Ten minutes earlier, in front of the Hunter's Association. When it became clear that he couldn't accelerate his rank evaluation, Lee Min-Sung, sensing a crisis, finally dropped a bombshell.
"I, Lee Min-Sung, will retire from the entertainment industry regardless of the evaluation results and serve you all as a Hunter!"
It was his last-ditch move to revive the press conference atmosphere, which had gone cold due to Go Geon-Hee's sudden appearance. The effect was immediate.
"What?" "Lee Min-Sung is retiring?" "Regardless of his rank?"
The atmosphere quickly heated up. Click, click, click! Countless cameras pointed at Lee Min-Sung, and excited reporters fired off questions nonstop.
"Mr. Lee Min-Sung, over here!" "Are you saying you'd give up the title of Asia's biggest star to become a low-rank Hunter?" "Are you really going to throw away everything you've built as an actor?" 'Yes!'
Lee Min-Sung was once again supremely satisfied with the attention focused on him.
"Even if the results aren't favorable and I receive a low rank, I will fight against monsters to repay the love that so many of you have given me."
Of course, it was a complete lie. Just two years. His plan was to enjoy a hefty salary as an A-rank Hunter for two years while helping the Reaper Guild with their promotional activities. To sweep under the rug the military service issue he'd dodged with his father's help, and the rumors that had recently started trickling out, this was the best approach. Stepping down from the pinnacle to risk his life protecting citizens! It was a golden opportunity to earn what they called a lifetime shield from criticism. Savoring the thrill of everything going according to plan, Lee Min-Sung continued the interview.
"And with Master Im Tae-Gyu of the Reaper Guild, who has chosen to walk this path with me."
Just as the reporters were hanging on Lee Min-Sung's every word, it happened. Ring, ring, ring. A cell phone went off. Several reporters nearby gave looks. The phone's owner quickly hung up and bowed apologetically over and over. The interview was disrupted, but fortunately it didn't stop. Lee Min-Sung pretended not to notice and continued the press conference. But then again, another person's ringtone went off.
"Oh, come on." "Whose phone is that?" "Isn't it common sense to check your phone before an interview?" "Turn it off, now."
Thinking of this as an opportunity to score points, Lee Min-Sung said with a smile.
"I don't mind. Everyone, go ahead and take your calls, then we can continue."
Ha ha ha ha ha— Laughter burst out here and there at Lee Min-Sung's quick wit. But who knew that was just the beginning? Buzz, buzz— vibrate, vibrate— buzz, buzz— suddenly, phones everywhere started going off.
"What the?" "Huh, me too?"
Even the reporters who had initially hurried to silence their phones realized something was off by now. The reporters who checked their messages' eyes went wide.
"They got a message from the Association?" "Don't say that now!"
The reporters hurriedly pulled up the Association's website. Sure enough, as if it had been prepared in advance, a new S-rank Hunter's photo and name were already posted. Today was the day the measurement results were announced.
'But didn't they say the measurement room was unavailable this morning?' 'Wasn't that because of Lee Min-Sung?' 'So the room wasn't cleared for Lee Min-Sung's rank evaluation, but for this S-rank Hunter?'
That's when a man's face flashed through the reporters' minds. No way! That man who just followed Association President Go Geon-Hee inside! He was the only one who had used the measurement room today. If they went in after him now, couldn't they get a shot of him?
"R-reporters?"
The reporters, their eyes now those of starving beasts, ignored Lee Min-Sung and charged toward the Association building. Rumble— When Woo Jin-Chul sent a signal with his eyes, the Surveillance Division Hunters spread their hands and formed a barricade.
"Let us in!" "They say an S-rank came out! Shouldn't you have given advance notice of something like that!" "Out of the way!"
The reporters charged fiercely, but they couldn't break through the wall of Surveillance Division staff—all of them Hunters.
"Wh-what?"
Having been instantly cast aside, Lee Min-Sung ran to his manager with a bewildered face. The manager showed him the phone screen he had just checked.
"S-rank?"
Lee Min-Sung's face went blank.
"An S-rank Hunter appeared today of all days?"
He had planned to become an A-rank Hunter and steal all the spotlight, but one S-rank Hunter from God-knows-where had ruined everything. Lee Min-Sung shook his head.
'No, something's definitely wrong.'
It wasn't like S-rank was a vending machine coffee that pops out just because you put in a coin. Maybe the reporters knew something about this? Just then, a reporter who had been on the phone climbed the stairs late, catching Lee Min-Sung's eye. It was the newspaper reporter he'd been asking for advice on tomorrow's article headline.
