"Are you seriously going to call this a coincidence?" "I wish it were, but... it probably isn't, right?"
The fluent Korean flowing from the blue-eyed foreigner's mouth still felt out of place no matter how many times he heard it. Jin-Woo didn't look away from him as he took his seat.
"So we meet again, Mr. Adam White." "It's an honor to see you again, Hunter Sung Jin-Woo."
Adam White, a high-ranking agent of the US Hunter's Association, smiled and gave a slight bow, just as he had the first time they met. Jin-Woo looked around.
'No wonder...'
So there were two high-ranking Hunters in first class, and it seemed both were with the Hunter's Association. Two men in black suits returned Jin-Woo's gaze with a nod. People from the Hunter's Association surveillance division always wore those black suits like a uniform—did they want to advertise their status? As Jin-Woo stared at the two men with idle curiosity, Adam White let out an exclamation.
"You remember my name even though we only met once." "That first meeting left quite an impression." "I'm truly sorry about that incident. We had no idea there was a Hunter whose influence Senator Keller couldn't reach..."
Jin-Woo waved his hand. He'd already received enough apologies from the Deputy Director that day. He had no interest in reopening that wound. What did bother him, though, was why the Association agents who had backed off cleanly were now back. It wasn't annoying enough to complain about yet, but if this kept happening, it would get tiring fast.
"I thought negotiations had broken off?"
Jin-Woo's voice dropped. Adam's smile vanished.
"I know it's rude to appear without notice like this, but something urgent has come up."
Jin-Woo suddenly recalled the news of an S-rank Gate that had appeared on the US East Coast.
"Don't tell me even America can't stop an S-rank Gate...?" "No, no. That situation was resolved."
If it wasn't about the S-rank Gate, what was the problem this time? Could it be connected to the defeat of the Giant Monarch? Seeing Jin-Woo's interest, Adam pulled out a laptop. On the screen, thick black smoke billowed upward as if from a massive wildfire. Adam handed the laptop to Jin-Woo. He watched the video. Firefighters struggled as the flames grew stronger, unable to control them. The flames were infused with magic.
-What the hell is this fire? It won't go out no matter what we do! -This is no ordinary fire! -Hey, you! Get back! Even a touch of that flame will turn you to charcoal!
The firefighters were in a panic. No matter what method they used, the flames showed no sign of weakening. Instead, they spread, slowly engulfing the surroundings. Charred trees fell, and as they crashed into others, the fire leaped, creating new blazes. The flames surged forward like angry waves.
-Oh God, no! -Where's backup? -When is backup getting here!
Just then, a helicopter arrived, and magic-type Hunters descended. They unleashed every water-based spell they had. After the forest was bombarded dozens of times by torrents of magic, the flames gradually began to subside. Jin-Woo studied the scene closely.
'These people... they're top-tier Hunters.'
Judging by the power of their magic, they were undoubtedly top-tier Hunters. It took numerous top-tier Hunters exerting everything they had just to barely suppress the fire. That meant the one who caused this disaster wasn't an ordinary Hunter either.
-Oh, Hunters! -W-we're saved... -Thank you, Hunters!
The firefighters kept exclaiming in relief as they dealt with the remaining embers. It was a moment where massive casualties could have occurred if the Hunters had arrived just a little later.
-Further in! -The fire is dying out! -It's over. The fire is extinguished.
The video was nearing its end. As the playback time dwindled, Jin-Woo asked with a puzzled look.
"Why are you showing me this?"
It was an interesting video, certainly, but it didn't make sense for him to seek him out over a wildfire in America. Adam reached out and skipped the video to the very end.
"If you look here... at the end."
After pushing through the still-rising acrid smoke and entering the blackened depths of the forest, the epicenter of the fire was revealed. There were signs of a massive explosion, with everything around it swept outward from the center. At its heart lay a single, prone corpse. There was no need to check if he was alive. The hole in his chest was exactly where the heart should be.
"1,800 firefighters and 14 magic-type Hunters were deployed to put out the fire he started."
And only top-tier Hunters at that. After the caster died, it took 14 top-tier Hunters at full power just to extinguish the remaining flames? Jin-Woo had a vague idea of who was lying there.
"Don't tell me this man..."
As Jin-Woo looked back at him, Adam answered somberly.
"I see you recognize him. Yes. That is Hunter Christopher Reed."
The possibility Jin-Woo had considered made his eyes widen. It was unbelievable. One of the world's top Hunters, a National Power-level—killed by someone?
"We find it hard to believe too, but he was definitely murdered."
At the end of the video, a firefighter turned Chris's body face up. This gave a clearer view of his condition. Besides the hole in his chest, there were terrible wounds all over his body. They were unmistakably traces of battle.
"And this."
Adam produced several photos from inside his jacket and continued.
"These are photos of the most likely suspect according to the Hunter's Association." 'Suspect?'
Jin-Woo, who had given Adam a questioning look at his use of the word "it" as if referring to an object rather than a person, let his gaze fall to the photos being handed over. There was no need to examine them closely. As Jin-Woo stood and gave a slight beckoning gesture, Adam was pulled forward.
"Eh, eh?"
Adam's eyes went wide. Jin-Woo grabbed the collar of the Adam he had pulled in with his 'Ruler's Authority'.
"Cough!"
Their noses nearly touching, Jin-Woo spoke in a voice lowered to a near-whisper.
"If this is some kind of joke... you won't be walking out of here on two feet."
It wasn't just a threat. Jin-Woo's eyes, radiating genuine killing intent, glinted coldly like a predator's. With his collar firmly in Jin-Woo's grip, Adam strained against his hold.
"Stop! Stop!"
Of course, that wasn't directed at Jin-Woo. His desperate plea stopped two high-ranking Hunters who had been about to lunge at Jin-Woo. Having just managed to halt this pouring oil on the fire, Adam pleaded earnestly.
