He felt a brief sense of camaraderie when the plan to screw over the government succeeded, but it was time to return to a business relationship.
“Shall we hear what kind of terms Korea is offering me?”
Ever since he surpassed the 5th floor, major countries around the world had been openly courting him.
Ordinary conditions wouldn’t even register with Minhyuk.
Compared to the United States, the pinnacle of capitalism, or China, a paradise for those in power, there wasn’t much Korea could do.
‘I shouldn’t approach this as a simple reward.’
Park Young-hwan, recalling the advice Cheon Tae-san had given him, spoke with a serious expression.
“No matter what we propose, it will surely fall short compared to the offers you’ve already received.”
Park Young-hwan admitted this honestly.
Even starting from zero, the conditions were unfavorable compared to other nations, and yet the government had forced them to start from the negatives.
Therefore, he couldn’t even whine and beg him to stay.
“Still, we have prepared our best.”
He placed a proposal on the table that listed only the things already finalized.
Tax exemptions.
Awarding the Gold Crown Order of Cultural Merit for raising Korea’s prestige.
Highest-tier protocols for his entire family.
Granting Minhyuk a portion of the transaction fees from the lower floors.
He briefly explained other benefits that high-ranking hunters typically received.
“For your information, we plan to establish a Special Class Medal above the First Class Guardian Medal, which only the SS-class Cheon Tae-san has received.”
“You mean you’ll provide treatment above the SS-class?”
When Minhyuk asked with a slightly surprised expression, Park Young-hwan gave a small nod.
“Hunter Cheon Tae-san has already agreed to this, so there is no issue.”
“Heh…”
Minhyuk, admiring the offer with a look of surprise, looked at Park Young-hwan and asked, “You aren’t mentioning anything related to the 10th floor.”
“I believe it won’t be too late to discuss that once you have fully chosen Korea.”
“Hmm…”
Looking at Park Young-hwan, Minhyuk thought the man had planned this quite well.
Honestly, since his wealth already exceeded 10 trillion won, he wasn’t greedy for more money.
Even if he received more benefits, he didn’t think anything would change dramatically.
Park Young-hwan knew this too.
That was why he didn’t whine or cling; he simply stated the facts and quietly waited for Minhyuk’s judgment.
“To be honest, I am well aware that Korea is currently a negative for you.”
Even if Minhyuk had lost all affection for a country that had fumbled not once, but several times, there would be nothing to say.
Park didn’t even have the courage to try and stop him if he decided to leave right now.
Minhyuk spoke honestly to him as well.
“Truthfully, if nothing changes even after I took the risk of revealing my identity, it will be difficult for me to stay.”
Minhyuk had moved while risking being targeted by villains for a reason.
This incompetent government didn’t understand moderate warnings.
Even after he warned them through a post on Hunternet, hadn’t things reached this point because they tried to cover it up by just punishing a few people?
They would only move if they felt the crisis of him actually leaving for another country.
If they still didn’t act, he was truly considering moving to the United States or Europe.
“If that happens, we intend to help you seek asylum in a better place.”
Even if it came to that, if they left Minhyuk with a good impression of Korea, they could hope for a future connection.
Park Young-hwan, who had planned for the worst-case scenario, brought out another proposal.
“In the future, there will be many villains targeting you and your family. Therefore, we would like to host you in a safer location.”
“The Mansion of Masters.”
“Yes.”
Looking at the area where Korea’s core figures were gathered, it was a place guarded by elite forces, ranging from Hunter Management Bureau agents to national intelligence agents.
It was nicknamed the ‘Mansion of Masters’ because Korea’s master craftsmen were all gathered there, but in reality, it was a place where people from various fields resided.
Artisans and experts from each field.
High-ranking hunters above the 45th floor.
High-ranking officials whom the state must protect.
It was a place where all such individuals were gathered.
Even politicians could not enter unless they were certified by the National Assembly.
Perhaps that was why even chaebol families hoped to move in.
Although they carried their own security, it was difficult to receive protection of this caliber.
“For your case, we would like to host you in an even more special location.”
“…Isn’t this right next to the Hunter Management Bureau?”
“Yes. It is a top-tier luxury hotel used by S-class hunters and above who are on standby, as well as visitors dispatched from the World Association and SS-class individuals. We intend to vacate an entire floor to provide it exclusively for you.”
He could feel the government’s determination to completely block any chance of a villain approaching Minhyuk, who was now the most important person in Korea.
Just then, a secretary waiting nearby handed a tablet to the Director.
It contained information regarding Minhyuk’s family.
“This is… something I thought of in a hurry, but if your father is willing to sell his company, how about we acquire it?”
“Mmm…!”
Because of security issues, Minhyuk had also hoped his family would stop working and live comfortably with the money he earned.
But there was one problem.
“I know what you’re worried about.”
Currently, Choi Jin-hyung’s company was at a low point.
Whether it would sink further or rebound depended on how the government acted.
In this situation, if the Hunter Management Bureau bought it at a high price just to stay in Minhyuk’s good graces, people would talk.
Minhyuk hated the idea of creating a situation where rumors could start later.
“The reason the industry has reached this state is because of the Monster Management Center. Therefore, we plan to place the companies in difficult situations under the umbrella of the Hunter Management Bureau and manage them.”
“Is that possible?”
“The government and the World Association have agreed to help. Funding will not be an issue.”
