Park Jong-Soo's jaw dropped. It took him a moment to process what he had just witnessed with his own two eyes.
'How did it take out the Arch Lich in one hit?'
Among countless boss-level magic beasts, there was a particular reason the Arch Lich had become so notorious. The Huanglong Guild massacre. An entire guild was wiped out by the Arch Lich—and a guild that was known to wield considerable power within China, no less. Perhaps it was an inevitable outcome. The Arch Lich could summon Death Knights at will. Death Knights were undead-type magic beasts that required several A-rank Hunters working together just to barely subdue. If you underestimated a boss-level magic beast because it was alone without any escorts, annihilation was unavoidable. In the end, the Gate that the Huanglong Guild failed to close triggered a Dungeon Break. Liu Zikang, China's national-power-level Hunter, arrived in time to prevent it from becoming a catastrophe, but thanks to that incident, many Hunters learned just how terrifying the Arch Lich truly was.
'But still...'
That monster ant summoned creature had taken out the Arch Lich in a single blow. It was staggering. Park Jong-Soo wasn't the only one who thought so—Jung Yoon-Tae, standing beside him, couldn't close his gaping mouth either.
"My god..."
Unable to believe his own eyes, he turned to Park Jong-Soo.
"Hyung, isn't that the Arch Lich?" "It is. That same one that burst out of the Gate during the Huanglong Guild incident." "So just now that ant took out the Arch Lich..."
Jung Yoon-Tae wore an incredulous expression. The other Hunters, overhearing the conversation between Park Jong-Soo and Jung Yoon-Tae, also showed their astonishment.
"The Arch Lich?" "That thing is the Arch Lich?" "In one hit?" "Wow."
While the entire Knights attack squad marveled at Jin-Woo's summoned creature, which had dispatched the A-rank Dungeon boss in the blink of an eye, the multi-talented healer Jung Ye-Rim—who had been struggling alone to hold back the swarming undead magic beasts—was growing unbearably curious about what was happening behind her.
"What's going on? What happened?"
But. Her curiosity didn't last long. Because something astonishing was unfolding right before her eyes.
"Huh?"
The undead magic beasts that had been thrashing about as if they were about to break through her skill 'Sacred Barrier' at any moment were collapsing like dolls with their strings cut, powerless. Thud. Thud. And then they never got back up.
"Bo-boss?"
Startled by the sudden turn of events, Jung Ye-Rim spun around. Park Jong-Soo gave a nod.
'So the undead magic beasts that had been revived were powered by the Arch Lich?'
When he saw the magic beasts swarming in like a black tide, he'd thought it was truly hopeless, his vision going dark. Now he finally felt like he could breathe.
"Hah—"
Behind Park Jong-Soo, who let out a sigh of relief, he could see the faces of Hunters who couldn't hide their delight. Everyone was elated at the thought of being able to leave the Dungeon safely.
"Hyung, you worked hard." "Worked hard? They did all the work."
At Park Jong-Soo's chin gesture, Jung Yoon-Tae turned around. The summoned creatures were standing still, looking this way as if asking, "Where are we going now?"
'They kind of look a little cute just standing there like that...'
But the instant one of the ants, seemingly bored for no reason, let out a roar upward—
"Kieeeek—!"
The brief window of goodwill Jung Yoon-Tae had felt vanished. He whipped his head around and spoke.
"Hyung. But this Dungeon was essentially cleared by Hunter Sung Jin-Woo alone, wasn't it?" "That's about the size of it."
Park Jong-Soo agreed. Inside the most difficult part of the Dungeon, the Knights attack squad had simply trailed along behind the ants. The ants were Sung Jin-Woo Hunter's personal summoned creatures. In the end, just as Jung Yoon-Tae said, it was no different from Jin-Woo clearing the Dungeon by himself.
'Terrifying power...'
He had seen it during the Jeju Island raid as well, but it was truly an extraordinary ability. The summoned creatures that displayed combat power beyond anything he had imagined, and the Sung Hunter who could command them freely—both were nothing short of astonishing.
"So if Hunter Sung Jin-Woo just sends those little guys in without entering the Gate himself, he could still clear it?"
Jung Yoon-Tae's words slipped out casually. But Park Jong-Soo, listening, thought about the implications and felt a chill run down his spine.
'Wait a minute...'
The summoned creatures the Sung Hunter had called forth on Jeju Island numbered at least 200—and that was only the ones caught on camera. In reality, there was no telling how many more he could summon. What if he didn't move a muscle and sent those creatures to start clearing a Dungeon?
'There's the mana cost of summoning and moving them, so he wouldn't be able to use all of them, but...'
Even if it was half—no, even a quarter of them—the efficiency would be staggering enough to leave the major guilds in the dust.
'Ugh.'
If the Sung Hunter's guild were a corporation, he would pour every last cent of his fortune into investing.
