Chapter 111
Returnee Association Headquarters.
Even though it wasn't a day for the mandatory regular meeting, the key executives of the Returnee Association began to gather in the main conference room.
Their facial expressions could be described as darker than ever before.
As these gloomy-faced executives gathered one by one, the once-empty conference room became packed.
Kim Ki-young, the Chief of Staff of the Returnee Association, began to speak into the microphone placed on the desk as if he had been waiting for this moment.
"As you all know, our plan has completely fallen apart."
When Lazaka attacked the city, they hadn't rejected the Hunter Association's urgent request for support without reason.
They had rejected it as a strategy to keep in check Seong-jun Lee, who was showing unprecedented growth.
'Without the help of the subjugation team... I thought Seong-jun alone would struggle against Lazaka.'
Of course, given the official data from the World Hunter Association, they didn't think he would be defeated and die.
But they had no doubt that he would sustain significant injuries.
No, they were certain of it.
They thought they could buy some time to put the brakes on Seong-jun Lee's threatening growth until Tae Sang-cheon, the head of the Korean Returnee Association, finished his closed-door training.
However, Seong-jun not only avoided injury but overwhelmed Lazaka without so much as a scratch.
As mentioned earlier, the certainty of Kim Ki-young and the Returnee Association executives had been proven spectacularly wrong.
"D-Did you all see it? He fired ki! Ki! It means he's already reached the realm of Hwakyung! Does this make any sense?"
As Han Sung-jin, the Knight Commander, showed great shock to the point his voice trembled, Kim Ki-young spoke in a calm tone.
"Honestly, it's hard to believe, but given the clear results, we shouldn't deny reality. Our plan has failed. So we must acknowledge and accept it... Seong-jun Lee is a hunter with ranker-level skills and a powerhouse we can't even dare to measure with our abilities."
Although he was speaking as calmly as possible to suppress the anxiety of other executives, Kim Ki-young was also feeling considerable shock and surprise inside.
'Seong-jun Lee is a monster who is rewriting... no, creating new hunter history beyond our expectations.'
He knew Seong-jun wasn't ordinary, given his tremendous growth rate since he started his activities as a hunter.
But he never expected him to have talent that could encompass the world.
'...Baek Mu-jin, no matter what that man said, we should have acted decisively as usual.'
The current Seong-jun had built up such a huge reputation that he couldn't be carelessly touched.
In contrast, the momentum of the Returnee Association was waning day by day.
Regret washed over him like a tidal wave, but Kim Ki-young couldn't afford to have such emotions at the moment.
"The plan has burst like a bubble... and the government and Hunter Association seem determined to tear us apart for rejecting the urgent support request. What are we going to do now?"
Choi Seung-tae, the Moomun Lord, glared at Kim Ki-young with a frown.
When the plan to use Lazaka to keep Seong-jun in check was first proposed, he had immediately agreed, but now that things had gone awry, he was trying to shift the blame.
It was truly despicable behavior, but Kim Ki-young didn't mind much.
'...Anyway, if we solve the current problem, he'll change his attitude as if nothing happened and act friendly.'
There was no reason to be swayed by momentary emotions.
'Although Seong-jun overwhelming Lazaka was a completely unexpected situation... we're not entirely without a way out.'
Kim Ki-young, maintaining a calm expression, slowly moved his lips.
"I do have one breakthrough strategy."
"You have a strategy?"
"It's not just me who knows it. It's a method all the executives gathered here are aware of."
Naturally, the executives' gazes turned to Kim Ki-young.
After confirming their hopeful gazes one by one, Kim Ki-young opened his mouth in a low voice.
"As we've always done, we either recruit or eliminate Seong-jun Lee."
"Ha... you dare spout such nonsense."
Choi Seung-tae snorted and spoke mockingly, but Kim Ki-young continued his words with an unwavering expression.
"But we need to change our approach."
The Returnee Association certainly had the power to be called a formidable force, and they had indeed acted without restraint.
However, this time, they were dealing with a formidable opponent.
Seong-jun Lee was a master who had reached the realm of Hwakyung.
He was a powerhouse that the executives of the Returnee Association gathered here couldn't dare to confront.
To show an aggressive attitude towards such a Seong-jun?
The result was as clear as day.
It was impossible for Kim Ki-young, who had an extraordinary mind to sit in the position of Chief of Staff, not to know this obvious fact.
"Recklessly touching Seong-jun would be no different from a moth jumping into fire. But Seong-jun is a person who cares deeply for his family."
Seeing Kim Ki-young's cold voice, Choi Seung-tae's brow furrowed.
"You're going to touch civilians?"
A hunter harming civilians was a serious crime and the most sensitive issue for the World Hunter Association.
They would never let it slide.
Moreover, it was an act committed by the Returnee Association, which had a poor relationship with the Hunter Association.
