After the appearance of the Tower, the world changed a lot. The government was no different. Each government spent agonizing days trying to deal with things they had never encountered before, namely the Tower and Hunters.
Among them, it was the Ministry of Justice that suffered the most. The reason was simple.
[Turning a blind eye to the crimes of Hunters! Is this really okay?]
[Hunters living above the law! Who judges them?]
In an era where every single Hunter was precious, it wasn't easy to severely punish them for their crimes under the current circumstances. And all the blame for that fell on the prosecutors and the courts, and that blame gathered and was directed towards the Ministry of Justice.
Of course, there were opinions like that too. - Does it make sense to go easy on them just because they're Hunters? What's happening to the judicial system of South Korea? ㄴ Isn't it part of South Korea's national identity to go easy on the rich and powerful? ㄴ Huh? Is that so?
It's no different from going easy on conglomerates, celebrities, or the rich, so why are you so surprised? Anyway, for that reason, the Gwacheon Government Complex, where the Ministry of Justice was located, was always filled with protestors holding signs, police officers dispatched to monitor them, and street vendors selling raw eggs to capitalize on the situation.
“Wow, so this is the Ministry of Justice?”
Having arrived at such a Ministry of Justice, Park Jin-soo's eyes were sparkling more than ever. It was only natural.
“I never thought I'd come here alive. Honestly, other places might be fine, but it's a bit strange for a death row inmate to come here, isn't it?”
It was as if he had come to the one place in his life he was least likely to ever visit. At that sight, Lee Ji-soo wore a look of disbelief. Kim Jeong-bin, on the other hand, was different.
He straightened his clothes and repeatedly exchanged glances with the bodyguards around him. He told them to be on guard.
“Mr. Park Jin-soo.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Please be careful. From now on, Mr. Park Jin-soo, you are a national treasure.”
At those words, Park Jin-soo scratched his head.
“A treasure, come on, what am I...”
In truth, the current situation was something Park Jin-soo himself found hard to understand. Just a few days ago, wasn't this the same Park Jin-soo who was destined for execution if the Minister of Justice simply declared, ‘Die!’? It was surprising enough that he was lucky to have his death sentence commuted to a 50-year prison term.
But now they were going to pardon him on top of that?
“Can I even meet the Minister of Justice?”
Honestly, from Park Jin-soo's perspective, even the idea of facing the Minister of Justice here today and saying, 'Hello, I'm the serial killer Park Jin-soo, the one who was fated to die the moment you gave the word! A pleasure to meet you!' was unbelievable.
‘If I were him, I'd probably run.’
But surprisingly, Park Jin-soo was able to meet him.
“Have a seat.”
The Minister of Justice, Kim Hyun-seok, pointed to a seat for Kim Jeong-bin and Park Jin-soo, who had entered his office. At this fact, Park Jin-soo blinked his eyes and spoke.
“You're the real Minister of Justice?”
At that question, it was Kim Jeong-bin who was surprised.
“Did you know the Minister of Justice's face?”
The Park Jin-soo he knew was a man with no particular interest in the ways of the world, and at the same time, someone who lived in a space where information was extremely limited. For such a man to remember the face of the Minister of Justice who took office two years ago? It was certainly strange.
“Ah, yes. I made a point to memorize it.”
“On purpose?”
“If I die by execution later, he's the one killing me, right? I wanted to at least memorize the face of the person who would kill me. Ah, I don't mean it in a bad way. It's not like I'm planning revenge or anything, it's just a personal preference.”
Hearing this conversation from a distance, the face of Minister of Justice Kim Hyun-seok turned deathly pale. It went without saying, but for Minister of Justice Kim Hyun-seok, this meeting was no different from hell.
It was crazy enough to have let a death row serial killer out of prison through a plea bargain, but now that same death row inmate was standing before him saying, 'I remember your face well, Mr. Minister of Justice'? Nevertheless, there was only one reason he had arranged this meeting.
“Chief Secretary Kim Jeong-bin, let's not drag this out. What is it that you want?”
“As I've said, the conquest of the 1st floor of our South Korea's First Tower was accomplished by Mr. Park Jin-soo here.”
That Park Jin-soo was the one who had made history.
“Are you certain?”
“I am not foolish enough to report a prank to the President in a situation like this.”