"Hyung, forget what we said before—let's really push for a merger with Hunter Sung's guild." "You little—"
Park Jong-Soo glared at Jung Yoon-Tae with an axe-eye stare, then suddenly spoke in a serious tone.
"Call it an M&A, M&A. The top Hunter's newly formed guild and Knights Guild, one of the five major guilds, pursuing an M&A. Doesn't that sound great?"
Gulp. Jung Yoon-Tae flinched.
"You're actually going to do it?" "Think about it. With the Sung Hunter's abilities and our guild's know-how, would we have anything to fear from Hunters?"
Why would Vice President Cha Hae-In have left Hunters Guild if not to team up with the Sung Hunter? Jung Yoon-Tae's face brightened and he nodded, but then rubbed his chin and tilted his head.
"But hyung, honestly, would the Sung Hunter even need us?"
Tsk tsk. Park Jong-Soo clicked his tongue and explained.
"Think about it—could Hunter Sung Jin-Woo run guild activities while breaking the law?" "Huh?" "Even if he can clear Dungeons with just his summoned creatures, he still has to meet the minimum member count, right?"
Oh. That made sense, and Jung Yoon-Tae's face brightened again.
"You're right, hyung." "The Sung Hunter gets the benefit of easily meeting the minimum count, and we get to ride his coattails."
A true win-win. The secret weapon that could minimize raid preparation time while maximizing efficiency. If you can't bring an S-rank Hunter into your guild, then your guild joins under the S-rank Hunter. Jung Yoon-Tae smiled at the rosy future Park Jong-Soo was painting.
"Hyung, that does sound great, but... wouldn't that mean we're just leeching off Hunter Sung Jin-Woo?" "What? Leeching?"
Tch. Park Jong-Soo gave him a look and grinned as he said,
"Let's call it being on the right side." "You're something else, hyung."
The two exchanged happy smiles, but beneath their feet, the ground trembled slightly. Rrrumble—
"Oh dear."
Park Jong-Soo hurried. The boss-level magic beast was dead, and the Gate's closure was underway.
"Let's get out first and talk." "Yes, hyung."
Park Jong-Soo shouted at the attack squads who were waiting for orders.
"Alright, everyone, get out before the Gate closes!"
* * *
"You'll provide every possible convenience?" "Yes. That's correct."
At Jin-Woo's question, Association President Go Geon-Hee confirmed with certainty. Including Jin-Woo, there were officially ten S-rank Hunters recorded in the Korean Hunter's Association. Three had been lost. Two had died at the hands of magic beasts, and one had been lured away by the United States. This was something the Hunter's Association could no longer stand by and watch. They would do everything in their power. This was Go Geon-Hee's thinking and the will of the entire Association.
'Any other S-rank Hunter, maybe, but...'
They absolutely could not let Hunter Sung Jin-Woo go. Go Geon-Hee's gaze was resolute. As the representative of the Hunter's Association, he had met many Hunters over the years. Among them were several noteworthy powerhouses. But never before had a Hunter made his heart pound like this. Not just as the Association President, but as a citizen of the nation, he desperately wanted to keep Jin-Woo in Korea.
-I will provide you with every possible convenience.
This single sentence encapsulated Go Geon-Hee's evaluation of Jin-Woo, a forceful declaration that they must hold onto him.
"Then..."
After a brief moment of contemplation, Jin-Woo spoke.
"Would you arrange it so I can enter upper-level Gates alone from now on?" "I'm sorry?"
When this completely unexpected request came out, Go Geon-Hee's eyes went wide.
"You're asking me to remove the minimum member requirement?"
Jin-Woo gave a nod.
"Hmm..."
The minimum member requirement was the bare minimum safety measure for Hunters. It was a policy designed to prevent Hunters from rushing into Dungeons and losing their lives. But. Was such a safety measure really necessary for the Sung Hunter, who could crush S-rank magic beasts with sheer numbers of summoned creatures? A scene from the ant hill flashed through Go Geon-Hee's mind, and he asked with a tense expression.
"Are you perhaps saying that from now on, whenever your guild obtains clearance for a Gate, you intend to enter it alone?" "Yes."
Jin-Woo's answer showed not even a trace of hesitation, and Go Geon-Hee was at a loss for words.
'Don't tell me the reason he started a guild was also...'
To clear upper-level Dungeons alone? There were strong Hunters all over the world, but no one had ever conceived of conducting raids in this manner. As he watched Jin-Woo calmly continuing this conversation and overlaid it with the image of Jin-Woo at the ant hill summoning creatures to drive back the ant swarm, a shiver ran through him.
'A one-man attack squad...'
For Go Geon-Hee, who had long been concerned about the excessive growth of major guilds, those words were impossibly attractive. Thump, thump. His heart started racing again. He placed one hand on his aching chest and gave a bitter smile at how he looked in contrast to the composed Jin-Woo.
"Would that be difficult?"
