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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The PMC Plan
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It's a widely known fact that the latter half of the original comic in this world, [Stardust!], unfolds in an extremely bleak way for Stardust.
But in fact, it's not just Stardust who suffers; the original world itself becomes increasingly bleak as time goes on.
The number of super-powered individuals is gradually increasing worldwide. What's worse, the vast majority of them happen to turn into villains, making the situation increasingly difficult for every nation.
Especially in the US and Europe, there were already so many villains incomparably stronger than those in Korea that it was a total mess to begin with. Although they also had many powerful heroes, which barely maintained a balance of power, things are getting tougher there too. Even more so since the hero known as America's last bastion fell.
And that chaotic mess was no different in Korea or other countries.
Just take Japan, for instance; it was an absolute chaotic free-for-all, with the yakuza having seized half the country and clashing with the government and various associations. While one could argue that the government was even more corrupt than the yakuza, the situation was dire nonetheless. Even if Korea was a mess, at least rebels hadn't taken half the country.
Of course, in the latter half of the original story, the yakuza are betrayed, splintered, and dealt with piecemeal by the government... but since the government was already corrupt, the chaos only deepens. It's like a period of warring states unfolds.
And China. China is even funnier. They also have a major villain organization called Hwaryong, and in the very late stages, they practically take over half of this vast country. It says it all when even some heroes defect to their side.
Anyway, it sounds like a total mess just hearing about it.
And Korea, holding a prominent position among the three East Asian nations, naturally presents a chaos no less significant than its neighbors, as it can't afford to fall behind.
The only heroes are Stardust, who works alone; Icicle, who's busy just managing Yuseong Group; and Shadow Walker, who turned dark after his girlfriend died. They are the sole power. On top of that, villains are so densely packed in this small country that public security begins to crumble. And when the Moonlight Cult opens portals to other dimensions, even monsters join the fray, making things even worse.
In other words, for now, I'm covering things to maintain some semblance of peace... but the country is only going to get more chaotic from now on.
Especially as the proportion of super-powered individuals grows, the number of villains will continue to increase accordingly. Even in Seoul alone, the frequency of terror attacks has subtly risen compared to before. And I haven't even been doing any terror attacks lately.
And if this chaotic situation continues, it's naturally Stardust whose body will be ground down. For now, it's just a minor issue, but it's going to get crazy later. No matter how strong Stardust is, she only has one body; she can't work nonstop all night. Especially after the Moonlight Cult incident, when public security is practically collapsing.
To prevent that nightmare from happening, what I'm trying to establish is a PMC.
Why don't super-powered individuals want to become heroes? B-rank and below get paid peanuts and are heavily criticized for even minor failures. If even A-rankers, who earn a lot, don't want to be heroes, why would anyone else?
This led to the creation of surplus personnel who have powers but don't work as heroes. And some of them, if their livelihood becomes difficult or they get the slightest push, will immediately fall into villainy.
The conclusion I reached after pondering this for a long time was this: Fine. I'll just throw money at them and hire them. Don't like being a hero where you earn nothing and get nothing but insults? Then join a PMC, where you earn a lot and don't get insulted. Don't let your powers go to waste.
It's truly a win-win business: preventing potential villains from emerging and nurturing them as quasi-heroes. That's how the PMC project was conceived.
The business outline itself is simple. Just privately hire super-powered individuals, train them to my liking, and build up a fighting force. That's it. And later, they'll be put to good use when South Korea goes to hell.
But. There's a slight problem with this.
No. Not slight, just a lot.
Even if funding isn't an issue, the problem is how to gather people in the first place, and how the government and associations will raise hell, claiming I'm gathering super-powered individuals to form a rebel army.
And that's where Lee Seol-ah's role comes in.
Lee Seol-ah, who currently controls other corporations, the government, and the assembly. If her Yuseong Group announces hiring? No one can stop it. She's already virtually taken over the media; who's going to stop her?
So, I succeeded in tempting Lee Seol-ah to join me on the PMC project. Since then, we've been diligently preparing, and quite some time has passed.
"Phew... Dain. It's all done. There won't be anyone from the political sphere or anywhere else trying to interfere now. The associations are the same."
And then today.
I finally received confirmation from Lee Seol-ah that all preparations were complete.
"Thanks. You worked hard."
"Hardly... just buy me a drink later."
"Didn't we drink wine together here last time?"
"Not here. Outside."
"Alright, alright."
As expected, things go smoothly when you're friends with the number one power in South Korea. If I had done this alone, it would have dragged on for years.
Anyway, after a few practical discussions, we officially decided to launch Yuseong Group's PMC project.
With my funding combined with Yuseong Group's, it's the largest scale ever.
So now, all we have to do is announce our launch.
So we just plastered advertisements everywhere.
The collaboration between the shadowy hero who pulls the strings behind South Korea and an openly declared villain. The PMC project.
It has finally landed in South Korea.
***
[Oh, what is this????]
