Chapter 29: Inner Justice (2)
The meal and walk with the president wrapped up neatly.
As he listened to Leon’s story, his complexion growing paler and more determined, Leon tapped him on the shoulder.
“President Ahn. Despite my status as a guest, I have a favor to ask of you.”
“What… favor?”
President Ahn was very worried about what kind of favor this madman might ask.
This was a scumbag king who saw his people as pigs to be exploited!
Awakening his inner sense of justice, Ahn had long since forgotten about his meal with Chairman Kim a few days earlier.
“It’s no big deal. I have farmers who farm under me. They told me that the contamination of their land has not yet been procedurally resolved.”
“Ah…….”
He knew immediately what Leon meant.
Land contaminated with miasma is classified as a contaminated area and all activities are suspended.
The Hunan Plain has been cleaned up, but it still needs to be verified and processed, so technically it’s still an administrative contaminated area.
“The local officials are a bit slow. I’ll get it done soon.”
“Thank you. I apologize for asking you to do this as a guest.”
“No, Your Majesty, what you have done for Korea is more than enough.”
President Ahn was wary of Leon, but he didn’t deny Leon’s usefulness. He also had questions about the “blessed rice.”
“Speaking of which, Your Majesty, how do you intend to distribute the rice in the future?”
“I’ve decided to sell it through the Association.”
“Hmm, I see, but it seems like a lot for the Association to handle alone, especially since it’s such a big commodity that even foreign countries would be interested.”
“We can’t even feed the people of this land, so how can we look to other countries? But if all the peasants have the faith they should, it won’t be too far away.”
President Ahn understood Leon’s intentions, but he hadn’t forgotten what Chairman Kim Dae-young had asked him to do a few days earlier.
Leon’s blessed crop was a big hit, it was an innovation and the seeds had to be secured by South Korea.
What if Korea was the first to distribute the blessed rice to the entire country and create a national health miracle? President Ahn could only imagine the future.
‘Hmph…….’
Leon smiled wickedly, since it was obvious what President Ahn was thinking.
However, he shouldn’t be this surprised. The miracles of being in the company of the divine don’t end there.
“President Ahn. By the way, the Association has been a bit noisy with me lately.”
“What? Even though I’ve ordered them to cooperate with you in every way?”
“Hahaha, indeed, you are the representative of the nation. You’re too good to be true, aren’t you?”
President Ahn was willing to grant Leon’s request no matter what. Since he hadn’t made any overt moves yet, he’d take what he could get.
“What do you want from the Association, just benefits like the other guilds?”
“Something about this king having to pay taxes.”
“……?”
“As President Ahn knows, counting coins is unbecoming of a king.”
Political figures had fun counting the juice boxes (bribes) they received.
“How can a king be expected to pay taxes?”
President Ahn was criticized for tax evasion of 10 billion won and even his father-in-law was involved.
“That can’t be right, I can’t pay a penny of my own, and the commoners of the Association don’t understand. President Ahn should do something about it.”
‘You’re worse than me, you bastard!’
Once again, his inner justice was ignited.
* * * *
Kim Dae-young, Chairman of Daelong Group, received the introduction to Leon that he had requested from President Ahn and the group was busy preparing all kinds of dinner and welcoming arrangements.
“Kim Shin-young, can’t you get over here quickly?”
“Uncle, I’m still not fully recovered!”
Kim Shin-young, was the niece of Daelong Group Chairman Kim Dae-young, a young woman who had recently undergone chemotherapy for breast cancer.
She was the epitome of a chaebol spoiled brat, with an unruly personality, but not today.
“If you don’t behave yourself today, I don’t care if it’s your mom or dad, I’m going to break your legs!”
“C’mon…I’ve been meaning to go clubbing for a while.”
Even as she said that, Kim Shin-young was looking forward to Leon’s visit.
She had been suffering from chemotherapy and miraculously began to heal after eating the rice.
Of course, she’s not cured yet, but it’s not too far off, as the large tumor mass has shrunk to a size scientists can’t explain.
The blessed rice didn’t even need rehabilitation. In fact, even though the cancer was not yet cured, she felt much healthier than before and her body was full of energy.
And most importantly, she felt a strange energy whenever she ate rice. The mysteriousness of it all bothered her.
“But Uncle, have you tried that rice yet?”
“Don’t eat it without knowing what it is. I’ll think about it after the safety tests are done.”
“Well… I don’t have enough to eat.”
The food Shin-young had gotten was what her mom had stolen from the Hunan Plains for her during her treatment.
It’s not so easy to find now that it’s strictly monitored by the Association.
“What kind of man is he?”
Shin-young was curious about Leon, the man who produced such rice. The information that he was a survivor of the attack on the Cheongju Gate was widely spread.
It had become quite an issue for him to spread his faith, but Kim Shin-young was the one who had directly benefited from it.
Even now, she could feel the warmth in her body.
