42 Chapter 41 (1/2)
One couldn't find the addresses of Hunters on the Association's
website. The only things appearing there were the names of Hunters
and their ranks.
A Hunter could provide the relevant information themselves, but
Jin-Woo didn't even leave behind his contact number there.
But, not only had this guy known his phone number, he was
waiting near Jin-Woo's home, so without a doubt, he must've
gathered enough information before showing up here.
'Ah, now that I think about it....'
He abruptly remembered something.
”I sensed a gaze on me earlier today, so I'm guessing that
belonged to one of your people?”
Jin-Woo's voice became a level colder.
The guy on the phone apologised with a polite tone of voice.
Jin-Woo pondered for a while, before speaking up.
”.....I'll be there shortly.”
”The Hunters, the Reapers, the Knight Order, the Shining
Star, and then us, the White Tiger. I'm sure you've heard of
these names before.”
Ahn Sahng-Min read off the names of the top 5 Guilds in South
Korea, one by one.
The number one Guild was the Hunters.
However, the Hunters didn't start its life as the number one from
the get-go. No, it was the Reapers who used to be the top dog.
However, after White Tiger separated itself from the Reapers, the
number one spot changed hands.
Was this the case of the student becoming the master?
After going independent, the White Tiger leapfrogged the Reapers
a long time ago. And they were aiming for the number one spot that,
originally, belonged to the Reapers.
Ahn Sahng-Min was completely sure of it now.
He was sure of the fact that the man sitting across him, Seong JinWoo, would become an important piece of the puzzle and help the
White Tiger 'reclaim' the glory of the past once more.
Ahn Sahng-Min presented his business card.
[Ahn Sahng-Min, Section Chief, Second Division, White
Tiger Guild]
”My name is Ahn Sahng-Min, and I'm in charge of the
Second Division of the White Tiger Guild, one of the top five
in the country. Our role is to scout talented Hunters and
manage them.”
If Seong Jin-Woo was any other Hunter, he'd have lowered his head
90 degrees before a business card was even brought out, and only
then get to the main topic.
Unless one was an S-rank or an A, pretty much all Hunters
dreamed of entering the White Tiger.
Honestly, Ahn Sahng-Min was hoping for that kind of reaction as well.
Unfortunately, Jin-Woo was different.
Not showing much reaction at all, he calmly asked what he wanted
to ask first.
”Why does an officer of the White Tiger Guild perform
background checks on someone like me?”
Ahn Sahng-Min inwardly flinched.
'He's not pressured even after hearing the name of the
White Tiger?'
They haven't spoken for long, but for some reason, Ahn Sahng-Min
sensed that it'd be rather challenging to scout Seong Jin-Woo.
On the other hand, that only made him even more desperate to
bring Seong Jin-Woo into his guild now.
Well, it wouldn't be a bad thing for a newbie to be rather confident
about himself, now would it?
'Right, you gotta have at least balls as big as this, so we
can start throwing you into whatever assignment that comes
our way.'
Ahn Sahng-Min firmed his resolve once more.
”Let me get straight to the point. We wish to scout you,
Mister Seong Jin-Woo. We promise to offer you double the
amount of terms as offered by the Yujin Construction, no
strings attached.”
Ahn Sahng-Min smiled deeply.
Yujin Construction was still in the middle of testing Seong Jin-Woo
out. 'They are being stupid.'
The speed at which he could clear a rank C dungeon, the publicity
value of a Re-Awakened Hunter, and the calmness he was displaying
in the current situation, etc....
No matter which side it was, there was no need to test this man
out at all.
'There's no way that they have offered anything good, since
they wouldn't have figured out what his true worth is.'
That was why Ahn Sahng-Min was confident of doubling whatever
terms Yujin offered this man. No, he was confident of offering
something even better.
However, Jin-Woo's stare became even colder.
”How did you know?”
”P-pardon me?”
Being on the receiving end of a reaction utterly contrary to his
expectations, Ahn Sahng-Min ended up stuttering slightly, which was
quite unbecoming of an experienced headhunter working for a large
Guild.
”How did you find out about me?”
If Seong Jin-Woo's voice actually had any physical weight, then that
sentence would've crushed him to death, thought Ahn Sahng-Min.
'What is this? This incredible pressure....?'
It was almost as if the other party was considering him as an
enemy. Well, it was true that he had Jin-Woo followed, and onesidedly demanded to meet like this.
From Jin-Woo's perspective, it would be perfectly reasonable to consider Ahn Sahng-Min as his enemy.
Ahn Sahng-Min hurriedly explained himself.
”Ah, ah! It wasn't our original intention to pry into your
private affairs. We received information that someone was
clearing rank C dungeons in our district at an alarming rate
so we were investigating that. And that led us to find out
about you, Seong Jin-Woo Hunter-nim.”
”.....”
Jin-Woo retracted his gaze.
'So, that's what happened.'
Contrary to his thoughts, the other side didn't seem to have begun
their investigation while knowing that something didn't add up about
him. Simply by clearing dungeons far too quickly, he ended up being
noticed instead.
'And he doesn't seem to be carrying any hostile intentions,
either.'
Jin-Woo's expression softened slightly. And as a result, the taut
tension between the two men eased a little.
'Whew-woo....'
Ahn Sahng-Min patted his chest down.
Their conversation still hadn't advanced forward, though. From
here onwards, he had to get on Seong Jin-Woo's good books.
'And nothing's better than the sharing of privileged
information to get on someone's good books.'
Ahn Sahng-Min was THE specialist when it came to scouting after
all!He quickly wiped the flustered expression off his face and formed a
smile instead.
”Although it is a top secret, we know that the Chairman Yu
Myung-Hwan is planning to establish a Guild of his own.”
”.....”
Jin-Woo neither denied it or confirmed it.
So, Ahn Sahng-Min continued on.
”And that's how we were able to figure it out when that
person's son, Mister Yu Jin-Ho made contact with you, Seong