Chapter 3: The strongest people won’t leave me alone

National Intelligence Service.

It is abbreviated as NIS. It is the top counterintelligence agency in South Korea.

Its predecessors include the ‘Agency for National Security Planning’ and the ‘Central Intelligence Agency,’ which are also famous for the movies ‘The Man Standing Next’ and ‘1987’. Seong-han Lee felt parched.

“Here, have some. It’ll get cold.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Snacks adorning the round table.

Delicacies not even sold at the PX.

Seong-han Lee carefully looked down at the food. What’s the intention?

‘Why does the National Intelligence Service want me?’

Seong-han Lee took a sip of his cafe latte, stirring it.

There’s definitely something.

He felt it instinctively.

[Auto Combat] was also screaming.

‘Yeah, lying like a dog is a common occurrence, so let’s say that’s that.’

But being discharged out of the blue?

Has South Korea ever let anyone go?

Come to think of it, it’s strange.

This is a country that brought back a 30-year-old bad law because of the issue of defecting awakened individuals.

I shouldn’t have expected such normal things.

Being discharged early… indeed. It was something Seong-han Lee couldn’t even imagine.

It was obviously a lie.

What gamblers would call bluffing.

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

It’s not for nothing.

It’s not like boiling an egg. It won’t be that easy.

“Is it strange?”

“It is strange. Did you think it wouldn’t be?”

Jin-young Kang scanned Seong-han Lee as if he were a marvel.

Then she cleared her throat.

“Isn’t discharge the best card we can play?”

“Can’t you improve the canteens from the Korean War? It feels ominous.”

Oh my, you’re good at joking!

Jin-young Kang laughed.

“It could be worse than that. But we’re not the army. We’re the top intelligence organization in South Korea.”

“The fact that it’s not a discharge is concerning. Is it really me you need?”

“I directly observed and recorded the hunter-cam. We need someone skilled like you. A lot of them.”

Yeah, they wouldn’t let me go easily.

Seong-han Lee stroked his chin.

“How highly do you regard me?”

“The highest.”

“?”

“S-rank. No, even higher!”

Jin-young Kang sprang up from her seat.

Where would you find such talent just by digging in the ground?!

The reality is that you won’t even find a single dime.

I had to go all-in right now.

‘Moreover, an irregular Frog. To catch that precious one without a scratch?’

Other awakened individuals were busy running away with tears and snot.

This man was different.

A man of all men.

He defeated a mutant, at that.

Alone.

It’s not for nothing that she’s surprised.

Seong-han Lee peeled off the candy wrapper with his teeth.

It was a sweet chocolate flavor.

Mmm, it’s delicious.

“You like sweets, right?”

“I do like them.”

He smiled awkwardly, buttoning his uniform.

“Anyway, if you need an awakened individual like me, it must be a combat role. It must be quite a dangerous mission. May I ask why the National Intelligence Service is looking for me?”

Jin-young Kang gestured with her chin.

“Will you do it?”

“Who wouldn’t if you’re offering a discharge? Every man and woman in their 20s in South Korea would.”

Jin-young Kang clasped her hands together.

“I’m also called the Magician of Namsan.”

“The Magician of Namsan.”

They say water knows the answer.

It’s an unnecessarily creepy nickname.

“Shall we test your character first?”

Her eyes glowed blue.

She was using a skill. Messages kept popping up.

[Essence Grasp Lv.9]

[Exploration Lv.6]

[Memory Search Lv. Max]

“Is this normal?”

“Hmm? Nothing’s happening? No dizziness or anything?”

“No.”

“What the-“

Thud.

Jin-young Kang’s words stopped.

[Unidentified target detected.]

[Deploying ‘Mental Barrier’.]

Crackling.

Sparks flew violently on the table.

Jin-young Kang’s eyes widened, and she stumbled backward.

She fell over as her chair spun.

Crash!

Jin-young Kang clutched her head.

She should be angry, but she grinned like a madman who had seen something amazing.

“Mental Barrier?”

Seong-han Lee was also bewildered.

When did I acquire such a trait?

“You have all the good abilities because you’re a male awakened individual? This is tempting.”

Gulp.

A thick swallowing sound was heard.

“Join the NIS.”

He firmly refused.

