I Became a Cyberpunk Tycoon

Refining (2)

Work encompasses many meanings.

Earning money to make a living, engaging in activities for self-realization, moving to prove one's worth.

But regardless of the reason, work is something 'undesirable.'

Sometimes there are people who enjoy the process itself, but Han Sanwoo was definitely not that type of person, no matter how he thought about it.

The troublemaker of the Hansan family. He was like a lay-about who wouldn't show his face even at mandatory events, instead spending his time drinking with women and fooling around.

He wasn't particularly talented. He didn't have proper character either.

He was just a stereotypical wealthy family's son who spent money lavishly and enjoyed a life full of pleasure simply because he was born into the Hansan family.

Such a person is now moving. He's showing his face on TV shows he wouldn't normally appear in, and according to rumors, he's been regularly attending company meetings.

He's even showing up at places like police stations and factories where he doesn't necessarily need to go in person.

Someone who didn't want to work is now actively moving around appropriately to his age.

There was only one reason. He wanted something.

He developed a desire. For a man of the Hansan family who could have anything, something appeared that he couldn't obtain without working.

It wasn't good. It would have been better if he had continued living as before, fondling women and drinking.

Because the desire he harbored in his heart surely wouldn't be ordinary.

"This tastes good."

"I'm glad it suits your taste."

Ronald, a city council member of Stella City, hardened his expression at the man before him.

He wasn't someone insignificant enough to personally visit a mere city council member. If it was Han Sanwoo, he could have found someone more suitable to his status.

But he specifically sought out Ronald. Although Ronald refused the dinner invitation, citing busy schedules, he eventually barged into his house and had tea.

"This is... truly beyond my expectations."

Of course, Ronald wasn't someone lacking in status either.

Stella City was like a small country, and city council members held power stronger than parliament members of small nations.

But he wasn't someone worthy of meeting Han Sanwoo.

'Please, just drink the tea and leave...'

Even while knowing this wish was futile, Ronald kept praying.

There was no way Han Sanwoo would meet him without any intention.

He's meeting Ronald because there's something he wants to achieve through him. Something he desperately wants enough to adjust to Ronald's circumstances.

He avoided it as much as possible. He refused him by citing various regulations and tried to guide him to meet other people.

Even though Ronald was a city council member, he was just a first-term member who had just been elected. While connections with Han Sanwoo would be a great power for him, power that cannot be controlled is poison.

'Damn it...'

He had no choice but to be swayed. Perhaps his choices disappeared the moment Han Sanwoo showed interest in him.

While he might make quite a bit of money from the bribes and benefits Han Sanwoo would provide, that wasn't Ronald's concern.

Ronald had earned enough money to not envy others. All he had left was his affection for Stella City.

He was prepared for politics to not be easy.

He thought he wouldn't be able to achieve everything he wanted. He also knew that he would eventually hit the wall of reality and change like other corrupt council members.

But not now. Ronald thought his efforts, his despair, and his corruption weren't enough yet.

His heart was still beating. He hadn't woken up from the dream of making Stella City a more beautiful place and creating a happier and safer life for its citizens.

He couldn't submit to capital now. But Han Sanwoo, as if seeing through even such feelings of his, was leisurely drinking tea.

Anxious. Uneasy. Unable to bear this silence, Robert reluctantly opened his mouth.

"I'm bewildered. I never expected Chairman Han Sanwoo to seek me out personally."

He was persistent. Ronald also gritted his teeth and avoided him.

When Han Sanwoo invited him to an upscale restaurant, he avoided him with the excuse that 'a city council member who should serve the citizens cannot eat such luxurious food.'

It was an absurd excuse. Any restaurant worthy of entertaining someone in Stella City was naturally luxurious and had to be.

He also tried using the excuse of having scheduled appointments, but when it was revealed that Han Sanwoo knew his official schedule, there was nowhere to run.

