Chapter 8 – A Battle of Schemes and Tricks
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After withstanding Yong Tae-soo’s attacks for over ten minutes, I was finally able to have a proper ‘conversation.’
“─At that moment, the woman mercenary with full-body tattoos suddenly killed all the party members.”
I am currently having a conversation with Human Resources Officer Ma Gwang-jin in his office on the 7th floor.
The topic is what happened in today’s dungeon.
It was something I was supposed to report to Yong Tae-soo, but due to the circumstances, I now had the chance to report it directly to Ma Gwang-jin.
‘Just as planned.’
“So, you’re saying that mercenary was a Red Hunter?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. This is my mistake. I apologize.”
Ma Gwang-jin stood up from his seat and bowed his head to me.
For someone like me, who couldn’t even voice any objections when being treated unfairly just a day ago, it was a refreshing experience.
【Huh? Yujin, weren’t you getting mistreated here? How did things end up like this?】
‘Because I’ve regained my abilities. It’s all thanks to you, Prill.’
The recovered abilities are completely mine, but it was also because Prill granted me the “Authority: One Punch” skill.
【Oh, whatever! Thanks to you, I’m getting to see lots of interesting things. Hehe.】
Prill seemed to be enjoying the outside world.
I hadn’t done much for her, but she was quite content exploring and observing everything on her own.
That was fortunate for me, as I had more pressing matters to attend to.
【But Yujin, is this world also a meritocracy?】
‘I can’t deny it.’
The way Lee Se-han treated me versus the way Ma Gwang-jin treats me is a night-and-day difference.
Prill probably brought up meritocracy because of that exact reason.
Back then, I was officially just a porter, and now, I’m being acknowledged as a 3-star Hunter.
“So, after all the Hunters in Team 8 were killed by the Red Hunter, you awakened?”
“That’s right.”
“I see. Understood.”
I adjusted the story appropriately.
There was no need to reveal my history as someone who, despite being an Awakener, had to live as a non-Awakener.
“And to be a 3-star Hunter immediately after awakening… That’s an incredible talent. I’m envious.”
The ‘negotiation’ was going smoothly.
No, it was going beyond smooth to the point that it was almost nauseating.
“To think our Ironclad Faction had such talent. I apologize for not noticing earlier.”
“Well, I was just a porter…”
“In fact, I had been keeping an eye on you for some time. Even among the porters, you stood out quite a bit.”
“……”
When? I almost asked, but swallowed the words back down.
Ma Gwang-jin was doing everything he could to flatter me.
Not only was he using formal language, but he was also showering me with compliments over the smallest things.
“By the way, that sword….”
“This? I obtained it in the dungeon after my awakening.”
“Hmm… It wasn’t on the equipment list of the Team 8 Hunters, so that checks out.”
“Thank you for trusting me.”
“Not at all, haha.”
The ownership of the Everfrost Sword was acknowledged without any fuss.
Normally, there would’ve been an annoying back-and-forth about whether I had truly obtained it, what its grade was, etc.
‘It just shows how important it is for them to keep me in a good mood.’
Honestly, I knew it shouldn’t, but I couldn’t help feeling good about it.
【Wow, Yujin, were you always this amazing?】
Even Prill let out a sigh of admiration.
Being acknowledged didn’t feel bad at all.
But.
‘Let’s keep calm.’
I restrained my emotions as much as possible.
I had to remain calm.
The moment I fell for this flattery, my life would get tangled up.
“In that sense, I’d like to propose a new contract.”
“Go ahead.”
After a preface full of compliments, the main topic finally came up.
“A 3-star Hunter contract.”
Ma Gwang-jin handed me a thick stack of contract papers.
“It’s time for you to receive the treatment of a proper Hunter, not a porter.”
He smiled at me with a look of expectation.
This must have been the main point all along.
All that buttering up was just to lay the groundwork for this moment.
The Ironclad Faction was in dire need of a 3-star Hunter right now.
Up until now, the atmosphere at the negotiation table had been perfect.
Everyone was smiling and laughing, as if I was about to receive an unbelievable offer.
“I’ll read through the contract first.”
“Ah, come on. You don’t need to go that far. Just trust me and sign it. I’ll make sure you’re treated well!”
“Is that so?”
“I’m Ma Gwang-jin, a man of trust and integrity. I promise to provide the best treatment for Hunter Kim Yujin.”
