Chapter 62

Sensation

Ring, ring!

Immediately after parting with her, the terminal on my wrist rang. It automatically searched and showed the phone number of the caller. It was the line used by the Constitutional Department. It must have been the officer in charge who guided us.

After finishing the final grading, the officer advised us to stop by the center. Upon receiving the SS-Rank, the Constitutional Department database was updated, even though the entire department seemed chaotic. All he wanted us to do was to stop by and chat with the high people, but I didn’t plan on doing so. As he failed to persuade me, he went back to the center by himself, and of course, he must have been severely scolded by his superiors who were expecting him to bring me with him.

“Jin-Wook, won’t you answer the call?”

“It’s all right.”

Just in time, the unmanned vehicle I called stopped in front of us.

“Come on, let’s go.”

*

Secretary Kim, who was driving alone after secreting Yoo Kyung-Jae into a hidden place, turned his gaze to the suddenly noisy terminal ringing incessantly.

“Hmm? Isn’t this a guild number?”

Even though he’d taken the day off, he still allowed emergency calls through, which meant that it was an emergency or someone was causing a scene again.

“Is the Guild Master acting up again?”

Just a day or two ago, Seo Gyu-Cheol tossed him around, as he was assigned as Seo Jin-Wook’s security, but he couldn’t help but frown at times like these.

“Since we are operating the guild like this in 2038, it’s no wonder hunters keep trying to leave. A company that calls and bothers on vacation….”

He stopped grumbling and answered the call.

“Yes, this is Kim Byung-Ho.”

“Hey! Secretary Kim! Did you know of this?”

The voice was that of a Senior.

“Huh? Senior Choi? It’s my day off today….” He protested, but the other guy didn’t bother to listen.

“About Seo Jin-Wook! Did you know or not?”

Secretary Kim tensed at the mention of Seo Jin-Wook. He knew that he was going to the promotion review today. Did something happen there? Or did Seo Gyu-Cheol come running faster than expected and confronted him after hearing the news?

“What about Team Leader Seo?” he asked, masking his confusion.

“He lost the title of Team Leader a long time ago ever since he took a leave of absence, what Team Leader…? You really didn’t know?”

“If you keep talking like that, this conversation could go on all day.”

“Look at the news, you punk!”

Secretary Kim pulled over to the shoulder. While keeping the call on, he manipulated the terminal to display the video. It was a news channel.

The reporter’s voice followed: “This is information consistently being heard through several people involved in the Hunter Management Department. A spokesman said that he would make an official statement within the day. Unlike previous gossip, it is almost certain that they did not immediately deny them. I repeat. Upon today’s regular examination held at the Hunter Center in Seoul, information that Korea’s first SS-ranked Awakened was found is rapidly spreading among hunters. The Awakened person is known as Mr. Seo, the eldest son of the nation’s leading Hunter Guild, ‘Celestial Dragon.’

Secretary Kim gasped instinctively and rubbed his eyes in disbelief. The subtitles remained unchanged, and he blinked his eyes in frustration.

‘Korea’s First SS Hunter is born? He is the eldest son of Celestial Dragon Guild, Mr. Seo.’

“The eldest son of the Celestial Dragons.”

There was no point in using an alias. A single search would bring up all his personal information.

“No, even if that’s true, but….”

He knew that what he showed was not an ordinary level of growth. Even though he didn’t know how it was done, not only did he fight against Park Chang-Hee of A-rank, but he also showed the amazing ability he experienced for the first time.

But this was unexpected. An SS-Rank!

“It seems that the Guild Master received the information in advance through the connections he planted in the Hunter Management Department. Everyone tried to dissuade him, but he already ran to the center. There’s a whole bunch of reporters out there right now!”

“Ah….”

That was certainly a problem. In those days, Seo Gyu-Cheol’s words and actions were not presentable in front of the press.

‘No.’ Secretary Kim immediately changed his mind. ‘Is it rather better?’ He roughly knew Seo Jin-Wook’s plan. Secretary Kim laughed quietly. ‘Maybe it’s a chance for our Team Leader.’

*

Hunter Center, Seoul.

