< 57. 21st Century Robin Hood (11) >
***
“Mr. Chairman, this is a document sent from the district representative office of the committee.”
When the secretary came in, Jenkinson was working in his human body.
“The committee?”
“Yes, this is a response to your request to the bank last time.”
Jenkinson flinched as he accepted the papers Blair had handed him. The ring on her finger was glowing with a soft glow.
“ah!”
The elf, who noticed the gaze, was startled when he saw the ring and took his hand off the documents. He then wrapped his finger with his other hand.
“I’m sorry, Chairman. This is something I can’t control···.”
The ring left as an apology gift by the ‘woman with tentacles on her back’ was wrapped around her finger and fixed there, regardless of her will, and no matter how hard she tried, it would not come off.
Sometimes, like now, it shines at incomprehensible timing, and that makes me even more nervous. Especially when I’m right next to Jenkinson, there’s almost a 100% chance that it’ll shine like it does now.
The chairman cleared his throat awkwardly and said.
“It’s okay. Even my magic couldn’t separate them… Do you have a way?”
There is another reason why he is reluctant about the ring. It is because he heard Minjun’s explanation that it comes from an ancient race, the Endellion.
Like many dragons, Jenkinson harbored both hostility and fear of the Elder Race.
‘If it’s Endellion, they’re famous for creating strange things···.’
The name ‘ancient race’ implies that the referenced people do not belong to the modern era.
In fact, they were all once completely lost in all dimensions.
Those who had only heard of it through relics and records suddenly returned, formed an organization called the ‘Committee’, and started to stir things up all over the dimensions while boasting techniques that surpassed the dimensional leap magic that had been functioning at the time. Naturally, the first ones to express their displeasure were the Dragons.
As a natural progression, war broke out, the dragons were defeated, and everyone was left to live under the council’s rules.
Jenkinson was a young dragon still growing in strength during the war, and the sight of Endellion’s weapon in his eyes was mind-bogglingly terrifying.
‘That may seem like an ordinary ring, but… if you look closely, you may not know what functions it has. You have to be careful. You never know what small actions will trigger it. Those authors have completely different values from a good dragon like me!’
With that determination, he took out the documents sent by the committee.
At first glance, it looked like an ordinary piece of paper, but when it touched his hand, a light ray spread through the air, creating a string of documents.
“hmm?!”
Jenkins’ expression becomes distorted as he reads the alien text.
“Are these guys real?!”
Blair asks cautiously.
“Why are you doing that?”
He rubbed his temples as if he had a headache.
“Do you know what I asked for this time?”
The elf nodded.
“Yes, it was a request to withdraw a small amount of talent deposited in a foreign bank under the chairman’s name.”
It was when I heard that Changcheon had withdrawn one million talents.
Jenkinson is in a position where he owes Minjun 300,000 talents in his body, but he wants to have a backup plan in case the goblin DNA analysis fails. It’s a fine line between tax evasion and tax avoidance.
Then, Changcheon came up with an idea. It was impossible for Minjun, who was a prisoner, but possible for Jenkinson, who was a free man. He didn’t know what Minjun wanted to experiment with with his talent, but he tried to make a deal where he would provide it to reduce his debt.
But it didn’t seem like it would be easy.
“You want me to write this all down and send it to you?”
The committee’s lengthy reply could be summed up in one sentence:
Unless absolutely necessary, do not withdraw money.
I can see why Changcheon said it was ‘close to picking a fight’. In order to review all of this and make sure that there are no parts that are in violation of the contract with the committee, and that there is no risk of a lawsuit in the future due to procedural errors, it will be necessary to mobilize a law firm from another world.
Jenkinson’s eyes, scanning the thousands of notes and checklists, stopped on one spot.
– When a free person who is considered to have a close relationship with a prisoner, such as blood, regional, school, or employment ties, withdraws talent, he or she will automatically be subject to a tax investigation.
This means that even if Jenkinson succeeds in withdrawing the money, he will be investigated.
– The burden of proof is on the party to prove that the amount was not illegally given to the prisoner, and failure to prove innocence will be considered tax evasion. Accordingly, prisoners and free people involved may be subject to the execution of the Tax Collection Command, so please be careful.
