Chapter 66
The top floor of the Honor Group headquarters.
It was no exaggeration to say that this place, where Chairman Kim Seokhun worked after accumulating an immense fortune of hundreds of trillions, boasted the highest level of security in South Korea.
In reality, just guarding the single entrance were no less than 10 security personnel.
Moreover, 4 of them were A-rank Hunters, while another was an S-rank high-level Hunter.
As a place boasting ironclad security that even most high-ranking Hunters wouldn't dare to challenge, normally one could work comfortably without any worries.
However, today it could be said to be the most arduous workplace ever.
This was unavoidable because Oh Gyeonghyeon, one of the most powerful individuals in South Korea, had come to visit, emanating such fierce anger that it wouldn't be strange if he collapsed from suffocation.
"Without a pre-scheduled appointment, you cannot meet the Chairman."
"Please leave immediately."
Despite their authoritative words, the security guards' attitudes were extremely cautious.
This was natural, as Oh Gyeonghyeon was one of the most powerful individuals in South Korea, an SS+ rank Hunter.
If Oh Gyeonghyeon's mood were to worsen even slightly, it meant that something beyond the guards' ability to handle could occur.
Therefore, the security guards were trying to persuade Oh Gyeonghyeon as kindly and calmly as possible.
"F-First, please calm down."
"If you wait just a moment, we'll ask the Chairman for permission."
The security guards spoke hurriedly yet cautiously, sensing the intense anger in Oh Gyeonghyeon's expression, but they couldn't subdue his fury.
"I understand you all have no choice... but I'm not in a good mood right now, so I can't wait that long."
Oh Gyeonghyeon, with a cold gaze, began to step forward.
In a situation where they couldn't block his path, yet couldn't let him through either, the security guards' faces were turning pale. At that moment, Chairman Kim Seokhun's deep voice was heard from beyond the door.
"Let him in!"
Without hesitation at these long-awaited words, the security guards immediately cleared the way.
Thump. Thump.
As Oh Gyeonghyeon strode into the office beyond the door, Chairman Kim Seokhun addressed him with a stern expression.
"You've really turned Honor Trade upside down."
This wasn't a metaphor; Honor Trade had literally been overturned.
Not only Park Seonghun, who could be considered the mastermind behind this attack incident, but all the executives of Honor Trade even remotely connected to the incident were hospitalized with serious injuries requiring 10 weeks of treatment.
For Kim Seokhun, as the chairman of the Honor Group, this was an unspeakable loss, but his expression showed not a trace of agitation.
Rather, he nodded as if calmly accepting it.
"I'm sorry about the incident related to Hunter Lee Seongjun, but as announced in the media, it was all done solely by Park Seonghun, and I want you to know that I knew nothing about it."
Given the stories he had heard last night, Oh Gyeonghyeon knew this was an outrageous lie, but without direct evidence, he couldn't act recklessly like he had with the previous criminals.
However, that didn't mean he intended to sit idly by without any countermeasures.
No, if he had planned to quietly back down, he wouldn't have come here in the first place.
"I won't waste my breath since you'll dodge every accusation, but remember one thing. If you touch our Hunter Lee Seongjun again, it won't be just a single subsidiary that gets overturned, but the entire Honor Group."
This warning was not just empty words.
The intense killing intent flowing from Oh Gyeonghyeon's body enveloped Kim Seokhun entirely, choking off his breath.
"Cough-! Cough."
As Kim Seokhun coughed roughly, Oh Gyeonghyeon, watching him with cold eyes, spoke once more.
"...If you want to spend your remaining years in peace, it would be best to behave from now on."
Having delivered his final warning, Oh Gyeonghyeon turned his back and left the room, seemingly without any lingering attachment.
Bang-!
With a loud noise, the chairman's office door closed, leaving Kim Seokhun alone. His expression began to turn colder than ever before.
'That damn bastard, how dare he...'
A mere guild master had come barging in, causing a disturbance, and even threatened him.
If he could have his way, he would have torn him limb from limb to make him pay for his arrogance.
No, under normal circumstances, he would have certainly done so.
However, this time he couldn't recklessly engage in a fight with the White Tiger Guild.
This morning, Go Taehyun, the vice president of the Hunter Association, had suddenly started rallying opposition against the Honor Group, meeting with figures from the political and business world to consolidate power.
While each individual might not seem very threatening, if they united as one force, it would become quite troublesome even for the Honor Group.
'First, I need to... deal with that Go Taehyun bastard as a priority.'
This meant he had to leave that arrogant White Tiger, Oh Gyeonghyeon, alone for now.
He couldn't remember the last time he had faced such a frustrating situation.
Anger rose to the top of his head, and his insides boiled with rage.
Naturally, Kim Seokhun's face contorted greatly.
'Damn that Lee Seongjun, how could that mere youngster cause things to become so complicated...!'
