“Mr. Han Hye, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Park Seo-ung, a secretary directly under the Association President. This person is affiliated with the Association.......”
To be honest, I had been surprised to hear that my counterpart was a secretary directly under the Association President. Normally, I met only employees from the Association department responsible for recruiting Awakened.
Of course, a negotiator was present as well.
“I will be frank with you. The Korean Hunter Association is making every effort to secure a contract with Mr. Han Hye.”
The arrival of a secretary directly under the Association President made that clear enough.
“We have prepared a contract with a signing bonus of 20 billion won, 30 billion won over four years, and 150 billion won in additional options. The total is 200 billion won.”
“What?”
For a moment, I could not continue speaking.
Excluding the additional options, the guaranteed amount over four years was 50 billion won.
I could not believe it even after hearing it.
Promising prospects with top-tier A-Grade Skills usually signed contracts with a guaranteed amount of around 15 billion won.
Prospects with S-Grade Skills signed for around 25 billion won?
‘If they are not top-tier, they sign for even less.’
Yet the guaranteed amount alone was 50 billion won. It meant twice as much as the prospects with outstanding S-Grade Skills received.
It meant the Korean Hunter Association valued me extremely highly.
Of course, it was not much compared with high-level Awakened. That was because we were ‘prospects.’
When it came to immediately subjugating an urgent Gate or defending against an ‘Outbreak Gate’ that threatened civilians, a high-level B-Grade was better than an S-Grade prospect.
“As you can see here, the option payments will be made on a graduated basis as your level and grade rise.”
That was why Hunter contracts, like athlete contracts, usually included many options.
There were many cases where an Awakened was given a large sum only to die or become permanently incapacitated.
Even taking that into account, the total of 200 billion won was still hard to believe. It was comparable to what many high-level Hunters received.
And that was the amount they received when renewing a contract. I had been offered that amount for my first contract.
Of course, the 150 billion won was in options. I might not receive it. Most Hunters never received their option payments.
It was because Awakened often did not grow enough to meet the contract conditions expected by the Association.
‘But I am not like that.’
Through this Gate subjugation, I had become certain that I could level up quickly. I only had to enter Survival Gates alone.
And, frankly, Survival Gates were much easier for me than other Gates.
The fact that they were unpopular and easy to enter was an advantage as well. Of course, I could not enter only Survival Gates.
“In addition, we plan to offer you a choice between one B-Grade Elixir or two C-Grade Elixirs.”
“Uh, um.......”
I scratched the back of my head. No matter how I looked at it, the contract exceeded what I had expected in every way.
I had performed well at the Workshop and cleared Dead End of the Labyrinth alone, but I had not expected to be offered this much.
‘Knight Lee Hongju's first contract was 90 billion won, including options. Even if that was several years ago.......’
Since I was not in a combat class, I had thought I would be fortunate to receive a similar amount or a little more.
Two hundred billion won.
When I considered the value of one B-Grade Elixir and two C-Grade Elixirs, the amount rose even further.
Hey, if a contract offer feels vague, don't just nod along. Push back and ask for more.
Uncle Choi Cheolgi's words suddenly came to mind, but I decided to forget them.
This wasn't an offer where I could ask for more, was it?
“As for the contract, I can assure you that there are no predatory clauses. As you can see here, it also states that if such a clause exists, Party A, Mr. Han Hye, may terminate the contract without paying a penalty.”
It was true. Clauses like that were not normally included.
“If you are uneasy, you may hire any lawyer you want now. The Association will cover the cost.”
Honestly, it seemed the Association had prepared a generous offer because it wanted to proceed without prolonged negotiations.
If I tried to get a little more and they suddenly said, ‘Let us pretend this never happened,’ I would be the one at a loss.
“All right.”
I simply nodded. To be honest, I did not even need to hear foreign offers.
There was no chance they would offer me more than Korea.
In other words.......
It was too much money to turn down.
“Ah, and congratulations on becoming an E-Grade Hunter in the shortest time. It has been only three days since you graduated from the Workshop.”
Come to think of it, there was that too?
“Now that you have signed the contract, may I ask? We believe that you have an S+-Grade Skill. Is that correct?”
So they had inferred it, which was why they had prepared such a large offer.
I had planned to reveal it during the contract process to raise the amount anyway, so I had no intention of hiding it.
“That is right. It is an S+-Grade Skill.”
I made sure to continue.
“There is something I would like to request.”
“Please feel free to say it.”
“Could I receive as much of the guaranteed amount of 50 billion won as possible in Elixirs? Specifically, fire-related Elixirs.”
.
.
.
As soon as I finished the contract, I received a call. It was from an unknown number.
“Hello?”
Hello, Hunter Han Hye. I heard that your meeting with the Korean side has ended, so I am calling.