(Yuseong Group PMC Recruitment Ad)
Yuseong Group, seriously? Now they're even recruiting super-powered individuals, lol. There are rumors they've taken over all the corporations and even the political sphere; now they're trying to set up their own association, lolololol.
=[Comments]=
[Seriously, you see this everywhere these days, lol. Seems like they want to inform the whole nation.]
[Yuseong Group's conquest of South Korea is just a matter of time now.]
[Seriously, isn't the government going to sanction this? It's practically a corporation forming a military organization.]
ㄴ[Yuseong Group took over South Korea ages ago, lol]
ㄴ[There's no one left in Korea who can stop them, bro...]
ㄴ[Conspiracy theories OUT]
[But seriously, it's Yuseong, so of course the annual salary is insane, what is that, lolol. Who's going to the association now, lolol.]
ㄴ[I actually have a pretty useful ability, and I'm seriously tempted right now, lolololol.]
ㄴ[Seriously, lol. Can't pass up hundreds of millions, lol.]
ㄴ[It really feels like the first time super-powered individuals are being treated this well.]
*
[Yuseong Group has announced that it is recruiting super-powered individuals. Lee Seol-ah, the current CEO of Yuseong Group, announced that to overcome the rapidly changing international situation and chaotic circumstances, they would establish a Private Military Company (PMC) composed of super-powered individuals. She requested strong super-powered individuals to apply, declaring, 'We guarantee 100% identity protection and will make the greatest investment in history.' Those who join after an interview will be taken in by Yuseong Group, becoming part of the family, receiving intensive management and personalized training, with all living expenses, including lodging and meals, guaranteed until retirement. According to the article, the annual salary is approximately...]
In a quiet rural house.
A young man sharpening a knife alone listened intently to the radio playing in the background, accompanied by the sound of rain.
"....Yuseong, huh."
Thud.
The man, who had been sharpening a long knife, then set the blade down on the floor and turned up the radio's volume.
...A life that had known nothing but slaughter as a hunting dog.
It was the first time he, who had lived quietly, cursing his abilities, showed interest in anything.
And elsewhere.
A girl, sheltering inside a building from the rain, scrolling through her smartphone; a boy working part-time at a fast-food restaurant.
One by one, slowly, everyone began to take an interest in this thing called PMC.
***
"...Whoa. Hey. What on earth did you do?"
"Why?"
"No, this PMC, or whatever it is, just pops up everywhere the moment you turn something on. How much did you spend on promotions?"
"Ah... I did spend quite a bit on that."
"Look even now. All you hear when you change TV channels is that Yuseong Group is recruiting super-powered individuals."
Choi Se-hee said, looking at the TV with wonder.
...Well, the beginning is always important. You need to draw this much attention to get your money's worth.
As I was roughly explaining that, Seo-eun, who was sitting next to me eating an apple, asked with a puzzled expression.
"But Oppa. I still don't get it."
"What?"
"Even if there are many super-powered individuals living in hiding, who would actually join that? It clearly stated there would be fights..."
Seo-eun's voice trailed off.
Right. In reality, it's easy to call it a PMC, but it means there might be situations where they have to fight for their lives, so would many people really join? That's the question.
To her question, I replied as if it were obvious.
"Of course, there won't be many."
"...Huh?"
"Still, those few are better than nothing."
Right.
Even if I only get a few super-powered individuals, it's something. Especially since there might be some raw gems among them.
And it's my guess that many of those who join will be pushed to the brink. I mean, the kind of kids who are on the verge of becoming villains.
Anyway, this is just the first batch, and if the first batch succeeds, the second will be even larger, and so on. And if I have the first batch train the second batch? That's how it becomes automated.
Anyway, this PMC project is only nominally Yuseong Group's; in reality, it's all mine. How much capital have I invested in it? I even plan to separate from Yuseong later. I've already talked it over with Lee Seol-ah.
In a word, anyone who joins this PMC will become a member of my private organization. Meaning, I can do whatever I want with them.
Once I spend some time diligently training them, I think they'll be able to hunt down villains from A-rank to B-rank. It's not something I need right now; it's for later, but I should raise them in advance anyway. I'm planning to personally disguise my identity and teach the first batch, one by one. This is the birth of my direct organization, the Mango Squad... no, the Ego Squad. They just don't know it yet.
Anyway, this much is done for now. I've set a long recruitment period. I've cast the bait, so I'll just harvest later. Now that I've gotten this off my mind, I can think about the rest after recruitment ends.
Right. Well, the PMC is more or less settled for now.
Now it's time to think about something else.
"...."
I sat at my desk, covering my face with my arms, lost in thought.
...When was the last time I fought Stardust in a terror attack?
Excluding just meeting, if I only count direct fights, it feels like a very long time ago.
Right. Wow. That hastily improvised terror attack on the beach was the last one.
"....."
It's been too long since I last terrorized Stardust. It's also been ages since I directly tested her skills.
Yes. To put it simply, right now.
I missed Stardust.
"....Hmm. What kind of terror attack should I do?"
Stardust probably doesn't miss me anyway.
Still, I should prepare a terror attack for my hero.
After all, aren't I her villain?