*
After school, the backyard of the Eusticia Kindergarten.
Gru stood before Gang Je-i and Gu Huiyeon.
Gu Huiyeon looked around as if searching for Uju, but Gru struck first.
Holding up a tablet, she read the results in a clear, ringing voice.
“Peer Evaluation S, Merch Sales 1st Place, Physical S, Pumaeng: Absurd, Attendance: Superior.”
Gu Huiyeon and Gang Je-i clasped their hands together tightly.
“And the final comprehensive result, Hyeon-ak’s top is…….”
Gru lowered the tablet and declared solemnly.
“Hunter Sin Na-yeon.”
Immediately, grumbling voices rang out.
“How does that make any sense!”
“Are you kidding me?!”
“You can’t just say it’s Hunter Na-yeon all of a sudden!”
“This is invalid, invalid!”
As expected, the two refused to acknowledge this evaluation.
Gu Huiyeon got angry, demanding they bring Uju, and Gang Je-i grabbed Gru’s shoulders and shook her, telling her not to lie.
Surrounded by the two chattering like monkeys, Gru recalled Nayeon unni with a distant expression.
No more competing among friends. Things like that only make friends drift apart and hurt their friendship.
For this purpose, Gru had deliberately prevented Uju from coming.
‘The villain role is more than enough for Gru…!’
Between “Gidanimirae-da” and “Seruhihaljjak,” who were fighting over who should get to see her tablet, Gru tightly shut her eyes and covered her ears.
Chapter: Unexpected Ally
“Please, come in. It was no easy task to arrange this meeting with our Guild Master On Ju-rim, so I wonder if the spread is too humble.”
“Not at all.”
Ju-rim did not hide his displeased expression as he looked at the bigshot posturing modesty before the extravagant table setting of the high-end restaurant.
The elderly man remained all smiles despite Ju-rim’s expression.
“Since a Hunter from Hyeon-ak has done something truly tremendous this time, I thought I should treat them well.”
His counterpart was Secretary-General Gwon Hong-gyun.
A key aide who directly assisted the President.
The reason such a man had requested this meeting could not be very different from what Ju-rim thought.
‘It must be because of the Mephistopheles Series.’
In fact, even now, Ju-rim was suffering headaches over the rental contract issue of the ‘Mephistopheles Series mk.3(S+)’.
The development, production, and use of S+-class equipment was strongly regulated internationally, and due to international treaties, the Mephistopheles Series mk.3 had to be classified under the state as a rental for now.
Although Gru had made it, it meant the item could not belong to Gru alone.
He had explained it well to Gru too, but it was impossible to know whether she understood. The child had nodded repeatedly with a blank expression.
It was a face that said, ‘If Dad says so, then it must be so.’
When the child was like this, he felt deep affection, yet his heart grew heavy with responsibility.
“I should mention now, the emergence of an S+ was a national celebration.”
Ju-rim feigned taking a sip of water, suppressing a snicker.
The ulterior motive behind specifically calling it a ‘national’ celebration was obvious.
The government would want to propagandize by any means that they had ‘favorably carried out the rental contract.’
Especially since the ruling party was in crisis because the son of its leadership was embroiled in a bribery scandal.
Because depending on how this contract was handled, the outcome of the next election could be decided, so they must be even more anxious.
Was that all? If they could take a photo with Jjapsso at this opportunity? The ruling party would immediately become the center of attention.
Ju-rim had absolutely no interest in the political scene, but the problem was having such an outstanding daughter either way.
“I wanted to meet and speak with our proud Production-class Hunter, but since you firmly refused—”
“That person is not someone to bring to an occasion like this.”
Gwon Hong-gyun tried to gauge what ‘an occasion like this’ meant, then let out an awkward “Hehehe.”
It was a laugh showing his displeasure at someone so young acting so stiff.
“Since I arranged this meeting, I had hoped you might at least tell me the name of that Production-class Hunter. This ‘Jjapsso’… the very sound of it… isn’t it? It is quite awkward to call them that in an official setting.”
It was a pain, but it seemed he was indeed hiding the child well.
Seeing someone who was quite formidable in information warfare speak like that.
“Since the person wishes to be called that, please understand.”
“I see. Truly an eccentric person.”
Gwon Hong-gyun smiled, picked up his chopsticks, and took a side dish.
‘He’s playing hard to get.’
Wanting to meet this Jjapsso fellow once, shake hands, and take some photos shouldn’t be such a difficult request.
“Tch,” he clicked his tongue and took a sip of water.
