WeTried Translations

Translator: Yasi

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Precious Demon King

Chapter 89: Difference in Position

"W-What do you mean you quit?!"

Lee Mina's steps halted. Betrayal showed on her face.

No way, Team Leader Cheon Yubeom! Was he really such a person weak to temptation?

"No, I don't mean I'm going somewhere else."

"Then what?"

"I mean I'm leaving the Hunter Management Bureau."

"That's the same thing!"

Was he planning to go to the Middle East for the money? Or to the United States? Like Yang Minchan, to China?

"I'm going to serve the Special Advisor."

"Huh?"

At that completely unexpected answer, Lee Mina's voice came out drained.

"But then it's the same as now!"

"No. The affiliation will be different."

What was this, wordplay? Lee Mina searched his face, but he was nothing but serious.

"I won't be serving the Special Advisor from the bureau's side. I'll truly follow him from now on."

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the current Cheon Yubeom was reborn.

"This is my destiny."

The wandering paladin had finally found his purpose.

"..."

Lee Mina's face became complicated. Knowing her worries, Cheon Yubeom spoke gently.

"Stay in the Hunter Management Bureau, Deputy Director Lee."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because someone has to."

A bridge between Kim Junyong and the Hunter Management Bureau was needed. The one who could do that best was Lee Mina.

"Hahh. Should we just form a guild with the Special Advisor as leader?"

"He wouldn't like that."

"..."

That was true as well.

"Argh! Fine."

Lee Mina kicked the ground hard.

"You're going to the bureau, right?"

"I'll wrap things up and then go."

"Eh, okay."

Before heading home, the two made their way to the Hunter Management Bureau. They were welcomed by the HR staff, who were still working, as well as by Park Taejun and Choi Hyunju.

Seeing the tension beneath their bright smiles made Cheon Yubeom want to tease them.

"Deputy Bureau Director, let's have a meeting."

"Okay."

Park Taejun, Choi Hyunju, Cheon Yubeom, and Lee Mina sat down. Lee Mina was the first to speak.

"I'm staying."

"That's grea–! Wha...what?"

Park Taejun cut himself off. Did that mean Cheon Yubeom was leaving? As the uneasy gaze turned to Cheon Yubeom, he smiled warmly.

"I will follow the Special Advisor."

"But you could just keep doing what you're doing now."

"I'm making my position clear."

Cheon Yubeom spoke seriously.

"If the bureau's interests ever conflict with the Special Advisor's, I will no longer stand on the bureau's side."

"...Huh, what a thing."

Park Taejun didn't know what to do. These were the words of Cheon Yubeom, now second in the world rankings.

"Deputy Bureau Director, say something."

When Park Taejun nudged her, Choi Hyunju sighed and spoke.

"Look at Team Leader Cheon's eyes. Does he look like someone you could hold back?"

"...."

Choi Hyunju didn't think the situation was that bad. He wasn't going anywhere else–he would be beside the Special Advisor. In any case, he would still be affiliated with South Korea.

"Are you planning to form a guild?"

The once solitary Special Advisor now had someone at his side. And that someone was a giant who had become rank two in the world. If he decided to expand his influence, the strongest organization on Earth would be born.

"Is there really a need for that?"

Receiving divine power had given Cheon Yubeom some understanding of Special Advisor Kim Junyong's intentions.

"Please contact me through Jun Dragon Kitchen."

"...."

"Since actively hunting is his will, you will surely have many occasions to call me."

"...Understood."

"Then I'll take my leave."

"Already?"

"It's not like we won't see each other again. It's better to settle things quickly."

Cheon Yubeom bowed his head and left.

Ding–

[ Special Advisor Support Division Group Chat ]

– Team Leader Cheon Yubeom has left the chat.

"Hahh."

Choi Hyunju let out a deep sigh. It was a pity. If he had chosen to stay, Choi Hyunju was someone who would even have yielded the Deputy Bureau Director position to him.

"Lee Mina."

