Cyberpunk All Masters - Episode 18
18. An Offer You Can't Refuse
The New Daegu Governnt Complex was located at the very center of Jung-gu, the heart of the Green Zone.
In other regions of Seoul 2056, governnt institutions were typically situated slightly outside the central area, with the center being dominated by comrcial districts and large corporate headquarters. However, Daegu's Green Zone had a unique structure where the governnt's authority was stronger than that of corporations.
The reason for this unusual setup was that there were fewer local large corporations to challenge the governnt's dominance, and those that existed had moved their headquarters to Daejeon-Sejong after the Great Chaos, naturally losing the power struggle.
Perhaps this was why Daegu managed to survive the ongoing war with the mutants so fiercely.
The pinnacle of technocratic governance.
In the end, society was still run by elite high-ranking officials, the middle class was stretched thin and withering away day by day, and the lower class continued to live a life of misery.
It's a bitter reality, but that's what true cyberpunk is.
There could be no organization purely dedicated to public welfare in a society where you never knew if you'd live to see tomorrow.
I parked my vehicle in the governnt complex's parking lot, which was packed with various cars. This was a stark contrast to Nam-gu or Buk-gu, where it was hard to even spot an electric scooter.
A bustling area is indeed different. The gap between the outskirts, where people used the sa electricity to run their rice cookers, and this area was imnse.
The parking managent was also handled by androids, no less.
[Welco, Hunter Lee Do-jin from Chilgok. Your identity has been verified. The basic free parking ti 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
by the android.
You couldn't enter the governnt building without this verified electronic token.
It was due to security and anti-terrorism policies.
Given the organization's inherently closed nature, heavily ard androids patrolling the complex, not just parking enforcent, was a reasonable and efficient form.
Given that the police forces responsible for security were constantly deployed to cri 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 imdiate 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 governnt complex.
“You’re quite early. Weren’t you at the guild?”
“I had so 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 governnt 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
on this special request that ca through him.
There was a reason why he hadn’t contacted
through Chilgok.
And my guess was right.
Reverend Joo led
to the 23rd floor of the governnt complex, to the Office of Urban Managent.
Of course, the na was just “Urban Managent,” but it essentially served as the top security agency overseeing the local police force.
Hiring a hunter not through a guild but personally?
This ant that the request I was about to receive was not sothing that should be widely known.
It probably had sothing 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 Managent for Daegu Green Zone.
“Pastor, you must have had a hard ti coming all this way.”
“It’s no trouble to et a brother. You should co to church soti.”
“Unfortunately, I’m busy even on weekends. But is the person behind you the problem solver you ntioned?”
When Seo Yi-kyung’s gaze turned to
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 . 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 , but I wasn't stupid enough to fall for it.
Besides, I had no attachnt to Chilgok. I wouldn’t get upset over soone bad-mouthing the guild.
‘And it's true that the guild is a joke.’
The outco was already determined. I t Seo Yi-kyung’s gaze directly and responded.
“Isn’t that why you requested
personally instead of the guild?”
“Well, I accepted Reverend Joo’s recomndation. 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 diator of Nam-gu.
Even if he trusted Hunter Lee Do-jin as a reliable “problem solver,” proving his competence in a governnt-related task was another matter.
He minimized interdiary 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 ga.
“There’s no need to test . I’m not the type to play gas. 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 seed slightly surprised.
A heavy silence descended in the director’s office. At that mont, 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 judgnt is as sharp as ever.”
“Brother Do-jin is making quite a na 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! Co 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
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 beca more direct.
“Yes, I heard they’re holding the dical 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 governnt 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
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 . 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 imdiately upon completing the task.”
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