“What the… Is she crazy?”
President Tae Chae-jin couldn’t help but blurt out curses during a eting with his secretaries.
“Am I dreaming right now? Or has the real Baek Seol-hee disappeared, and soone else transford into her to say sothing like that?”
The president’s musings turned into a monologue.
If even the president didn’t know the answer, how could his secretaries possibly know?
“Association President. Have you heard anything from Baek Seol-hee?”
“I know nothing. If I had known in advance, I would have tried to prevent Baek Seol-hee from causing such a stir….”
“Excuse .”
Knock, knock, knock.
A woman holding a tablet entered the office, where the president, the Hero Association president, and several secretaries were gathered.
“You are…?”
“Secretary Kim!”
“My apologies for being late. Gwang Ik Gong has sothing to say.”
Secretary Kim powered on the tablet, revealing a face familiar to every citizen of South Korea.
[It’s been a while, Mr. President.]
“Gwang Ik Gong!!”
[My apologies for not appearing in person. And to you, Association President, my sincere regrets for greeting you in this manner. The circumstances are what they are.]
“You…!”
There had been no prior communication.
Since last Christmas, the man who had not appeared in any public or private etings had now made a rare appearance, even if just via video.
The secretaries realized just how serious the situation was.
For Gwang Ik Gong, who had been inactive and resting for a long ti, to appear even through a video call—it underscored the gravity of Baek Seol-hee’s explosive revelations.
He hadn’t shown himself during the Duoexini crisis or the Dark Charisma incident. Though he had briefly appeared in North Korea, it was his first ti revealing himself so publicly.
[I imagine you are all taken aback. I am as well. But in this situation, we must make optimal decisions quickly—faster than any other nation.]
“Well, of course, but….”
[No need to overcomplicate it. Let’s utilize the resources available to us to serve the nation’s best interests.]
“Are you saying we should just observe Baek Seol-hee’s actions? Even support her?”
[We should actively assist her. It could even enhance South Korea’s standing.]
With a mischievous grin, Gwang Ik Gong pointed to the screen showing Do Ji-hwan’s profile.
[We either approach Do Ji-hwan directly or through Baek Seol-hee. Then, we auction him off.]
“Auction…?”
[Yes. One night with Do Ji-hwan. Why doesn’t the governnt take the role of matchmaker?]
“!!”
An outrageous suggestion.
Everyone in the room felt a chill run down their spines at Gwang Ik Gong’s proposal.
“Are you suggesting the governnt act as a pimp…?”
[Not at all. It’s not prostitution. We simply need to protect Do Ji-hwan at all costs, even by such ans.]
“I suppose… If Baek Seol-hee’s claim is true, he’s a non-ability user who impregnated an S-class ability user. Do you have any guesses about who that might be?”
The president pointed at the screen, prompting a secretary to display the profiles of renowned S-class ability users from around the world.
“Based on what we know, no one is pregnant. If there were a case, the partner would either still be alive or predetermined. None of the married S-class won fit. So who is it? If Baek Seol-hee isn’t lying, who is Do Ji-hwan’s wife?”
The world’s attention shifted from Baek Seol-hee to discovering the identity of Do Ji-hwan’s wife.
Who was the extraordinary woman who allowed Do Ji-hwan to have relations with other won, even permitting pregnancy? The search began.
While so might label this a witch hunt, could such a woman truly be called a witch?
“You don’t just have suspicions. You know who it is, don’t you?”
[…]
“That’s why you’ve appeared like this—to stop us from investigating Do Ji-hwan’s wife. Isn’t that right?”
[I cannot disclose anything.]
Gwang Ik Gong denied the association president’s accusations, but even his refusal was answer enough.
A being so significant that even Gwang Ik Gong was reluctant to speak.
This only narrowed the list of candidates further.
“Could it be Artemis?”
“Impossible! She claid her virginity was tied to her magical power!”
“Then maybe Quetzalcoatl or the Heavenly Demon in China? Or perhaps…”
“But they’re not pregnant either!”
“Mr. President, could it be Baridegi…”
“Don’t say sothing so ridiculous! Tae Irin is only 17 years old!”
[Ahem. Everyone, while the identity of Do Ji-hwan’s wife is important, it’s not the most pressing matter.]
As the argunt grew heated, Gwang Ik Gong cleared his throat, regaining everyone’s attention.