"Yes."

"Thank you for deciding to stay."

"Haha, well, someone has to, right?"

Choi Hyunju nodded. They were like a protective shield around the time bomb known as the "Special Advisor," keeping it from exploding.

"As agreed, Chief Director Lee Mina will now be Director-General of the Special Advisor Support Headquarters."

"Please take care of the practical operations yourselves. I'll be out in the field."

"Yes, understood."

Currently, Choi Hyunju's annual salary was seven billion won. Lee Mina's salary was immediately set at six billion won. Due to the nature of her duties, which involve many field dispatches, her additional allowances would be considerable.

In the Hunter Management Bureau, Director-General Lee Mina would most likely be the only person with a higher annual salary than external consultant Kim Junyong.

"Then, I'll go rest with my family for a bit."

"Ah, all right. I'll have the details sorted out right away."

"Yes."

"Chief Director Lee."

"Yes?"

Choi Hyunju smiled and held out her hand.

"Thank you. Really."

"It's nothing."

Lee Mina now felt like she could somewhat understand Choi Hyunju's feelings. Her rejection of the enormous sum offered from the Middle East was genuine and fueled by patriotism.

"Let's do our best."

"Yes. And thank you again."

Lee Mina hurried to leave work. It was the first time in a long while that she was going home after work.

* * *

Morning came to Hansan 2-dong.

The unidentified alien monument. The "Conquest Monument" had forced residents to evacuate for safety reasons, but they had now returned.

"What the–? They promised us new houses and stipends, but now they're canceling everything and telling us to go back home! Isn't this a joke?"

"Yeah! Shouldn't we at least protest or something?"

Forced relocation wasn't an option, so the government had offered huge benefits. But now, everything was canceled.

The residents were enraged by the government's reversal, but some thought differently.

"Everyone, don't just think negatively. Look at the bigger picture!"

"Hey, Mister Kim! Do you think Banpo Apartments are some joke, huh?"

"Banpo looks expensive for now, but who knows what will happen later?"

"What do you mean by 'who knows'?"

"They say dungeons won't form around that monument."

"And why is that important?"

"Ah, seriously! Don't you get it? This neighborhood is the safest land in the world!"

"Huh?"

"Don't let anyone tempt you into selling. Just hold on! By the end of the year, prices will have risen so much that you won't even consider the Banpo Apartments anymore."

The residents murmured. Upon hearing this, it sounded reasonable.

The government wasn't stupid. Why would they push relocation when providing shelters would have been enough? The reason was...

Banpo Apartments were the bait!

Since Hansan 2-dong was more valuable, the government tried to encourage relocation by offering these apartments as an incentive. At first, this seemed appealing. However...

"Huh? Then why did they suddenly cancel it?"

"Yeah! If the land price here is going to soar, there's no way the government would just return it to us, right?"

"Wouldn't it be better to go to Banpo before that monument disappears or something?"

The residents stirred again. Kim struck his chest as if in frustration.

"Ah, you all do as you please! As for me, I'm going to cling to this house until I die."

Some harbored a faint hope because of Kim's bold words, while others couldn't stop thinking about the Banpo Apartments. As always, the people of this diverse city made different decisions based on their own values.

Just as Kim had predicted, the real estate market in Hansan 2-dong stirred from that day forward. But it was swiftly struck down by the government.

[ Complete Ban on Foreign Real Estate Transactions in Hansan 2-dong! ]

[ All Loopholes for Corporations and Individuals Blocked. ]

[ Entire Area Designated as Restricted Land Zone, Domestic Deals Also Limited... ]

Along with Kim Seungtae's emergency order, the breaking news was immediately broadcast.

* * *

Presidential Office, South Korea.

"The instructions to review all transaction targets have been completed."

"Those spy bastards are persistent. No doubt they'll try to acquire property using Koreans as fronts, so check that carefully as well."

"Yes, President."

