NOVEL NEXT Chapter 289
Chapter 289. Invitation (4)
From the terrified kappa’s feet, a small green sprout shot up.
When it had grown to a very small size, the creature didn’t even notice it.
“Chwi, chwi-aek?!”
But when the sprout quickly grew into a thin, long stem—
The kappa, whose feet were completely bound, panicked greatly.
“Chwiieeek—!”
No matter how much it was hit or pulled, the tree would not break.
The kappa shouted for help, looking around desperately.
Yet, the companions in a worse situation were already floating upwards, their bodies entangled in the green stem.
“It’s a practice spell, and it’s working well, huh?”
[Forest Binding]
Kim Si-hu, who summoned the stem, snapped his glowing staff.
The more he snapped, the stronger the binding on the kappa became.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The pressure intensified to the point that the kappa’s body twisted!
Finally, the kappa, released from the loosened stem, trembled and convulsed.
Meanwhile, Yoo Ji-han was scanning the surroundings, not participating in the battle.
He had the leisure to do so.
‘Those guys are definitely suspicious.’
The IUPC members were watching him from a distance.
Whispering to one another and grimacing in displeasure.
Yoo Ji-han understood all too well what those expressions meant.
‘Just like that.’
When something displeased him,
It was the same damn annoying expression Kim Hyun-tae used to make.
Eventually, as the kappa was nearly dealt with, he approached the IUPC members directly.
“[What’s going on?!]”
“[D-don’t come any closer!]”
The Japanese IUPC members were on high alert, holding their swords as he approached.
Displaying their suspicion with every fiber of their being, Yoo Ji-han used his mobile phone to activate the translator.
“[Do you know me?]”
“[…Yes.]”
“[Do you know what my relationship with the IUPC is?]”
“[…]”
“[If this is what you guys did, be prepared.]”
“[Eek!]”
The IUPC members were terrified by the mechanical voice coming from the mobile phone speaker.
The atmosphere was a bit different from the members who had been brainwashed back in Korea.
‘Is there anyone with mana?’
Just then, someone in a black suit rushed over and said.
“That’s far enough!”
He was an employee of the Japanese Hero Department wearing a translator in his ear.
Yoo Ji-han asked him in an incredulous tone.
“Why aren’t you controlling the civilians when a monster is right in front of us?”
“Japan and Korea have slightly different laws. Please understand.”
What could he do if the laws were different?
Seeing the employee’s polite attitude, Yoo Ji-han sheathed his sword.
“Are you Yoo Ji-han’s party?”
“Yes.”
“Could you spare us a moment?”
“What’s this about?”
“The Minister of the Hero Department wants to meet you all. In addition to this incident, he wishes to thank you for saving our citizens from the plane explosion…”
A request for a meeting from the minister overseeing the Japanese Hero Department.
Thanks to the word that Yoo Ji-han’s party was here.
“We’re currently on our way to Tokyo.”
“I will prepare a space for a video call right away.”
*
After finishing the battle, Yoo Ji-han’s party followed the Hero Department employee to a nearby hotel.
“Chirp! I can’t fit through there!”
“Aw, how could I make such a mistake…!”
“What a short-sighted human! Chirp!”
Chilla couldn’t enter because the door was too small.
Despairing over his mistake, the Hero Department employee quickly talked to the hotel front desk.
“This way!”
Thus, the group arrived at the underground parking lot.
There, a large man appeared on a hastily prepared laptop screen.
‘That’s the guy I often see on the news.’
He was the Minister of the Japanese Hero Department, who frequently appeared on Korean news as well.
Feeling a bit amazed that he was having a one-on-one conversation with him, Yoo Ji-han listened intently.
—I am Ishio Naoshi, the Minister of the Hero Department.
Ping!
He stroked his resilient mustache and scanned Yoo Ji-han’s party on the screen.
—First of all, I sincerely thank you for saving our citizens. Had it not been for you, this incident would have gone down in history as a terrible terror attack.
“Not at all.”
—You all absolutely deserve the praise! I can sense that Watanabe-san’s words are not mere flattery.
Watanabe Yosuke had showered praise in interviews about Yoo Ji-han’s party, nearly to the point of adoration.
While many interpreted it as merely encouraging junior heroes,
The minister recognized that it was not simple encouragement or mere flattery.
—It seems that as soon as you arrived in Japan, you stopped by Raiku.
“You know everything, huh?”
—I’m sorry to say, but all your movements are relayed to me.
The Korean heroes who entered Japan right after the plane explosion were under the watchful eyes of the entire nation.
The minister, who had been delivering formal and diverse introductions, cleared his throat.
—Ahem! So, we are planning to provide compensation from the government. I hope you’ll accept it.
“If you do offer it, I wouldn’t refuse.”
—And there’s one more special gift…
The Hero Department minister clasped his hands on the desk.
—Would any of you be interested in changing your nationality to Japanese?