Ma Gwang-jin pounded his chest confidently, making bold declarations.
‘He must think I’m just some naïve kid.’
I mean, sure.
If I were a young, inexperienced Hunter who’d just awakened, I might’ve fallen for it.
Getting showered with all sorts of sweet words and then being presented with a contract.
“Why not sign it? What could go wrong?” is what I might have thought as I carelessly put down my signature.
‘But I’ve lived through too much to fall for that.’
The past ten years were anything but easy for me.
I’d faced countless hardships, and among them…
‘I had no idea there’d be so many adults trying to scam kids like me.’
There were plenty of people out to trick me.
Having lived through all that, I wasn’t about to fall for some sweet talk and sign the dotted line.
“I’ll still read through it.”
“…Don’t you trust me?”
Ma Gwang-jin showed a hint of displeasure on his face.
That was an attempt to guilt-trip me into compliance.
‘I don’t trust you.’
But I didn’t show that on the outside.
“I’ll just skim through it, skim.”
“…Well, if you insist.”
Thus, I skimmed through the contract.
【Ugh! My head hurts!】
Prill, who was looking at the contract alongside me, screamed.
‘What a twisted mess.’
I felt the same.
They could have easily written it in simpler terms, but the contract was intentionally complicated.
There were numerous expressions that could be interpreted in different ways depending on the situation.
Still, there was one thing I could clearly understand.
【So, this is good, right?】
‘No.’
【…It’s not?】
‘Prill, never sign a contract anywhere.’
【Ugh, this is bringing back bad memories…….】
This contract was an unfair slave contract.
The signing bonus and base salary were disappointing enough, but there were also many hidden toxic clauses.
Clauses like having to return the signing bonus if they weren’t satisfied, or unconditional contract extensions.
‘Did they really think I’d sign something like this?’
They must have thought I was an easy mark.
“The terms of this contract are a bit disappointing.”
“Th-that’s so?”
Ma Gwang-jin’s eyes flickered.
“Yes. The amount and some of these terms….”
I pointed out a few sections.
“Hmm… Those terms apply to all contracts in the Ironclad Faction, so it’s difficult to revise them. Also, Team Leader Yong Tae-soo mentioned that Hunter Kim Yujin isn’t exactly a typical 3-star Hunter.”
Unlike earlier, when he was flattering me, Ma Gwang-jin began subtly putting me down this time.
‘So what you’re saying is, I should be grateful even for a contract like this at my level, right?’
Honestly, it was irritating.
Who wouldn’t be annoyed to see someone trying to take advantage of them?
But whatever.
I got what I needed.
“Alright.”
“Then, will you sign the contract…?”
I stood up and said,
“I won’t be signing it.”
“What!?”
Ma Gwang-jin looked up at me in shock.
He probably didn’t expect me to walk away from the table this quickly.
But for me, it was only natural.
【Wait, so you never intended to sign it from the start!?】
‘Bingo.’
I never had any intention of signing a contract with this trashy place.
【Scum! You just toyed with them!】
‘Sorry, but they’re the original trash here.’
【…?】
Back when I was being exploited as a porter.
The ones who mainly tormented me were the Hunters from Team 8, who were effectively my direct superiors.
‘But that doesn’t mean they were the only scum.’
Other than them, there was Lee Se-han, the supply officer who made me beg for Mana Suppressant, and other Hunters from different teams who would pick fights with me whenever I crossed paths with them.
From the beginning, this place had that kind of atmosphere.
Porters were treated as less than human.
And.
‘Ma Gwang-jin. This bastard knew all of that and just let it happen.’
No, he even subtly encouraged it.
A thorough merit-based treatment system.
So, porters without abilities were seen as deserving of such treatment.
The resentment I had built up over the past few years wasn’t something that would easily be forgotten.
Of course, now I’m in a position to be treated better.
‘But I’ll never accept being treated like this.’
Seeing them still trying to deceive and take advantage of me killed any inclination I had left.
“W-why all of a sudden…?”
Yet, he still seemed reluctant to let go and tried to hold on to me.
“Are you asking because you don’t know?”
“I’m telling you, these terms are quite reasonable.”
“I’m not signing.”
I smiled as I refused again.
At that moment, it seemed Ma Gwang-jin finally realized something.
“…So, you never intended to sign from the start.”