To fulfill their moral responsibility, they planned to purchase and merge the companies, and they were offering to include Minhyuk’s father’s company in that process.
As for Minhyuk’s younger sister, they recommended she pursue her doctoral studies at the Monster Research Institute under the Hunter Management Bureau.
They also decided to leave the money they already had with the Bureau.
There was no need to withdraw it if they would grow it for them.
“Everything is finished now. All that’s left is to watch.”
Park Young-hwan nodded quietly at those words, then opened his mouth cautiously as if he had one last thing to ask.
“If… if it’s alright, could we proceed with the move right away?”
“Hmm… Then I should contact my family first. They don’t know that I’ve awakened yet.”
Minhyuk spoke with a bitter smile and looked at his phone.
During the short time he was talking with the Director, dozens of missed calls had piled up.
The messages were a mess, coming from friends he barely remembered to distant relatives.
Thinking he would have to get a new phone later, he called his father first.
“Father?”
—Is this Minhyuk? Is that really you on the news right now?
“Yes. I couldn’t tell you in advance because I was worried you’d be concerned.”
The moment he apologized, he heard his mother’s voice over the phone, followed by his sister’s voice, who seemed to have rushed home.
—You awakened when we met last time, didn’t you! You should have told us then!—
—Son! You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?—
Everyone was scolding him for not speaking up sooner.
It was nagging filled with worry, so he had to accept it without a word, but it felt like his ears were going to bleed if he stayed like this.
He looked at Park Young-hwan to administer a sedative to calm his furious family.
‘Please send 10 billion won to each of them.’
As he wrote the words on the table with his finger, the quick-witted Park Young-hwan immediately nodded.
He instructed his secretary to withdraw 10 billion won from Minhyuk’s account and transfer it to the family members.
“Please check your accounts for a moment.”
—Money is the issue here! No parent brags about their child making good money while sending them into a dangerous place!—
His father’s voice, which had been shouting about whether money was the issue, suddenly cut off.
His mother and sister’s voices were the same.
The family suddenly became quiet.
Thinking they were now ready to listen to him, Minhyuk cleared his throat and began his explanation.
He told them he had become a target for villains, that he wanted them to move as quickly as possible, and that he even wanted them to sell the company.
“It’s dangerous, so I’d like you to move as early as today. How does that sound?”
—Ahem! My shoulders haven’t been feeling great lately, so this works out well.—
—My joints were feeling a bit stiff, so this is good timing.—
—Wow… with this much, do I even need a PhD? Should I just… get a job as a homebody?—
Minhyuk, looking relieved by his family’s positive response, gave a small nod to Park Young-hwan.
—Still, you mustn’t do anything dangerous.—
“Yes. I know. Don’t worry.”
The call ended with the promise to meet after the move was finished.
“Fortunately, I’ve received permission.”
“That is a relief. In that case, we will proceed with the move immediately.”
“Yes.”
The moment permission was granted, the secretary went outside to relay the decisions to the agents.
Minhyuk moved instantly from a shabby room to one that would put top-tier luxury hotels to shame.
“This is nice.”
Minhyuk, who had come straight from the Hunter Management Bureau to the place that would be his new home, looked around with a surprised expression.
“It’s a place where only the highest-ranking officials from the World Association stay briefly,” explained Minhye, who had accompanied him as a guide.
Minhyuk wore a burdened expression.
“Hmm… I’ll have to find a house later.”
“What are you talking about? This is for your exclusive use. It’s basically your home.”
Telling him to think of it like an apartment, Minhye led him to the restaurant, saying the food there was amazing.
While he was adjusting to his new home, the entire world was in an uproar.
Everyone was covering the identity of Anonymous.
Of course, the tone varied by country.
In the United States and China, which had a chance of recruiting him…
[Hunter Choi Minhyuk is exhausted by Korea’s corruption. There’s a possibility he may seek a new home…]
[Hunter Choi Minhyuk is disappointed in Korea! He is likely to find a place that will treat him properly!]
Articles like these were published.
On the other hand, countries with almost no chance of recruiting him pointed out a crucial point.
[Villains must be blocked first…]
[For the sake of the 10th-floor base authority, the World Association must prioritize his management!]
[Hunter Choi Minhyuk is the future of humanity! The entire world must protect him!]
The articles came out in this vein.
The key point was that every nation was speaking with the top priority of protecting Choi Minhyuk from villains.
In contrast, the reaction in Korea was closer to depression than joy.
—There was a reason why he was so interested in the Monster Management Center.
—Seriously. At this point, I wouldn’t even have anything to say if he emigrated.
—They treated Awakened people like garbage, but it turns out Anonymous worked at the Monster Management Center as a non-Awakened? There’s no hope.
—They say the large-scale audit the government launched included Choi Minhyuk’s father’s company.
—I heard he registered because he was pissed off about that.
—We’re screwed. The possibility of emigration is high…
—It’s a repeating cycle of companies going bankrupt after massive audits and large corporations picking them up for dirt cheap…
The atmosphere was thick with the feeling that Minhyuk might leave.
Perhaps that was why the government was in a panic.
The moment Minhyuk decided to emigrate, a massive protest might break out in Korea.
They tried to contact Minhyuk in every way possible, but unfortunately, Minhyuk was not planning to be on Earth.
**[The basic construction for the 10th-floor base remodeling has been completed. Would you like to visit the tower before additional construction begins?]**
This system window had appeared before Minhyuk.