In the past, before the Shadow Monarch Sung Jinwoo turned back time on Earth. There existed hunters who held the title of 'the Strongest,' a title given to only five individuals worldwide.
'National Level Hunters.'
This title literally symbolized absolute power, where one person's authority rivaled that of an entire nation. It was a glorious title bestowed only upon hunters possessing immense power that couldn't even be measured by the term 'S-rank.'
However, the reason these five were given such a grand title was far from glorious. Humanity's worst disaster. The first S-rank Gate and the boss-level monster that emerged from it. 'The Dragon Kamish.' This Red Dragon was a monster of tremendous power, capable of wiping out the entire western United States upon its dungeon break. At the time, the USA offered massive rewards and summoned the strongest hunters from around the world, just barely managing to kill Kamish. In the end, only five survived. A single monster had killed almost all the world's top hunters. If it weren't for their sacrifice, the country of the United States would surely have been erased from the world map. Therefore, the USA promised to treat those five who saved their nation's fate not as individuals but as nations themselves. And this is said to be the origin of the term 'National Level.'
But there was one curious fact here. National Level hunters had something in common. Well, to be exact, four of them, excluding the healer from the Kamish raid, all possessed the same skill. 'Telekinesis'. The ability to exert force on an object without physical contact. There had been many strong individuals before and after the Kamish raid, but only these four in history possessed such an ability. So the Hunter Management Bureau, at the time the only ones aware of their common trait, even considered 'telekinesis' as a requirement for becoming a National Level hunter.
But now, many years later. Suho knew the true nature of the 'telekinesis' they possessed.
[Skill: Ruler's Authority]
That power was none other than the result of the 'Rulers' dwelling within the bodies of those ordinary S-rank hunters. In other words, the four hunters had become National Level only by borrowing the power of the higher beings. They, who possessed vessels capable of accepting the Rulers, were the most likely to be taken over by the Apostles of Itarim this time as well. Just like Thomas Andre in the Glacier dungeon.
* * *
"Thomas Andre, you are under arrest for the murder of Christopher Reed." While he was on the phone with Suho, numerous fully armed hunters had approached and surrounded him.
The United States Hunter Bureau. The most powerful organization in the US had been dispatched to stop Thomas Andre's rampage. However, despite being vastly outnumbered, it wasn't him who was feeling tense.
"Ah, hold on a second. As you can see, I'm in the middle of an important call." Thomas Andre gestured casually towards the people surrounding him and continued his conversation with Suho leisurely.
"..."
"Gulp."
On the other hand, the Bureau's hunters who had completely encircled him wore determined expressions. The person they were trying to arrest was none other than the United States' strongest hunter. That person had killed Christopher Reed was also one of the S-ranks representing the United States.
'Why would someone like Thomas Andre suddenly do something like this?'
'There's nothing to gain from killing an S-rank hunter.'
'With the effort he put into this, he could have earned astronomical amounts of money by entering a dungeon. Why?'
The Hunter Bureau, unaware of Itarim, couldn't help but be bewildered by Thomas Andre's sudden actions. It wasn't that there had never been fights between S-rank hunters before, but it was unprecedented for them to fight to the death like this. This was because the creation of the Hunter Ranking system eliminated the need for hunters to engage in meaningless power struggles.
How many more dangerous monsters they had hunted.
How many more dungeons they had conquered.
The Hunter Ranking, which converted these various experiences into points, was the only indicator recognized worldwide. So hunters, instead of wasting their energy on fights they didn't even earn money from, started focusing more on dungeon raids.
'But why?' No matter how much they thought about it, they couldn't understand why Thomas Andre had suddenly killed Christopher Reed.
It was then.
"Thomas Andre."
Suddenly, the hunters parted to the left and right, and a man walked through the gap. An elderly gentleman with neatly combed hair. Surprisingly, unlike the other hunters, he wasn't armed at all.
"Chief..."
"It's dangerous!"
"Ah, it's alright." He waved off his subordinates who were trying to dissuade him from his reckless action.
Step by step. He walked towards Thomas Andre.
Even the Goliath himself couldn't help but pause the call at his appearance.
"Adam White." Recognizing his identity, Thomas's lips curled up in amusement.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of the Hunter Bureau Chief's visit?"
"...Thomas Andre. Please cooperate with the investigation." At those words, Thomas Andre's grin widened even further.
"And what if I refuse?" He chuckled, revealing his teeth.
Despite his provocative words, Adam White, the chief of the Hunter Bureau, only sighed softly instead of raising his voice. His gaze swept over the completely devastated land around them. Just a few hours ago Christopher Reed's luxurious mansion stood here.
But now...
'It's like a nuclear bomb went off. Is this what happens when two S-rank hunters fight?' The saying that S-rank hunters were like walking weapons was definitely not an exaggeration. Adam White gave a wry smile and politely asked Thomas Andre once again.