“······.”
A groan escaped from between his teeth.
“Those bastards are worse than the devil.”
On the one hand, I have doubts.
Why are you being so picky?
What would happen if a prisoner were to hold the actual talent in his hand?
While Jenkinson was lost in thought, a worker working under Blair knocked cautiously on the door. While she was talking briefly, the elf’s expression changed dramatically. He approached Jenkinson urgently and spoke.
“Chairman, we suddenly received a request for an interview.”
Few are worthy of having a one-on-one encounter with a dragon.
“Who is it?”
The moment he heard the other person’s name, a strange light appeared in Jenkinson’s eyes.
“Unexpected. I thought it would be on Earth, but···.”
I never thought I would go on vacation to another world in the first place.
“You want to meet me?”
He immediately sent a magical communication to Minjun, and while exchanging information they were able to draw up a scenario. After finishing the communication, Jenkinson said to Blair.
“See you tomorrow.”
***
“It is an honor to meet the great race, Chairman.”
The old orc entered Jenkinson’s office and bowed low to show his respect.
“Get up.”
Jenkinson’s voice was strangely dry as he addressed him.
“You have something to show me?”
——————
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The interviewer, Kim Gwang-woo, carefully examined the expression of the polymorphed dragon.
“Yes, here is the data···.”
Oak waited nervously while Jenkins read the documents he had brought.
‘You’ll be furious. Your anger will surge to the top of your head.’
If the rumors are true that he felt a deep sense of betrayal from Changcheon and turned into an enemy, then that’s the only way things could turn out.
However, the reaction was a bit strange.
‘?!’
The dragon’s face, which had been cold from the beginning, did not waver an inch even as the remaining pages were dwindling.
‘Aren’t you going to let it out because you’re in front of an orc?’
Jenkinson, who had read all the way to the last page, looked at him intently.
Chairman Kim Gwang-woo believed that despite his old age, he was a person who did not lag behind in mental strength, courage, and boldness wherever he went.
From being born as an orc to amassing his current fortune and ascending to the throne of the back alleys, he has done all sorts of things. He planned, instigated, and executed whatever came his way, regardless of whether it was dirty, unnatural, or bloody. He was so proud that his heart was not only calloused, but also covered in iron plates.
Nevertheless, at this moment when I am alone with the dragon, I feel myself shrinking.
Deep-set eyes that held no emotion. A suffocating aura of oppression that made it impossible to see the polymorphous appearance.
“Where does this information come from?”
A voice with a sharp tone.
The orc looked embarrassed.
“I’m sorry, Chairman. Even a person like me who rolls around in trash cans and earns a living… has promises to make.”
It meant that the informant had to be protected.
Of course, Kim Gwang-woo had no intention of keeping his loyalty to Red Star. The moment he revealed that he was involved with an organization that considered dragons to be social evils, that dragon would chew him up and eat him whole. That’s why he didn’t want to open his mouth.
Then Jenkinson said in a cold tone.
“I know a little about you, too.”
The orc sneered inwardly. ‘Should I say it is an honor that you recognize a lowly orc?’
He simply lowered his head, as doing so would have incurred his wrath. The dragon continued.
“Isn’t there anything in the Orc community, both sunny and shady, that doesn’t require your help?”
“You are too kind.”
“But I also know that I’m not good enough to raid the dragon’s lairs.”
“······.”
“Tell me. Who are you holding hands with?”
A faint spark flashed in his eyes.
“Proof that you can strike the heavens? Did you think you would be praised for bringing such information without a source? I am also a dragon. Do you think you can walk away safely after acting like this?”
Then the orc said:
“Yes, I thought so.”
“······.”
Jenkinson nodded his chin as if to ask for more.
“Because the Chairman is a saint.”
Hearing those words, a faint smile appeared on Jenkinson’s lips for the first time. Seeing that, Orc let out a cheer along with a sigh of relief.
‘also!’
The old orc continued his prepared speech without pause.
“The Chairman is different from Changcheon. He considers all races except dragons as disposable parts… Unlike him. Chairman Jenkinson is someone who believes that all races living in this country should be respected according to their individual talents and values.”
