Chapter 56 – Superhuman [New Plan]

『To the victims and bereaved families of the villain’s terror attack that occurred at Seoul Station around 4:45 PM on Sunday, the 24th, we offer our deepest condolences, and we pray for the swift recovery of those still undergoing treatment in intensive care units.』

October 29, 2027, 1:00 PM.

A regular briefing was held in the briefing room of the Korean Superhuman Association building located across from the U.S. Embassy in Gwanghwamun, Seoul.

However, when Association Chairman Gu Seongguk appeared instead of the usual Superhuman Association spokesperson, reporters began to sense something unusual.

Although the situation was sensitive due to the terror attack five days prior, it wasn’t typical for the Association Chairman himself to conduct a regular briefing.

Yet, it was only after hearing the condolences for the victims, prayers for the injured, and the subsequent announcement following the interim investigation report that the reporters finally understood why Gu Seongguk had personally stepped forward.

『While we are plunged into sorrow by the recent terror attack, we have also, both nationally and for humanity as a whole, encountered a truly precious individual. At 11:30 AM on Monday, October 25, 2027, our Association officially confirmed the Awakening of an A-Rank Superhuman.』

The Awakening of an A-Rank Superhuman.

Upon hearing those words, the reporters on-site began to murmur.

The same was true for the citizens watching the live broadcast of the regular briefing and the news anchors reporting on it.

『The individual who has become the world’s 50th and South Korea’s first A-Rank Superhuman is JH Group Vice Chairman Lee Siguk.』

Following procedure, brief information about South Korea’s first A-Rank Superhuman, Siguk, flowed from Gu Seongguk’s mouth.

『As we always request, Awakened Ones often experience various forms of confusion in the initial stages of their Awakening. While the birth of an A-Rank Superhuman is undoubtedly a great joy for the nation and all of humanity, excessive attention risks infringing upon the privacy of an individual who, for now, belongs to no organization. Therefore, we ask that you refrain from excessive interest.』

Ending with the usual, perfunctory remarks, Gu Seongguk exited.

Despite Gu Seongguk’s plea to refrain from excessive interest, as always, reporters and netizens began moving frantically to uncover information about Siguk.

Some reporters flocked to Samseong-dong, where the JH Group headquarters building is located.

Reporters with slightly better information sources flocked to Jamwon Marianne River Park, where Lee Jeonghoon lives.

Reporters with very good information sources flocked to the Cheongdam-dong Mercury Apartments, where Siguk resides alone.

However, they were unable to conduct proper interviews.

The JH Group headquarters building had already barricaded its entrance from the start, only allowing entry to those with employee IDs or pre-scheduled appointments.

The entrances to Jamwon Marianne River Park and Cheongdam Mercury were tightly guarded by dispatched police officers alongside the apartment security companies.

“Is there no freedom of the press? Are you suppressing press freedom right now?”

One reporter at the headquarters building confronted a security guard manning the barricade, but the response was cold.

“If you wish to conduct an interview, please coordinate with the media relations department in advance to schedule a time.”

Thus, while reporters’ desire for interviews clashed with ironclad security, the person in question, Siguk, was not in Samseong-dong, Jamwon-dong, or Cheongdam-dong.

October 29, 1:10 PM.

Three people were sitting around a round table watching television.

『…risks infringing upon the privacy of an individual, therefore we ask that you refrain from excessive interest.』

On screen, Gu Seongguk was bowing to conclude the briefing and exiting.

Watching this, a middle-aged man with a dignified appearance and the beginnings of an M-shaped hairline chuckled softly, took a sip of tea, and spoke.

“I wonder if Chairman Gu thinks reporters will listen to him when he says things like that… Common sense dictates that if an A-Rank Superhuman is born, reporters won’t just sit still. Isn’t that right, Chairman Lee Jeonghoon?”

In response to the middle-aged man’s question, Lee Jeonghoon, seated to his left, answered with a polite posture and a professional smile on his face.

“What would I know? I’m just grateful that, thanks to you, Mr. President, the company and home are being protected.”

At Lee Jeonghoon’s professional remark, the middle-aged man, South Korea’s 21st President Hyeon Woongryeol, let out a light laugh.

“It is I who is always grateful to Chairman Lee Jeonghoon. Thanks to JH Group, our North Korea-related projects are proceeding more smoothly.”

