'Return.'
At Jin-Woo's command, Kaisel vanished, dissolving into Jin-Woo's shadow. The people recognized him.
'Is... is that Sung Jin-Woo Hunter's summon?' 'He can command monsters like that too?'
They had witnessed Jin-Woo's abilities on TV. Commanding monsters wasn't that surprising. Jin-Woo approached a familiar-looking staff member and spoke. It was a surveillance team Hunter who usually accompanied the Chairman.
"I'd like to see the Chairman."
You couldn't just meet the Chairman whenever you wanted. Even a minister-level request would require a week's wait. But who could tell the man standing before them no? A Hunter not even on the raid roster had suddenly appeared and easily subdued a monster that had been toying with S-rank Hunters. Could anyone want to meet him more than the Chairman himself? The staff member spoke.
"The Chairman is at the hospital right now." "Is he sick?"
Jin-Woo asked, remembering the Chairman's poor health. Perhaps watching the raid broadcast had put a strain on his heart.
"No, he went to check on Hunter Cha Hae-In's condition."
Jin-Woo nodded. Would he not be able to meet him today? Just as he was about to turn and leave, the staff member spoke up.
"I'll contact the Chairman. Please wait in the reception room." "Understood."
Jin-Woo felt relieved. There was something he wanted to tell him as soon as possible.
***
Cha Hae-In had been admitted to a large hospital designated by the Association. Her attending physician approached the Chairman, who was waiting for the results. The Chairman asked.
"How is she?" "We haven't done a detailed examination yet, but... on the surface, she's perfectly fine. She's sleeping peacefully." "I see..."
The Chairman nodded to himself, thinking *just as I expected*. The attending physician had also watched the raid broadcast from beside the Chairman. Cha Hae-In's condition was a mystery to him as well.
"How did a Hunter who was in such bad shape she'd gone pale from blood loss suddenly improve this much?" "..."
The Chairman had received a detailed report from the Korean team members but kept his mouth shut.
'Would they even believe me if I told them?'
That Hunter Sung Jin-Woo had borrowed the power of the deceased Hunter Min Byung-Gu to heal the collapsed Hunter Cha Hae-In? Jin-Woo had asked for the cameras to be turned off because he didn't want his abilities revealed. The Chairman wasn't foolish enough to go blabbing about that to others. The other Hunters seemed to think similarly.
"I had A-rank healers on standby, and they treated her." "It looked quite dangerous... It's a relief it wasn't too late."
Fortunately, that explanation seemed to hold.
"Oh."
The attending physician brought up something that had come to mind.
"That Hunter Sung Jin-Woo..."
The Chairman perked up at the name Sung Jin-Woo.
"What about Hunter Sung Jin-Woo?"
When the Chairman's expression changed, the attending physician quickly continued.
"His mother is at our hospital, isn't she?" "You said it was fatal familial insomnia." "Yes."
The Chairman had looked into Jin-Woo and read about his family situation. A worst-case scenario crossed his mind, and his face hardened as he asked.
"Don't tell me... she passed away?"
The attending physician shook his head.
"The opposite." "The opposite?" "She woke up from a terminal sleep state and was discharged home." "Is that really true?" "Word about it was already causing quite a stir. It wasn't officially announced, but since it happened at our hospital..."
The hospital staff had also watched the raid broadcast today. Naturally, the name Sung Jin-Woo came up constantly, and it reached the attending physician's ears.
"Fatal familial insomnia was cured? Is that even possible?" "This is the first case I'm aware of." "When did she wake up?" "Probably about..."
The attending physician calculated the dates in his head and spoke.
"About five days ago." "..."
Now he understood. The time he had invited Jin-Woo to join the raid roster and the time Jin-Woo's mother had woken up were almost the same.
'Hunter Sung Jin-Woo's father went missing in a Gate, didn't he?'
A wife who lost her husband to a raid. A son with such a mother would have found it hard to leave her alone to join a raid in Jeju Island. And not just any raid—it was an extermination operation that had already failed three times. The Chairman reflected on his own carelessness in not looking into the circumstances.
'So that's why he couldn't join this raid.'
