Chapter 184
The next day.
All American media outlets were flooded with articles about the Guardians.
This was to be expected, given that yesterday was the scheduled date for an emergency meeting.
However, the headlines and contents of the articles were far from ordinary.
[Rank 4, Zhang Xiaoying's Defeat!]
Zhang Xiaoying was a name many would have heard at least once, given her significant activities as a member of the Guardians.
But now, this Zhang Xiaoying had faced defeat.
By whom?
Public attention was inevitably drawn, and view counts exploded.
To be precise, they had no choice but to explode.
[Zhang Xiaoying spotted accompanying Kenneth Branner... Sudden intervention by the World Returner Alliance.]
[What's behind Kenneth's sudden move that surprised the World Returner Alliance?]
It was already shocking that Zhang Xiaoying had joined hands with Kenneth, an auditor belonging to the World Returner Alliance, which was in opposition to the Guardians.
The impact of the article's contents, accompanied by several photographs, was beyond words.
Zhang Xiaoying and Kenneth, collapsed and looking no better than rags.
Their condition was so severe that if their identities hadn't been revealed beforehand, one might not even recognize the men in the photos as Zhang Xiaoying and Kenneth.
The hunters known in the world as the strongest shield and the best buffer had fallen simultaneously.
It was truly a shocking event.
But this was just the tip of the iceberg.
When the identity of the one who had defeated Zhang Xiaoying and Kenneth was revealed, everyone couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.
[The talk of the town! The one who brought down Zhang Xiaoying and Kenneth Branner is Hunter Lee Seong-jun!]
Hunter Lee Seong-jun, the hunter who had been praised for stopping the Black Gates in Korea and Japan, and who had been designated as a new member of the Guardians. The impact couldn't have been greater.
News spread worldwide in an instant through various means such as broadcast networks and social media.
└Did you hear the news that Zhang Xiaoying suddenly ambushed Hunter Lee Seong-jun with Kenneth, but got reversed instead?
└Honestly, if it hadn't been reported in the news, I wouldn't have believed it. To think they lost even after teaming up with Kenneth.
└LOL, they're just Guardians after all, trying to take on Hunter Lee Seong-jun.
└All those Guardians members who were strutting around are getting wiped out. At this rate, isn't the entire Guardians just a bubble?
└Considering their past achievements, it's not that the Guardians are a bubble, but rather that Hunter Lee Seong-jun is exceptional.
└As expected, Hunter Lee Seong-jun is Korea's pride and future.
└Bartender!! Give me the maximum national pride and pour me a shot!
└You can now consider Hunter Lee Seong-jun to have entered the "Do you know" line.
More than half of the comments were praising Lee Seong-jun.
And more than the other half were criticizing China and the World Returner Alliance.
└Their national representative hunter and a key figure of the alliance suddenly attacked, yet they're keeping their mouths shut.
└I knew they were shameless, but this is beyond expectations.
└At this point, shouldn't there be some kind of global sanctions?
└Before that, we need to know the circumstances. What was the reason for Zhang Xiaoying and Kenneth's sudden attack?
└There's no accurate information, but there probably wasn't a big reason. The World Returner Alliance isn't well-known to people, but they're actually the worst when it comes to manners.
└The World Returner Alliance guys are really terrible... I'm worried about Hunter Lee Seong-jun. They probably can't move openly like this time due to all the attention, but they're likely to pull a lot of tricks behind the scenes.
└Agreed, there's a reason why returners are wary of the name World Returner Alliance.
└I know the World Returner Alliance are bad guys, but what's the reason? If they're attacking so openly, there must be at least some minimal reason, right?
└That's right, what on earth happened for them to attack so rudely?
└I don't know either?
└I'm really curious about the reason.
└What could be the real reason?
The media and public opinion were burning hot with these continuing questions.
However, not only China and the World Returner Alliance, but also the Guardians and Lee Seong-jun were maintaining silence, so there was no way to find out.
* * *
"...I apologize."
-My mademoiselle, I've been doing my best to contain this, but... too much attention has been drawn, and things have become too complicated to avoid responsibility. I'm truly sorry.
-I've received over 10 calls today! It's driving me crazy! If you had reported properly from the beginning, this wouldn't have happened!
In the conference room of the World Returner Alliance branch located in China.
Victoria was repeatedly apologizing with her head bowed to the floor, facing the scolding from six screens showing black silhouettes of the World Returner Alliance executives.
"I have no excuse. It's all my fault."
Contrary to her words, Victoria, with her head bowed, had to swallow her anger while biting her lower lip hard.
-It's definitely not just the entrance to the Life and Death Realm...
-Right, if it were just the entrance to the Life and Death Realm, Zhang Xiaoying with Kenneth's buff wouldn't have lost.
-It's been less than a month since he entered the Life and Death Realm... This means he's already crossed the barrier.
-His growth potential and talent can be classified as top-tier without any doubt.
Following these judgments about Lee Seong-jun, the voice of the black silhouette that had been berating Victoria grew louder.
