Chapter 32 - Chapter 32 (1/2)

Part 4. Rank B Kahng Tae-Sik

Kahng Tae-Sik felt like someone had hit him in the back of his head.

A b*stard that displayed the movement equal to his own speed, which was unmatched within the rank B, introduced himself as a measly rank E just now.

'Is he trying to make fun of me?'

Kahng Tae-Sik gnashed his teeth.

'No, hang on....'

Indeed, there was something odd here.

'If he's really a high-rank Hunter, there is no reason for him to be here, isn't it?'

The jobs these bottom-feeder Association Hunters did were quite obvious. Their main role was to clear those Gates that Guilds and freelancers gave up on because of their low monetary values.

Their earnings were pathetically small compared to other Hunters, and they were not widely acknowledged by other Hunters, either. In other words, there was a very good chance that this b*stard really was an E-rank.

Only that, his abilities were anything but.

'Still, a fake registrant wouldn't brazenly work under the Association like this, so...'

Kahng Tae-Sik eventually arrived at the only logical conclusion.

'….He's a Re-Awakened.'

When he thought about it, he remembered the upper echelons of the Association getting a bit noisier with a rumour of someone going through a Re-Awakening somewhere nearby this location.

'And, that person was supposedly a Hunter affiliated with the Association....'

He should've memorised that name back then.

As that matter happened only a couple of weeks ago, if this b*stard had been delaying getting a re-assignment test for some reason until now, it was very much possible for him to remain as an E-rank and assist the Association with their work.

Who could've guessed that such a guy would show up today?

Kahng Tae-Sik had made sure to perform thorough background checks on the Hunters participating in today's raid, but he had missed the existence of this one.

'I really have terrible luck, don't I?'

That's the only conclusion he could arrive at.

'I should've asked for more money, if things turned out this way....'

Kahng Tae-Sik recalled the events of a few days ago while licking his dried lips.

***

A few days ago....

A cafe near the headquarters of the Association.

Kahng Tae-Sik asked the moment he settled down in his seat.

"What business do you have with me?"

The middle-aged man sitting his opposite side seemed rather haggard for some reason.

'He said that he's an owner of some company, didn't he?'

Kahng Tae-Sik definitely did not know who this man was. However, he still decided to free up some time after this man continued to call him on the phone, sounding quite desperate and all.

The middle-aged man muttered as if he was speaking to himself.

"I've heard that no one knows what happens exactly inside dungeons."

The man's voice was so soft that Kahng Tae-Sik had to ask again.

"What did you say?"

"This is every cent I have in my name.'

The man suddenly presented his bank account book.

Kahng Tae-Sik alternated his gaze between the book and the man's face, before confirming the bank balance printed on the book's pages.

There was a substantial amount of ₩2,000,000,000 printed there.

"And why are you showing me this?"

When Kahng Tae-Sik formed a questioning expression, the middle-aged man's head dropped lower.

"Among the criminals you're in charge of, there is one who had hurt my little girl. Because of that, she took her own life, and my wife is still in the hospital from the shock."

The middle-aged man's voice became tearful.

"Yet, such a b*stard will be able to roam the streets again in a few years' time.... You think I'll be able to rest easy knowing that?"

The man raised his sorrow and rage-filled face.

"I'm sure you can already tell what I'm implying here."

The man lowered his head again.

"I beg of you, Hunter-nim!!"

A deafening silence descended between these two men.

Kahng Tae-Sik leaned against the back of his chair and fell into a deep contemplation.

Only after a long while passed by did he open his mouth again.

"Can you guess why I chose to work for the Association's Monitoring Division?"

"Pardon me?"

The middle-aged man raised his head.

Kahng Tae-Sik explained himself.

"As a B-rank Hunter, I'm considered as one of the higher ranked Hunters. Large Guilds continue to send their scouting offers in my direction all the time. Yet, can you guess why I persist in doing this job while getting a pittance in return?"

"I... I don't know."

The corners of Kahng Tae-Sik's lips arched up.

"You see, I... I find it more enjoyable to fight against people rather than monsters."

In that sense, the Monitoring Division was like the heaven-sent job for Kahng Tae-Sik.

Well, he could beat up other Hunters in the name of the law, after all. And he'd end up killing one or two due to unavoidable circumstances, too.

'Due to unavoidable circumstances..... Eh.'

Kahng Tae-Sik inwardly smiled and spoke.

"Stepping on that insect you told me about isn't going to be difficult at all. However, there will be other Hunters inside the dungeon besides the insect, as well. I might view that b*stard as an insect, but will other Hunters think that way, I wonder?"

The middle-aged man formed a disappointed expression after hearing Kahng Tae-Sik's rather pessimistic-sounding words.

And here he was, thinking that he'd finally get to avenge the death of his little girl. It felt like the heavens were crashing down on top of him.

However, Kahng Tae-Sik formed a sinister smile as if to mock the other man.

"This money, plus one billion Won on top of that, to deal with the other Hunters as well. Can you do it?"

***

However, if a Re-Awakened Hunter was among those 'other Hunters', then the amount of 3 billion Won was not quite enough. Well, his own life was on the line, after all.

The self-proclaimed rank E Hunter was still emitting a sharp, observant air even now. He looked as if he'd seize any slight opening there was.

Kahng Tae-Sik swallowed his saliva.

'I can't take him lightly.'

Kahng Tae-Sik was confident of winning here. He had never lost a single one-on-one fight even before he underwent the Awakening process.

However, even though he could win, it would not be an easy victory at all.

Right now, he had to revise his plans ever so slightly.

With a nice timing, the rank E Hunters asked a question.

"Those convicts... Why did you kill them?"

"The father of a girl who was raped by those b*stards came to ask me for the favour. Those b*stards were animals worthy of getting killed. And I simply took care of animals that hurt other people, that was all."

The rank E Hunter was listening without saying anything. It seemed quite likely that talking might work here. Kahng Tae-Sik went straight to persuading the other man.

"Although the matter had come down to this, I don't wish to hurt you. How about ignoring today's matter altogether? As long as we make this deal here, I promise I won't try anything to you and your group."