Chapter 81: How To Capture A Hero (2)
Most heroes were affiliated with the government.
The state conferred the status of ‘public servants’ to bind them legally in some way and utilized every possible means and method to maintain the status of a hero.
And as the state moved so diligently, other forces also spared no effort to make ability users into their allies.
For instance, such as in the case of conglomerates.
Take ‘Haegnul’ for example; they tried to recruit ability users by any means necessary using money.
They offered the ability users themselves a significant signing bonus and payment and continuously provided substantial financial support to their families, aiming to make the ability user an agent affiliated with Haegnul.
Unlike the heroes affiliated with the state or government, the private heroes who work through agencies could not be easily dealt with by the state.
In place of the government backing, they had dinosaur-sized companies backing them, so the government couldn’t directly confront these companies.
At best, they could only put pressure on them through tax investigations or seizures and searches.
From the state’s perspective, they may want to argue as to how dare a company challenge a country, but from the company’s perspective, they desired to maximize profit without paying attention to the state’s concern, and that was the reality.
This disagreement was now being played out over the acquisition of ability users.
The government supported using all benefits possible within the country.
The corporations recruit ability users by offering more support in ways that the government could not.
Yi Maemangryang’s recruitment strategy fell closer to the latter.
Being a multinational and transnational company, we aimed to recruit ability users in various fields through economic support.
In other words, Yi Maemangryang was a corporation bound by capital.
The Chairwoman, directors, and everyone else, except me, were somewhat tied to money.
But aside from the financial aspect, if there was something we all had in common, it was our belief that ‘the world’ that Yi Maemangryang would create would undoubtedly be more stable and have less conflict than the current world.
We all worked in Yi Maemangryang because we sincerely believed in the vision created by the Chairwoman and that people like the Chairwoman and her descendants would guide the world in the right direction.
That was the vision of those who entered Yi Maemangryang.
So, how should I bring Yumir into Yi Maemangryang?
I suggested using the Seduction method, and the Chairwoman actively supported this.
The meeting ended.
But my conversation with the Chairwoman was not over.
“Chairwoman, if you think my idea is wrong, please tell me directly. I will find another way.”
[No, I meant what I said sincerely.]
I made a separate call to the Chairwoman to check on her condition.
[I’m not the type of woman to say ‘I’m not mad’ while being angry. Neither are you, Mr. Do. If I don’t like something, you’d stop immediately and find another method, wouldn’t you?]
“Of course.”
That was a given.
If the Chairwoman didn’t like something, I would even give up my life as a librarian.
[The reason Mr. Do said he would seduce her must be because that’s an effective method, right?]
“Rather than that, the current situation has become so.”
[Then, you casually bestow favors, give help, and give advice, then you have frequent meetings, eventually have meals together, have a drink, and end up having breakfast together the next day, right?]
“…I haven’t yet woken up with Yumir in the morning.”
With Yumir.
[Then how about Baek Seol-hee?]
“About her…”
I took out a meme that had been circulating on the internet.
“I have created an image of a slightly libertine and free-spirited man.”
It was not a big deal.
I simply posted a trivial story and its comments titled [Couple found buying two boxes of treasonous goods].
That couple, of course, was Brewer and me.
During the treasure hunt, I stayed at Brewer’s house for an alibi, and thanks to the Taeguk Watch that kept staying at Brewer’s house, the alibi was perfect.
No one had come to investigate me yet, but someday, when someone investigated my actions, they would think.
-He was at this woman’s house for three days during the time the Goblin appeared? … They must have been together. He must be a Goblin. Ah, he must have been thumping a chest with a Goblin’s Bat.
-By the way, he’s an impressive person to not leave a woman’s house for three days.
-What? He didn’t come out of the house, but there’s no evidence he stayed there the whole time? Hey! Look at the data now. They were watching a movie together, paused the movie in the middle, did they plot like villains together!
They would think like that.
I created a situation so they would think that way.