To make an example of them, they would dig up every last speck of dust and send the Korean Returnee Association straight to hell.
If we had to put it in words, it would be like burning down the entire house to catch a flea.
Choi Seung-tae's gaze, with a hardened expression, turned to Kim Ki-young.
However, Kim Ki-young's expression as he met the gaze was utterly nonchalant.
"I understand what you're worried about, Moomun Lord, but if we succeed with our plan, this matter won't be revealed to the public."
"Sure, if the plan succeeds as you say, it won't be exposed externally. But I don't think Vice Chairman Baek Mu-jin will sit idle."
Just a few months ago, Baek Mu-jin had warned the executives of the Returnee Association not to touch Seong-jun Lee under any circumstances.
"He might be away due to the orders issued after the union meeting, but he's not gone forever, right?"
If he heard that his warning had been ignored and Seong-jun had been touched, he would surely go berserk.
"Indeed... given his unpredictable temperament, there's no particular solution for that part."
"No matter how I think about it, it's too dangerous. I've never had a good experience getting involved with that man, Baek Mu-jin. So, I'm going to step out of this."
At that moment, Choi Seung-tae stood up from his seat.
Other association executives also began to stand up as if they had been waiting for this.
Watching the seats being emptied one by one, Kim Ki-young moved his lips.
"Can you all bear the consequences of today's choice?"
"What do you mean?"
"If our Union Leader learns about incompetent executives who start things but can't clean up... what measures do you think he will take?"
"..."
At Kim Ki-young's words, accompanied by a sinister smile, Choi Seung-tae and the other executives swallowed dry saliva.
Gulp.
What kind of measures would he take?
They didn't even want to imagine.
'...We could die.'
Of course, he wouldn't kill all the executives, but one couldn't guarantee that they wouldn't be among those meeting their death.
Seeing the executives' faces turning pale, Kim Ki-young opened his mouth with a satisfied expression.
"It's not too late yet..."
A creepy smile bloomed on Kim Ki-young's lips as he spoke with a cold gaze.
"I'll give you another chance to make a choice."
In reality, there was no choice to make.
The Union Leader, Tae Sang-cheon, was fear itself for the executives of the Returnee Association.
From the moment they first heard Kim Ki-young's plan, they were in a situation where they couldn't back out.
* * *
"Good work everyone today!"
With the team leader Su-hyeok Lee's words, the intense day's work came to an end, and the Friday night departure began.
As all office workers look forward to, the team members exchanged greetings with bright smiles at the long-awaited end of the workday.
"Good work everyone this week."
"Thank you for your hard work."
While the team members were exchanging greetings with bright faces, Su-hyeok Lee, who had quickly packed his things, immediately stood up from his seat.
"Everyone, rest well over the weekend, and let's see each other with energetic faces next week."
"Are you just going home again today? There's a new pork belly place that just opened up front, why don't we go for a light drink?"
Department Head Park Sung-woon approached Su-hyeok Lee with sparkling eyes.
Given Su-hyeok Lee's friendly personality and his tendency not to lose kindness towards team members, he had received similar proposals several times.
But in the past, he couldn't easily agree due to being pressed by reality, and recently, he had been refusing for other reasons.
"You guys go drink. I'm going to go home and rest comfortably."
"I guess The Hill in Yongsan really lives up to its name, seeing how you go straight home despite my constant pestering?"
In fact, it wasn't just the move that had improved Su-hyeok Lee's complexion.
It was because he felt in his heart that he could live the life he had always dreamed of, with his family living happily together without any worries.
He was so grateful and proud of his son, Seong-jun Lee, who had created such a good environment.
'And he's really lovable too.'
Although he couldn't express it well outwardly due to embarrassment, he was such a lovable son.
In fact, just thinking about his son, Seong-jun Lee, in his mind made the corners of his mouth try to curve up.
By now, seeing Su-hyeok Lee's face with a bright smile, voices full of envy flowed from the team members' mouths.
"The Hill in Yongsan must really be different. Your complexion has brightened up a lot recently, Team Leader."
"I heard even famous celebrities can't easily get in there? Hunter Seong-jun Lee must really be amazing."
"To have Hunter Seong-jun Lee as a son... If I were the team leader, I think I'd come to work smiling every day."
"Wow... I can't even imagine what that feels like."
With an awkward smile on his face from the team members' endless praise of his son, Su-hyeok Lee hastily left his seat.
"Everyone worked hard this week. I can't do anything special for you, but I'll leave the corporate card. I'll take care of the approval with the director, so those who want to have a team dinner, please enjoy yourselves comfortably."
"As expected of our team leader!"
"Thank you!"
"Get home safely!"
"See you next week!"
Su-hyeok Lee waved his hand big to the team members' send-off and immediately left the company building, heading home.
As the peaceful end of the week was approaching, an unexpected visitor began to follow Su-hyeok Lee.