Chapter 94 - Chapter 94 (2/2)
In front of the private office of Yujin Construction's chairman.
Standing in front of the door, Yu Jin-Ho let out a short sigh.
"Fuu...."
He opened the door, and as it smoothly glided inward, he also raised his head to spot his father busy going through several documents, not bothering to even turn his head this way.
"Come inside."
Even though he made his 'reply', Yu Myung-Hwan continued to scribble his signatures on the documents.
Yu Jin-Ho stood next to Yu Myung-Hwan. The father briefly raised his head to confirm the son's visage, before continuing on with his work.
'Dad's still the same, I see.'
In the past, Yu Jin-Ho would've been suppressed by his father being like this and run off, utterly unable to say what he wanted to say. However, it was different now.
"I'd like to speak to you about something, Father."
"Is it regarding Hunter Seong Jin-Woo?"
"Yes."
Yu Myung-Hwan finally raised his head up.
"Alright. So, what happe...."
It was then.
Yu Myung-Hwan's phone suddenly went off.
Vrrrr...
"Hold on."
Yu Myung-Hwan raised his hand and stopped Yu Jin-Ho's words. Checking the message on the phone's screen, Yu Myung-Hwan's eyes grew wide just a little.
'My dad can get surprised too?'
Yu Jin-Ho tilted his head slightly.
"...There's something you should see."
"Pardon?"
Rather than providing an answer, Yu Myung-Hwan operated the remote and switched the giant TV mounted on one of the walls, instead.
A breaking news piece immediately came up on the screen.
[Yes, it has been confirmed just now. The Hunter who was evaluated as rank S earlier today is a Re-Awakened, someone who has gone through the secondary Awakening process after his initial one. His name is Mister Seong Jin-Woo, who used to work for the Association as a rank E previously.]
The reporter's excited voice easily conveyed the current atmosphere of the location. Yu Jin-Ho had been listening disinterestedly, but when he heard the name 'Seong Jin-Woo', he was taken greatly by surprise.
'Heok!"
The screen changed after that. It was now showing the emotionless face of someone he was quite familiar with, busy surveying the immediate surroundings.
It was none other than his hyung-nim.
'I'm sure of it. Hyung-nim is feeling irritated right now.'
Thanks to Yu Jin-Ho sticking around hyung-nim for a while, it became pretty easy to tell what he was thinking about simply through his expressions. But, besides all that – he was a rank S?
Yu Jin-Ho was well aware of his hyung-nim being great, but that greatness had far exceeded his own imagination.
At the same time....
'Even though he possesses such incredible power, he enters dungeons every day to train himself even further?'
A sense of awe rushed in, fast. As a person who used to guard his side, Yu Jin-Ho's heart swelled with pride as Jin-Woo's name got continuously mentioned on the TV.
Beep....
The TV was switched off and hyung-nim's face also disappeared from the view. Yu Jin-Ho formed a wistful expression.
"Okay, continue."
Father was telling Yu Jin-Ho to continue with what he wanted to say.
As he had practised beforehand, Yu Jin-Ho bowed down hard and spoke.
"My apologies, father. I couldn't change hyung-nim's mind."
Yu Myung-Hwan's expression hardened.
".....Okay, what did Hunter Seong Jin-Woo say while rejecting your offer?"
"Well, hyung-nim said....."
Yu Jin-Ho hesitated slightly, but he slightly raised his head and spoke.
"He wants to make his own Guild, so if I was interested in the Vice Master spot, I should come over, instead....."
Yu Jin-Ho thought that father would get angry or ignore that suggestion altogether, but instead, his expression was solidly frozen up.
And then....
Grin.
Yu Myung-Hwan chuckled without making a sound.
Someone widely known for his poker face, Chairman Yu Myung-Hwan had actually revealed a change of expression in front of his own son.
'What is my dad doing?'
Yu Jin-Ho couldn't dare to ask what was happening, so all he could do was to avert his gaze this way and that.