From what I heard, the caller was a Korea specialist negotiator affiliated with the United States.
Normally, negotiations with one's own country came first, yet somehow they had called immediately after they ended.
“The United States has prepared a contract with a signing bonus of 20 billion won, 20 billion won over four years, a guaranteed amount of 40 billion won, and 100 billion won in options, for a total of 140 billion won.”
“Ah.......”
Just as I expected. Even 140 billion won was an enormous offer, but it could not compare with Korea's offer, from the guaranteed amount to the total.
I said that I had already signed a contract and ended the call, but another call came in.
Hunter Han Hye, I am calling from the Chinese side.......
This time, it was China, but their offer did not reach Korea's amount either. It was even lower than the United States' offer.
‘...At this point, has Korea poured its very soul into this?’
Considering that they had asked me not to disclose the total contract amount, it did seem that way.
Hmm.
I am grateful that they are taking such good care of me.
It feels like my patriotism is suddenly surging.
[(Breaking) Korea Signs Its First ‘S+-Grade’ Spatialist, ‘Han Hye’]
50 billion won guaranteed over four years. Options are confidential.
Fastest record: E-Grade Hunter only three days after graduating from the Workshop.
Cleared ‘Dead End of the Labyrinth’ solo at Level 6 / Current Level 9
Whoa, 50 billion won? Isn't that more than twice what a typical S-Grade gets?
┗He's S+-Grade. Our country's first. Even Divine Spear is only S-Grade.
E-Grade in three days? Isn't this ignoring the rules? What is with the preferential treatment?
┗You are F-Grade, aren't you?
┗For real lol. Even if it is a Level 6~10 ‘Dead End of the Labyrinth,’ if someone can subjugate it alone, then, to put it bluntly, they are good enough to be given D-Grade.
50 billion won over four years and E-Grade in three days? It makes no sense, but then you read the last line and understand. Any Hunter who agrees, give this a massive upvote lol.
┗Massive upvote.
┗Massive upvote lol.
As news of Han Hye's completed contract spread, Hunternet was ablaze with the story.
Everyone was stunned and baffled by the amount, then accepted it after seeing the last line.
Warrior2001: I wondered how it made sense for a noncombat class to break the Workshop's top record, but it was an S+-Grade Skill;;
He didn't Awaken long ago, did he? Why's he already Level 9?
┗Warrior2001: He Awakened in a Transformed Gate and started at Level 6. Looks like he gained three levels from this Gate?
An S+-Grade Skill, Subspace, and his combat ability seems decent too. He must be getting a ton of Guild recruitment offers. I'm fucking jealous.
┗There's a rumor that he attends a training center.
“Things have really blown up.”
“What has blown up?”
As Choi Cheolgi spoke while looking at his phone, his son, Choi Minseok, asked with an innocent face.
Children who were only ten were naturally curious.
Han Hye was eating beef with Choi Cheolgi's family at their home to celebrate the contract.
“You heard that Big Brother Han Hye Awakened an amazing ability, right? He received a lot of money when he signed with Korea.”
“Really?”
At his mother's words, Choi Minseok sprang up and clapped.
I could not let that reaction pass without giving him something. Han Hye looked around a little before opening Subspace.
“Of course. I brought a present for our Minseok, too.”
“Wow!”
What Han Hye took out of Subspace was a magic stone. Choi Minseok had loved shiny things since he was little.
Things like gems.
He had rummaged through his mother's jewelry box and played with the gems. His dream was to own a jewelry store.
‘He is only a child. What does he know? Still, if I am giving him something, I should give him a good one.’
Han Hye handed him a magic stone that had come from an Awakened creature, then smiled warmly at the sight of Choi Minseok's delight. Magic stones were naturally expensive.
But if he was giving one, Han Hye wanted to give him a good one. Choi Minseok was practically a nephew to him.
“A magic stone! It has been so long since I touched one!”
“Heh heh. You liked the one your older brother gave you last time too, didn't you?”
“That one was fake, so I had to pretend!”
How had he known it was fake? Han Hye was slightly flustered.
The one he gave as a present before had been a model made to look exactly like a magic stone. It was very difficult to tell the difference with the naked eye.
“What? You liked it then.”
“I learned at school that sometimes white lies are necessary.”
“Oh, Minseok. You should say thank you!”
“Thank you, hehe.”
Choi Minseok happily bowed at ninety degrees. Either way, Han Hye was satisfied.
Choi Minseok seemed much happier now than when he had been given the fake one before.
“Hye, what am I supposed to do? I am so grateful. I hear you are even investing an Elixir worth tens of billions of won because of my husband.......”
Choi Cheolgi's wife spoke beside him with an apologetic expression.