Absolutely not.

Seong-han Lee expressed ‘negation’ with his whole body.

“No. Absolutely NEVER! I refuse. The work-life balance is bad there, isn’t it?”

“Hey. The work-life balance is good~”

“Huh”

Seong-han Lee was appalled.

But Seong-han Lee is an indomitable man.

If it’s for his discharge?

He’s confident he can make a deal with the devil.

He crumpled the paper cup he had finished drinking from.

“I’ll try what you mentioned.”

“Even the National Intelligence Service?!”

Jin-young Kang’s face lit up.

They say you can’t spit in a smiling face, so I couldn’t be too sure.

“Let me think about it a little more.”

“Are you refusing?”

“If the conditions are good, I’ll go. If not, I won’t.”

“What a shame! What a shame~ I needed a few new recruits, but oh well. There will be other opportunities, right?”

“Probably.”

Jin-young Kang took out a document from her briefcase.

“Take it.”

It was a kind of contract.

A well-formatted one.

The kind of document that association people would often use.

“Huh, you’re giving me something interesting.”

“It’s familiar, so it’s easy to read, right?”

“Because it’s a format I see all the time.”

Hunter standard employment contract.

Seong-han Lee quietly read it with his eyes.

A moment of silence.

“It’s a typical gate raid.”

“That’s right. A gate raid.”

“Being discharged for such an easy mission.”

“There are signs of it being released.”

Released.

Also known as a wave.

It refers to the phenomenon where a gate becomes full of monsters and they are released to the outside.

The manifestation of a gate can happen anywhere, so it’s natural to eliminate the threat. The 10th Bureau, where that woman belongs, is in charge of such things.

Seong-han Lee leaned back on the chair.

Then he answered leisurely.

“There’s a limit to bullshit. Do I look like a fool to you?”

“Hahaha!”

It’s such an easy task?

It doesn’t make sense.

Anyone would think it’s a rigged game.

Speaking is easy, but putting it into writing is difficult.

The monster grade is E-F.

The scale is also small.

It can be easily subjugated even by non-awakened freelance hunters.

It’s like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. A national organization wouldn’t do something so inefficient. If they were in their right minds.

His eyes sharpened.

“It’s not a typical raid. Right?”

Jin-young Kang responded with a look that said, ‘You’re sharp.’

Then she said one thing.

“We’re going into the tower.”

“The tower. Wait, you can enter the tower?! I heard there was no way to enter with modern technology. You can’t even destroy it with nuclear missiles, right?! That’s how the North Koreans failed. Sigh.”

“That’s right. It’s still the same.”

Seong-han Lee clicked his tongue.

Then how are we supposed to enter?

“We enter with a skill.”

“A skill?”

“The tower is the source of monsters and the system. It’s natural that it applies.”

The Gray Tower.

An unidentified structure that appeared in the capitals of the world one day.

Since then, the number of awakened individuals has surged.

The problem is, it’s been 30 years since the Gray Tower appeared.

Nothing has happened.

Several countries have collapsed and been eroded in the meantime.

But nothing has changed in 30 years.

“Now, now, our contract is the complete conquest of the tower. Complete extermination!”

“Is it dangerous?”

“When a country is in turmoil, crazy people thrive. Conversely, it means you have to be crazy to survive, right?”

Jin-young Kang elegantly crossed her legs.

“But I don’t want a lot of crazy people.”

“Because they’re hard to manage?”

“Correct.”

I knew it.

There was a reason for this.

“This is top secret. You know?”

“Like in the movies.”

“That’s right. If you leak it, you’ll be fish food in the East Sea?”

“I don’t want to die in uniform either. I’d like to be dishonorably discharged, but the country won’t let me.”

He signed the contract and tossed it.

He’s tired of dragging it out.

“Oh my, you’re so bold for a man.”

“Is there a problem?”

“No. No~ Hmm.”

Seong-han Lee stroked his neck.

He doesn’t want to fall.

Socially or realistically.

Especially not in uniform!

I’d rather desert.

“Hmm!”

Jin-young Kang reconfirmed the contract and reached out to Seong-han Lee.

As if to shake hands.

“Well then, shall we go?”

Huh?

Shake hands?

Seong-han Lee was dumbfounded.

