#60 Ironhead
Puff.
"Jintae. Head to base first."
"Yeah, got it. Catch up after your talk."
Cheoldu sent Jintae and the others ahead before following Park Jun-pil into the government office.
"You there!"
Park Jun-pil's voice was noticeably cheerful, his mood bright.
"Yes, Magistrate."
The sharp-eyed supply officer Captain Ahn hurried over and bowed.
"My dear friend has traveled far to visit. Prepare drinks."
"......"
All three of us literally just teleported here together.
Not that anyone could say that aloud.
"At once, Magistrate."
The supply officer rushed off to mobilize the kitchen staff. Soon, a modest drinking setup appeared before Cheoldu and Park Jun-pil.
"Now you're of age, you'll join me for a drink."
"Heh. Gladly."
When Cheoldu accepted the cup with both hands, Park Jun-pil gave him an appraising look, visibly surprised.
"Let me pour you one too."
Glug.
Cheoldu tilted the ceramic liquor bottle and filled Park Jun-pil's cup with both hands before raising his own.
"First drink, then talk."
"Hah. Been looking forward to this."
Clink.
As Cheoldu turned slightly to drain his cup in one motion, Park Jun-pil felt a swell of satisfaction.
'Who knew he had such proper manners?'
His good mood persisted.
Cheoldu's informal speech no longer felt disrespectful. This was genuine camaraderie—an equal relationship expressed through their banter.
"Hah. You're refreshingly direct."
"What's the verdict?"
Direct and impatient indeed.
"All settled. Pulled some strings."
"My preferred method."
"Not that kind of string-pulling."
"Then?"
"Let's say I raised my voice."
Cheoldu simply nodded.
So the magistrate could shout when needed.
"Mercenary company approved. Full operational freedom. Mountain bandits get five years' probation in Nova. After evaluation, Earth access permitted."
"So no Cheongju?"
"One escorted transfer. After that, stuck there five years."
"No matter."
"Government expects full control."
"Won't be an issue."
"Your leadership isn't in question, but they want guarantees."
"Such as?"
"An emblem item. Rankers buy it with duel arena points."
Establish under an emblem for magical binding. Even if members commit crimes and flee, control remains.
"World Map privilege too—shows all members' locations. No more betrayal worries."
"World Map and Emblem?"
Cheoldu's lips curled.
"Ah, I know what you're thinking. Those duel points could upgrade your inventory first. But long-term, this is wiser."
Cheoldu chuckled before producing an emblem from his inventory.
"You're already ranked?"
"No."
"Then how—?"
Park Jun-pil gaped at the pristine white banner—an unactivated emblem.
"Loot drop."
"From where?"
"A dungeon."
"Dungeon?"
Park Jun-pil's eyes bulged.
"You're serious? Where?"
Heh heh heh.
"I'll—compensate you properly for the intel."
"Disappointing."
"Eh?"
"Between friends, such info should be free."
"You—!"
Park Jun-pil's hands trembled with emotion.
When had he last encountered such sincerity?
The ancients wrote of friendships transcending age when hearts aligned. Was this not that very ideal?
All calculation left Park Jun-pil's expression.
A friend.
From today, Kang Cheoldu was his friend.
More precious than any academy classmate.
Henceforth, attacks on Cheoldu would be treated as attacks on himself.
Cheoldu explained:
"Below Obangsan, dungeon entrance to orc village. Descend several levels and..."
By the account's end, Park Jun-pil's face darkened.
"Even with this intel, we couldn't attempt a clearance soon."
"Heh. Wasn't easy."
"Hmm."
Not even Neo Seoul's Special Task Force could manage it. The potential casualties made any attempt unthinkable.
Same logic applied to the unsubdued Cyclops.
Neo Seoul lacked strength for a clean victory.
The butcher's bill would be too high.
"Regardless, invaluable. Activate your emblem. I'll cover enhancement costs."
"Done."
