The Reputation Game (Part 2)

Chapter 10 - The Reputation Game (Part 2)

4:15 p.m. – Basketball Court Bleachers, J High

Sunjae watched the sky turn a shade darker as clouds drifted lazily above the rooftop edge. His sign flapped gently in the wind beside him.

He had no job right now. No one to beat up. Nothing urgent to solve.

But that was the point.

Let them come to him.

[System Notification]New Passive Perk: "Local Infamy"– Some students will now avoid eye contact– Others will start trying to test you– You are officially "that guy."

He grinned to himself."Feels earned."

Suddenly, a soft vibration hit his hip.

Not his phone.

The system buzzed.

[Incoming Message: External Channel Access Unlocked]Secure Line: WHITE TIGER JOB CENTER – UNDERGROUND DISPATCHMessage:"You've done well establishing your name. If you're serious about what you're building, prove it. Location is attached. Come alone."

Sunjae sat up slowly, hair still hiding his eyes.

This was the part in stories where people chickened out.

But he wasn't most people.

He rolled the lollipop stick in his mouth, stood up, and looked at the blinking location icon on the map.

White Tiger.

It was time.

6:01 p.m. – Industrial Warehouse District, Seoul Outskirts

The area was silent except for the distant hum of traffic and crows perched on power lines. Wires sagged overhead like spiderwebs, and a layer of concrete dust clung to everything.

Sunjae walked past rusted chain-link fences, his shadow long and thin in the setting sun.

Eventually, he stopped in front of a simple building: no signs, no logos. Just a black sliding door and a red digital keypad.

He didn't hesitate.

He pressed the buzzer.

BZZT.

Voice: "State your business."

"Choi Sunjae. I want contract work."

Pause.

"I don't want to join your organization. I just want the jobs no one else wants."

"…You know where you are?"

"Dont worry, I do."

Another pause.

"Come in."

The steel door slid open.

6:12 p.m. – White Tiger Job Center, Reception Area

The inside was colder than outside. Clean tile. White walls. Subtle incense in the air. No one spoke loudly.

A tall man stood at the far end of the hall, arms folded. His figure looked carved from stone—broad shoulders, tied black hair, face as unreadable as a brick wall.

Tom Lee.

The head of White Tiger Job Center.The muscle behind White Tiger's balance.

And...

Former member of the fist gang...

Gapryong kim, the strongest of all times, gang.

Sunjae knew exactly who he was, afterall he was an avid fan of lookism.

Tom raised an eyebrow.

"You're the loudmouth who wanted to be a mercenary?"

Sunjae blinked once.

"I said contractor. I work with you, not under you."

Tom's eyes narrowed.

"You second-generation punks sure are arrogant."

Sunjae tilted his head. "I mean, you could've just said 'hi' first."

Tom exhaled slowly, annoyed but not quite angry.

"You want to be contracted. You want jobs. You want to get paid like our agents. Yet you're not even affiliated."He stepped forward, and the floor creaked under his weight."Do you think you're special?"

"No. I just know I'm not ordinary."

Tom stared down at him.

"I don't care how many students you've bullied into fear. This isn't schoolyard fighting. These jobs risk limbs—lives."

Sunjae didn't flinch.

"I'm not scared of violence. I want it to be real."

A pause.

Tom's lips barely twitched. Not quite a smirk. Not quite respect.

"Alright. Let's see if your mouth can cash that check."

He turned, gesturing toward a heavy sliding door down the hallway.

"Entrance test. You pass, we talk."

6:28 p.m. – Sub-Level 2, White Tiger Job Centre, Sparring Arena

The floor was rubber-tiled and bloodstained. The air reeked of sweat, metal, and old fights. No fancy lights, no cheering crowds. Just steel walls and silence.

Tom Lee stood shirtless in the middle of the sparring zone, arms folded over a chest that looked carved out of granite. His long hair was tied back in a messy knot, and his eyes studied Sunjae like he was evaluating a tool—checking for cracks.

"You came here... to be a freelance mercenary?" His voice rumbled like distant thunder.

Sunjae, hoodie still on, hair covering his eyes, nodded lazily. "Just feed me jobs. You get half. I get enough to buy snacks and stay entertained."

Tom's brow twitched.

"You second generations are so damn arrogant these days."