And it was none other than the President who had contacted him to accept this meeting with Kim Jeong-bin and Park Jin-soo. Naturally, he also knew the reason for this meeting.
“So, what is it you want?”
If it were simply to receive congratulations, there would be no reason to have brought Park Jin-soo all the way here in person.
“We want a pardon for Mr. Park Jin-soo.”
“What?”
But the moment he heard the demand, a sound of disbelief escaped the lips of Minister of Justice Kim Hyun-seok.
“What kind of bullshit is this?”
Harsh words came out, and at those words, Park Jin-soo nodded his head.
“Chief Secretary, honestly, a pardon seems a bit over the line. I'm a death row inmate, a death row inmate.”
Kim Jeong-bin, however, was different. He spoke to Minister of Justice Kim Hyun-seok.
“Then, Mr. Minister of Justice, do you think it's okay for a death row inmate to save South Korea?”
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I said. Soon, information about Mr. Park Jin-soo will be released to the world. When that happens, would it be alright for the press release to say, ‘A death row inmate is saving South Korea,’ or ‘Not the Hunters who commit crimes and go unpunished, but a death row inmate is climbing the Tower for South Korea’?”
At those words, Minister of Justice Kim Hyun-seok wore a look of disbelief.
“No, I understand what you're trying to say, but he's a death row inmate! Park Jin-soo is a death row inmate!”
“Yes, a beloved death row inmate who only killed other criminals. I'm sure you're not unaware of what the results of a public opinion poll on Mr. Park Jin-soo would be right now, Mr. Minister of Justice.”
At the words that followed, Minister of Justice Kim Hyun-seok shut his mouth. It was just as he said. Park Jin-soo was a death row inmate who deserved his sentence, but public opinion of him was very favorable.
So much so that, at the time, the Ministry of Justice considered it a huge relief that the Tower had appeared and drawn public attention away.
“Mr. Minister of Justice, this case isn't just about your reputation. Mr. Park Jin-soo has already established a great achievement. Leaving such a figure as a death row inmate will only increase the criticism. So instead, we should appeal to the fact that he is being managed.”
“Managed?”
“We entrusted him with conquering the Tower in exchange for a pardon. At the very least, the public won't vehemently oppose this fact.”
At those words, Minister of Justice Kim Hyun-seok's expression grew heavy.
“Um.”
Just then, Park Jin-soo opened his mouth.
“Sorry for interrupting, but I'm the one who has a problem with receiving a pardon?”
At his words, the other two looked surprised. This whole conversation was for his benefit, and yet he was the one objecting?
“Ah, I mean, I'm happy about getting a pardon, but this is giving a pardon as a reward, right?”
Of course, Park Jin-soo would be happy to receive a pardon.
“Then that means any bastard who has sinned can just conquer the Tower and get a pardon right away, and that's just fucked up, isn't it? A guy who embezzled, raped, or murdered gets a pardon just for clearing some Tower? That's something I can't stand.”
But the idea of this condition being applied to other criminals was not something he was happy about.
“To be blunt, if that's the case, the moment I get my pardon, I'll just kill about ten more of those goddamn bastards, then get another pardon. How can I stand to see those sons of bitches, who deserve to have their heads split into three with an axe to make them look like Cerberus, walk around shamelessly with their pardons? I think I'd go even crazier.”
At that point, Minister of Justice Kim Hyun-seok was certain of one thing.
‘He's a madman.’
It was impossible to just watch a man like Park Jin-soo from a distance.
“And conquering the Tower wasn't even that hard, was it? You just punch a few holes in the goblins' heads and it's over. How about you do this instead? I don't need a pardon, just give me the prison…”
It was then.
“Mr. Park Jin-soo, there's no need to overdo it.”
Kim Jeong-bin stopped Park Jin-soo from saying, 'Just give me a chance to smash the heads of a few bastards in prison, and I'll diligently conquer the Tower until the day I die! We kill criminals, save resources, save tax money, isn't that great?'
“Ah, I'm sorry.”
“It's nothing.”
Having calmed Park Jin-soo down, Kim Jeong-bin looked at the Minister of Justice and said.
“We did not come here today to hear your decision. We simply came because we felt it would be disrespectful to the President to proceed with such a significant matter without any report.”