Han Hye grinned.
“You do not know how much I have received from Uncle Choi Cheolgi and Sister-in-law. You fed me and gave me a place to sleep when I was on the verge of starving to death. I should at least repay you for that.”
“Still.......”
“Please do not say that. When I receive the money next time, I will bring a present for you too, Sister-in-law!”
“You do not have to.......”
Choi Minseok's wife said that, but she was smiling.
Soon, Choi Minseok excitedly took the magic stone into his room, and Han Hye joked around.
“Right. I almost got into serious trouble if I had listened to Uncle Choi Cheolgi.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You told me to push for more, remember?”
“Did I say that?”
At his wife's question, Choi Cheolgi hurriedly shook his head.
“That was when the amount was ambiguous!”
Choi Cheolgi was startled by his own words.
“You did not really say that, did you? It was 200 billion won?”
“Of course not. It was too much money to ask for more.”
When Han Hye laughed, Choi Cheolgi let out a sigh of relief.
“Right. If it is 200 billion won including options, you should just sign the contract. It is the largest first contract ever given to an Awakened. Then there is a high chance your second contract will be the largest as well.”
That was true. The size of the first contract was what many high-level Hunters received.
This meant that the Association intended to invest in Han Hye properly.
“By the way, I asked to receive the guaranteed amount in fire-related Elixirs. The additional Elixirs they are giving me too.”
“Then how much money did you receive?”
“They said they would look for fire-related Elixirs and contact me.”
Normally, the money was deposited at the same time as the contract, but it had not been because of Han Hye's request.
“Still, more than 10 billion won will come in, right?”
A-Grade Elixirs were almost impossible to obtain. Fewer than ten had appeared so far, and their price was whatever the seller asked.
B-Grade Elixirs were worth around 35 billion won. In other words, even if they obtained a B-Grade Elixir, at least 10 billion won would be deposited.
“That is right.”
“This is a good opportunity to move. You should get a better car, too.”
“I will think about it when the money comes in. For now, hatching the Red Dragon's Egg comes first.”
Wouldn't the Red Dragon come before a nice house and an expensive car?
“You should think about it ahead of time. You know that house prices in safe areas have risen sharply because of Gates these days, right? Investment! Yes, investment. You have to study personal finance to do it well.......”
“Did not all your investments fail?”
“.......”
At Han Hye's thoughtless remark, Choi Cheolgi hurriedly looked to his wife. She already had a cold look in her eyes.
Despite being in difficult circumstances, Choi Cheolgi had scraped together money to invest two or three times, and every investment had failed. Han Hye hurriedly waved both hands.
“No, that is not what I.......”
“If you do not want to end up like me, study, brat.”
“All right.”
Han Hye decided he should give Sister-in-law something expensive, then hastily changed the subject.
“By the way, Uncle Choi Cheolgi, you need to prepare now too. If possible, sell that pork belly restaurant.”
“The restaurant?”
“I will be receiving two or three fire-related Elixirs. If we invest them, should it not hatch? You need to return, right? Are you going to keep running the restaurant?”
One B-Grade Elixir and two C-Grade Elixirs.
Since he had asked for fire-related Elixirs, Han Hye had asked them to give him whichever type they could obtain.
He judged that this would be enough for hatching.
It meant that the day Choi Cheolgi truly became a Dragon Knight was not far off.
“Hmm. Still, I have grown attached to it. It would be a shame to sell it.”
Even so, Choi Cheolgi hesitated a little.
“In a way, I met you because of Yongyong Samgyeopsal and got a Red Dragon, so it feels like it might be fate.”
“Then why not find a manager? If you really become a Dragon Knight, you will make a lot of money and the restaurant will become famous too.”
“Should I?”
Choi Cheolgi was tempted by Han Hye's suggestion.
It was not a bad idea. He could keep Yongyong Samgyeopsal running and work as a Hunter himself.
“Still, I wonder whether it is all right to reveal this even if it really hatches.”
That was the part the two of them had worried about. Even if the Red Dragon really hatched, they wondered whether they should not keep that information hidden.
“It should be fine now.”
But the situation was different from when they had worried about it before. The Korean Hunter Association was taking extremely good care of Han Hye.
Even if he revealed the things inside Subspace, not the Red Dragon's Egg, Han Hye did not think they would be taken from him. There was no need to reveal them, of course.
“We have finished eating, and since it has come up, should we go train?”
Han Hye rose from his seat.
“I learned a new technique when my skill leveled up, so I need to test it.”
Han Hye planned to practice the Body Art, Fighting Rooster, too, but what he was looking forward to immediately was something else.
Subspace Portalization.
He wanted to attack a distant enemy from behind while standing still and reflect an opponent's attacks.