Chapter 92 - Chapter 92 (1/2)

Woo Jin-Cheol was the first to react.

While everyone else was busy eyeing others around them, he quickly walked right up to Jin-Woo's side, pulled out his identification card and displayed it proudly for all to see.

"We're from the Association's Monitoring Division."

Didn't matter whether you were a high ranked Hunter or a low ranked one, you'd inevitably tense up after hearing the name of the Monitoring Division. And this tactic was the right one.

It was only for a brief moment, but a hint of nervousness flashed past the expressions of the Hunters Guild members, with the sole exception of Cha Hae-In.

Woo Jin-Cheol seized upon this chance and carried on with what he wanted to say.

"The identity of Seong Jin-Woo Hunter-nim is being strictly guarded by the Association. It is highly classified information that cannot be revealed publicly."

Jin-Woo could only stand back in dumbfounded admiration at Woo Jin-Cheol's skilful bullsh*tting.

Heck, his expression and words looked and sounded so natural that one couldn't help but wonder if he practised it every morning while looking in the mirror or some such.

Whatever the case may be, his intentions definitely got through to the other party. At the same time, Woo Jin-Cheol sent the slightest hint of a signal to Jin-Woo with his eyes.

'We will assist you with avoiding unnecessary fuss when exiting from this place.'

Jin-Woo had no idea why the Monitoring Division were helping him, but since they were volunteering to take care of the aftermath, was there a reason for him to refuse now?

Jin-Woo nodded his head.

That's what he wanted, anyway.

The quick-witted subordinates of Woo Jin-Cheol quickly surrounded Jin-Woo like bodyguards.

"If you have any questions, please send them to the Association. We shall escort Seong Jin-Woo Hunter now."

Not-so-subtle implication of 'We won't hear any of your objections' was apparent in his voice.

All thanks to Woo Jin-Cheol's hardened attitude, hard enough to shatter a rock even, the members of the Hunters Guild had no choice but to rein in their questions and stay silent.

"Shall we go?"

While being escorted by the agents of the Monitoring Division, Jin-Woo walked past the Hunters.

'Well, I am grateful, but....'

Something felt a bit odd, just then. Why did Chief Woo Jin-Cheol do something no one asked him to do in the first place? Once they got to a sufficient distance away from the members of the Hunters Guild, Jin-Woo quietly asked.

"Why are you doing this all of a sudden?"

"By any chance, are you thinking of signing up with the Hunters Guild?"

Jin-Woo shook his head. As if he knew that such an answer was coming already, Woo Jin-Cheol quickly made his reply.

"What you did just now was to display the kind of power that exceeds rank S classification in front of the employees working for the largest, wealthiest Guild in South Korea. If you wish to avoid annoying matters in the near future, this method is the best one."

Indeed, he was right.

No one could tell just what lengths the wealthy Hunters Guild might go to secure another rank S Hunter. Other Hunters would raise their hands and welcome that, but Jin-Woo was different.

It was the same story for the Hunter's Association, too.

And so, the interests of both the Association, trying to prevent the concentration of too much power to one specific Guild, and Jin-Woo's, who found the hindrance (?) of the Guilds annoying, lined up rather nicely.

Since this wasn't one-sided goodwill coming from the other party but something that would help both sides, Jin-Woo didn't feel uncomfortable by the current situation at all.

'Well, things have become more convenient thanks to the Association.'

Because this matter had been resolved quite nicely in an unexpected manner, Jin-Woo could afford to float a thin, nearly-imperceptible smile on his lips.

But, as they were about to exit from the boss room for good....

"H-hold on!!"

An urgent call came from behind the group.

Unintentionally looking back, Jin-Woo spotted Sohn Ki-Hoon approaching them while being supported by his big-framed colleague. All of his external wounds had been healed perfectly, but his complexion remained pale as he had lost a lot of blood.

'It'd be better for him to not move yet, though.'

Despite Jin-Woo's worries, Sohn Ki-Hoon managed to stand before him. He then bowed deeply.

"Thank you."

And he began speaking up his mind without holding anything back.

"Thanks to you, we are all still alive. On behalf of the raid team, I'd like to thank you."

If one believed the words of the Monitoring Division's Hunters, then this young man seemed to be burdened by some kind of circumstances preventing him from revealing himself.

'With that kind of power, it'd not be too strange if he does have some kind of an unspeakable circumstance.'

However....

He risked his identity being revealed to aid Sohn Ki-Hoon and the rest of the raid team. But, was that all? He didn't even ask for any compensation, either.

He could've easily requested the Hunters Guild for the corpses of the monsters or for the cost of saving the lives of the raid team, but he backed off without saying a thing.

So, how could he not bow down to this young man?

"....Thank you very much!"