“If you look at Changcheon’s actions, he is focused solely on gathering wealth, regardless of whether it is clean or dirty. It is common for him to touch even industries that the Dragon Clan would avoid for reasons of dignity. However, the Chairman is not like that.”
“Everyone knows that this country, which was in ruins after the war, grew into one of the world’s top ten economies thanks to the chairman. If the chairman had not made bold investments, including his own personal wealth, Korea’s magic engineering would not have reached its current level. Instead of exploiting this country’s resources, the chairman chose to expand the economy and share the fruits with other races. It’s because he respects them.”
“My associates probably… misjudged that once I set foot here, I would never return in good health. But I’ve come this far. This document is enough to be the basis for rumors that will tarnish the dignity of a dragon. I admit it. A normal dragon would have killed me for knowing the secrets of a noble race, a ‘filthy orc’.”
“But the Chairman is different. The Chairman is someone who believes that personal communication is possible between the ruler and the ruled. He is someone who believes that it is not right to sacrifice other creatures for the dignity of the Dragon Clan.”
The following words are muttered only in my mind.
‘A farmer who respects his livestock? Huh! Whether they are orcs or humans, they are just economic animals raised by the dragon. In the end, they are hypocrites.’
Then Jenkinson said, as if he found it interesting.
“I am a saint? I don’t think that’s enough of a reason not to harm you. Are you saying that I risk my life solely for my moral values?”
“Mr. Chairman, there is actually another reason.”
“What is it?”
“Because the Chairman respects the governed, but does not hesitate to draw a line that will become the standard.”
A shepherd who respects his sheep, but is strict about judging who deserves that respect.
“The Chairman has never paid any attention to the Orc community. He considers its people to be untalented and incapable of growing the economy of this country. He considers them useless for growing the fruit that should be shared.”
“······.”
“In short, these are sick animals that should not be brought into the Chairman’s farm without permission. However, even these wretched creatures need a shepherd. I have been playing that role up until now.”
If a gang of orcs were an eyesore, Jenkinson had the ability to deal with them early on.
I just left it there because I needed it.
“Although you have never reached out to me before, I am someone you need. So please allow me to continue my work. I will take good care of it so that no sick animals will jump over the fence like before… or starve to death and cause a bad smell.”
The orc was talking to the dragon.
Stop testing yourself.
He knew that he was a being needed by the dragon and that he could not be killed carelessly.
I will not reveal the source of the information.
“Is that so?”
“Lunally,” said the dragon.
“Certainly… if we follow that logic, I could have stopped here.”
“!”
The orc’s body froze.
Could that be so?
What I’m saying is that it won’t happen in the end.
The dragon spoke to him in a slow voice as he tried to assess the situation in confusion.
“If the person you were holding hands with wasn’t Red Star.”
“Ah… no, that’s not it!”
The orc’s voice, which had been calm until now, trembled.
“Red Star was pushed back in terms of risk and urgency compared to the Human Rights Solidarity. But the ranking changed a bit yesterday. It must be your fate to be involved with those people at this time.”
Only then did Kim Gwang-woo realize.
That dragon knew all along that he was in league with Red Star.
I just gave him a chance to speak out.
Bam!
The office door opened and Kim Gwang-woo saw a living human and a dead human entering.
They were Minjun and Ha Eunseong, who agreed to do as instructed for the time being in accordance with the judicial transaction.
A look of disbelief appeared on the face of the orc who had seen the ghost.
‘How did you get here?!’
This is the dragon’s office.
Of course, an exorcism circle was set up to protect various secrets. He could see it even now.
But coming here means…
“ah!”
In his head, the events and clues so far were fitting together to form a picture.
The dragon knows of his relationship with Red Star.
That ghost appears to be immune to exorcism.
Red Star intruded into the dragon’s lair and identified the spectre.
“I see!”
At the center of all these elements was that ghost!
“You… you!”
Minjun shouted, glaring at the orc.
“Cover!”
Immediately, Ha Eun-seong jumped at the orc with a determined expression on his face.
“Eww!”
Those with astral sensitivity are more vulnerable to possession than ordinary people. Knowing this, they covered their entire bodies in exorcism amulets and artifacts, but they did not work on Ha Eun-seong.
“Uuuuuu!”
