Chapter 14: The Art of the Deal

The President of the Association, deep in thought, finally looked at Kim Seong-ho. “Do you know what happened afterward?”

He was curious about Se-hyeon’s actions after the wave. Assistant Manager Choi, who had been standing by, answered quickly. “Sir… after a short break following the wave, he proceeded to clear the Boss.”

The room fell into a stunned silence. Even Kim Seong-ho looked bewildered. “The Boss? In an F-rank dungeon, the participants are usually E-ranks. He raided a Boss with them?”

“Surely he didn’t solo it?” Min Jeong-su stammered. “Or were there other D-ranks in the dungeon?”

“Actually,” Choi explained awkwardly, “there were no other D-ranks. He teamed up with the E-rank hunters already on-site. The Dungeon Management Department had seen the 90% clear rate and was organizing a formal D-rank raid team, but the dungeon was cleared before they could even deploy.”

Min Jeong-su scoffed, “That’s impossible. Forget the damage dealers—the problem is the Tanker. No E-rank Tanker can withstand an F-rank Boss’s output. It’s suicide.”

Min was right—standard protocol required D-rank Tankers for a reason. The idea of a lone D-rank Mage leading E-ranks to victory was a hard pill to swallow. But the President was less interested in the theory and more in the proof.

“Is there footage of the Boss raid?”

“It wasn’t up a moment ago, but let me check again…” Choi’s eyes suddenly widened. “Oh! It’s up! The Boss raid video just dropped!”

“Play it. Now!” the President commanded.

The office went silent as the video played. Though edited for time, the impact was undeniable.

“He basically hunted it alone,” Choi whispered.

Min Jeong-su stared at the screen, aghast. “How is this possible? Even a coordinated raid team of four or five D-ranks wouldn’t clear it this fast.”

A standard D-rank team usually took 40 to 60 minutes to down an F-rank Boss. Se-hyeon had done it in twenty. The President, however, saw the tactical reason.

“A standard raid team needs time for the Tanker to establish aggro,” the President observed. “And even then, the dealers have to hold back their strongest skills to avoid pulling that aggro off the Tank. But Se-hyeon… he doesn’t need a Tanker at all.”

With the Boots of Wind, Se-hyeon’s mobility rendered the Boss’s attacks moot. He didn’t have to wait for an aggro window; he simply unleashed constant, high-powered Shadow Orbs while kiting.

“He actually looks more hindered when the E-ranks are around him,” Kim Seong-ho noted. “He’s much more efficient once he’s solo.”

“That hovering movement skill is impressive,” the President added. “But more than that, his control—hitting the Boss’s head accurately while moving at high speeds—is elite. And you said he awakened yesterday? How can he handle his skills with such mastery in less than 24 hours?”

Kim Seong-ho seized the moment. “An Irregular D-rank Mage who can solo Bosses. Sir, this isn’t just about his sister anymore. This video is on social media. Foreign associations and guilds will have seen it by now. Are we really going to sit here and wait for another country to snatch him up?”

The President sighed. “He’s an Irregular, no doubt. Manager Kim, you’ve spoken with him. What kind of compensation is he looking for? What will it take to satisfy him?”

“He feels wronged for losing out on years of Academy support,” Kim replied carefully. “But he didn’t seem to want blood. He just wants the Association to show ‘sincere effort.'”

“That’s the hardest part,” the President groaned. “What we think is ‘sincere’ might be an insult to him. If we lowball him, it’ll backfire. Manager Kim, go meet him again. Get a feel for the numbers and, most importantly, get a guarantee that he won’t naturalize elsewhere. I’m counting on you.”

Kim Seong-ho suppressed a triumphant smile. “I’ll handle it. However… the Management Department is currently understaffed and overwhelmed. If we’re going to monitor new Irregulars properly, we need more support.”

The President nodded. “If you handle this well, I’ll significantly increase the budget and personnel for your department.”

As Kim and Choi beamed, the President turned a cold gaze toward Min Jeong-su. “And Manager Min? To label an Irregular like this as a ‘Failure’… make sure this never happens again. Your department’s oversight is becoming a liability.”

Min bowed his head, his face pale. The power dynamic within the Association had just shifted overnight.

After leaving the Academy, Se-hyeon felt a weight off his shoulders. He had told Se-hee the truth and given her the gear. He was relieved that she loved the Berserker’s Mace; she seemed particularly thrilled by the attack power buff, dismissing the health-drain penalty as something a healer could easily fix.

“Still have some time. I did an F-rank yesterday, maybe I’ll try an E-rank today?”

He began scrolling through open E-rank dungeons on his phone when Kim Seong-ho called.

“Jang Se-hyeon! I saw the video. You really caused a stir yesterday,” Kim laughed over the phone.

“It just happened that way,” Se-hyeon replied. “Is that why you called?”

“Actually, I’d like to discuss your compensation. Could you stop by the Association?”

Se-hyeon’s eyes lit up. “Compensation? Haha, of course. I’m on my way.”

Association Management Department Meeting Room

“This is the initial list we’ve prepared,” Kim Seong-ho said, sliding a document across the table. “Tell us if anything is lacking.”

Se-hyeon scanned the list:

• 30 million won ($23,000) in cash support.
• 2 D-rank Artifacts (Free Grant).
• 50% Tax Reduction for 6 months.

Se-hyeon went quiet, calculating. In dungeons, the Association takes a 20% cut of all loot and magic stone sales. A 50% reduction meant he’d only pay 10%.

“It’s not bad,” Se-hyeon said slowly. “But the tax reduction… can we make it a year? Six months feels a bit short.”

Assistant Manager Choi stepped in. “Six months is the limit of our department’s authority. However, with the President’s approval, an extension is possible.”

“I see. And if the President signs off, can it be even longer than a year?” Se-hyeon pushed.

“It might be difficult due to fairness issues with other hunters,” Choi admitted. “But we might be able to increase the percentage of the discount instead.”

Se-hyeon nodded. “I like that. I’m willing to give up the 30 million won cash grant if it means a better deal on the taxes.”

To Se-hyeon, 30 million was a one-time sum. With his clear speed, a tax break was worth far more in the long run. He began to negotiate the finer points of his “sincere” apology package.