Chapter 97

However, Kang Changseok was also a user who had been through thick and thin.

Kang Changseok, who pretended his expression was distorted from the camera flashes by covering his eyes with his hands, extended his hand with a friendly smile as if nothing had happened.

Yuseong also hadn’t meant to be tactless – he had just blurted out what first came to mind in this unexpected situation – so he took Kang Changseok’s outstretched hand with a smile.

“What kind of trouble did you cause while in America?”

“Nothing like that, so just shut up and smile.”

As Yuseong and Kang Changseok exchanged criticisms in low voices, they closed their mouths at the growing cheers and waved with smiling faces at the gathered reporters and crowd.

“You showed incredible achievements befitting the name ‘hero’ that ordinary Contractors couldn’t even dream of imitating. How were you able to obtain such strong power?”

“You returned alone much earlier than scheduled, leaving behind the Contractors who departed with you. What was the reason?”

“Please just one comment!”

“Let’s move somewhere else first.”

While police and airport staff blocked the excited crowd with their bodies, Yuseong followed Kang Changseok’s guidance out of the airport and got into a car that was prepared in advance.

After glancing at the driver in the front seat, Yuseong used the sound transmission skill obtained from [Youngest Disciple of the Jincheon Martial Arts Family] to speak to Kang Changseok.

-Why are you here? Did you do something suspicious again like last time?

Kang Changseok, who seemed startled by the sudden sound transmission, pretended to fiddle with his smartphone while lowering his head and moving his lips.

-What do you mean suspicious. What’s my job?

-A user?

-I’m the chairman of the Korean Contractors Association. One of less than ten heroes in the world returned after great achievements in America – if I don’t want criticism, of course I have to come out.

-…Ah.

Though he had forgotten due to Kang Changseok’s generally incompetent appearance, his official title was Chairman of the Korean Contractors Association.

Since he was deeply involved in not just Contractors but all areas related to them like hunting, security maintenance, and monster byproduct trading, it was natural that he had to come out to welcome Yuseong.

-What’s with the crowd? It wasn’t like this before I went to America.

-Back then your power was unknown so the reaction was lukewarm, but now you’ve proven your strength beyond any doubt so of course the reaction is different. This is actually calmed down. Right after the Shooting Star video was uploaded, it was much worse than this.

If he had been in an ambiguous position somewhere between Contractor and hero before departing for America, through this incident he was now definitively acknowledged as equal to heroes.

-Speaking of videos, what exactly is that power? A skill? Artifact? Leaping over buildings and shattering monsters with single hits – I thought the video was edited at first.

-Why should I tell you that?

-It’s not like telling me will wear it out, so can’t you just share?

-No. If you really want to know, pay an information fee or something.

-…Never mind.

Kang Changseok’s face twisted as if recalling the black card he had been fleeced of during this America trip.

While watching that expression with amusement, Yuseong leaned forward and spoke in a low voice.

-I’d like to talk somewhere private.

-We’re already talking.

-You think I’d say that without knowing?

Kang Changseok hesitated for a moment before turning to the driver and saying.

“To the Contractors Association.”

After passing through the toll gate, the car navigated through heavy traffic and arrived at the Contractors Association.

While security guards blocked the reporters who had followed from the airport, Yuseong and Kang Changseok took the elevator to the massive conference room they had visited during the lizardman incident.

Creak!

“Sound transmission would have been enough, why a private place? Do you have something to show?”

“You can come out now.”

As soon as Yuseong’s words fell, a red-haired woman appeared in the conference room as if she had been there from the start.

Kang Changseok reflexively drew the dagger at his waist but upon recognizing the woman’s face, spoke in a surprised voice.

“Sophia?”

“It’s been a while. First time meeting since the mana stone semiconductor production issue, so almost a year, right?”

“Wait, wait a minute. What’s going on here? Why is someone who should be in America here?”

“Why do you think I’m here?”

Looking back and forth between the smiling Sophia and exhausted-looking Yuseong, Kang Changseok’s face turned pale.

“N-no way, it’s not what I’m thinking right now, is it? Right?”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking but it’s probably correct. I’ll be staying in Korea for a while, so please take care of me.”

With a reddened face, Kang Changseok opened and closed his mouth several times before finally managing to speak after repeatedly clutching his chest.

“You kept saying you wanted to leave America whenever you had the chance, don’t tell me that was serious?”

“Of course it was serious. Why would I say something I didn’t mean so many times?”

“No, when people offered help and you kept refusing, I thought you were just joking.”

“Do you know what they would demand in return for helping?”

A faint sneer crossed Sophia’s face.

“Things seem to have changed since learning about the monster invasion, but considering your actions before that, I was too scared to even ask you for help, Mr. Changseok.”

“What was he like in the past?”

“Hmm, a ruthless capitalist… no, ‘criminal’ or ‘con artist’ who would do anything for money fits better. The kind of terrible person who would hand a glass of water to someone dying of thirst and take their entire fortune in return.”

“No way.”

For Yuseong who had only seen Kang Changseok’s seemingly gullible side, it was an impossible scene to imagine.

“It’s true. When working in America I may not have had freedom but at least I was treated properly as one of the world’s top minds. Working under Mr. Changseok, I would have been worse off than third-world children sewing soccer balls all day for pennies.”

