Chapter 41: It’s fun to destroy things

Hours later.

The lowest level of the Hunter Association.

“Ugh, I’m more nervous.”

“Me too.”

“Everyone… have some coffee.”

Baek Minho demurely accepted the coffee.

“Oh, thank you. Your heart is as beautiful as your coffee tastes.”

“Oh, stop it.”

“Th, thank you.”

The upper floor of the practical exam site.

Baek Minho, who was in charge of the practical exam, leaned against the outer railing.

The lights coming up from below.

The artificial structures made the exterior view even more spectacular.

“The coffee is sweet. Hmm. Is this the taste of money?”

He took a sip of the instant coffee and observed the situation.

Lee Okbun and Lieutenant Min were having a cynical conversation to pass the time.

He had been asked by both sides – Kang Miyoung and Kang Jinyoung – to take good care of him. He couldn’t take it lightly.

The others are similar.

They were chatting amongst themselves in neat uniforms. He didn’t need to worry. It’s a common occurrence here.

He thought it would be okay to get acquainted with foreign buyers and guild recruiters.

“Oh, hello. Yes, yes.”

Baek Minho put on a thick skin and greeted the officials.

“I’m Cha Jiseon, the deputy director. I’m from the Kangcheon Group’s Special R&D department.”

Baek Minho’s expression hardened.

This official was a woman.

Where was she from again?

Kangcheon. Yes, it was Kangcheon.

There was no particular reason why Baek Minho was surprised.

It was because the official was very young. At first, he thought someone had brought their child. The more he listened to the conversation, the more his mind froze.

‘A non-Awakener. An executive?’

Kangcheon.

A leading conglomerate that has never missed the top spot in the Korean business world.

Companies also hire hunters and run guilds. It’s natural for them to be here. Although they have less name value than the four major guilds, they were a rapidly growing new powerhouse.

‘Their goal… it’s 100%, no, 1000%. That guy.’

Lee Sunghan.

It must be him they’re after.

They shook hands lightly.

“Where are you from?”

Cha Jiseon asked.

Her voice was cold.

She was shorter than the small him. But her presence and attitude were like those of an old-timer in her fifties.

An indifferent and cold expression.

Baek Minho was gradually pushed back.

“Ah, I’m healer Baek Minho. I’m a military liaison officer, and I’m in charge of this practical exam.”

“You won’t be the only one judging.”

“That’s right. This is Lieutenant Min, who came with me.”

Lieutenant Min, who was eating snacks, hurriedly ran forward. It’s good to get your face known beforehand since he’s an examiner.

“N-nice to meet you!!”

His voice was loud, but he was trembling all over as if he were nervous.

Baek Minho pointed to the next person.

This time, it was Kang Jinyoung’s side.

“Uh, this person with orange hair is Lee Okbun from the 10th Bureau of the National Intelligence Service. She’s in charge of on-site management for the exam.”

“It’s nice to meet you…”

Lee Okbun was gloomy. As if she wasn’t the person she was expecting.

Bow.

She goes back to her seat.

The introductions were roughly like this.

As the elder, Baek Minho took the first step to maintain his dignity.

“By the way, it’s a surprise that Kangcheon is here. You wouldn’t have trouble finding talent on your own. Is there something big that Kangcheon Group is directly involved in?”

“Yes.”

A short, curt reply came back.

“If you need information on manpower, there are also places like the Military Intelligence Agency and the Military Manpower Administration, right?”

“Seongpung and Hyunjin are advancing in the field of magic stones. I heard they have secured some exclusive gates. We also need talent.”

“Ah.”

“According to internal informants, the talent that’s coming out this time solved a major incident.”

Seongpung.

Hyunjin.

They are both eternal second-placers who are aiming for Kangcheon’s top spot.

The officials behind him cleared their throats and avoided the topic. It must be uncomfortable to aim for the top spot.

“Ah, I see. I know that guy well too.”

“Do you have a separate sponsor? Or anything related to a contract.”

“There’s nothing like that.”

Kangcheon is moving.

I’m screwed.

Well, even if it’s a well-known guy, it’s reality to be taken by a smart and rich tycoon.

Those guys have the most bullets.

There are three scariest things in a gambling den.

1. An unpredictable madman.

2. A smart guy with a lot of bullets.

3. A guy with murderous intent.

And there are guys who are even worse than these.

‘The guy who sets up the game. The person who deals the cards can’t decide anything. The person who counts the cards controls everything.’

Fighting Kangcheon means facing these three guys at the same time.

Baek Minho smiled bitterly. It’s a failure. He has to back out this time. Because he’s a person who he can communicate with to some extent.

If you touch Kangcheon? Even if three generations are exterminated, people on the internet will say, “Well, it was bound to happen.”

Ugh, Amy. After this is over, I should go to a mojito and drink a Maldives.

Baek Minho finished the conversation after a few more exchanges and quickly left.

“…We haven’t been able to properly catch him yet.”

Cha Jiseon ruminated over the conversation.

She turned her gaze to the electronic display.

Several people’s personal information and documents were flipping through.

About 5 seconds.

It was a short amount of time, but Cha Jiseon’s eyes were on fire. After a few flips.

Right now!

“Stop.”

“Understood.”

The aide stopped the electronic display.

A rare male hunter. Although it’s still classified, there are rumors that he has obtained an EX-rank trait and even awakened a second time.

[Lee Sunghan, F-rank Hunter]

That was the name she revealed to the audience.

“The sisters, ahem, didn’t touch him for no reason. They said they couldn’t control him or something.”

Cha Jiseon smiled faintly as she looked at the picture.

