Negotiation (2)

“What is your business?”

Don’t be so stiff; why don’t you visit after such a long time? -

“I refuse. I’m never going to that sweaty place again.”

-It’s a place full of romance, yet you call it sweaty? In that case, I’ll just state my business briefly. -

At that moment, a boisterous voice was heard from near An Sang-ik. It was clear that other officials, including the chief of staff, were opposing the call.

The fact that communication security was not well-maintained could not be ignored either.

“If it’s a security matter, you don’t have to go out of your way to tell me. I have no intention of being involved in big affairs.”

-It is a big affair, but it’s information that a fellow like you needs to know. -

If such a thing existed, he should have come and informed me long ago; I couldn’t understand why he was doing this only now.

Just as questions were making my head dizzy, An Sang-ik continued his story.

-The Chinese fellows have moved; it seems they’ve secretly sneaked into Korea by deploying a special task force. -

“…Which unit is it?”

-I don’t know that either. We’re identifying them. Even this is information the Migratory Birds brought in, so it’s not just fresh, it’s piping hot. -

It meant it was information discovered relatively recently, but a special task force from China was not something to be taken lightly.

“Do you also know who they contacted?”

-We’re identifying them, but there’s one fellow who’s been identified. And ironically, he was involved this time. -

“Pi Jin-hyeok….”

-Correct. That’s why I contacted you; I wondered if you also knew about this. -

It was a contact with quite a high risk.

This was because, like An Sang-ik, surveillance was likely quite strictly attached to the heroes.

It was only natural that strict surveillance followed compared to their influence, but I thought about the reason why a person who should be cautious was acting this way toward me.

“It seems you want me to process those bastards, but I’m someone who has left the battlefield. It’s troublesome to order around a discharged veteran like this.”

-Even if you’re discharged, it’s clear you’re part of the mobilization personnel, right? -

I knew that the moment war broke out, I would be the first to be called. But conversely, one could also exercise the right of refusal.

I had accumulated enough achievements and gained enough power for that to be possible.

An Sang-ik could not have been unaware of this. Therefore, I thought there was a reason he was taking such an unreasonable step.

“Among the people whose movements were captured… is there a past connection?”

An answer was not heard for a moment. Then, a voice came over along with a sigh.

-That’s right. Wang Sun, that bastard moved. Circumstances were captured where he hid his appearance and sneaked into the country. There’s… definitely a purpose. -

Wang Sun was a ‘General’ level individual who controlled one of the special forces.

The fact that such a person had crossed the border was merely absurd, but recalling that the contact person was Pi Jin-hyeok, I reached a single speculation.

‘Was there a reason that fellow… came down immediately?’

Perhaps I had barged in while he was in contact with Wang Sun at the right timing. Therefore, it seemed certain that he had obediently handed over the medium of the oath to move on without making trouble by showing an immediate reaction.

What if I went to the Magic Tower right now?

An individual of that caliber wouldn’t be able to move their residence at will. So, he might be settling in the Magic Tower where he had hidden with difficulty and preparing for activities.

But the Magic Tower, which was under the protection of the country, could not be searched recklessly, and one could not denounce them by saying that circumstances of a person like Wang Sun sneaking in were continuing.

As a result, an individual of Wang Sun’s caliber was like a trauma to our citizens as well.

How many civilians had been sacrificed because of him and the Chinese fellows who followed him?

‘Not enough that he’s a Cultist of Ruin, but treason too… Pi Jin-hyeok, just how far do you plan to fall?’

-I’d like for you to step forward. After all, if it’s a 7th Circle Master black mage, no one can easily look down on you, right? -

“A person who’s practically a hero is trying to dump work too irresponsibly. I refuse. If necessary… I’ll investigate it separately on my own.”

-How picky. Anyway, we’re also working hard on the ground and preparing a lot because we want to take down that damn bastard somehow, so if by any chance… you’re moved, give me a call. -

He ended the call quickly with the final words, and just as I was organizing my complex thoughts, An So-mi, who had been listening to everything, asked.

“You’re not planning to step forward, are you?”

“I don’t intend to go out of my way to light a fuse, but as you heard, Pi Jin-hyeok is not an individual who will stay still.”

“Just… what is he thinking?”

Go Yu-jin also had a worried expression. After all, the group called the Magic Tower was already difficult to handle, but if a monster like Wang Sun and a special force from China were included, it would be reborn as a monster group for which there was no answer.

“That man Wang Sun could also be a Cultist of Ruin. Since the group that had taken root in this country was cut down to a fraction in an instant, he might have brought in people for the sake of expanding influence.”

Wang Sun was an individual who was a hero from China’s perspective.

In Korea, he was an individual evaluated as a homicidal maniac or a slaughterer. In a way, he was an individual with an evaluation opposite to mine, but unlike me, the point was that he was even treated as a hero.

‘Thinking this way only makes me bitter.’

To some high-level officials, I might also be included among the heroes. However, as long as the treatment of black mages itself did not change, being a hero to them was of no use.

“Since it doesn’t seem to be an urgent matter for now, shall we eat?”

An So-mi was horrified by the sight of me picking up the utensils again, while Go Yu-jin gave an awkward smile.

Contrary to concerns, ordinary time passed.

Compared to some Awakeners who had actively intervened in the previous break situation being praised for saving many citizens, content related to me was not announced in the media, as if it were being thoroughly controlled.

