Guro Fortress — Part 2
We couldn’t discuss something this important out in the open.
So we moved.
To the conference room in my mansion.
No human staff, but plenty of magical golems.
At my gesture, the golems brewed and served coffee.
“Redevelopment, huh…?”
A magic spirit projected a 3D hologram into the air.
A top-down view of Guro Fortress.
Seeing it in hologram form made it look even more rundown—and even more imposing.
A fortress of filth, impossible to see inside, its contents unknown. Slowly, it rotated before us.
“There’s potential.”
Choi Sunsoo spoke after studying the projection for a while.
Kim Chulkwon tapped his prosthetic arm.
“Wouldn’t it be easier to just demolish it? Redevelopment isn’t something that gets approved overnight.”
“I’ll have to pull every string I have.”
For starters, I had a direct line to the President.
Then there were the Legion Commanders, corporate chairmen, Mage Tower Masters, and high-ranking bishops from the church…
If I gathered all the connections I used during the Seoul terror attack, I could make it happen.
The key issue was speed.
Redevelopment was fine, but if we dragged our feet, the remnants of the Terror Alliance would slip away.
“Chulkwon, I think we should go with Black Tiger Swordmaster’s plan.”
“If we take too long, we’ll lose our chance.”
“But we have to do it right. Black Tiger Swordmaster, once we start, we should lock down Guro Fortress and take control. We don’t know if this is just a diversion or if the Terror Alliance is really inside, but we can’t let them escape.”
“Agreed. Let’s do it.”
“Hmm, in that case…”
Choi Sunsoo turned to Kim Chulkwon.
“Chulkwon, can your Iron Fist Gang completely surround Guro Fortress? Around the clock, 24/7, including all secret escape routes?”
“24/7?”
Kim Chulkwon made a troubled face.
“That’s tough. We have our own businesses to run. If Black Tiger Swordmaster orders it, we’ll make it happen, but there will be gaps. And if the Terror Alliance forces their way out, we won’t be able to stop them.”
That made sense.
The Iron Fist Gang had long controlled Gwanak District and had recently taken over Geumcheon District as well.
Just as the Legion Commander had mentioned during the Seoul terror attack, they were eyeing Guro District too.
But compared to the Terror Alliance, they were lacking.
They had been mass-producing Reinforced warriors at the Geonwoobong facility, but they had almost no high-level superhumans.
Kim Chulkwon, their strongest, was only Level 5.
“Black Tiger Swordmaster, I see three major obstacles.”
“Go on.”
“Yes. First, the administrative process. As you know, redevelopment requires effort on the city level. To redevelop Guro Fortress, we must first convince Seoul City Hall and the city council.”
“What if I pressure them through the President?”
“I can handle that. I have a few connections myself, and Guro Fortress redevelopment has been a long-standing goal of the Seoul administration. The current mayor has ambitions for the presidency, so if we frame it as a political achievement, we can get it approved.”
“Good. I’ll leave that to you, Manager Choi.”
As expected, he was efficient.
Choi Sunsoo stood up.
He fired a non-lethal laser from his fingertip, and the magic spirit elegantly carved words into the air, like writing on a tablet screen.
“The second issue is the blockade. We simply don’t have enough manpower. The Iron Fist Gang, despite controlling two districts, is fundamentally just a street gang. They can handle other gangs and problematic tenants, but stopping the Terror Alliance? Impossible.”
“Grr… Still, without me, redevelopment would be difficult.”
“No one’s denying that. You’re indispensable. You are Black Tiger Swordmaster’s first vassal, after all.”
“Heh, that’s right. I was the first.”
“So, what’s the solution?”
“We need to reinforce our ranks. With high-level superhumans. Hmm… How about seeking help from the Hunter Association or the Monster Village?”
Reinforcements for the blockade.
The Hunter Association, the Monster Village…
No.
They wouldn’t work.
If I asked, they’d help—but they weren’t the right fit.
The Hunter Association?
They’d start off eager but slack off later, whining for more money.
The Monster Village?
Bringing mutants into Seoul was a bad idea.
Too many potential disasters waiting to happen.
I sank into thought for a moment.
A blockade. That’s what I needed.
The Eastern Army would be perfect for this.
A disciplined organization with a strong military structure and a high concentration of warrior-class superhumans.
But the Eastern Army was busy.
If I called them in, they’d demand to wipe everything out instead of bothering with redevelopment.
‘Wait a minute.’
An idea struck me.
The Eastern Army wasn’t the only warrior-based organization I knew.
There was another group.
