The purple window hung in the air, its glow reflecting in Choyun's calm eyes.
[MAIN QUEST: THE ASCENSION OF THE LION]
Objective: Secure the position of [Gangbuk's Gu Mayor] for Kim Rak-hun.
Time Limit: 15 Days.
Reward: [1 MASTER CARD]
A Master Card. In the hierarchy of the System, it was a game-changer. It was the kind of power that could turn a street thug into a king, the words [MASTER CARD] burning into Choyun's retinas.
"Fifteen days," Choyun murmured.
Kim Rak-hun looked up from his mahogany desk, his brow furrowed. "What are you talking about, Choyun? The election is in exactly fifteen days. It's the final countdown to the end of my career."
Choyun turned away from the map of Seoul, his expression unreadable. "No. It's the countdown to your inauguration. Don't retire, Grandfather. I told you before—I'm investing in you. You are going to win this election."
Rak-hun let out a weary, gravelly chuckle. "Win? Choyun, look at the polls. Look at the funding. Ma Tae-san has the entire district in his pocket. It would take a miracle to overturn this in two weeks."
Choyun took a step forward. He didn't have time for a long-winded debate. He needed the old lion to stop licking his wounds and start hunting again.
'System. Activate [Silver Tongue].'
A subtle, shimmering aura rippled through the air, invisible to the human eye. Choyun's voice shifted, gaining a resonant, authoritative weight that bypassed Rak-hun's logic and struck directly at his gut.
"I am not asking you to believe in miracles, Grandfather. I am asking you to believe in me. Have I ever lied to you? Or do you think I will lie about such things , I have the tools to dismantle Ma Tae-san. But I need you to hold the line. Stay in the race. Keep your head high. I will handle the rest."
Rak-hun blinked. The fog of depression that had clouded his mind for months seemed to lift, replaced by a sudden, inexplicable surge of confidence. He looked at his grandson—and saw a cold, calculating power that reminded him of the titans he had faced in his youth.
"I... I suppose I can hold out for fifteen more days," Rak-hun said, his voice regaining some of its former strength. "What do you need from me?"
"Information," Choyun replied instantly. "I know you still have a few loyalists in the telephone exchange and the district office. I need the live location of Secretary Myeong-soo. Right now."
Rak-hun didn't ask why. He reached for his desk phone and began dialing. He moved with a renewed sense of purpose, his years of political maneuvering coming back to him like muscle memory. After four hushed, intense conversations, he hung up and scribbled an address on a notepad.
"He's at a private lounge named Azure Terrace near the Gangbuk border," Rak-hun said. "He's meeting with the local construction heads. Choyun, be careful. That man is Ma Tae-san's shadow . He's never alone."
"I don't plan on being alone for long either," Choyun said, taking the paper. "Alfred is waiting."
"Oh, Grandfather, can you do one more thing? You're still the leader of your party, right?"
Grandfather replied, "Yes. Why do you ask?"
"Then can you ask your party's legal team to prepare some documents?"
I told him everything he needed to do. He was shocked at first, but he agreed and said it would be done by the next day.
With that, I left the office.
The car ride was silent. Choyun sat in the back of the sleek black sedan, his mind spinning. The [Silver Tongue] card was powerful, but it wasn't a permanent fix. It was a catalyst. To truly win, he needed the leverage his grandfather lacked.
They arrived at The Azure Terrace, a high-end lounge that served as a neutral ground for the district's power brokers. Alfred parked the car a block away.
"Wait here, Alfred. Keep the engine running," Choyun commanded.
As he approached the entrance, he saw them. Four men in ill-fitting suits, their stances wide and their eyes scanning the crowd with professional boredom. Choyun used [Peek At You].
Overall Rank: B
Potential: D
'B-Rank,' Choyun thought. 'Little Tough for me to handle all of them alone . However, a fight here would alert the police and Ma Tae-san. I need a different strategy.'
Secretary Myeong-soo was visible through the glass partition of a VIP booth, surrounded by men in expensive suits. Choyun didn't try to hide. He walked straight toward the security detail.
"Who are you, kid? This is a private event," one of the B-Rank guards grunted, placing a heavy hand on Choyun's shoulder.
Choyun didn't flinch. He looked the guard in the eye, his expression one of bored arrogance. "I'm here to offer Secretary Myeong-soo a permanent solution to his Kim Rak-hun problem. Tell him his grandson is here to sell him the nails for the old man's coffin."
The guard paused, his hand loosening. He signaled to another guard, who leaned into the VIP booth to whisper to the Secretary.
Inside the booth, Myeong-soo froze. He looked through the glass, his eyes narrowing as they landed on Choyun. The grandson? Why would the grandson of his greatest rival be here? The political world was full of betrayals, but this was a new level of coldness. Although I can still eliminate Rak-hun from the Politics, I need to dirty my hands for that but see here solution came walking to me .
Curiosity won over caution. Myeong-soo signaled for the guards to let him through.
"I can only tell you everything in a private room," Choyun said as the Secretary approached. "Unless you want the construction bosses to hear your business."
Myeong-soo nodded to his men. "Search him. Then wait outside."
After a quick pat-down that revealed nothing but a smartphone, they were ushered into a soundproofed side room. The door clicked shut, leaving Choyun alone with the man who held the keys to Gangbuk.
"You have five minutes," Myeong-soo said, sitting down and lighting a cigarette. "Why would you betray your own blood? Are you looking for a payout? Or did the old man finally lose his mind and drive you away?"
Choyun didn't sit. He stood by the door, his silhouette tall and imposing.