Chapter 65
Though he hadn't received a direct answer, Hong Min-gi immediately understood who the owner of the red energy was - the power he had been wary and afraid of earlier.
Hong Min-gi's eyes shook violently as if an earthquake had struck.
"...To think that red energy was Hunter Lee Seong-jun's power."
Once he faced the truth, everything from Hunter Lee Seong-jun's previous actions to the situation unfolding before his eyes began to make sense.
'Hunter Lee Seong-jun is no mere super rookie.'
He was a new powerhouse who could stand shoulder to shoulder with the masters of the 5 great guilds, representatives of South Korea.
A wry smile naturally spread across Hong Min-gi's face.
'A returnee who's been back on Earth for less than half a year is already on par with SS-rank hunters...'
Literally, Hong Min-gi felt a shiver run down his spine at this unprecedented rate of growth.
'Finally, finally...!'
A hunter had appeared who could maintain the Association's position even among the increasingly powerful large guilds and alliances.
A bright light had dawned on the future of the Hunter Association, which he had thought to be bleak.
Just as a bright smile was blooming on Hong Min-gi's face-
"Hunter Lee Seong-jun! I'm so glad you're safe!"
Cho Kang-hyun, the team leader of the dedicated management team, called out in an emotional voice as he ran towards Lee Seong-jun.
* * *
At the special investigation headquarters established to arrest the SS-rank villain Jo Se-hyeok, the personnel on standby, preparing for any situation, couldn't believe their ears.
"It seems Hunter Lee Seong-jun had already taken down Jo Se-hyeok before the security team arrived."
"He defeated Jo Se-hyeok alone?"
"Huh... That's ridiculous..."
A wry smile spread across Ko Tae-hyun's face as he listened to the report.
'To think he really took down Jo Se-hyeok alone...'
From the very beginning of planning the operation, Hunter Lee Seong-jun had expressed tremendous confidence, saying he would face Jo Se-hyeok alone.
Naturally, at the time, they thought it was just the baseless confidence typical of returnees.
But looking at the reality, it had been the composure of a true powerhouse.
'It was just that my insight was lacking, and I couldn't properly recognize it...'
To be honest, this part could be considered somewhat unfair.
How could anyone think that a hunter who had become a super rookie less than a week ago could defeat an SS-rank opponent?
'Hunter Lee Seong-jun... The more I learn about him, the more impressive he is.'
As the vice president of the Hunter Association, it was certainly a good thing that a hunter belonging to the Association was such an impressive person.
But Ko Tae-hyun couldn't fully enjoy this situation.
The fact that he was too impressive was actually causing Ko Tae-hyun a headache, becoming a 'problem'.
'Chairman Kim Seok-hoon of the Honor Group won't leave Hunter Lee Seong-jun alone.'
He will try to deal with Hunter Lee Seong-jun even if it means going to extremes.
'...We need to take decisive action to prevent Chairman Kim Seok-hoon from making any more moves.'
The Hunter Association's position was already narrowing day by day due to the growing strength of corporations, guilds, and returnee alliances.
In this situation, if Hunter Lee Seong-jun, who could be called the Association's only hope, were to disappear as well?
He didn't need to see the result to know.
Before long, the Hunter Association would no longer be able to function properly. It meant that a struggle that could be called a power grab would begin within South Korea.
Ko Tae-hyun nodded once and carefully spoke to his secretary, Kim Min-hyuk.
"Set up appointments with businessmen and congressmen who are at odds with the Honor Group."
Kim Min-hyuk's eyes shook violently at Ko Tae-hyun's sudden request, something unthinkable under normal circumstances.
"It's too dangerous. I wish you would reconsider."
The Honor Group, as a conglomerate with wealth amounting to hundreds of trillions, could be said to have formidable power just by itself.
But it wasn't just fear of the Honor Group alone that had kept Ko Tae-hyun quiet until now.
'The true power of the Honor Group isn't just what's immediately visible.'
The true power of the Honor Group was its connections.
In reality, it was no exaggeration to say that the Honor Group's influence reached everywhere, from the heads of public institutions to politicians.
'They are truly cancerous entities in South Korea, having taken bribes and provided protection for decades...'
They would try to shield the Honor Group, if only to cover up their own criminal activities.
It meant they would use various laws and regulations to try to bring him, Ko Tae-hyun, down by any means necessary.
But Ko Tae-hyun, having worked as the vice president of the Hunter Association for no small amount of time, was far from ignorant about the dark underbelly of South Korea.
Rather, it was because he knew that he made this bold decision.
'While I'm moving, Chairman Kim Seok-hoon won't be able to make a move against Hunter Lee Seong-jun.'
Of course, he wasn't acting impulsively without any preparation or thought.
He had been collecting evidence of corruption not only from Chairman Kim Seok-hoon and the Honor Group, but also from their key affiliates and close associates.
'If I release all of that... They won't be able to focus on anything else for about 3 years.'
Although he might not be able to bring down the Honor Group, buying time alone would be enough.