“…”

“The other users are just as problematic. Blue Blood? That outdated aristocrat and white supremacist would look down on me for being Irish, calling me a ‘white black person.’ Carlos? Even in desperate times, being a drug lord is going way too far. WeaponMaster won’t leave Japan, and Nirvana is just crazy. MartialGod and GreatMage might be worth asking for help but they don’t care about anything outside their interests – so who exactly should I have asked for help?”

As Sophia fired off words like a machine gun, Kang Changseok lowered his head as if at a loss for words, while Yuseong wore a sour expression.

‘…This is way more messed up than I thought.’

This vivid assessment wasn’t written in the materials Kang Changseok had sent.

Lacking empathy seemed relatively mild compared to the other users.

“In the end, Mr. Yuseong was the only one I could ask for help. Apart from lacking communication skills, he doesn’t seem to have any personality issues, and most importantly, since he hasn’t been a user long, he probably won’t demand anything unreasonable in return for help like the other users.”

“Ahem.”

“…Why are you doing that?”

“Ah, no. Just got something caught in my throat.”

Caught off guard by the unexpected attack, Yuseong quickly changed the subject while coughing to avoid Sophia’s suspicious gaze.

“Shall we move on to the main topic?”

“Main topic?”

“The cleanup. Can you handle things like identity laundering and avoiding America’s pursuit?”

“…What did you leave with me?”

Kang Changseok, who had been wearing a dazed expression since Sophia’s appearance, seemed to regain his senses at Yuseong’s words and spoke in a firm voice.

“I can do it. If you pay an appropriate price.”

“Do we really have to be like this between fellow users?”

“You seem to be misunderstanding something, but I’m not a charity worker. Unless it’s for a greater cause like humanity’s survival, I have no reason or intention to help with personal matters for free.”

‘Come to think of it, this bastard has never given or done anything for free.’

Except for the business card he gave at their first meeting saying to contact him if needed hard-to-get items or help with troublesome matters, Kang Changseok had never shown kindness without reason.

“Roughly how much are you thinking?”

“Just a moment.”

Kang Changseok took out his smartphone and opened the calculator app, tapped the screen for a while, and after about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, nodded and spoke.

“About this much.”

“…Seems like you added a few too many zeros.”

“This is correct. Simple identity laundering doesn’t cost much, but avoiding America’s pursuit is absolutely not a simple matter. Sophia, you’re going to continue focusing on creation using scientific technology, right?”

“With everything I’ve built up, I have no choice.”

“Then no matter how much we change your identity, you can’t avoid America’s suspicion. This is the budget needed for a cover operation to resolve such issues.”

The figure was enough to make even Sophia’s face turn pale despite her usual composure.

Yuseong pushed away the smartphone Kang Changseok held out and said.

“Do it for free.”

“Did you properly hear what I said? I’m not a charity…”

“Didn’t you say you’d do it for free if it was for a greater cause? Sophia, take that out.”

“That?”

“The suit the researchers were wearing.”

As Sophia extended her hand, something like black mist appeared and began gathering and dispersing until it formed into a familiar-looking suit.

“Try appraising it.”

“Strength, agility, constitution increased by 50 points? Why is this…”

“This isn’t some special item but mass-producible goods.”

For a moment, Kang Changseok’s expression cracked.

“…You’re saying you can mass produce items with this level of performance?”

“If we consider productivity and efficiency, it would be slightly lower performance than that. About 30 points would be most appropriate.”

“Impossible! If such items existed, why haven’t they been revealed until now?”

That was a question Yuseong had also wondered about.

The current level of weapons and technology humanity was using against monsters hadn’t changed much from before monsters appeared.

It might make sense if all users focused on abilities like martial arts or magic, but considering there was clearly a user focused on scientific power who worked for a massive country like America, it was extremely strange.

“I don’t know what the higher-ups were thinking, but if I had to guess, they probably planned to reveal the technology only after establishing an insurmountable lead that other countries could never catch up to. I heard mentions that industrial espionage regarding my technology was becoming a serious headache.”

“They were letting such good items rot away just for that reason?”

“It’s just my speculation. Could be a completely different reason. For instance, maybe they focused on technologies like satellites, telecommunications, and AI before monsters appeared, so suit development hasn’t been going on that long…”

“The reason doesn’t matter. So what do you think? Isn’t this sufficiently for the greater good – instantly boosting the clearly limited abilities of Contractors to more effectively block monster invasions?”

After letting out a long sigh, Kang Changseok raised both hands as if to show and said.

“Fine. This is definitely worth helping for free. Now shall we discuss something more important? The matter of shares and profit distribution for this suit…”

“I’m sorry, but could we talk about that later? Both Mr. Yuseong and I came straight back from fighting non-stop in America, so we desperately need rest.”

“Well, can’t be helped. Let’s talk again tomorrow.”

Yuseong slightly bowed his head in gratitude toward Sophia who was winking.

He had been feeling dead tired, but now it seemed he could finally get some rest.

However, Sophia’s next words immediately twisted Yuseong’s face as if he had bitten into something extremely bitter.

“So where is this house?”

“House?”

“I promised to renovate your house as thanks for helping. Don’t make that guilty expression – I know you were deceiving me. You wouldn’t have asked me specifically to fix an ordinary house, right? It must be a large mansion or secret base? I’ll remodel it however you want, so don’t feel burdened and show me.”

“Uh, um…”

“Hurry up. I need to at least see the basic structure to estimate costs.”

“…”

Yuseong silently led Sophia out of the conference room.

And shortly after, somewhere not on Earth, Sophia’s scream filled with shock, anger, and terror rang out.