If the meeting couldn't be avoided, at least it should be somewhere not public. Ronald's choice was to invite him to his home.

Deep down, he thought Han Sanwoo wouldn't come to such a humble place. While where he lived was quite a decent apartment within Stella City, it was too shabby for wealthy people to visit.

Even though it was expensive, it was a place where anyone working in a decent, large company could live if they took out a large mortgage.

The Han Sanwoo that Ronald knew would feel insulted by this proposal. But he sat in front of him without any sign of discomfort.

"If it's not rude, may I ask why you sought me out?"

As if satisfied with Ronald lowering his head, Han Sanwoo filled his mouth with a smile.

"About the bill you recently proposed... I have something I'd like to discuss about that."

He was caught. Ronald turned pale.

He had been careless. He hadn't met Ronald with good intentions.

Thinking about it, it might be obvious. If he wanted something and needed to meet a council member, there were many council members who could promise more than Ronald.

"T-That! You know."

Ronald gritted his teeth and smiled. His appearance might look quite ridiculous, but that was better.

"That's just a draft. Of course, I was planning to handle labor law matters in close consultation with Hansan."

It was his campaign promise. With the large-scale safety accident at the factory and Hansan's subsequent exposure, people were full of complaints.

Not everyone was angry about the incident, but there were those who wanted resolution and prevention. He just wanted to use that appropriately.

Ronald also knew well that the bill wouldn't pass.

His desire to make Stella City more beautiful wasn't a lie, but he wasn't a fool who believed impossible things would become possible.

Council members from other parties would rush in to butcher his bill. The strongest entities in this city, the businessmen, would meddle with the bill.

By the time the bill passes, only a tattered rag will remain.

It might even create a bill that fills corporate coffers more than before the law was made.

"I see."

Han Sanwoo's smile was strange. As if feeling no emotion at all about Ronald's words, he maintained a creepily 'unchanging' smile.

'This is bad...'

He had expected businessmen to be displeased. But he thought they would express regret and concern through their aides or media within their reach, not that Han Sanwoo would visit his house in person.

Even if Han Sanwoo pulled out a gun right now and shot Ronald in the head, Stella City would remain quiet.

His death would be ruled as suicide, and the city would nonchalantly elect his successor in a by-election.

Of course, such a thing wouldn't actually happen, but that wasn't a matter of possibility versus impossibility, but rather efficiency versus inefficiency.

Someone like Han Sanwoo didn't need to personally hold a gun just to kill one council member.

'Ugh...'

Maybe he should have stayed in the company. He wouldn't have drawn attention, and at least if he had received threats while being part of the company, he could have received the company's protection.

Stella City's police are weaker than corporate private armies.

"I'm glad you'll cooperate. Although I'm just an outsider with no rights in this matter, since I was invited here, I suppose I could at least be considered a friend... or acquaintance of Councilman Ronald."

"O-Of course."

"This bill, no matter how I think about it..."

Robert gave up. There was no way to protect this bill now, no matter what he did.

He thought it would be half successful if he could at least get the tattered bill into the law books. But if it had provoked Han Sanwoo to this extent, he needed to find another way.

"Isn't the punishment too weak?"

"Pardon?"

He was smiling nonchalantly.

***

"Did you enjoy the meeting?"

"He's a decent person. The tea was good too."

I've gathered the minimum number of people. Adding that old soldier to the Doris mercenary group, I've gained some forces I can use freely.

Even if I slightly irritate some high-ranking people, the people around me won't drop dead one by one.

"That alphabet?"

"Haven't found it yet."

There's time. If the original protagonist hasn't appeared, I need to finish what I need to do before they show their face.

I shook up Stella City once, but I haven't gained anything yet.

But now it was time to distinguish between those who could go along with me and those who couldn't. I don't need Hansan that won't follow my orders. No, they're dangerous.

It was time to put Hansan's people in this city on the sieve.

The big ones will remain, and the small ones will fall through.

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