The heavy clatter of tal dragged across the stone floor—drdr—drdr—. Occasionally it caught on sothing with a jolt. We’d left the truck behind, despite its reinforced interior, just in case, and pushed the scooter casually; there was no need to rush.
The Gunders’ battleship lay moored on the side of the harbor most in need of repairs. All the civilian vessels had fled to the opposite quay. Even they, whose livelihoods depended on the port, sought to minimize damage. Once we’d swept them out, we’d remodel the entire aging harbor. After all, the Gunders’ wealth ca from the people who worked here. If we poured it back into the port and the market, it’d be perfect.
“They’re quite a way off.”
Even though we were near the harbor, their ship wasn’t docked. Why would a ship fight ashore when it has the sea? It wasn’t as huge as I’d feared—around two thousand tons—but still a warship over a hundred ters long.
The sky behind began to pale. The mont a flash of light glead from the ship and registered our position—
Boom!
The cannon roared. At once, Yuhyun stepped forward. Drdr—he yanked on a chain as thick as three forearms strapped to the ship. The massive chain swung through the air, intercepting the incoming shell with a thunderous clash. The force of that collision propelled Yuhyun’s foot forward.
Crack. The sturdy quay deck caved in the shape of a footprint. Yuhyun’s body spun dramatically; his ceremonial coatflare billowed while the chain’s anchor at its end spun like a cowboy’s lasso. As the chain ca around full circle, he stomped down—shatter—breaking the deck, and then flung the chain like a spear.
Pbbrrrmbng!
The chain, laden with terrifying montum, hurtled back at the battleship. The Gunders fired back in alarm. If the chain hit, no amount of reinforced plating would stop it; it would pierce straight through. Their cannonade struck the chain midair, and it flailed before splashing—thud—into the sea, fragnts scattering everywhere.
anwhile, another chain appeared in Yuhyun’s hand. Tendons stood out on his forearm as he gripped it. Drdr—he dragged the chain’s end across the ground then whipped it upward. His calm, dark eyes fixed on the warship as he hurled the thick chain again.
Bang! Bong! The cannon roared in terrified response. The chain’s anchor struck ho; once more—splash! Water spouted. Small lights flickered across the deck. Unfazed, Yuhyun drew a third chain and sent it flying.
At that mont, my vision filled with dark water. Even an S-Rank Hunter couldn’t sprint and leap on the water’s surface without a skill. Riette cradled Yerim’s feet in both hands and, without using flight magic, propelled her nearly ten ters high in one bound. As soon as Yerim reached the deck, she yanked on a rope she’d brought. Riette followed, pulled up by the rope, then swung it sideways toward the adjacent ship. Noah, at the rope’s end, alighted lightly on that deck.
“We’ve boarded!”
“On the aft deck!”
“What? I saw no blips on radar!”
They were underwater, amid chains and debris. Distinguishing fragnts from people in that turbulence was no easy task. Their radar was still in its infancy, too.
The balloon dolls panicked and raised weapons, but Riette, axe in hand, strode across the deck. She ignored the gunfire; her target was the cannon. Crack! The axe bit into the barrel. Yerim and Noah moved too.
“Out of the way, watch out—!”
Yerim, dodging bullets that would sting if they hit, kicked at the turret. anwhile on the other ship, Noah began disarming the guns. Through their eyes, I saw each cannon vanish one by one.
“Yuhyun.”
At my call, Yuhyun hefted another chain. This ti it ended not in an anchor but a hook. Unimpeded by cannons, the hooked chain sliced through the sky. Crack—the hook bit into the hull. Yerim leapt up, stepped on the hook, and drove it deep. The sa happened on the other ship. I then pulled out ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ the truck’s remote key.
“Co, Pongpong.”
From across the harbor, the truck rolled toward us. Pongpong wasn’t driving—it was simple straight-line autopilot. Pongpong doesn’t have a license. Of course, neither do I, but I slid Pongpong aside and climbed into the cab. I swung the truck around.
“Ah, citizens, treat one another like family—Family-Love Party’s Han Yujin at your service! I ask for your support!”
Perfect for PR—of course I’d use a truck in my line of work.
“Yuhyun, tie it off!”
One end of the chain fastened to the truck. Now it was a two-thousand-ton ship against a 2.5-ton truck. On water, the ship should prevail—but not against us. Yuhyun held one chain before the truck; Riette skidded in on the other end and grabbed it.
“If I had flight, I could lift it easily~.”
“Yes, yes. Pull!”
With that cry, I slamd the accelerator. The truck surged forward as Yuhyun and Riette hauled on the taut chains.
“In the na of the gods!”
“Surrender! Surrender!”
The two warships slowly inched toward the quay. Dolls who tried to cut the chains were subdued by Yerim and Noah.
Destroying a warship isn’t hard—stick a bomb on it, and boom. But that’s wasteful. Their wealth was built on the labor of citizens. We’d salvage what we could for reuse.
Thud! The ships collided lightly. Dolls tumbled across the rocking decks; so even leapt into the sea, trying to swim to the quay—already surrounded, though, so futile.
As the ships neared the quay, the thoroughly dejected Gunders surrendered in droves. It would have been perfect—except—
[Today’s Dice!]
“Fantastic timing!”
Damn that chance dice. One bad roll would erase our achievents. I’d wanted to clear the harbor before the roll. But ti was fixed, and the dice hadn’t appeared all night.
Good fortune would be ideal. Yet if it showed “Your team failed to defeat the Gunders!” we’d be ruined. We couldn’t leave it to chance—ever since the results had been lousy. So—
“Finish the cleanup!”