"This is the second time you said that." Sunjae replied, pulling out a half-finished lollipop and tossing it aside.

Tom stepped forward.

"You want in? Fine. Let's see if you're worth anything."

There was no bell ringing to signify the fight starting. But they didnt need it

The room grew colder.

And the fight began.

[Boss Encounter: Tom Lee]

Threat Level: EXTREME

Objective: Impress Tom lee. Give him a good fight.

Penalty: Contract Denied. Blacklisted from White Tiger Network.

Bonus: Gain Access to Underground Network Missions.

Tom moved first—fast for his size, a blur of muscle and intent.

The first punch wasn't a test. It was a warning shot meant to break bone.

Sunjae tilted back. The fist brushed the tip of his bangs. The floor cracked where he had just been.

Before Tom could reset, Sunjae sidestepped, swayed left, and planted a quick heel to the side of Tom's thigh—not to damage, but to measure his strength against Tom Lee.

Tom didn't flinch.

"Tap," Sunjae said casually. "That's one."

Tom's fist shot out in response—a body hook meant to crush a rib.

Sunjae redirected with both palms, absorbing the angle and rolling with it—spinning around Tom's massive frame and kicking off his back like a springboard.

[System Notice: Sync +46% → 49%]

New Effect Gained: Momentum Flow—Your movement accelerates with consecutive dodges.

Tom grunted.

"Trickster type, huh."

"I prefer eccentric genius," Sunjae said mid-flip, landing lightly.

Tom charged again—this time no holding back.

His shoulder slammed forward like a battering ram.

Sunjae couldn't dodge fully—he raised his forearm and skidded back, boots scraping rubber.

Pain bloomed in his arm. But he kept smiling.

Tom came again. Feints, jabs, hooks. Every movement had the force of a car crash.

Sunjae danced between them. Fast. Fluid. Almost carefree.

But not arrogant.

Calculating.

He parried a jab. Pivoted. Slid under a kick. Slammed his palm into Tom's elbow joint—redirecting the full weight into the floor.

Tom nearly tripped.

Sunjae didn't let the moment go to waste.

He jumped up, one foot on Tom's thigh, used the leverage to swing behind him mid-air—

And crouched on his back.

Palms on his chin like he was watching TV. Weight centered. Perfectly balanced.

"Cool back, by the way," Sunjae murmured.

Tom froze.

That's when he saw them.

A faint flicker—red. Like blood behind a curtain.

Sunjae's bangs parted just slightly in the flickering gym light.

Eyes—blood red. Cold. Empty. Not human.

For a moment, Tom Lee—veteran fighter, mercenary, monster among men—hesitated.

And that was when Sunjae whispered,

"That's two."

He flipped forward, landed, and spun low—his heel crashing into Tom's shin with precision.

Tom grunted and dropped to one knee.

Sunjae turned.

Paused.

Then gently placed a foot on Tom's bent thigh, crouching like a perched fox.

"Now you're kneeling. Guess that's three."

[System Ping]

Quest Completed: Boss Test – Tom Lee

Objective Met: 3 Clean Hits Landed

Bonus Met: Intimidation Threshold Triggered

Reputation Gained: +220 (Contractor Level Recognized)

Access Granted: Underground Freelance Board

Trait Gained: Ghoststep Initiate—Allows rapid, silent repositioning during close combat.

Tom stood slowly. Breathing hard.

There was no anger.

Only... amusement.

And maybe a little respect.

"You're dangerous," he said, voice low. "Too dangerous to be playing this solo contractor game. I didnt go all out, but you still made me kneel. You remind me of thosee two."

Sunjae grinned, stepping off.

"Those two? which two"

You probably don't know them; their names are Gun and Goo."

"Oh, I have heard of them. I cant wait for the time we fight each other."

Tom grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat off his face.

"You'll get your jobs. Don't die. Or make us look bad."

"I don't plan to die," Sunjae replied, cracking open a new can of banana milk from his hoodie.

"Plan to make a mess."

[Contractor Registration: Choi Sunjae]

Role: Independent Mercenary

Commission Split: 50/50

Access Level: Tier-C (Pending Reputation Growth)

First Job Unlocked: [???]—Visit the back office for a briefing.

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Bro i was cringing so hard while writing this chapter