His tone reverted back to informal language.
Yeah.
This was more like the Ironclad Faction I knew.
“You’re slower than I expected.”
The ‘negotiation’ I had intended wasn’t about getting favourable terms as a Hunter… It was never about that.
All I wanted was to have my legitimate rights acknowledged without complications.
“I trust you’ll handle the distribution of half the items from the deceased Hunters fairly.”
“You, you…!”
What I meant by ‘my rights’ was the rightful ownership of the Everfrost Sword I acquired with my own power, and the items I painstakingly recovered from the deceased Hunters in the dungeon.
They were legally mine, but if these bastards decided to challenge me, it would become a real headache, given my weaker standing.
So I leveraged Ma Gwang-jin’s desire to secure a Hunter contract with me, and used that to claim those rights smoothly.
“Oh, and by the way, it’s all recorded, so I suggest you don’t go back on your word.”
I waved an old feature phone with the recording function on.
With this, I’d ensured that my rights were protected through proper procedures.
Of course, getting everything in hand might still require a bit more hassle, but.
‘At least I’ve secured my initial capital.’
It went pretty well.
And then.
“You… you damned porter, after I treated you so well…!”
Ma Gwang-jin was furious.
“How dare you play with me? Do you have a death wish?”
However, he was merely a 1-star Hunter.
One who never even trained properly after awakening.
He couldn’t overpower me with strength.
“As the Human Resources Officer, I’ll discipline Kim Yujin of Team 8……”
So, all he could do were things like this. But, in reality, even this was beyond his reach.
“I quit.”
“What!?”
“I’m resigning.”
“You think quitting is that easy─”
“Porters are on contract, so yes, it is easy.”
“Ugh…!”
Ma Gwang-jin’s face flushed as if it were about to burst.
‘Who asked you to hire me as a contractor in the first place?’
The porters in the Ironclad Faction are not regular employees.
At that time, I thought it was a bad deal because it didn’t guarantee job security, but now it worked in my favour.
It was a blessing in disguise.
With this, Ma Gwang-jin had no legal means to mess with me.
“If there’s nothing more, I’ll take my leave.”
I heard his teeth grinding, but I ignored it.
I’ve already resigned, and there’s no reason for me to stay here any longer.
‘Should I take my share of items…? I guess it’s better to get them right away.’
The relationship with the Ironclad Faction, which was never good, was now beyond repair.
Considering that, it was best to collect my share immediately.
I didn’t want to come back here again.
I turned around and opened the door to leave.
At that moment.
‘…!’
Something rushed toward my face, and I instinctively raised my arm.
BAM!
A powerful impact hit my arm.
I was thrown back into the room.
“Kugh… What the hell?”
I barely managed to block it, but my arm throbbed painfully from the intense shock.
【It’s that musclehead from earlier!】
It was Yong Tae-soo.
“Team Leader Yong!”
“HR Officer.”
Yong Tae-soo didn’t even glance at the excited Ma Gwang-jin.
His gaze was fixated solely on me.
“I overheard from outside. So, I can kill this guy now, right?”
“W-well…”
Ma Gwang-jin hesitated to respond.
Right.
No matter how messed up the law is in this world, people can’t just casually talk about killing someone outside a dungeon─
“Never mind. I’ll just kill him. Clean up the mess.”
“……!”
“……!”
But Yong Tae-soo couldn’t care less about such adult matters.
I unconsciously made eye contact with Ma Gwang-jin.
He looked just as shocked.
But he showed no intention of stepping in to stop this.
Does he really think it’s not necessary to intervene?
‘Damn it. Sigh.’
I looked at the approaching Yong Tae-soo while suppressing my irritation.
He held a massive axe in his hand, slowly closing in on me.
His demeanour was completely different from before, when he didn’t use any weapons.
“Do your best. If what you showed earlier was everything you’ve got, you’ll die.”
A strangely delighted smile played on his lips.
It seemed like a fight was unavoidable.
“…Ha, shit.”
So, this is how it ends up.
One of the most troublesome scenarios I had anticipated.
Still, there was no need to give in.
I stared straight at the relentless Yong Tae-soo and spat out my words.
“Fuck off.”
“Kuhahahahaha! Then let’s see if you can back up those words!”
With a roar of laughter, the massive axe swung horizontally toward me.
Whoooosh──!
—
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