It was an indescribable sensation for a woman who was used to clubbing, pleasure, and drugs.
Time passed, and soon a government motorcade pulled into the ballroom.
“Your Majesty, welcome!”
President Kim Dae-young greeted Leon with an attitude that made him feel like he was about to throw his hands up in the air but despite his hospitality, Leon narrowed his eyes and clicked his tongue.
“Tsk. If it weren’t for President Ahn’s request, I wouldn’t have come to this banquet.”
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“Haha… It’s our family honor, Your Majesty.”
Mr. Kim did not make the same mistake as Park Jong-chan of Doojeong Group.
His opponent was a thoroughly authoritarian royal. He’s arrogant and treats entrepreneurs as vassals but his power is real.
Whether it’s faith or the Lionhearted King, it’s a kind of power he doesn’t understand, but in short, it’s enough to make money.
“The reason I invited you this time is because I have a child who has been cured of a great illness thanks to your grace.”
“Ho-ho? You say you have a child who has been graced by the goddess?”
“Yes, yes, Shin-young, what are you doing not coming out?”
Mr. Kim’s strategy was to return the favor for Kim Shin-young, whose cancer was cured thanks to the blessed rice.
It may seem like Chairman Kim is giving one-sidedly, but the human heart wants to give back when it receives something.
In this way, they build goodwill and maintain their relationship, and naturally talk about business.
“Ah…….”
As Shin-young stood before Leon and something inside her responded.
It was a radiant brilliance, a holy halo and glory, and a spiritual power that transcends humanity.
Shin-young shuddered at the intense aura that pulsed through her.
“Niece?”
What the hell is wrong with her? Was she sick? I told her to not come here if she was sick!
The niece of the chairman of Daelong Group, Kim Shin-young was very famous within the group. It’s no secret that she’s a bit of a troublemaker, and she pops pills in broad daylight.
If it weren’t for the influence of the Daelong Group, Kim Shin-young would have been in jail as a drug dealer. But even Mr. Kim, the chairman of Daelong Group, hasn’t been able to fix Kim Shin-young’s messed-up behavior. But…….
“Are you a God? Or are you Death?”
“Niece, you’re scary. What’s wrong with you?”
“I am an agent of the Temple of Ten Thousand Gods. I am the guardian of light and justice, the keeper of the temple’s flame.”
“Ah…….”
As Leon stood before her, Shin-Young dropped to her knees in fear, desperately avoiding his gaze as if trying to prevent something as filthy as herself from touching him.
No one in the house, including Mr. Kim, could even imagine that something like that could happen.
“Please withdraw your hand…….”
“Don’t be afraid.”
“Hmph…!”
Shin-young wondered if this was what the sick woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment 2,000 years ago would have felt.
Something inside her was burning hot in response to the intensity of the man’s radiance.
She felt a sense of fidelity and sacredness in her mind that the drug-induced hallucinations couldn’t even compare to.
“Hold on to the divinity you feel now. Your purity is pleasing to the Divine, so you will be rewarded.”
“Hmph… Thank you, thank you, thank you, angel…!”
“Call me King Lionheart.”
Leon gently stroked Shin-young’s head as she wept with emotion. It was a sight that would have stunned anyone who knew him on Earth.
But aside from that.
‘What the F*ck… I’m scared.’
‘Why is he… he’s crazy.’
To ordinary people who don’t consume the blessed rice and don’t feel the presence of the divine, it would have looked like a terrifying seizure of a drug addict with the difference being that she was so much more subdued than usual.
“Take this child to the bedroom. She is a child of great spiritual ability so treat her with respect.”
“Yes? Yes?”
He’s…excellent as a religious person?
They shot him a questioning glance, but Leon’s gaze was firm.
“Come on.”
“Ah, yes, ma’am, this way.”
Faced with Leon, the staff struggled to carry the sobbing girl with weak legs while Mr. Kim was dumbfounded, but Leon’s voice woke him up.
“Are these the guests you invited?”
“What? No, I didn’t invite anyone other than Your Majesty──”
“There’s Chairman Kim!”
Before he could finish his sentence, a group of people rushed in from the other side and the president’s bodyguard team immediately stepped forward, but their voices sounded raspy.
“President Kim Dae-young, guarantee a five-day workweek!”
“Raise frozen wages!”
“Reinstate the unfairly fired employees!”
Protesters holding signs stormed in and Leon asked.
“What are they?”
“Your Majesty, you don’t have to worry about them. Those commie bastards.”
“What?”
When Leon gave him a look of displeasure, Chairman Kim blurted out.
“They’re protesters……protesters. They’ve been making a lot of noise lately.”
“Protesters… What are they?”
“…….”
Chairman Kim hesitated to answer because if he told the truth here, he’d be the bad guy.
“It’s not a big deal. I hired them, and now they’re asking me to raise their wages without any gratitude. How many other people could replace them, and they don’t even know what they’re doing.”