"Hey, Reporter Im!"
Despite Lee Min-Sung's urgent voice, Reporter Im gave a perfunctory reply and walked past.
"Ah, Mr. Lee Min-Sung. I'll contact you later." "What? Reporter Im. Reporter Im!"
Lee Min-Sung could overhear Reporter Im's phone conversation as the reporter walked further and further away.
"...Yeah. For tomorrow's headline, go with 'Tearful E-rank, Joyful S-rank' and run it across the board."
With lifeless eyes, Lee Min-Sung looked around. There was no one left near him. Lee Min-Sung slumped to the ground.
"What the... is this."
As he was muttering weakly, the Association door burst open and South Korea's tenth S-rank Hunter appeared. Flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash! Jin-Woo's eyes went wide.
'What the... is this?'
Jin-Woo, captured front and center on camera, along with Baek Yoon-Ho looking exasperated behind him and Choi Jong-In smiling wryly beside him—all were framed in the lens.
***
Lunchtime. The mining team Hunters, having finished the morning's work, gathered together to eat lunch. Mining was their main job, but since there was no risk of falling rocks or collapse accidents, the atmosphere was relaxed. Some Hunters wolfed down a bowl of rice and lay back, others fiddled with their phones and chatted, and still others gathered around a single side dish to enjoy drinks.
"Huh?"
A Hunter who had been fiddling with his phone suddenly sat bolt upright.
"Isn't this Mr. Sung?"
Lee Sung-Goo pricked up his ears.
"No way?" "Mr. Sung is on the news?"
He hadn't misheard.
"I knew it."
Lee Sung-Goo, his face flushed from three drinks, ran to where his colleagues had gathered as if he'd been waiting for this moment. Even as he ran, his mouth never stopped.
"I knew it from the moment that guy started getting cocky! Let's see what kind of terrible things that punk has done!"
Perhaps because Lee Sung-Goo's voice was so loud?
"Mr. Sung?" "What crime did Mr. Sung commit?"
Including Team Leader Bae, all the nearby mining team Hunters crowded over. A large caption scrolled beneath Jin-Woo's face, which filled the tiny phone screen.
"[...Following Hwang Dong-Suk and Cha Hae-In, Mr. Sung Jin-Woo, the tenth S-rank Hunter of South Korea, has just...]"
"Gah!"
Lee Sung-Goo's pupils trembled like an earthquake at the sight of Jin-Woo.
***
Yoojin Construction, President's office. In front of the door, Yoo Jin-Ho let out a short breath.
"Phew."
Creak. Following the smoothly opening door, he raised his gaze and saw his father reviewing documents without so much as turning his head.
"Come in."
Even as he spoke, Yoo Myung-Han was in the middle of signing documents. Yoo Jin-Ho stood beside Yoo Myung-Han. Yoo Myung-Han briefly checked his son's face, then continued working.
'Same as always, Dad.'
In the past, he might have been intimidated by his father like this, unable to say what he wanted and running away. But things were different now.
"There's something I'd like to tell you." "Is it about Hunter Sung Jin-Woo?" "Yes."
Yoo Myung-Han finally looked up.
"All right. What happened."
That's when Yoo Myung-Han's phone rang. Brrrr—
"Wait."
Yoo Myung-Han raised his hand to stop Yoo Jin-Ho's words. After checking the message, Yoo Myung-Han's eyes widened slightly.
'So even Dad gets surprised sometimes?'
Yoo Jin-Ho tilted his head.
"...There's something you need to see." "Sir?"
Instead of answering, Yoo Myung-Han quickly grabbed the remote and turned on the large TV mounted on the wall. Breaking news poured out.
"Yes. It's just been confirmed. The Hunter determined to be S-rank today is a re-awakened individual who underwent awakening after awakening, and is reportedly Mr. Sung Jin-Woo, an E-rank Hunter who had been active under the Association."
The reporter's excited voice said it all about the atmosphere on the scene. Yoo Jin-Ho, who had been listening idly, was startled by the name "Sung Jin-Woo."
'Gah!'
The screen then changed. On it was unmistakably someone he knew well, staring ahead with a blank expression. It was his hyung.
'I'm sure of it. Hyung is just annoyed right now.'
