Chapter 137

Chapter 137
## Chapter 137: A Call with the President

There is a specific set of protocols one is required to navigate before holding a conversation with the President of South Korea. It isn’t a simple matter, certainly not as casual as requesting a delivery of jajangmyeon to a park during the workday. As we made our way back toward Paju, I pulled out my phone to begin the process. The most direct path to the head of state, for someone in my position, was through the Association President.

—What is the reason for this sudden request to speak with His Excellency the President?

The Association President didn’t waste a second, firing that question off the moment he picked up. It struck me as odd—are they back to using “His Excellency” instead of just Mr. President? It feels like we’re sliding backward in time. Then again, perhaps that was just the Association President’s personal choice of address.

“I’ve got some pressing matters that need his direct attention,” I replied.

There was no need for him to know the specifics. If his curiosity was truly burning that much, he could go ahead and investigate it on his own dime.

—I can submit the formal request, but whether he accepts is entirely up to His Excellency. What are you looking for, a dinner invitation or something of that nature?

“No. A simple phone conversation will be plenty.”

We aren’t on friendly enough terms to be breaking bread together. If I’m being honest, the relationship between me and the government is fairly prickly. Thinking on it, that probably implies the Association doesn’t have much affection for me either.

“I won’t go into details with you, but this isn’t a social call. Just inform the president that if he wants to prevent the nation from falling into total ruin, he would be very smart to take this call.”

—Watch it, Yoo Chan-seok. That sounds an awful lot like a threat.

“I trust you to wrap it in more diplomatic language. Besides, it’s not like I’m the one who’s going to be doing the ruining.”

It sounded like the Association President wanted to pry further, but I had said my piece, so I cut the connection.

“Do you honestly think the president is going to call you back?”

Jeong O-hun asked the question from the passenger seat; he’d clearly been eavesdropping on the whole exchange.

“He’ll call. Even the man running South Korea can find sixty seconds for a phone call.”

Han Sang-ah, who was focused on the road from the driver’s seat, added her own perspective.

“Given where we stand now, I’m willing to bet the Blue House would offer us the royal treatment for a weekend stay if we asked.”

“I hear you, just keep your eyes on the road!”

Jeong O-hun barked at her, sounding genuinely stressed.

“I don’t see the problem. Even if this vehicle hit the barrier and turned into a tin can, none of us would have a mark on us.”

“It’s terrifying even if it doesn’t kill you! You just don’t get it.”

Han Sang-ah gave a small, dismissive click of her tongue at Jeong O-hun’s anxiety, continuing to steer the car with a single hand. As I sat back and watched Han Sang-ah’s aggressive driving style to kill time, my smartphone finally vibrated.

“Private number.”

The screen displayed a nonsensical string of twenty-five digits. I had a very strong suspicion about who was on the other end.

“I’ve picked up the line.”

—Hunter Yoo Chan-seok. I would have much preferred an in-person meeting if possible. Our previous dinner was quite a pleasant affair, after all.

Once I recognized the voice, I kept my tone purposefully light and upbeat.

“I’d enjoy that as well, but we are both busy men. I’m satisfied that we can at least touch base like this.”

—The feeling is mutual. It’s a pleasure to speak again, even if it is only over the phone.

We traded those brief pleasantries. If this conversation were a physical duel, that opening was the equivalent of testing each other’s reach with light sword taps before the real fight started.

—The reports have reached me. Taking care of Jaun Valley and now successfully managing Samhyeol-dong. Headhunter truly lives up to the reputation of being a national hero for Korea.

As I listened to the polished, smooth delivery of President Jo Won-hun, I let out a soft snort of amusement.

“The stories say that dictators have a distaste for heroes. But since Korea is a democracy regardless of what anyone claims, I suppose it shouldn’t be an issue.”

—Naturally. Who could possibly argue against the massive impact Headhunter has had on Korea’s growth?

There was a short beat of silence. Then President Jo Won-hun shifted gears.

—So, what is the specific reason you reached out through the Association President today?

He wanted to get straight to it? Fine by me. I’d give him the news raw and heavy, exactly as he asked.

“Gonsalok in Beijing is planning an offensive against Korea.”

—I beg your pardon?

He heard me just fine, so the “pardon” was unnecessary. I did exactly what he wanted by jumping to the point—why act shocked?

“To put it plainly, Samhyeol-dong shared a mutual defense agreement with Gonsalok. With Samhyeol-dong wiped out, Gonsalok is going to retaliate.”

I couldn’t make it any simpler than that. A heavy thumping sound came through the phone, sounding like someone hitting a desk.

—Ah, my apologies. I nearly knocked over my water.

That was a lie. Spilling water doesn’t sound like someone hammering a desk.

—A mutual defense agreement? So the creatures within the erosion zones actually maintain those types of political ties.

“It was a shock to me too. More accurately, the relationship is like an emperor and a vassal, or a monarch and a lord.”

Regardless of the terminology, the probability of Gonsalok launching a strike on Korea to avenge the fall of Samhyeol-dong was incredibly high.

—Then, by attacking Samhyeol-dong in the first place, haven’t you essentially planted the seeds for this crisis?

I knew that line of reasoning was coming.

“Are you suggesting I should have predicted that monsters in erosion zones have sister-city treaties? Even President Jo Won-hun seemed caught off guard by the news.”

He wasn’t about to argue that a simple hunter should possess intelligence that the President of Korea lacks, right?

—Lack of knowledge does not erase accountability. You cannot simply hide behind ‘good intentions’ here. Headhunter, the three of you have placed the entire nation in jeopardy.