“You flatter me.”

Hyeon Woongryeol smiled and this time turned his gaze toward Siguk.

“Yesterday, Chairman Gu came to see me and said this. He really wants to bring Mr. Siguk into the Association, and if Mr. Siguk comes to the Association, he’s even willing to give up the Chairman position, and he asked me to help persuade him. Hahaha. But is that something that can be done just because I try to persuade him?”

In response to his question, Siguk answered with a calm smile.

“The Association Chairman position? How could I possibly dare to covet such a position? I know my place. I am not a person of such stature to ascend to that position, Mr. President.”

Hyeon Woongryeol laughed out loud at Siguk’s words.

He took another sip of tea and opened his mouth.

“If someone heard that, they might think I became President because I was fit for the position from the start. Hahaha. Who is truly suited for such a position from the beginning? Doesn’t the position make the person? Once you sit in it, don’t you become a person worthy of that position?”

Siguk smiled and replied to Hyeon Woongryeol’s words.

“I believe a person should know their own limits and place. If you wear a crown that doesn’t suit you simply because you covet it, wouldn’t your neck break?”

“Hahaha. You’re quite thoughtful for a young man. Hahaha. If there were just 10,000 young people like Mr. Siguk in this country, entering the G7 within five years wouldn’t be impossible, I think. Hahaha.”

Speaking thus, Hyeon Woongryeol took a sip of tea.

Siguk and Lee Jeonghoon also each took a sip of their tea.

Hyeon Woongryeol put down his teacup and spoke.

“So, what do you want to do, our A-Rank Superhuman? If you dislike the Association, then a Hunter, I presume?”

Siguk nodded.

“Yes, I think becoming a Hunter suits my constitution more than living as an agent in the Association.”

“Hahaha. That’s not bad either. With just one A-Rank Hunter, you could handle a B-Rank Dungeon, couldn’t you? I always found it irritating to see the Japanese Prime Minister boasting because they have one A-Rank, but now that we have an A-Rank Hunter, isn’t that a point of national pride too? Hahaha.”

“I just hope I don’t bring shame to the face of South Korea.”

“Hahaha. So humble.”

Hyeon Woongryeol took a sip of tea. Holding his teacup, he looked at Siguk and asked.

“Right, then you’ll need to join a Guild. Do you have any place in mind?”

His tone was casual, as if asking a simple, curious question.

However, a clear message was contained within it, along with tension.

Lee Jeonghoon’s expression stiffened slightly. He looked at Siguk.

Siguk, still smiling, answered in a polite tone.

“As you know, Mr. President, I am the Vice Chairman and General Manager of Comprehensive Planning at JH Group. That fact remains unchanged, whether before my Awakening or now.”

“That’s true.”

“Actually, regarding this matter, I’ve had many conversations with our Chairman Lee Jeonghoon over the past few days.”

Hyeon Woongryeol’s gaze turned toward Lee Jeonghoon for a moment.

Lee Jeonghoon, with a slightly stiff expression but still wearing his professional smile, bowed his head slightly.

Hyeon Woongryeol’s gaze returned to Siguk.

Siguk continued.

“So we reached one conclusion.”

Siguk took a sip of tea.

He looked at Hyeon Woongryeol, who was watching him with a slightly tense expression, and finished his sentence.

“We plan to establish a Guild under JH Group.”

At that moment, a slight smile appeared at the corner of Hyeon Woongryeol’s mouth.

Siguk immediately discerned that this smile was neither political showmanship nor professional.

Hyeon Woongryeol laughed and spoke.

“You’ve made an excellent choice. A truly excellent choice. Hahaha.”

Hearing Hyeon Woongryeol’s sincere laughter, Lee Jeonghoon’s expression relaxed.

Siguk looked at Hyeon Woongryeol and spoke again.

“So, regarding this matter, there is actually something I’d like to ask of you, Mr. President.”

At the word ‘ask,’ Hyeon Woongryeol flinched slightly.

Siguk continued.

“If JH Group creates a Guild, some people will be pleased. For example, our company shareholders. But there will undoubtedly be people who are wary and, furthermore, will try to obstruct it.”

Hyeon Woongryeol nodded silently.

Siguk’s words continued.