"If you refuse, what can we do? We'll just have to ask you more earnestly. Everyone here is someone's precious child or parent, I also have a wife and children to take care of."
"Huh." At Adam White's words, Thomas Andre let out a sigh, as if the air had been let out of him.
"You're still a boring guy."
"Despite what you see, I'm usually considered a funny guy."
"That's probably just a facade for appearances sake. Even my subordinates burst into laughter whenever I crack a joke."
Even despite watching the two exchange lighthearted banter, the hunters surrounding Thomas Andre weren't able to even breathe properly. They knew… If Thomas Andre were to, for whatever reason show any signs of aggression and the situation escalated, they would never see the sun rise again.
"..."
"..."
A brief silence fell, and Thomas Andre's and Adam White's gazes met in the air. To some, it was just a fleeting moment, but everyone here felt like an eternity had passed.
"Well, alright." Thomas Andre finally chuckled and raised both hands in surrender and the corpse of Christopher Reed he had been holding this whole time dropped to the ground with a thud.
Crumble.
Surprisingly, the moment it touched the ground, it broke into pieces like burnt charcoal. Everyone's eyes widened at the sight. But they also let out sighs of relief, realizing they wouldn't have to fight the person that did this to one of the most powerful hunters in the US.
As if nothing happened Thomas Andre spoke to Suho on the phone again. "You heard that? Well, that's how things turned out. So, I won't be able to handle guys from other countries for a while."
'Other countries?' Adam White's face turned pale upon hearing those words.
Seeing his surprised look, Thomas Andre grinned and added another comment for Suho. "It was okay with Chris since he was American, but other countries are a bit trickier because of political issues."
"Ah, I see. That makes sense." Suho agreed and nodded on the other end of the phone.
The people who had been National Level hunters in their past life were still S-ranks now. For someone like Thomas Andre to go to another country to deal with them was practically equivalent to the United States declaring war on that nation.
"That's all I had to say. I'll send you detailed information about Christopher Reed separately."
"Alright. Thanks for your hard work."
Click.
The call ended.
"May I ask who you were talking to?"
In response to Adam White's question, Thomas Andre grinned and slung his muscular arm around his shoulder. "Adam, since we meet again after so long, how about buying me a burger on the way? I'm starving after using all that power."
"...I'll buy you a combo."
"Haha. As expected of the Chief, you're generous. Buy some for the guys behind us too while you're at it. They all look a bit pale."
"Alright." Adam White smiled wryly and agreed to all demands.
* * *
Thus, after Thomas Andre was willingly arrested by the Hunter Bureau. His secretary, Laura, visited Korea with the gifts she was supposed to deliver to Suho.
"Laura, how's Thomas doing?"
"You don't have to worry about our boss. He's the type who thrives wherever he goes." She responded nonchalantly to his concern.
From the US perspective, keeping Thomas Andre locked up for too long was not profitable. If the income an S-rank hunter earned from dungeons decreased, the corresponding tax revenue would also decrease.
Also considering the country's safety if some dungeon related disaster happened, the US government had no choice but to pressure the Hunter Bureau to release Thomas Andre. It wasn't like he had massacred civilians; he had only killed a hunter of the same class. In fact, with one less S-rank hunter, He had become even more essential.
"Besides, our boss never intended to kill Christopher Reed in the first place. He actually visited him to present our flagship product, the Detox Potion."
The spring water from the Echo Forest. The antidote obtained from the holy land of the Ice Elves was so effective that it could even restore Thomas Andre's mind, which had been possessed by an Apostle of Itarim. They wanted to give it to other hunters who had been National Level in their past life to prevent similar incidents. That was the plan Suho and Thomas had devised from the beginning.
"But there seems to have been a slight accident in the process of delivering the Detox Potion to Christopher Reed."
"A slight accident?" Suho made a dumbfounded expression at those words. He couldn't imagine what kind of 'slight' accident could lead to the death of an S-rank hunter.
"I also brought a report related to that, so it would be faster for you to see it yourself. But remember it's classified information from here on."
Laura handed Suho a USB drive. And she also had the staff bring the other items she was originally supposed to deliver to Suho. A moment later, two sturdy special bags appeared before him.
"Are these the ones?"
"Yes. This one contains the high-grade magic stones you requested. And this one... contains the item Cha Hae-in found in the Tomb of Berserk Dragons."
"..." Suho was silent for a moment, looking at the large bags Laura had handed him.
[Young Master, I sense an unusual energy.] Beru, who had appeared beside him at some point, also had a cautious expression.
Click. Suho opened the bag from his mother first. Of course, Cha Hae-in had already informed him about its contents.
'A dragon's egg...'
Finally, the bag was opened. And inside, as he had been told, was an item about the size of an ostrich egg… But the problem was the system message that popped up the moment Suho's hand touched it.
Ding!
[Item: 'Kamish's Egg' acquired.]