The issue was the acquisition of properties in Hansan 2-dong. Even now, more than half of the shops along the commercial street were suspected of serving as bases for foreign intelligence agents. Allowing them to openly establish nests was unthinkable.

Spies becoming the Special Advisor's neighbors?

Wasn't that a basic act of espionage–making friends to gain access?

"Hmph. What kind of wheeling-and-dealing is this? If possible, have the state purchase everything."

"Yes, President. And you should depart now."

"Hmm, well then."

The private jet carrying the French and Italian presidents had arrived. In just a few hours, he would meet them.

Although the Special Advisor had only taken one trip to Europe, the presidents of the countries he had visited came flocking over. What they wanted was a mutual defense treaty against dimensional invasions. Though they called it mutual assistance, it was really a request for Kim Junyong's support.

This treaty was already being called "South Korean Care" overseas.

Japan, the first target, was experiencing an enormous economic ripple effect.

The Nikkei Index rebounded, tariff talks with the United States concluded amicably, and the dispute over the Senkaku Islands was resolved.

Even the domestic outcry that the prime minister had "sold the country" by surrendering Dokdo and apologizing for historical issues was drowned out by praise.

The Masanobu Mishima administration was soaring with record-high approval ratings.

In particular, as Taiwan declined in every aspect–economically, in terms of security, and in terms of public order–the mutual defense treaty against dimensional invasions drew even more attention.

"No word from China yet?"

"None."

Kim Seungtae smirked.

"Those bastards must be anxious."

This time, three A-rank dungeons appeared. The targets were the United States, France, and China.

A fifteen-day deadline for an A-rank dungeon. Considering exploration, strategy planning, and execution, it was a tight schedule.

As for the United States, a team centered on Vikram had gone forth, and the French dungeon was resolved by the Special Advisor.

"If they keep putting on airs, it'll be a disaster. Yet there's still no word...ha, really."

Kim Seungtae laughed softly and shook his head.

Currently, only two G-rank hunters could support China.

Jabari Okoye in South Africa and Sophie Giraud in France.

It seemed China was trying every possible way to contact them, but there was no progress.

"They'll come soon, won't they?"

The solution was in the neighboring country, but they couldn't easily ask for help because they didn't know what Kim Seungtae might demand in return.

Look at Japan. They had given up everything–liver, gall, and all.

For China, that was the fear. What might Kim Seungtae demand?

"Recent intelligence indicates they're forming their own conquest team."

"Huh, on their own?"

"Yes, they may choose to endure some sacrifices in order to develop their own conquest capability."

Kim Seungtae frowned briefly, then shook his head.

"Try it, then. Whatever."

"...."

"If it doesn't work, they'll contact us, I guess."

The location of the dungeon was truly exquisite.

"Hehe. Of all places, Beijing."

Those bastards must be frantic. Would the Special Advisor like Beijing duck?

* * *

Sunday morning. Yu Jia and Yu Jihun came to Kim Junyong's house.

"Uncle! Breakfast's ready!"

"Oh, okay."

Kim Junyong slumped downstairs and saw that the siblings had gone into the kitchen and made sandwiches.

"Wow, these turned out great!"

"Hehe, we followed a YouTube tutorial."

Kim Junyong chuckled and took a bite of the sandwich.

"Uncle, what are you doing today?"

"Today?"

He didn't have any particular plans. Ah, should he go summon Malsun?

His black mana core had grown enough to summon her.

Just then, a guest arrived in the yard.

Flash.

"Huh? Uncle Yoichi?"

"Hey, Yu Jihun!"

Yoichi Sasaki stood there, beaming innocently, with a large backpack on his back.

"What, did you run away from home?"

Yoichi Sasaki set his bag down with a thud, then collapsed to his knees in front of Kim Junyong and bowed his head.

A flimsy excuse like "vacation" wouldn't suffice.

"Please accept me!"

"Accept you for what?"

"Please allow me to train by Hyungnim's side!"

"Huh."

At the word "train," Yu Jia's eyes sparkled as she munched her sandwich.

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