<Envision your emblem's design.>
Cheoldu pictured two crossed axes forming an X.
The fluttering banner pleased him.
"Ironhead."
Poof.
Light coalesced as the design etched onto the white field. Cheoldu raised the flag bearing crossed axes.
Rank: -
Type: Mercenary Company
Emblem Effects: Recovery +1, Morale +1
Members: 1/50
Structure: -
The emblem's area buffs took hold. Cheoldu smiled at the faction interface now imprinted in his mind.
"Useful."
He extended his hand.
"Fifteen thousand coins."
"Eh?"
"One hundred per additional slot."
"Understood."
Puff.
Coins changed hands, expanding capacity to two hundred—enough for base forces with room to spare.
"Pity about upgrades."
<Recovery +2: 10,000 coins + 3 Troll Hearts>
Special material requirements made immediate enhancement impossible.
After exploring the interface, Cheoldu activated his World Map.
Fwoosh.
A solitary green dot marked his position on the holographic display.
"Convenient."
"Incredible. Absolutely incredible. Not even ranked, yet you've got—ah! First dungeon clear reward?"
All system privileges came from arena victories or pioneering achievements.
For non-rankers, only the latter applied.
"So that's why Cheongju-bound."
"Precisely. More uncharted territory there."
Whereas Neo Seoul's decade of development left few secrets.
Stable hunting meant fewer pioneering opportunities.
"My leave now."
"Wait—one contract first."
Park Jun-pil produced documents.
"Two mandatory government contracts annually."
"Fine."
"Plus assistance during national crises. Formal alliance."
"Understood. The papers."
"There are additional—hey, sit!"
He barely caught Cheoldu halfway out.
"Sign here."
Scritch.
As Cheoldu signed, Park Jun-pil prattled:
"Compensation's generous—details all—"
Heh. Not even reading.
Park Jun-pil suppressed a laugh.
Such naivety marked the societal rookie.
"Friend to friend—never sign blindly. Perfect way to get swindled."
"No concerns."
"Many ruin themselves with one bad contract."
Heh. "My axe solves all problems."
"......"
"You didn't swindle me. Terms favor the company."
"I trusted my friend."
"Remarkable."
Utterly impossible to dislike.
"True independence now. Lead them well."
"A chief's duty is feeding his tribe."
"Ha! Let's continue as proper friends."
"Gladly."
Henceforth, self-sufficiency.
Finances weren't immediately pressing.
"Five thousand coins monthly as garrison fees."
"Good."
"Major hurdle cleared."
Colonel Park Jun-pil had satisfied Army HQ's demands. Cheoldu's company now stood as ally, not threat.
"One last drink."
Park Jun-pil raised his refilled cup.
"Stage is set—now operate freely."
Simply having Ironhead in Cheongju would benefit Korea—like hosting a global corporation.
Cheoldu drained his cup.
"I hunt the Cyclops next."
"What?"
After initial shock, Park Jun-pil stroked his chin.
'About time someone could.'
"I'll formalize the request. Collect bounty and share findings."
"Done."
"My leave now."
"I'll prepare documents."
Cheoldu departed. Seeing him off, Park Jun-pil returned to his desk and poured a solitary drink.
Heh. "Supporting him won't be easy."
The colonel had shouldered burdens.
Reassuring a government wary of an uncontrollable superhuman required delicate maneuvering.
The emblem and contract were necessary safeguards.
Though Cheoldu producing an emblem was astonishing.
"A dungeon..."
He'd assumed Neo Seoul held no more secrets beyond the Cyclops. Yet more lay hidden.
Priceless intel at bargain rates.
The outstanding balance would be repaid through generous Cyclops expedition terms.
Outside, Cheoldu studied his new banner.
The emblem's morale boost affected even him as commander.
Hah. "Good."
Westward.
En route, he stopped at Yeongho's smithy.
By now, his commissioned axes would be ready—time to claim the weapons that inspired his emblem's design.