I shouted and jumped from the truck onto the scooter, racing along the quay, the dice rolling after .
[If not thrown in ten minutes, automatic outco will apply!]
Okay, okay! Just wait! I skidded the scooter to a halt, leapt off, grabbed sothing from the truck, and shouted:
“I will beco a pro angler and sweep the fishing tournant!”
Yes—job changed! I quickly baited the hook and cast the rod. Plop. The bobber rose on the sea. Holding the rod in one hand, I raised the dice in the other.
“Dice, grant a trophy catch!”
A six-pound red sea bream, please! I hurled the dice with all my might.
[1!]
A one at last. Mini- sighed in disbelief. Mini Seong Hyunjae, who’d rolled a four and stood three spaces ahead, shook his head and beckoned over. Arrogant. Mini- hopped one space in annoyance.
[A powerful rival has appeared in your profession! Be careful!]
A rival? Then the bobber shot underwater. “Oh!” I yanked the rod and felt a massive tug. It couldn’t be—after all that, a huge fish bit!
“No way—this is big! So strong! Ugh, Yuhyun! I think I’ve got—”
Before I could finish, the dark shadow of a giant octopus burst from the water—whoosh!—its tentacles coiled around my prized catch. The octopus’s eye regarded . Could this be my rival?—snap—the line snapped, and the octopus snatched my silvery fish. That’s no rival; that’s a thief!
“Hey!”
The octopus writhed. Just enjoy your al, please. With my fish, it dove back into the depths—haha.
[Your rival will continue to pursue you.]
“...Fishing’s not for , I guess. I won’t co near the sea again. I’ll job-change back to councilor. I’ll do politics.”
Good thing the octopus can’t live out of water. If it chased , Yuhyun would grill it nicely—bigger ans tastier, after all.
I dropped the dice and returned to the truck, where Yerim and Noah had pulled the Gunders from the ships.
“How did it go?”
“I caught a big fish, but the dice betrayed and an octopus stole it. It must’ve been at least a ter long—honestly.”
I complained, and Yerim nodded.
“In that mont, you beca a real angler.”
It’s true! I looked up at Yuhyun in protest.
“You really did catch a trophy fish! A ter-long fish!”
“Sure. You’ve caught plenty of monsters—like that giant turtle in Japan. It looked over a hundred ters long.”
Yuhyun’s comparison was wildly off, but still.
“Shall we try again? There must be sothing bigger, hyung.”
Fishing nowadays is more sport than subsistence... no, never mind. I couldn’t convincingly explain why you’d cast a line and wait for a fish to bite. Why is it fun?
I spotted police rushing over. Here! Arrest them all!
[Harbor Liberated!!!]
[Northeast District Activation Begins!]
[Eastern Comrcial Zone, Northern New Port Developnt Plans Fast-Tracked!]
[Councilor Han Yujin of the Family-Love Party—Who Is He?]
[Orphaned early, he labored to care for his young brother, eventually earning a small truck...]
[New Fashion Trend Predicted: Wings, Wings! In Gold and Yellow!]
[Councilor Han Yujin’s Semi-Formal Suit—Ribbons Are Key!]
The entire city erupted. Every TV channel splashed my face across the screen. The outfit from my political debut photo shoot was even the cover of a fashion magazine. Mortifying—I never dread I’d grace a fashion cover. And it wasn’t Yuhyun or Yerim boosting my image—it was purely ... handso, ahem.
My performance review as a new councilor isn’t complete, but if I don’t beco Councilor 1, there’ll be an uproar. Not everyone welcod , though.
[Councilor Han Yujin—forrly a Gunder?]
[The violent King of the East—what happened to the auction items?]
Critics pounced on my brief Gunder past and any delivery slip-ups. But I never hard civilians, and I returned every auctioned item. And I’d never attacked non-Gunders... except Seong Hyunjae, perhaps. Better to call a Gunder hunter.
Those negative headlines quickly faded.
“It’s the latest trend, Manager Song.”
Song Taewon watched with heavy eyes as I held small wings—soft white down, adorable.
“Better than frills, right? I’m wearing them too.”
I might have looked like Cupid on Halloween, but wings beat dresses. Mine were light blue, as were Yuhyun’s; Yerim wore black, Noah and Riette gold. Hyunah, even before I gifted hers, had already donned vivid red wings.
“I even brought Chairman Seong’s wings, but he must be out. Here—try them on.”
“You look in good spirits.”
“Everything’s going smoothly.”
Damn dice dealt well, and things weren’t bad. Though thinking of what lies ahead made a bit lancholy, I’d enjoy this mont.
“Manager Song, you’re really popular—deservedly so. So, um... what do you think?”
I didn’t imagine Seong Hyunjae would remain a re corporate chair. This wine bar, with its many high-profile clients—this was the place to ask. I lowered my voice, but Manager Song answered only by sliding a pale-blue glass my way.
“Hm, you really keep your counsel.”
I sipped the sweet cocktail. I’d dodge the dice again by similar ans—next I’d be Councilor 1, practically certain. The billion won and villa sale money were already invested, set to grow, and the reward for clearing the Gunders would be substantial.
At this point, victory seed assured—unless Seong Hyunjae sohow beca mayor.
And the next morning—
[Family-Love Party’s Councilor Han Yujin Elected Councilor 1!]
Good news, and—
[City of londe Declares War on Miranglun!]
A bolt from the blue plastered the front page. What on earth...?
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