-What?! That means he's on the same level as us?! I really don't understand, why didn't you report properly? Ah, this is so frustrating! Everything's messed up because of that incompetent one!
Amidst the incessant scolding, Victoria had to barely suppress her anger that was about to explode.
This was because she had indeed reported every detail about Lee Seong-jun's potential and talent.
She had even earnestly begged for another chance.
But all of this had been ignored by the executive who was now filling the screen and shouting.
-Hey, you! How are you going to take responsibility for this situation?!
It was an incredibly unfair situation.
No, it was an absurd shifting of blame.
However, there was still nothing Victoria could do.
In the World Returner Alliance, power is law.
The executive shouting on the screen might have the worst personality, but his power was one of the strongest even within the World Returner Alliance.
"...I'm truly sorry."
-Sending such an incompetent... tsk, Victoria, was it? I'll remember your name, so be careful.
Red blood flowed from Victoria's clenched fist as she struggled to contain her rising anger and resentment.
It wouldn't have been strange if her emotions exploded at any moment.
Was it a blessing in disguise?
The black silhouette at the center of the screen abruptly cut off the barrage of criticism directed at Victoria.
-Enough, now is not the time to assign blame.
-That was an excellent mediation. Let's stop this meaningless talk and have an efficient conversation from now on. So, what does everyone think we should do?
-Lee Seong-jun... He's more talented than we thought. We can't just leave him alone. Therefore, I think we should deal with him as soon as possible.
-I also think disposal is right. There are too many variables to try and persuade him.
-I vote for postponement. The stronger the force, the better, right? Moreover, it seems my mademoiselle wants to persuade this Lee Seong-jun fellow.
-I vote for disposal! Thinking about what happened today, I can't stand the sight of that Lee Seong-jun!
-Don't think emotionally. Lee Seong-jun is a valuable talent with potential and abilities comparable to ours. Postponement is right.
-I vote for postponement.
-If I vote for disposal, it's a tie, right? A revote would be inefficient, so I'll go with postponement.
-The decision has been made. The final decision is postponement. We'll give Lee Seong-jun one last chance.
As the black silhouette in the center made the declaration, the World Returner Alliance executives nodded their heads without a word.
* * *
Sitting on a sofa in the bedroom and looking out the window, Lee Seong-jun let out a dry laugh at the number of reporters lining up at the hotel entrance.
'Is it because of the large population... The number of reporters is enormous.'
It wasn't exactly a pleasant situation, as he wasn't particularly fond of receiving attention.
However, the current situation could be considered quite satisfactory.
'This will have made it clear...'
What happens when someone messes with him, Lee Seong-jun.
Not just small fry, but even countries and hunters who have made quite a name for themselves in the world would now hesitate to even think about challenging him.
One could say he had achieved one of his goals.
But the situation itself wasn't entirely good.
Perhaps due to the vast land and insufficient law enforcement?
In the United States, regardless of the situation or reason, fights between hunters themselves were illegal.
Of course, if a detailed investigation were conducted, there was a high probability that it would be ruled as self-defense.
However, if external pressure were applied to deliberately entangle and hold him responsible, it could become quite troublesome.
'Well... The chances of that happening are slim to none.'
Anna Ferris, whom he had encountered earlier, was not someone who could be easily subdued.
Because of this, Lee Seong-jun could relax with a somewhat comfortable mind.
As the clock's second hand was racing towards 12 o'clock, heading into the afternoon.
Knock knock.
Along with the sound of knocking, a familiar voice was heard from beyond the door.
"May I come in?"
"Yes."
As if waiting for the answer, Renata Richter, a member of the Guardians, immediately opened the door and stepped in.
Lee Seong-jun posed a question to Renata, who had come up close, right in front of him.
"Do you need me for a witness statement?"
"No. Given the circumstances, it has been officially ruled as perfect self-defense, and an official press release will be made tonight."
"Then why have you come?"
To Lee Seong-jun, who was tilting his head slightly, Renata bowed his head.
"First, I came to apologize. As your attendant, I should have paid special attention to your safety, Hunter Lee Seong-jun. Due to my careless handling, you were put in great danger. I have no words to express my regret, even if I had two mouths. I'm truly sorry."
In fact, there hadn't been any real danger.
'...If anything, it was just a bit of a nuisance.'
He hadn't even suffered a single scratch.
In contrast, the promotional effect gained through this battle was quite substantial.
It wasn't just a troublesome affair, considering the benefits he had reaped.
However, from David's perspective as the appointed attendant, he must have felt a heavy sense of responsibility and regret.
Understanding these feelings well, Lee Seong-jun opened his mouth with a faint smile.
"Alright, I accept your apology. But... I assume that's not the only reason you came in person?"
At Lee Seong-jun's following question, David, with a hardened expression, cautiously opened his mouth.
"Yes, up to this point was my personal action and apology as David. And from now on, I have something to tell Hunter Lee Seong-jun as a representative of the Guardians."