He thought he was just a young upstart, but not only had the White Tiger Guild's master Oh Gyeonghyeon made a move, even the vice president Go Taehyun, who had maintained silence until now, had started moving boldly.
It was an incomprehensible situation, but now was not the time to think about Lee Seongjun.
'First... I need to quickly resolve this matter related to Jo Sehyeok.'
He had cut off the tail by removing Park Seonghun, the president of Honor Trade and legal advisor, but he hadn't completely cleared himself of suspicion yet.
Of course, since all requests were delivered through Park Seonghun, there was actually no direct contact, so they wouldn't be able to find any connection.
But Go Taehyun, who was openly trying to consolidate power, wouldn't let this situation slide.
He would find even the tiniest speck of dust to apply pressure.
Normally, he would have scoffed and moved on, but recently the group had been in turmoil due to tax evasion allegations.
Even a small blemish that would normally be overlooked could, if mishandled, become a major flaw and lead to enormous losses.
It could be called a headache-inducing situation, but the Honor Group wouldn't collapse from just this.
'...The honor I've built isn't that weak.'
If given just a little time and leeway, he could regain power and strength in no time.
Until then, he would catch his breath and reorganize.
But he would never forget.
"Oh Gyeonghyeon, and... Lee Seongjun, I'll make sure to butcher you damn bastards."
Grinding his teeth, Kim Seokhun engraved the two names in his mind, vowing revenge for the future.
* * *
The capture of Jo Sehyeok, the SS-rank villain known as the Rookie Slaughterer, who was thought to have completely disappeared, was already a significant issue.
Moreover, the person who captured Jo Sehyeok was 'Lee Seongjun', who had been hailed as a Super Rookie just a few days ago.
Naturally, media outlets began to churn out articles one after another.
[Super Rookie Lee Seongjun Single-handedly Captures Jo Sehyeok, SS-rank Villain and Rookie Slaughterer!]
[The Reign of Terror Ends: SS-rank Villain and Rookie Slaughterer Jo Sehyeok Finally Captured]
[Hunter Lee Seongjun: From Super Rookie to Emerging Superstar!]
The comments showed that most people, even those unfamiliar with the Hunter world, were quite shocked by this seemingly impossible feat.
└Is Lee Seongjun a god? A rookie who caught the Rookie Slaughterer, this is a hit, you know
└Wait, he caught an SS-rank, but we're still calling him a rookie?
└I can't believe it. This looks like the Association is pulling strings to promote Lee Seongjun.
└CCTV footage of him going to fight 1:1 has been released as evidence, what's there to doubt? Lee Seongjun is the future of South Korea!
But the one most shocked of all was Yoon Giseong, the S-rank villain.
'...I never thought Jo Sehyeok would lose.'
The fight between the Rookie Slaughterer Jo Sehyeok and the Super Rookie Lee Seongjun.
Anyone would have predicted Lee Seongjun's defeat.
Therefore, he thought the forced subordination contract would soon be nullified and wouldn't be a problem.
But his expectations were spectacularly wrong.
This meant that the subordinate relationship with Lee Seongjun would continue.
'Damn it!'
His original plan to reign as the king of the underworld had completely fallen apart.
'Isn't there... some way out?'
While racking his brain for a solution, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
'Is this really a bad situation...?'
Although he had some complaints due to the forced nature of the contract, thinking about it, the situation had actually improved.
This was because the Association was arresting all villains related to Jo Sehyeok.
'It's not just empty threats for show like before.'
He didn't know where they got their information, but they were successively raiding major villain strongholds and arresting numerous villains.
In reality, many villains had been captured in just one night.
Whether the government had made up its mind to act, the operation was both swift and precise.
However, neither Yoon Giseong nor any of his Scavenger Crew members were arrested.
This was because Lee Seongjun had warned them in advance through contact.
Thanks to this, unlike other villain crews, Scavenger had maintained its strength intact.
They had achieved results beyond what they had planned.
'The stage has been set for Scavenger to dominate the underworld as originally intended.'
Of course, there were still a few problems in completely dominating the underworld, but they wouldn't be major issues.
'Right now, I have Lee Seongjun behind me.'
The one who defeated the monster Jo Sehyeok, an SS-rank villain.
For villains where strength is law, the name Lee Seongjun would be a significant burden and a strong deterrent.
This meant he could overcome minor obstacles without much difficulty.
'As long as the subordination contract is maintained, although I can't sit on the throne myself...'
He could act like a king.
This was because someone like Lee Seongjun, who belonged to the legitimate world, wouldn't try to directly rule the underworld.
'It means I can rule the underworld as a regent.'
This meant he could grasp the immense power and wealth he had dreamed of.
"Khuhu..."
With a sinister smile, Yoon Giseong began to formulate plans in his mind for dominating the underworld.