As Jin-Woo's situation and today's exploits combined in his mind, a misunderstanding that nearly took root vanished completely, and his heart raced with excitement. Jin-Woo really was a young man he found incredibly admirable these days. Just then, an Association staff member approached.
"Chairman." "What is it?" "Min Byung-Gu Hunter's family isn't answering our calls." "His mother?" "Yes."
That was understandable. Her son's death had been broadcast on TV. And she had called the Association with a trembling voice. The Association could only calmly convey the facts.
"I'll go in person." "You're going yourself, sir?" "A parent who lost a son has to hold a funeral with no body to bury—do you think they'd be in any state to answer the phone?" "That... that's true." "I'll go myself to deliver the news and pay my respects." "...Understood."
The staff member turned to leave with a somber expression. But his phone rang urgently. Since it was a call from the Association, he excused himself to the Chairman and answered.
"Huh? Someone wants to see the Chairman? What!? That person?"
Go Geon-Hi shook his head.
"I don't want to see anyone today."
The staff member covered the phone's microphone with his hand and spoke.
"The person who wishes to see you, Chairman... is Hunter Sung Jin-Woo." "Hunter Sung Jin-Woo?"
The Chairman's pupils dilated. He immediately retracted his previous statement.
"Tell him I'm coming right now."
***
Jin-Woo was led to the Chairman's office by a staff member. Once seated, the staff member asked warmly.
"Would you like something to drink?"
Jin-Woo was about to decline when he suddenly felt thirsty. Come to think of it, he hadn't had a single sip of water after such an intense battle.
"Water is fine." "Thank you!" "...?"
What was there to thank him for? The nervous staff member had misspoken, and blushing, he placed a small bottle of water in front of Jin-Woo and bowed deeply.
"If you need anything at all, please don't hesitate to call." "Okay."
He sensed a much more careful and cautious attitude than the last time Jin-Woo had visited the Chairman's office.
'Probably because of the raid broadcast.'
Jin-Woo anticipated that the broadcast would change many people's attention and attitude toward him going forward. Soon the Chairman entered.
"Hunter Sung Jin-Woo!"
Jin-Woo was about to stand, but Chairman Go Geon-Hi of the Hunter's Association stopped him. Jin-Woo had just returned from Jeju Island. Among the ants he had fought was a monstrous ant that had nearly wiped out the S-rank Hunters. Right now, Jin-Woo was the most distinguished of distinguished guests. Go Geon-Hi had not the slightest intention of treating him carelessly—this was the man who had saved the lives of S-rank Hunters. Instead of taking the seat of honor, Go Geon-Hi sat directly across from Jin-Woo.
"I've heard about what happened in the ant nest." "Ah, yes." "Then our conversation should be quick."
Jin-Woo was relieved. Go Geon-Hi continued.
"And I've heard how you got here as well."
Many Association people had seen Kaisel. There was no way it wouldn't reach the Chairman's ears.
"Did you ride that thing to Jeju Island as well?"
He had gone through a shadow exchange, but there was no need to unnecessarily reveal his hand. Jin-Woo chose his words carefully.
"Something like that."
It was essentially admitting he was the one behind the massive beast that had appeared over Seoul a few days ago, but if he wanted to ride Kaisel around comfortably in the future, this was the easier path.
"I see."
The Chairman nodded, satisfied. Jin-Woo could use the power of a dead beast. If he had killed a beast capable of flight somewhere, it wasn't strange that he would ride it through the sky. His curiosity was satisfied. Now it was time for the real conversation.
"You said you wanted to see me...?" "Yes." "What is it about?" "The ants in Jeju Island. I've eliminated all of them." "What?"
The Chairman shot to his feet.
"You've eliminated all of those ants?" "Yes."
Jin-Woo confirmed.
"You can now enter Jeju Island freely." "How..."
No, he could guess the method. Those hundreds of summonses caught on camera—if they had scoured Jeju Island like a dragnet, wiping out the ants in such a short time wouldn't be a problem. The fact that Jeju Island was now accessible. It meant that Hunter Min Byung-Gu's body, sleeping in the deepest part of the ant nest, could be recovered. Go Geon-Hi had been troubled by the fact that Min Byung-Gu's body had to be left behind until the beasts disappeared. His eyes reddened. Go Geon-Hi spoke with genuine sincerity.