Smaller than a Legion, but more than enough to surround Guro Fortress.
A group that owed me a huge favor.
“What about Seo Woojin?”
“Huh?”
“I mean Jaelboan. What if we hire Jaegumun and Ilgeomun?”
“That’s brilliant!”
Choi Sunsoo slammed the table in excitement.
“Jaelboan is more than capable! If Chief Seo leads them personally, they can establish a perfect blockade. And Chief Seo himself is Level 6, isn’t he? Level 6!”
“Level 6? He’s that strong already?”
“Yes. A true prodigy.”
I reached for my phone, but Choi Sunsoo stopped me.
He insisted on handling it himself.
I wondered if Seo Woojin would be too busy, but he arrived immediately.
He was intrigued the moment he heard Choi Sunsoo mention redeveloping Guro Fortress.
“Sir!”
Seo Woojin strode in confidently.
As soon as he saw me, he bowed at a perfect 90-degree angle.
“Congratulations on reaching Level 6! I should’ve come to congratulate you sooner, but I’ve been swamped with work! I’m really sorry!”
“No worries. I didn’t congratulate you either. When did you hit Level 6?”
“Not too long ago! I was just a bit slower than you. But seriously, how did you level up so fast? Weren’t you only Level 1 when I first met you last year?”
“I was. But aren’t you the faster one?”
“No way. I’ve been chugging elixirs since I was a kid, and I’ve had tons of specialized training.”
Seo Woojin casually took a seat.
After some small talk, we moved on to business.
His eyes sparkled as he studied the Guro Fortress hologram.
“So, you’re redeveloping this place? And since the Terror Alliance might be hiding inside, Jaelboan will be in charge of sealing the area completely?”
“That’s right.”
“There’s a lot more to this than just that, though. If we let people come and go freely, the blockade will be useless.”
“I’ll only allow non-superhumans through. But we need a foolproof detection system. No one gets past us with stealth or concealment magic. Also, we’re eradicating all illegal activities—drugs, human trafficking, unlicensed clinics, underground fight clubs, all of it.”
Seo Woojin turned to look at me.
“This isn’t just a redevelopment project, is it?”
“No. My goal is to completely transform Guro Fortress. Maybe not to the level of Gangnam or Songpa, but at least as livable as Yeongdeungpo or Mapo. A place where people can live like human beings. And ultimately, I want to extend that to all of Guro-dong and Daerim-dong.”
The three of us locked eyes.
Their expressions were a mix of surprise and something… almost proud.
Seo Woojin clicked his tongue.
“This is interesting. That’s so like you, Teacher. Your scale is on a whole different level. Anyone else would’ve just massacred everyone and raised a flag, but you’re thinking several steps ahead.”
“And that leads us to the third problem.”
“The third?”
“Yes. I saved it for last, but it’s the biggest issue of all—money.”
Right. Money.
In the end, the world runs on budgets.
As I stared at him, Choi Sunsoo habitually tapped his cheek.
It used to be covered by a steel prosthetic.
Realizing it was now flesh, he scratched it awkwardly before forcing a smile.
“I’ll need to do the calculations, but at minimum, we need 1 trillion won.” (TL Note: Around $700 million)
“1 trillion?”
“1 trillion!”
“Are you insane? Sunsoo, are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. And that’s the bare minimum. According to my estimates, it’ll be closer to 1.2 to 1.3 trillion.”
“This is crazy! It’s not even that big of an area—why would it cost so much?”
“We’re tearing down an entire district and rebuilding it from scratch. Demolition is the easy part. Rebuilding is the real challenge. We need to construct water and sewage systems, electricity grids, subway lines, roads, parks—everything. And are we stopping at a 20th-century city? No, this is the 21st century. Modern urban planning integrates magic circles and elemental spirits for smart security, smart firefighting, smart emergency response, and smart transportation. I’m not saying we need climate-control magic like in Gangnam or Songpa, but Black Tiger Swordmaster, you mentioned Yeongdeungpo and Mapo. That means we need to aim for at least the level of Dangsan or Hapjeong. Also, are we just going to kick out the residents without compensation? They need apartments or cash settlements.”
And that’s why it costs 1 trillion.
Hearing the breakdown, I understood.
At the same time, my confidence wavered.
Now I saw why Seoul City had left Guro Fortress untouched.
“It’s more expensive than I thought.”
“Yes. That’s why I said it’s the most important problem. It’s a massive sum, but it’s worth the investment. If Black Tiger Swordmaster controls the redeveloped—or rather, reborn—Guro, the profits will be beyond imagination.”