“……!”
“……?”
A proposal asking if they had any intention of changing their nationality from Korea to Japan.
Yoo Ji-han realized this was the true intention behind the meeting request.
Lee Mi-a, who had been silently listening, asked.
“Why?”
—Is there any need for further reasons to bring in such special heroes like yourselves?
The very existence of strong heroes enhances a country’s pride and strength.
When a significant crisis comes to the country in the future, how many powerful heroes will be willing to step forward for their nation?
This was directly related to safety.
—Of course, I have prepared ample conditions for you.
“What specifically are you referring to?”
—Each of you will receive an initial deposit of 10 billion yen upon opening your first bank account as a Japanese citizen. Additionally, you can either receive a large mansion in a special area or have one newly constructed.
“Money doesn’t really appeal to me.”
—Hehe. That’s not all. I will also unlock the Hero Department’s warehouse for you! It’s a space filled with artifacts and various reports that have gone without an owner for years.
“Oho, how much will you give?”
—How about 20 items?
“……!”
—For reference, there are no limits on the type of items.
The right to grab a staggering 20 items from the Hero Department’s warehouse!
There should be treasures as hard to find as those in the Korean Hero Department, meaning it was a golden opportunity that couldn’t simply be bought with money.
This was not a proposal handed to just anyone.
Only parties recognized within the Hero Department were offered such a deal.
—We will also assist your family members with the nationality change. Besides that, feel free to state any other conditions you might have; I will do my best to fulfill them.
The minister’s voice resonated with confidence.
Given his status, this wasn’t merely a boastful claim.
These were conditions carefully calculated beforehand.
‘Come on, hurry up and answer!’
The Hero Department minister waited with ease for Yoo Ji-han’s party’s response.
Changing the country of birth was never an easy decision.
He had previously coaxed many talented heroes from Korea to Japan.
Naturally, Korea condemned Japan’s actions, but that was ultimately a personal choice!
If they carelessly imposed restrictions on changing a hero’s nationality, it might backfire.
‘It seems only one of them needs to cross over.’
The party leader Yoo Ji-han or the guild master Kim Si-hu.
Two men regarded as the pillars of the guild called Sweet Fun.
If even one of them wavered, an opportunity could arise.
But…
“I refuse.”
At Yoo Ji-han’s firm rejection, the Hero Department minister’s eyebrows twitched.
Did that man not understand how shocking and grand this offer was?
—Yoo Ji-han-san? May I ask why you are declining?
“It’s a generous offer, but it doesn’t seem advantageous.”
—As I mentioned earlier, if you have additional requests…
“To be honest, I don’t have much I’m hoping for.”
—……!
The Hero Department minister sealed his lips, having realized something.
The Yoo Ji-han party, already well-known in Korea.
According to reports, they were not particularly greedy for money or material things.
If they merely had potential, it might be tolerable, but
After making several feats, it seemed clear they had enough fame and fortune that there was no merit in changing their nationality.
‘I should have approached them sooner!’
The minister regretted not making contact with them earlier.
Honestly, he had underestimated them a bit.
This was because…
—Yoo Ji-han? Ugh, that friend is nothing special.
—You could say he’s filled with hot air.
Park Joong-seob, the guild master of Keroes, the guild Yoo Ji-han had been a part of for seven years.
When Japan had contacted him to gather information about Kim Hyun-tae’s party, there was never a time he received positive feedback about Yoo Ji-han.
In Japan’s national talent recruitment project, parties with low evaluation scores would fall drastically on the priority list!
By the time the minister had sensed that something was amiss with those evaluations, it was already too late, as their standing had grown immensely.
Korea’s Hero Department would not allow them to make contact easily.
—Oops! I forgot to explain about the Hero Department’s warehouse. In there, what is stored includes…
“Is there Drimium?”
—D-Dimium?!
Drimium.
Unfortunately, the Hero Department of Japan did not keep any Drimium.
They only remembered trying to purchase Drimium from Korea for a long time.
As the Hero Department minister struggled to respond, Yoo Ji-han asked.
“Not there?”
—…No. There isn’t. But if there’s a metal that’s close to it!
“That’s not Drimium.”
—Ugh!
“The Hero Department gave me Drimium.”
The minister knew they had obtained Drimium.
The dream metal that officially only five exist worldwide!
The Hero Department had neither that metal nor anything that could match or exceed it.
‘Jo Du-jin, that rascal!’
He gritted his teeth, thinking about the Minister of the Hero Department, Jo Du-jin, who wasn’t even present here.
How could he cover such a top-grade treasure like Drimium to a civilian hero!
At this point, he wondered if even the most appealing treasures would resonate with these individuals.
—I promise you’ll receive better treatment than in Korea in every aspect.
“That just means you have nothing more to offer, right?”
—……
In response to Yoo Ji-han’s sharp reply, the Hero Department minister fell silent.