"Thank you, Hunter Sung Jin-Woo."
***
A suite in a top-tier Korean hotel. Though it had been overshadowed by major news events like the recent Jeju Island raid, one of the strongest Hunters in the world was currently staying here. Thomas turned off the raid special broadcast. He had already replayed the recorded footage three times. Laura, who had come along as his aide, asked.
"What do you think?" "Well... it's what it looks like."
He leaned back against the sofa and stretched his legs out on the table. Blonde hair, a high nose. Behind his sunglasses, a constant smile played across his face.
"Is that the Hunter Mr. Hwang investigated?" "Yes." "He also asked what happens if you kill someone in Korea?" "Yes."
Having received Laura's report, Thomas had secretly investigated the relationship between Hwang Dong-Su and Sung Jin-Woo on his own. There was one point of contact: Hwang Dong-Su's brother, Hwang Dong-Seok. In the Dungeon that Hwang Dong-Seok and Sung Jin-Woo had entered together, Sung Jin-Woo came out alive while Hwang Dong-Seok was never heard from again. Anything could happen inside a Dungeon. It had become a fact accepted worldwide.
"Revenge?" "That seems to be the case." "I thought he had no family. He kept quiet about it, too." "Apparently, Mr. Huang's brother's side worked hard to hide everything connected to him." "That means he had something to hide. Something bad enough that if it came out, it would damage his brother."
Laura silently affirmed his question with a nod. Then the Jeju Island raid erupted.
"With this happening, it's going to be even harder to get to Sung Jin-Woo." "I suppose so."
Laura said calmly. Thomas, a world-class Hunter and master of the renowned Scavenger Guild, had taken a special vacation to visit this small country for one reason alone: Sung Jin-Woo. More precisely, to gauge what would happen if Mr. Hwang clashed with Sung Jin-Woo. To his guild executives, he had claimed it was to recruit Korea's S-rank Hunter.
"I wanted to meet him, but now it's unlikely. What a shame."
The disappointment in Thomas's voice was palpable. Laura cautiously asked.
"So, it's best to keep Mr. Hwang and Hunter Sung Jin-Woo apart?" "Well..."
Thomas rubbed his chin, then grinned.
"Korea saved Mr. Hwang."
Korea had flatly refused entry to Hwang Dong-Seok, who had abandoned his homeland for the United States after becoming an S-rank. It could have escalated into a diplomatic dispute, but the time that bought allowed Thomas to visit Korea. However, Mr. Hwang was not the kind of man to give up his plans over a mere entry ban—especially when his goal was revenge. In truth, Thomas wasn't that stubborn. He had no intention of opposing Mr. Hwang's family revenge at the cost of making an enemy of him. But Mr. Hwang was an important asset to Scavenger. For that reason, Thomas wanted to assess the strength of fellow S-rank Hunter Sung Jin-Woo in advance. Just in case Mr. Hwang ended up on the losing side. But when he saw Sung Jin-Woo, his impression was an overwhelming relief.
"Under no circumstances can we let Mr. Hwang set foot in Korea. Then there'd be no chance of the two meeting." "Understood. I'll withdraw the lawsuit as well." "I'll talk to Mr. Hwang. He has a hot temper, so I'll have to be a bit diplomatic."
Laura carefully noted down every word the master said without missing a single one. Then a question occurred to her.
"If... if the two of them end up fighting despite all these precautions, what will you do?" "Laura, do you still not know me?"
Thomas grinned.
"Mr. Hwang is an asset of the Scavenger Guild. And the Scavenger Guild is mine."
His mouth smiled, but the eyes behind his sunglasses were not smiling at all. He always wore sunglasses to conceal his sharp gaze. Sitting up straight from his slouch against the sofa, Thomas lowered his voice.
"I never forgive anyone who touches my assets. Not even the U.S. government."
A single individual's power rivaled that of an entire nation. Thomas Andre. One of the five Monarchs. It was the confidence that only a Hunter of national-power status could possess.