CHAPTER 57: CARROT & STICK

"THE SYSTEM already punished me by turning Bonnie, my beloved pet, into an egg."

"Right? That’s what I thought, too," Wonhee agreed with what Song Moonho said. "But the System just sent me three options on what punishment to give you, Moonho-ssi."

"Why would the System punish me twice for the same offense..." Song Moonho stopped talking. Then he stared blankly into the air, probably reading his Status Window. "I see. The System’s punishment is different from Miss Chu’s punishment."

Nice.

Song Moonho turned to Wonhee with a glint of amusement in his eyes. "The System punished me for "toying" with the world’s sole S-Class Guide. But it seems like I earned a negative point from Miss Chu. The System treated Miss Chu’s negative impression of me as a violation."

"Pfft." Yejun openly laughed in Song Moonho’s face. "Serves you right, old man."

Song Moonho just maintained his business smile, but it was obvious that the "old man" was pissed.

Wonhee then focused her attention on her Status Window.

Choose one punishment for Song Moonho!

1. Downgrading all of Hunter Song Moonho’s high abilities to S-Grade.

2. Becoming Chu Wonhee’s slave! (Recommended by Tannie!)

3. Requiring Hunter Song Moonho to fully cooperate with the other members of the Big 4.

Penalty Duration: One year.

Penalty if Song Moonho fails to fulfill the chosen punishment: The other options left will be automatically applied.

The System gives Chu Wonhee thirty minutes to decide.

Wonhee then focused her attention on her Status Window Wonhee immediately took out Option #2 even though it was recommended by Tannie.

[I don’t like the word ’slave.’ It’s insensitive to those who have a history of slavery.]

Option #1 was tempting, but...

[People say each member of the Big 4

is worth a thousand A-Class and normal S-Class Hunters combined. We need Song Moonho-ssi’s full strength in case Invasive Cracks aka Catastrophes hit Korea again.]

There was a reason the Big 4 were above the law, and this was why.

So, the final and only choice left would be...

"Moonho-ssi," Wonhee said, turning to the ahjussi. "Are you aware that the penalty duration is one year?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Song Moonho said. "The System informed me that whatever punishment you chose would last a year." The old man "smiled," but it was a bit threatening. Although it was clear that his anger was directed at the System and not at Wonhee. "The System is showing its favoritism a little too much, don’t you think?"

Wonhee just kept quiet because she actually felt bad that the System was giving her too much privilege.

[I’m sure there’s a catch for all of this.]

"I told you to stop picking on Wonhee, old man," Yejun said. "Just look at her face– it’s the face that can launch a thousand ships."

Song Moonho smiled "sweetly." "Yejun-ah, since when did you start talking like a herbivore?"

Yejun gasped as if he was offended, but he couldn’t refute what Song Moonho said.

[I don’t know what ’herbivore,’ ’carnivore,’ and ’omnivore’ mean in Yejun’s dictionary, but he’s obviously offended that Song Moonho-ssi called him an herbivore.]

Clearly, Song Moonho won that verbal argument against Yejun.

[I can see why Song Moonho is a villain in the novel.]

"Moonho-ssi, please get along with the other members of the Big 4 for the entire year– starting now," Wonhee said, pressing the Option #3 button on the Status Window. "If you don’t cooperate with them or betray them in any way, all your skills will get downgraded to S-Grade."

For the first time, Song Moonho’s "gentleman" façade slipped away and a glimpse of his real personality showed– cold, calloused, and indifferent.

Wonhee was glad that her Fear Resistance skill was still in effect.

[Moonho-ssi looks really scary right now...]

"Argh..."

Yool, who was the only Civilian in that room, almost fell while trying to breathe hard.

Ahyeon was practically carrying Yool now.

Wonhee got worried, of course. "Yool-ah..."

"Song Moonho’s bloodlust is too much for a Civilian," Geon explained. "Do Ahyeon, get Gong Yool-ssi out of here first."

Ahyeon nodded politely. "Y-Yes, sir."

Wonhee gave Ahyeon and Yool a small wave before the two practically bolted out of the room.

[I hope they’re fine...]

"The System gave you three options, Miss Chu," Song Moonho said coldly, his face still void of emotions. "Why did you choose that option for my punishment?"

"Uhm, the first option is a loss to Korea," Wonhee said honestly. "The third option that I chose is something I believe is for the greater good. Even though I don’t like the fact that the Big 4 is usually above the law, I still think that our country would suffer more without you."

[Korea and the Big 4 are like a couple with a toxic relationship. The Big 4

is abusive towards the country, and yet the country can’t dump the Big 4 because the country needs them. Plus, most Civilians worship the Big 4. The government is afraid that the people might revolt if they touched the Big 4 in a harmful way.]

"You’re interesting, Miss Chu."