His emotions now getting raw, Sohn Ki-Hoon bent his back forward 90 degrees once more. That sudden movement caused his aching body to scream out in pain, but he actually found that rather welcoming.

His heart had welled up with emotions when he saw Jin-Woo kill the monster in the exact same fashion as how he had been toyed around with before. Thinking back to that moment was enough for him to thank this young man a countless number of times.

The Hunters of the raid team saw their leader bow down to express his gratitude and finally snapped out of their stupor.

'If it wasn't for that man....'

'He's our saviour, isn't he?'

'In that case, I shouldn't be standing around like this in a daze.'

They scrambled to get closer and bowed their heads as well.

"Thank you, Mister Port.... No, I mean, Hunter-nim."

"If it wasn't for you, we....."

"Thanks to you, my wife won't become a widow now."

A young male Hunter who showed off his shaking hands back when Sohn Ki-Hoon decided to give up on raiding this dungeon, approached Jin-Woo with a tearful face.

"Excuse me, Hunter-nim.... It's because I'm really grateful so, like, can I hug you just this once?"

"Eiii, that's too much, dude."

"He's starting again. Someone stop him."

"Well, why don't you hug me instead, then??"

Hug.

"Euh-heok?! You're giving me the creeps, so let go of me!!"

Wahahahahaha.....

For the first time ever since entering this particular rank A dungeon, the members of the raid team got to laugh to their heart's content.

Jin-Woo stared at these Hunters, feeling content inside. He didn't help them out for their flattery or for their praises, but their genuine thanks did automatically bring about a warm smile to his lips.

"....Ah."

Jin-Woo walked over to the female Hunter jumping up and down by the corner.

'Because she's so small, I nearly failed to spot her.'

When he pushed forward the memo she gave to him earlier, the female Healer blushed and received it with both of her hands.

"T-thank you...."

Inwardly, though, she was admonishing herself.

'Ah-whew. Why did I even say those embarrassing things to him back then?'

She now had one more reason to kick her sheets before going to bed if and when she ended up remembering today's event in the future.

From the perspective of Mister Porter who could easily punch the dungeon boss to death, she must've looked really funny when she handed over a memo while saying it contained her final will.

She slightly raised her head and found that, thankfully enough, he wasn't sneering at her. No, actually – he began speaking to her in a bit of strict voice.

"Miss Healer."

"Y-yes?"

The female Healer straightened her posture right away like a student being reprimanded for her sloppy behaviour.

"From today onwards, please refrain from placing your personal articles inside the raid team's luggage. It only serves to increase the volume."

"....Pardon me??"

The female Healer became utterly speechless, her eyes opening up to form round buttons. Jin-Woo grinned in satisfaction.

He said all he wanted to say. And it seemed that the other party had pretty much said everything in her mind, too. So, putting the dazed female Healer behind him, he coolly turned around to leave.

"Let's go."

As soon as Jin-Woo began walking, the agents of the Monitoring Division moved together in one unit as if they had been rehearsing it.

There was one exception, though.

'Ah...'

Only Cha Hae-In had failed to say something to Jin-Woo and she tried to reach out to him, but gave up in the end.

'I wanted to ask him for his contact numbers....'

All she wanted was to ask him if he could find some time to talk to her. However, she might be misunderstood if she asked him that now, what with the current situation not being settled yet.

It was then.

A female Hunter walked over to Cha Hae-In.

"Excuse me.... Vice Chair?"

"Yes?"

When Cha Hae-In turned around to look, the female Hunter pointed to her hand.

"Why are you carrying a pickaxe?"

Cha Hae-In's gaze drifted towards the head of the pickaxe and her face began blushing rather quickly. She hurriedly lowered the pickaxe and cautiously asked.

"You think he found me weird?"

The female Hunter, a mage, tilted her head and asked back.

"Who did?"

And that caused not just Cha Hae-In's face, but even her neck to blush in the deep shade of crimson.

*

When they came out of the Gate...

Woo Jin-Cheol took a look at his wristwatch and asked Jin-Woo.

"We're planning to return to the Association but, well.... If it's okay with you, why don't you ride along with us and join the Association President for dinner?"

"What time is it now?"

"It's quarter past five. PM."

'Mm....'

Although he was cutting it close, he should be able to arrive at the promised location in time.

Jin-Woo politely rejected Woo Jin-Cheol's invitation.

"I'm sorry. I've already made a prior engagement."

***

Shu, shu, fuu, fuu....

Yu Jin-Ho did his very best to maintain his calm by breathing in deeply several times, just like how he saw it in one of the movies.

'My fated hour is approaching.'

Indeed, hyung-nim's choice would decide Yu Jin-Ho's fate.

His heart was palpitating faster, and he felt even more nervous compared to a few days ago when he was negotiating with his father for the right to become the Yujin Guild Master.