In front of the center, adjacent to the Hunter Management Department complex, reporters had already gathered for the coverage. Having many excellent hunters was equivalent to national power, and the birth of a high-rank Hunter had always been news that shocked the country. In the crowd, there was a stream of grumbling where people were standing shoulder to shoulder.

“Jeez, won’t they open the press center? Why are they telling us to wait outside?”

“That place and the lobby on the first floor is already full of reporters. They told us to wait here since they’re trying to make the room as we speak.”

“What? That big place is full?”

“It’s like all the journalists in our country are gathered.”

A black vehicle then arrived in a public parking lot used by the center and the Hunter Management Department.

“Oh, there’s the Celestial Dragon’s Guild Master!”

“It’s Seo Gyu-Cheol!”

Click-click-click! The cameras flashed all at once.

“It’s rather a good thing we waited outside!”

Reporters rushed to Seo Gyu-Cheol and pushed the microphone in his face.

“Guild Master Seo Gyu-Cheol! There’s news that your eldest son, Hunter Seo Jin-Wook, has received the SS rank this time. How do you feel?”

The reporter’s face, who had barely won the physical struggle and had asked the first question, gradually stiffened.

Seo Gyu-Cheol did not say anything but looked at the reporters, who had blocked his path, with a cold gaze.

‘What kind of stare is this!’

The reporters were taken aback. Seo Gyu-Cheol was famous for his cold attitude, but he at least kept his courtesy to the media. Known for his obsession with his reputation of being Korea’s No. 1, he was aware of the importance of the media. He was famous for gathering reporters and holding a press conference at every opportunity, even if a small achievement was made—a person of a very pro-media inclination.

‘This is…!’

Most reporters handling Hunter-related issues were familiar with Seo Gyu-Cheol, but were still taken aback with his gaze. It was completely different from his usual face—a beastly gaze filled with hostility and hatred. And…. and even madness flowed out of his eyes. Seo Gyu-Cheol’s fierce eyes were captured in the camera.

Everyone felt the murderous stare. The gathered reporters felt the weight of the air pressed on their lungs. As they were not Awakens, they were overwhelmed by Seo Gyu-Cheol’s explosive aura.

Then, a crushed voice rang their ears, “You better back off.”

Reporters and cameras made their way for him as if the sea were splitting. In between, Seo Gyu-Cheol walked silently. All those scenes were being broadcast live and nationwide through the camera.

*

“Come on, Guild Master! What were you thinking of doing so outside?” The Assistant Secretary of the Hunter Management Department welcomed Seo Gyu-Cheol instead of the Minister who was called to the Blue House, or the Presidential Palace, for a meeting of officials.

Seo Gyu-Cheol said with fiery eyes without paying respect while standing up without waiting for him to sit down, “You can’t do this to me, Mr. Secretary. Consider how much money I have given to the Hunter Management Department so far!”

Like the reporters, the assistant secretary felt chills as he was standing in front of the beast. Without realizing it, a cold sweat flowed down his back. He spoke, barely holding on to his spirit, “I don’t know what this is about, but let’s calm down and talk.”

Only then did the vice-minister feel that heavy atmosphere, that had been heavily weighing on the room, disappear. He took out his handkerchief and wiped the sweat off. After hesitating, he sat face to face with Seo Gyu-Cheol.

“The scene where you just confronted the reporters was broadcast live across the country. Whether looking at the Guild Master’s expression or the tone, it seemed like an Awakened Hunter was threatening a powerless civilian. Anyone could see that. You broadcast yourself that way when we are trying so hard to improve the image of the Hunters!”

Seo Gyu-Cheol did not wait to listen to all the words.

“Why was the news that my son came here delivered so late? And you just let him go without knowing where he was headed to?”

The vice minister also had a lot to say. To sum up what the employees said, the speed at which the words leaked out to the Celestial Dragon was their best, and there was no excuse for the officials to hold the SS Hunter down when he insisted that he should go.

“I mean, wait a minute. Guild Master, you’re not doing this because of Hunter Seo Jin-Wook, are you? Is it because of that rumor lately going around? The rumor that the government is interested in the Celestial Dragon’s stake? I told you there’s nothing we can do about it. The stake purchase itself is carried out by a different department from the Hunter Management Department, and it reflects the intention of the people above….”