“It’s a shame. I thought I had much to offer in return for the Guild Master’s goodwill as well.”
Ju-rim let out an inaudible sigh. The sound of the wheels turning in Gwon Hong-gyun’s head was practically audible.
“Goodwill, you say?”
Having been rebuffed like this, was it now time to instill fear?
Exactly as Ju-rim expected, Gwon Hong-gyun neatly wiped his mouth and smiled thinly.
“About S+ production. There are many legal risks, are there not? S+ is classified as a weapon of mass destruction. You cannot be unaware that there are regulations on its development and production as well….”
Ju-rim narrowed his eyes.
“Interesting. Until just now, you called it a national celebration, and now it has become a risk.”
“Isn’t every situation dependent on how and from which side you look at it?”
Ju-rim nodded as if it were no big deal.
“If you say so.”
He had no interest in politics, but Ju-rim knew well that anything could become a problem if someone wanted to make it one.
“We do not want to take the difficult road either. But if we launch an investigation into the development and production routes of this S+, that Hunter who operates so freely will have their identity revealed anyway.”
“I see.”
“We are not sworn enemies, so there is no need to go about this in a complicated way, is there?”
“Yes, well….”
At Ju-rim’s curt reply, Gwon Hong-gyun brightened slightly.
He had been thinking they were finally beginning to see eye to eye.
“Then—”
But cutting off Gwon Hong-gyun’s words, Ju-rim opened his mouth.
“Former Director I So-yeon of the Defense Industry Research Institute left behind some interesting achievements before she departed; they were deeply impressive.”
I So-yeon.
When he brought up the story of the former institute director who had shouted, ‘The reason I’m defecting to China is the government that wouldn’t allocate a budget and Hyeon-ak that wouldn’t share technology,’ cracks formed in Gwon Hong-gyun’s smile.
Because Ju-rim’s words now meant: ‘If you come at us like this? Then we’ll pack our bags and leave for another country.’
Gwon Hong-gyun swallowed dryly.
“Guild Master On Ju-rim, it seems you do not know what became of I So-yeon after she went to China….”
Having read Gwon Hong-gyun’s desire to scream ‘I So-yeon was used and thrown away!’, Ju-rim asked back as if he had heard something truly amusing.
“Do you think I will end up like I So-yeon? Me?”
“….”
Gwon Hong-gyun’s words were completely choked off.
There was no way. On Ju-rim could become a pillar of the nation by his mere existence.
Even now, all sorts of national brokers must be contacting him.
He wasn’t unaware. Ju-rim himself knew it all too well, which was why he spoke like that.
But for someone with all his foundations in Korea like him, moving countries was not an easy decision.
On Ju-rim, who had responsibilities ranging from his guild to his family, was in a different situation from I So-yeon or Amakusa Kazuki.
“Guild Master On Ju-rim. Let me offer you a piece of advice as someone who has lived in this world a bit longer. Sometimes, you must not only clash forcefully, but also know when to bend softly.”
“Hmm,” Ju-rim nodded as if he understood well.
“Then with that experience, you may bend here and there all you like.”
At the brazen reply, Gwon Hong-gyun was rendered speechless once more.
That young guild master had a talent for cutting off people’s words completely.
Ju-rim smiled softly and tapped the table sharply.
Swoooosh—
“When one possesses power.”
At the same time, the extravagant table setting all turned to dust and vanished.
“There is no need to bend.”
All that remained was a water cup.
The fierce golden gleam in his eyes faded.
“I enjoyed the meal. The water tastes good.”
Ju-rim, who had drunk only a few gulps of water, nodded his head in farewell and went outside.
Clack—
As the door closed, Gwon Hong-gyun clenched his fist before the empty table.
Ju-rim’s last words continuously echoed in his ears.
When one possesses power.
When one possesses power.
When one possesses power….
“….”
Gwon Hong-gyun, who had been keeping his mouth tightly shut, threw the water cup at the wall.
Crash—
“That arrogant little punk…!”
Who does he think I am?
Daring to speak of power to the Secretary-General?
Gnash, Gwon Hong-gyun ground his teeth.
He had to find out Jjapsso’s true identity by any means.
He vented his anger on the secretaries who entered upon hearing the noise.
“What have you been doing all this time! Can’t you find this Jjapsso bastard, no matter what it takes?!”
“Sir?”
“But….”
“That’s….”
As the secretaries floundered, Gwon Hong-gyun seemed to burn with even more rage and shouted.
“Search everything, no matter what it takes! Investigate all the guild members! Even that daughter On Ju-rim can’t live without!”