The Mayor’s Invitation

The information Kim Seonyeong gathered was delivered directly to Choi Geonwoo.

“Park Garam, you say.”

“Yes, he is the most likely candidate to be the farmer.”

“Can we meet him?”

“It won’t be easy.
If they’re hiding him, there must be a reason.
And the one currently managing the guild, Jung Jinyoung, is a very difficult person.”

“Ah, the fanatic who worships Lee Jaehun.”

“Yes, someone who would do anything for him.”

Because of that, she was sometimes called a psychopath.

“Then let’s use that.
Didn’t the Haechi Guild owe us a favor from before?
If we bring that up, they won’t be able to refuse.”

“Isn’t that favor too valuable to use here?”

“No.
Everyone worships strength, but in the end, they’re still human.
If they don’t eat, they lose their strength.
Food will become increasingly important.
One cannot rely forever on monster meat alone.
If a Farmer class really exists, we must bring him under us.”

Choi Geonwoo spoke firmly.

“But the person is Lee Jaehun’s lover.”

“Well, I think that whole thing is a show.
Remember their first meeting.”

“They could have fallen in love after.”

“Let’s confirm that in person.”

“Yes.
I’ll arrange the meeting.”

“Good.”

As soon as she left the office, Kim Seonyeong immediately contacted the Haechi Guild.

Jung Jinyoung disliked the request, but she couldn’t refuse completely.

Transferring the criminal earlier had been a big favor, so if a simple meeting could repay part of that debt, she had to consider it.

“I will ask for Park Garam-nim’s opinion first.”

She delayed the schedule with that excuse.

But she could not delay forever.

That day, Jung Jinyoung went to find Garam.

“Hello.
I apologize for the late introduction.
I’m Jung Jinyoung, currently acting vice guild master.”

Kang Yujun had called her vice guild master, but she introduced herself as acting.

Something had happened, clearly.

“Hello.
What brings you here?”

“There is a request that has come for you, Mr. Park Garam.”

“A request?”

Why would anyone request something from someone like him, who just stayed in a corner growing crops?

Garam looked puzzled.

“Haetae’s mayor, Choi Geonwoo, has asked for a meeting.
He wants to see you in person.”

“Me?
Why?”

“We don’t know either.
We tried digging, but the mayor is slipperier than expected.
We couldn’t find anything.
I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine.
But you didn’t reject him immediately… because you wanted to check my opinion?”

“That is part of it.
But there’s another reason.”

“May I ask what it is?”

To his question, Jung Jinyoung answered honestly.

She explained that they owed a debt from the kidnapping incident, when they had received the transferred criminals.

“So it’s because of me.”

“No, that’s not it.
But it is true that agreeing to meet him is beneficial.”

Jinyoung looked apologetic.

Whether it was genuine or not, she wasn’t dismissing his opinion entirely.

‘They called her a psycho…’

But she didn’t seem like a bad person.

‘But why does he want to meet me?’

Does he want to check something about being Lee Jaehun’s lover?
Feeling confused, Garam nodded.

“Then I’ll meet him.”

“Thank you.
Just to be safe, we’ll arrange strict security.”

“Yes, please do.”

“You won’t be in any danger.”

Jinyoung promised firmly and left.

Only after she left did Park Deokpal reveal himself from behind the door.

“What do you think the reason is?”

To Garam’s question, Deokpal shook his head.

“If I knew that, I’d be in the Oracle division.”

“True.”

“If I had to guess, maybe they found out you’re a farmer?”

“But so few people know.”

Lee Jaehun, Park Deokpal, and Kang Jungbae.

“I doubt you or Jaehun would say anything.
How’s the old man?”

“Not him either.
He’s been getting better lately.
Though he’s fiddling with some weird toy a lot.
But that’s just…”

“He likes toys?”

“Technically his daughter liked them.
Ah— shouldn’t have said that.
Keep it secret from him.”

“Okay.”

Garam nodded casually.

He noticed a few things, but didn’t intend to pry.

The meeting with Choi Geonwoo was scheduled a few days later.

Garam changed out of his usual clothes and into a formal suit prepared by Jinyoung.

“Let’s trim your hair while we’re at it.”

She even brought a stylist to fix his hair and give him a massage.

“With the guild master gone, you are the face of the guild!”

Because of that, Garam looked the best he ever had.

“You don’t look like you.”

“What do I look like normally?”

“A scruffy countryside mutt?”

At that, Garam smacked Deokpal’s back.

“Argh— hey!”

He acted hurt, but Garam knew it was fake.

A C-rank awakened wouldn’t feel pain from someone with barely F-rank strength.
Garam scowled.

“Just wait.
When I get stronger, your back is the first thing I’ll crush.”

“Why my back?Jealous?”

“No!”

Right then, Jung Jinyoung entered.

She looked at the two briefly, then walked over to Garam.

“You’re wrinkling the suit.
Please refrain from rough movements.
If he needs punishment, I’ll do it myself.”

Her calm tone was scarier than shouting.

Especially since Garam now knew she was A-rank.

If she hit Deokpal, bones would certainly break.

“No, no, we were just joking.”

Garam waved desperately.
Annoying as Deokpal was, he was attached to him, and didn’t want him scolded.

“Is that so?”

Jinyoung straightened Garam’s suit.

“Mayor Choi Geonwoo has arrived.
As I warned, if he tries anything suspicious, hit the table hard.
Leave the rest to me.”

Her eyes gleamed like a hawk staring at prey.

“And you.”

She looked at Park Deokpal.

“Since you’re accompanying him, if anything happens, protect him with your body.”

“I’ll try.”

“Not try.
You must.”

Her sharp tone visibly unsettled Deokpal, but he didn’t complain.
He clearly didn’t want Garam going alone.

‘Trying to act like a big brother…’

Garam found Deokpal’s protectiveness strange.

‘Since when were we that close?’

After the kidnapping incident, his overprotectiveness only grew.

“This way, please.”

Jinyoung led them into the reception room.

“Mr. Park Garam has arrived.”

At her words, Choi Geonwoo stood up from the sofa.

“It has been a while.”

He reached out for a handshake— something Garam really didn’t want to accept.

But refusing the mayor of the city wasn’t an option.

Just as Garam reached out, Deokpal suddenly stepped forward.

“Nice to see you again!
You remember me, right?”

Deokpal grabbed Geonwoo’s hand and greeted him like an old friend.

Geonwoo’s eyes turned cold for a moment— but he didn’t show anger.

“Yes.
We met then.”

“Yes, and to think that person was the mayor!
What an honor.
I look forward to working with you.”

“Likewise.
But you may let go of my hand now.”

“I’m very friendly by nature.
If it caused discomfort, I apologize.”

“No problem.”

Geonwoo withdrew his hand and casually wiped it with a handkerchief.

It was all so smooth that Garam couldn’t even react.

“Shall we sit and talk?”

At that point, Jung Jinyoung stepped out.

One of the mayor’s requests had been that she not be present during the conversation.