Wonhee was surprised by what Song Moonho said.

[Plus, his expression looks bright now.]

"Stop it, Song Moonho," Yejun said coldly. "You’re too old for Wonhee."

"Age is just a number when both individuals are at least past their mid-twenties," Song Moonho said, shrugging. "I’d like to say ’age is just a number when both individuals are adults,’ but there are sick people out there who prey on kids who have just reached legal age to get away with their crime."

Hmm?

Wonhee remembered an old piece of news about a "sick person" that Song Moonho had just described.

[Isn’t there a scandal about a Guide who groomed a young Hunter?]

She wanted to remember more, but her head started to hurt.

WARNING!

Your stamina has dropped drastically after activating a new skill! You must complete eight hours of sleep to replenish your energy!

Eight hours of sleep?

[I guess I should sleep together with Yejun since he needs his eight hours of sleep every day.]

"Yejun-ah, Moonho-ssi, please stop fighting."

"I’m not fighting, Wonhee-ya," Yejun said, talking gently as if he wasn’t just arguing with Song Moonho in a harsh tone a moment ago. "I’m just reminding the old man to act his age."

"You should practice what you preach," Song Moonho said, shrugging. "Mr. Man-child."

Wonhee could only shake her head.

[As long as they don’t stab each other’s throat, I guess this much banter is fine?]

***

WONHEE could only finally breathe after Song Moonho left.

She wanted to wait for Yool and Ahyeon, but she was very sleepy already.

"Geon Oppa, we will use Yejun’s teleportation skill to return to my penthouse quicker," Wonhee said sleepily. "Please tell Yool and Ahyeon to come to my penthouse later."

"I will. And I’ll also inform Soobin and Semi Noona about what happened here," Geon said, gently patting Wonhee’s shoulder. "Sleep well, Hee-ya."

Wonhee smiled and nodded. "See you later, Oppa. Thank you for today."

Yejun then carefully grabbed Wonhee by the waist because they needed to "jump" into the invisible portal that would bring them back to her penthouse. "Let’s go."

***

CHAINS.

Yejun would always feel like his entire body was chained every time he was in Wonhee’s Sleeping Salon.

Worse, he could also tell that all his vital organs were chained.

It was as if those deadly chains would squeeze all his vital organs until he died if he broke any of the rules in the contract that he signed.

[The System is really serious about protecting Wonhee, huh?]

"Carrot and stick."

Yejun wondered out loud while staring at the ceiling.

He was lying down on the bed alone because Wonhee was still taking a bath in the bathroom connected to the bedroom.

[Yes, the bathroom is considered a part of the Sleeping Salon since it’s still technically connected to the bedroom.]

Anyway, he took that opportunity to think.

"The System rewards people who genuinely love Wonhee. The bigger your love for her is, the bigger the reward is," Yejun continued thinking out loud. "But if you make Wonhee angry, the System could turn Wonhee’s negative emotions towards you into a violation. And, so, you get punished. The angrier Wonhee is, the heavier the punishment would be."

Yejun figured out the ’carrot’ (aka reward) part.

But it was Song Moonho who figured out the ’stick’ (the punishment) part.

"As expected of the Big 4, both you and Song Moonho already figured out the reward and punishment style of the System almost immediately."

Oh, look.

[It’s the talking orange.]

"Semi Noona and Soobin Hyung already figured out the carrot part, but I’m sure they’ll figure out the stick part soon– argh!" Yejun let out a cough when the talking orange suddenly landed on his stomach. Wow. He felt like he was hit by a steel ball. "Are you trying to kill me?"

"Shh," the talking orange scolded him. "The reward and punishment system is a secret from Chu Wonhee."

***

WONHEE was already sleepy when she returned to the penthouse with Yejun.

But while she was in the tub, she couldn’t help but think about what Song Moonho said earlier: ["The System punished for "toying" with the world’s sole S-Class Guide. But it seems like I earned a negative point from Miss Chu. The System treated Miss Chu’s negative impression of me as a violation."]

Song Moonho also complained about the System showing too much favoritism for Wonhee.

[And I agree with Moonho-ssi.]

Why would the System punish Song Moonho just because he made her upset?

It was like a carrot and stick approach, but only the ’stick’ part.

Wait.

While thinking about the carrot and stick approach, she suddenly remembered what Yejun used to ask her before: ["Do your older siblings love you because you’re family or do they love you because of the benefits they get from taking care of you?"]

Hmm?

[If you put it that way, then...]

"Is the System using a carrot and stick approach to force Hunters to protect me?" Wonhee whispered to herself in disbelief. "If they take good care of me, they get a reward. But if they don’t, they get punished...?"

***

Please ADD MY LIFE AS THE FIRST S-CLASS GUIDE to your LIBRARY to be notified when an update is posted. Thank you! :