Having spent so much time sticking close to hyung, he could read his thoughts from his expression alone. No, more importantly—S-rank? He already knew hyung was amazing, but the degree of that amazement far exceeded his expectations. And at the same time,
'Even with that kind of power, he still went into the Dungeon every day to train?'
A wave of awe. As the TV kept blaring Jin-Woo's name, Yoo Jin-Ho's heart swelled with pride—he had been there by hyung's side all along. Beep— The TV turned off and hyung's face disappeared. Yoo Jin-Ho looked disappointed.
"Continue."
He was being told to go on with what he had to say. Yoo Jin-Ho bowed deeply as he had prepared and spoke.
"I'm sorry, Father. I couldn't change hyung's mind."
Yoo Myung-Han's face hardened.
"...I see. What did Hunter Sung Jin-Woo say when he refused?" "Well, hyung..."
Yoo Jin-Ho hesitated, then raised his head slightly and spoke.
"He said he's going to make a guild, and if I wanted the vice president position, I could join..."
He flinched. His father's face, which he had expected to either get angry or dismiss the comment, went rigid for an instant. Then. A faint smile. Yoo Myung-Han laughed silently. President Yoo Myung-Han, known for his poker face, had shown an expression change in front of his son.
'Why is he doing that?'
Not daring to ask why, Yoo Jin-Ho just rolled his eyes around. Yoo Myung-Han wiped the smile from his face and asked.
"Do you know why I'm trying to create the Yoojin Guild?" "Because the Hunter business is profitable...isn't it?" "No."
Yoo Myung-Han said firmly.
"I already have more money than I could ever spend. Do you think I'd go through with something that could create friction with the major guilds just to earn a few more bucks?"
Did he mean it wasn't about the money? Yoo Jin-Ho's eyes went wide.
"Then...?"
Yoo Myung-Han quietly set down the pen he'd been holding onto the desk.
"To protect us."
At the gravity in Yoo Myung-Han's eyes, even Yoo Jin-Ho swallowed hard.
"Hunters' power keeps growing. It's no longer rare for a single person's strength to rival that of a nation's military."
The so-called nation-level Hunters—the strongest in the world. Yoo Myung-Han was referring to them.
"In some weaker nations, Hunters already reign like kings. In a situation like this, how long do you think the law and public authority can protect us?"
Yoo Myung-Han's voice was heavy. But as he listened, Yoo Jin-Ho suddenly realized he was feeling happy. Why was that?
'Ah...'
He had said "us," including even me. It felt like he'd glimpsed the dark side of things for the first time, and Yoo Jin-Ho felt a little happy. Yoo Myung-Han's explanation continued.
"I wanted to create a guild and gather Hunters I could trust. Not for money or connections, but Hunters I could believe in and rely on as human beings."
Yoo Myung-Han's face wore a faint smile once more.
"It seems you've already found someone like that." "Yes."
Yoo Jin-Ho answered immediately. He couldn't quite grasp his father's full intent, but of one thing he was certain: he could trust and rely on hyung. Yoo Myung-Han nodded.
"Good." "Sir?" "You've passed."
What had he passed? Yoo Jin-Ho belatedly raised his head, which he'd kept lowered this whole time.
"I'm entrusting the Yoojin Guild to you." "Sir?" "Grow the Yoojin Guild. Make strong Hunters you can trust and believe in your own people. From now on, they'll be more valuable than any form of wealth."
Yoo Myung-Han spoke with conviction. The greater his conviction, the greater Yoo Jin-Ho's joy. Perhaps this was the first time in his life he'd received his father's approval.
"Thank you, Father!"
Yoo Jin-Ho, a beaming smile on his face, bowed politely nearly ninety degrees. Yoo Myung-Han watched with satisfaction. But Yoo Jin-Ho's next words were the last thing Yoo Myung-Han expected.
"But I don't think I can do it." "Hmm?"
Yoo Myung-Han's eyebrow twitched. Yoojin Construction's financial power could give wings to the future Yoojin Guild. He'd already had concrete discussions with several S-rank Hunters. That the Yoojin Guild could become one of South Korea's premier mega-guilds was obvious. Yoo Jin-Ho couldn't possibly be unaware of this.
'That's why he said he wanted to be the master.'
Yet now that he was offering the guild, why was he turning it down? Had he gotten scared in the meantime? Yoo Myung-Han barely suppressed his disappointment and anger at Yoo Jin-Ho and forced out a voice.
"...Why?"
At that, Yoo Jin-Ho raised his head and answered without hesitation, looking perfectly content.
"I'm going to join hyung's guild."
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