“Don’t change the subject. I’m here to talk about Seo Jin-Wook!”

Upon hearing his words, the vice minister was beyond being baffled and was now speechless.

‘So, he really came here to complain about his son?’

The look on his face suggested he was ready to kill a few people right now. And the subject of the complaint was… why wasn’t his son held down here? Furthermore, he didn’t seem to be interested in the government’s plan to buy stakes that could easily be a bone of contention.

The vice minister said hesitantly and cautiously, “Excuse me…. Guild Master? Don’t misunderstand my words and listen. From the way I see it, I don’t think you need to do this here, but perhaps some professional counseling.

The vice-minister made a note to instruct the staff after Seo Gyu-Cheol left. ‘As soon as rumors spread that his mentally ill son was completely cured, this time, the father went crazy. Man, they’re an ill-fated family.’

The vice-minister planned to instruct people to dig into the rumors that Seo Gyu-Cheol’s reputation was flawed. More precisely, to focus on the rumor that his mind was fluctuating.

*

The Internet was riled up. Media, social media, and communities were all talking about the newly born SS Hunter.

‘Yeah, this much attention is natural.’

The more I became the center of attention, the better. In the course of looking into such news, I found an unexpected article.

“Hmm?”

Along with Seo Gyu-Cheol’s photo, a provocative title continued:

‘Threatening words and actions shown in front of the press by Seo Gyu-Cheol, the head of the Celestial Dragon Guild.’

‘Why did he appear alone in the Hunter Management Department on the day his son received the SS rank?’

‘The discord between the father and son on the rise.’

That crazy person. He must have gone to the center himself to find me. In the process, he even caused a scene with the media. I clicked my tongue inwardly and turned off the hologram just as a call came through the line.

‘It’s the Gate Keepers!’

I answered the call immediately, “Yes, this is Seo Jin-Wook.”

*

More than 1,000 dungeons were opened in Korea every year, but the Clear was carried out by priority. The dungeon was not always infested with monsters, the difficulty of Clear is different, and there was a difference in stability and change patterns. Based on the monsters’ characteristics, if the risk at the onset of the break was fatal, the ranking was high, and if the word ‘unstable’ was attached to the state, it was of top priority. Falling behind in the priorities was precisely the opposite. Especially if it was difficult to ascertain the conditions for Clear in the dungeon.

‘The government allocates the gates to a guild for up until a year. After that period, they have to bid again among the guild, and there are some gates where no one bids, for various reasons.’

Dungeons were less profitable because they were difficult to attack compared to the ranks of their hunters. Simultaneously, the dungeon was either ‘very stable’ or ‘stable,’ so there was no need to set up a team.

‘Gate Keepers Guild volunteers to manage the doors to those dungeons.’

For some of those dungeons, I would get a license to use as an individual this time. To train the two people and mine the treasure buried there.

“Yes, thank you. I’m looking forward to it.”

I ended the call with a Gate Keepers Guild member, introduced by Lee Ji-Soo, and I smiled satisfactorily, “All right.”

I could feel the gaze of Hibiki and Nate staring at my face. They must have been curious after hearing the contents of the call. As soon as I looked at them, Hibiki asked, “Was the place that we could train decided?”

I nodded, “Yes, there are only three.”

Nate’s face was filled with expectation, “Wow! Three? From when?”

“Right now.”

“Yay!”

Hibiki said, “I heard that dungeons used for training are usually borrowed one to two weeks at a time. It’s going to take a month to go around, right?”

“No, what are you talking about?”

How can you say that, for a month?

I said with a smile, “By the end of the day, we will finish all three.”

“Yes?”

The contract with the Gate Keepers Guild was made through electronic documents using the terminal, without the need of a face-to-face meeting, and was effective upon deposit. The destination entered in the vehicle’s navigation was the nearest dungeon.

“Sleep in the car to ready yourselves; for the next 24 hours or so, you won’t have time to sleep except when you’re on the move.”

Training would be tough from the outset.