“Even if you threw us in a cell, Gonsalok would still be coming.”

It’s like a major exam. It arrives on schedule whether you’ve studied or not. And as for accountability, I actually agreed. Those who plant the crop should be the ones to harvest it.

“Headhunter is looking for support from the Chinese provisional government to neutralize Gonsalok. From the perspective of the Korean government, you wouldn’t want the actual fighting to happen on the peninsula, would you?”

There are three ways to get to Beijing: cross the sea, move south through Manchuria, or land in Nanning where the provisional government is located and push upward. Manchuria was a non-starter. We couldn’t turn the land currently being developed after Jaun Valley into a war zone. The sea route? One wrong move and the entire strike force ends up at the bottom of the ocean.

President Jo Won-hun considered my point before responding.

—If that’s the case, you should have reached out to the Chinese provisional government, not to me.

“The situation is a bit more tangled than that.”

President Jo Won-hun gave a quiet, knowing chuckle.

—Beijing is technically Chinese territory. That is as much a fact as Seoul being Korean land.

“There has never been a period in the history of the world where ‘common sense’ was the deciding factor.”

In the current climate, what the Korean government thought carried more weight than what the public considered common sense. If Korea actually managed to wipe out Gonsalok, they would effectively take control of Beijing and its surrounding areas—effectively the entire Central Plains.

“If the Korean government takes the lead in mobilizing our hunters to deal with Gonsalok in Beijing, would the Chinese provisional government really be in a position to claim it as their sovereign territory?”

—That is difficult to say. I wouldn’t want to give a definitive opinion on that right now.

That response was all I needed. At the very least, Beijing would end up in a situation like the old Hong Kong. Perhaps a 99-year lease or something similar. And the Chinese provisional government undoubtedly understood the way Korea was thinking. They would never just hand over Beijing and the Central Plains just to get rid of Gonsalok. They would likely refuse to cooperate at all.

“Taking everything into account, even if I requested help from the Nanjing provisional government, they would almost certainly turn me down.”

—So you want to use force, like you did with the warlords in Europe?

What was he talking about? The European warlords and the Chinese provisional government are two very different things. The provisional government is a recognized entity. It has the official right to represent China.

“Are you suggesting a single hunter should go and bully a national government?”

A hunter putting direct pressure on the Chinese government would look terrible. It would be an act of disrespect far beyond simple “interference in internal affairs.” Furthermore, if Headhunter were to lean on the provisional government directly, how would other world governments see us? Like lunatics who bow to governments only when it’s convenient. That kind of reputation would do nothing but damage Headhunter’s brand.

“That is why I’m asking for a bit of assistance from our gracious President Uncle here.”

He wasn’t particularly gracious, and he was more of a dictator than a president, but it didn’t matter. As long as it served our ends, I was happy to call him a gracious President Uncle.

—I seem to remember you claiming you had zero interest in the world of politics.

“I don’t see how any of this is political.”

Taking down Gonsalok is a task too massive for Headhunter to handle alone, and certainly too much for corporations like Zanabi, Mugunghwa, or Taebaek. We needed the Korean government to get into gear, and the destruction of Samhyeol-dong provided the perfect motivation. It was all for the goal of striking the erosion cores.

“If I have committed a sin, it is only my attempt to wipe every last erosion core off the face of the planet.”

If that really qualified as a crime, I supposed I deserved to spend my life in prison.

—Well… I have no desire to be steered around by a lone hunter. However, it seems there aren’t any better paths available. Very well.

I knew those words had to be taken with a grain of salt. He was only agreeing to participate in the event I had orchestrated because there was no other choice. If a better opportunity presented itself, the man currently dancing with me would slide a knife into my ribs without a second thought.

“I appreciate it.”

—Hunter Yoo Chan-seok. Please keep one thing in mind. This situation puts the Korean government in an incredibly difficult position. I cannot hide my frustration.

Good grief. This man has a strange way of expressing himself.

“Is the formal language really necessary? I’m not a visiting diplomat.”

—I’m actually quite angry. If you keep pushing the Korean government like this, the outcome won’t be pleasant for you.

Finally, he was using words that actually reflected his mood.

“Don’t be too upset. If this succeeds, it’s going to be a win for Korea, right?”

That small piece of land is currently home to 300 million people. When you factor in all the foreign nationals, Korea is essentially at its breaking point. We need more room to spread the population out, like spreading jam across a piece of toast.

—Naturally, success would do much to calm my temper. But if this fails… Hunter Yoo Chan-seok, I cannot say what I might do then.

“That sounds intimidating. Let’s both make sure we’re well-prepared so it doesn’t come to that.”

For this specific operation, the Korean government would manage the logistics and the command of the hunters. Headhunter would function under the government’s direct supervision. Of course, we weren’t going to act like dogs on a leash. But for the sake of appearances, that was the deal.

After I hung up and slid the phone back into my pocket, Jeong O-hun rubbed his eyes with his fingers.

“Sucking up to the Korean president.”

“What’s the issue with that? He’s just a public servant chosen by the people, after all.”

I’m not sure how they truly feel, but that’s the line everyone uses. Even the president uses it himself.

“What kind of master spends their time worrying about the servant’s mood?”

In the world I came from, if a master started catering to a servant’s whims, that servant would have been executed on the spot.

“That’s just proof that the president isn’t actually a servant of the people.”

That was Han Sang-ah’s blunt takeaway.

“Either way, President Jo Won-hun is going to take care of securing cooperation from the provisional government.”

Plus, with the government taking the lead on the hunter mobilization this time, we won’t have to stress about a lack of personnel or supplies at all.