68 Chapter 67 (1/2)

”Hyung-nim! Now that the raids are over, how about we celebrate with a hearty meal?”

As they were driving back home, Yu Jin-Ho cautiously asked.

”Celebrate? But, there's no one with us, though?”

The raid team was disbanded as soon as the last raid was completed. Even Hahn Song-Yi said that she had someplace she had to stop by, so there were only Jin-Woo and Yu Jin-Ho in the van.

Yu Jin-Ho spoke as if he was embarrassed by something.

”I've been receiving your help all this time, hyung-nim, so like, I just wanted to treat you to a good meal, at least.”

Why was he having so much trouble saying the words ”Let's have a meal together”?

Jin-Woo chuckled wryly.

Since the kid was implying that he wanted to splurge on a grand feast, there was no reason for Jin-Woo to refuse the invitation, now was there?

”Alright.”

Yu Jin-Ho's expression brightened considerably as soon as Jin-Woo said okay.

”Hyung-nim! Should I take you to this restaurant in a certain hotel that I know? They know how to make a mean steak, you see.”

”No, not something like that.”

Unless such dishes came out in public engagements he simply had to attend, Jin-Woo would rather prefer to eat a simpler meal in peace with Yu Jin-Ho in an easy-going, relaxed atmosphere.

What a good timing it was, since he spotted one such place that fit the criteria.

The tip of Jin-Woo's pointing finger pressed on the van's window.

”How about that place over there?”

”Ahh, you wanted to enjoy 'han-wu', hyung-nim?” (TL: han-wu – Korean beef. Much more expensive than imported beef.)

”No, the place next to that one.”

Yu Jin-Ho's eyes narrowed to a slit.

A restaurant next to that one…. He could only see a common diner there.

[Day of Flower Blooming on Pork Belly – thinly-sliced pork belly specialists]

”By any chance, are you talking about that pork belly place, hyung-nim?”

”What, you don't like pork?”

Yu Jin-Ho grinned refreshingly.

”Not at all. I also love pork belly, hyung-nim.”

They parked the van in the nearby parking lot and went inside the diner, only to find the place was packed to the brim with patrons, as well as part-time workers busy moving around without a moment of rest.

Right now, it was seven in the evening. No wonder the diner was so full.

”Welcome. How may I help you?”

One of the part-time workers walked over with a smile and engaged the two men.

”How many customers will we be serving this evening?”

”Us two.”

”Please follow me.”

After hearing Yu Jin-Ho's answer, the part-time worker guided the two men to a spot in a secluded corner.

However…

”Hold on for a second.”

Yu Jin-Ho took a look around, and pointed towards the empty table by the windows.

”Can't we sit over there?”

”I'm sorry, sir. That table has been booked already….”

A large group must've made a booking, because several tables had been brought together. Currently, they were all empty.

Yu Jin-Ho stared at the empty tables with a rueful expression and shook his head. In the end, the two of them had to occupy the most secluded, out of the way spot in the diner.

Yu Jin-Ho lowered his head in shame.

”I'm sorry, hyung-nim.”

”There's nothing for you to apologise for. I was the one who suggested that we come here, anyway.”

”Even still, I should've taken you to a bit better spot than this one.”

Jin-Woo smirked and lightly patted Yu Jin-Ho on the shoulder.

”Don't sweat over such things and enjoy the food, okay?”

Actually, Jin-Woo was inwardly worried about a scion of a chaebol finding the taste of such cheap meat to his liking or not.

'Also, even though I didn't say anything, but well….'

Jin-Woo scanned his surroundings.

He could see people, and then, more people.

He spent quite a lot of his time in a silent apartment with no one in it, so he kind of enjoyed this hustle and bustle.

”Here are your orders of three portions of pork belly, and two bottles of soju.” (TL: Soju – Korean distilled spirit.)

Soon, the part-time worker brought out their orders.

Sizzle—

The thinly-sliced portions of pork sizzled enticingly on the heating plate. And sure enough, pieces of meat began disappearing real fast. Fortunately enough, Yu Jin-Ho seemed to like it.