The spirit is absorbed into the orc’s body. Kim Gwang-woo falls to the ground for a moment, shaking.
“!”
Soon the convulsions stopped and he sat up.
Minjun asks, making eye contact.
“how is it?”
The look in the eyes and the atmosphere of the orc who was experimenting with moving the joints of his arms and legs were completely different. Ha Eun-seong, who had completely taken over Chairman Kim Gwang-woo’s body, spoke as if it was amazing.
“Wow, this old man is a natural born genius.”
“How long can you stick around?”
When possessing a volunteer’s body, even though there was a mutual agreement, the limit was about 30 minutes, but the body of Kim Gwang-woo, who had outstanding abilities, was on a different level.
“One day? Two days? I don’t know. I think it would be easy to control for quite some time···.”
While Ha Eun-seong was admiring and touching all over her body, Min-jun and Jenkinson discussed what to do next.
“Are we going to postpone confirming Changcheon’s suspicions?”
“Shouldn’t that be so? Even if the ghost statement you brought is true… If we hit that old hag first, Red Star will just set the stage for what it wants.”
The order in which things should be done has become clear.
Now Red Star is classified as an organization on the same level as the Human Rights Solidarity. So, they, as well as Kim Gwang-woo’s forces that joined hands, will be wiped out in one fell swoop. For Min-jun, eradicating Red Star was also important. He had to stop them from shaking up the million-talented ghost in his hands.
Changcheon is next.
Jenkinson also considered the possibility that the ghost in the lair was not actually a dragon. The very concept of a dragon being trapped as a ghost was strange. If Ha Eun-seong and Kim Gwang-woo were mistaken, Min-jun planned to find a way to recover the million talents and get as much money as possible from Chang-cheon. Of course, he also got his cooperation in analyzing the goblin DNA.
On the other hand, what if Changcheon really did break the Dragonic Code? Jenkinson would have to give Minjun another blank check. He alone wouldn’t be able to kill Changcheon without causing any damage.
Meanwhile, Ha Eun-seong, who was listening to the conversation between the two…
‘No, what on earth is that guy… talking to a dragon?’
Looking at the situation, he realized who the other person was. Minjun’s appearance of talking to the person who appeared to be a dragon without hesitation brought about both fear and awe.
“hey.”
“Yes, four!”
Controlling a ghost was not simple, but judging by the situation, he seemed like a truly amazing person. Ha Eun-seong answered Min-jun’s call with great tension.
“Did you act at all when you were alive?”
“Acting? Other than wearing a doll mask… Huh? No way?!”
In the body of an old orc, Ha Eun-seong cries.
“Are you really going to live like this, imitating this old man?”
Does this mean that I, who only had part-time jobs as my social experience, am to run an unknown number of businesses and even command an orc gang?
Ha Eun-seong asked back in shock, but Min-jun made a face as if asking what the hell he was talking about.
“You’ve been watching too many movies? Even though the shell is the same, the core is that of a 20-year-old human. Do you think you won’t notice?”
“······.”
“If we do it live on Face to Face, we’ll 100% get caught. So···.”
As Jenkinson picked up the phone, the office door opened again and Blair and his secretaries rushed in.
“?!”
While Ha Eun-seong was flustered, they set up a camera in the office, set up a screen to hide the background, brought a chair, and rushed to Ha Eun-seong to start applying makeup. It was a touch that made him look extremely haggard, which was the exact opposite of the purpose of regular makeup.
“What, what is all this···?”
Although Ha Eun-seong didn’t know it, Jenkins had made one decision before meeting Oak.
He also said that he would have to personally manage the ‘sick flock’ that he had neglected until now.
Because recent events have shown just how troublesome a group that grows its power outside of Jenkinson’s attention can be.
To do that, the first thing to do was to drive out the groups that were currently controlling the flock.
Whether physically, economically, or socially.
And in these cases, Jenkinson and Minjun knew the most efficient way.
First, we start by making them fight each other and reducing their numbers in advance.
“Come here.”
Minjun said as he sat Ha Eunseong, who had taken control of Kim Gwangwoo’s body, on a chair.
“Let’s film a video like this.”
< 57. 21st Century Robin Hood (11) > End