“Although our JH Group has grown to the scale of a mid-to-large enterprise, in front of the chaebol conglomerates that boast history and tradition, we are merely upstarts. And for such a JH Group to not only create a Guild but also install an A-Rank Hunter as its Master and start operations? People will certainly begin to view that unfavorably. And sadly, we still lack the power to resist them.”

“Hmm…”

Hyeon Woongryeol took a sip of tea. He looked at Siguk and said.

“I understand what you’re saying… Haha. This is… Well, I mean, what kind of foolhardy person would dare to pressure a company with an A-Rank Hunter? They wouldn’t have enough lives even if they had ten.”

Looking at Hyeon Woongryeol, Siguk tossed out a remark.

“Unless this were Africa, in a country clearly governed by capital and law, having mere strength doesn’t mean you can do anything, does it?”

The moment he heard those words, Hyeon Woongryeol burst into hearty laughter.

After laughing heartily for a while, Hyeon Woongryeol checked his wristwatch and pressed the secretary call button.

When the secretary entered, Hyeon Woongryeol gave him an order.

“Hand over the 3 PM and 4 PM schedules to the Prime Minister. And bring in some simple snacks here.”

The secretary bowed and went out.

Hyeon Woongryeol looked at Siguk and Lee Jeonghoon and spoke.

“Let’s have dinner another time; today I’d like to talk a bit more while having some simple snacks. How about it? Is that alright?”

In response to Hyeon Woongryeol’s words, both Siguk and Lee Jeonghoon answered with bright smiles.

“That’s fine.”

“Good.”

October 31, two days after the announcement that Siguk was an A-Rank Superhuman.

JH Group publicly announced the establishment of the JH Guild through a press release.

“What? JH is creating a Guild?”

Initially, upon hearing the news, people in the media, corporations, and Guilds all reacted with disbelief.

“No, suddenly?”

It was because the announcement was so abrupt.

However, on the other hand, some showed understanding.

“Lee Siguk, who Awakened this time. He’s the Vice Chairman of JH Group, right? Of course he’d want to stay in his father’s company.”

“Right.”

“So does that mean Lee Siguk becomes the Master of the JH Guild?”

“Wow. So then, the JH Guild becomes the only Guild in the country with an A-Rank Hunter?”

“That’s about right.”

“Let’s see… JH affiliate stock prices…”

As the news spread, JH Group affiliate stock prices rose sharply.

The media discussed panels of experts debating JH Group’s future prospects, stories about South Korea’s first A-Rank Hunter, the appearances of A-Rank Hunters from major developed countries worldwide, and the economic value of the Guilds they belonged to.

『According to research results from the Samhwa Economic Research Institute, the economic ripple effect would be considerable if the JH Guild is launched.』

『Even just in terms of related jobs, approximately 100,000 are expected to be created, and the added value generated from that…』

Around the time reports filled with exaggerated economic effects were coming out, four people were sitting around a round table facing each other in the JH Group Chairman’s office in Samseong-dong.

“Congratulations, Vice Chairman!”

“Vice Chairman, truly congratulations!”

Han Myeongho and Kang Bonggil bowed their heads as if about to hit the round table, offering their congratulations.

Seeing this, Siguk chuckled.

“Hey, hey. Lift your heads. Are you planning to headbutt the round table or something?”

At Siguk’s words, the two laughed and raised their heads.

Lee Jeonghoon looked at them and spoke.

“Don’t get too excited. You know well that all that talk about 100,000 jobs and such is nonsense, right?”

Nevertheless, Han Myeongho and Kang Bonggil grinned broadly.

Han Myeongho looked at Lee Jeonghoon and spoke.

“Honestly, 100,000 jobs is a bit of an exaggeration, but still, it’s a Guild with an A-Rank Hunter, right? Just clearing two C-Rank Dungeons would bring in enormous profits, and with an A-Rank Hunter, you could clear B-Rank Dungeons too, couldn’t you?”

Beside him, Kang Bonggil chimed in.

“That’s right. The moment our Vice Chairman leads an Assault Team into a Dungeon, won’t our Group be able to enter the ranks of large corporations?”

At the two’s hopeful words, Lee Jeonghoon couldn’t answer. He glanced subtly at Siguk.

Taking a sip of peppermint tea, Siguk spoke to Han Myeongho and Kang Bonggil in a cold tone.

“Why would I go into a Dungeon?”