How Dare You Pull Rank?
After leaving the airport through the VIP pass, Jinhyeok turned around.
He had only just realized it.
That the price of the private jet included all airport VIP services for the next ten years.
Money really is an amazing thing.
Once again, he was reminded.
Of an unchanging truth of this world.
Screeech.
He had barely had time to breathe in the outside air.
A luxury sedan pulled to a stop in front of him.
"Mr. Jinhyeok!"
Cheon Seyun leaned her head out of the passenger-side window.
Jin Yunho, sitting in the driver's seat, greeted him with a nod as well.
"Hello!"
Jinhyeok greeted them cheerfully and climbed into the back seat.
Even after the door closed, the car didn't start moving.
When he lifted his head, he saw both of them looking at him.
"Even though you're right here in front of us, it still doesn't feel real. Mr. Jinhyeok, did you really save the British royal family?"
"I wasn't trying to save them, exactly. It just sort of happened. Oh, right—Team Leader Jin Yunho, thank you. Thanks to you, I got out peacefully."
On his way to his original destination, Incheon Airport, he had received a call from Jin Yunho.
There were a lot of people waiting at Incheon, so if possible, he should come through a different airport.
That was why he had changed course mid-flight.
Since it had been a while since he'd gone home anyway, he chose Cheongju.
"But Mr. Jinhyeok, when you got the call from the team leader, weren't you already on the plane? You should've been headed for Incheon. How did you come straight to Cheongju Airport?"
"I received a bit of special treatment."
He decided not to mention that he now owned a brand-new private jet worth five hundred billion won.
He'd save that for a surprise later.
"Special… treatment."
Jin Yunho and Cheon Seyun exchanged glances.
What kind of special treatment would allow someone to change their flight path midair?
Well, if Jinhyeok said so, then that must be it.
"We'll depart now. We'll head to Yesan first."
"Yes, sir. Thank you for coming out to meet me."
"No need to thank me. Honestly, I feel more at ease this way."
"By the way, who exactly was waiting for me so badly?"
"Basically, every broadcasting station and corporation."
"They wouldn't recognize me even if they saw me."
"Yes. That's true. They probably didn't think they'd be able to identify you right away either. They would've tried to narrow it down at least. A male player in his twenties or thirties who entered Korea from the UK. Someone with an unclear affiliation and unknown climbing floor."
It was an open secret that Korean institutions were hiding a Runner.
Ironically, having too little to suspect could still land him on a watch list.
"We would normally have asked you to come through Incheon, but there were a few groups that concerned us, so we contacted you."
The Player Hunter Administration—undisputedly the top institution in South Korea.
Sneaking a single person out of an airport was nothing for them.
The problem was that there were some dangerous parties who might notice.
"There were agents from Russian and Chinese intelligence agencies. No matter how careful we are, they're organizations we can't afford to underestimate."
"The scale of the people coming after me just keeps getting bigger."
"That's to be expected. This time, it was the British royal family. It affected international cooperation between nations as well. And just in case, may I ask—"
"Yes. Please, go ahead."
Jin Yunho tapped the steering wheel a couple of times.
Then he spoke carefully.
"Did something happen in Japan? At the departure gate, we spotted someone suspicious. Sato Tsubasa, a core lawmaker from Japan's Innovation Party. According to our check, it was an unofficial schedule."
Cold sweat seeped down Jinhyeok's back.
A lot had happened.
Things he couldn't talk about, no matter who it was.
"At the exchange event, I did rough up a friend from the Hosaka family. But nothing that should've involved a member of parliament."
"I see."
Jin Yunho nodded.
The word yakuza hovered on the tip of his tongue, but he chose not to say it aloud.
Runner Yoo Jinhyeok.
He had put South Korea's collapsing steel industry back on track.
It was best not to say anything that could feel even slightly like an interrogation.
A Japanese lawmaker…
Jinhyeok let out a quiet sigh.
He was becoming popular against his will.
"How are the Zuiyuh people doing?"
To change the subject, he asked about the Zuiyuh who had gone to Yesan.
"Yes. They're quietly proceeding with the relocation. If too many move at once, it would draw attention. You'll probably be able to see them as soon as you arrive."
Jinhyeok gave a thumbs-up.
It hadn't been that long since he last saw them, but he found himself genuinely curious.
What would those unusual immigrants look like, settled in their hometown village?
At a Nonghyup bank in downtown Yesan.
"Why can't I rent it? I'm a farmer in Yesan, same as anyone else."
Yoo Mancheol, Jinhyeok's father, shook his head in disbelief.
As part of national agricultural support, Nonghyup provided farmers with necessary agricultural machinery.
So Mancheol had come to rent a tractor and a harvester for the harvest season.
But for days now, a Nonghyup employee had been waving him off, saying it wasn't possible.
"Up until last year, I rented them without any issues. I'd like to at least know why it's suddenly impossible."
"Haah. Why? What reason would there be? Ah, right—everything's already out. There's no equipment available for rent."
"Then what are those?"
Mancheol pointed to the parking lot.
Several agricultural machines sat there, blatantly unused.
"They're all already reserved."
"By whom, and until when?"
"Oh, come on! That's enough! Enough already! I'm the 담당 직원—the staff in charge—and I'm telling you it's not possible!"
"What's all this commotion? Making a scene in front of everyone."
An old man approached with his hands clasped behind his back, accompanied by a group.
The employee who had been shouting at Mancheol instantly bowed politely, as if nothing had happened.
