Chapter 83
Chapter 83
So go and bring them, your master
***
“I’ll say this in advance, it wasn’t something I designated. I merely received it through a transfer.”
In other words, it meant it was a secondhand transaction.
“Is that why all sorts of miscellaneous settings are attached to it?”
Normally, since the proper price had been paid, it would be standard to cleanly reset it before use, but there were also perspectives that viewed such measures as the annihilation of personality.
Fernandez must have kept that in mind when he allowed Juicy her freedom.
Though it didn’t quite suit a bar.
“She’s diligent, so nothing else is a problem. I hear she was a mascot at the previous place as well.”
“I get it, so stop bragging.”
“You’ve gotten particularly irritable. Well, judging by the situation, your throat must be burning.”
Just like during the Eastern Gate incident, the truth behind the Eden Park drug factory incident was buried beneath the surface. Eden had only been consumed as a new type of electronic drug. Not a single line was written about the malicious code hidden within it.
The observatory and Umbrella Tower were also fabricated as having been artificially blown up by the criminal organization while fleeing.
There wasn’t even any report that the Mars Defense Force had dispatched personnel.
A powerful level of information control carried out on the scale of a colony.
Within it, there was not even the slightest room for Ga-on’s achievements to be included.
Although Ga-on had quelled a storm, externally he was still a greenhorn.
Only Fernandez, who knew the full story, shook his head.
“At this point, it’s almost astonishing. You’re the first I’ve seen who handled requests of this level and still remains unknown. I might have to reconsider just how exceptional your skills really are.”
He had taken on requests in order to gain recognition, yet the level was so high that it instead buried him.
Even for Fernandez, who had considerable experience as a broker, this was a development he had never seen before.
It was no different for Ga-on.
“Still, the relevant parties probably know, one way or another.”
Right, the extremely small group of those in power.
Of course, it didn’t seem like such people would bother to promote a fixer.
It was then that a woman entered Columbus.
Guided by Juice, she sat at the bar counter and raised her hand.
“Master.”
“Yes, placing an order?”
Having stepped away from Ga-on, Fernandez immediately approached her.
As a soft scent like lavender brushed past the tip of his nose, Ga-on glanced sideways at the seat beside him.
She was a woman for whom a suit suited remarkably well.
Her brown hair, rolled up in a neat bun, was fixed in place with a hairpin, and though no one had pointed it out, she maintained a straight-backed posture.
It was the posture of someone who had received professional training.
“I heard you are fostering several promising individuals. That you can provide assistance across various fields.”
At the tone that suggested she was looking for a fixer, Fernandez raised one eyebrow.
“You don’t seem like an outsider.”
“You’re at least capable of not being swayed by rumors floating around on the surface.”
“I see, looks like you did your preliminary research. Is there someone in particular you’re looking for?”
“I wish to meet a fixer named Baek Ga-on.”
Meeting Ga-on’s gaze, Fernandez deliberately pointed at him as if to show off.
“Perfect timing. The friend sitting next to you is him.”
***
A reception room prepared on one side of Columbus.
The woman who had specifically named Ga-on took out a plastic business card.
[Snow Apparel Secretary Office Chief]
[Director Im Sol]
After checking the recognition tag, Ga-on immediately searched for Snow Apparel. The relevant information appeared over his retina in an instant.
Snow Apparel.
A company that had risen to prominence over the past four years, with its main field being techwear. It created new fashion using advanced materials.
It could be said that it precisely targeted the blue ocean between the functionality of equipment and the convenience of clothing.
Even the coat Ga-on frequently wore was a product from there.
“What is it that you want to request?”
Before answering, Im Sol took out a canceller from her chest and activated it.
“I must ask in advance that the conversation we have here does not leak outside.”
“What is it about?”
“There is someone I would like you to find.”
“That’s not my specialty. How about looking for someone else?”
For a megacorp to come all the way to the back alleys to make a request like this. Even without hearing more, it already reeked of something suspicious.
Of course, Im Sol wasn’t someone who would back down just because Ga-on was reluctant.
“We’ve already completed our investigation on you, Mr. Ga-on. You were quite unconventional from the very beginning.”
“……”
“You shattered a rising star called Sprinter, yet within the industry people still doubted you. Some even suspected you were a fixer orchestrated by Maximum Noise.”
“I did hear rumors like that.”
“Moreover, interestingly enough, every case you interfered with ended up being covered up.”
If information wasn’t released to the public, it meant one of two things: it was either trivial, or it was that important.
For Im Sol, who had been selecting candidates under Baek Seol’s orders, Ga-on’s track record naturally stood out.
She judged it to be the latter.
“Your skills are outstanding, but perhaps the timing wasn’t right, which is why you haven’t become known.”
A secretary was a profession that inevitably met countless people.
Naturally, among them were fixers. A group with a stronger-than-anyone desire to be recognized by others.
Im Sol decided to stimulate that point.
“This won’t be a bad request for you either, Mr. Ga-on. You must have suffered dealing with those who lacked discernment. This is an opportunity for you to make a leap in one go.”
There were more than enough capable fixers in the Seed Colony.
However, if the condition that one had yet to stand out was attached, the story changed completely.
It was a situation where flattery was unavoidable, even if one disliked it.