Yu Myung-Hwan spoke, that smile now erased from his lips.
"Do you know why I'm trying to establish the Yujin Guild?"
"Isn't it because.... there's money to be made in the Hunter business?"
"No, it's not."
Yu Myung-Hwan's tone of voice was resolute, unwavering.
"We have more than enough money right now. You think I'll try something that could put us at odds with other large Guilds just for the sake of chasing after a couple more bucks?"
Was he trying to imply that money wasn't the reason?
Yu Jin-Ho's eyes widened.
"But, if not that, then....?"
Yu Myung-Hwan carefully put the pen down.
"It's in order to protect ourselves."
Yu Myung-Hwan's serious, dignified eyes caused Yu Jin-Ho to swallow his dry saliva in nervousness.
"Hunters are growing in power every day. And it's not uncommon to see a single person possessing enough power to rival a country's military might."
For instance, the world's most powerful Hunters, seen as already on the level of exercising power equal to that of a country's government.
Yu Myung-Hwan was talking about those people.
"I hear that some Hunters already rule smaller nations like kings. How long do you think that the rule of law and governmental authority will keep us safe under the current situation?"
Yu Myung-Hwan's voice was getting heavier.
However, as Yu Jin-Ho was listening to this explanation, it suddenly dawned on him that he was actually feeling happy at the moment.
Why was that?
'….Ah.'
That was because, his father included him too and said 'We', instead.
Indeed, Yu Jin-Ho felt happy because he thought he got to glimpse for the first time another side of his father.
Yu Myung-Hwan's explanation continued on.
"I wished to establish a Guild and gather trustworthy Hunters to our side. Not because I needed more money or that I am searching for talented individuals, but it's all to find those Hunters who we can trust as fellow human beings, as well as for us to rely on their strength."
And then, a nearly imperceptible smile formed on Yu Myung-Hwan's face again.
"Looks like you already found someone like that, haven't you?"
"Yes, Father."
Yu Jin-Ho replied right away. It was a bit hard to tell where his father was going with this, but well, it was true regardless that Yu Jin-Ho could trust and rely on his hyung-nim.
Yu Myung-Hwan nodded his head.
"Very good."
"Yes?"
"You pass."
What did he pass just now? Yu Jin-Ho belatedly raised his bowed head.
"I shall entrust the Yujin Guild to you."
"Pardon me?"
"Do your best to develop the Yujin Guild. Make those trustworthy and reliable Hunters 'your' people. In the future, they will no doubt become even more valuable assets than any form of wealth."
Yu Myung-Hwan spoke with abundant certainty in his voice. And, just as his certainty was great, so was Yu Jin-Ho's delight.
Would this be the first time since his birth that Yu Jin-Ho was acknowledged by his father?
"Thank you very much, Father!"
With an ample smile blooming on his face, Yu Jin-Ho bent his back forward 90 degrees. Yu Myung-Hwan looked on at that sight with a content expression.
Unfortunately, what Yu Jin-Ho said next went completely against Yu Myung-Hwan's expectations.
"However, Father, I don't think I can accept your offer."
"Mm?"
Yu Myung-Hwan's brows quivered slightly.
The financial wherewithal of the Yujin Construction was more than enough to put the soon-to-be-established Yujin Guild on the fast track.
Already, talks with a few rank S Hunters had advanced into a more concrete stage, as well.
The Yujin Guild becoming South Korea's best, biggest Guild was already a foregone conclusion.
Yu Jin-Ho must've known this, too.
'That's why my son wanted to become the Master, wasn't it?'
However, now that he was about to hand the Guild over, why was his boy declining it? Did he get scared in the meantime?
Yu Myung-Hwan did his best to suppress his disappointment and rage towards Yu Jin-Ho, and managed to say something.
"....What is your reason?"
Yu Jin-Ho raised his head at that prompt, and while still carrying a happy-looking face, he spoke without holding anything back.
"I've decided to work for hyung-nim's Guild."
< Chapter 94 > Fin.