I intended to question this part, but I was currently facing a government official who had just visited the company.

“I’m sorry. It was a necessary measure because if it were known that you stepped forward actively, it would cause social turmoil again.”

“Social turmoil? You’ve already announced black mages as if they were the axis of evil; I suppose it’s a matter that would cause social turmoil for such a person to have saved people?”

“I know you’re displeased. But please also think about the government’s position. The current government is implementing a policy of suppression as a stance toward Awakeners or specific groups pursuing powerful forces like black mages. But if it were known that such powerful force was outwardly expressed as if showing off, what would people think?”

“So, you’re saying we should follow the decision to keep killing us for the government’s benefit?”

“I know you have no choice but to take it unpleasantly. But we are asking for your understanding. Accordingly, if the government concludes this matter by staying silent, the compensation will be sufficiently executed.”

In the end, it meant to shut up and just take the money.

“Until when does Kim Dae-san think we will endure?”

“…The number of black mages in the country is slightly less than 10,000. But what can you do with that number?”

It was a provocative remark. However, it wasn’t a figure with which one could particularly do anything either.

The government forces alone exceeded 200,000, and among them, the special forces numbered 5,000.

Moreover, most of the first generation were among the Awakeners included in those special forces.

It meant they were an unimaginably powerful military group.

Currently, there were at most not even 20 individuals of the 1st generation among black mages.

Furthermore, the 2nd generation also did not exceed 100 individuals; as a result, if one looked at the total power, we couldn’t help but be overwhelmed.

Therefore, I could tell how well the person before my eyes understood himself and us.

“Mr. Bak Min-su, someday our relationship will also be reversed.”

“If an 8th Circle appears among black mages, that might be the case. Since they’re entities called disasters. However, even the three individuals called black mage heroes have not been able to cross the wall of the 7th Circle Master. And they all say one thing in unison: that as long as one is human, one cannot cross that boundary.”

They couldn’t possibly be the correct answer.

In fact, they were old men who had said it was difficult for the 2nd generation to cross the wall of the 7th Circle. However, I had crossed that boundary, and as a result, I was still steadily pursuing growth and enlightenment through learning.

Such a case was not exclusive to me.

“This is the estimated compensation payment.”

Bak Min-su pulled out a document, and after seeing the document I received from him, I clicked my tongue.

“Only 1 billion won as hush money? I hunted over thousands of fighting dogs alone.”

“We will also distribute that separately after processing. Since the government is processing it, taxes will take up a lot. And you must also be aware that when mobilized for a break, the monster byproducts are first used for regional recovery, and then the remaining amount is paid.”

A laugh came out at the amusing thought.

It was a pleasure I hadn’t felt in a long time. So, I hardened my expression and spoke.

“I should go see Kim Dae-san in person for the first time in a while. Even Pi Jin-hyeok moved his feet immediately; shall we see how the government responds?”

“…It would be better not to perform actions you cannot handle.”

“That is not how you make a threat.”

I immediately pulled the Necronomicon out of my sub-space, and as I placed it on the table with a thud, Bak Min-su was startled.

“The moment I have no way back… can you handle it?”

“…How did you obtain that?”

“I have no obligation to tell you, so answer clearly. 500 billion won in compensation, spit out all the byproducts, and let’s go with a clean public announcement of the support details. Since I’m also a person who wants to be a citizen of this country.”

An immediate answer was not heard, but after a moment, Bak Min-su pulled out his phone as if he thought it had exceeded his jurisdiction.

And after several connection tones, he shared a conversation with someone, then soon handed the phone over to me and spoke.

“He says… he will speak with you directly.”

After receiving it immediately, I greeted the voice heard over the receiver with a sense of welcome.

It’s a pleasure to hear news about you frequently these days. -

“If you want to see my face with even more pleasure, proceed as I’ve proposed right now.”

-Are you going to be like this? -

“Until when must we sacrifice?”

-It is the price for the actions you people committed. -

“It was for the sake of saving the country. You know that.”

A voice was not heard for a moment. Amidst a long silence, Kim Dae-san asked.

-We were born in the same era but are walking such different paths. And speaking as someone who saved the same country, I am a person who considers the group called black mages to be subversive elements. Therefore, as long as I am in power, the status of black mages will never rise. -

“In that case, it would be nice to talk while facing each other for the first time in a while. For your information, I might lose my reason. So, if you have anything to say, it would be better to say it all now.”

-Are you threatening me? -

“It’s a reaction against persecution.”

-Phew, I knew you were a madman, but you’re crossing the line. -

“The one who crossed the line was always the government. Isn’t it the same this time?”

-Are you not afraid? -

If the government decided to oppress and cast us out, it was certain there would be no future. But conversely, the reason the country could not easily cast us out was clear.

They would lose the method of responding to other countries’ black mages.

In war, the side with many cards has no choice but to be unconditionally advantageous, and we were the strongest card; although they had persecuted us, the reason they could not discard us also lay there. Because war was not that far away.

-I will increase the fund execution. However… media exposure is not permitted. -

“In that case, 1 trillion won would be appropriate.”

-…You, phew. Can you put him back on? -

I handed the phone over to Bak Min-su, and after some phone calls, the document was concisely adjusted, and the procedure was taken.