'Considering Hunter Lee Seong-jun's growth rate that I've observed so far...'
He could be certain that before long, he would become a giant that no one could approach.
Ko Tae-hyun's eyes looked towards a bright future.
"If we can just buy a year of time, no more and no less, the tide will surely turn in our favor. Please trust and follow me."
Hearing Ko Tae-hyun's earnest tone, Kim Min-hyuk could only nod in the end.
"...Understood."
As Kim Min-hyuk immediately left his seat to make contacts, a satisfied smile spread across Ko Tae-hyun's face.
'With this, one problem is solved.'
Having declared all-out war, even Chairman Kim Seok-hoon wouldn't be able to focus on anything else.
It meant he wouldn't be able to make a move against Hunter Lee Seong-jun for a while.
The most critical issue could be said to have been somewhat resolved.
But as mentioned earlier, only 'one' problem had been solved, not all of them.
'We can't coexist if we keep just taking one-sidedly like this.'
Blocking Chairman Kim Seok-hoon earlier was just something that had to be done.
After all, Hunter Lee Seong-jun wasn't gaining any substantial benefits, was he?
A mutual give-and-take, a somewhat fair exchange, was necessary for a smooth and healthy relationship to continue.
That's why Ko Tae-hyun's concerns deepened.
'We haven't given proper compensation to Hunter Lee Seong-jun yet.'
From the interrogation of the Shadow Brothers to ranking first in the Raid Gate, and now the capture of the SS-rank villain Rookie Slayer Jo Se-hyeok.
Hunter Lee Seong-jun could be said to have played a major role in all the significant cases resolved recently, yet he hadn't received proper rewards.
Everything given so far could be considered basic rights for hunters affiliated with the Association.
'...We need to give Hunter Lee Seong-jun a reward or privilege befitting his contributions.'
Not like before, where we gave something we had that wouldn't cause us any loss, but something so tremendous that even the giver would be reluctant to part with it.
'What should we give...?'
He tried to continue pondering about appropriate compensation with narrowed eyes, but unfortunately, time didn't wait for Ko Tae-hyun.
"The vehicle carrying Hunter Lee Seong-jun and the security team has passed through the Association's main gate!"
"There, I can see it!"
Regrettably, he had to put it off for a moment.
Clicking his tongue in disappointment, Ko Tae-hyun immediately stood up and moved to greet the hunters who had successfully carried out the operation.
* * *
"Thank you so much for your hard work!"
Lee Seong-jun waved his hand in greeting towards Cho Kang-hyun and Hong Min-gi, who had come out to the main gate to greet him and were bowing deeply. Then he turned his back and began to walk away.
At the same time, Lee Seong-jun's eyes began to sink coldly.
'Honor Group...'
After completing the minor procedures of capturing Jo Se-hyeok and detaining him in the Association's building, Lee Seong-jun immediately deployed the Greed Nullification Technique.
Being SS-rank, Jo Se-hyeok did resist fiercely by raising his energy, but there was a clear limit to the resistance he could put up in his injured state.
Eventually, Jo Se-hyeok became like a docile lamb before long, answering questions obediently and revealing every detail about the forces behind this incident.
'Park Sung-hoon, president of Honor Trading and legal advisor to the Honor Group.'
On the surface, Park Sung-hoon had smuggled Jo Se-hyeok into Korea alone and prepared the attack by rallying villains.
But unless one was a fool, no one would think Park Sung-hoon had planned this alone.
How could the president of a trading company handle an SS-rank villain, a big shot like Jo Se-hyeok, by himself?
'...He must have been acting on orders from Kim Seok-hoon, the chairman of the Honor Group.'
The grudge that started from his relationship with Kim Dong-hyun of the Radiant Star Guild had extended to his parent, Kim Seok-hoon.
Of course, what mattered now wasn't where the grudge originated.
'The Honor Group touched my family.'
It meant they had touched the most precious people to him, irreplaceable in this world.
'I'll make them pay the price properly for that.'
It seemed the Association was also preparing to pressure the Honor Group, making some moves using this Jo Se-hyeok incident as a pretext, but that alone wouldn't settle the score.
They needed to choke the Honor Group more decisively and powerfully.
'I'll make sure... they don't even dare to think about it again.'
Of course, waging war alone against a conglomerate like the Honor Group could be considered somewhat dangerous.
He might be able to take care of himself, but if the cornered Honor Group launched an attack like this one when they were defenseless, his family could be in danger.
That's why he planned to borrow the power of an entity with enough strength and authority to threaten even a conglomerate like the Honor Group.
Lee Seong-jun, with cold eyes, took out the smartphone he had put in his pocket.
Then, he dialed the number saved in his contacts as 'White Tiger Guild Master, Oh Kyung-hyun'.
Ring- Ring-
After a few dial tones, as he confirmed the call connection sound in his ear, Lee Seong-jun slowly opened his mouth.
"...I called because there's something I'd like to ask of you."