At Jin-Woo's question, Go Geon-Hee shook his head.
"It's not impossible."
Difficult, but not impossible. That was Go Geon-Hee's assessment. Who was he? The Hunter's Association President, an S-rank Hunter, and a member of the National Assembly. If it was a request from none other than Hunter Sung Jin-Woo, there was no favor too difficult to grant—not if it meant keeping the Sung Hunter in Korea.
"Leave it to me."
At the Association President's confident voice, Jin-Woo smiled.
'Good.'
One annoying task had been resolved.
"Thank you."
When Jin-Woo smiled and expressed his gratitude, Go Geon-Hee smiled back.
"It's what I always say, but I'm the one who should be thanking you, Hunter."
Screech. The car came to a stop some distance from the hospital entrance.
"I'll see you again next time, Sung Hunter." "Yes."
After a brief exchange of farewells, Jin-Woo stepped out. Word had apparently spread that the victims had been transported, and a large crowd of reporters had gathered in front of the hospital. Parking the car far from the entrance had been Woo Jin-Cheol's consideration—if the Association President's car pulled up to the hospital and Jin-Woo stepped out, it was sure to cause an uproar.
'Times like these make being famous such a hassle.'
Jin-Woo shook his head and concealed himself with Shadow.
* * *
Yoojin Construction, Chairman's office. Yoo Myung-Han, who had been dozing off with his upper body slumped over an enormous desk, sat up straight. Sunlight streamed in at an angle through the window. His eyelids had grown heavy, and it seemed he'd dozed off without realizing it. On the sofa before him, Secretary Kim—Yoo Myung-Han's right-hand man—sat ramrod straight. Yoo Myung-Han swept a hand over his face as if to shake off the drowsiness and spoke.
"I must have dozed off. How long was I out?"
Secretary Kim glanced down at the watch on his wrist, then looked up.
"You were asleep for twenty-three hours and forty-six minutes." '...'
Yoo Myung-Han's hand froze mid-motion across his face.
"I was waiting, with the intention of taking you to the hospital if you didn't wake up after twenty-four hours, per your instructions."
That illness again? Yoo Myung-Han's hand dropped, his face rigid. He kept falling asleep at random intervals, and once he did, he couldn't wake easily. Hypersomnia. The disease was slowly but surely driving his body toward death. Click, click—Secretary Kim approached and stood before him.
"There are two things I need to inform you of." "What are they?"
True to his nickname of "poker face," Yoo Myung-Han quickly wiped the worry from his expression and returned to his usual look. Secretary Kim picked up the newspaper from the edge of the desk and respectfully placed it before him.
'...?'
Yoo Myung-Han picked up the paper with a puzzled look and quickly scanned it. The article on the front page described a Gate that had opened at a school in Seoul, resulting in hundreds of student casualties. Tsk, tsk. Yoo Myung-Han furrowed his brow at the harrowing contents.
"A tragic incident. Have the company make a donation to the affected school and students." "Yes, Chairman. However."
Secretary Kim, who had been bowing his head, flipped the newspaper that Yoo Myung-Han had set down to the next page. Rustle. There was a large photograph printed there.
"The thing I wanted to draw your attention to is this photo."
Secretary Kim's finger stopped on the image of a woman in the photograph.
"Do you remember this person?"
It was a photo taken at the hospital where survivors of the horrific accident had been admitted. Among them, Secretary Kim had focused on a particular woman who was hurriedly rushing into the hospital. As it happened, this woman was someone who had remained in Yoo Myung-Han's memory.
"No, how could..."
Yoo Myung-Han never forgot anyone he had met even once. He had seen this woman's photograph before. She was Hunter Sung Jin-Woo's mother.
"Hunter Sung Jin-Woo's mother should have been suffering from hypersomnia?"
He had reviewed Hunter Sung Jin-Woo's profile meticulously multiple times. As far as Yoo Myung-Han knew, she should have been bedridden on life support, unable to move a muscle—yet here she was, walking around in good health. This was what Secretary Kim had wanted to show him. Only now did Yoo Myung-Han realize it. His hand gripping the newspaper began to tremble.
"Look into exactly what happened, will you?" "Understood." "...Thank you."
Secretary Kim raised his head briefly as if acknowledging the Chairman's praise. Setting the newspaper aside, Yoo Myung-Han continued speaking quietly.
"You said there were two things I needed to know." "Yes, Chairman." "So what's the next one?"
Yoo Myung-Han looked up and met Secretary Kim's gaze. Secretary Kim's eyes looked troubled. It was his long-held habit—he always delivered good news first, bad news after. Secretary Kim hesitated briefly, then seemed to give up and spoke.
"Miss has returned home."
As if those words had been the cue—clunk. The bathroom door burst open and Yoo Myung-Han's daughter, Yoo Jin-Hee, stepped in, tears brimming in her eyes.
"Dad, how long has this been going on?"