“It must be the method of entry.”

“…Your reasoning is extraordinary.”

“Of course.”

****

“Huh? Why are you calling? Is it something urgent that you had to call? Send it by document. I’m busy right now.”

Typing.

“You’re recommending someone for this raid? Awakened. Active duty. Re-enlisted.”

The keyboard was rapidly pressed and released.

Jin-young Kang stared at the monitor with a tired look.

Her sister.

Of all people, her sister contacted her.

Jin-young Kang felt that something was unusual.

It’s been decades since their relationship fell apart.

Although they didn’t show it to others, they were like sworn enemies.

She expertly entered the name and various personal information on the keyboard.

Then a document appeared on the monitor.

It was the same document that was on Jin-young Kang’s table.

“Sister, I know that person too.”

…….

“Of course, I can add him if you want. On the condition that I accompany him.”

-……-

“What, stop talking nonsense? If you don’t like it, quit. I don’t have a replacement, but I can change personnel to this extent.”

…………..

Click.

Jin-young Kang’s face brightened after ending the call.

“Calm down. Calm down. I need to handle this calmly.”

It’s hard to manage my expression.

Why?

I don’t know.

I’m just excited.

She had been eyeing him since the past. Even long before Mi-young Kang. He had to be hers. Not her sister’s.

Talented.

Handsome.

And a good person?

I have to take him before anyone else does. Before other bugs get to him.

“Uh, uh, uh. What should I say? I have to make a proper connection this time. I can’t let it just pass by like last time.”

Jin-young Kang held up the personal document.

The dark office seemed to brighten in an instant.

Seong-han Lee.

Jin-young Kang carefully took out the photo obtained through a request to the intelligence department.

She carefully held it in her arms.

Carefully, so as not to wrinkle it.

“Ah, it’s the best~”

Her voice trembled intermittently.

“This time, I will definitely.”

[Favorability level has increased.]

[You have acquired the trait ‘Mental Barrier’ possessed by ‘Jin-young Kang’!]

“I will definitely have him.”

If you’re a strong woman, shouldn’t you have the best man?

Jin-young Kang thought so too.

****

[South Korea’s Gray Tower]

“Ugh… my head.”

Seong-han Lee slowly opened his eyes, touching his head.

Looking around.

It was a place like a building’s waiting room.

No. An interview room?

That’s it.

“You’re awake.”

“Is the teleportation process always like this?”

“Of course.”

Seong-han Lee patted his stiff back.

Jin-young Kang, who pushed her messy bangs aside, slightly raised the corners of her mouth.

She was lying on the floor, unable to get up.

“Can you help me up?”

“Are you okay?”

“It’s hard to get up on my own. I think I hurt my back. Ugh.”

She reached out both arms to Seong-han Lee.

“That’s enough joking.”

Thud.

Someone intercepted Jin-young Kang’s hand.

It was Mi-young Kang.

The Iron-blooded Empress.

The top superstar of South Korea and an S-rank hunter.

Why is that cold-hearted woman here?

“You’re still the same. Your eccentric behaviour.”

“As if you’re any different.”

Jin-young Kang buttoned up her loosened suit jacket after being helped up.

“Why don’t you stop being so tiring?”

“The more effort you put in, the safer the environment you can operate in. You’re deceiving people with optimistic words again. Your taste is also strange. I have to acknowledge your eye for people. I’m definitely not giving him to you this time.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

An unidentified battle of wills.

Seong-han Lee felt like a shrimp caught in a whale fight.

“Ah, attention.”

“Attention!”

When he stood at attention and saluted, the woman turned her head.

“It seems you responded to my recommendation. I’m grateful, but I showed an embarrassing side. I apologize.”

Mi-young Kang.

The madwoman who tried to drag him into the Hunter Management Bureau.

She was right in front of him.

In her combat uniform.

“This is my younger sister. Her name is Jin-young Kang. I’m introducing her because we collaborated with the National Intelligence Service for your recruitment and tower raid. We’re short on talent these days.”

“I, uh, I’m leaving”

It’s important to speak your mind at times like this.

“You could come in as you pleased, but you can’t leave.”

“Ah.”

f*ck!!

I’ve been tricked!!

This one was also on Mi-young Kang’s side!