The All-Master of Cyberpunk-Chapter 18

The parking management was also handled by androids, no less.

[Welcome, Hunter Lee Do-jin from Chilgok. Your identity has been verified. The basic free parking time is 2 hours, with an additional charge of 3,000 won per 10 minutes thereafter.]

"That's damn expensive. Damn it."

I clicked my tongue and accepted the electronic token handed to me by the android.

You couldn't enter the government building without this verified electronic token.

It was due to security and anti-terrorism policies.

Given the organization's inherently closed nature, heavily armed androids patrolling the complex, not just parking enforcement, was a reasonable and efficient form.

Given that the police forces responsible for security were constantly deployed to crime scenes exploding all over the city, this made sense.

This setup was quite rational and efficient.

Especially since the Revelation, the android rebellion threatening the northwest, was far from Daegu. The mutants swarming beyond the outer wall were a more immediate threat to the residents of Daegu.

Therefore, there wasn't much animosity towards androids.

People didn't care if it was an android or a cyborg, as long as it could kill another mutant.

I shoved the electronic token into my pocket and headed inside the government complex.

“You’re quite early. Weren’t you at the guild?”

“I had some other business. It didn’t take long to get here via the inner ring road.”

“Sure, it’s usually clear.”

Reverend Joo Kang-hyuk was sitting in the lobby of the complex.

Although most people here wore similar business suits due to the nature of the government complex, the atmosphere exuded by the pastor who survived in Nam-gu was unique even among the civil servants.

“Shall we?”

I followed silently behind Reverend Joo. It was only natural for him to accompany me on this special request that came through him.

There was a reason why he hadn’t contacted me through Chilgok.

And my guess was right.

Reverend Joo led me to the 23rd floor of the government complex, to the Office of Urban Management.

Of course, the name was just “Urban Management,” but it essentially served as the top security agency overseeing the local police force.

Hiring a hunter not through a guild but personally?

This meant that the request I was about to receive was not something that should be widely known.

It probably had something to do with the Daegu Industrial Cooperative.

Reverend Joo walked briskly down the long corridor and finally stopped in front of the director's office.

“This is Reverend Joo Kang-hyuk.”

“Ah, yes, coming right out!”

The tightly closed door opened, and a neatly dressed secretary greeted us with a bow. Beyond that, a man lounged comfortably on a sofa.

He was Seo Yi-kyung, the Director of Urban Management for Daegu Green Zone.

“Pastor, you must have had a hard time coming all this way.”

“It’s no trouble to meet a brother. You should come to church sometime.”

“Unfortunately, I’m busy even on weekends. But is the person behind you the problem solver you mentioned?”

When Seo Yi-kyung’s gaze turned to me during the empty pleasantries, I bowed politely and responded.

“I’m Hunter Lee Do-jin from Chilgok.”

“I’ve heard about you recently. Have a seat.”

Seo Yi-kyung instructed his secretary to bring tea for the guests, then glanced slyly at me. It was a typical probing look.

“Chilgok… Isn’t that the guild managed by Choi Hyun-su? The one that's all show and no substance?”

“That’s correct. Recently, we even lost our only B-grade hunter, Kim Sang-yeop.”

“So you know that your guild’s objective capability is unreliable?”

Seo Yi-kyung leaned back on the sofa, adding another jab. He was deliberately trying to provoke me, but I wasn't stupid enough to fall for it.

Besides, I had no attachment to Chilgok. I wouldn’t get upset over someone bad-mouthing the guild.

‘And it's true that the guild is a joke.’

The outcome was already determined. I met Seo Yi-kyung’s gaze directly and responded.

“Isn’t that why you requested me personally instead of the guild?”

“Well, I accepted Reverend Joo’s recommendation. I didn’t specifically choose you.”

I see.

So that’s how it is.

I glanced at Reverend Joo. His expression remained unchanged. He brought the job, but it was my job to seal the deal.

A typical stance for the mediator of Nam-gu.

Even if he trusted Hunter Lee Do-jin as a reliable “problem solver,” proving his competence in a government-related task was another matter.

He minimized intermediary risk and excluded himself from the responsibility as much as possible.

Reverend Joo was a pastor, not a pushover.

In that case, I had to lay my cards on the table first. I needed to show I was a step ahead in this information game.

New novel 𝓬hapters are published on ƒreewebɳovel.com.

“There’s no need to test me. I’m not the type to play games. This is about the ‘Chungsa-pa’ at the Catholic Hospital, right?”

“Huh?”

Seo Yi-kyung’s previously indifferent expression visibly twitched. I had hit the mark. Reverend Joo also seemed slightly surprised.

A heavy silence descended in the director’s office. At that moment, the secretary hurriedly closed the door, sensing the tension.

“The Chungsa-pa. How do you know about them?”

“I have keen ears. And recently, the only noisy incident in Nam-gu has been that one.”

“Damn. I’ll have to shake down our police security division. I can’t stand this.”

Seo Yi-kyung let out a hollow laugh. His mixed emotions were a blend of surprise at my knowledge and irritation at his subordinates’ loose lips.

Actually, his subordinates had perfectly controlled the information. I just knew the future.

“Pastor, your judgment is as sharp as ever.”

“Brother Do-jin is making quite a name for himself in Nam-gu, not just Buk-gu. It’s not surprising.”

“My friends are as capable as I am.”

I smirked and shrugged at the two of them. Seo Yi-kyung called back the secretary who had hurriedly left.

“Secretary Kim! Come in! Now we can have a proper conversation over tea.”

The secretary, who had hesitated at the door, quickly set down the teacups and left.

Just before leaving, he made eye contact with me and looked as if he had seen a ghost.

What’s with him? Is he just very shy?

Or do I look that intimidating?

While pondering the secretary’s odd reaction, Seo Yi-kyung sipped his steaming tea and continued.

“So, do you also know what the Chungsa-pa is doing at the hospital?”

All cards were on the table. Seo Yi-kyung had no need to beat around the bush anymore, so our conversation became more direct.

“Yes, I heard they’re holding the medical staff hostage and staging a protest.”

“Exactly. It’s going to be much easier to talk to you than I thought.”

Director Seo Yi-kyung and the Chungsa-pa.

Seoul 2056 prided itself on its open-world system, where the player's choices led to countless branching paths.

That was just the concept. The main story arcs didn’t change much.

For instance, the presence of the advanced flying mutant Gargoyle in the tutorial or the inevitable fall of the Daegu Green Zone.

The request from Director Seo Yi-kyung was one of those fixed scenarios.

“After the initial report was received from the hospital, the government dispatched the mobile police force. But unfortunately, we can’t just storm in violently.”

“Because of the hostages?”

“Not just the hostages, but there are more valuable things in that hospital.”

I nodded, understanding.

This was the extent of the information I was allowed.

Even though I knew the full story, I didn’t want to make Seo Yi-kyung more suspicious of me by revealing too much.

I would act as if I only knew this much.

“Your mission is simple: infiltrate the hospital through a secret passage and secure the ‘valuable items’ safely.”

“That’s not difficult. What’s the deadline?”

“Today.”

Seo Yi-kyung answered firmly.

“You need to handle it today. That’s why I urgently requested you through Reverend Joo.”

“I understand. Then, what’s the reward?”

“... You’re really not concerned about any other details?”

“The reward, sir. A special request like this deserves appropriate compensation.”

“Ha.”

Seo Yi-kyung paused briefly, staring at me. He exhaled a short breath.

“Alright... This straightforward approach actually makes you more trustworthy. If it’s all about the money, it’s simple.”

He spread two fingers as he continued.

“Two billion won. You’ll be paid immediately upon completing the task.”