Choi Sunsoo glanced at Kim Chulkwon before adding,
“And if you apply this model to Geumcheon and Gwanak, the impact will be even greater. Three districts would effectively become your personal domain.”
A personal domain!
In Seoul, no less!
This was getting out of hand.
In the long run, though, it was clearly a massive advantage.
I wouldn’t have complete sovereignty like in Paju or Cheorwon, but my influence would be so overwhelming that it might as well be my private territory.
1 trillion?
I could recoup that in just a few years.
The economic and political influence alone would be staggering.
‘This is a hassle…’
The thought crossed my mind, but I dismissed it immediately.
I was greedy.
And I still remembered the thrill of acquiring my Gangnam building.
Before, I had avoided responsibility because I could barely take care of myself, let alone others.
But those days were over.
I had vassals now.
Two of them.
And their organizations were massive.
Since my stature had grown, I needed to rise even higher.
Even now—look at this.
The Terror Alliance dared to attack me.
Did they think I was an easy target?
Did they not realize they were signing their own death warrants?
I had to set an example.
Not just by hunting them down one by one, but by wiping out the very foundation of their organization.
“Alright. Let’s do it. Manager Choi, how much can I borrow from the bank?”
A Level 6 superhuman’s credit.
The reputation of Black Tiger Swordmaster.
My Gangnam building, which had burned down but was insured.
If I combined all that, the loan should be substantial.
Even if I disliked the idea, collateral loans were an option.
Choi Sunsoo counted on his fingers, calculating. Then he spoke seriously.
“Black Tiger Swordmaster, instead of taking out a loan, why not seek investors?”
“Investment? From whom?”
“You have plenty of connections. The Eastern Army, Geumo Group, Sun Mage Tower, Thor Cult, Gaia Cult—reach out to as many as possible. Then, you divide up small portions of equity among them. It would be a type of consortium. Of course, you must retain at least 51% ownership.”
Seeking investment?
Not a bad idea.
I had to contact them anyway for the administrative procedures.
But then, Choi Sunsoo said something intriguing.
“They might even offer capital without asking for shares—essentially, a donation.”
“That’s impossible. Nothing in this world comes for free.”
“You never know. Still, taking out a loan and funding the redevelopment yourself is also worth considering. That way, you get exclusive control over the reborn Guro-dong. Based on my calculations, if we negotiate well, you could secure a 1-trillion-won loan. Without collateral.”
“Wow…”
“Unbelievable.”
That meant my credit value alone was worth well over 1 trillion won.
Kim Chulkwon shook his head in disbelief.
Even Seo Woojin let out a small, incredulous laugh.
“I couldn’t get a loan that big. To borrow 1 trillion, I’d have to put up Jaelboan’s headquarters or the World Saving Sword Art and Unified Spirit Sword manuscripts as collateral.”
“Guess all my hard work paid off.”
“Hahaha! Teacher, you’re probably one of the very few in the country who could secure a 1-trillion-won loan on credit alone! Even Level 7 superhumans struggle with that. Level 8s could do it, though.”
“Then isn’t a loan the better option? Even if I have to pay some interest?”
“It’s not that simple.”
Choi Sunsoo drew in the air with his fingers.
A diagram appeared.
At its center—me.
Connected to me, a vast network of organizations.
A consortium featuring five of the eighteen major factions from the Four Great Powers.
Just looking at the names was overwhelming.
“The world runs on budgets, but money isn’t everything. Political power is just as crucial.”
“Politics?”
“Yes. Of course, you must take the lead and maintain full control. You can’t let others reap the benefits after you’ve done all the work. But why not make this a public announcement? Who would dare oppose it? Give them all a little pocket change, and everything will go smoothly—Seoul’s mayor, Guro’s district chief, the city council, the gangs, the residents. It’s the same for all of them. Of course, some will be too greedy for their own good. But those cases? Chulkwon can handle them. And if it’s a bigger problem, Chief Seo here can have a little… ‘chat’ with them.”
The more I thought about it, the more it made sense.
An economic and political alliance.
Until now, I had only relied on personal connections.
This would be a step beyond that.
“Alright.”
I made my decision.
“I’ll take investments and distribute shares accordingly.”
“A wise choice.”
I started making calls.
Everyone agreed immediately.
But then, an unexpected turn of events occurred.
[We don’t need any shares.]
Just as Choi Sunsoo had suggested.
All five organizations, as if they had planned it together.
An investment with no returns expected.
A contribution, in essence.
–TL Notes–
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NICE KIM