[What matters is that she essentially made Baek Seol-hee her spokesperson and allowed Baek Seol-hee to publicly declare that Do Ji-hwan could freely date other won worldwide.]
“So you’re suggesting we auction a ‘one-night stand’ with Do Ji-hwan?”
[If the individual consents and is compensated fairly, what’s the issue? If the governnt can’t intervene, let the Hero Association manage the schedule. It would effectively make the nation Do Ji-hwan’s manager.]
“How extraordinary must this man be…”
No matter how they thought about it, they couldn’t make sense of it.
“Do you know Do Ji-hwan personally?”
[That’s confidential.]
“Then, what do you think of Do Ji-hwan? Is he a villain who uses hypnosis on S-class won, or a Casanova enchanting Baek Seol-hee and other S-class won?”
[Definitely not the forr, but if I had to choose, closer to the latter.]
“Haah…!”
Gwang Ik Gong’s confirmation dropped.
[If Do Ji-hwan were a villain who brainwashed won to live solely for him, I would have personally dealt with him. However, he purely captivates female ability users with his natural charm. That charm can only be truly understood by those who have been personally involved with him.]
“…….”
[Everyone will be curious. And soone will try to act first. That’s where our governnt, our association, steps in to diate. While other countries scramble to arrange even a tea ti with Do Ji-hwan, we’ll manage his schedule and take the lead—on a global stage.]
“Ha, haah….”
The president let out a helpless laugh and sank into his chair.
“The world’s gone mad. Who would just blindly believe Baek Seol-hee and act accordingly….”
Beep beep beep.
Suddenly, the association president’s Taeguk Watch buzzed.
Even during the eting, the ergency call could not be ignored. The association president quickly pressed the watch.
“I’m in a eting in the president’s office. What’s so urgent?”
[Japan’s S-class hero, Nadeshiko, has directly inquired with the Hero Association about eting Do Ji-hwan…! She’s currently on hold, Association President!!]
“!!”
Everyone’s expressions changed.
On the tablet screen, Gwang Ik Gong chuckled softly. anwhile, Korea’s top political figures exchanged glances, swiftly formulating a plan with just their eyes.
“Association President.”
The president, now sitting upright, extended his hand toward the receiver.
“Have the call routed to .”
“…Direct Nadeshiko’s call to the Blue House office line.”
Beep beep beep.
As the line connected, everyone held their breath.
[Ah, hello? This is Nadeshiko, a hero from Japan. Am I speaking to the right person?]
“This is Tae Chae-jin, President of South Korea.”
[Oh…!]
The tension was palpable as the president calmly closed his eyes, waiting for Nadeshiko’s response.
[How can I et Do Ji-hwan?]
“Ahem. May I ask why you wish to et him?”
[Well… because he’s a verified masterpiece.]
“…Excuse ?”
For a mont, the president nearly let slip a casual tone.
[If what Snow White said is true, two S-class female ability users are vying to have Do Ji-hwan’s child, and one already has. I don’t know who, but if he’s the man chosen by an S-class, he must be extraordinary.]
“That, uh….”
[Baek Seol-hee vouched for the unparalleled quality of Korean gochu (pepper). I’d like to try it too.]
“…….”
The president took a deep breath, his expression one of enlightennt, and leaned back with a gentle smile.
“To visit Korea as an S-class ability user, you’ll need approval from the Japanese governnt. Have you discussed this with them?”
Now.
The headache was soone else’s problem.
At the Academy, I ca to a significant realization:
-The foreign heroines here are all failures.
Mana powder addicts, genetic thieves.
Even the Korean ability users at the Academy weren’t in great shape.
So I thought:
If we were going to recruit talent, let’s expand the scope.
Using the Phoenix Feather, I turned the world’s attention to Jeju Island. As my relationship with Baek Seol-hee gradually ca to light, I let the world know I was “the man Baek Seol-hee fell for.”
…Though the latter accelerated unexpectedly, Project Jeju was proceeding smoothly.
-Bring S-class female ability users from around the world to Jeju Island and enlist their cooperation with the organization.
That’s “Project Jeju.”
And the thod of earning their cooperation? Naturally, it was in my trusty bat.
“True talent acquisition isn’t about seeking talent—it’s about making talent co to you.”
I just need to keep my Goblin Bat polished on Baek Seol-hee’s bed.
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