"The person in the photo emerged from a Dungeon! He might not be who you think!" "A Dungeon...?"
The hand gripping Adam's collar loosened slightly. Able to breathe a little, Adam quickly continued.
"His mana waves were identical to those of magical beasts, and he attacked one of our S-rank Hunters without warning."
Jin-Woo's gaze fell from Adam's hand to the photos on the floor. The person caught on surveillance was... Jin-Woo's father.
'Father... came from a Dungeon and attacked Hunters?'
As Jin-Woo looked confused, Adam added a bit more explanation.
"Do you remember the explosion at the Hunter's Association a few months ago?"
How could he forget? The incident that had the world talking. Theories about secret experiments, a top-tier Hunter losing control, a fight between S-ranks—many words had been exchanged.
"That was caused by my father?"
Adam nodded.
"He knocked out one of our Hunters and disappeared. The Association secretly tracked him afterward, but we couldn't find a single trace, as if he'd evaporated." "..."
Jin-Woo listened to Adam's explanation in silence.
"I understand how you feel, Hunter. But he certainly meets all the criteria to be named a suspect."
He had a history of attacking Hunters, was far stronger than an S-rank Hunter, and his current whereabouts were completely unknown. It wasn't surprising the Hunter's Association considered 'the entity claiming to be Sung Il-Hwan' as one of the culprits. But even if everything Adam said was 100 percent true, Jin-Woo narrowed his eyes.
"Then why show me this photo at all?" "The International Guild Conference." "...?" "The Association's leadership plans to distribute his wanted poster at this International Guild Conference, where representatives from prominent guilds worldwide will gather."
It meant they weren't going to keep the investigation secret anymore. The furious US government, having lost the valuable resource of a National Power-level Hunter in this incident, was mobilizing every means and method to catch the perpetrator. In that sense, the Guild Conference was the perfect opportunity. The murder of a National Power-level Hunter would naturally draw intense interest from the guilds, and the Association's announcement would command attention.
"Our Hunter's Association wanted to maintain a good relationship with you, Hunter Sung Jin-Woo, until the end." "So you came to inform me before the public wanted poster goes out?"
Adam nodded with difficulty, his voice unnatural.
"B-because if your father's face suddenly appeared at an event you were invited to attend, you would be understandably flustered."
Whether it was his father who had truly returned from a Dungeon or an imposter wearing his father's face. From the death of a National Power-level Hunter to the existence of Sung Il-Hwan and the upcoming wanted notice. Leaking information that was still highly classified was the Hunter's Association's courtesy, born from a desire not to make an enemy of Jin-Woo, whose abilities they held in high regard.
'...'
Jin-Woo remained silent. Sincerity was evident in Adam's earnest gaze and voice. It was a sentiment of goodwill. If even a hint of malice had been present, Jin-Woo would have had no intention of holding back. But... there was evidence left: a photo of the 'thing' in his father's form stepping on the neck of a Korean-American Hunter named Hwang Dong-Soo, who had since obtained US citizenship. He couldn't argue with the Association's claim that it was hard to consider it human.
"Please understand that we had no choice but to do this."
Only then did Jin-Woo release the collar. Adam, whose face had turned red, coughed and gasped for air. Jin-Woo picked up the photos again. No matter how he looked at them, they were unmistakably photos of his father. His heart pounded violently the entire time he stared at them. Just then, the in-flight announcement played.
[We will be landing shortly.]
While the commotion had unfolded in first class, the passenger jet had safely arrived at Incheon Airport. Jin-Woo used Stealth to slip past the reporters swarming the airport and called Yoo Jin-Ho.
-Brother! You've arrived in Korea?
Perhaps because his father had fully recovered, Yoo Jin-Ho's voice sounded even brighter than before. But Jin-Woo couldn't manage a smile.
"I need to go to the US next week." -Huh? You mean the International Guild Conference? I thought you said you weren't going, Brother? "The situation has changed."
He needed to gain information. He needed to know more. He needed the certainty to judge whether this was his father or not. To do that, he had no choice but to attend the International Guild Conference.
"Can you book me a flight?"
Soon after, an unhesitating reply came from the other end of the line.
-Then I'll book two round-trip tickets, Brother!
* * *
After Jin-Woo left, Adam remained in his seat for a long while before managing to stand. Seeing him stagger as he tried to rise, the Hunters asked.
"Are you all right?" "I'm fine. Just a bit drained."
Adam answered in a tone reassuring himself and was helped to his feet with difficulty. Thanks to his major in criminal psychology, he had interrogated many a horrific criminal, but this was the first time a person had ever terrified him like this. Hunter Sung Jin-Woo's gaze—silent and cold, squeezing the life from him. Even knowing the man wasn't likely to come back to hurt him again, just recalling that look made his knees go weak. Hunter Sung Jin-Woo before and after being shown the photos seemed like two entirely different people.
'I never knew a person could change that much.'
However, there was an even more astonishing fact. Adam asked the Hunters.
"This happened in a flash, so I just want to confirm: did Hunter Sung Jin-Woo just move me without touching me?"
The two high-ranking Hunters, whose sharp eyes were never second to anyone, nodded at Adam's question.
'So it's true...!'
Adam was horrified. He hadn't misseen it. The man could use telekinesis. Until now, telekinesis had been considered the exclusive domain of National Power-level Hunters. But Hunter Sung had used it as naturally as breathing. Adam's skin crawled. He was the first telekinesis skill user discovered besides the five National Power-level Hunters.
'Now isn't the time for this.'
With trembling hands, he picked up the phone. After a few rings, the Deputy Director answered. Adam suppressed his shaking voice.
"Deputy Director... I think we've just found the sixth one."
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