“That is not a good thing to say. Labor is sacred and laborers should be treated accordingly.”
Oops. He was leaning toward social justice, but he misjudged the royalty.
Chairman Kim admitted his mistake and tried to play it off as smoothly as possible.
“No, of course, our group maintains industry standards for employee accommodations. In fact, we do a pretty good job of it.”
“Industry standards. I don’t need to hear that.”
“Ha, ha, ha…….”
Mr. Kim broke out in a cold sweat and quickly thought of something to make Leon feel better. Yeah, righteous in appearance, he thought.
“His Majesty is giving me a big lesson so I’ll raise their wages.”
“Raise their wages? How?”
“What?”
Leon stared at Chairman Kim with questioning eyes, he was genuinely puzzled.
“There’s no need to raise wages since you already have a set rate.”
“What? Ah… I heard that His Majesty also favors farmers. What is your majesty’s opinion…….”
“Ninety percent.”
“……!”
For a moment, Kim wondered if he’d misheard.
“In the Lionheart Kingdom, where we are taught by the Goddess, people give ninety percent of their output. It’s benevolent and it guarantees them a whopping 10% return.”
“Huh!”
“Crazy…….”
“Unbelievable…….”
The exclamations came from all directions.
Ten percent? Ninety percent?
It was a horrific tax that even an old British colonial scoundrel couldn’t have imagined.
‘Is it really okay to join hands with such a devilish person?’
This gave Chairman Kim Dae-young a great sense of skepticism.
Although he is a vicious businessman in the eyes of the world, he prides himself on having lived a life of minimal goodness.
At least he didn’t let his employees starve to death although like many businessmen, he’s worked his employees to death, subcontracting to third, fourth, and fifth parties to cut costs and creating harsh working conditions.
But Leon wasn’t like that.
To take away ninety percent of the people’s earnings as taxes, how could anyone be this evil?
Chairman Kim realized he was a real medieval king.
He was terrified of what would happen if someone like this had influence over domestic companies.
‘What an evil man…I am one, but not as evil as him!’
The next day, there were reports of a dramatic settlement with the protesters.
* * * *
Even with the president’s introduction, Leon doesn’t bother to meet with the lowly merchant in order to distribute 10% of the rice produced in the Naju Plain.
The government takes 10% and leaves the rest to the farmers to dispose of freely, but today’s farmers don’t have the “power” to distribute the rice.
As the name of the Temple of Ten Thousand Gods spreads through YouTube advertisements and news of the Temple and the blessed crops appear on the news, interest in the issue is amplified.
This means that individual farmers are powerless to protect it unless they sell their goods.
Immediately, Han Ha-ri reported that while distributing the rice, they were attacked by cancer patients.
It was a disturbance caused by a few desperate, terminally ill patients, but there’s no telling when it will lead to hired guns and mercenaries.
“Two hundred and thirty million won a kilogram.”
Ha-ri cheered from the sidelines, because it was a lot more than what the Association was paying.
“That’s a steal, Your Majesty!”
“It should be cheaper.”
“What?”
“It’s the market that sets the price of goods, but the crops are so expensive.”
“Uh…….”
Isn’t expensive a good thing? Ha-ri thought so inwardly, but Leon disagreed.
“If it’s so expensive, how can the poor people buy it and eat it? God’s favor should be given equally to all the people.”
“So…?”
“I told the President that he should educate the peasants and preach divine favor, but he said that the President must remain religiously neutral.”
“Well…he has a point.”
Where Leon lived, religion was a powerful force, but here on Earth, it was different.
The theocracy had died out hundreds of years ago, and the only place left where the political establishment could proselytize was in the Middle East.
The president was supposed to be religiously neutral.
“Well, this has gathered quite a bit of faith, enough to build up the power of the Lionheart and its legions.”
At that, Ha-ri realized something and spoke up.
“Those whom your majesty ordered to prepare are currently on standby.”
“Hmm. Have you found a suitable dungeon?”
“Yes, but your Majesty…are you sure you don’t mind?”
“What do you mean?”
Hari dutifully prepared what Leon had requested.
Even though she had become a temporary employee of the Ten Thousand Gods Guild, the Association was keeping a close eye on Leon, so it was easy for her to give in to his demands.
“The yellow-ranked gate that appeared this morning…I’ve already bid on it, as your majesty wishes.”
A yellow grade gate it’s a gate that Leon, who has more than enough power, can handle on his own. But he’s not the one clearing this gate.
“It would be… impossible for those chosen by His Majesty to attack that gate.”
“Well. That remains to be seen.”
“????”
Leon smirked at the questioning Ha-ri.
“If they cannot do it with this king by their side I won’t be able to use them as soldiers.”
Two days later more than 50 Hunters were gathered in front of Samjeon Station in Songpa-gu, Seoul and among them was Koo Dae-sung, who had been a D-rank Hunter for 10 years.
