Chapter 12

Chapter 12
## Chapter 012: The Mayor’s Proposition

Before moving forward, I decided to give Byeon Jeong-tae one final test, keeping my voice light and casual.

“Is that right? It sounds like the mayor has a completely different agenda in mind for our little sit-down.”

However, the branch chief didn’t immediately buy into my skepticism.

“How often do you actually find yourself in a negotiation where everyone is pulling in the same direction?”

If fortune favors you, both parties leave satisfied. Usually, only one person wins. And if the stars aren’t aligned, everyone leaves empty-handed.

“We shouldn’t keep the mayor waiting any longer. But before we head in, would you mind passing me your business card?”

He didn’t strike me as a particularly malicious individual. Of course, someone can have a heart of stone while maintaining a polished exterior… but that’s something you only learn through trial and error.

“Oh, right. My card.”

Byeon Jeong-tae fished around in his coat and produced one.

“Appreciate it. You’ve got my digits, right? If you ever have an itch to collaborate, feel free to reach out.”

Now, it was time to come face-to-face with the man running Incheon. I was curious about his character. As the vehicle hummed along the pavement, I pulled up my phone to do a quick search on the sitting mayor.

“We’ve arrived. This is Incheon City Hall.”

The moment I exited the car, a small welcoming party was already positioned ahead.

“Pleasure to meet you. I’m Lee Pil-je, the Communications Liaison Officer.”

“Yoo Chan-seok.”

I was informed that the mayor was expecting me in his private office.

“The mayor has been quite eager for this chat. When the report hit his desk at daybreak, I nearly jumped out of my skin myself,” Lee Pil-je remarked with a small grin, dropping his volume slightly.

“He actually cleared his entire morning block for this.”

“Is that so? He didn’t need to rush on my account. It’s not as if I pulled off a miracle.”

Lee Pil-je clicked his tongue at my modesty and waved a hand as if to brush the comment away.

“Don’t sell yourself short. A novice hunter taking down an Erosion Core solo—and a Grade 3 at that? There has only been a single instance of that happening in all of recorded history.”

It made sense. If not for the specific properties of Paradox Flame, that core would have been far beyond my solo capabilities. And as for that one precedent? That man is a true freak of nature.

They were certainly laying the praise on thick. I had a few theories as to why, but the truth would only surface once I was inside.

“My word, you must be exhausted after such a trek.”

The office door swung open. A middle-aged gentleman in a sharp suit, who had been focused on paperwork at his desk, rose with a warm expression and offered his hand.

“I am Park Geon, the Mayor of Incheon.”

“Yoo Chan-seok.”

“Please, make yourself comfortable. Let’s talk.”

He pointed toward a seating area on the sofa.

“Bring some coffee in here, please.”

Following Park Geon’s lead, Lee Pil-je stepped out to handle the drinks.

“You have provided an incredible service to our country, Hunter Yoo Chan-seok. The moment that report reached me, I pushed everything else aside to wait for you.”

I offered a brief, measured response.

“With everyone showering me with this much credit, I’m starting to feel a bit overwhelmed.”

He let out a booming laugh. “Hahaha!”

“Speaking as the mayor, Gyodongdo was a persistent thorn in my side. It needed addressing, but organizing a massive hunter mobilization always felt like more trouble than it was worth.”

“I’m glad it’s settled then. It seems the issue was resolved for a fraction of the usual overhead.”

Park Geon nodded in agreement.

“Ensuring the safety of the public is a great joy. It appears my intuition was correct.”

“Hunter Lee Se-eun provided the opening, so I’m grateful for that.”

Park Geon didn’t hesitate to agree.

“Zanabi LLC has been instrumental in safeguarding Korea’s Erosion Zones. Lee Se-eun is a cornerstone of that organization—a literal shield for this nation.”

He brought his hands together with a loud clap.

“However, we aren’t here to discuss her accomplishments.”

His focus sharpened on me as he continued.

“I set this meeting up for several reasons, but primarily—I understand this was your inaugural assignment, Hunter Yoo Chan-seok.”

“That’s correct.”

He made a thoughtful sound and nodded slowly.

“For a talent like yours to surface in Korea during such a volatile era—it’s a true godsend for the country. And the fact that your first victory happened right here in Incheon? As the mayor, I find that deeply gratifying.”

His gaze grew intense as he spoke his next words.

“I have no doubt you are destined for even greater feats. I am well aware of how grueling and treacherous the path of a hunter can be.”

*As if you’d know,* I thought, *having never stepped foot on that path yourself.*

He stood up and began studying the large map of Incheon pinned to the wall.

“The most secure nation on the planet: the Republic of Korea. And right here is Incheon. We have always boasted world-class infrastructure, like Incheon Airport.”

That airport had evolved into a primary engine for Korea’s massive logistics network.

“Beyond that, the Free Economic Zone initiatives have international investors practically fighting for a spot in Songdo and Cheongna—we have more interest than we can manage.”

Despite the noble goals of those projects, they had largely turned into a way for wealthy foreigners to purchase Korean residency through capital injections.

“It has been seven years since gold was the only asset with a credit rating higher than the Korean won.”

The emergence of Erosion Zones had completely restructured the global economy. Since Korea was the only nation truly standing firm against the threat, the credibility of its currency had skyrocketed. You could spend won in foreign countries just as easily as local cash.

“The massive wealth flowing into our global cities, the freight moving through our ports.”