“It makes me want to take this job even less.”
There was no way Ga-on couldn’t see through her true intentions.
Raising her index finger, Im Sol spoke.
“10 billion Pia. Even if you can only confirm whether the target is alive or dead, we will pay the full amount.”
It was at that moment that Ga-on’s eyes narrowed.
To assign meaning to the act itself meant—
“So, now that I think about it, you’re not actually trying to find a person, are you?”
10 billion regardless of the result.
It was a suspicious condition.
If anything, with that amount, they could have simply bribed a Sheriff and reached their goal much more easily.
The fact that they were deliberately digging through the back alleys meant it had to be accomplished discreetly.
“Do you have a competing party?”
“As expected, my judgment was not wrong.”
From Im Sol’s perspective, it was impossible not to be genuinely surprised. His speed of deduction based on only fragmentary clues far exceeded expectations.
It was hard to believe he was an inexperienced rookie fixer.
“A deal where at least 10 billion Pia has to be put on the table to balance the scale. And that too for someone unknown like me. From what I know, requests like that are nine times out of ten life-threatening.”
Unfortunately, her admiration soon turned into a sigh. Ga-on had pinpointed the core of it exactly.
“It’s not dangerous. The amount simply reflects our desire to ensure that no noise leaks out even after the request is completed.”
“So it’s hush money.”
“If you understand, then…”
“20 billion Pia.”
“…What?”
“That much should be enough to keep my mouth shut, shouldn’t it?”
For the first time, Im Sol’s brow, which had remained composed until now, twisted.
Yes, fixers were all the same. The moment they saw an opening, they climbed right over you.
“We do not negotiate. The amount was set considering your unrecorded achievements, as well as the skills that will be revealed later. In a way, you could say it has already been paid in advance.”
From Im Sol’s perspective, Ga-on might look like a newcomer who had just entered the industry, but unfortunately, that was a misjudgment.
Contrary to her expectations, Ga-on was a local who had long since stagnated to the point of rot.
The reason he raised the price without hesitation was because he was certain he could name his price.
His expenses had already increased as he began full-scale research into immortality. Ga-on wasn’t foolish enough to turn away such a fortunate opportunity.
“Then we can just find someone else.”
“If you think you can’t, you’re gravely mistaken.”
“No, the one who’s gravely mistaken is you.”
Ga-on took out a plastic business card from his chest. It was something he had received from Jin Geon not long ago.
[District 2 Public Enforcement Agency Headquarters]
[Grade 9 Advisor Baek Ga-on]
Reading the details, Im Sol’s eyes widened.
“A fixer… an advisor…?”
It was information she hadn’t been able to uncover. No, even if she had heard it directly, she wouldn’t have believed it. For an organization like the Public Enforcement Corps, known for its strong sense of elitism, to accept an outsider—let alone a rookie fixer—was unthinkable.
There was only one thing this meant.
That Ga-on’s abilities far exceeded her expectations.
Among the candidates, he could confidently be called the best. However, that didn’t necessarily work only as an advantage.
“You’re not the one who decides the amount.”
With a faint smirk, Ga-on pointed toward the door.
“So go and bring them, your master.”
***
Fernandez, now sitting where Im Sol had been, scratched his chin.
“Snow Apparel, huh.”
“Do you know it?”
“It’s easy to be misled by the name Snow, but that place is connected to the megacorp Baekdu.”
“Baekdu?”
Ga-on had heard of it as well. In this day and age, it was a rare company composed of Koreans. Moreover, having lived long, he could easily recall that Baekdu’s predecessor was Baekga Industries.
“Chairman Baek Seok-do has two children. A son and a daughter. Snow Apparel is a company run by the daughter.”
“Then should I assume this request came from Baekdu?”
It was a method commonly used by megacorps or the municipal government. By adding an extra layer in between, it became easier to cut off the tail in case of trouble.
Even if it was obvious to anyone.
“Well. I think it should be viewed separately.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s a company she built with her own strength. People assume it received support from Baekdu, but if you look inside, it’s surprisingly independent.”
Building a large corporation at a young age was certainly commendable, but if one was a member of a chaebol family, the perspective changed.
“Is she not treated well in the family?”
“To be precise, it’s more that she’s heavily kept in check. The eldest is the older brother, after all.”
“That tells me enough.”
“The only one who could mediate, Chairman Baek Seok-do, is currently in seclusion. The general consensus is that he doesn’t have much time left. Perhaps because of that, the succession battle is nearing its end. Of course, judging by how things are going, it’s as good as already decided.”
“The daughter doesn’t seem lacking either.”
“The son has something the daughter doesn’t. That’s what decided everything.”
“Talent? Connections? Or maybe shares?”
Shaking his head, Fernandez answered.
“No, ruthlessness.”
“Ruthlessness?”
“He’s been suspected of ordering at least five murders alone. And that’s only what surfaced. The ones buried without a trace are probably at least double that.”
No wonder they so readily threw around 10 billion.
As Im Sol had said, the request itself wasn’t dangerous. It was the person trying to stop it who was dangerous. Sooner or later, he would learn this fact anyway, which was why they named a high price from the start.
“What will you do? Take it, or not? I’ll follow your choice on this matter.”
“I…”