[You bought two boxes of treasonous goods at a convenience store. You created quite a libertine image, didn’t you?]
“It’s a fact.”
[I know best. Our Director Do’s physical prowess is…]
In response to the Chairwoman’s words, I remained silent.
[Why aren’t you saying anything?]
“If there’s one person I can’t handle, it’s the Chairwoman.”
[I appreciate the compliment. But I’m currently debuffed and unable to respond, so please show off your physical prowess to others.]
Laughter filled the Chairwoman’s voice.
[Thanks to Director Do, the executives were able to strengthen their bonds, and thanks to that, the atmosphere at this base is completely different from half a year ago. Instead of a hyena aiming for the Chairwoman’s seat, we’ve become an East-West in the true sense, dreaming of a future together.]
“Are we not comrades or comrades-in-arms?”
[Yes, yes. Comrades. Anyway, it’s been proven that your method is the most effective, so let’s give a proper beating to the S-class and S-class suspects. I’m fine with it.]
“Since you’ve already given your permission…”
[Is there something you’re hesitating about?]
“What should I do if they ask to meet my wife in person?”
[…Hmm. Use my picture then.]
“Your photo is not widely known to the public. Do Ji-hwan is an untouchable figure, won’t there be misunderstandings?”
[Use my true appearance.]
“…Excuse me?”
No.
Wait.
“Do you intend to make me into a sex offender?”
[I’m already a villain, so what difference does a red line make?]
“But it’s not appropriate to leak your true appearance carelessly. The executives only found out at the Christmas party last year.”
[It doesn’t matter. People will continue to see my public face, and only our ‘family’ will know my true self.]
“…Are you including them in the family too?”
[Seeing Director Do relate with these two women among so many, I think it’s okay to let them become family after verifying their intentions. They are S-classes.]
The Chairwoman believed in the supremacy of power.
I was favored because I had demonstrated my ability. The protagonist caught the Chairwoman’s attention in the original work by showing tremendous ability.
“Do you think Baek Seol-hee and Yumir are helpful to your plan, Chairwoman?”
[It doesn’t really matter if they’re not there, but it’s nice if they are. They would be troublesome if they turned against us.]
“You’re saying we must recruit them.”
[If you’re not going to kill them, you have to recruit them. That’s how it goes with these people.]
The Chairwoman had made her policy clear.
[I’m not trying to recruit simply because they’re S-class. I believe in Director Do’s eyes, your intuition, and your choices.]
It was set in the direction of infinite trust towards me.
[Baek Seol-hee, Yumir. Try your best to make them our allies. And it would be great if we could become close enough to cut watermelons together in the valley and spend a night together. Hehe. It seems like you’ll have to exercise hard until Christmas, right? I’m not sure how many people you’ll have to deal with.]
“What do you mean by that?”
[Right now, there are 5 people, plus Baek Seol-hee and Yumir. And if more are added, the number will increase, right? Won’t you have to use some kind of Goblin cloning technique in the future?]
“That wouldn’t be polite. Treating people with clones.”
A clone was just a fake.
It was deceptive to treat someone who was sincere towards me with a fake version of myself.
[……It does sound somewhat strange when Manager Do says it, but it is okay. I trust Manager Do, so contact me whenever you need my help.]
“Of course. But, Chairwoman.”
I asked carefully.
“Um, is it okay to reveal the ‘gold’ you gave me to others?”
[…….]
The Chairwoman fell silent.
[That…. umm.]
I could hear the sound of her rubbing her clothes.
[I’ll reveal it when we meet next Christmas, so until then, please figure it out yourself. It’s okay to lie, make excuses, or even tell the truth.]
“But, Chairwoman.”
[Even if you told the truth and they still rushed into an affair, that would indeed be amazing. Okay. Let’s do that. Manager Do? It’s an order.]
The Chairwoman commanded me while letting out a soft laugh.
[Enjoy yourself freely until next Christmas. After that, you won’t be able to go anywhere even if you want to.]
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