’t age.”

Baek Gang-jin’s lips curled up.

“I conquered aging through genetic manipulation. Theoretically, even immortality is possible.”

“……!”

Go Jin-hyuk’s eyes widened.

Immortality.

The forbidden domain humanity had so desperately craved.

“With infinite time, what meaning does money have? Even just compounding interest for a hundred or two hundred years would make me a billionaire.”

For Baek Gang-jin, capital was merely a matter of time.

What he wanted wasn’t something so trivial.

“And besides, I absolutely hate working under someone. Being tied to someone is no different from wearing shackles. I don’t want to make such a losing deal.”

Baek Gang-jin is 152 years old.

He had seen all sorts of ugly truths in the other world.

Emperors sacrifice heroes when crisis strikes.

Mages use their own disciples as test subjects for their research.

Massive organizations always sacrifice the minority under the guise of a greater cause.

“So… you’re rejecting the offer?”

Go Jin-hyuk’s expression darkened.

Losing Baek Gang-jin like this would be a national loss.

Just then, Baek Gang-jin sat back down and spoke.

“But I don’t want Korea to fall either.”

“……?”

“It’s the country my nephew has to live in. If security collapses and the economy crashes, Ha-yoon’s life will be hard, right?”

Baek Gang-jin was realistic.

A stable social system was better for Ha-yoon than anarchy.

“So, I’ll propose a compromise.”

“A compromise… you say?”

“Non-executive consultant.”

Baek Gang-jin held up one finger.

“I refuse to be an Association member. No commuting. No taking orders.”

“Then…”

“Instead, when something you can’t handle happens. Only then will I step in.”

Class 7 or higher disasters.

A crisis threatening the nation’s survival.

He meant he would only intervene selectively in such cases.

“Of course, it won’t be free. I’ll charge a fee per incident.”

“…….”

“And share the Association’s information network and infrastructure with me. Including Ha-yoon’s care.”

Go Jin-hyuk pondered.

It wasn’t a bad proposal.

No, it was actually something he should be thankful for.

The crucial point was being able to maintain contact with a national-level asset like Baek Gang-jin.

If he exerted enough effort, he might even be able to secure him a more important position within the Association later.

“Enjoy the privileges, but bear no responsibility… A very clever position.”

“Take it or leave it.”

“No. We accept.”

Go Jin-hyuk answered immediately.

He had no choice.

“Fine. We will appoint Mr. Baek Gang-jin as a Special Advisor to the Association. No attendance obligations, no standby duties. We will only request your cooperation in emergencies of S-rank or higher.”

“Clean.”

Baek Gang-jin nodded in satisfaction.

He had refused unnecessary involvement.

Yet, he had secured a safety net for Ha-yoon and gained access to the Association’s intelligence network.

*‘The Association is just a subcontractor.’*

To Baek Gang-jin, the Association wasn’t an object of trust.

It was merely a tool to be thoroughly utilized.

“Then send the contract later. In the meantime, give me another drink.”

“Oh… yes.”

Go Jin-hyuk quickly grabbed the decanter.

A strange situation where the nation’s top Awakened was serving drinks.

But relief was written all over Go Jin-hyuk’s face.

*‘I’ve secured him anyway.’*

He hadn’t managed to put a leash on him, but at least he hadn’t made an enemy.

Moreover, they had signed a conditional contract.

That alone was more than enough for tonight’s work.

*Clink.*

The sound of ice hitting the glass echoed.

He downed his drink.

He thought it would end on such a good note.

But then, Baek Gang-jin smiled and said.

“Alright… now let’s negotiate the fee I’ll be receiving.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m talking about the Skull Centipede. You didn’t think I’d let that slide for free, did you?”

Go Jin-hyuk was impressed.

Baek Gang-jin before him was a man who knew the value of money.

And.

He was pettier than he had expected.