“I am always grateful for the cooperation of the Comet Guild.”
With that brief exchange, Kim Jeong-bin rose from his seat.
“Mr. Park Jin-soo, let's go.”
[The Tower has been conquered!]
[A Tower conqueror has appeared in South Korea!]
[A Master Class, surpassing the Frontier Class, has appeared!]
The news of the 1st floor conquest shook the world. Naturally, everyone's attention turned to the identity of that conqueror.
“Is there anything you want to eat?”
“Chicken.”
“Chicken?”
“Yes.”
“Didn't you have chicken yesterday too?”
“I had it the day before yesterday, too. And I'm going to have it tomorrow.”
And the conqueror Park Jin-soo's attention was focused solely on chicken.
“You must really like chicken.”
At that fact, Lee Ji-soo was amazed.
“Ah, it's not that I always liked it. But you see, when you're in prison, the best special meal you can have is chicken. Those rich bastards or the ones with strong connections slip some money, tear into some chicken during their lawyer visits, and smoke a cigarette. That's the greatest luxury in prison. Since then, I've strangely started craving chicken. Well, and I also wanted to ask those bastards later if their chicken was tasty before I killed them. How should I put it, if you have some common ground, you can torment them more properly.”
However, upon hearing the words that followed, Lee Ji-soo couldn't just be amazed. It was then.
Creeak!
Chief Secretary Kim Jeong-bin entered the room where Park Jin-soo and Lee Ji-soo were.
“I know it must be stuffy, but thank you for staying here without any complaints.”
As soon as he entered, Kim Jeong-bin started by lightly apologizing to the two.
“Not at all, meals came on time, I could shower whenever I felt like it, and I could even take a dump whenever I wanted, so it was great! And ordering chicken for me whenever I wanted was the best.”
Of course, Park Jin-soo vehemently denied it, as if it wasn't a problem at all.
“An offer has come from the Ministry of Justice.”
To that Park Jin-soo, Kim Jeong-bin spoke.
“The Ministry of Justice wants a verification.”
At those words, Lee Ji-soo's eyes narrowed.
“Verification? By whom?”
From her perspective, the very idea of another organization verifying a Hunter acknowledged by the Comet Guild was hard to accept.
“The four other guilds, besides us, will send Hunters. They will verify whether Mr. Park Jin-soo's skills are real.”
“If it's four guilds, don't tell me it's Capital Fortress, Great Tiger, Holy Star, and Iron Bastion?”
Lee Ji-soo instantly named the 2nd to 5th ranked guilds in South Korea.
“That's correct.”
And the moment she heard the answer, Lee Ji-soo shouted.
“Those bastards who have already sold out the country will do a great job verifying, I'm sure. This is a complete trap, isn't it? They'll definitely try to kill Mr. Park Jin-soo under the pretext of verification!”
Vehemently.
“I know. That's why I haven't accepted it yet.”
Kim Jeong-bin also agreed.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Park Jin-soo, on the other hand, raised a question.
“It's a verification, but they'll kill me? Why?”
“Because nothing good will come of you doing well, Mr. Park Jin-soo. Even if that weren't the case, China, at the very least, will want you dead. They're the ones who hate seeing outstanding Hunters emerge from South Korea the most. Entering the Tower with people like that is…”
“Oh, what an opportunity!”
“That's right, it's an opportunity. Hmm? Huh? What did you say?”
At Park Jin-soo's words, Lee Ji-soo wore a look of disbelief.
“An opportunity?”
“Yes, an opportunity!”
“What are you talking about? I'm telling you, one of them could be after you! Or they might all team up to try and kill you!”
“But they might not, right? Or once the verification is over, it's okay.”
“What if you're right? What if it is an assassination attempt?”
“Then it's an even bigger gain.”
“A gain?”
To that question, Park Jin-soo said.
“If they're coming to kill me, they'll come packed with items. If I kill them, it's a guaranteed item drop, right? A 100 percent drop rate! That's a huge gain! And while I'm at it, smashing those goddamn bastards' heads will relieve some stress too!”
With a brighter smile than ever before. The moment they saw that smile, Kim Jeong-bin and Lee Ji-soo had to realize it once again.
“Then let's say okay! Ah, I really hope they try to kill me!”
That the man before them was living madness.