He traced the map one more time before turning back toward me.

“I have the power to make your journey as a hunter much smoother, Yoo Chan-seok.”

“And in exchange, I imagine I’d have to provide a service for you.”

I leaned back into the cushions of the sofa and spoke bluntly.

“Does this involve your re-election?”

Based on the research I’d done, Park Geon’s current term was ending early next year, and the word on the street was that his chances of winning again were slim.

He chuckled softly and looked out toward the horizon.

“You certainly don’t beat around the bush. To be honest, the approval from City Hall wasn’t strictly mandatory for that specific mission.”

By granting the city’s official seal, I—the man who conquered the Gyodongdo incident—could be marketed as a talent discovered by Park Geon. He was trying to attach his name to my success and claim a seat at the table I had set.

“Through our global hubs and airport connections, I maintain strong relationships with a vast number of corporations, both domestic and international.”

He adjusted his watch as he spoke.

“Those organizations frequently require skilled hunters to safeguard their interests.”

“Are you suggesting you’ll act as my agent?”

Park Geon gave a firm nod.

“Endorsing the mediocre is a gamble, but providing resources to a proven talent? That’s just good business.”

The office door opened, and two steaming cups of coffee were placed before us. Strangely, they were accompanied by a box of instant coffee mix. Park Geon smiled and indicated the box, which featured a portrait of a beautiful woman.

“The hunter who holds the exclusive endorsement for this brand is someone I know quite well.”

He sank back into the sofa and added, “Her deal is almost up. I could facilitate an introduction—and you might find your own face on those boxes next.”

I took a slow sip of the coffee, a thin smile playing on my lips.

“I certainly see the extent of your reach, Mayor. It’s quite something.”

“A formal political endorsement might look a bit too calculated. I simply want to demonstrate a friendly partnership.”

He wanted to parade his connection to the phenomenon who soloed a Grade 3 Erosion Core. It was a pretty picture for his campaign. But there was a flaw in his logic. I looked him in the eye.

“I suppose I seem much cheaper than I actually am.”

“I beg your pardon?”

I placed the cup back on the table.

“Anything you claim you can do for me, Mayor Park Geon, I am more than capable of achieving on my own.”

To put it plainly, he was moving too fast.

“The Gyodongdo Erosion Core was neutralized only last night. And yet, here I am, sitting with you privately this morning.”

The significance of my actions was reflected in the desperation of others’ reactions.

“The news cycles are currently drowning in pessimistic predictions.”

Would the powers that be really just ignore a person like me—someone who appeared out of nowhere during a crisis?

“The public is starving for a new figurehead to break this gloomy atmosphere.”

And I had arrived like a bolt from the blue, destroying a Grade 3 threat that usually requires a dozen elite hunters.

“The things you’re offering, Mayor? I’ll obtain those naturally just by doing my job.”

Claiming credit for that path was a reach.

“I can hand-pick the safest, most lucrative assignments specifically for you, Hunter Yoo Chan-seok. I even have access to intelligence that remains hidden from the general hunter population.”

“I’m not interested.”

True status isn’t built on shortcuts. You take on the impossible tasks, you succeed, and you earn your standing. I looked at the coffee box and smiled again.

“That hunter on the box is lucky. It sounds like she’ll have no trouble renewing her contract now.”

It was my way of telling him that I wouldn’t be taking her spot—or his deal.

“It’s been an interesting meeting. Pulling an all-nighter on a hunt has left me drained. Perhaps we’ll see each other again.”

I stood up, ready to exit the office.

“Most hunters would kill for this opportunity without a second thought. You might find yourself regretting this choice later.”

“Is that a threat? Because it certainly sounds like one.”

Park Geon remained silent. I continued.

“I’ve had people tell me I’d regret things before. Without exception, they were always the ones who ended up with the regrets.”

He countered, “To my ears, Hunter Yoo Chan-seok, that sounds more like a threat coming from you.”

“I’m glad we understand each other.”

And really, what was he going to do about it?

I turned the handle and walked out, leaving him with nothing more to say.

—

In the shadows of a narrow alleyway, a figure obscured by a hood leaned against a sweat-slicked wall.

“What are the findings?”

“My apologies.”

The subordinate avoided using the word “failure” directly.

“It couldn’t be helped.”

“However, there is a silver lining.”

The man reporting held out his phone with both hands, presenting it as if it were a sacred relic.

“What am I looking at?”

“You need to see this. It’s a recording from the recent Hunter Association evaluation.”

The hooded figure began to play the video.

“…”

On the screen, a candidate participating in the qualification exam was holding his own in a spar against Lee Se-eun—one of the legendary defenders of the nation’s Erosion Zones.

“Remarkable.”

The subordinate nearly flinched in surprise. Validation from this man was incredibly rare, usually limited to basic acknowledgments of effort.

“Is he truly that impressive?”

To hear him use that word was staggering.

“This is excellent news. Especially considering how frequently he’s been mentioned lately.”

“Yes, they seemed intent on pausing the evaluations given the current instability.”

The intent behind the exams was clear; even the government recognized their necessity. But with Erosion Zones strangling the economy, the process had become an unwanted weight.

“The failure of that test allowed the Gyodongdo Alpha to expand into a Grade 3 Erosion Core. This man, Yoo Chan-seok, neutralized it during his very first outing.”

A cold smile spread across the face of the hooded man.