Chapter 63 (1/2)

EPISODE 63

Yoo-seong immediately slammed the door. However, the door had immediately gotten blocked by something.

“He’s still a man of no courtesy,” said a man in sarcastic Chinese.

It wasn’t Lee Hwi-min. The voice belonged to another man, the one who had blocked the door.

“Oh, look who it is?” Yoo-seong spat out in Korean.

“You’re a professional shithead,” the man smirked.

It was Ha Yuk-il, the tenth place in the Ship Zone, the successor of the Volcanic Martial Arts.

The last time they had met, Yoo-seong sent him to close an empty crack.

“I understand why you are reacting like this,” Lee Hwi-min started as he adjusted his glasses.

He wasn’t as tall as Yoo-seong was, but it was obvious that he wasn’t weak. His muscles were quite toned and evident beneath his suit.

On top of his smart clothing, his hair was neatly fixed.

It was understandable if someone had mistaken him for a researcher or a professor, rather than one of the Ten Ship Zones.

“I brought him here,” Lee Hwi-min added.

“I know,” Yoo-seong answered.

“So, you’ll understand if I do this…”

Lee Hwi-min was gradually adding force to push the door open.

“I don’t really want to speak with you,” Yoo-seong sighed. However, Ha Yuk-il tightened his grip on the door.

In terms of brute strength and the total amount of CE, Ha Yuk-il was clearly more dominant. However, Yoo-seong had something else in mind.

The next moment, Yoo-seong make a strange gesture with his fingers, as if he was imitating a pistol.

Yoo-seong had his index finger pointed at Ha Yuk-il. At that moment, Ha Yuk-il knew he was screwed.

At first, nothing happened, and he almost let out a sigh of relief. However…

“What the…”

Just when Ha Yuk-il was about to laugh at what he presumed was a failure to attack, a Parasitic Bee was triggered. This one did not require much power.

It felt like a little chestnut was popped right into his chest, until he was hit by an unexpected pain.

Ha Yuk-il released his grip from the door. At this, Yoo-seong did not miss the opportunity and slammed the door shut.

Suddenly, he heard a voice from inside his room.

“It’s okay if you keep it shut. Ha Yuk-il does not have to hear the things we’re going to discuss.”

Yoo-seong spun around. He saw Lee Hwi-min comfortably sitting behind him.

“Tech,” Yoo-seong unconsciously said.

“That’s right. If I were you, I wouldn’t be as calm.”

As Lee Hwi-min spoke, Yoo-seong smelled something. It was faint and fleeting, but it smelled like burning paper.

‘This scent!’

Yoo-seong covered his nose and tried to hold his breath.

“You’re right. This scent is the trigger to my technique.”

“Is that a kind of Tech?” Yoo-seong asked him.

“No, it is something you can do, too. A lot of people call it hypnosis, though I would rather call it a nerve disturbance.”

Yoo-seong’s nose flinched a little. Just then, his vision started getting hazy.

“Besides, now that I met you, I am sure. You are exactly just like me,” Lee Hwi-min smiled as he watched him.

“I do not force myself into rooms without prior appointments or permission,” Yoo-seong retorted.

“No, I don’t think so,” Lee Hwi-min nodded. “But in some situations, you must.”

“Rather than relying on that stubborn idea, one must be flexible and adapt to his surroundings,” he added.

“You’re pretty good with words,” Yoo-seong commented.

“Thank you. That’s my specialty.”

Through his glasses, Lee Hwi-min’s eyes resembled half-moons.

“You should feel it now. The trembling in your lips, your fists, and your legs…”

Yoo-seong tried to remain calm.

“You’re only thinking about two things,” Lee Hwi-min raised a finger.

“First, someone had just broken into the hotel’s VIP floor. Will calling the security work?”

Lee Hwi-min then raised a second finger. “Second, you’re contemplating if what you’re seeing right now is the ‘real me’. You did not see me move in. You haven’t even seen me burn paper.”

His eyes glinted from behind his eyeglasses as he stared at Yoo-seong. “You’re probably thinking that there is a higher possibility of Tech that creates illusions rather than someone that moves this fast.”

Rather than be surprised with Lee Hwi-min’s deductions, Yoo-seong suddenly felt dizzy.

“I assume you can still understand me despite what you’re currently feeling.”

Lee Hwi-min suddenly waved his hand, or it appeared that he did.

Yoo-seong no longer knew.

“You’re actually very interesting. You didn’t even react when I told you that you have ranked in the Ten Ship Zones,” Lee Hwi-min tilted his head.

“Should I?” Yoo-seong asked him.

“Don’t you think of it as an honor?”

“Not at all,” Yoo-seong spoke with sincerity. “I can’t believe that right away, and even if it is, I don’t think it’s okay to change the list of members overnight.”

“You underestimate the Ship Zone.”

“No. I know what it’s worth. In fact, I am underestimating my own achievements.”

Despite Yoo-seong’s words, Lee Hwi-min kept his smile. “Since you caught one of the Four Perils alone, you’d have already been fully qualified anyway.”

But everyone already knew why Yoo-seong still actually wasn’t.

If Yoo-seong had been a Chinese hunter, he would have already become a national hero, renowned across the continent. However, because of what previously happened, what Yoo-seong did was considered a fluke. His triumph was an incident that had to be accepted slowly, little by little.

However, things had changed because the rumors spread rather quickly. Directly or indirectly, the people of Shanghai recognized Yoo-seong’s achievements.

Thanks to this man, they were able to protect their home.

Now, for most hunters in Shanghai, Yoo-seong was no longer a stranger to watch out for. Here, at least in Shanghai, he was a hunter who had caught one of the Four Perils alone, and helped them during the Shanghai Shock.

“Six months ago,” Lee Hwi-min began, “I had to beg for a seat in the Ten Ship Zone. Luckily, the previous hunter who occupied a spot met an accident.”

Just then, Lee Hwi-min gestured with his chin over Yoo-seong’s shoulder. The hotel door suddenly opened, revealing Ha Yuk-il.

His face was flushed red, all in a fit of anger.

“So, I recommended him, the junior I’ve been raising for a long time. I’ve taught him the Volcanic Martial Arts, which I have learned myself.”

‘The Volcanic Martial Arts.’

Yoo-seong recognized its name.

It was a legend in the Chinese industry, but it did not survive beyond modern times, unlike the other organizations’ martial arts. The Tech, which was thought to be gone forever, had been restored by a hunter who studied and mastered it. With that said, Ha Yuk-il was not a weakling.

He had accomplished enough results during the last few months. It was only quite natural for him to be interested in the empty Ship Zone position.

However, the problem was rising in the ranks. It was a better path than waiting in the tenth place until someone outshines him.

Ha Yuk-il knew this. And so, with this in mind, he worked hard and sought achievements one after the other.

All he ever thought was how he could make it higher.

“And then, you showed up,” Ha Yuk-il said as he approached Yoo-seong.

“Well, I am so sorry about that,” Yoo-seong answered.

Then, he turned to Lee Hwi-min.

“It seems like I have embarrassed you twice,” said Yoo-seong.

His vision was blurry, but he tried to focus on his surroundings.

“You think so?” Lee Hwi-min sounded amused. “Let me count.”