'Let's go back to my original purpose. My original purpose....'

It was no coincidence that he chose the exact same cafe as the first time he met hyung-nim back when to propose his plan.

'Without hyung-nim's help, I wouldn't even be here right now.'

He began looking around the interior of the cafe while thinking as such, and he was able to see this place in a new light. Quite coincidentally, the table he chose was the exact same one as the last time, too.

Ringgg....

Along with the doorbell, Jin-Woo entered the cafe.

"Hyung-nim!"

Yu Jin-Ho discovered Jin-Woo and shot up from his seat with a welcoming smile on his face. He bowed down as his greeting. Jin-Woo performed a simple little greeting with a nod and settled down on the opposite side of Yu Jin-Ho. The latter sat down after that.

"So, what did you call me here for?"

Yu Jin-Ho raised his head, only for his eyes to widen.

"H-hyung-nim, your clothes.....?"

"Oh, this?"

Jin-Woo came running here right after killing the High Orcs so his clothing was understandably dirty. His shirt even sported bloodstains from the dying High Orcs, too. He spoke as if there was nothing to worry about.

"I was coming straight from a dungeon, that's why."

'Heok!'

Yu Jin-Ho was taken by surprise once more.

He was nothing compared to someone like hyung-nim; after getting his Guild Master licence, all Yu Jin-Ho did was to waste time by drinking and partying. But, what did hyung-nim do in the meantime? He possessed incredible power, yet he still found time to enter dungeons to further hone his crafts.

Suddenly, Yu Jin-Ho felt ashamed of himself.

'As expected of hyung-nim....'

And at the same time, he held hyung-nim in an even higher reverence now.

The reason why hyung-nim didn't bother to wipe away the blood on his clothes was probably because he was confident and forthright enough not to feel the need to hide his training process.

'Well, the evidence of battle would be more like a medal of honour that he earned through his own two hands, after all.'

Yu Jin-Ho's expression hardened. He was ready to follow hyung-nim's decision, regardless of which direction he'd take.

So, he should come clean and don't hold anything back.

"Hyung-nim, actually...."

Yu Jin-Ho didn't leave anything out and reported everything that happened during the negotiation with his father to Jin-Woo – even the event of Goh Myoung-Hwan's testimony revealing the truth of who saved the Hunters of the White Tiger Guild from the Red Gate incident, too.

'That uncle, doing something unnecessary....'

Still, that man did that for Jin-Woo's benefit, so he couldn't get angry at that.

Perhaps that was the reason for Yu Jin-Ho's expression to be a bit more glowing than usual when he was talking about the Red Gate incident.

In any case....

Jin-Woo knew what Yu Jin-Ho was trying to say here.

"So, in order for you to become the Yujin Guild's new Master, you need my help, is that about right?"

Finishing all he had to say, Yu Jin-Ho calmly waited for Jin-Woo's reply. He didn't grow restless or try to sweet talk like how he would do normally.

'Well, I'm talking to hyung-nim here, after all.'

Yu Jin-Ho was definitely thinking of leaving everything to hyung-nim's decision.

Remaining silent as long as Yu Jin-Ho's worries were deep, Jin-Woo finally raised his gaze.

"Hey, Jin-Ho. I am...."

Gulp.

Yu Jin-Ho swallowed his drying saliva.

***

The Chairman of the Hunters Guild Choi Jong-In received a certain call. After answering that, he abandoned what he was doing, entered his private chamber, and began shouting out loudly at the phone.

"What was that?! Seong Jin-Woo was present during our raids yesterday and today?!"

The newly-appeared rank S Hunter, Seong Jin-Woo.

Such a man decided to present himself right before Choi Jong-In's own Guild, yet why did he fail to even notice that?! It was the same thing as kicking away the golden goose willing to enter his house.

It was enough to make him tear his hair out, but...

"Whaaat?! He was working for the mining team yesterday, and today, he was carrying luggage?!"

….After hearing that revelation, it did make sense for him to not know.

'Okay, for the time being, let's not worry about why he did what he did....'

He got this feeling that sweating over that mystery would only give him a case of a migraine and no tangible answer to chew on. Besides, that wasn't important at all.

'After White Tiger, us Hunters also owe that man now.'

Indeed, they were indebted to Seong Jin-Woo.

Choi Jong-In wished to talk to that man as equals as much as he could before attempting to scout him, but now, his position was no different than that of the White Tiger.

'Even still, I learned of the tenth rank S's existence before anyone else, so that's something.'

That's right.

The more pressing issue here was not the fact that his Guild received that man's aid, but rather, knowing of what his abilities were.

"Hunter Seong Jin-Woo, what type of Hunter was he?"

- "....."

As he listened to the explanation coming from the other side of the phone line, Choi Jong-In began talking progressively less and less.