"Oh, Village Head. You're here."
"Yes, yes. Deokgu, you've been working hard. How's your father doing?"
"Thanks to your constant care, he's doing well."
"Good, good. So what seems to be the problem?"
"He keeps demanding we give him the machinery even though rentals aren't available."
"When did I ever demand anything?"
"Enough."
Clicking his tongue, the village head walked over to Mancheol.
"Mancheol. There are procedures and an order to these things. What do you think you're doing? And you still haven't paid the development fund, have you?"
"I already paid this year's share."
"That was to the previous village head. If the person changes, you have to pay again."
"The development fund isn't something you pay to an individual. How does that make any sense? And are you saying you blocked the machinery rental because of that fund?"
"Blocked it? Who blocked anything? Didn't you hear? Everything's already reserved."
Mancheol opened his mouth to argue, then closed it.
He could roughly see how things stood.
He had lived here a long time, yet he was still not free.
Free from the entrenched territorial bullying of the village.
I thought it had mostly disappeared.
It was a big mistake.
The moment the village head changed, the old evils began to rear their heads again.
Only now did he fully realize.
This was a place where blatantly unreasonable things were accepted as normal, where the invisible authority of a single village head was overwhelmingly strong.
What do you think you can do about it?
The village head curled his lips into a greasy smile as he looked at the silent Mancheol.
The rest of the villagers had already tucked their tails between their legs.
Only one person—this stubborn old Yoo Mancheol—had continued to resist, refusing to pay the development fund to the very end.
Do you think you're the only smart one who refuses to pay?
It wasn't as if the others didn't know it was unfair.
They just paid because they knew exactly what kind of trouble they'd face if they didn't.
How much more trouble would this stubborn fool have to endure before he finally accepted defeat?
"Mancheol's watermelons were always so fresh and big. Looks like we won't be seeing them this year. Tsk, tsk."
The village head clicked his tongue with a sneer.
What could be done?
They'd just have to keep stepping on him until he learned his place.
"Haah."
Mancheol let out a sigh.
That employee and the village head were clearly in cahoots.
There was no point in saying anything more.
Just as he turned to leave—
"Dad."
Jinhyeok waved as he walked over.
"Jinhyeok? What are you doing here without even calling?"
"Is that Mancheol's son? I'm the village head here—"
Whoosh.
Without even looking at him, Jinhyeok walked right past and went straight to Mancheol.
"What brings you here? What are you doing?"
"It's nothing."
"Oh, come on. 'Nothing,' my foot. This is perfect timing. Why don't you pay your father's development fund for him?"
Once again, Jinhyeok didn't even glance at the village head.
He couldn't.
Before arriving in Yesan, his mother, Madam Kim Minji, had already explained everything.
—Just leave it alone. I'll go burn the place down.
He had barely managed to stop her from actually going out to buy gasoline and had come straight to Nonghyup instead.
In fact, the timing was perfect.
He had already prepared something for the sake of filial piety.
"E-Excuse me? An elder is speaking and you don't even look—"
"Dad. Did you come here to rent farm machinery? You don't need to rent it."
"Don't need to rent it?"
"I bought it on the way here."
"…Huh?"
Instead of explaining further, Jinhyeok pointed toward the parking lot.
Naturally, everyone's gaze followed his hand.
Vrooooom!
With a thunderous engine roar, state-of-the-art tractors, combines, and various precision farming machines appeared.
They were on an entirely different level—functionally and in price—from what Nonghyup had parked there.
"Aren't those what you said you wanted, Dad? American-made. I looked it up—it's the most famous brand."
"Well… yes, but…"
Mancheol swallowed hard.
A kind landowner had given him more land, so his fields had grown larger.
Even accounting for that, these machines were far too advanced for a private farm.
"Hey, Deokgu! Isn't that equipment also government-supported? If it is, as the village head, I should've been informed first!"
"Have you lost your mind after tasting money? What government support? I bought them with my own money."
Had he caught it from Kancho?
A harsh remark slipped out, something he'd normally never say.
In any case, after handing over the purchase receipts, he added firmly,
"Don't even look at them. They're private property."
After driving the point home, he left Nonghyup with Mancheol.
"My son… each of those must cost at least two hundred million won. Where did you get that kind of money?"
"It's not a loan, so don't worry. I got a good item this time and made some money. Just use them comfortably."
"No matter what, these are still so expensive…"
Mancheol walked over and touched the tractor and the machines.
Despite his words, his eyes sparkled frighteningly bright.
The corners of his mouth twitched upward.
For a farmer, they were irresistible treasures.
And not just any treasures—three divine artifacts, the very best in the world, standing right before him.
How could he not be happy?
He's really thrilled.
Watching the scene with satisfaction, Jinhyeok turned his head.
Screeeech!
A luxury sedan came racing in from somewhere and slammed on the brakes.
A middle-aged man jumped out and ran frantically into the Nonghyup building.
He was probably a senior official from the Yesan Nonghyup who had just received a call from the Nonghyup Central Audit Department.
He wouldn't know that the starting point was the Central Player Hunter Administration, though.
What era do they think this is, pulling territorial bullshit?
Snorting, Jinhyeok walked away with Mancheol.
Tonight, they were planning a meat party to celebrate the purchase of the new farm equipment.
----------
T/N:
Just for being a free member, you'll get 5 advanced chapters every week!
Access 35 chapters in advance on my Patreon:[email protected]//towerup