”Well, the thing is, me and my friends frequent pork belly diners whenever we have the chance, hyung-nim.”

”Oh, really? Friends from the university?”

”Yes, hyung-nim. It's just that, I seem to mix better with friends from my university rather than the classmates from the expensive private schools I went to.”

Jin-Woo smirked slightly and nodded his head. If it was Yu Jin-Ho, then that sounded about right.

”Here, let me pour you a glass, hyung-nim.”

”Yeah, you too.”

Gulp, gulp, gulp.

They filled their glasses with soju, clinked them a little and one-shotted them.

”Kyaha.”

Unlike Yu Jin-Ho, who was immensely enjoying the bitter taste of soju, Jin-Woo could only frown deeply in unhappiness.

”Mm? Hyung-nim, is something wrong?”

”No, it's nothing….”

Jin-Woo could only stare at the empty glass with a bitter expression on his face. He had forgotten one crucial fact about his body, what with him being so busy lately and all.

Tti-ring.

[Harmful substances have been detected.]

[Effects of 'Buff: Detox' will now commence.]

[3, 2, 1…. Detoxification has been completed.]

'I forgot that I can't get drunk anymore. D*mn….'

It was the same story regardless of how many glasses he knocked back.

Tti-ring, tti-ring, tti-ring…..

As long as the buff 'Good health and Long Life' was in effect, soju would remain as only slightly bitter-tasting water and nothing more. Jin-Woo angrily spat out a cuss in his mind.

'God d*mn it.'

Rather than drinking bitter water like an idiot, he decided that it'd be infinitely better to order a soda, instead.

”Excuse me.”

A part-time worker hurriedly came over to their table.

”I want to order two more portions of pork belly, as well as a bottle of Sprite, please.” (TL note at the end.)

”Okay, please wait for a moment.”

After the waiter left, Yu Jin-Ho began tilting his head.

”Hyung-nim? Why didn't you order more alcohol?”

”I'm not that good with alcohol, you see.”

Jin-Woo replied, his expression not even changing slightly, but as usual, Yu Jin-Ho didn't quite catch that. Instead, a loose smile crept up on his alcohol-tinged reddened face.

'Hyung-nim still has a humane side, like this one….'

Yu Jin-Ho kept on giving him a strange but meaningful look, but Jin-Woo simply ignored him outright.

'It's not as if he started acting strange all of a sudden just today or anything….'

Actually, he was getting curious about something else here.

”What are you planning to do from now on?”

When Jin-Woo asked in a serious voice, Yu Jin-Ho sat upright like a job seeker waiting for his job interview to start.

”As soon as I complete a simple written test at the Hunter's Association, they should issue my Guild Master licence right away, hyung-nim. I'm planning to negotiate with my father with that licence in hand.”

Determination flooded in Yu Jin-Ho's eyes. He had invested a lot of his own moolah for this purpose, and there was no room to retreat now.

'Besides, I also made a promise with hyung-nim, too.'

The Guild building he promised to Jin-Woo. That part of the bargain could be upheld only after Yu Jin-Ho successfully persuades his father, Yu Myung-Hwan, to install him as the new Guild Master.

On the other hand, Jin-Woo was feeling rather liberated.

'Sure, it'd be nice to get my hands on that 30 billion Won building.'

But well, that would only be an added bonus to him. His real purpose had always been levelling up. While entering all those rank C Gates, he had reached a far higher level than he initially bargained for.

In other words, he had achieved his goal.

And the results of his frantic levelling up spree?

One punch from him, and the rank A Hunter with a guaranteed annual salary of billions of Won, Kim Cheol, lost his consciousness. Just like that.

'At the bare minimum, I can make more money than that guy now.'

If one possessed excellent abilities, wealth was sure to follow. There was no need to feel nervous at all. And his relaxed mindset could clearly be seen on his demeanor.

Jin-Woo began reminiscing about the last few days and smiled to himself. It was at this moment that Yu Jin-Ho asked him a question.

”What are your own plans now, hyung-nim?”

”Oh, me?”