****

-Yes, yes, everyone please take your seats. These are the first applicants for the second day. Congratulations. Wow.

Lee Okbun quietly clapped her hands on the steel podium. Her emotionless face stood out.

No, as if she was annoyed at this place.

Where she is is the basement of the Hunter Association. It was an artificial cave.

Under the stage, a broadcasting crew was unpacking their equipment, and in front of the stage, there were white plastic chairs lined up like you would see at a convenience store.

It had a cozy atmosphere like a high school festival – in other words, it was shitty!

Lee Sunghan quietly spoke.

“It’s very…”

“Dreary, right?”

“Yes.”

I know that. My eyes aren’t just for show. Kang Jinyoung said, with her arms crossed.

Two dark templars were attached to her as if they were about to become a dark archon.

“By the way, Sunghan.”

“Yes.”

“Are you afraid of women by any chance?”

Suddenly?

Hmm. He’s never been afraid of women.

“Hmm.”

“Why are you thinking so hard?”

Kang Jinyoung had a serious expression, then.

Ah, hello… This is Lee Okbun from the Civilian Cooperation Department of the D-Agency… I’m here today to oversee the promotion exam.

Lee Okbun began to explain in a monotone voice.

First.

Lee Okbun, who was about to continue, stopped.

From afar, her superior was staring at her intently.

A murderous look.

If it just ended with a look, it would be fine… but her superior is the type to act on her words.

‘Do it properly. If you don’t want to die.’

She mouthed the words.

‘For real.’

She even said it twice to make sure she remembered.

Two times!

If she said, “Screw it!” and maintained a low tension here?

It might be comfortable for now, but when she returned to headquarters, she would have to get friendly with the water in the basement of Namsan.

“Hey.”

“Yessir!”

“Hey.”

“Yessir!!”

“Heads down.”

“Yes, sir!!”

“What are you? You’re acting all friendly now that I’ve been nice to you. Are you going to open up to the Chinese with a xie xie~ ni hao? Are you a spy?”

“…….”

Bang!

“Who told you to say your name?! You’re an idiot. Got it? A f*cking corporal. Idiot. Now, repeat! What are you?”

“A corporal idiot, sir!!”

“Good.”

It’s not for nothing that she’s called the magician of Namsan.

She cleared her throat and raised her tension.

Even now, it’s a pain in the ass.

But it’s 100 times better than actually dying.

“Ahem, ahem! Now! Everyone, please look this way! The monsters here are currently-“

Kang Jinyoung smiled brightly.

They can’t mess up the first practical exam.

The situation explanation is over.

Now, all that’s left is the practical and the interview.

Lee Sunghan sat in a transport container.

It was a little smaller than a regular container, and inside, there were benches and various supplies for three or four people.

The practical exam site was separated by barriers, so they had to be moved using heavy machinery. It was a pretty decent mode of transportation.

A broadcast could be heard from afar.

-Please board according to your assigned groups.

For the practical exam, you move in groups. It’s impossible to take it alone. You have to form a party because it’s safer inside the gate.

“H-hey?”

The interior was dark.

Because the lights weren’t on yet.

But there was no need to turn on the lights.

The Kang sisters were glaring at each other, ready to kill. They sat facing each other on the benches.

They were talking with only their eyes, without any conversation.

‘Stop talking nonsense and answer properly. What kind of monsters are in this training?’

‘I can’t tell you that much. Fairness is an important factor.’

‘Fairness, my ass. You’re just being difficult. You talk too much.’

‘Even if I didn’t interfere, it was practically a pass. It was a given. You’re overreacting.’

‘A given?’

Lee Sunghan was startled but soon relaxed.

Ugh, it’s like eco-friendly lighting.

Tsk.

If they keep bickering like that, there must be at least one fighting chicken in their family.

Blue.

Red.

They’re like spiritual rivals.

The Democratic Party and the Republican Party.

The Blue-Eyes White Dragon and the Red-Eyes Black Dragon.

The Democratic-

[‘Block’ says political topics are absolutely! Absolutely! Not allowed.]

“What.”

If that’s the case, isn’t it a problem that the Democratic and Republican parties were mentioned in the first place?

While Lee Sunghan was tilting his head.

The sisters changed their faces as if switching masks and glared at Lee Sunghan.

“Did you come? You. Nothing happened.”

“We’re participating as supervisors this time~ Isn’t it great?! We’ll be marking you closely, so be prepared, okay?”

“I, of course. I’m so happy I could laugh.”

The sisters nodded as if that was a good answer.

Then, footsteps could be heard from afar.

They must be the hunters who will be boarding with them. Lee Sunghan was about to look back with anticipation.

“Ugh, sister, please don’t do this.”

“Shut up, you f*cking baggage with a d*ck.”

“Ugh.”

Standing at the container door were a heavily armored golden-tanned man and a slender man wearing scraps of cloth.

The golden-tanned man was putting his arm into the sky… and doing something.

He didn’t really want to know what it was. Lee Sunghan avoided his gaze.

The blue badge on their chests, they’re from the Blue Dragon guild again.

Especially that face.

Isn’t that the woman who was harassing him at the entrance when he was registering? It was a fact that made Lee Sunghan feel a sense of rejection.

To the point where he wanted to kill her. But he held back. It would obviously have a negative impact on the evaluation.

Especially if he did something like this, he would be kicked out of the military. He wants to avoid dishonorable discharge, but Awakeners don’t have that option.

“Y-you, you!”

The golden-tanned man pointed at him in surprise.

Lee Sunghan looked at the Kang sisters.

‘Can I beat them up?’

‘Do it.’

‘Yes.’

They both nodded.